Circuitous windings in thought

NuCon 2012: Technology Leadership Conference

David Chou — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (PT)

Hyatt Regency Irvine
1700 Jamboree Boulevard
Irvine, CA 92614

http://www.neudesic.com/nucon/

NuCon 2012 is designed to give business leaders valuable insight into current technology trends. The one-day conference offers a variety of business and technical presentations led by noted experts on relevant topics that will help you build an IT strategy for the future of your company. You’ll have the opportunity to mingle with peers and experts, demo the latest technology, play Xbox Kinect games, and even win some cool prizes.

NuCon 2012 offers 12 unique sessions delivered by noted experts and geared toward Technical and Business Decision Makers, Developers, IT Professionals and Business Strategy Planners. The sessions are conveniently organized in three general categories to make it easy for members of your organization to select the topics most relevant to their role. A General Admission ticket allows attendees to customize the conference to fit their specific interests.

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Windows Phone 7 at Hacker Dojo Quadrathlon

David Chou — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:13:56 +0000

30 to Launch: A Windows Phone App and Your Moment in the Spotlight!

From Nov 14-Dec 14 2011, we are throwing down a challenge and an opportunity to HackerDojo members. Join us over these 4 weeks to build a Windows Phone app! Your app might get an opportunity for a moment in the spotlight! Plus, you could win a Windows Phone- yours to keep after you submit your app to the Windows Phone Marketplace!

November 14, 7pm–9:30pm

Session 1: Windows Phone 7.5: Overview for Developers. Building Applications with Visual Studio® and Silverlight®
Speakers: Matt Harrington, Kevin Ashley
Event info: 30 to Launch – Windows Phone – Coding Camp – Week 1

To get started, do the following pre-requisites:
a) Complete the Windows Phone Training & Set up your machines
b) Download Windows Phone Tools SDK
c) Register at Windows Phone Marketplace*
On site, we will have sessions (and pizza!), and support:
Loaner Windows Phones are available on site at the Hardware Lab for you to play with.
We’ll also give the first 50 participants who are onsite and register on the Marketplace a token for the $99 fee *

November 22, 7pm–9:30pm

Session 2: Windows Phone Live Tiles and Push Notifications. Building Applications in the Cloud with Windows Azure™
Speaker: Kevin Ashley
Event info: 30 to Launch – Windows Phone – Coding Camp – Week 2

We will make available Windows Phones loaners for specific “augmented reality” projects.

November 29, 7pm-9:30pm

Session 3: Monetizing a Windows Phone 7.5 Application. Fun and Games Development
Speaker: Kenny Spade
Event info: 30 to Launch – Windows Phone – Coding Camp – Week 3

Labs: Keep Working on App Development. In-lab session this week. We will make available Windows Phones loaners onsite.

December 6, 7pm-9:30pm

Go Live! Publish App to Windows Phone Marketplace! We will have a session during the week to help!
Speaker: Kevin Ashley
Event info: 30 to Launch – Windows Phone – Coding Camp – Week 4

We will be cheering you on!
PLUS:

Up to 50 participants with apps in development **will get a Windows Phone device**! Plus we will give you a Marketplace token if you didn’t apply for it in Week 1 – subject to remaining supplies*).
Showcase Opportunity! Subject to meeting the 30 to Launch showcase app criteria, your app becomes eligible for a Showcase! Details and Terms and Conditions coming soon!

Lastly, some details:
* $99 registration fee applies. We will provide up to a maximum of 50 tokens good for a free registration to the Windows Phone marketplace, to the first 50 onsite that register on the marketplace. Windows Phone Marketplace terms and conditions apply to your use of the Marketplace.
**Not available to Government or Public Sector Employees. Microsoft employees are also not eligible for this offer. Limited to one phone device per person. Participants remain responsible for acquiring a calling plan and for all related charges and taxes in connection with the Windows Phone.
***We will be giving away one Windows Phone Device each to a maximum of 50 winners based on a random drawing on the last session on Dec 6, 2011. Detailed terms and conditions are listed here

Campaign Participation Eligibility:
- Participants must be US residents 18+ or older – Microsoft employees are not eligible for the marketplace rebate or device
- Not available for Government or Public Sector Employees

What’s new in Windows Phone 7.5

Improved Live Tiles. The Live Tiles on Start dish up more (and quicker) updates on your apps, and they’re also a whole lot of fun—the Pictures Tile animates with a slideshow of your favorite snapshots and Group Tiles flash your friends’ latest updates.

