What does this mean for us?

Means that it’s easier to handle RSS feeds, instead of having three RSS feeds (the way WordPress is set up) we’ve only got one RSS feed to manage.

What’s an RSS feed?

Depending on who you ask, RSS stands for different things. I first heard it was an acronym for “Really Simple Syndication”. It’s basically a way of receiving updates of your favourite websites, all in one location.

Rather than having to go to 10 different websites each morning to catch up on the news, I can power up Outlook 2007, and have all the latest updates sitting next to my email! Means that I don’t miss an update, and I spend less time searching and trying to figure out what is “new”.

How do I use RSS?

If you’re using Firefox, you’ll see a little orange RSS icon (like the one above) next to the website address, click that, and it will take you to our RSS feed, and direct you on how you can subscribe to the feed.

Other web browsers display it differently, but we have a link right at the bottom of our webpage (with that little icon) that you can click on to subscribe. (Alternatively, go to http://feeds.feedburner.com/UTSMSP)

Show me how to set it up in Outlook 2007!

Sounds like a good idea? Try it out!

1. Open Outlook 2007
2. Go to the Tools menu, and right at the bottom, select “Account Settings”
   
3. Go across to the third tab, labelled “RSS Feeds”, and click the “New” button:
   
4. Type in the RSS feed address, e.g. http://feeds.feedburner.com/UTSMSP), and click “Add”
   
5. On the next window you can select options for the RSS feed. The default options are fine, so just click “OK”
6. Now, under your “Personal Folders” in Outlook, you’ll see an “RSS Feeds” folder (with orange icon), and if you expand that, a “Microsoft Student Partners at UTS” folder!
   

What happens to your old feeds?

Nothing! If you’ve subscribed to the old feed, you’ll be seeing this new post! Our old feeds have all been combined into this new one: http://feeds.feedburner.com/UTSMSP

On a side note, good luck for exams!!

Chris

My first impressions: Live Mesh has a lot of potential.

“Live Mesh is a “software-plus-services” platform and experience from Microsoft that enables PCs and other devices to “come alive” by making them aware of each other through the Internet, enabling individuals and organisations to manage, access, and share their files and applications seamlessly on the Web and across their world of devices.”

The idea is that with Live Mesh: 

• All your devices work together.
• All your data and applications are available from anywhere.
• The people you need to connect with are just a few clicks away for simple sharing, collaborating, and learning more about them.
• You have all the information you need to stay informed.

“Through such capabilities, Live Mesh provides a seamless, “just works” experience that puts you at the center of your digital world.”

What I’m doing:

I’ve tried to put together a guide to some of the latest cool, free and cheap Microsoft software and tools, specifically targeted at students – and I’m sharing this guide through a Live Mesh Folder.

I want to show you how to get a whole range of software, really easily, and for a great price:

• The programs you use all the time, like Microsoft Office, Windows XP and Windows Vista
• The latest updates to Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Photo Gallery and more
• Microsoft’s professional developer, designer and platform tools (Visual Studio, Expression Studio, SQL Server, Windows Server, XNA)
• The latest (cutting-edge) technology like Windows Live Mesh

Over the next few days, I’ll be sending out invites to my friends, family and those of you who have subscribed to updates from www.utsmsp.com – if you want an invite to this guide, send me an email at

-Chris

What is it?

Microsoft DreamSpark is a program that provides no-cost access to Microsoft designer and development tools for verified students around the world to support and advance their learning and skills through technical design, technology, maths, science and engineering activities. This program is intended to equip tomorrow’s developers and designers (you guys!) with the professional tools to inspire and create today.

What can I get?

At www.dreamspark.com, Australian students can now download all of the following software, for free:

• Microsoft developer tools:
  • Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
  • Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
  • XNA Game Studio 2.0
  • 12-month free membership in the XNA Creators Club
• Microsoft designer tools:
  • Expression Web
  • Expression Blend
  • Expression Design
  • Expression Media
• Microsoft platform resources:
  • SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
  • Windows Server, Standard Edition

How do I get it?

Anything you make with this software can be distributed with a non-commercial license, so head over to Microsoft’s Channel 8, download the software, get your serials, and start innovating!

1. Go to www.dreamspark.com
2. Log in with your Windows Live ID (e.g. your Hotmail or Messenger email address)
   
3. Select the software you wish to download or get the license key for:
   
4. Down the bottom of the page, select the “Verify” button, to verify that you are a student. You will only have to do this once.
   
