I retired from personal blogging in July 2008 but you can find me over at blog.xero.com
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Chris Rust from KeyLogix, just flicked me a link to SCRUM a lightweight process that can be used to manage and control software and product development.
It acts as a management wrapper for Extreme Programming engineering practices. Seems to capture a lot of the good techniques we’ve evolved over the years.
The web site looks undercooked but the following graphic gives a good overview…
Brad Adams writes that PDC attendees walk away with:
- Longhorn
- Whidbey
- Yukon
Worth the airfare to L.A. I went to the San Diego PDC several years ago. Definitely the best MS conference to go to if you can wangle it.
Useful MSDN article on the Page Object Model
Now the southern hemisphere days are getting longer, its getting time to think about the toys for summer. I got the HyperSonic 105 last year and was going to upgrade to the 125. Now StarBoard have announced a 133 model. 0.77m wide by only 2.18m long!!
Ordered!
Current Fleet is now
- StarBoard F186 Course
- StarBoard Hypersonic 105 Salom (for sale)
- AHD MaxxRide 64.5 Freestyle
- StarBoard Trance 84 Wave
- AHD 270 / 70 litre Slalom - once a year speed board
Geekzone reports that Toshiba is offering trade in’s on computer equipment.
Other bit of goss from TechEd was the new Toshiba Tablet due in 3-4 months will be the bomb. I spent almost $10k on a Tecra 3 years ago so trading might help out a bit.
I trolled around for some specs on the new Toshiba Tablet. Not much but got this great post on Centrino from www.TabletPCBuzz.com.
The Centrino CPU is not just a new and faster CPU with better power conservation, it is an entirely different power scheme. A Centrino enabled laptop/device (meaning it has a Centrino CPU, motherboard, wireless lan, and a few other requirements) will automatically and completely disable hardware components when they are not in use. It uses circuits that allow it to bypass chips, bays, bridges, just about anything. When you go outside of a WiFi region you won’t have to manually disable the WiFi hardware, the Centrino device will see that that component in the computer is no longer needed and completely bypass it until you need it again and at that time automatically re-enable it.
That along with it’s improved architecture and greater throughput allow it to outperform higher MHz clocked CPUs while providing BETTER battery life.
Just like the Transmeta Astro CPU which has double the bandwidth, thus an Astro CPU will perform practically the same as a Crusoe at double the speed and be able to offer nearly twice the battery life.
The playing field within the last year has begun to drastically change. The race for faster and faster CPUs is reaching a point where the speed is not needed and the side effects such as massive amounts of heat and instability are becoming too great. With the increased interest in mobile platforms CPU manufacturers such as Intel and Transmeta have finally begun designing better chip architectures and adding power saving features to their CPUs and chipsets. The average use today needs no more than 800MHz to open up Microsoft Word and Quicken within a reasonable amount of time. And the average user is becoming more and more mobile. This is why the focus in the CPU race has changed and why we can all rejoice that our Tablets will become a VERY viable platform because of it.
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If you follow Australian and New Zealand Rugby, you’ll love this … |
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In the dotnet list today Biztalk 2004 and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services were the other hits of the show.
I hadn’t heard of SQL Reporting Services before but I agree with Peter Jones that this looks hot!
It’s a reporting engine that uses XML based Report Definition Language (RDL). Apparently there is excellent design support in Visual Studio.
It includes multi-format publishing (HTML, PDF etc.) and delivery functionality for ‘push’ reports.
This positioning chart shows what an important product category this is.
Thanks for the tip off Peter, this does look interesting.
As always Microsoft New Zealand put on a great show. Well organized and great facilities. Thanks Ian for having the wifi sorted out. The Dead or Alive Volley Ball Girls at Geekfest were also appreciated.
Coolest thing for me was Don Vilen’s Yukon (next version of SQL Server) programmability presentation.
A couple of years ago you were putting your neck out recommending SQL for mission critical apps, especially in carrier scenario’s. Right now large organizations are using a lot of SQL Server. Its clear that in a couple of years Yukon positions MS as the premier database platform.
Beta 1 is out. Release probably 3rd quarter 2004. I’m hoping for beta 2 early 2004 to start some serious dev work. Don noted that Beta 1 already hits internal quality benchmarks for SQL Server 2000. Very exciting.
I found that this was an ‘in between’ year TechEd. Last year was .Net, next year Yukon. Security was probably the big new feature getting the most airtime this year.
