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Realise your full potential – become a Hero
Howdy,
I’m pleased to be writing the MSDN Flash editorial for the first time. As part of the Application Consulting and Engineering team for Microsoft Australia, my focus is on secure software development. Having recently moved to from Canberra to Sydney, I’ve started working closer with the Solutions Development Centre (DPE) team and our customers.
One of the big advantages of being in Sydney is being involved in great events like Heroes Happen {2008}, starting at the end of this month in Sydney. The focus is on technical readiness, with dedicated tracks for Microsoft’s new generation of products – Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and closest to my heart, Visual Studio 2008.
Demonstrations dominate most of the tracks, presented by a line-up of heroes including Michael Kleef, Jeff Alexander, Andrew Coates and Steve Riley who will join us in selected locations. This is your opportunity to see how these products can maximise your applications and help you to realise your full potential. It’s for the brave, the progressive, and the daring – the stuff of heroes.
The Security and Management Seminar this year has been rolled into the Heroes Happen {2008} Launch, where we’re going to dive into building a secure environment from the ground up. Scary – yes. Foolhardy – maybe. Entertaining – definitely! I’ll show you how the Enterprise version of the ACE Threat Analysis and Modeling (TAMe) tool and SPIDER can make your applications more secure and improve your security profile against emerging threats. My teammate Mark Curphy (co-founder of OWASP) did a write up on TAMe and SPIDER. You can get the lowdown on his blog.
In this edition, you’ll also find details on how you could WIN a trip to France, score cash prizes, and even a job at Readify in the Imagine Cup. You’ll also find some great tips on the Facebook APIs and incorporating Silverlight into your existing applications. It’s a value-packed edition, so in the immortal words of Stan Lee, creator of many heroes (mostly of Marvel Comics) ‘read on True Believers’. RockyH
Featured Articles
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The phrase ‘change the world or go home’ could be more relevant to Microsoft’s Imagine Cup Software Design competition. If you're a student or recent graduate interested in building software that's going to be noticed, and help save the environment in the process, go to http://microsoft.com.au/imaginecup and sign up for 2008. There are 3 months to go until the Software Design submissions are due, with cash prizes, Xbox 360s, jobs at Readify and trips to France to WIN. Register today.
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Facebook releases JavaScript APIs using Nikhil Kothari's Script# Library. The Facebook JavaScript client library allows you to make Facebook API calls through JavaScript code from any website, and makes it easy to create AJAX Facebook applications. Since the library does not require any server side code, you can now create a Facebook application that can be hosted on any website that serves static HTML. Find out more.
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For those of you who are dependent on advances on technology in order to be able to innovate and compete successfully, we would like to encourage you to register for Voices for Innovation. It only takes a moment and having an Australian representation is really important to us. Register now.
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Let’s face it, we’ve all had deadlines that we’ve struggled to meet. When crunch time is drawing near, you need to use every opportunity you have to meet that deadline – even cheating! Play ‘CheatStreet’ and test your cheating skills as one of the great procrastinators of all time – the student. Play against your friends and battle it out for the highest ranking. Play Now.
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Events
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Heroes Happen {2008} is the most anticipated launch event of 2008. It's your chance to get the inside knowledge on Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. Experience live product demonstrations, technical learning showcasing end-to-end solutions and the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the experts behind the products. There's also an impressive line-up of keynote speakers, including Bob Kelly and Steve Riley, who'll be addressing the big issues that affect your business. Register nowRegister and receive a Heroes Happen {2008} 'Launch Kit'
When you register today, you'll also receive a Heroes Happen {2008} 'Launch Kit' valued at over $2500*. This huge software package includes a full version of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise edition, SQL Server 2008 CTP5 and Visual Studio Team System (90-day trial version). You could also win a Microsoft Hardware Premium Pack valued at $699* - including a Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, LifeCam Vx-7000 and LifeChat Zx-6000. Secure your spot – register now. * ERP/RRP as valued by Microsoft. Launch Kit contents are subject to change. The software is provided for the express purpose of allowing the individual to familiarise themselves with the product; and Microsoft acknowledges that public officials by reason of their employer's policies may not be able to accept the material offered, we respect that decision and Microsoft will accept back those materials. The material is not intended to compromise a public official's duty of impartiality.
