Tomislav Bronzin [RD&MVP]

KulenDayz Conference - Microsoft Community Regional Event of the year supported by INETA Europe!

2009-06-15T07:33:00Z

KulenDayz Conference have finished yesterday!

Microsoft Community Osijek together with Microsoft Croatia with support from INETA Europe and HUPRO (Croatian Association of Computer Programmers) organized the regional community conference KulenDayz 2009. Conference brought togather more than 150 leading IT Experts from the region giving them a chance to spend a weekend filled with 18 attractive sessions presented by top speakers (among them 12 MVP's) and to relax in Kopacki Rit-Nature Park, enjoying unspoiled nature.

Keynote speakers were:
1. Opening Speach: Bernardin Katic and Dejan Vitner (MVP's and User Group Leaders from Osijek/Croatia)
2. Supporting IT Pro and Dev Communites and how MVP's are important: Rane Johnson-Stempson from Microsoft (CEE Regional Leader for Communites),
3. Windows Azure Platform: Tomislav Bronzin (Microsoft Regional Director for Croatia) and Dobriša Adamec (both MVP's and INETA Europe Vice Presidents)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP's) that were speaking at event: Jose Luis Latorre Millas (Spain - also INETA Vice President), Matija Lah (Slovenia), Ivan Pavlovic (Serbia), Marc Gregoire (Belgium), Dejan Vitner, Bernardin Katić, Tomislav Bronzin, Dobriša Adamec, Vladan Strigo, Ivan Šaškor, Jerislav Bobic, Robert Petrunić (Croatia)

Prominent Speakers: Lorenzo Barbieri (Italy), Henk van Roest (The Netherlands), Janko Jovanović (Serbia), Radenko Zec (User Group Leader, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Vladimir Hluchy, Tomislav Piasevoli, Luka Gospodnetic, Dario Fruk, Nenad Trajkovski, Nenad Bestvina, Marin Franković, Ilija Brajković, Josip Medved (Croatia),

Agenda was presented here: http://kulendayz.mscommunity.net/Agenda/tabid/163/Default.aspx
Details about speakers: http://kulendayz.mscommunity.net/Speakers/tabid/158/Default.aspx

Presentations, demos and pictures will be published at KulenDayz Conference web site: http://kulendayz.mscommunity.net

Windows 7 API (Managed) Code Pack (former Windows Vista Bridge)

2009-06-02T07:52:00Z

For developers that want to use Windows 7 features in maanged code - there was several oportunites:
a) use directly P/Invoke or COM+
b) use some kind of wrapper (most popular was/is Windows Vista Bridge)

Now, there is (almost) official version that you can download from here: Windows® API Code Pack for Microsoft® .NET Framework (v0.85)

The following is a short list of the APIs contained in the Windows API Code Pack:
• Support for Windows Shell namespace objects, including:
         • Windows 7 libraries
         • Known Folders
         • Non-file system containers
• Windows Vista and Windows 7 Task Dialogs
• Support for Windows 7 Explorer Browser Control
• Support for Shell property system
• Windows 7 Taskbar
• Support for Windows Vista and Windows 7 common file dialogs, including custom file dialog controls
• Support for Direct3D 11.0 and DXGI 1.0/1.1 APIs
• Sensor Platform APIs
• Extended Linguistic Services APIs

Start developing for Windows 7 in managed code today!

