Entries tagged with social - Channel 9

Live Framework and Always-Available Social Applications

Jared Bienz — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:35:00 GMT

The Live Framework is a set of libraries and services for building connected applications that can reach millions of users. Live Mesh is a set of services for synchronizing user and application data between multiple devices and multiple people.

This screencast provides an introduction to these frameworks and demonstrates how they can be used to develop Always-Available social applications.

Download Sample Files

Show Off and VSIP Passport Winners Announced

D. Begley — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:16:00 GMT

The Show Off votes have been tabulated, and we have winners! In third place: Clipboard History for Visual Studio; in second place: Multi-Channel Virtual Earth and in first place… Brian the Build Bunny. These entries will each recieve $500 Visa Gift Cards. Check out these innovative creations on Channel 9.

William Wallace, from Motive, Inc., is the VSIP Passport drawing winner for Monday, October 27. He is the winner of an Xbox Elite.

Put the PDC in your pocket!

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:12:00 GMT

Go to: http://m.microsoftpdc.com/ for the PDC mobile experience.

L.A. Insights: Cinephile's Delight

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:11:00 GMT

Angelenos have a well-deserved reputation as laid-back -- but when it comes to movies, they can be as passionate and serious as the most diehard cinephile. There are convenient places to check out the latest high-profile releases – like downtown’s no-frills Laemmle’s Grande 4-Plex, or the pricey ArcLight in Hollywood. But part of the fun of living in such close proximity to the movie capital of the world comes from the many special screenings and in-person appearances by filmmakers. The week of the PDC is no exception...

To find out more about the nuts-and-bolts of movie-making, you could check out a behind-the-scenes workshop by Richard King, sound editor for the year’s biggest film: The Dark Knight. On Monday night, he’ll be talking at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theater with music editor Alex Gibson about how the two approached the project, complete with pre-dub and post-dub excerpts from the film. If you’ve ever wanted to ask writer/director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt) a question, he’ll be doing a Q&A after a screening of his 1999 film Election at the U.S.C. film school on Thursday.

The week of the PDC is also a great week for documentaries. None other than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screens Oscar-winning documentaries each Monday, and on the 27th, will be showing two of the winners from 1993: Defending Our Lives, about abused women driven to kill their tormentors, and I Am A Promise, about an inspiring Philadelphia principal in a low-income school. Doc producers will be in attendance to discuss. On Tuesday, the Egyptian will be screening Lioness, a new doc about five female soldiers who saw combat in Iraq, even though technically women are not supposed to be under fire. And along with a panel of distinguished academics, U.S.C. professor Joe Saltzman will screen and discuss Black on Black, the Emmy-winning documentary he produced in 1968 about the devastating riots in South L.A. during that unquiet decade.

Lastly, the annual film festival of the American Film Institute will begin on October 30, which may give you an incentive to stay in town an extra day or two. Opening night will kick off with the world premiere of The Soloist, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, based on the true story of an L.A. Times columnist who befriends a homeless, mentally-ill man on skid row who turns out to be a trained classical musician. But make sure to buy tickets in advance!

Monday, October 27, Behind-the-scenes look at the sound of The Dark Knight (free), Egyptian Theater, Hollywood, 7:30 – red line to Hollywood and Highland.

Defending Our Lives and I Am a Promise ($5), Linwood Dunn Theater, Hollywood, doors open at 6:30 – red line to Hollywood and Vine, walk 4 blocks south to 1313 Vine St.

Tuesday, October 28, Lioness (free), Egyptian Theater – red line to Hollywood and Highland;

Black on Black (free, although RSVP requested at annenberg.usc.edu/rsvp), Annenberg Auditorium, 5 P.M. -- Take southbound commuter Express Bus 422 from stop in front of convention center at Pico and Figueroa -- bus terminates at Jefferson and Hoover, at USC campus. Marked as “ASC” in grid square D4 on this map.

Thursday, October 30, world premiere of The Soloist ($25; $125) – red line to Hollywood and Vine; $25 screening held at Arclight Theater; $125 at Cinerama Dome next door, 7 P.M.

Q. & A. with Alexander Payne and screening of Election (free; although email map.

The Devil’s Field Guide to the PDC2008

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:11:00 GMT

The long awaited “The Devil’s Field Guide to the PDC” is the ultimate insider’s guide to having the best PDC experience ever. It answers questions that attendees of any type of large Microsoft conference event ponder, for example:
• Where do all the Microsofties hang out after the event?
• How do I get the backchannel instead of what the mainstream media wants me to hear?
• How do I avoid standing in lines?
• How do I maintain my stamina?
• How do I talk to a Microsoftie who can actually help me?
Of course, there is a lot more to know so get inside the field guide to find out!

PDC2008: We don't need no stinkin' badges!