5. After you have selected “Verify”, select your country and university, and then select the “Select and Continue” button:
   
6. The webpage will prompt you for a username and password. Enter the same credentials that you would use for your UTS webmail, i.e. your UTS student number and your UTS webmail password. www.dreamspark.com will connect to UTS (auth-idp.uts.edu.au), UTS will verify your username/password, and send back to www.dreamspark.com whether you are a student or not!
   
7. Once your student status has been confirmed, go back to the software page, and the download button will now be activated. Also, a section will have appeared at the bottom of the page allowing you to get your license key for the software.
   

Woohoo! You’re now legal Go start creating!

If you’ve got any questions or comments, contact me here or here

There’s a new version of:

• Mail beta
• Messenger beta
• Photo Gallery beta
• Movie Maker beta
• Writer beta
• Toolbar beta
• Family Safety beta
• Microsoft Office Outlook® Connector beta

I’m using the new Windows Live Messenger Beta and really liking it! Apart from the cool feature of letting you be signed in to WLM in more than one location, it has a new looking interface, new features within the contact list – and that’s only what I’ve noticed in the last hour.

I know Michael likes it too. I can see it in his Windows Live Messenger status

Go check it out at http://download.live.com

-Chris

Microsoft China are coming to Australia!

As many of you know, Microsoft is a global enterprise with different subsidiaries specialising in various aspects of the business. China holds the second largest Research and Development Centre for Microsoft after the U.S.

Enwei Xie, the General Manager for Microsoft China, is coming to Australia to  discuss the great opportunities available in their R&D division.

Microsoft’s hosting a presentation to provide you with information on opportunities in China, present and future development projects as well as information on how students can apply and the steps they can expect as part of the recruitment and selection process.

The event is open to all uni students with technical interests, but Microsoft would really like to highlight this opportunity to international students interested in careers in China.

    Date: 3rd October, 2008.

    Time: 1pm-4pm

    Place: Microsoft Australia HQ – 1 Epping Road, North Ryde.

    Note: Pre-registration is a must for entry.

    Strict RSVP Deadline: 5:00pm – 29th September, 2008 to 

Here’s a quick run down of my experiences during the week (some photos below, more on Facebook):

Student Day

Tech.Ed Student Day was split into two halves: in the morning, over 1000 high school kids packed into the auditorium to hear from a range of people, one of those being Microsoft’s Senior Director of Academic Initiatives, Joe Wilson. Joe pointed out that innovation in the IT industry always seems to be pioneered by people under the age of 25 – we’ve got big shoes to fill!

What do companies like Dell, Yahoo, Microsoft, Google, AOL, Facebook all have in common? They were all started by people under the age of 25.

In the afternoon session, Joe launched a number of fantastic Microsoft initiatives: DreamSpark, Students2Business and Imagine Cup.

DreamSpark – www.dreamspark.com

Microsoft DreamSpark is a program that provides no-cost access to Microsoft designer and development tools for verified students around the world to support and advance their learning and skills through technical design, technology, maths, science and engineering activities. This program is intended to equip tomorrow’s developers and designers (you guys!) with the professional tools to inspire and create today.

At www.dreamspark.com, Australian students can now download all of the following software, for free:

• Microsoft developer tools:
  • Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
  • Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
  • XNA Game Studio 2.0
  • 12-month free membership in the XNA Creators Club
• Microsoft designer tools:
  • Expression Web
  • Expression Blend
  • Expression Design
  • Expression Media
• Microsoft platform resources:
  • SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
  • Windows Server, Standard Edition

Anything you make with this software can be distributed with a non-commercial license, so head over to Microsoft’s Channel 8, download the software, get your serials, and start innovating!

Students2Business – http://www.s2bprogram.com/Australia/

Basically what happens is this: universities and training centres work hand in hand with Aussie companies to provide students with internship opportunities. The S2B portal allows the various parties involved in the process to register in a common location and be easily linked up, matching qualified job candidates with open positions that may be suitable.

- from Andrew Parsons’ blog

The program has only just been launched, and already it’s making headlines!

Mobility *Smackdown*

Voted the most popular session at Tech.Ed last year, this year the Mobility Smackdown was sure to be a winner. This session was “A Team”-themed – all the presenters and “helpers” (us) were dressed up in army/camo gear – with a whole bunch of demos on and relating to Windows Mobile devices.