Threads. Start with a text, and finish in Facebook or Messenger chat (or vice versa). The whole conversation stays in one thread, and all it takes to switch back and forth is a tap. See how

App Connect. Get the app you need—sometimes before you even know you need it. Search the web, and alongside the usual results you’ll see apps you can use—like a movie app when you’re looking up showtimes. You’ll also see photo apps in the Pictures Hub and music apps in Music + Videos.

Visual voicemail. See your voicemails in a list, then listen to them on your phone.

And many, many, many more… find out here.
Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Windows Phone Night Parties Los Angeles – Nov 30 & Dec 1, 2011

David Chou — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:30:21 +0000

Join us for one of our exclusive events across the U.S. and get a first look at the hottest new Windows Phones such as the HTC Titan, HTC Radar, Samsung Focus S and Samsung Focus Flash. You know Windows Phone is packed with killer social integration, a wide variety of games and apps, and a ton of other great features, now come see it all on cool new hardware.

See where the night takes you when you challenge your friends to a Fruit Ninja battle, or chill out in one of our device lounges as you sip cocktails and sample good eats from top local chefs. Plus, catch live performances from today’s best indie bands like Matt & Kim or Young the Giant. These events are FREE, brought to you by Windows Phone, the phone that puts people first. Tickets are very limited, so be sure to reserve yours today on our Windows Phone Facebook page.

Los Angeles

November 30 & December 1

Featuring: MuteMath

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

TechNet Events Presents: The Pathway to the Private Cloud

David Chou — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:31:47 +0000

Get Ready for Tomorrow, Today – Hyper-V Virtualization for the Cloud

Virtualization is one of the critical elements of networks operations of all kinds. Virtualization is a key to cloud operations. Joins us as we discuss the key components of virtualization that provide the operational foundation for both Public and Private Cloud.

Private Cloud 201: Microsoft Private Cloud Tools and Technologies

So you have heard the private cloud story from a 101 level and you want to know more. Join us as we discuss Private cloud in greater detail with a focus on the tools and technologies that make Private Cloud such an appetizing It and business opportunity for business both large and small.

Ask More Questions! Attend an Afternoon IT Camp!

These are informal event where the true agenda is up to you. That’s right, we will have a list of topics (such as ways to get on Windows Server 2008 R2) plus your write-in topic(s) and we will put it to a vote. The ones that get the most votes will be the ones that get discussed. This will be very interactive and works best with participation from everyone. We look forward to having you join us for this new informal event.

For more information or to register,
visit > www.technetevents.com
OR CALL 1-877-MSEVENT

Location	TechNet	IT Camp
Bellevue	November 14	November 14
Los Angeles	November 14	November 14
Denver	November 15	November 15
Tempe	November 17	November 17
Mountain View	November 18	November 18
Portland	November 18	November 18
Lehi	December 6	December 6

TechNet Events Presents: The Pathway to the Private Cloud
8:30 PM – 12:30 PM

IT Camp

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Seating is limited,
so register today.

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

More Windows Azure DevCamps in December 2011

David Chou — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:01:11 +0000

Event Locations

12/2 – Santa Monica, CA

12/13 – Redmond, WA

12/15- Phoenix, AZ
Events run from
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Register
To register or to view
the full agenda, select
a location above.

Come join us for 1 day of cloud computing!
Developer Camps (DevCamps for short) are free, fun, no-fluff events for developers, by developers. You learn from experts in a low-key, interactive way and then get hands-on time to apply what you’ve learned.
What am I going to learn at the Windows Azure
Developer Camp?

At the Azure DevCamps, you’ll learn what’s new in developing cloud solutions using Windows Azure. Windows Azure is an internet-scale cloud computing and services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers. Windows Azure provides an operating system and a set of developer services used to build cloud-based solutions. The Azure DevCamp is a great place to get started with Windows Azure development or to learn what’s new with the latest Windows Azure features.

