Even more interesting to me was the chance to talk to the Windows Tablet and Touch Technology Team.  They're here in force with lots of cool products.

I grabbed a couple of shots of some of the newer offerings to share with you.  The Samsung Ultra has added a QWERTY keyboard with keys similar to those found on many portable phones.  It's a slimmer, smaller design from the original Q1 (right) and feels better in my hands.  Better resolution is also a big plus. A unique feature here is the camera both on the front and the rear.

The other unnamed machine shown is a different form factor.  Although the size of a UMPC, it uses the familiar sliding screen feature of some cell phones.  I don't think it would be hard to get used to the flat screen position, but at first use, it's a bit less familiar.

I'll be adding more information on these and other Ultra-Mobile PCs on http://writepc.com

April 30, 2007

Mix07 Keynote with Ray Ozzie

Several announcements came this morning from both Ray Ozzie and Scott Guthrie about Silverlight, Expression and others.

For a synopsis of the events, checkhttp://visitmix.com/news

Microsoft Lights Way for Next-Generation Web Development and Design at MIX07
Microsoft Silverlight enhancements unveiled including support for .NET managed code and dynamic languages; provides developers and designers with a comprehensive solution for building and delivering Web, PC and device applications.

The combination of Microsoft Silverlight and the latest platform and tooling enhancements make the .NET Framework unequaled for building and delivering Web, Windows®, and rich interactive applications. The .NET Framework now also has unparalleled support for developer and designer tools and multiple languages, ensuring the most productive experience for developers and designers alike. Today’s announcements include the following:

• Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 beta availability. Optimized for the Web, Microsoft Silverlight enables developers and designers to easily use existing skills and Visual Studio and Expression Studio tools to deliver media experiences and rich interactive applications. Silverlight works with any back-end Web platform or technology, seamlessly integrating with existing infrastructure and applications, including Apache and PHP, as well as JavaScript and XHTML on the client. Beta 1.0 includes a go-live license, which means customers can deploy their Silverlight applications in production. Final availability of Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 is scheduled for summer 2007.

• Microsoft Silverlight 1.1 Alpha availability. Based on the .NET Framework, Silverlight 1.1 Alpha offers broader tools and language support. It enables developers to take advantage of support for powerful .NET features including ASP.NET AJAX and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) language, with full IntelliSense® editing enabled for client and server code; powerful cross-platform debugging capabilities; and rich language support for JavaScript, Visual Basic®, C#, Python and Ruby.

• Expression Studio now shipping. Expression Studio, Microsoft’s end-to-end tools for creative designers, boosts collaboration with developers in the delivery of next-generation user experiences for Windows, the Web and beyond.

• Microsoft Silverlight Streaming. Silverlight Streaming is a new companion service for Silverlight that makes it easier for developers and designers to deliver and scale rich media as part of their Silverlight applications.

• Windows Live Platform Terms of Use. Microsoft is enabling the developer community to take advantage of the Windows Live™ services infrastructure and gain access to all the APIs through a simple, consistent set of terms that address multiyear supportability, scale, cost structure and commercial use of the platform. In addition, Microsoft announced new APIs to support programmatic access to Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Contacts and Windows Live Messenger.


Microsoft Partners Showcase Benefits of Microsoft Web Technologies

The MIX07 event features participants from leading Web, media and design companies including Avenue A | Razorfish, BBC, CBS Television Stations, Disney, Electric Rain Inc., Facebook, frog design inc., gotomedia inc, IdentityMine Inc., Metaliq and Schematic.

“Central to our ‘Always On’ strategy has been the desire to create an interactive environment where our audiences can participate in the local broadcast process,” said Jonathan Leess, president and general manager of CBS Television Stations Digital Media Group. “This project, using Microsoft Silverlight technology, allows us to empower the massive long tail of untapped local media content that is waiting to converge with the broadband and broadcast mediums.”

“Our business is to create new and innovative cutting-edge solutions. We are always trying new technologies like Silverlight to redefine the limits of what can be done with interactive applications,” said Beau Ambur, CEO and founder of Metaliq. “With Microsoft, our designers and developers are able to work in parallel throughout a project, enabling us to deliver some of the richest experiences on the Web.”

MIX07 runs through Wednesday in Las Vegas. More information — including customer and partner videos and demos, keynote clips, Microsoft product overviews, and footage from the event floor — can be found by visiting http://visitmix.com.

Product Information and Availability

The Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 Beta and 1.1 Alpha are available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight. Those interested in learning more about Silverlight and joining its growing community can visit http://www.silverlight.net. Expression Studio is expected to be commercially available in May 2007. Customers interested in pre-ordering Expression Studio can visit http://www.amazon.com for details.