This is just sweet! The robot was built from Lego MindStorms, and can solve a rubiks cube in about 6 minutes. That’s better than my current record of 12 years.

You can read more about it on the website.

Posted in Robots, Development, Distractions No Comments »

I tell you, I don’t know where I’ve been lately, but I came pretty close to missing out on this one. Today is the launch date for Windows Server 2008!

Also included in this launch is SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. Microsoft is hosting launch events all over the World, and I’ve heard they usually give out some decent swag there too.

If, like me, you just can’t get away for one of these events, you can visit the launch web site, titled “Heroes happen {here}”. They have a “Virtual Launch Experience site, where you can see key notes and other neat things.

I’ll have to admit that, like Vista, I wasn’t really waiting for Server 2008 to come out. I didn’t have a whole lot of anticipation built up, and although I’ve installed it a couple of times, mostly release candidates, I just haven’t had much time to play with it. It doesn’t help Server 2008’s cause that I’m really a big fan of Windows Server 2003, and to be honest, it works extremely well. So I’m in no hurry to replace it.

Wait a Second, did I mention the Virtual Launch experience?

Yes, I sure did (third paragraph), but that was before I took a look at it. Holy Cow did Microsoft go to a lot of trouble to set the Virtual Launch Experience site up. Not only is the site really slick looking, almost like a virtual tour, all of the sessions are viewable from the site, including the keynote. You can bookmark sites, and even put content into your “BackPack”, which you can then download later. Pretty neat!

Does this mean anything for Microsoft Certifications?

If you are one of those types who goes chasing certifications, then this is also a milestone for you, since the products that will enable you to get the new Microsoft certifications are now available. Now you can get some hands on experience with them.

If you already hold a Microsoft Certification on Server 2003, then you can upgrade, or keep going with other certifications, but in my book, this is a good time for those who don’t currently hold any Microsoft Certifications.

Once you take and pass one of Microsoft’s tests, the clock starts ticking. When the product you are certified on goes away, you have to take an upgrade test, or take a totally new test. Either way, that means you have to start studying again.

With 2008 just being released, then that should mean you have a bit of time before you have to worry about it. Since Microsoft has re-structured their certifications, I was waiting for Server 2008 to finally be released until I considered doing anything.

As with any product release, I’m really curious to see what the word is about compatibility, and if anyone runs into issues with it.

Posted in Server 2003, Server 2008, Development, Certifications, Microsoft, Windows No Comments »

This isn’t recently breaking news, but I hadn’t posted about it yet.

Microsoft is offering their “Express” version of Visual Studio for free, just go to the Visual Studio Express Home, and download it. You do have to register with them to get a product key, but that still seems pretty painless.

The fact that Microsoft is offering a development platform for free was surprising to me, but what was really shocking was that although this version is aimed at hobbyists and students, there is no licensing restrictions, so you can sell your code commercially without worrying about lawyers breathing down your neck.

There are a couple of different versions, depending on what you are interested it, there is a web developer suite, as well as C#, C++, VB, and J#.

Now that you have your Development platform, what next? Well they also have a “Beginner Developer Learning Center” to help get you coding, and a “Coding for Fun” website to give you something to play around with.

Originally the plan was to offer the express editions free for 1 year, but on April 19th, 2006, they decided to make them available permanently for free.

I had mentioned in an earlier post that Microsoft was offering the Robotics Studio for free as well, but you can’t use it for commercial products without buying a runtime license. But you can learn to program Lego MindStorms in your free time. There is no need to go out and buy a robot though, because you can even work with virtual robots.

References:

Visual Studio Express Home - Microsoft

Beginner Developer Learning Center - Microsoft

Coding for Fun - Microsoft

Robotics Development Studio - Microsoft

Introduction to Programming Lego Mindstorms - Coding4Fun (Microsoft)

Posted in Robots, Development, free stuff, Microsoft 2 Comments »

I was reading the WhatsNewNow Newsletter, when I saw a link to this PCMAG’s article talking about Microsoft’s newly released Robotics Development kit.

Now, I’m not a big developer, but this sounds really cool! Evidently you can develop for real robots or for robots that only exist on your machine.

The article talks about how Tandy Trower built a virtual robot, plugged in a Xbox 360 controller, did a little dragging and dropping, and bam!, he was able to control the virtual robot.

You can read the article yourself , or visit the Microsoft Robotics Studio.

On a side note, the article also talks about the Robocup, which plans on building a team of humanoid robots that will take on, and win against, a championship soccer team.

Finally, we are one step closer to being excellent slaves for our robotic creations.

Maybe I’ll go out and buy myself some Lego MindStorms, and a robotic vacuum.

Not to mention a sledgehammer, just in case.

I mean, you never know.

Posted in SDK, Robots, Development, Microsoft No Comments »