Agenda

8:00	Arrival and Registration
9:00	Welcome
9:15	Getting Started with Windows Azure
10:00	Session 2 – Using Windows Azure Storage
11:00	Break
11:15	Session 3 – Understanding SQL Azure
12:15	Lunch
1:15	Session 4 – Securing, Connecting, and Scaling
2:15	Break
2:30	Session 5 – Azure Application Scenarios
3:30	Session 6 – Launching Your Azure App

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Windows Azure DevCamps Silicon Valley | October 28-29, 2011

David Chou — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:57:07 +0000

Event Location

Mt. View, CA
Date Oct. 28-29, 2011
Time 8:00AM – 6:00PM Location
Silicon Valley Center
1065 La Avenida St Building 1
Mt. View, CA 94043
REGISTER NOW >>
Events run from
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Featured Presenter

James Conard
James Conard is the Senior Director of the Windows Azure Evangelism team at Microsoft. His team is responsible for helping developers build applications in Windows Azure by providing key development resources including toolkits, samples, and training kits and by engaging with the community through conferences, training events and Developer Camps.
We’ll also see presentations from: Bruno Terkaly , Wade Wegner, Roger Doherty, Nick Harris and Bruno Nowak

Come join us for 2 days of cloud computing!

Developer Camps (DevCamps for short) are free, fun, no-fluff events for developers, by developers. You learn from experts in a low-key, interactive way and then get hands-on time to apply what you’ve learned.

What am I going to learn at the Windows Azure Developer Camp?
At the Azure DevCamps, you’ll learn what’s new in developing cloud solutions using Windows Azure. Windows Azure is an internet-scale cloud computing and services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers. Windows Azure provides an operating system and a set of developer services used to build cloud-based solutions. The Azure DevCamp is a great place to get started with Windows Azure development or to learn what’s new with the latest Windows Azure features.

Come for one day, come for both. Either way, you’ll learn a ton. Here’s what we’ll cover.
Agenda

Day 1

• Getting Started with Windows Azure

• Using Windows Azure Storage

• Understanding SQL Azure

• Securing, Connecting, and Scaling Windows Azure Solutions

• Windows Azure Application Scenarios

• Launching Your Windows Azure App

Day 2

On Day 2, you’ll have the opportunity to get hands on developing with Windows Azure. If you’re new to Windows Azure, we have step-by-step labs that you can go through to get started right away. If you’re already familiar with Windows Azure, you’ll have the option to do build an application using the new Windows Azure features and show it off to the other attendees for the chance to win prizes. Either way, Windows Azure experts will be on hand to help.

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Free HTML5 Training | August 19, 2011 | Los Angeles

David Chou — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:20:19 +0000

As developers, you keep hearing a lot about HTML5, but many don’t know what it actually means or is truly capable of. If you want to learn about it, your choices are limited; you can either pick up a book or attend an expensive conference that often only scratches the surface. The HTML5 Web Camp is an opportunity to connect with designers and developers and show you what’s possible, and how you can start using it today. HTML5 WebCamp is a completely free event, and will start with demos and presentations, and will end with hands on lab sessions, that will allow you to walk through materials and get your questions answered! Space is limited.

Date: August 19, 2011; 8:30am – 5:30am

Here is a list of topic will be covered at the Los Angeles WebCamp:

Introduction to HTML 5 and IE9
Introduction to CSS3
Overview of HTML5 Graphics with Canvas & SVG
Adding Video, and Sound with HTML5
Practical HTML5: Using It Today
Hands on Labs

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Crowdsourcing Discussion at Caltech | June 11, 2011

David Chou — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:39:59 +0000

Crowdsourcing, as a method of leveraging the massive pool of online users as resources, has become a viable set of techniques, tools, and marketplaces for organizations and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and generate value. It is applied effectively in a variety of explicit/implicit, and systematic/opportunistic models: collective intelligence (Wikipedia, Yelp, and Twitter analytics); collaborative filtering (Amazon’s product and Netflix’s movie recommendation engines); social tagging (del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, and Digg); social collaboration (Amazon’s Mechanical Turk); and crowdfunding (disaster relief, political campaigns, micropatronage, startup and non-profit funding, etc.)

