Microsoft Corp. is looking for a few good men … and women, and, ultimately, applications that can help the company check for compatibility between the current version of the .Net Framework and the version coming in Visual Studio 2005.

The software giant is in recruiting mode, looking for independent software vendors, enterprise customers, developers, end users and others who would like to have their .Net applications tested for compatibility with the upcoming version of the .Net Framework.

Read complete article here.

Microsoft has made the Release Candidate of Avalon and Indigo Beta 1 available to the public. This version works with .NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2.0 Beta 2 and only includes the assemblies.

Those looking to upgrade a prior version should execute the following command to remove the March CTP version before attempting to install the Beta 1 RC.

msiexec /x {C350D87C-7B67-43E2-B717-E9ADABE2F631}

The Beta 1 RC download will execute an install program that downloads the files from the Internet and installs the assemblies into the GAC. MSDN has been propagating the files to their servers and so the files have been intermittently available, but you should be able to download them here.

Microsoft Learning and MSDN are giving away two of MSPress's most popular ASP.NET books and a US$349 eLearning course for free. Seriously, you get the Developing Microsoft ASP.NET Web Applications Using Visual Studio .NET eLearning course and the eRef version of Microsoft ASP.NET Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET 2003 Step by Step and Building Web Solutions with ASP.NET and ADO.NET for free, no strings attached. Go over to the eLearning Access site and enter the access key: 8317-MSDN-6595. Fill in some basic info, and voila, tons of great ASP.NET info.

Source : Orlando .NET User Group

Hideo Kojima, creator of MGS franchise announced at E3 2005 Press Conference that he has been authorized to form a development house within the greater whole of Konami. The new production Studio, aptly called Kojima Productions, will continue work on the Metal Gear Gear franchise with MGS4 on PlayStation 3, a game Kojima himself will write, direct and produce, as it was "demanded by fans and staff."

While the trailer being demonstrated was built off the PS2 Snake Eater engine, which Kojima says is not at all indicative of planned MGS4 quality, it still gave us a good sneak peak at what the game will eventually be.

MGS4 will take place several years after the conclusion of MGS2 and will feature an online battle mode. Conceptually, the game follows the idea of "nowhere to hide." What this means for gameplay, we do not yet know, but it could spell a more action-oriented, run to survive type of experience.

"You can run, but you can't hide." You dig?

We also know that a few favorites from the series will make return appearances, including Meryl, Otacon and Revolver Ocelot. Thankfully, Solid Snake will this time be the main character, though Kojima hinted that Raiden might still make an appearance.

Interestingly, Metal Gear Solid 4 will include Metal Gear Ac!d 2 connectivity. What this entails, we don not yet know, but plugging our PSPs into our PS3s is certainly an exciting prospect.

Source : IGN PS3

Straight from Sony's press conference here at E3 comes the big news we've all been waiting for...PlayStation 3 is real, baby. The first word: The name of the next Sony super system is definitely PS3 or PlayStation 3. Nothing fancy or surprising there. And, at least Sony didn't go with PlayStation 361 to outdo Microsoft.

Full Hardware Specifications

CPU

• Cell Processor
• PowerPC-base Core @3.2GHz
• 1 VMX vector unit per core
• 512KB L2 cache
• 7 x SPE @3.2GHz
• 7 x 128b 128 SIMD GPRs
• 7 x 256KB SRAM for SPE
• * 1 of 8 SPEs reserved for redundancy
• total floating point performance: 218 GFLOPS
  

GPU

• RSX @550MHz
• 1.8 TFLOPS floating point performance
• Full HD (up to 1080p) x 2 channels
• Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines
  

Sound

• Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell- base processing)
  

Memory

• 256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz 256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz
  

System Bandwidth

• Main RAM 25.6GB/s
• VRAM 22.4GB/s
• RSX 20GB/s (write) + 15GB/s (read)
• SB<>

System Floating Point Performance

• 2 TFLOPS
  

Storage

• Detachable 2.5" HDD slot x 1
  

I/O

• USB Front x 4, Rear x 2 (USB2.0)
• Memory Stick standard/Duo, PRO x 1
• SD standard/mini x 1
• CompactFlash (Type I, II) x 1
  