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Countdown to PDC2008: We don't need no stinkin' badges! Yes you do-- if they’re PDC Badges! Collecting PDC Badges is the way for anyone attending PDC to capture their experience at the PDC conference. Just for showing up at registration you’ll receive the “I was there at Microsoft PDC2008 Badge”. If you go to a PreCon, you’ll get the “Captured Brain Power Early” Badge. Not every Badge is that easy to get though. Only a few will obtain the exclusive “Keynote Front Rower” Badge or the “Coded4Fun” Badge.

The best part is that everyone is joining in! You will find Badges available from the Conference, Product Groups, Sponsors and Attendees. Find more details on collecting or creating your own Badges from Adam Kinney, the Badge Evangelist.

L.A. Insights: Music Highlights during PDC

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:10:00 GMT

The Los Angeles music scene may not be as cohesive as when jazz clubs lined Central Avenue in the 1940s or when Axl and friends emerged as the kings of the Sunset Strip in the 1980s – but there are always a huge number of live events going on, from classical to hip-hop to country to rock to bebop. We’ve picked out some downtown-centric music highlights for the week of the PDC.

For a gold-plated experience, you could head up Bunker Hill to the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Concert Hall. Living jazz legend Dave Brubeck will be appearing with his quartet on Sunday; and on Wednesday, bossa-nova icon Milton Nascimento will be singing with the Jobim Trio, which lists the son and grandson of the immortal Antonio Carlos Jobim among its members. You could also head to Disney’s smaller Redcat Theater, which tends to program avant-garde artists – on Wednesday, experimental musician Meredith Monk will unveil an “immersive theatrical environment” that will use a choir, vocal ensembles, a string quartet, percussionists, and visual elements to represent various religious states. For one of the best bargains in the pricey world of high culture, stop in at the prestigious conservatory known as the Colburn School--on Sunday night, two of the faculty pianists will be giving a joint recital, which is free as long as you request tickets in advance.

If all of this sounds too highfalutin, consider the rugged DIY punk club known as The Smell. They don’t serve alcohol, but admission is usually just $5-10 dollars, and they’ll be having a full slate of acts on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. You also might head over to Redwood Bar and Grill, which books local indie rock acts most nights. If you’d prefer hearing inexpensive live jazz, head over to 7 Grand, which has free local performers after 10 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. You could also try Little Tokyo’s 2nd Street Jazz Bar, where you can hear young, local players for the cost of a 2-drink minimum at the bar, or a small cover at tables – Wednesday is DJ night, where everything from rare groove to electronica might be heard.

For higher-profile concerts, you’ll have to get on the subway. (Staples Center and the newcomer Nokia Theater, the two biggest downtown venues, aren’t having concerts early in the week). At the turquoise, art-deco theater known as the Wiltern in Koreatown, indie rockers Against Me! will headline on Tuesday.

Over in Hollywood, the Hotel Cafe has become an important venue for upcoming folk and singer/songwiter types to get noticed, and has inexpensive shows 7 nights a week. The Knitting Factory Hollywood will be featuring a variety of acts, including the metal festival Appease the Beast 2 on Sunday and a Latin hip-hop showcase on Wednesday. The Catalina Jazz Club is one of the two most prestigious jazz clubs in the city. They’ll be featuring a variety of second-tier players throughout the week, except for Sunday, when the outstanding chanteuse Tierney Sutton will be appearing. And since no price is better than free, keep your eyes on the Amoeba Records calendar of in-store performances – it’s standing room only, but a great way to catch up with an unknown up-and-comer or an established star.

Disney Concert Hall, including the Redcat
Dave Brubeck Quartet ($36-99)
Milton Nascimento with Jobim Trio ($36-89)
Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton ($30)
Heewon Kwon and Jeffrey Lavner recital at Colburn School (free)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center,” and walk uphill on Temple to Grand; to avoid the climb, take DASH Bus Route B)

The Smell (typically $5-10)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center”; walk south on Hill St. until you reach 2nd St. make a left and walk east for 2 ½ blocks until you pass an alley just west of Main St. the Smell entrance located in the alley, just north of 2nd).

Redwood Bar and Grill (cover charge: $0-$5)
(Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center”; walk south on Hill St. until you reach 2nd St. make a left until you hit 316 W. 2nd)

7 Grand (music free)
(Blue, red, or purple line to 7th St./Metro Center; walk three blocks east to 515 7th St.)

The Wiltern (Against Me! $25 general admission)
(Purple line to Wilshire and Western)

2nd Street Jazz ($10 at tables, or 2-drink minimum sitting at bar)
(Red line to Civic Center; or DASH bus “Route A,” but only up until 6:30 P.M).

Knitting Factory (tickets $5-40)
Catalina Jazz Club ($10-40, plus 2-drink minimum; please note that even pedestrians enter through the parking garage behind the club, which looks like an office building from outside)
(Red line to Hollywood and Highland).

Hotel Cafe (tickets typically $10-15)
Amoeba Records (free)
(Red line to Sunset and Vine).