2009-05-13T10:02:00Z

There is a lot of positive "noise" about Microsoft Windows 7 OS so I would like to help all of you trying to prepare your applications so you can be prepared when you customer demand that they run on it!
There are (almost) no breaking changes in Windows 7 for "regular" applications that are running correctly on Windows Vista, but there are advanced possibilities to use, like:

- New Windows Taskbar
   - there is no Quick Lunch area, it is recommended not to use Notification area but instead use overlaying icons, progress, thumbnails, etc.
- Support for native UI like Multi-touch, Ink, Speech
   - very nice, but you need to have HW that support it - it will be fun to play with Gestures, Touch, Inertia and Manipulation API's
- Libraries & Federated Search
   - organizing and searching content from multiple locations, without writing single line of _client_code :-)
- Ribbon
   - even there is native WIN32 API in Win7, I would prefer WPF Ribbon that is also available and requires .NET Fx 3.5 SP1
- Sensor & Location
   - again, nice toy, but there is very interesting example with Light Sensor (that most of better notebook have): adapting UI based on light Conditions: http://tinyurl.com/od7sy7
- Power, Background Processes & Services, Instrumentation & Performance
   - even you are not thinking “Green”, your customer may ask you to prolong their laptops battery life, make apps faster, etc.

So, where to start?

1. Download appropriate SDK (for Windows 7 RC 7100: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6db1f17f-5f1e-4e54-a331-c32285cdde0c&displaylang=en)

2. Get Windows Vista Bridge (wrapper around Win32 API, provided but not supported by MS): http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/VistaBridge

3. Windows 7 Developers Blog: http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/developers/default.aspx

4. Windows 7 Taskbar Wrapper: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Windows7Taskbar

5. Windows 7 Sensor Interop: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/SensorsAndLocation/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=2359

6. Office UI: http://msdn.microsoft.com/hr-hr/office/aa973809(en-us).aspx
- login with Live ID, fill the form, Finish and download

7. WPF Ribbon Preview: http://www.codeplex.com/wpf/Wiki/View.aspx?title=WPF%20Ribbon%20Preview

Happy coding!

Unified Communication Development - Updated and refreshed content

2009-05-11T16:14:00Z

Microsoft Unified Communication Development Product Team just published updated content for this very exciting Development opportunity that has been prepared for Microsoft TechEd USA!

This presentation is great overview of possible UC Dev Platform usage and application scenarios, with a lot of great examples from the field and it is just a one of number of presentations and examples on (unofficial, but very, very useful) UC Dev Team Live Spaces site: http://ucdev.spaces.live.com/

Download it from here: http://cid-a48ab95a878d471d.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Developer%20Examples/Microsoft%20UC%20Integration%20Examples.pptx

BTW, if you are interested in UC Development Platform and to learn how you can utilize it TODAY in your existing applications, consider to go to the one of the UC Dev trainings (I am delivering 2 in USA soon - Mountain View, CA and Chicago, IL).

Windows 7 RC: MSDN/TechNet Users D-day (Download-day)

2009-04-30T13:40:00Z

Today is D-day for MSDN / TechNet Users - so be patient - a LOT of people will download new State-of-the-Art Microsoft OS.

If you would like to know more, follow this link: http://live.mscommunity.net/blogs/tbronzin/archive/2009/04/26/windows-7-rc-available-on-msdn-april-30th-broader-public-may-5th.aspx

Thank you Microsoft Community Croatia for Microsoft Community Award for Contribution at WinDays 2009!

2009-04-27T00:17:14Z

Microsoft WinDays 2009 Conference was different in many ways from previous conference years (it is 9th in the row), but one thing was special: newly established “Microsoft ISV Award 2009” – delivered in cooperation between Microsoft DPE (Development Platform Evangelist) Group and Microsoft Community Croatia.

In previous years, only partners that sold the largest number of licenses or so was awarded, this year Microsoft recognized ISV’s that are contributing with their added value and making possible to use Microsoft platform and tools!

There was 4 categories:

· Most Advanced Technology Solution / Company: Nomena
· Solution with the Greatest Business Value / Company – HRPro
· Most Innovative Solution / Company: Pet minuta
· Microsoft Community Award for Contribution / Person: Tomislav Bronzin (me :-) )

I wish to thank my colleagues from Microsoft Community Croatia and Microsoft Croatia for the great honor to receive Microsoft Community Award for Contribution!

Thank you!

