This offer will allow each qualifying participant to get their hands on one or both Surface devices and, when it becomes available, update them to Windows 8.1 Preview to test drive it on these great tablets.

Devices & Prices:

• Surface RT 64GB standalone (with FREE touch cover) for €79.99 for EU customers and £69.99 GBP for UK customers
• Surface Pro 128GB standalone for €349.99 for EU customers and £299.99 for UK customers

These offers are only available during the event, Tuesday, 25 June – Friday, 28 June.
Limited to 1 x Surface RT and 1 x Surface Pro per attendee. No exceptions.
No cash. Credit card transactions only.

Devices will be shipped to attendees after purchase and are not available on-site. 

Attendees are responsible for navigating the device import regulations for their respective country.

This offer is available to:

• Full Conference Pass Attendees
• Partner Attendee and Booth Staff Passes
• Faculty and Students
• Press
• 3rd Party Speakers
• 3rd Party Staff

TechExpo Only Passes, Pre-Conference Only Passes, and Microsoft employees are not eligible

Must-eat foods and where to get them:

It's all about the food, right? When in Spain, you eat tapas! By reputation, the most outstanding areas for tapas are in the old town, such as Sol, La Latina, Plaza de Santa Ana Square, Cava Baja and Cava Alta, and Plaza Mayor Square.

If you're looking for a traditional Spanish experience, Madrid is packed with old-world restaurants and bars where you can experience history while you enjoy great food! Visit the oldest restaurant in the world, Casa Botín, founded in 1725 and located in Cuchilleros Street, near Plaza Mayor.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the many Madrid restaurants that boast Michelin stars: Santceloni, La Terraza del Casino, Sergi Arola, Ramón Freixa Madrid, Diverxo, El Club Allard, Zalacaín, Kabuki and Kabuki Wellington.

Take in the Paseo de la Gastronomía (Gastronomy Route). This is a large area at the Casa de Campo Exhibition Centre. The Casa de Campo is Madrid's largest green area, with ten restaurants situated in buildings that are replicas of Spain's traditional, emblematic regional architecture. Here you can enjoy the best Mediterranean cuisine, as well as typical dishes from Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country, surrounded by gardens. Join us at the Casa De Campo for Country Drinks on Wednesday, 26 June from 20:00-23:00!

Join the discussion with other attendees on where to eat, and share your own ideas and tips on the TechEd Europe Forum.

Culture and Activities:

If you're planning to extend your stay in Madrid, you'll find plenty to do. The city is teaming with museums, historical sites, activities, and tours.

The Art Capital of Spain

Discover Madrid's famous "Art Route". There is nowhere else in the world with as many masterpieces in such a small area. The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía National Museum are the stars of this unique route, where you can also enjoy such emblematic landmarks as the 18th-century Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Astronomical Observatory.

The International Photography and Visual Arts Festival, PhotoEspaña, runs through July 28. This is an incredible opportunity to see the latest works from leading national and international photographers. Visit  for location and details.

Sites and Monuments

The architecture in Madrid is truly extraordinary, with plenty to see.  Learn more about historical sites and plan your itinerary. Don't miss the royal palace.

Another highlight (and possibly the most visited museum in the city!) is the tour of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (home to Real Madrid). Visit the gift shop, take the tour, and eat at one of three restaurants.

More to do in Madrid:

• Golf the historic Club de Campo Villa de Madrid
• Spend the day at Casa de Campo park, explore the zoo or aquarium, bike, play tennis, swim and more:
• Take the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus and tour the city
• Zip through the streets of Madrid on a Segway Tour

Remember, transportation is easy and inexpensive on the metro! You can buy your tickets onsite at IFEMA in Hall 2.

While you're enjoying Madrid, please keep these safety tips in mind:

• Do not wear your TechEd badge outside or in transit from the IFEMA
• Whenever in public places try to stay with a friend or colleague
• Do not carry large quantities of cash with you in public places
• Do not visit an ATM after dark and always use one in a busy area
• Consider toning down any jewelry and other such articles when socializing
• Do not carry a rucksack on your back when in town, it can easily be unzipped and emptied
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and leave your passport in the room or hotel safe
• Try not to use TechEd or Microsoft merchandise whilst out and about in town
• At all times when away from TechEd (especially late at night and or alone) be aware of your surroundings and try to use a busy, well-lit route
• Taxis: only use a taxi that is obviously licensed and never share with strangers
• When using public transport always choose the busiest part of the bus or metro
• Make sure you know where you are staying and whom to contact—as well as how to contact someone—in an emergency

Browse all the content of the conference, follow your schedule, and stay connected throughout the event.

