Heroes Happen {Here} Launch Malaysia

Heroes Happen {Here} was a premier launch event held by Microsoft in KLCC, a launch wave which showcased and demonstrated the new release of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. The event was started with 3 hours long keynote, which featured opening speech, some videos, keynote presentation, demos on 3 new products, customers' stories(Cinema Online, Genting, Carsem), IT Heroes prize giving ceremony, and interview with people from HP and Intel. New features and technologies of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 were shown along 3 tracks(3 sessions per track), and as usual, Hands-on Lab was available for attendees to try out the new products. Besides that, Microsoft's partners and exhibitors like HP, Dell, Sun... had their booth set up for exhibition. There was also a Ask The Experts session where the speakers from Microsoft answered some toughest question thrown by developers and IT Pros attended that day.

Here are some shots from the event:

- We are the {Heroes}


- Keynote


- Exhibitor Booth


- Hands-on Lab


- Waiting for lucky draw announcement...


- One of the running track sessions


- Guess what they were queuing for... read on


- Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 for free!
This is what they walked away after queued up so long to submit the complete answers in Amazing Heroes Race


- The package comes with this Vista Ultimate SP1 full DVD and a Windows Live disc which includes Windows Live Services and 90 days free trial of Windows Live OneCare.

It was a great event by Microsoft, besides Vista Ultimate, many free stuffs were given out on that day, e.g. Microsoft's books, training vouchers, MS wireless desktop, iPod Touch, thumbdrives, Trial CDs/DVDs, T-shirts... I think I haven't mention that this was a free event!

Interested to know how to play with new features of these products?
Here are the Heroes happen {here} Hands On Lab manuals.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Released

Microsoft finally released the first Service Pack for Windows Vista. Vista SP1 includes all the security updates and hotfixes released to date and comes with quite number of improvements and changes. Users can expect improvements on performance, power consumption, compatibility, security and reliability from SP1, however some reviews on SP1 RTM showed negative results in some of the tests. More reviews on SP1 will be available after series of tests and evaluations, by that time we would able to see how good is SP1 performs.
Vista SP1 is available via Windows Update, a copy of it is also available for download at Microsoft Download Center, 434.5MB for version 32bit and 726.5MB for version 64bit.
Nevertheless, I would prefer a clean install with a copy of Vista+SP1.

Check out "Notable Changes in Windows Vista SP1"
Get Vista SP1

Microsoft Tech•Ed SEA 2007 in KLCC

This year Tech•Ed SEA was mostly about Visual Studio Team System, SharePoint products and technologies, SQL Server, .NET, Silverlight, Expression Studio, WPF(Windows Presentation Foundation), WCF(Windows Communication Foundation), WWF(Windows Workflow Foundation), XNA, LINQ, System Center 2007, Office Communication Server 2007, VSTO, ASP.NET, AJAX, Open XML, Windows Live, Security, Forefront, Cardspace, Office 2007, Vista and Microsoft next trio releases - Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 that across all the 7 tracks(WIN, DEV, EDM, OFC, ARC, SYS, WEB/UX) and 4 instructor led labs(IT Pro, DEV, .NET U, Hands on Lab).
There were also a lot of activities like Live Fest, guess my price contest, twin tower building contest, PC Games, Women In Technology, Sumorobot clinic and competition...

Some shots from the event:

Keynote session

The exhibition hall

One of the track session

Dinner served along the foyer on the first day

.Net University lab - too small...

Slides and manuals download at the Internet Cafe

One year earlier...

Collect the bot plans and build

Meet the .Net Bot after 100 minutes of hardwork

Windows Live Hotmail Upgrades

Microsoft is upgrading Hotmail, one of the changes is the mailbox storage, increases from 2GB to 5GB for free users.

Besides that, other upgrades are:
- upgrades in performance and quality of services
- increase the time of junk mail and deleted items stay in mailbox
- show blocked content with single click
- contacts de-duplication feature -- prevent duplicate contacts
- phishing reporting feature
- able to forward mail from Hotmail account to other accounts
- option to turn off the Today page(MSN News)
- cobranded e-mail for organizations who uses Hotmail e-mail hosting
- auto vacation replies
- right-to-left languages support
- more space with smaller header
Read full story

Microsoft upgrades on Hotmail service keep it strong in webmail competition, with storage ahead of Google Gmail(2.8GB), but Yahoo still offering the most with unlimited storage.

I have several Hotmail accounts, one of it still is MSN Hotmail, just upgraded it to Windows Live Hotmail, and it is now 5GB and implemented with the new upgrades, but my existing Windows Live Hotmail still remains at 2GB with no new features.
Anybody has see the upgrades?

Microsoft Tech•Ed SEA 2007

Microsoft Tech•Ed SEA 2007, one of the largest event in the year will be held at KL Convention Center for 4 days start from 10th to 13th September. The event is Microsoft's premier and largest annual conference in South East Asia(as stated Tech-Ed "SEA"), focuses on current and upcoming soon-to-be-released Microsoft products.

In this event, you get to learn about the latest products based on Microsoft technology in 100+ breakout sessions that based on 6 core technical tracks, and get hands-on experiences with the latest products from Microsoft and its partners. It is a good opportunity to learn from technical experts, hear from Microsoft's product team, listen to industry gurus, networking with peers, and enjoy food and drink in the event.

Check out new products like Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office System, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Windows Server code name "Longhorn", ASP.NET AJAX, Visual Studio 2008, Silverlight and more...











After "Change Your Destiny" last year,
"Prepare to make your mark" this year







Tech•Ed SEA 2007 promotions (Original price:RM1299):
-Register by 15th August save RM400 and stand a chance to attend Visual Studio Live! or Tech•Ed Europe
-Register in a group of 5 or more save RM100 for each person

The event is open to trade visitors for free on day 2 & day 3 from 2pm to 6pm.
Is there anyway to get into Tech•Ed for free? You can work as a part of the event, e.g. PC setup, event assistant, ... or become a journalist, Microsoft Student Partner, ... and ...

Windows Vista & 2007 Office System

Finally...Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office System launched, and the consumer at Taiwan will be the first in the world to get Windows Vista and Office 2007.
Microsoft started their "Wow" campaign around the world, and there are 2000 limited copies of Windows Vista that signed by Bill Gates in this big event.

As for us, Microsoft Malaysia will have the "Wow" campaign at Low Yat Plaza on 3rd and 4th Feb. 4 copies of limited edition Windows Vista that signed by Bill Gates will be given away in the "Amazing Vista Walk Hunt". Participation must be in group of 3-4 person in order to win the limited edition of Vista, but the problem is how to share the free Vista among the team members if only a copy of Vista is given to the winning team? We will see...
The launching ceremony will start at 8pm on this Saturday (3 Feb).
The event also bring live performance by K Town Clan and some dance workshops.
Still deciding whether to have a look at the event, will Microsoft give away free stuff at the event?
As for today, Microsoft will have "Business Value Launch" at KL Convention Center. This event talks about 2007 Microsoft Office System, Windows Vista and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 on business sides. Microsoft shows you the L.O.V.E. (Launch of Office 2007, Vista, Exchange Server 2007).