Communication

• Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) x 3 (input x 1 + output x 2)
• Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
  

Controller

• Bluetooth (up to 7)
• USB 2.0 (wired)
• Wi-Fi (PSP)
• Network (over IP)
  

AV Output

• Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
• HDMI: HDMI out x 2
• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1
  

Disc Media

• CD PlayStation CD-ROM, PlayStation 2 CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW, SACD, SACD Hybrid (CD layer), SACD HD, DualDisc, DualDisc (audio side), DualDisc (DVD side)
• DVD: PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, PlayStation 3 DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
• Blu-ray Disc: PlayStation 3 BD-ROM, BD-Video, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE
  

PlayStation 3 Release Date

Sony has announced the PayStation 3 in a big damn way. The latest news is that the system will ship in 2006, with no chance of wacky 2005 surprises.

Unfortunately, Sony has not pinned down a month or quarter in which the system will launch, but Microsoft's Bill Gates recently said that he will launch the Xbox 360 version of Halo 3 to combat the PS3 launch, which he indicated could be as early as the Spring of 2006.

Source : IGN PS3

All XBOX fans must checkout this official website by Microsoft for XBOX 360. All the underground pictures that were rumoured around websites are now confirmed as this little site shows the upcoming cosole in 360 degrees view. What are you waiting for, go check it out, its awesome.

Click here to visit the site.

Hideo Kojima, a gaming legend, director, producer and creator of the highly acclaimed video game series named "Metal Gear Solid." This guy have changed the way people used to play video games. He introduced the espect of stealth in the game, which was never thought before. After then many games like Splinter Cell, Tenchu and many others just trying to immitate this awesome game. But in the end Metal Gear just wins the show by its breath-taking and jaw-dropping scenes and highly intense story line which has become a trademark of MGS series. Metal Gear Solid 2 sold over a 7 Million copies worldwide and Metal Gear Solid 3 soled over 3 million copies uptil now which clearly shows that the fans are just crazy about this game. Here are some short videos from G4TV showing some footage of the series and an interview with the legend. All you guys who never had a chance to play this game, must check out this footage and see for yourself how beautiful this game is.

Make your Sony PSP do all sorts of nifty things (like surf the web) with these hacks. Watch this streaming video to learn more.

Following recent announcements of a move towards compromise in the heated battle to become the next generation home video standard, the Tuesday morning Nihon Keizai Shimbun contains a first report on the shape that such a compromise will take. According to the paper, Sony and Toshiba have entered into final preparations for a format which combines disk technology from Sony with software technology from Toshiba. The two companies plan to offer an unified format to members of their respective high definition video forums as early as next week.

Toshiba's decision to give way on the disk format was apparently made after examining cost issues related to the Sony technology. The merged format will make use of Sony's 0.1 millimeter Blu-ray disk technology with Toshiba's software in place for reading and writing from the disk and handling copyright protection. Toshiba's 0.6 millimeter HD-DVD disk technology will be dropped. The resulting technology will be offered as a new format. It's unclear at this point if the new format will adopt the Blu-ray or the HD-DVD name, or if something completely new will be used.

Sony announced late last year that the next generation PlayStation would make use of the Blu-ray format. The Nihon Keizai article reveals that, as part of the compromise, Blu-ray supporters Sony and Matsushita were demanding the highest possible storage space for future IT and game applications. This would suggest that, even though Blu-ray as it was known is gone, the new merged standard will end up serving as the format for PS3.

Source : PS3 IGN

Sony and Toshiba have issued statements on today's Nihon Kiezai Shimbun report of a settlement in negotiations for a single high definition DVD standard. Both parties deny the report, which suggested that an agreement had been forged to adopt Sony's 0.1 millimeter Blu-ray disk technology and Toshiba's software technology for the new format.

Toshiba, a major backer of the HD-DVD next generation format, acknowledged that, under the belief that a single format would most benefit customers, negotiations are still under way with Matsushita and Sony, Blu-ray's primary backers, but denied that a settlement has been reached. In addition, the company revealed plans to show off the current HD-DVD format at the Media Tech Expo, set to kick off in Las Vegas on 5/11.