Countdown to PDC2008 Ambush Dan and Brian, Taking Over their C9 Show for 10 Groovy Minutes

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:09:00 GMT

Countdown to PDC2008: Brian and Dan may have day jobs, but they are also doing a ton of work on PDC including running the Show Off contest. Show Off is a really cool experience, but it’s kinda hard to explain in writing so Brian and Dan give it to us in plain words and tell us how easy it is to get involved (and maybe win some big prizes). Plus, we hear all the PDC sessions are going to be online within 24 hours for FREE! Is that really true!? The guys confirm for us the dealio on the cool PDC virtual experience, and tell us what to expect.

L.A. Insights: A Business Meal That’ll Impress the Boss – On A Budget

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:08:00 GMT

Downtown L.A. offers a huge array of choices for business meals. But you’ll make your boss happy not only by picking out a top-notch restaurant, but by avoiding over-priced culinary blowouts that look bad on an expense report.

The south end of the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Hall houses Patina – it’s a soothingly elegant restaurant, with an interior of dark greens and browns, illuminated by latticed yellow lighting fixtures. The dinner menu tends to a sophisticated international style, and is not cheap. But there is a 2-course business lunch special that costs just $25, with the same highly-attentive service that you receive for a far heftier check (a recent special consisted of squash soup with micro-cilantro, followed by lamb croquettes over fava beans). Patina is the crown jewel of a restaurant group with many constituents – and the sister restaurant Cafe Pinot is also worth visiting, and not just for the inventive California cuisine. This “California bistro” sits in the public garden of the Central Library, and there’s nothing like cypresses and flowers blowing gently in the breeze to take your mind off of a hectic week – did you forget that this is L.A., where it’s generally sunny even in late October?

Patina can claim to be the best restaurant downtown in part because longtime powerhouse The Water Grill lost its chef, who departed to start the rapturously-praised Providence (which is accessible only by a drive to Hollywood). The Water Grill still makes for a fine meal though, in spite of the somewhat dated wood bar and beige-toned mural. The menu will appeal if you like meticulously-prepared fish that incorporates a crazy-quilt of international flavors, from foams to cous-cous to chorizo to the German pasta called spatzle. The “fruits of the sea platter,” consisting of a huge range of chilled shellfish over ice, is a delicious way to eat light, and costs a not unreasonable $35/person.

Across the street at the Hilton is the Checkers Downtown Restaurant, which combines fussiness and casual comfort in a way that has made the place a mainstay for L.A. power lunches. The white tablecloths, stiff-backed chairs, and reticent wait staff give the place a coldly-formal feel. But downing a smoky steak sandwich or a buttery crab cake as natural light streams in from high windows will have you feeling like a local insider.

Over at Cicada, the pricey Northern Italian menu is decent, but the real draw is the richly evocative art-deco dining room, originally constructed during the roaring 1920s. And for a more casual atmosphere, make your way over to Wood Spoon, which serves Brazilian specialties like roasted meats and the fried minced chicken dumplings called coxhina. The narrow front door opens into a high-ceilinged dining room, where colorful abstract paintings adorn white walls. The huge strip of cinnamon that flavors the carafe of cold water on your table is a great symbol of the chef’s attention to detail.

Patina (1 lunch course $9-26; 2 course prix fixe business lunch special $25; 1 dinner course $17-49;) – Take the red or purple lines to “Civic Center,” and walk uphill on Temple to Grand; to avoid the climb, take DASH Bus Route B)

Cafe Pinot (lunch entrees $17-30, dinner entrees $22-38), Water Grill (lunch entrees $25-46; dinner entrees $33-48), Checkers Downtown (lunch entrees $12-26; dinner entrees $15-32) , Cicada (dinner only, entrees from $23-42) -- red, purple or blue line to 7th St/Metro Center).

Wood Spoon (salads $8, sandwiches $8-10, Brazilian grill $11) – Take DASH Bus Route E to 9th St. and Los Angeles – walk west past Main and Spring St. to 107 W. 9th St.)

This event is so hot, the T-Shirts caught on fire!

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:08:00 GMT

Early Tuesday morning, September 30th, Pacific Sportswear Inc., the contract screenprinter for eCompany Store, had a fire in the facility producing the PDC attendee t-shirts. The PDC T-shirts were damaged. Pacific Sportswear ordered more shirts and found another printing facility in Tacoma to print the shirts in time for shipping to L.A.. I just came back from a press check and the shirts looks great. You can check my pictures out from the press check here. Special thanks to Mark and Stacy for going above and beyond to getting the shirts to L.A. on time!

Dayline’s Exclusive Interview with the Brain in the Jar

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:04:00 GMT

Learn where the brain has been since PDC05 in this exclusive interview with Tina Wood. Discover what the brain likes to do when not developing software; why a jar and if it is a mascot for PDC2008? Enjoy!

Badges!? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges…

D. Begley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:03:00 GMT

Yes you do if they’re PDC Badges! Collecting PDC Badges is the way for anyone attending PDC to capture their experience at the PDC conference. Find more details on collecting or creating your own Badges from Adam Kinney, the BadgeMaster.