Not too long ago, Casey Chesnut, and I both were dreaming of the day when we could create our own Xbox 360 games.

It looks like that day may be fast approaching:

Microsoft Takes Hobbyist Programming Tools to Gamers
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,2003102,00.asp

A chance to create your own Xbox game
Microsoft's new kit will allow users to make games for console as well as Windows.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/14/news/companies/microsoft.reut/index.htm

Xbox Live on Windows Vista Has a Name: Panorama
http://www.longhornblogs.com/robert/archive/2006/08/11/16579.aspx

Looks like someone already told Casey. I like to think we did our part. ;)

Everybody has one, an old computer, maybe even an old server, that they have no idea what kind of memory it takes, how much it can hold, or how much it would cost to upgrade the beast. Sure you could lookup motherboard, and memory module part numbers and find out yourself. But now there's an easier way:

The Crucial System Scanner automatically detects your computer's information and gives you the details you need to purchase a compatible upgrade. To run the Crucial System Scanner, you need Microsoft Windows 95 or higher.

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

Try it, you'll like it!

Click Here for Driving Directions

Directions to the Classroom
Enter the McLeod Medical Plaza using the 800 Cheves St. entrance (Bottom Right-Hand Corner of Map)
Take a left and look for room (PC - Plaza Classroom) it’s on the first floor.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/crane.asp

Apparently there has been a rash of cranes falling out of the sky in past years, which we're even seeing down here in Florence, South Carolina now:

Well, its only a hundred degrees outside with the humidity at 200%. At least it was the old AC unit. It looks like there were some shrubs keeping them from extending that 4th leg on the crane, if you look at the third picture above - you can't see it ;). I hate when that happens.

I've really been a big fan of the Object-Relational mapping (or O/RM) tool LLBLGen Pro. I am very cautious around the average code generator because most box you up inside their black box code. As soon as you need to do something just a little outside the box, you've made your situation worse not better.

The new version has support for nullable types, and even more support for Visual Studio 2005 databinding. Also LLBLGen Pro can generate Compact Framework SQL CE data access layers. If you use it for nothing else, you'll be better off.

I'll try to do a review in the next few weeks.

LLBLGen Pro helps you build solid n-tier .NET applications fast and easy.

LLBLGen Pro is a real time saver for software developers: development time can be decreased by over 50%! LLBLGen Pro generates a complete data-access tier and business façade/support tier for you (in C# or VB.NET), using an existing database schema set. In seconds.

LLBLGen Pro lets software developers focus on the real deal: business logic code, instead of them having to hammer out endless lists of almost the same routines. You design your database schema's with the abstract modelling tools you always use (for example a NIAM/ORM designer like Visio, or an E/R modeller), and LLBLGen Pro takes care of the rest. All you have to do next is modify some of the names LLBLGen Pro has given entities and fields if necessary, and generate code.

LLBLGen Pro comes with a rich, state-of-the-art user interface, which doesn't require an expensive IDE to run. You design your Business Façade tier's functionality inside this designer until you think you're done.

Redmond Channel Partner Online  Driving Success in the Microsoft Partner Community

If you are a Microsoft Certified Partner, or a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, or have ambitions of being one some day, then consider getting a FREE print or PDF subscription.

It looks like all of the back issues are online in the archive.

It a valuable resource, from the one issue I've found time to read so far.

I almost missed this myself. I knew MapPoint 2006 was due to come out in May, but it appears as if it has been available since "4/27/2006 8:54:04 PM". It has really been needing an update. I'll have to try and find time to install it. I've been using Streets & Trips 2006 for travel and its a great product.

I just purchased a year's subscription for all of my machines, being able to install it on up to three PCs really helps. Not much time left on this deal.

"From now up until May 1^st, beta customers in the U.S. can get their first year of OneCare for only $19.95.  We think this is a great deal, especially considering OneCare is licensed for up to three PCs (and certified)."

Windows Live OneCare - has antivirus, antispyware, backup, tune-up and firewall protection.

Here's the official Windows Live OneCare blog if want the inside story.

A useful tool for keeping on on what and when Webcasts are happening.

Interactive Microsoft Webcast Calendar

This interactive calendar will quickly help you find live webcasts that fit your schedule as well as on-demand webcasts to view at your convenience. You can choose your time zone and filter this list by intended audience, webcast series, product or topic, and presenter. Select "Filter Webcast Listings" below to access the filters.

Download or Order Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition for Free Published:
April 3, 2006

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx

The following full versions of Virtual Server 2005 R2 are available for download or to pre-order on CD:

• Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition (32-bit)
• Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition (64-bit)

[A very competitive and wise move on Microsoft's part I would say.]

"IntelliSense Code Snippets are reusable, task-oriented blocks of code. Visual Studio 2005 includes code snippets covering tasks ranging from creating a custom exception, to sending an e-mail message, to drawing a circle."

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/codesnippets/

1. Application Code Snippets : For working with Isolated Storage, ClickOnce tasks, Console Applications and Process Management.
2. Collections and Arrays Code Snippets : For tasks like creating, iterating, locating elements, and sorting collections like arrays and dictionaries.   
3. Connectivity Code Snippets : For checking network status, downloading a file via HTTP, performing serial port operations, sending email and more.   
4. Crystal Reports Code Snippets : For common reporting tasks such as printing a Crystal Report, setting report parameters, and configuring report data access.   
5. Database Code Snippets : For performing a variety of common tasks around ADO.NET data access.   
6. Datatypes Code Snippets : For various string conversions, date spanning operations, and other type-focused operations.   
7. File System Code Snippets : For performing a number of tasks around reading, writing, and managing files.   
8. Math Code Snippets : For calculating monthly payments, depreciation, sines, cosines, and random numbers.   
9. Operating System Code Snippets : A large collection of snippets for Event logging, Message Queues, Process management, registry access, windows services, getting system information and more.   
10. Security Code Snippets : For working with hashes, decrypting, encrypting, and getting a user’s name.   
11. Smart Devices Code Snippets : For performing common tasks on Smart Devices.   
12. Windows Forms Code Snippets : For working with the clipboard, fonts, sounds, GDI drawing, and general Windows Form and control creation.   
13. XML Code Snippets : For reading and writing XML, selecting nodes, performing XSL transforms, and other XML oriented tasks.

Be sure to download the install package that includes all categories in one file. Click here if you can't find it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnppcgen/html/whatsnew_wm5.asp

This was such a good article with such good coverage of the new Windows Mobile 5.0 APIs that I thought I'd mention it in case others hadn't seen it yet.