Whoaaaa My First MSDN Cert !

I just recently received an email for Ms. Mellie Valimento of Microsoft.  Enclosed in the email is a link where to download the e-certificate from the MSDN training (Introducing ASP.Net and Visual Studio 2010 Web) that I attended.  I want to thank Ms. Mellie for giving us the privilege to attend this training. 

It’s really funny, a Medical Technologist seating in a training room surrounded with tech people! Me, listening with to a complicated lecture? haha… I admit I didn’t understand most parts of the lecture, like the programming part, but like what I have said in my previous post, what I did understand is the how it works  concept of ASP.net and Visual Studio.  It seems that I really need to study again and pursue my greatest frustration in life, to become a full blooded IT.. haha that if I will have the monetary means..

Here’s my first MSDN certificate which I will surely keep  and boast with friends… hehehehe :) Thanks again Miss Mellie.

@ the tech Fair @!

I had another great day today! Just came from the Tech Fair at Sm City North Edsa to help people from Microsoft to promote Windows 7.  Members of the windows7ako community gathered at the Skydome with 2 purpose, one, to promote Windows 7 and windows7ako community; and two is to talk about what it will be on the next windows7ako community meet up.  People from Microsoft like Ralphe and Mark was there to oversee the Windows 7 booth and of course the queen of MSPs, Melie was there to oversee the MS Student Partners.

The fair has a lot to offer like Windows 7 demo of course, price markdown of gadgets and tech accessories, free trial of game consoles like Wii and Play Station, free browsing from the display notebooks (haha) and free WiFi ;)

There are unexpected guests in the tech fair that amazed the crowd, the said guests are form the planet Cybertron, I guess you already know them… Yes the Transformers were there, a life size Optimus, Bumble Bee, Megatron and the red robot which I can’t recognize which faction he belong in the Transformers :)
Members of the windows7ako community managed to promote windows7ako fan page by asking people who visit the Windows 7 booth to add or become a fan of windows7ako in facebook and they said sure! That’s why the community’s population is now close to about 19,000 members.  It seems that it was just yesterday when this fan page was established, now it continues to grow and flourish.

Tthe windows7ako core group has this initial discussion about the next meet up and majority of the group wants the option number two.  What is option number two?  Well, we will discuss it once it’s finalized and approved by Miss Liezl Milan.

For now I just want to say that I had a great day again with windows7ako community and Microsoft. Thanks all! :)

Present community members are, Christopher Ryan Abary, Keith Lamera, Felix Belete, Resly Amador (the VP), Rory Creencia, Jeffrey Lacatan, Nes Vallejo, Miyer Bernabe, Orlee Pasion, John Remir Cueto, and Ervin Chuajoy who left immediately for he doesn't have the luxury of time to stay, sadly we didn't see him.  Hopefully we'll see him on the next meet-up.

Here are some of the pictures in the Cyberzone Tech Fair

 

Top form Left: Nes vallejo, Felix Balete & Keith Lamera ; Bottom from Left: Rory Creencia, Jeffrey Lacatan, Eufer Pasion and Christopher Ryan Abary.  Resly Amador is the one who took the photo.

I’m a “troll” hahaha :)

Just got home from an MSDN training about  Visual Studio and ASP.net held at the 16th floor 6750 Building, Microsoft Head Office.  Ms. Melie Valimento invited Christopher to come along.  Christopher tag along some members of the windows7ako community like Felix, Miyer, and I.  We met at Glorieta before heading to Microsoft. 

The traing is intended for tech people and web developers, but since I was invited and I’m already there, paninindigan ko na to!  I’m a techie guy but that that know it all when it comes to programming, so the lecture is kinda new for me,  too many jargons, at least in my perspective.  At least, to Christopher, Miyer, and Felix they can relate to the lecture for they have the proper background since they are IT guys.  It’s like entering another dimension of the tech world or should I say it’s like a new world to me.  Then just a thought, I really need to expand my IT knowledge and that will include learning this other side of the IT world…

True I’m a  Medical technologist by profession, but some says that I can beat some tech people in other aspects like computer troubleshooting.  I still remember I thought a computer technician in a certain computer store how to set a PATA HDD to become a slave drive (i just don’t know if he’s really a PC tech haha)

The training is good, though I felt like a “TROLL” since I can’t understand the some parts of the lecture.  But of course it’s not a waste of time, cause I learned new things like how to do websites work, how the traffic of the site is affected if the developer didn’t apply a compression algorithm, that caching is needed for every website to decrease the response time of the site when somebody will access it, etc…

The seminar was indeed very informative and comprehensive.  After the training the four of us remained and have a kwentuhan moments (chit chat)  with Miss Melie and part ways at around 10:30 PM..

