While reading on CNN.com, I came across a video on H1N1 Response Center by Microsoft. Tried the self-assessment myself and I think it is pretty useful especially when you have a flu and are not sure if you should seek urgent medical attention. So here is the link.

https://h1n1.cloudapp.net/

Here’s an overview of Visual Studio 2010 editions. Take note that this is still a draft copy.

Just in case your team has any member that will connect to a TFS2010 box with Team Explorer 2008 SP1 client, this update will be required for it to work. The update is available at MSDN for download.

For more info on compatibility, visit this blog.

Soma just announced the release of Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 on his blog and not only there were some significant enhancements since Beta 1, but also changes to the product lineup as well as pricing. Essentially there are three flavors available, namely Professional, Premium, and Ultimate. For existing MSDN subscribers, you might want to check out this page. Btw, the Beta 2 bits are available now on MSDN Subscriber Downloads.

For list of features in each SKU, visit http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010/default.mspx#compare

In the TFS space (my favorite subject), TFS Basic is introduced. I believe this will be a good news to many SMEs as the cost of TFS implementation has been significantly reduced and it can be installed on both client (i.e. Windows 7) and server OS.

I’ll blog more about this exciting release after I manage to get my hands dirty on it (hey, I’m downloading now!)…

Recently I took some time and installed Windows 7 Ultimate into a VHD (yes, a virtual hard disk!) on my Windows 7 netbook. To my surprise, it runs quite smoothly on the 2GB RAM netbook until after a while, I forgot that I was booting from a VHD and not a physical disk. I think the idea of booting from VHD is perfect for me especially when I need to test out new stuff (beta, CTPs, etc.) without worrying to much on the restoration/ clean up later (imagine if I were to do this on my daily use Windows 7) since everything gets written into the VHD file now. Yeah well, I can always use a VM (virtual machine) to do the same thing, but then it will be a virtualized environment. Hey, did I mention the Windows 7 running in the VHD on my netbook is NOT a virtualized environment? Feel free to try out the steps below to get your Windows 7 boot from a VHD as well.

1. Boot up your system with a Windows 7 installation media
2. At the Install Windows screen, press "Shift-F10" to bring up the command line window
3. Enter diskpart
4. Create a new VHD with the following command, change the 20000 to the maximum size in Megabytes you wish to allocate
   create vdisk file="C:\win7vhd.vhd" type=expandable maximum=20000
5. Select and attach the new VHD with the following commands
   select vidisk file="C:\win7vhd.vhd"
   attach vdisk
6. Proceed with the usual Windows setup process and you should be able to see the newly created VHD appearing as a drive. However, ignore the warning "Windows cannot install to this disk" though.

I just got my new baby (Asus Eee PC 1000HE) up and running on Windows 7 Ultimate last night. To my surprise, Windows 7 runs extremely smooth on my upgraded (total 2GB RAM) Netbook. Almost all system devices were automatically detected and installed with out of the box device drivers, except Asus ACPI driver, which I downloaded and installed from Asus website. Hey, that driver is XP version and it works like a charm! By the way, my Windows Experience Index is only 2.0 ok!

Since Netbook doesn’t come with built in optical drive, I installed Windows 7 via a 4GB USB pen drive. There are some articles and blogs on how to do this and I’d suggest two of them:

http://blogs.technet.com/aviraj/archive/2009/02/01/installing-windows-7-using-usb-thumb-drive.aspx
http://pingdennis.com/windows/installing-windows-7-using-a-usb-stick/

A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise Windows-based system with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Service Pack 1, Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1, Visual Studio 2008, and Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-035 published on July 28, 2009 confirmed the vulnerabilities in Visual Studio Active Template Library could allow remote code execution on affected systems.

Although this security update is rated Moderate severity, it is recommended that you apply the update immediately.

Thursday September 17th, 2009 - Friday September 18th, 2009
From 09:00am – 18:00pm
Registration Fees: RM80 for non-members of supporting organizations, RM30 for supporting organizations (inclusive of lunch and freebies)

Tech Insights 2009 Penang
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
11800, Pulau Pinang Malaysia

Tech Insights 2009 Penang sets the pedestal as an unwavering icon in the IT and technology industry in Malaysia and the region. This is an unique event, a one-of-a kind and a first in the island of Penang technical community event led and powered by the Malaysia Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) as well as fellow MVPs from USA and other countries who are highly respectable leaders in their own technical communities. The event is also a dedicated platform for like minded folks in the IT and technology industry to come together and help to drive community awareness and event and as a social media portal for all technology inspiring lovers to network, collaborate and build personal connections with Microsoft experts and peers.

