On 5^th November 2008, Microsoft unveiled DreamSpark - a software giveaway for an estimated 10 million eligible students in India. DreamSpark will provide students access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge.

Microsoft DreamSpark will be available to all students whose studies touch on technology, design, math, science and engineering. The software available to students will include:

Microsoft developer tools

·         Visual Studio 2005 Express

·         Visual Studio 2005 Professional

·         Visual Studio 2008 Professional

·         Visual Basic 2008 Express

·         Visual C++ 2008 Express

·         Visual C# 2008 Express

·         Visual Web Developer 2008 Express

·         XNA Game Studio 2.0

·         12-month free Academic membership in the XNA Creators Club

Microsoft designer tools

Expression Studio 2, including

o    Expression Web

o    Expression Blend

o    Expression Design

o    Expression Media

Microsoft platform resources

·         SQL Server 2008 Developer

·         SQL  Server 2008 Express

·         Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition

·         Virtual PC 2007

Training Resources

·         IT Academy Student Pass

This broad range of professional-level software will be available both online via www.dreamsparkindia.com; and in offline format via DVDs distributed by program partners NIIT, Aptech and Hughes Net Fusion Centers. A student merely needs to offer a proof of identity at a branch of these institutes to avail of a DreamSpark DVD. There are 125 NIIT, 175 Aptech, and 200 Hughes Net Fusion Centers participating across the country.

These program partners will also provide technology training on the DreamSpark software tools at a nominal cost; as well as have the option of soft skills training in languages like English and Hindi. Microsoft India is also working with academic institutions, government bodies and student organizations across the country to ensure that all students get a chance to benefit from DreamSpark.

The DreamSpark program in India is tailor-made to join the dots between software access and employability - which means making training and enablement complement simple access to technology.

DreamSpark will also facilitate student participation in Microsoft’s annual marquee contest, Imagine Cup, through various contest categories such as software design, short films, photography etc. Students from India that qualify for the Imagine Cup 2009 World Finals will get to travel to Egypt. Selected teams will also get the opportunity to get mentored by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at IIM, Ahmedabad.

Addressing students and academicians at IIT Delhi – where the DreamSpark program was unveiled - Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corp, said, “We want to do everything we can to equip a new generation of technology leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to harness the magic of software to improve lives, solve problems and catalyze economic growth. Microsoft DreamSpark provides professional-level tools that we hope will inspire students like you to explore the power of software and encourage you to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs.”

COMMUNITY TOOLS
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COMMUNITY TECH-DAYS 2008

The Community Tech Days that was organized by the Chennai Dot Net User Group { CNUG } for developers from different background. There were sessions to soothe everyone's technical appetite. The one brilliant session that struck deep in my thoughts is about the Community tools that are available for the developers to seek for solutions to their existing problems. This Session was done in the Forenoon by Mr. Abhishek Kant from Microsoft. I wanted to blog about this Session to make it reach the audience who did not make it to the Developer track of the Community Tech Days.

This Session was just a appetizer to the entire day but proved to be something that stagnates in my mind like the waterlogged Chennai. Let me run through each tool one by one now.

1.       FORUMS – http://forums.microsoft.com -- Forums help get you fast answers to technical questions about Microsoft products and technologies. Search an archive of answers or ask a new question.

2.       BLOGS – http://blogs.msdn.com – Blogs are effective mediums to voice out what you are interested in. A lot of industry leaders and the creators of the various software that we use also blog. Some examples that I can give here are Scott Guthrie, Somasegar etc.

3.       TECHNET BLOGS – http://blogs.technet.com – Another place where you can find solutions for almost all the problems that you encounter.

4.       RICH MEDIA – Normal users who have patience to read will be interested to obtain solutions through forums, blogs etc. But in order to ease the way we look for information, Microsoft has another way i.e. Rich Media Contents for technical information through its Channel Websites. For Example: CHANNEL 9, CHANNEL 8, ON 10.

5.       SOCIAL BOOKMARKING – http://social.msdn.microsoft.com, http://social.technet.microsoft.com – All of us have the habit of bookmarking our favorites while surfing. These are the portals where you can find community book markings.  A great thought to streamline to right solution for everyone’s problem.

6.       OPEN SOURCE – Who said that Microsoft is not open?? This is an Open Source Communty initiative from Microsoft.  Check CodePlex. http://www.codeplex.com

7.       SNIPPETS – For those who want to seek a readymade solution to recurring problems. We know that we do not want to reinvent the wheel. God gave us this gift of Snippets. Check out http://code.msdn.microsoft.com

8.       WEBCASTS - http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/ -- Hiccups, Starting trouble, Boss is grumbling. No problem yar! You need not go anywhere to learn any new technology. Webcasts are there for you to teach you about the Nook and Corner of each technological advancement.

9.       VIRTUAL LABS – Try out the free Microsoft Products in the free Virtual environment. Check out http://www.microsoft.com/events/vlabs/default.mspx

10.   BETAS -- http://connect.microsoft.com – This site is a connection point between you and Microsoft, and ultimately the larger community. Your feedback enables Microsoft to make software and services the best that they can be, and you can learn about and contribute to exciting projects.

11.   PRODUCT COMMUNITIES – Nothing more to say. One stop solution to focused problems. http://asp.net, http://silverlight.net etc.

12.   DREAM SPARK & BIZSPARK – Microsoft has taken an initiative for Students and start ups to choose a productive path to lead a successful and a triumphant career without initial hurdles. So all the developer tools are available for free for the Students which they can acquire. http://www.dreamspark.com,http://dreamsparkindia.com, http://microsoft.com/bizspark

13.   MOST VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL – Microsoft recognizes community contributors as Most Valuable Professional. Check at www.microsoft.com/india/mvp

We are the Community and it is our duty to expand its frontiers. As a responsible community person, share what you know about technology to others who respect technology.

By

Sriram Narasimhan.

PS: Do Comment about this blog so that I can improve.

LIVE MESH – Just think out of the box!

www.mesh.com

It is a problem that we all face every day. I am not yet exposed to corporate scenario but still I hear my friends grumbling that they are not able to access some files from their office or their inbox is blocked. I am not able to open my inbox from college whereas sometimes I need some file badly that I would have placed in my inbox. All these are problems that we come across in daily life. Is there a solution to all these problems?

Oh Yeah! Stop moaning. There is already a solution to the same problem but just that people are still ignorant about technology. Live Mesh is a one stop solution to this problem. Not just accessing files from different locations but also from different devices. Let us discuss it in depth now.

What is LIVE MESH?

Live Mesh is a Data Synchronization system from Microsoft. The beauty of this system is that it allows us to share and synchronize data from different devices. It is developed using MeshFX.  It provides us with software that allows us to create a synchronized relationship across various devices.
Each user is provided with about 5 GB of space. And we can manage folders on our machine as well as online as the sync option is available. Most important of all, we have the notifier that updates us about the changes that has been made to a folder. This is applicable when you make a change and when others make changes in their folder.

What is required for LIVE MESH?

1.       A Windows Live ID.

2.       The software for Live Mesh usage {optional}. You can also use Live Mesh online. But a software gives you added advantage to use the Live Mesh at a right click.

SCREENSHOTS:

                                                     www.mesh.com

        Live Mesh Software Component.

Add Files to Live Mesh in a rightclick !

Advantages:

1.       Accessibility to files is increased.

2.       Devices and Desktop interconnection is streamlined.

3.       Easy to use and manage files.

By Sriram Narasimhan.