Oh, I forgot to mention that Gladys Amor Dino and her friend was there too even though they were late.  Orlee Pasion  is there too.  They too are member of the windows7ako community.

I’m a TROLL… Am I? hahhaha

 

Here are some pictures on that said seminar

Post MS Visit

THE CONTINUATION OF THE STORY…

Just got home from our visit at Microsoft Philippines Head Office.  After we register our names in the 6750 building’s reception area, we rushed to the elevator and headed directly to the 16th floor where the office of MS is located.  Upon entering the the office premises we were greeted by windows7ako and Miss Chay.  We have a chit chat over coffee and some food to eat.  After eating windows7ako, Chay and Ralph told us that they will give us a tour at the 17th floor where the offices of MS people are situated.  By the way the 16th floor is intended for training rooms and event gathering only.  So it appears the we’ve seen nothing yet!

We then went to the elevator and head to the 17th floor! Upon entering the office no one said anything but WOW! The office is so colorful!  Maybe it’s the reason why people form MS are happy people! It’s a very nice environment to work! (I want to work here too hehehe)  There we met lots of people who gave us their very big welcoming smiles.  Some of them are  Mel, Isamu, and of course Ms.Liezl Milan! Miss Liezl was kinda surprised when she saw us.  We also presented a token of appreciation to windows7ako.  The token is a board made with plastic (courtesy of Rory).  Printed in the board are messages form selected windows7ako fans.  If you’ll just see their reactions upon opening the envelope, they are so surprised, amazed, thankful, teary eyed etc… windows7ako said ayyyyy naiiyak naman ako… During our tour I received text messages from other members of the community that they can’t come anymore.  Ervin, another member of the community texted me that he sent his messenger to deliver another surprise for Ms. Chay, Windows7ako, and Ms. Liezl.  We then finished their tour in their super yummy pantry.

On our way to the elevator, we met the Managing Director of Microsoft Philippines, Mr. John Bessey! Windows7ako introduced us that we are from the community, a little chit chat and have a group photo taken before we part ways with Sir John.

Back at the 16th floor we met Ervin’s messenger in the reception area, handed a gold colored box to windows7ako, opened it, and surprise! It’s a cake, but not just an ordinary cake!  It has a Windows logo and written below it is “windows7ako.”  There you have it again the teary eyed moments of the three (windows7ako, Liezl, and Chay).  We then proceeded to one of the meeting rooms and Ms. Liezl has a surprise for us too, she ordered 3 gigantic Yellow Cab pizzas for our merienda.  While having our snacks, the serious talks has begun.  Ms. Liezl discussed to us some confidential matters (which is I’m not allowed to disclose hehehe di kayo nagpunta eh, you know who you are), planning of the next meet up, how to counteract piracy, and a lot more!  She assured us that whatever our plans for the community, they’re always they to back us up.  I forgot to mention that Robert Jayson Casanova made it! Better late than never right?

We left the office at around 6PM, head back to Glorieta to meet VP Resly, just a kamustahan with him cause his wife is going to be late na for her work.  Christopher, Jeffrey, Rory, Robert, and I  stayed for a couple of hours and part ways at around 9PM…

It was a great day indeed! Ang haba ng kwento! :) Yun lang pala ang gustong sabihin  “ It was a great day!” :)

The windows7ako cake! “This cake must be preserved” hehehe windows7ako ang Miss Liezl doesn’t want to slice it! haha

From left:  Chay Mondejar-Saputil, Ms. Liezl Milan, Rory Creeencia, Eufer Pasion, Mr. John Bessey, Jeffrey Lacatan, Christopher Ryan Abarry, and Cesar Antonio Cuaresma.