Download Ch9 Events for Windows 8 | Windows Phone | iOS | Android

After creating your account in the app, link it to your Channel 9 account to enable synchronization of your personalized schedule.

For additional support you can reach out to: support@eventboardmobile.com

Update: Please visit http://www.eventboardmobile.com/Ch9Events/ for a FAQ and detailed installation instructions for the app.

Microsoft Solutions Experience (MSE): Bring your challenges, ideas, and questions and meet face-to-face with the Microsoft experts who built the products you use every day, and learn about the latest Microsoft technologies and solutions. Areas in the MSE cover Server-Cloud-Tools, Unified Communications, Microsoft Office, Windows Client, and Windows Phone.

Partner Solutions: The TechExpo brings together Microsoft Partners to showcase the latest technologies and solutions and provides a chance to talk directly with product experts about their offerings.  Explore the hall and meet with the TechEd Sponsors and Exhibitors—and don't miss the TechExpo Welcome Reception on Monday evening, a great networking opportunity.

Community Resource Zone: Meet some of the technical community's most noted influencers and active participants in the CRZ. Learn about available resources and how you can get involved in the Community.

Digital Wall: Find out about the latest event updates, meet and network with other attendees and learn what's happening at TechEd each day.

The TechExpo is a hub of activity at TechEd, with many opportunities to network, learn, and share information with your peers and industry experts. We look forward to seeing you there!

Mark your calendars for the Welcome Reception held in the TechExpo:

• Monday, June 3 6:00-8:00 PM in Halls CDEF at TechEd North America
• Tuesday, 25 June 18:00-20:30 in Hall 8 at TechEd Europe

Find out what's in store at the TechExpo at both TechEd North America and TechEd Europe.

Now:

• Join the TechEd Forum to discuss your event plans, ask questions and connect with other community members.
• Find like-minded attendees via the new Attendee Directory. 
• Bling your blog to let your colleagues know you'll be at TechEd! Get your blog bling!

At TechEd 2013:

• Network and learn about the latest products and solutions at the TechExpo Welcome Reception and Ask The Experts.
• Join your peers in the Alumni Lounge.
• Find resources and get involved in the community at the Community Resources Zone.

For details on these opportunities, visit the new Connect Page:

Connect at TechEd North America

Connect at TechEd Europe

Foundational Session Titles

• Big Data. Small Data. All Data
• Building Modern Business Applications
• Enabling People-Centric IT
• Microsoft Office & SharePoint 2013 Development: Introduction to the New Cloud App Model
• Modern Application Lifecycle Management
• Transform the Datacenter with Server and Management Innovations from Microsoft
• Windows in the Enterprise

Add a foundational session to your TechEd North America 2013 schedule or TechEd Europe 2013 schedule.

TechEd North America Closing Party

Thursday, June 6 | 7:30pm – 12:00 midnight

Get ready to experience an incredible night as TechEd transforms the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the Closing Party. Part of the dome floor will be covered in field turf where you can attempt a field goal, try your luck at a quarterback pass, or cheer on your friends and colleagues. Experience a fabulous line-up of great local music—listen, sing along, or dance the night away. A favorite icon in New Orleans, recent renovations have made the Superdome one of the top ten domed stadiums in the country. Host of this year's Super Bowl XLVII and home to the NFL's New Orleans Saints, the Superdome welcomes TechEd attendees as their VIPs for the night. It's sure to be an exciting and memorable celebration! 

TechEd Europe Country Drinks

Wednesday 26 June | 20:00 - 23:00

After two full days of sessions and labs, Country Drinks is your chance to relax, network and have drinks with other delegates from your country. Enjoy a menu of Spanish tapas and soft drinks, beer, wine, cava or sangria while at El Paseo de la Gastronomía, located in the southwest area of the city (just 5 minutes from the Plaza of Spain) in the Casa de Campo Fairgrounds. Housed in traditional and historic buildings, the restaurants of the Paseo de la Gastronomía combine excellent cuisine and beautiful surroundings—each with its own distinctive flavor. Join us for an unforgettable evening in Madrid!