Windows 7 RC available on MSDN April 30th / broader public May 5th

2009-04-26T16:52:42Z

I am happy user of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 and I was very much excited when I received announcement that Windows 7 Release Candidate will be available on above dates!

Windows 7 truly is one of the best OS in the history of Microsoft OS's and I am really enjoying it's "lean and mean" technology that are delivering performance and usability to the user's built on Windows Vista foundation!

To be clear, it is not just that product is near finish line, but Microsoft is saying that they built a lot of the improvements from beta, complete list of which you can find here: http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/02/26/some-changes-since-beta.aspx and here http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/03/13/a-few-more-changes-from-beta-to-rc.aspx

My favorite improvements/features are:
1. Blazing fast boot/shutdown
2. Battery life has been prolonged a LOT!
3. Support for VHD (mount/boot)!
4. SPEED is adequate!

Microsoft WinDays 2009 - The Bigest ICT Regional Confernce, April 20-24,Croatia

2009-04-19T20:34:00Z

Microsoft WinDays 9 Business and Microsoft WinDays 9 Technology will be held in the week from April 20 to 23, 2009 in Opatija, while the WinDays 9 Virtual conference will take place virtually, that is, prior, during and after the other two conferences along with the additional virtual conference day on April 24 2009.

I have being presenting at this conference from begining 9 years in a role, delivering Keynotes, Sessions and 1-day pre-conference days!

This year I will do part of the keynote in Thuresday about Cloud Computing - Windows Azure Services, following by the whole session about this new Microsoft Application Development platform. I will also speak on two other session: about Microsoft Live Meeting and Windows Vista Gadgets.

My collegues from CITUS is also presenting:

a) Vedran Kaldi, MCT, Tuesday, "Best practices of .NET Development"

b) Dobriša Adamec, MVP, Virtual Conference, "Windows Azure"

Cloud Computing: Microsoft .NET Services SDK (March 2009 CTP)

2009-04-05T10:52:00Z

As part of effort to make development experience more productive and to expose more of the Azure Services Platform capabilities Microsoft published Microsoft .NET Services SDK (March 2009 CTP).

Microsoft .NET Services is part of the Azure Services Platform and includes three services: the Access Control Service, the Service Bus, and the Workflow Service.

This SDK includes API libraries, tools, samples, and documentation for building connected applications with the .NET platform. It spans the entire spectrum of today’s Internet applications – from rich connected applications with advanced connectivity requirements to Web-style applications that use simple protocols such as HTTP and Atom to communicate with the broadest possible range of clients.

Download it from here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8d1d1d5e-1332-4186-b33f-26d053759e49&displaylang=en

Congratulation to the new MVP's!

2009-04-01T19:15:00Z

Alessandro Teglia, Microsoft CEE MVP Lead announced new MVP's:

Name	Expertise	Country
Andrei Ignat	Visual C#	Romania
Artemiou Artemakis	SQL Server	Cyprus
Carlo Pallini	Visual C++	Italy
Dobriša Adamec	ASP/ASP.NET	Croatia
Jerislav Bobic	Windows Media	Croatia
Srdjan Božović	Visual C#	Serbia
Stanimir Stoyanov	Visual C#	Bulgaria
Vadims Podans	PowerShell	Latvia
Valter Minute	Windows Embedded	Italy
Zeljka Knezovic	Communications Server	Croatia

I am especially proud that I can say hello to the new members of Croatian MVP community and first women among them: Zeljka Knezovic!

New Cool Dev Stuff: Visual Basic QuickStarts and How-to Topics for Prism V2.0!