Note: For secrecy purposes windows7ako volunteered to take the photo… :)

Pre MS Visit

11:24 AM, I’m here at Burger King Glorietta waiting for some friends from windows7ako fan page.  Originally this was planned by Crisstopher Ryan Abarry sometime in February because he can’t attend the grand meet up last February 17, 2010.  He asked me a favor if I can accompany him at the Microsoft Head Office once he’s here in Manila (FYI Christopher lives at Naawan, Misamis Oriental in Mindanao).  As the days go by we have this idea to tag along some friends from the windows7ako community.

Now the day has come, today March 24, 2010 at exactly 1 PM we will invade the MS head office.  Originally, the visit was scheduled on the 22nd of March, but since windows7ako (the mysterious fan page admin) is not available on that day (which we do not want to that to happen), we decided to move it on the 24th.  Christopher, Rory and Jeffrey are now here with me.  We’re still waiting for the the others to come, hope they can make it!

Oppps! It’s already 1pm and Christopher’s phone is ringing! Waaaahhh it’s Windows7ako calling! Got to go now! I’ll post some pictures later! :)

Live Mesh on Remote Desktop!

In my earlier post I have introduced and thought you how to configure the Mesh. I’ve been experimenting on Live Mesh since the day I used it.  I connected / synchronized 2 desktop PCs (my desktop PC at home and a desktop PC at my workplace) and my notebook. 

Live Mesh has this feature that allows you to connect to another computer remotely as long as it’s synchronized into your Live Mesh account.  Two days ago, using my notebook I tried to connect to my home PC remotely, and it worked! I can access my home desktop pc like I’m in front of it.  I can even access my secured drive protected by Windows 7’s BitLocker. 

I’m not that super know it all guy who can setup a remote desktop connection.  But with Live Mesh, remote desktop connection is as easy as clicking your mouse. :)

Here’s a screen capture of my work PC while I’m accessing it with Live Mesh!

Here’s how to connect to your other synchronized devices:

Go to your notification area in the taskbar, click the Live Mesh icon

Click the manage devices icon, the icon that looks like a desktop PC, then you’ll see the synchronized devices to your Mesh.  You can also see which of the devices are online in which you can connect with it remotely.

In my  case, my Work PC appears to be online.  Just click on the “Connect to device” and wait for your PC to be connected, and that’s it!  Just like I said it’s as easy as a mouse click!  (Note: Sometimes  if the remote PC is in use, the user of that PC needs to approve the connection before you can access remotely)

Pic 1. While my notebook connects remotely

Pic 2. Connected to remote PC and logging in

Pic 3. Screen Capture of my Work PC.

Window 7 Freebies? Go to Gilmore!

A lot of fans in the windows7ako fan page is asking how can they get or avail of the limited Windows 7 items like the jacket, shirts, ID lace / lanyard, button pins, pens etc.  Yesterday, after purchasing my netbook, I noticed a booth in front of a PC store along Gilmore Avenue in Quezon CIty and make usisa what is it.  I found out that the booth if from Microsoft and they are giving limited Windows 7 items.  You just need to play the Panchinko Ball, then you’ll get a Windows 7 freebie, as easy as that!  Now here’s the catch, in order to play the game you have to show a receipt indicating that you have purchased a genuine Windows 7  or any participating MS Office Product.  Haha! So what are you waiting for, rush to Gilmore now, buy a Genuine Windows 7, play the game and get your freebie! :)  It’s a simple way of Microsoft to say thank you for buying a genuine Windows 7!

P. S. Just by visiting the booth will get a free cold iced tea too ahahahaha :P

Ancient OS @ 50% Off :)

With the introduction of Windows 7 to the PC Republic (?) :), it’s clearly that it (Windows 7) outflanked the sales of its predecessors, the Vista and XP.  It’s not also surprising that PC retail stores has this difficulty of selling retail versions Vista and XP due to Windows 7’s popularity.  Who wants Vista and XP if Windows 7 has it all?  Windows 7 has clearly the speed of XP and the improved looks of Vista!

Now here’s the proof! Last week I went to Park Square 1 in Makati to buy an ink for my Mom’s printer.  During my visit to certain computer stores, I’ve seen retail versions of Windows Vista and XP displayed in a shelf with a red tag that it sells at 50% Off! :p

I’ve nothing against Windows Vista and XP since they also came from Microsoft and good OSes if I may add, but with Windows 7, anything is possible! (haha) :p

@ ---> ie9 is on the Move!