An entrepreneur can utilize crowdsourcing tools for funding and monetization, task execution, and market analysis; or implement crowdsourcing as a technique for data cleansing and filtering, derived intelligence, etc. However, leveraging crowdsourcing also requires an entrepreneur to navigate a complex landscape of questions. How is it different from outsourcing? Is it truly cost-efficient? What motivates individual contributions? How to grow and sustain an active community? How to ensure quality or service level? What are the legal and political implications? Join us for a program which explores such questions, and the use of crowdsourcing to match specific needs to an available community.

Come interact with the local community, and an esteemed group of speakers which includes Peter Coffee (VP, Head of Platform Research at
Salesforce.com), Dana Mauriello (Founder and President at ProFounder), Michael Peshkam (Founder and CEO at IamINC), Nestor Portillo (Worldwide Director, Community & Online Support at Microsoft), Arvind Puri (VP, Interactive at Green Dot), and Alon Shwartz (Co-Founder & CTO at Docstoc.com).

June 11 9am-11am. Visit the website for more details and registration information – http://www.entforum.caltech.edu/

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

BUILD | 2011.09.13-16 | Anaheim, CA

David Chou — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:52:38 +0000

BUILD is the event that shows you how to take advantage of the future of Windows. Get insight on creating touch-centric user experiences, fast, fluid, and dynamic applications that leverage the power and flexibility of the core of Windows, used by more than a billion people around the world. Learn how to create powerful new apps while retaining the ability to use your existing apps. See how web-connected and web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript have full access to the power of the PC. Explore how the full power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10 transforms your experiences with the web. See how the UI was designed to work seamlessly with a diversity of devices and form factors. BUILD is the first place to dive deep into the future of Windows.

If you are a contemporary developer, who thrives on the newest and coolest, who loves the freedom of the web and the power of all devices from mobile to desktop, you need to join us to help BUILD the future. Our approach means no compromises—you get to use whatever kind of device you prefer to run the apps you love.

In 1995, Windows changed the PC. BUILD will show you that Windows 8 changes everything.

Connect with us

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou

Event – XAPFest LA 2011 Saturday, June 4th, 2011 | 9AM – 10PM

David Chou — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:48:20 +0000

XAPFest LA 2011

Saturday, June 4th, 2011 | 9AM – 10PM

Loews Santa Monica

1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90401 | (310) 458-6700

*Registration is required

about XAPFest

XAPFest is a Windows Phone 7 Hackathon for developers of every background and skill level. iOS and Android developers, .NET veterans, and curious programmers who want to try their hand at programming for Windows Phone 7 are all invited! It is a great opportunity to get to learn new technologies, meet members of the SoCal tech community, code, and have fun!

XAPFest consists of 1 full day of hacking – breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus snacks and drinks will be provided. This is a BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) Event. Please remember to install the free WP7 tools and SDK before the event begins, and if you don’t have a copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7 (required to install the WP7 tools), you can request a Windows 7 license. Loaner Windows Phone 7 units will be available to teams and individuals for the purposes of testing apps.

the prizes

Best App – $2000 (sponsored by Infragistics) & Windows Phone 7 device

Best Original App – $500 AMEX gift card & Windows Phone 7 device

Best Port – $500 AMEX gift card & Windows Phone 7 device

User’s Choice – XBOX 360 with Kinect & Windows Phone 7 device

rules for apps to be eligible

Applications must NOT already be in the Windows Phone 7 marketplace
Applications CAN be worked on before the event but must not be in the marketplace prior to the event
Teams CAN submit multiple applications and all CAN be submitted for the $2000 Grand Prize
Teams are limited to 3 or less members

event schedule

June 4, 2011	XAPFest LA 2011
9:00am	Doors open
9:30am	Welcome & Announcements
9:45am	Coding begins
12:00pm	Lunch
6:00pm	Coding ends
6:30pm	Reception and Dinner; judges begin reviewing apps
9:00pm	Judging is finished, Top 10 Windows Phone 7 Apps Presentation & Awards
10:00pm	Winners are announced

registration

Click here to see the full XAPFest event schedule. Registration is required

Cross-posted from my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/dachou