Sony offered a similar denial, stating that while a single format is ideal, there have been no major advancements since negotiations were first announced on April 21. "The only true aspect of this report is that Sony, Matsushita and Toshiba are currently engaged in negotiations," a Sony representative stated.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun has had breaking news stories denied and then proven correct many times before. Is this a case of Toshiba and Sony trying to take control of a bit of hot information that leaked out ahead of schedule, or have there truly been no advancements in negotiations for a single format next generation DVD? We expect more details to surface shortly (and be subsequently denied).

In a surprising twist on the next generation hardware race, a Sony representative has stated that a year 2005 release for the next generation PlayStation is a possibility. Responding to questions from Jiji news service, Sony Chief Financial Officer Takao Yuhara states, "For the year end sales season, simultaneously building up both the PlayStation Portable system in America and Europe as well as the next generation PlayStation is one option that we have."

Most industry speculation calls for a next generation PlayStation release in 2006. Sony's third party developers have backed this assumption up with a strong list of PlayStation 2 titles planned for the rest of the year and early next.

The state of the next generation PlayStation software shown at next week's E3 show should reveal if a 2005 release is a possibility for the new system, or if Yuhara's comments were designed to take some steam out of Microsoft's Xbox 360 unveiling later today.

Source : PS3 IGN.

hehe... its way to funny and I couldn't resist myself for posting this on my blog. Its a conversation between a technical lead and Microsoft Chief architect "Bill Gates." Its a mimmic to Matrix Reloaded conversation between Neo and the Architect. I just love it, its a must see. Got it from Hammad Bhai's blog.

Here's the link.

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - Ya I'd die for you

Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Its a great song by Brian Adams. I am sure everyone has it in their mp3 player. But if you haven't then you are missing a really awesome song. This song means alot to people like me who had been cut in deep. However, still I do anything, I do it for you...

Download this song in MP3 format.

Had been reading Zindagi XP by Adnan Farooq lately and trying to learn from his past experiences. I liked his post on "Over Confidence Kills." It's a good lesson for those who are overwhelmed by their successes and become over confident.

I read it in a book "The True Story of Christopher Columbus, Called the Great Admiral" that he faced so many defeats in discovering America. In actual he was going for China, but ended in finding South of America which he himself didn't know what he found.
When he crossed the dark sea he was confident of his success and after reaching the America (which he thought is China) had made him over confident. He was glorified with his successes but he didn't know that success never last forever.
So one moment you are successful and the next, you never know. So as Albert Einstein once said "Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value." Because success never last forever and the value you will get will remain with you, forever.

Today I received my copy of Visual Studio Team Suite Beta Experience Kit which I ordered from MSDN Visual Studio Beta Experience website a week ago. Its a nice collection of set of 4 DVD's. One is Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, another is SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition Community Technology Preview, one of Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server and my favourite WeFly247.NET. I had installed VS Beta 2 but still have to check SQL Server 2005 and VS 2005 Team Foundation Server. Just going to install WinFX March 2005 CTP which I downloaded from MSDN Subscriber downloads. It has SDKs of Indigo and Avalon and a bunch of cool samples and offcourse documentation. Can't wait to get my hands dirty with Xaml.

Google Web Accelerator is an application that uses the power of Google's global computer network to make web pages load faster. Google Web Accelerator is easy to use; all you have to do is download and install it, and from then on many web pages will automatically load faster than before. Please note that Google Web Accelerator is currently in beta test mode. If you have any problems using it or have suggestions for how we can improve it, please see the Google Group devoted to it.

Also note that during the first part of our beta testing period, users outside of North America and Europe may not see much improvement in their web page loading speed.

Google Web Accelerator uses various strategies to make your web pages load faster, including:

• Sending your page requests through Google machines dedicated to handling Google Web Accelerator traffic.
• Storing copies of frequently looked at pages to make them quickly accessible.
• Downloading only the updates if a web page has changed slightly since you last viewed it.
• Prefetching certain pages onto your computer in advance.
• Managing your Internet connection to reduce delays.
• Compressing data before sending it to your computer.

Download Google Web Accelerator form here.