I guess the lack of excitement reflects that maturation of the MS based software space. Its not annual release cycles anymore. The pace of new products has necessarily slowed. The Tech Industry slowing down is probably a factor as well. Dave 5 from Provoke mused that everyone has grown up and having kids now. It didn’t feel like there was as many entreprenuers bouncing around as there had been in prior years.
Made me think of when I worked on a ski hill in ‘87 and was one of the early boarders. I had a teeshirt that said something like …
“I know lots of people who used to ski but no one used to snowboard “.
Actually now the orginal snowboarders are riding carving ski’s. Maybe the MS stuff has grown up a bit too.
But still the best event to catch up with everyone and speak geek for 3 days solid.
Parked my car in Parnel for a couple of hours last night and when I returned my passenger window was smashed and my Valentine 1 radar detector was grabbed.
Apparently this is really common. I couldn’t believe it. Busy street, early evening. So frustrating that you can’t do anything.
So I thought people must be selling them. Jumped onto www.trademe.co.nz and sure enough, suspect selling of used radar detectors.
No one would sell a used Valentine 1. You’d keep it forever. How’s this for dodgy:
comes with mounting bracket and curly cord but i’ve been told its not the inverse triangular V1 cord even tho it works just as good and its actually smaller than the inverse triangular v1 cord thus less hassle. Selling for a friend, unit in as new condition. Feel free to come and inspect the unit but no private offers sorry.
So as a small vent I posted a comment on the auction …
There is an epidemic of these being stolen. My car was just broken into in Auckland for a V1. Do you have the box and proof that this is not stolen property.
At least venting I could do something. I feel a little bit better. Yay the web.
Really enjoyed the Morgo conference in Taupo Friday/Saturday. Put on by Morel & co, great opportunity to meet kiwi entreprenuers doing it. One of the guys mentioned it was pretty cool to have the CEO’s of most of NZ’s star tech companies, the IT Minister and the head of the Stock Exchange all in the same room and be able to chat over a beer.
Highlights for me were…
- Meeting Chris Jones from Argent and seeing him in full flight. Motivation!
- Getting quality time with commentator Rod Oram. He’s a guy I’ve always respected.
- Hearing about Paul Weatherly’s hobby. “Actually I am a rocket scientist”
- Andy Lark
- Seeing what Ian Taylor is up to
Great to hear from Peace Software, SOE, Seaworks, Orion and the generous offers made to help other companies out. Great event that I’ll make the time for each year if I’m invited back.
My Vodafone GPRS connect card says its getting 57k. Crap! More like 14k. Having problems authenicating on secure sites. Needed to change to dial up to get out some urgent emails. 33k thru the hotel PABX feels fast.
Worse after laying down $800, 5 people at the conference got given them free. Adding insult to injury. Grrrr!
Update
So now its Saturday night in Hamilton, waiting for the All Blacks rugby test against Australia to begin. Staying at wife’s grans house. Tried to Blog with GPRS card. Failed. Resorted again to dial up.
So here’s the problems.
- Slow. Even though it says 57.6k it feels must slower than the dial up speed I’m on now
- Authentication. I can’t blog on my secure page. I can get thru the first challenge to the new entry screen, but after I’ve written my content can’t post it in.
- I tried to watch a flash stream. It was very bursty. 5 seconds of content, 10 seconds locked up waiting for data. Repeat
- Terminal Server is unusable. To slow to register menu clicks.
- Its a cell phone in a card, so interferes with my PC and makes electronic interference sounds. It was too loud to use in the conference sessions today.
Maybe its too ‘packety’ and/or has so many errors that the actual good bits are a small %age of what gets thru.
So the Vodafone Connect Card works for small email, grabbing the odd web page. As a connection to the office. No way!
Had to
drive 5 hours tonight from Wellington up to Taupo for the Morel Conference, on
the way to Auckland for TechEd next week. So during the week I loaded up the
iPod. This has to be one of the best devices ever. My car has the stereo
integrated into the dash display and no AUX in, so I had to get the stereo
modified for an AUX in. This is my second iPod. I went for the new slim 15GB
model. Key feature is the line out, so I can plug in cleanly rather than thru
the headphone jack (which does still work).
Anna let me listen to the the latest .Net Rocks episode with
Brent Rector. So cool being able to download interviews and make your own
radio show.
Other listening was a new CD from Alex Cortiz. Nice
smooth beats. Totally recommended.
