Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Fire!
Yesterday morning, I had to run several errands before heading into the office. I left home about 7:30 and by 10:15 I was walking down the hall to my office when my cell phone wrang. The call on the other end was not good. There had been a fire at my apartment. I rushed back home as quickly as possible. The fire department was in the middle of mopping up the three alarm blaze.
I live in a three story building. I'm in the second story apartment on the left. Bottom line, the fire was contained to the third floor. Due the the construction on the building, I did not have any water damage. There is minor smoke damage. All my stuff was untouched. I'm doing fine. I am staying with friends for a few days, but authorities expect I'll be back in my apartment by the end of the week. It could have been much worse. I doubt I'll even make the deductible on my insurance.
News stories and pictures are here:
http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_057113056.html
http://kutv.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_057111601/view?slide=0
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=930874
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2507590&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6c59d93d-570d-4744-bd22-6634dd9bd0e9
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5313108
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199125,00.html
I live in a three story building. I'm in the second story apartment on the left. Bottom line, the fire was contained to the third floor. Due the the construction on the building, I did not have any water damage. There is minor smoke damage. All my stuff was untouched. I'm doing fine. I am staying with friends for a few days, but authorities expect I'll be back in my apartment by the end of the week. It could have been much worse. I doubt I'll even make the deductible on my insurance.
News stories and pictures are here:
http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_057113056.html
http://kutv.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_057111601/view?slide=0
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=930874
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2507590&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6c59d93d-570d-4744-bd22-6634dd9bd0e9
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5313108
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199125,00.html
Update: Here's a picture from one of the news sites. My apartment is circled.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
VFP 9.0 earn Vista Logo
There are different Vista logos that an application can earn. The most stringent is "Certified for Windows Vista". Micosoft says, "The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo is a compatibility designation for applications and devices that have passed a rigorous testing program on computers that are running Windows Vista. The technical requirements for this designation target four core areas: reliability, security, compatibility with Windows Vista and future operating systems, and installation and removal."
The second Vista logo program is "Works with Windows Vista". Here's what Microsoft says about it, "The "Works with Windows Vista" logo is a compatibility designation that is designed to encourage Windows Vista compatibility for the current generation of Windows-based applications. To receive this designation, software companies test their applications to make sure that the applications meet the program's guidelines."
Visual FoxPro 9.0 has earned the Works with Windows Vista logo. You can see the current list here.
The second Vista logo program is "Works with Windows Vista". Here's what Microsoft says about it, "The "Works with Windows Vista" logo is a compatibility designation that is designed to encourage Windows Vista compatibility for the current generation of Windows-based applications. To receive this designation, software companies test their applications to make sure that the applications meet the program's guidelines."
Visual FoxPro 9.0 has earned the Works with Windows Vista logo. You can see the current list here.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Virtual PC 2007
Microsoft is busy rolling out Vista compatable software. Yesterday it was SQL Server 2005, SP2. Today it's Virtual PC 2007 that can use Vista as both a host and client. Robert McLaws says this "may be the last-stand alone virtulization software Microsoft ever releases." VPC 2007 is a free download.
Monday, February 19, 2007
SQL Server 2005, SP2
In case you've missed the word, SQL Server 2005, Service Pack 2 is now available here. What's new and improved is available here. One of the biggest things is that the SP fixes Vista compatability problems!
Are you lazy?
Are on-line technical forums breeding lazy developers? As usual, Andy is right on the nose in his post.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Will Jim Allchin's Retirement Affect Windows Development?
With the launch of Vista this week, comes the official retirement of Jim Allchin, who has headed up Windows development for some time. I've heard Jim speak several times. I like his approach, his frankness, his openness. He's very personable. I'll miss Jim's presentations at the MVP Summit.
With Jim now gone, Windows ownership is being given to Steve Sinofsky. Steve has run the Office division for many years and has a reputation of delivering quality releases on time. In contrast to Jim, Steve is a terrible presenter. His voice is monotone and nasaly. He is very much down to business with no humor. I am not looking forward to hearing him present again.
Steve is also more reserved in giving out information. The Office group has not blogged as openly as the Windows group. It has not given out as much information before releases as the Windows team has.
Windows is much bigger and much more complex than Office. There are more issues to deal with. More compatability problems. Time will tell if Steve can get quality releases out more quickly.
Update: Looks like I'm not the only one that will miss Jim and/or concerned about the future. See here, here, and here.
With Jim now gone, Windows ownership is being given to Steve Sinofsky. Steve has run the Office division for many years and has a reputation of delivering quality releases on time. In contrast to Jim, Steve is a terrible presenter. His voice is monotone and nasaly. He is very much down to business with no humor. I am not looking forward to hearing him present again.
Steve is also more reserved in giving out information. The Office group has not blogged as openly as the Windows group. It has not given out as much information before releases as the Windows team has.
Windows is much bigger and much more complex than Office. There are more issues to deal with. More compatability problems. Time will tell if Steve can get quality releases out more quickly.
Update: Looks like I'm not the only one that will miss Jim and/or concerned about the future. See here, here, and here.
Vista/Office Launch
I attended the Salt Lake City Vista and Office launch yesterday. The morning was spent manning the Community table, where we promoted local user groups, the upcoming Salt Lake Code Camp, and the Family Vista Night. I think it was a great success. Last night when I got home, I had two emails from people wanting to get on the Fox User Group list and others at the event asked about it.
In the afternoon I went to the Developer track. Not much code was shown. It was mostly a showing and explanation of new features such as Sidebar (bleh), and the very cool .Net 3.0 capabilities. I saw some new WPF examples that I will need to explore soon.
In the evening, I went to dinner with two of the speakers, Harold and Rob, our Rocky Mountain Developer Evangelist, Ani, the head of the Utah .Net User Group, Aaron, and the local Regional Director, Scott. It was more fun that the event itself!
If you haven't been to the Vista/Office launch in your area yet, make plans to go. You'll get a FREE copy of Office 2007. This is a full blown copy, not an eval version. Find the event in your area here.
In the afternoon I went to the Developer track. Not much code was shown. It was mostly a showing and explanation of new features such as Sidebar (bleh), and the very cool .Net 3.0 capabilities. I saw some new WPF examples that I will need to explore soon.
In the evening, I went to dinner with two of the speakers, Harold and Rob, our Rocky Mountain Developer Evangelist, Ani, the head of the Utah .Net User Group, Aaron, and the local Regional Director, Scott. It was more fun that the event itself!
If you haven't been to the Vista/Office launch in your area yet, make plans to go. You'll get a FREE copy of Office 2007. This is a full blown copy, not an eval version. Find the event in your area here.
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