Visit our Connect page for additional information on special events and activities at TechEd North America and TechEd Europe.

When you unlock an achievement, a unique page is generated, like this one below, perfect for sharing on Facebook or Twitter. You can get to your achievements from your profile page:

I Love Apps is coming soon and How Do You Really Feel can be earned during the event as you fill out session evaluation forms. The other three are live and ready for you to start earning achievements.   Check out the achievement board to see how many people have unlocked the Golden Ticket!

It is worth noting that awarding achievements happens asynchronously, meaning it can take 5 - 10 minutes from the time you complete the steps required to earn the achievement and when you are awarded the badge.

So, what are you waiting for? Start the dialog with speakers about their sessions, fill out your schedule. Haven't gotten the golden ticket achievement yet? Do so by registering now!

Register for TechEd North America

Register for TechEd Europe

#1:       Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk miles—literally! Bring more than one pair of good shoes, so you can focus on learning and networking, not on sore feet. Buy them now and break them in, so they will be truly comfortable by the time you hit the convention center.

#2:       Planning your session schedule before you fly will help you get what you came for.  Use Schedule Builder (for North America and Europe) to find the sessions that you want to attend and add them to your calendar. Have a backup plan. If a session you wanted to attend is full or you find out it's not what you expected, you'll save valuable time by having a Plan B session for each timeslot. Remember, you can also view sessions you missed on-demand here.

#3:       After you've picked up your badge, check your conference guide for info on WiFi set-up, the location of the Technical Help Desk, and Information Center, so you can quickly get help onsite if needed.

#4:       Attend a TechEd101 Session at TechEd North America. Think of it as a TechEd primer covering everything there is to learn and do at the event, so you can take advantage of it. TechEd 101 will be held on Sunday, June 2 at 1:00pm and 4:00pm.

#5:       Talk with EVERYONE. Spend time in the Microsoft Solutions Experience (MSE) in the TechExpo and talk with the product teams. These are the people who created the products, here to help you in-person. Talk with the Speakers... tapping their expert knowledge is a key take-away. And then there are thousands of other techs, just like you, who came to learn and share their experiences.

#6:       Make time in your schedule for Hands-on Labs (HOLs). Remember, HOLs are not only a chance to try out the latest products, but Technical Learning Guides (TLGs) will be on hand to help walk you through or answer questions. Explore the HOL for North America and Europe.

#7:       The TechExpo is big! Check out the participating sponsors and exhibitors for North America and Europe and make a list of companies you want to visit. When you get onsite, use the floor plan in your conference guide to plan your route through the hall.

#8:       Don't sit out the social events. You may be tired at the end of a long day of sessions, but the parties, receptions, and jams are your best chance to network with your peers and Microsoft experts, and have some fun. You won't regret it in the morning.

#9        Get Certified at TechEd. Take advantage of the support available onsite, like the Exam Prep Sessions, Study Hall, and Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) who are here to help you through the process. Plus, you'll get 50% off the regular exam price. Learn more and sign up to take a Microsoft Certification exam at TechEd North America or TechEd Europe.

#10:     Take a big suitcase (or an extra one!).  You'll need room for items you receive or buy at TechEd. Or, consider shipping materials home from the Business Center onsite.

Register for TechEd North America

Register for TechEd Europe

If you've got TechEd tips of your own, share them!

Attendees tell us time and again that networking (who you meet and what you learn from them) is one of the top benefits of attending TechEd.  Ask The Experts is your opportunity to continue the conversations with speakers and experts that you will meet in the Microsoft Solutions Experience in a relaxing and informal environment. We hope you join the TechEd community this year to learn, connect, and explore with those who share your interests—and meet the experts who will be there to share their experience and provide solutions.

TechEd North America Ask The Experts: Tuesday, June 4, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

TechEd Europe Ask The Experts: Thursday, 27 June, 18:30 – 20:00

Register for TechEd North America

Register for TechEd Europe

In the Certification Center at TechEd North America and TechEd Europe 2013, you'll have access to onsite training, Exam Prep sessions, and practice tests, as well as the assistance of MCT Ambassadors who have passed multiple exams. 