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Code Camp Oz is a free, .NET developer community-driven event bringing people with interests across the .NET platform together to see presentations on a wide range of developer topics. Code Camp Oz 2008 will be held in Wagga Wagga at the Charles Sturt University campus on Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 April. Find out more.
If you'd like to see last year’s presentations, visit the archive for 2007. Thanks to the legendary Dr Greg Low and Mitch Denny for making the Camp happen.
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Access valuable Microsoft Dynamics workshops and hands-on certification training opportunities across Australia. These instructor-led courses provide the information you need to increase your understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics products and technologies. Find out more.
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This 5-day workshop has been designed and written by Mick Badran, one of Australia's leading BizTalk MVPs. Based on 'real world' in the field experience, this fun yet intense training is ideal for .NET Developers with previous experience working with BizTalk 2004 who need to upgrade their skills to BizTalk 2006 R2. Developers will learn to build a reusable end-to-end BizTalk framework, with extensive use of the BizTalk feature set such as SSO, BAM and WCF Services, throughout the training. Find out more
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Featured User Groups
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Join us on Thursday 28 February for Amazon Web Services with Amazon.com's Mike Culver.
What’s possible in a post-Web 2.0 world? As innovation continues at a mind-bending pace, this presentation will showcase some thought-provoking new directions that Web Services are headed in as well as introduce the concept of ‘Web Scale Computing. The presentation will also provide an overview of Amazon Web Services, and feature a code demonstration showing how .NET developers are able to easily build managed clients for these services. Pizza and drinks provided. Date: Thursday 28 February Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm Venue: AMP Capital Investors, Ground Floor, 50 Bridge Street (The AMP Building), Sydney
For more information, visit http://www.sdnug.org/ or email admin@sdnug.org. Please note: If you’re unable to join us in Sydney, Mike will also be presenting at the Victoria .NET Sig on 26 February, 5.30pm at the Microsoft Office in Melbourne.
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Don’t miss the opportunity to see Kalen Delaney present on SQL Server Architecture, Internals and Optimisation.
Kalen Delaney is the author of the best-selling books Inside SQL Server 2000, Inside SQL Server 2005 – The Storage Engine and Inside SQL Server 2005 – Query Tuning and Optimization. Kalen has been a columnist for SQL Server Magazine since the first issue, and writes for MSDN and TechNet Magazines. Kalen’s SQL Server seminars have been delivered both internally for Microsoft events and as recommended training for premier Microsoft partners around the world. Date: Thursday 21 February 2008 Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start. Meeting closes 7.30pm. Venue: Microsoft Brisbane Office, Level 9, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane Register now
As this is a joint meeting with the Queensland MSDN User Group, you can also RSVP by emailing mike@fitzsimon.com.au.
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Downloads
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Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 1 provides developers with the most secure, flexible and connected web and applications platform, reducing the time to craft high-performing, standards-compliant applications and make network services available remotely. When you download the beta software, you're automatically registered to access valuable beta resources assembled in one convenient Beta Central location. Find additional resources to make the most of your Windows Server RC1 evaluation. Download now.
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Security for Developers
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Steve Riley, Microsoft Security Strategist (aka security guru), will be presenting at the Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra HHH{08} events. Don’t miss your chance to hear Steve explain the key underlying security benefits of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 as well as the links between Security and Virtualisation, and Security and Privacy. Find out more.
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Did you know that the Security and Management Seminars for 2008 will be combined with the Heroes Happen {2008} event? There is a dedicated Security & Management track that will show customers how we can build a secure environment in one day using Microsoft technologies. We’ll be showcasing live demonstrations over five sessions, with each session building on the previous one to demonstrate the key elements of building a secure and well managed environment using Microsoft technologies. Register now.
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In the interests of helping secure the platform, we want more people to opt-in to using Data Execution Prevention (aka DEP aka NX). We have lowered the barrier to entry for application developers in Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3 and Windows Server 2008. Find out more.
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Knowledge Base Articles
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Tuesday 19 February 2008
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