The successor of Internet Explorer 8 is already available for preview.  Though it’s still in the construction stage, Internet Explorer 9 seems very promising! The said IE9 Platform Preview is aimed at web developers and techie people.

Microsoft’s Dean Hachamovich promised that the IE9 Platform Preview will be updated every 8 weeks.  Counting from now the next update will be in mid-may and the next will be sometime in July.  He however did not mention when will be the finished product will be  made available to the public.

The said Platform Preview will only run on PCs with Windows 7, Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server R2 platforms.

I just downloaded the IE9 Platform Preview and guess what, it’s just like a skeleton (haha :)) I tried to use it to open an certain webpage and to my amazement it’s very fast in rendering the page considering that the page has lot of graphics to load!  It seems that Google’s browser Chrome has found its worthy opponent! (haha) 

Since it’s still in a preview stage, IE 9 lacks numerous features that the IE8 has.  Though it can open and render web pages, there’s no address bar, no user navigation tools, no security features such as the SmartScreen anti-malware filter and of course the favorite InPrivate Browsing. 

I know that you loved what Microsoft has done to your IE8 with all it’s useful tools and it’s security features, but the preview is just Microsoft’s way to share what have they already accomplished in developing IE8’s successor.  So if your not that super techie, risk taker, and adventurous with your PC, I suggest that you wait until the finished product is ready for you to explore!

Here is the download link for the Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview.

Oh, by the way, downloading and installing the Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview will not replace the your current IE browser such as the IE7 and IE8 on Windows Vista and Windows 7 respectively.  The Platform Preview will run alongside with your current IE browser.

Blog it with Live!

Here’s another cool stuff in the Windows Live Essentials package, the Windows Live Writer.  I’ve been using this stuff for quite sometime now and i find it better that the built-in editor in my blog site.  How better it is? Well I can write a blog post even when I’m offline, save it, and publish it when I’m connected to the cloud.  It has more tools to help me create a better looking blog post.  I can modify the photos and give it some stunning effects!  When my sister saw me using the Writer she asked me how to use it, the next day she started using it and she loved it!

It’s easy to have a Live writer in your PC you jus have to download it at http://download.live.com/writer install it in your beloved PC and start to configure it!

Here’s the step-by-step configuration of your Writer:

After installation open your Windows Live Writer.  Then start configuring it.  You have to fill in some boxes with the web address of your blog (in this case my blog address), your username and password, then click Next. Then wait until the setup is done.

 

Now a window will display the name of your blog, select it and click Next.  Live writer will now download your blog template and settings, open up a new window and that’s it, you may start to write, blog, and publish it anytime you want!

The good thing about this application is that it supports a number of blog sites like Live Spaces, Blogger, Wordpress, Sharepoint blog, TypePad etc..

So there, enjoy blogging! :)

MSE : Light, Free, and Easy

Antivirus is an essential component of a computer security, but you don’t need to spend that much to have one! A lot of free antivirus can be found in the web and always ready for download.  One of these antivirus is the Microsoft Security Essentials which is a FREE antivirus for Windows users.

Microsoft Security Essentials gives your PC a real-time protection for viruses, spyware, and malicious software.

How reliable is Microsoft Security Essentials?  To answer that I have to direct you to an independent antivirus tester.  You may view the tests done for MSE and other antivirus competitors at AV-Comparatives.org.  In their December 2009 report, MSE was qualified in their highest certification which is Advanced +.  Yes, MSE might be a new player in the security world (??? haha) and maybe you’re a bit skeptical in its capabilities.  To prove MSE’s superb capabilities, you may download the latest AV-Comparatives report here.

MSE supports Windows XP (32-bit) and Windows Vista and 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) platforms.  Now here’s the catch, during installation Microsoft Security Essentials validates your operating system so be sure that you are using a genuine Windows OS.

To learn more and download this free and reliable antivirus you may visit http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Stitch that Photo!