Tech Insights 2009 Penang event’s agenda has been specifically tailored made to serve the technical needs and knowledge of not just the public, but also technology inspiring lovers. This 2-day intensive conference will equip you with the up-to-date and soon-to-be-released Microsoft technologies delivered by our diverse group of experts on these topics, helping to make life easier for you as well as everyone both at work and at home. Topics in the event will focus on best practices of existing products or lap around on pre-release products to help you decide technology roadmaps and gain valuable insights into Microsoft technology.

Tech Insights 2009 Penang is supported by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), InvestPenang, Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Software Consortium of Penang (SCoPe Penang) and MCA ICT Resource Centre Penang (MIRC Penang).

Join us at this 2-day conference and learn from our panel of Microsoft experts and peers on how you can get the most out from the latest Microsoft technologies. Seize this rare opportunity to learn how you can gain and maintain a competitive edge in the technology arena!

Source: http://www.techinsights.com.my

Since I joined Fitness First earlier this month, I’ve been consistently visiting the gym 3 times a week. Three of those visits were in fact to meet up with my BODYFIRST® trainer and went through the 1:1 personal training sessions.

Having decided to build up some lean body mass, I signed up for a 30 sessions personal training program today. Hence for my next visit, I’ll be working with my trainer to come out with a training schedule, as well as focus areas to achieve my goal…

Rest in peace MJ…You are a legend…and you will be missed, always~

There you go! Sin Prime & Mingatron!!!

I can’t recall when I started this but since then each year I’ll do something for myself as a birthday gift. Last year I joined World Vision to sponsor a child as I believe it was time to start contributing back to the community. This year, I joined FitnessFirst as I believe I’ve been lacking of exercises all these years and I need to do something for my well-being…Next year? No idea yet…

Someone just shared with me moments ago on this song, a song that will make an emotional impact to most listeners…

Somasegar, Senior VP of the Developer Division at Microsoft announced on his blog today that the much anticipated Beta 1 release of the Visual Studio 2010 & .NET Framework 4.0 is finally here! Team Suite 2010 Beta 1 and Team Foundation Server 2010 Beta 1 are also released. They are currently available for MSDN Subscribers on MSDN Subscriber Downloads site while they will be made publicly available on Wednesday (PDT).

For more info on Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4.0, please visit the product page. Time to get our hands dirty on this Beta 1 release!

Both Windows 7 client (x86 and x64 platforms) and Windows Server® 2008 R2 (x64 platform only) are now available on MSDN and Connect for download and testing.

Take note that upgrading from a previous beta build is not supported for client versions. Server upgrades from beta to RC are supported. The following Operating Systems are fully supported for upgrading:

• Windows Vista SP1
• Windows Vista SP2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 SP2

I wasn’t aware of this until I saw Martin Woodward’s email in my mailbox tonight. Apparently the GDR R2 has just been released and available for download on Microsoft Download. Apart from providing additional support for SQL Server 2008 database projects, the GDR R2 incorporated prior releases of Power Tools together with several new features.

For more details about the release, please visit the team blog.

The organization that I’m working in was having a team building event yesterday within the company. It was a joint effort among 4 business groups (including the group that I belongs to) to make the event a successful one. As part of the team introduction by individual groups, I appeared as Darth Vader. LOL

That was the second public appearance I made as Darth Vader and below are some pictures taken during the event.

Brian Harry – Microsoft Technical Fellow, as well as the Product Unit Manager for Team Foundation Server just published a blog on 10,000 feet overview for new features of Team System 2010. Stay tune for more to come!

Just in case you are not aware of this, you may find a comprehensive list of widgets for Team System at Team System Widgets site.

Formerly known as VSTT Cheat Sheet, the Quick Reference Guide 1.0 for VSTT 2008 has been released yesterday. Regardless of whether you are using or evaluating the product, this guide is a must have! Download it from CodePlex today!