In order to stay wired for TechEd next week I just got a Vodafone Connect PCMCIA GPRS connect card. I have the Morgo VC conference in Taupo Friday/Saturday and then Tech Ed in Auckland Sunday/Wednesday so thought it was worth grabbing the card to keep connected.
Added my site to http://techedbloggers.net.
I spoke to Ian Morrish who is the Technical Manager for TechEd NZ this year and there will be a Wireless LAN. There won’t be an SMTP server, but hopefully he’ll get Xtra and Paradise to trust the network so we can use their SMTP servers for outgoing mail.
So far only getting 56k on my Mobile Connect card. Bit disappointing. I’m getting a bit long in phones. I’m now running a QTEK Pocket PC Phone, Sharp GX10 for Vodafone Live Development and the Vodafone Connect Card.
Rant on PocketPC Phone Edition …
Maybe 20 years ago we thought that by 2000, the concept of Big Brother was enivitable. I remember maybe 10 years ago seeing a news special on the camcorder, that allowed the masses to report on what was going on in some parts of the world. Great example of how the ability to personally publish can change things.
I’ve noticed some interesting stories also about how RSS has changed the balance as well.
- An example a month or so ago about people at a conference validating and destroying a speakers claims in real time. I think the live feed was being projected at the venue.
- A Blogger being misquoted in an article and having the opportunity to correct his position though his own site. A perpetual right of reply.
- Instant feedback and criticism of events, for example the lobbying of the RSS standard.
- And just yesterday, an MS speaker doing what we’ve probably all wanted to do at some time. Reflections on a Bad Presentation.
I think I’m an Information Junkie. I’ve been maxed out all week and missed the morning paper a couple of days. I’m worried I might have missed something.
I have a good friend who instead of watching the news every night, watches the Simpsons. As far as I know he doesn’t read the paper or listen to news radio.
I’m contrasting him to how I’ve devoured RSS. Then I thought how much information do I consume that is tech related. I’m fascinated about development, .Net, modelling tools, what MS is doing, cars, mobile phones, digital technology, wifi, how IP affects carriers, Cat from Tech TV, hardware, etc, etc. It fills my day.
He has little interest in most of those tech subjects (except for Cat of course). He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t care that he doesn’t know.
I was imagining how much time I’d have if I wasn’t into tech. Imagine having a job when you just go home and that’s it. I have no idea what that would be like.
But anyway I love it. I like knowing about lots of things, about making predictions and often seeing them happen, being totally surprised by things, seeing things grow and change, getting excited about new tools and toys, and the gratification that comes from building stuff and making things happen.
Yup I’m an Information Junkie.
Check out the concept video at http://www.vocera.com/products/video.shtm
Chris Johnson from MS just sent me this link. How to make your 802.11
PocketPC drive media player.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dncodefun/html/code4fun06272003.asp
Walker Wireless, an WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) have finally said what everyone already assumed was the strategy, but its a big call to actually say it!!
… most significant addition will come toward the end of this year with the addition of voice capability, offering residential customers the option to switch off their Telecom account.
Wireless VOIP is a fixed line replacement, turning on its head the old fixed line last mile monopoly.
Rather than add $70 per month to your existing communications spend, which WISP’s have had to do in the past, now you’ll be able to get broadband, with Voice as an application and turn off your $50 a month incumbant Telco connection.
Well, hard for the carriers to ignore that now.
Article on News.com.
The protocol that has defined e-mail for more than two decades may have a fatal flaw: It trusts you.
SMTP has always seemed strange to me. You can just say who your are. I can send you a message from ‘BillG@Microsoft.com’ for example.
So ISP’s place IP restrictions on who can use their outgoing SMTP servers. So when I jump onto a new network (like CafeNet in Wellington) I can read mail but to send mail I have to have my own SMTP server set up.
Also most ISP’s don’t provide an authenticated SMTP server which would be a great option. Moast mail clients store credentials so authenicating should be an easy option.
My other problem is ‘popping’ (POP3) mail from multiple machines. Sent mail is stuck on the machine I was on at the time.
This is pushing me towards having an Exchange 2003 server somewhere. Overkill for what I need but Exchange 2003 supports RPC over HTTP. So my laptop, dev machine, PDA and fridge can all talk to the same Exchange account from any network. That means that I can send mail from any machine and see my sent mail on all the others.
But to ASP Exchange is going to be another $30 per month. Per account.
Email is a mess. So its great to see some focus on solving the underlying problems.
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