Scott Woodgate, Lead Product Manager for BizTalk shows an example of using Indigo with BizTalk Server 2004. Based on the March CTP bits, the demo also includes some small parts in Avalon and highlights how Indigo services can be used as endpoints for BizTalk orchestrations. In the demo, an Avalon Forms application calls a web service to order parts for Scott's 1990 Honda Civic. That web service is hosted in BizTalk Server 2004 and is implemented as an Indigo service.

Download BizTalk Server and Indigo from MSDN TV.

Microsoft has release Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 2000 which includes fixes from all prior service packs as well as enhancements to security, performance and serviceability. This service pack also includes support for 32-bit SQL Server to run on 64-bit Windows 2003 Server and MSXML version 3 SP6 and MDAC 2.8 SP1.

SQL Server 2000 SP4:

• Includes a new version of MSXML version 3.0 SP6. With SP4, the OPENXML statement is updated to use a custom-built XML parsing technology designed to be backward compatible with MSXML 2.6.
• Includes MDAC 2.8 SP1 except for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 platforms, where it is included with the operating system service packs for those platforms.
• Adds the following platform support:
  • With Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition, SP4 provides support for 32-bit SQL Server applications on 64-bit architectures using the Windows on Windows emulator (WOW64). For more information on specific 64-bit platforms supported, see the Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions Product Overview.
  • With SP4, you can leverage 64-bit processor architectures using 32-bit SQL Server applications when running in WOW64. Note: SQL Server 32-bit applications, including SQL server client tools, are still not supported on WOW64 for IA64. Also, currently 32-bit Reporting Services is not supported to run on WOW64 on IA64 and x64 platforms running Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition.
• Improves documentation; the Readme documents are reorganized into four distinct readme files for the different SP4 components:
  
• ReadmeSql2k32sp4:
  • Readme for Service Pack 4 for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (32-bit)
  • ReadmeSql2k32asp4: Readme for Service Pack 4 for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services
  • ReadmeSql2k32desksp4: Readme for Service Pack 4 for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000)
  • ReadmeSql2k64sp4: Readme for Service Pack 4 for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (64-bit)
    

Benefits
In addition to providing the latest updates and fixes, SQL Server 2000 SP4 provides enhanced performance, security, and serviceability.

Performance
SQL Server 2000 SP4 improves performance on 64-bit systems with 32 or more processors.

Security
SQL Server 2000 SP4 provides:

• Refreshed, more secure Visual Database Tools (Table Designer, Database Diagrams, and Query Designer).
• New registry entries to provide additional control over security, metadata, and memory management.
  

Serviceability

• SQL Server 2000 SP4 introduces new serviceability functionality that enables you to remove hotfixes applied to SP4 and later versions of SQL Server 2000 running on Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
• SP4 itself cannot be rolled back.
• Error reporting can be enabled for selected instances during the SP4 installation.

Download SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4.

Source : TheServerSide.NET

The most recent version of the VS 2005 cleanup tool has been posted to this location on the Microsoft Download Center. This version on the Download Center will likely not be updated until VS 2005 releases because it has proven to work correctly in beta 1 and CTP uninstall scenarios. Visual Studio team is currently working on updating the uninstall instructions on the VS 2005 site to include a link to this tool and more specific instructions, so stay tuned for that.

Download VS 2005 Beta 1 cleanup tool here.

Want to be a part of this community for bloggers "Geekswithblogs.net?" The registration process now became more easier. Interested people can now register their blogs by filling out a simple form rather then sending an email to Jeff which ocassionaly went unnoticed. You can register your blog by going to the following url:

Register your blog here.
Read INETA Pakistan blogs here.
Home of INETA Web Blogs.
Geekswithblogs.net

These tutorial topics demonstrate how to build a simple voice-only application using the tools in the Microsoft Speech Application SDK Version 1.0 (SASDK) in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003. You will build a Start page of an imaginary pizza ordering service, for use by a telephony Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) client.

Goals of the Tutorial

The tutorial demonstrates the basic structure and data organization of a simple, voice-only speech application for a telephony environment. It shows the use of the SASDK tools in Visual Studio to create grammars, to record prompts, to create a dialogue with callers, and to test the application under development.

