Windows 8

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Windows 8 is coming, and I wanted to say something to set people's expectations right.  I think it'll help people align their views and appreciate this new version, if they choose to upgrade.

Don't expect Windows 8 to be Windows 7 plus more shiny new stuff.  Windows 8 was never designed in the same sense that Windows 7 was actually just Windows Vista plus more polish.  If you install Windows 8 thinking to get a minor update, you will be shocked.

Windows 8 is actually a completely different beast.  Designed with different goals altogether.  It just happens to run Windows (Windows 7) applications.

But at its core, Windows 8 is a different thing.

 

Historically, there was a suitable analogy, Microsoft build Windows NT to be the better kernel going forward, and combined the two systems streams (95, 98, ME) and (NT, 2000) finally into the same stream from XP.  Windows 2000 was vastly different beast from Windows 95, because it was fundamentally a different system, it just happened to run the old Windows 95 apps.

SharePoint Saturday Brisbane update

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Thank you for attending my session on Building Custom REST services and consuming them with jQuery AJAX. 

I hope you enjoyed the session and survived (or even find it interesting) my 1hr rant.

But more importantly, I hope I've given you plenty of ideas on how you can integrate the set of techniques presented in your SharePoint development.

 

A summary link of all my related talks on REST, services and JavaScript technologies like jQuery and Knockout are on /rest/

 

A direct link to the solution that I used for the demo is at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5527bff2e4b0b430660b0d10/5527c30de4b030eeeef09715/5527c30fe4b030eeeef0a010/1316868647487/SPGSvcWp.zip

The PowerPoint presentation is at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5527bff2e4b0b430660b0d10/5527c30de4b030eeeef09715/5527c30fe4b030eeeef0a011/1335084544036/SharePoint+REST+and+jQuery5.pptx

 

Drop me a question if you want to ask me anything specific related to these topics and I'm more than willing to geek out!  Hope to see you guys again soon.

SharePoint Saturday Brisbane 02-June-2012

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In little more than 3 more days, we'll be meeting up again in SharePoint Saturday Brisbane! 

I'll be presenting again on the Developer track on how to build custom webservices within SharePoint, and consuming them using JavaScript AJAX. 

On the side, I've been having a lot of fun with KnockoutJS, Client Object Model, REST and even building a Single Page Application for SharePoint on codeplex. 

There's a bunch of InfoPath people and solutions that I'd love to meet and see again.

Overall, I'm looking forward to meeting all the SharePoint people up in Brisvegas and geeking out for a whole day!

There are some talks of having a dedicated time where we can answer lots of questions from the attendees - so if you have any curly problems within your SharePoint, bring your question along and we'll try to help out.

One final reminder:

02 June 2012.  Register http://sharepointsaturday.org/brisbane/default.aspx

SPSPerth 2012 Update

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This is my first time in Perth!  Hello Perthites!

I even took a train to Cottesloe beach - a very nice beach, I watched the sunset and did what any geek would do, I checked in the Indian Ocean.

I will update this post with links after the sessions. In the mean time, you can reference my current collection of articles on these topics regarding REST, custom service, and Knockout

/rest/

Downloads

Reference

Make sure you follow Matt Menezes
http://spmatt.wordpress.com/

He's a regular at Perth user group circles and knows a lot about Knockout.  I think he is slotted in for a future session in the upcoming months - don't miss it!

Re: Sorry dad, you'll understand, someday

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This is a quick blog post, in response to Zac Gorman's excellent Magical Game Time comic.

http://magicalgametime.com/post/19718347285/ill-stop-when-ive-saved-the-world-and-fallen-in

As you play through the game Earthbound as the kid protagonist Ness, your phone would ring every few hours, and your dad would ask you if you'd like to take a break.  If you say Yes, it'd save the game and switch it off.

The comic cleverly replies as Ness: I'll stop when I've saved the world and fallen in love.  (Sorry dad, you'll understand someday).

 

My boy is still three, he doesn't understand about saving the world, or falling in love, yet.  I'm sure he will soon.  And here'd be my response to him:

  • All dads were boys once.
    We already understood.
  • So off you go, save the world.
    Go and fall in love with your girl.
  • You do what you have to do.
    This is your time, we don't expect you to hold back, or stay at home.
  • When you are tired from saving the world, stop by and have some hot chocolate and ice cream.
    We will always be your biggest fan.

 

We will return to our regular SharePoint updates soon.