Have you visited a breathtaking scenery and wanted to take a panoramic photo? Typically you can capture a panoramic photo when you are using a professional camera (SLR camera) or there’s a setting in your digital camera to capture a panoramic photo.  But what if you’re just using your phone to capture the scenery or there’s no panoramic setting in your digicam and that scenery is just too large to fit in your camera screen?  Worry no more for Windows Live Photo Gallery has the solution for you!  There is this photo gallery feature called Photostich which can combine your captured photos into a panoramic view.

Now to start with, first you have to download the Windows Live Photo Gallery here. Install it and you’re ready to start making those panoramic photos.

To begin with, using your digicam or phone,  you have to capture lots photos of your breathtaking scenery, the more the merrier! Now plug in your camera upload the photos to your PC.

Open the Windows Live Photo Gallery and Choose the photos you want to combine.  In this case i have chosen 4 pictures.

Under the “Make” menu click “Create Panoramic Photo”

Wait for the stitching process. Save it and you’re done! :)

Now here’s the finish product! Four pictures equals one :) Enjoy using Windows Live Photo Gallery!

Love that Local Radio? – Plug it in your Windows Media Center!

I’ve been looking for a plug-in for the Windows Media Center which will enable me to listen to local radio stations even without a tuner installed in my system. Thanks to Keith Lamera a windows7ako fan who shared it to me.  Before, I usually go to eradioportal.com just to listen to a live feed from a local radio station but now it’s just one click away! Thanks Keith! :)

 

Here’s how:

1.  Download the plug-in at http://radiotime.com/partners/mediacenter.aspx.  The good thing is this plug-in doesn’t require installation.

2. Just drag and pin the downloaded  Radio Time plug-in into your taskbar and your done!

3. To run it, just go to your Windows Media Center jumplist and click the Radio Time plug-in and start listening with your favorite radio station! :)

Well here’s the proof…

Buy Office 2007 now and Get Office 2010 for free!

For those who tested the the Office 2010 Beta and would like to have the final version (RTM) this is your chance to get it for FREE!  Like the Windows 7 free upgrade promo if you buy a Windows Vista for a certain period of time, Microsoft offered the same thing for the Office 2010 and it’s called Microsoft Office 2010 Technology Guarantee.

Microsoft has announced that if you buy your Office 2007 anytime between March 5, 2010 and September 30, 2010, you are automatically qualified for a free upgrade when the much awaited Office 2010 will be released.

To know more about the Microsoft Office 2010 Technology Guarantee follow this link: Microsoft Office 2010 Technology Guarantee.

Hide Icon Text in your Windows 7 Desktop

By just looking at the icon in your Windows 7 desktop, it’s already obvious what’s that application is, without reading the text below.  The best example for this is your Recycle Bin icon which is a regular resident of your desktop since the birth of Windows 7’s ancestor the Windows 95.  So why not remove the the phrase “Recycle Bin” below the Recycle Bin icon since it’s already obvious that upon seeing that icon you already know that it’s the Recycle Bin.

Here’s how:

Right click your Recycle Bin icon then click Rename. Now on your keyboard press down the Alt key and type 255 on your keypad  (Note:  For this thing to work, you have to use the numeric keypad on the far right of your keyboard and be sure to turn on NumLock.)

What is Alt+255 by the way?  Well Alt+255 in the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) table is a blank character.   So in reality you are just renaming the shortcut with a blank character.

Now to rename a second icon, for example the Internet Explorer shortcut you just have to press Alt+255 twice.  AS for the third, do it three times and so fort and son on…The idea is, you cannot have two icons with the same number of blank character.

Take a look a the picture below,  you will have a nameless icon! Isn’t that sweet!?! :)

“Are you sure you want to move this file to the Recycle Bin?”

There is this delete confirmation dialogue that I find it annoying.  Every time you are going to delete a certain file, your PC will ask you, “Are you sure you want to move this file to the Recycle Bin?”  I appreciate this dialogue for security purposes, but isn’t it that deleting a certain file is what you really want to put that file out of you face? So why not deactivate that delete confirmation dialogue!

Here’s how:

Right click your Recycle Bin icon and click Properties.

You will see the Recycle Bin Properties and you’ll notice the “Display delete confirmation dialogue” checkbox.  Just uncheck that checkbox, click OK, and you’re done!

So there! No more annoying confirmation after hitting the Delete key in your keyboard! :)