The tutorial does not cover all the requirements for a production speech application. For instance, it does not cover all the error-checking and confirmation strategies that production applications require, such as dealing with mumbled or unrecognized speech, setting recognition or confirmation thresholds, providing the alternative of touch-tone input, or providing error-recovery paths. It does not deal with the many facets of the audio characteristics of prompts, such as increasing or decreasing the pauses or silence at the beginning and ending of prompts, or smoothing concatenations of prompts to get a more pleasing response. It does not provide a way to display, print or store the received and confirmed results, nor does it provide a method to identify a particular session or caller.

The tutorial does not cover multimodal applications with visual components or desktop applications. The sample Using Tap-and-talk covers multimodal applications.

View tutorial here.

To celebrate the launch of our new next-generation Xbox channel we've decided to put together an Xbox 360 FAQ containing all available information on the console. As we approach the unveiling of the system on MTV and at E3, more details are very likely to become available and this article will be updated accordingly.

Note that this FAQ is entirely speculative. As next-to-nothing about the system has been officially announced, it's impossible to say that most any of the information herein is 100% fact. Everything is very likely to be true, but imagine that each answer begins with, "To the best of our knowledge…"

General

Is Xbox 360 the official name?

While Microsoft refuses to comment on the official name of the console, everyone from developers to magazines to news sources like CNN Money have been referring to the system as Xbox 360. Given all the information that's out there now, Xbox 360 is our best guess as to the "official" name of Microsoft's next-gen system, but as we said, it is still as-of-yet unconfirmed by the big MS itself.

Maybe this is part of an elaborate ploy to make us all look silly when the "real" name is announced in May, but this is unlikely.

Where do the pictures in this FAQ come from?

Much of the speculation in this FAQ is based on images circulated by ourcolony.net. This site is part of a viral marketing campaign sponsored by Microsoft. It was developed by the advertising company 4orty2wo Entertainment. These viral campaigns are a form of an alternate reality game (ARG) that create in-depth "narratives" that ultimately draw the players of the game towards a reward wrapped in an advertisement. The game ends on May 12th when the Xbox 360 is officially unveiled on MTV. A similar game that started at ilovebees.com was used to promote the Halo 2 release.

When will the system be fully unveiled?

A special will air May 12th on MTV that will officially unveil its name, the look of the system, the controller and a few quick snippets of gameplay footage. The full unveiling, including things like full system specs, the launch lineup and more, will be unveiled during Microsoft's E3 press conference on May 16th.

When is the system launching?

All signs point towards a November 2005 launch window. This is a prime month for Microsoft to position Xbox 360 as the must-have holiday item.

How much will Xbox 360 cost?

The sweet spot for the cost of a new console at launch is $299. This is a good estimate of what a core package will cost for Xbox 360. There is a possibility of a second bundle that includes a hard drive and some pre-loaded game content. It is likely that this would bump the price up to $399 smackers for the HDD system. The bundle has become an incredibly popular sales technique, so don't be surprised to see more comprehensive bundles that include controllers and peripherals for around $500.

What's all this talk about the HD Era?

At this year's GDC Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and "Chief XNA architect" J Allard rammed the idea of the HD Era into the crowd's head. He stated that the last generation of systems were part of the 3D era, and the new wave of technology would provide a more cinematic high definition experience. At a base level, he is referring to the fact that Xbox 360 games will all run in at least 720p with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.

Read complete FAQ here on IGN XBox 360.

The Microsoft MapPoint Web Service is an XML-based Web service with a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) API that allows developers to integrate location-based services, such as maps, driving directions, and proximity searches, into their applications and business processes. The MapPoint Web Service also provides an extensive set of mapping-related content, such as business listings, points-of-interest (POI), and other types of data that can be used within applications.

The MapPoint Web Service is comprised of four fundamental services:

Common Service

The common service contains classes, methods, and properties that are common to the find, route, and render services, or are basic utility functions. The common service methods are:

Find Service

The find service allows you to locate addresses, geographic entities, latitude and longitude coordinate, and points of interest from MapPoint Web Service data, as well as parse addresses and return location information for a specified latitude and longitude coordinate.

