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@PaulMest:, this is my take on the AppFactory approach - it is currently in 2 out of 54 countries which is hardly African but still a start. These two countries have hosted Microsoft's more "prestigious" campuses as far as Africa is concerned but they are hardly the growth areas in Africa as far as software development and ICT is concerned. 

on the dev challenge - windows 8 apps are still a challenge (read unprofitable) to build for a market that is hugely android's - when this changes, we shall join the bandwagon in droves.

It's been a number of weeks since I was on channel 9 and what a way to welcome me back.... first topic off the blocks – Africa! Let me begin by saying as an African, I laud Microsoft in its 4Africa initiative – the clarion call for many African nations these days is – TRADE NOT AID possibly because Trade is more sustainable and has more dignity. Trade is partnership while Aid is simply "helping out a brother" and generally comes with conditions that pose social-cultural challenges to implement. Due to time I will not comment on Laura's plethora of comments that reeked of ignorance of the continent (second largest by Population and Size) but would rather like to know – What is an African App? Considering Africa is so...so diverse... I mean, having over 1 billion people speaking over 3,000 languages (and therefore belonging to a similar number of cultural groups) distributed over 54 countries and 7 territories. Some countries like Nigeria having over 500 different language groups within its borders and others like Somalia have only one. What is an African App? Who is this that is building these mythical "African" Apps for us? Have they visited any part of Africa? (Watching Nat Geo doesn't count) I would advise Microsoft to use "African" brains in getting "African" type content – because yes we do write software "down here" too and we would be better placed to write useful context relevant content (at least for the area the devs come from). Otherwise it's an exercise in futility and will not amount to much!

Otherwise nice to be back....

Laura lied...she has confessed one too many times that she does not watch PING!

for the umpteenth time.. AVATAR KINECT anyone?

is ping dead?

Godspeed! May you live long and prosper! about the iPad app...well as an entrepreneur one needs to fish where the fish are... currently Microsoft is building a pool for tablet type fishes - who can blame you? farewell thee, ping will not be the same without you.... while people are focusing on the China office vacancies THERE IS A VACANCY ON PING...Laura are you talking résumés? I am pretty sure I can do that 'pinging each other' gesture better than Paul.

1 day ago, Sergio_The​One wrote

I'm glad I'm quite possibly your favorite person, you are mine as well. maybe except for Richard Simmons, because I mean... who desn't like Richard Simmons??? bwahaha. BTW I love how you both try to figure out my name... Good luck!

Here's an official video of how to pronounce ASUS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjjoGtXV6pY.

Then ATIV, rhymes with "Aleve".I'm pretty sure.

Another great show, much love!

P.S. I must figure out how to make my comments shorter, it's a sickness really. maybe by not adding a P.S. to them... ohhh the irony.

While I am not picking a horse in this race. random videos on youtube shouldn't count - unless you are willing to change how you pronounce 'Nebuchadnezzar' to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YrfL-XJNBE just because I pasted that link.

I have mastered the steps you need to take in order to recreate the "phone upside-down not ringing" phenomenon.

1. upgrade your windows phone to the latest firmware.
2. ensure that you have set you phone to ring+vibrate (ring volume should be at 30)
3. press the power button continuously
4. when it instructs you to "slide down to power off" - do as it says! make a slide down gesture on your windows phone (critical step)
5. now, place the phone upside-down
6. call your phone

if you follow these steps to the letter, you will indeed notice that your phone does not ring or vibrate when it is called! This could also be the reason Laura has not been getting calls from Madonna.

Maybe you can do an avatar kinect session after you receive all those kinects you are asking for!

Lumias are just getting it now...."Attentive phone" has been part and parcel of windows phone 7.5 (AKA Mango) on HTC for ages!!