To Roger Lawrence’s delight, some of the participants ended up eating Apple and BlackBerry!! (strudel)

What do you want to carry around fruit in your pocket for? It’ll just go rotten!
– One of the many jokes about the Apple iPhone

Microsoft Surface – “the coffee table that will change the world”

Without a doubt, playing with one of Australia’s first two Microsoft Surface tables was excellent.

Microsoft Surface had barely landed in Australia, yet Tatham Oddie was able to pull together a pretty cool little application that allows you to place his Tech.Ed 2008 pass on the Microsoft Surface, and customise your Tech.Ed session timetable for the week! Pretty cool – imagine what the Amnesia guys are going to get up to with this.

Tech.Ed 2008 Student Day registrations are filling up fast! With the high school sessions already full in the morning, if you haven’t yet registered for the uni session in the afternoon, you should do so now!

Plus, every uni student who attends will walk away with over $1400 worth of software on disc! Read below for more info.

What am I talking about?

If you haven’t heard already, Microsoft’s offering students a chance to be part of Australia’s premier IT event, Tech.Ed, by designing a complimentary half-day session for uni students and lecturers.

So, What is Tech.Ed?

With over 200 sessions, 12 pre-conference workshops and 5 Pre-Day events, Tech.Ed 2008 is this year’s biggest opportunity for IT professionals to learn from the experts, explore the latest solutions and connect with colleagues and peers.

Why attend?

Get on top of the latest development trends and gain hands-on experience with the newest tools and platforms. Connect with new people, get new ideas, be a part of the experience. Tech.Ed 2008 features multiple hands-on learning and social opportunities to help you advance your career and expand your horizons.

What is Student Day?

Tech.Ed Student Day will offer the next generation of technologists a unique opportunity to be a part of Australia’s premier IT Education event. Two half-day sessions have been designed to showcase the exciting opportunities offered by a career in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

An action packed afternoon will highlight the new DreamSpark offer to University Students and the latest news from Microsoft Robotics, Expression and Live services.

With a whole lot more to offer on the day, this is an industry event that no student should miss.

What is Team SOAK?

SOAK is an integrated software and hardware platform with the aspiration of helping farmers achieve sustainable use of their land. This is achieved through the integrated use of environmental sensing, rich visual front ends to display the information to the farmer, and a subsystem which controls farm equipment such as sprinkler systems.

Read more about the team on the Imagine Cup website.

What’s Imagine Cup?

“Imagine Cup provides a forum for students around the world to explore new ways to use the power of software to help address some of the world’s toughest challenges,” The software design, embedded development and game development finalist teams created applications, devices and games using the Microsoft platform and Microsoft tools based on the Imagine Cup competition theme “Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment.”

- from Microsoft Press Release: Microsoft Announces Imagine Cup 2008 Winners

Imagine Cup 2009

Coincidentally, registrations for Imagine Cup 2009 in Egypt opened today! Michael and I will be talking about this at UTS more and more in the lead up to the event, so stay tuned. You can visit the Imagine Cup website now at http://imaginecup.com/. First place in 2009 wins USD$30,000!

Again, congrats to the Aussie team!

Update: Guys, you made the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald online!

We’d love your feedback – please fill out the short survey at the bottom of this post

Congratulations to Bryce, Liz, Robert and our other winners on the day! Thanks to Steve, Denis and Albert who lent a hand with the coordination of the event

You can view all the photos and the slides from the day on the Events page.

Don’t forget to let us know what you thought of the event below!

-Chris

View Photos and PowerPoint Slides from the event

Michael and I will be giving a 30 minute talk telling you how to get free (and cheap) stuff from Microsoft, in CB02.04.11, at 12.30pm on Tuesday 3rd June.

Everyone who comes will leave with a showbag full of free gear!

Register your interest by submitting your email address below… or just turn up on the day! Everyone who registers their interest below will go into a draw to win xbox caps and t-shirts, atomic caps and t-shirts, some Microsoft Hardware, copies of Age of Empires III, copies of Vista Ultimate, or perhaps some of the world’s first copies of Microsoft Expression Studio 2!

This wonderful brochure was created for us by Janek Krause – janekkrause@gmail.com – Thanks!