Render Service

The render service allows you to render maps of routes and found locations, place pushpins (using the MapPoint Web Service stock set of icons or your icons that we host for your use), set the map size and map view, select points on a map, get location information about points on a map, pan and zoom a rendered map, and create clickable maps.

Route Service

The route service allows you to generate routes, driving directions, and calculated route representations (used to render a highlighted route).

WeRock247.NET contains a comprehensive guide for building Mobile Web and Windows Applications using .NET Framework 1.1 . You can either order it or take labs and view presentations online. Here's the link for you:

WeRock247.NET
See WeRock247.NET labs on Map Point here.

Microsoft MapPoint Location Server is an enterprise server product that works with PC and mobile device clients to help enterprise users determine the location of coworkers whose jobs frequently take them out of the office. With MapPoint Location Server, a user can find—and show on a map screen—the location of a coworker when he or she is using a wireless device. Mobile personnel can use MapPoint Location Server to locate each other and to find other places they want to visit. Non-mobile personnel can use MapPoint Mobile Locator for PC software to locate enterprise users who are on the road; for example, to dispatch an employee to make a delivery or make a service call.

MapPoint Location Server can be used for more than just finding the locations of mobile users. Users can also view maps of, and get directions to and from, the following types of places:

• The address of a Microsoft Outlook® contact.
• A street address, such as 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA.
• A named place, such as Carnegie Hall or the San Diego Zoo.
• Items in Find Nearby categories—services such as restaurants, hotels, bank machines, and dry cleaners that are close to their own locations.

Students and developers who wants to work on Map Point will find this Guide quite handy. Check it out here.

Microsoft MapPoint Location Server Administrator's Guide, Version 1.0

Microsoft is now offering MSDN Forums for the Geeks to hangout. Check out the forum here:

MSDN Forums Beta
MSDN Forums Welcome Message and Posting Guidance

While the existence of Metal Gear Solid 4 was already confirmed last year in a conference call, a recent press event in Germany provided a few new details. The new team of people working on the game has been announced with Hideo Kojima now taking on less of a hands-on role. This new game will be a departure from the series as the first three games comprised a trilogy and this will be a new beginning for a next-generation console.

One of the new themes of MGS4 is "No Place to Hide!" and with no more details beyond that, it's up to speculation as to what that exactly means. This could mean that some guaranteed safe spots, such as the logs or crawlspaces in MGS3 will be absent the next time around. It could also mean that the game will feature a different camera system with a third-person view that fans have been asking for. We will have to wait for further details.

The other theme of the event was "No Place for Hideo!" with Kojima now taking on the Executive Producer role. There is a new producer, Ken-ichiro Imaizumi, and the director is now Alan Smithee. If you're not familiar with Alan Smithee, we suggest taking a peek at his huge body of work. Usually, he's an imaginary person that people in the movie business use when they don't want to be associated with a movie they feel will be a disaster. This is an obvious joke from Kojima and surely there will be an announcement later on as to who the director will really be if there is to be one at all.

Despite the report from the earlier conference call that work had already started on the project, the team announced that the real work would officially start this Sunday. There was no announcement as to any possible release date.

Source : IGN PS3

ZAM 3D is a full-featured 3D modeling application that enables easy creation, customization and animation of 3D interface elements for “Avalon" based applications. Once a 3D scene is created, ZAM 3D automatically generates the XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language) markup necessary to convert the 3D elements into an “Avalon” 3D scene. XAML files created with ZAM 3D can be directly integrated into your application development environment to create rich and engaging user experiences never before possible.

This preview build of ZAM 3D supports and only works with the March 2005 release of Microsoft Avalon CTP build and SDK specification only, and DOES NOT support the previously released PDC, WinHEC, or Nov 2004 CTP preview builds of Longhorn or Windows XP. So make sure you have downloaded and installed the latest CTP release of Avalon available through MSDN Subscriber downloads before installing ZAM 3D.

Download the Beta release from here.

Watch ZAM 3D in action at Channel 9 Forums.

We'll be having a Speed Coding and Quiz competition for NED students on May 28, 2005. This is a joint event by INETA Pakistan, NED.net User Group and IEEE NED Student Branch. More details are on the contest blog.

Visit Code Run 2005 blog here.

Take a look at our contest poster.