2009-04-01T09:48:00Z

Microsoft published some great stuff on WPF/Silverligt app dev guidance that is usefull both for Architects and Developers:

Visual Basic QuickStarts and How-to Topics for PrismV2 (Composite Application Guidance for WPF and Silverlight)
This release is provided to help Visual Basic developers use the Composite Application Library. The release includes QuickStarts, the Composite Application Library (only provided in C#), and documentation. The documentation includes:

Visual Basic Content for Composite Application Guidance for WPF and Silverlight - February 2009.chm: The QuickStarts, Hands-On Labs, and How-to Topics in Visual Basic.
Composite Application Guidance for WPF and Silverlight - February 2009.chm: Complete documentation in C#.
Composite Application Library Reference February 2009.chm: Library reference API.

The Composite Application Guidance for WPF and Silverlight is designed to help you more easily build enterprise-level Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Silverlight client applications. It will help you design and build enterprise-level composite WPF client applications—composite applications use loosely coupled, independently evolvable pieces that work together in the overall application.

TechDays 2009 - 24h Virtual Developers Event!

2009-04-01T00:51:00Z

TechDays helps you sharpen your coding skills and learn from your peers how to get the most out of the tools and technologies that you are using today to develop applications. The five (5) tracks below will offer a series of live and on-demand sessions (up to 95!) as well as quick demos providing on-demand tips & tricks:

- Windows Development and Frameworks
- Windows Mobile Development
- Office and SharePoint Development
- Developer Tools, Languages & Practices
- Web Development & User Experience

TechDays provide a number of special offers:
- 50% off Microsoft Certification exam – exclusive offer for TechDays attendees!
- Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam
- Competition with award: MSDN Premium Subscriptions

I am proud to say that my collegues Andrej Radinger Windows Mobile MVP and Josip Medved - MS Community Croatia Speaker are delivering their sessions in Wednesday!

TechDays - CEE MVP's delivering sessions!

2009-04-01T00:29:00Z

I am proud that we have CEE MVP Andrej Radinger delivering session on Windows Mobile Dev topic two times (for Hong Kong and Europe):

MBL304a Developing Mobile Solutions with Visual Studio 2008 and WM6 SDK Tools

Wednesday, April 1 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Evaluate this session

Visual Studio 2008 brings lot of improvements for mobile developers, and Windows Mobile 6 SDKs tools that allow developers easier and faster solution development. This session will show you how to effectively develop Windows Mobile client applications. You will see some of the cool features that can be easily used in you applications, such as POOM integration, SMS interception, state and notification broker and camera integration. Session will be packed with live demos and code samples.

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Languages(s): English

Level: 300

Session Type: Live Session

Speaker(s): Andrej Radinger

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MBL304b Developing Mobile Solutions with Visual Studio 2008 and WM6 SDK Tools

Wednesday, April 1 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

View Lab

Languages(s): English

Level: 300

Session Type: Live Session

Speaker(s): Andrej Radinger

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Announcing Mobility Bootcamp, May 18-22. 2009, Microsoft Innovation Center - Varazdin Croatia!

2009-03-24T19:41:00Z

Andrej Radinger (Mobile MVP) and I will deliver Mobility Bootcamp in Microsoft Innovation Center Varazdin, May 18-22. 2009, . Mobility Bootcamp is a 5-day intensive training that will cover all aspects of Windows Mobile technology: Development, OS Architecture, Solution Design and Architecture, Mobile P&P, Deployment, Messaging, Infrastructure, Best Practices, real world Case Studies. It will be a real Bootcamp, lasting 5 days from 9 am till 9 pm, with 2-3 hours of out-of-classroom activities, not IT related. Early bird is available till 04.05.2009, so be quick and register yourself :-)

More info is available here: www.mobilitybootcamp.com

METRO Trainings: Windows 7 for Developers - Croatia

2009-03-24T19:33:00Z

Tomislav Bronzin will deliver Windows 7 training, for the first time in Croatia. Training will take place in MIC Varaždin from 5th till 7th May 2009. Training is free for all Metro partners.

To participate on the training - go to the http://www.discovermetro.net portal and profile your application that will use Windows 7. After that, invite your developers to sign in for this FREE training!