Take advantage of this great opportunity to fulfill your certification requirements at a 50% discount at TechEd North America 2013 and TechEd Europe 2013. This opportunity is only available to registered TechEd 2013 attendees. 

Learn more and sign up to take a Microsoft Certification exam at TechEd North America or TechEd Europe.

Not registered yet for TechEd 2013? Register today and start planning your ideal conference schedule!

Register for TechEd North America

Register for TechEd Europe

The catalog will grow between now and TechEd, so check back to see new content, including Certification Exam Prep and Foundational Sessions.

If you haven't yet registered, the Content Catalog is the perfect tool for convincing your boss that TechEd is a great investment. Explore the catalog to see what you could take away from your TechEd experience. Then register today and start planning your ideal conference schedule!

Register for TechEd North America

Register for TechEd Europe

What are your Top 10 sessions for TechEd 2013?

This year, choose from 13 Pre-Conference Seminars, each designed specifically to address a need critical to today's IT Professionals and Enterprise Developers. Check the list of Pre-Cons for North America and Europe and be sure to read the speaker bios and visit their blogs. Some of today's leading experts are presenting—these guys truly are the rock stars of our industry—and this is a great opportunity to tap into their knowledge and insights. Many are published authors, so you may want to maximize your learning opportunity with some reading before you attend.

Pre-Cons take place the day before the conference opens: Sunday, June 2 for TechEd North America and Monday, 24 June for TechEd Europe and include lunch with your peers—another chance to network and discuss what you're learning.

Explore the TechEd Pre-Conference line-up (you may have trouble choosing just one) and register today for TechEd North America or  TechEd Europe.  

Tell us about your experience: Do you have a favorite TechEd Pre-Con or Pre-Con Speaker?

Check out LOOPTWORKS to learn how they take discarded pre-consumer materials and create one-of-a-kind clothing and gear that is, quite possibly, saving the planet one T-shirt (or bag) at a time. Did you know that it takes 400 gallons of water to create a single 100% cotton T-shirt, and that every week one factory can dispose of as much as 60,000 lbs. of textile waste? That all goes to landfills, unless LOOPTWORKS turns it into cool clothing, gear, or... a TechEd 2013 backpack. 

This is the bag for both TechEd Europe and TechEd North America. The picture below features the TechEd North America logo.  Additional sponsor logos will be added to the final version.

 What's the most important item you'll carry onsite in your TechEd bag?

Register for TechEd North America by Friday, March 22 and Save $300.

Register for TechEd Europe by Friday, 22 March and Save €300.

In a nut-shell, TechEd is the right investment for your company today. The content is broader than most conferences can boast, and focuses in-depth on the technologies you use every day. What you'll learn in sessions and labs at TechEd will help your company get the most out of existing investments in Microsoft products, and you'll gain insights to help plan for future technology investments.

Then there's the face-to-face networking experience that you really can't get anywhere else. Attendees tell us time and again that one of the top benefits of TechEd is talking with their peers, Microsoft product team members, and Partners in the TechExpo. Getting answers and solutions from the experts, discussing challenges with others who have faced them...these are opportunities that can have a huge impact for your organization.

You know the value of the event. Print out a few copies of the Convince Your Boss flyer, and we'll see you in New Orleans or Madrid!  Don't forget: It's not too late to get Early Bird pricing!

Register for TechEd North America by March 22 and Save $300.

Register for TechEd Europe by 22 March and Save €300.

Sounds simple, right? Here's what they mean:

1. Learn about the future of Microsoft products, solutions and services directly from the leaders, complete with news, announcements and demos. Unlike traditional classroom training with a fixed set of topics, TechEd allows you to personalize your learning experience. Mix and match the sessions—and session types—you want to attend, including breakout sessions, hands-on labs, birds-of-a-feather sessions, keynotes, and more. Each of the four days provides you the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in sessions that offer insight into the products you are working with.

