Windows genuine advantage: A must not beta

Just noticed something when i tried to download the WinFx sdk from the Microsoft web site. I was required to validate my windows installation prior to the download. Usually this process is optional but today it was mandatory. After doing some search found out the validation process was made mandatory along with the launch of Windows genuine advantage 1.0
You need to do this process only once and after the first time a key will be stored in your  machine for subsequent downloads.
You can also find a FAQ on Windows genuine advantage at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx?displaylang=en

Are you a Windows Vista developer?

Starting or thinking about starting development on Windows Vista? Check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

Let the Beta begin...Woohoo

A handful of beta products are out from Microsoft and I am waiting to get my hands on them as soon as possible.
Windows Vista Beta 1
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1
WinFX Beta 1(WPF,WCF)

Indigo and Avalon name changes

The beta 1 of Avalon and Indigo are released. Avalon has been named as Windows Presentation Foundation(WPF) and Indigo as Windows Communication Foundation(WCF). You can download the latest bits at the download URL

Escape from Yesterworld

Kinda silly humour but nevertheless interesting.
http://www.escapeyesterworld.com/
This is part of the marketing campaign for VS.NET 2005 and SQL Server 2005…

Ever wondered how a software bug feels and thinks

Give a little life to the software bugs you encounter and make it talk and think and have discussions with other bugs. Thats exactly what happens in the blog by Kazem Ardekanian. The cartoons are real fun and interesting. Do go and check his blog to find more like the one below:

Migrating web applications to ASP.NET 2.0

If you are migrating your web applications to ASP.NET 2.0 be sure to check out the following MSDN article:
ASP.NET conversion issues and solutions
Also check the upgrade centre at MSDN http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/migration/upgrade/default.aspx

Need more java: Call to Sun bloggers

I am  subscribed to the sun blogs from Sun Microsystems as well as MSDN blogs from Microsoft. The MSDN blogs always have good content each and everyday on the new technologies and good useful information and code snippets on the development on the Microsoft.NET platform. But i rarely see any good content on Java in the Sun blogs. I really don't understand why the blogosphere is not used by Sun compared to how much Microsoft is using it in the MSDN blogs.
I know there are good communities providing lot of info on development on Java but i do feel more blogging on Java by the people implementing new features and version will give it a big boost. Sun you need to take a note on this from Microsoft.

Windows Vista: The official name for Longhorn client

Microsoft has officially named the next generation windows operating system code named longhorn as Windows Vista. This applies only to the Longhorn client. Check out the following URL for more details:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.mspx
Well personally i still like Longhorn and it will take quite some time to get used to using Windows Vista instead of Longhorn

Changes to the MCP program

There are quite a few changes in the MCP program with more specialisation in various areas. You can read more about it at:
http://www.mcpmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=821
So the upgrade for me is to target the “Microsoft Certified Professional Developer – Enterprise Developer” from my current MCSD. So thats two Microsoft exams to be done end of this year.

Article on ADO.NET DataSets and Partial classes

My article titled “ADO.NET DataSets: Using partial classes to make intelligent datasets” is published on the simple-talk journal at the following URL
http://www.simple-talk.com/2005/07/13/adonet-data-sets/
This looks into one usage of partial classes to include business logic without getting in the way of the generated code of the typed dataset.

Naming changes for the Java editions

The names of the java editions have been changed to be more uniform. The “2” is dropped from the names J2SE, J2EE and J2ME. The standard, enterprise and mobile editions will be known as:
Java Standard Edition (JSE)
Java Enterprise Edition (JEE)
Java Micro Edition (JME)

Sage: A rss reader for Firefox

Check out Sage, a real cool rss reader that integrates into Firefox. After installing Sage you can add your feeds to the Sage Feeds menu under Firefox bookmarks. There is also a good wiki site on using Sage