2. Connect with thousands of your peers. Leverage the TechEd North America forum or the TechEd Europe forum beforehand to connect with fellow attendees. Speak with Microsoft product team members who build the products you work with every day, as well as industry experts who are deploying and building Microsoft solutions that may benefit your projects. Explore vendor solutions that can help you achieve your goals. Discuss challenges and brainstorm potential solutions with like-minded individuals at structured networking opportunities including the TechExpo Welcome Reception, Ask the Experts, the Attendee Party in North America and Country Drinks in Europe.

3. Explore products and tools that can make your job easier and cut down on the time you spend troubleshooting issues. There is no better way to learn about Microsoft products than to play with them in the hands-on labs, at demo stations and elsewhere throughout the conference. TechEd is your best chance of the year to see how Microsoft products were made to be used and learn how to use them.

In today's online and always-connected world, there is tremendous benefit in having dedicated time away from your office to focus on advancing your expertise, minus the distractions. By attending TechEd in-person, you are giving yourself the best chance to learn, connect and explore and take advantage of everything the event has to offer. 

Don't delay. Take advantage of the early bird discount pricing:

Register for TechEd North America by March 22 and Save $300.

Register for TechEd Europe by 22 March and Save €300.

• [01:48] What does it mean for an IT Pro audience that the phone will be built on the same Windows Core as Windows 8?
• [03:44] What is SecureBoot and Device Encryption and how does it work with Windows Phone 8?
• [04:36] Is the USB storage encryption also included in the on-device encryption for Windows Phone 8?
• [05:55] Can you enable on-device encryption with Windows Phone 8 through Exchange Active Sync?
• [06:16] What are the ways in which we can manage Windows Phone 8?
• [07:45] What does it take to setup a Company Application Hub for Windows Phone 8?
• [09:45] Where and how can the application for the company hub be hosted / deployed / loaded?
• [11:33] What should IT Pros be thinking about all-up with Windows Phone 8?
• [12:49] What should an organization be thinking about regarding NFC?
• [15:43] What are the differences in the way Windows Phone 8 implements NFC versus Google Android Phones?

Watch weekly news and technical interviews for IT Professionals on The Edge Show or see the rest of the Channel 9 Live Coverage of TechEd Europe.

Connect with the Edge Team:

Facebook – Twitter

• Register for the event
• Browse the great content and build your schedule online or browse on our free mobile companion via EventBoard
• Check out Coding4Fun's BoxingBots

Here is the description of his Foundational Session "Enabling the Consumerization of IT" from the TechEd website:

How people work has changed dramatically over the last few years. Today's users have access to the latest technology in their personal lives, and increasingly have a say in what technology they use to get the job done. Opportunities exist to enable greater productivity, hire great people and keep them happy, but also a responsibility to properly secure and manage devices and data. Learn how Microsoft can help you responsibly enable this vision to "Consumerize the IT" inside your company.

If you haven't already, you should register for TechEd Now!

• TechEd North America
• TechEd Europe

Cameron's and Brian's session will cover the advancements being made in Visual Studio to aid teams with Application Lifecycle Management (ALM).

Here is the description of their Foundational Session from the TechEd website:

Microsoft's application lifecycle management tooling is all about enabling teams to deliver great software. In this demo-packed session, learn how to engage early and often with your project's stakeholders to ensure that your team is building the right software for them. Discover tooling to help you more effectively plan and track work by using the new web-based project management tools. Learn how to bridge the divide between development and operations by utilizing IntelliTrace in your production environments and integrating Microsoft System Center with Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server. And, developers can stay on-task and "in the zone" with the new "My Work" and code review features. In addition to making your team more productive, we show you how you can boost your overall code quality with new features such as code clone and an overhauled unit testing story in Visual Studio 11.

If you haven't already, you should register for TechEd Now!

• TechEd North America
• TechEd Europe

Remember that this does not reserve a seat at the conference and all sessions are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Building your agenda does allow us to gauge interest across our content catalog and make sure everyone has the best chance to see everything they want in person.

If you're curious to see what some of the top sessions are, follow @TechEd_Europe 

Join us in Amsterdam this 26 - 29 June, 2012.  If you're already registered, find out who some of your fellow delegates are on the TechEd Directory.

Find out more about the translator at http://www.microsofttranslator.com and get your widget code at http://www.microsofttranslator.com/widget/.