Archive for March, 2007

Microsoft Student Partners (MSP) Applications 07/08 Now Open!

As you probably know I have been a UK Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) for this Academic Year 2006/2007 at The University of Kent and well what can say, I absolutely love it. It’s everything I expected and a hell of a lot more!

So if you are a student passionate about technology, ready to share your knowledge and want to develop skills outside your field of study, then you’ll be happy to hear that Microsoft want to hear from you as applications for the Microsoft Student Partners Programme 07/08 are now open.

What is the MSP Programme?

The Microsoft Student Partner Programme recognises top young minds from around the UK who are passionate about technology. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop real-world skills to help you succeed in your future career, to help others learn about the technology of today and tomorrow, and to connect with other like-minded students, all whilst having a ton of fun along the way.

The programme is our way of encouraging students who are interested in building a closer relationship with Microsoft, and those who are simply hooked on technology, to develop their skills further. This year’s programme will officially run from June 2007 to May 2007.

What is an MSP?

The Microsoft Student Partner programme consists of the brightest and most innovative student developers and technology enthusiasts from universities around the world.

The ‘ideal candidate’ for an MSP would be a passionate and enthusiast individual who wants to learn about new tools and technologies. You would need to have a whole range of skills including excellent time management, organisation and communication skills to ensure that you could host a successful campus launch event.

An MSP should be comfortable and confident presenting in front of large audiences of both students and faculty members. You may even be asked to present in front of your fellow MSPs at an event. General business and sales skills come in very handy in order to allow you to articulate your ideas effectively when presenting.

MSPs are sociable, friendly and approachable individuals who like to meet new people. You will require the ability work as a team as well as use your own initiative. In summary, MSPs are innovative and creative students who are extremely passionate about technology.

You will need to download and complete the MSP application form at the top of the page. You must send the complete form to ukmspnom@microsoft.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 26 May 2007. We will then review all the submitted applications and select the brightest and most innovative student developers and technology enthusiasts from universities across the UK and Ireland.

You can download the MSP application form and more information about the programme at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/academia/students/student-partners/default.mspx.

Visited PC Pro Offices London with The Kent IT Clinic

Well what a smashing day it was yesterday, my visit with The Kent IT Clinic to the PC Pro Offices in London was a real insight into how Dennis Publishing and PC Pro Magazine work as a company in the Computing Publishing industry.

The visit started of with an introduction from Barry Collins to PC Pro and Dennis Publishing, this session gave us a quick overview of the PC Pro magazine, and other computing titles within Dennis Publishing and the rest of the industry.

And then there was a How the Magazine Works Session in which an explanation of how PC Pro is produced– from copy being written by journalists right through to the printed product that you’ll find on the shelves.

  • How they select products for review/news
  • How they stay ahead of the technology
  • How the dynamics of magazine publishing are changing

After this Jim Martin, Labs Editor of PC Pro and former University of Kent Computing graduate explained to us:

  • How they test PCs/laptops/printers/monitors in their dedicated labs
  • How the PC Pro benchmark suite works and why it’s more accurate than industry benchmarks
  • The role of external laboratory tests for acoustic/power surge testing

Once Jim had finished, Barry gave us a talk about the PC Pro Website:

  • Explanation of how the PC Pro website is operated/designed
  • Hands-on demonstration of the PC Pro website Content Management System
  • The importance of Search Engine Optimisation and RSS
  • How they monitor the website stats
  • Future plans for the PC Pro website

And then he took us down to the PC Pro Labs for a quick tour.

After this it was time to leave the PC pro Offices and make our way home… though myself and my mates Steve and Rob had other plans, that being to go to some london pub’s and then head to Namco Station for some more fun. On the way there we also went on the London Eye which was pretty cool at night.

So hey check out the pics, and expect videos to come soon! :) 

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Visiting the PC Pro Magazine Offices in London Tomorrow!

I shall be visiting the PC Pro Magazine Offices in London tomorrow with a group of fellow consultants from The Kent IT Clinic (a.k.a KITC).

It should be an interesting day out so if I’m aloud to take any pics I’ll upload them to Flickr! :)

Reading and Leeds Music Festival 2007 Website Update!

w00t theres been a Reading and Leeds Music Festival 2007 Update.

A brand new spanking Reading and Leeds Music Festival website is being built and will be launched on Saturday the 17th of March 2007 at 7:00pm. This site will be available at the following addresses:

Which at this current point in time tell you that on monday the 19th of March 2007 at 6:45pm the launch lineup for this years festival will be published on this new and improved Reading and Leeds Music Festival Site.

And that on this same monday the 19th of March 2007 but at 7:00pm the tickets for this years festival will go on sale!

Which if you ask me is great news, as I was just checking today the bext way of getting there! :D

All aboard the bus from London to Sydney!

For £3,750 you can take a 12-week bus ride from London to Sydney. The journey will take you through 20 countries including Turkey, Iran, India, China and Malaysia. The first trip leaves in September, with plans already in place for two more services, departing in January and May 2008.

In a way it reminds me of the Summer Holiday, a British musical released in 1962. :)

Anyhow what are you waiting for, get yourself ready for the bus ride of a live time. ;)

http://www.ozbus.co.uk/

Via: A Welsh View

Reading Festival 2007 Rumours

Reading Festival 2007 is still several months away and I’m already excited, so excited that I still haven’t picked who’s going with me for free, yep you heard me right, last year I was a winner on the Microsoft Windows Live Sessions Fans Competition which gave me the chance to go with a friend (or someone very special ;) ) to one of the various Major UK Music Festivals this year.

But the bands playing have not been announced yet so I have no idea who will be there, though it has apparently been confirmed by NME (New Musical Express) Magazine that the follwing bands will be playing at Reading Festival 2007:

  • Razorlight
  • Smashing Pumpkins
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • The Gossip
  • Fall Out Boy
  • Lostprophets
  • NOFX
  • The View
  • Ian Brown
  • Interpol
  • Bloc Party

But hey that could change and as you probably know rumours are everywhere, including here, as I would love to know what bands you think will be playing at Reading Festival 2007, could it be any of these?

Or is it someone else, let me know what you think before the 26th of march 2007 when apparently the Headliners/Line Ups for this years festival will be annnounced.

And hey to give you a head start if your guessing is no good, you may find the following sites of some help in your decision:

30 Free Cool Emoticons for Windows Live Messenger

Would you like 30 Free Cool Emoticons for Windows Live Messenger?

If so then check out:

http://www.emoticones-messenger.fr

Thanks goe’s to Live Backstage! ;)

Windows Vista Remote Desktop Authentication Certificate Error

For some time now I’ve been trying to use Windows Vistas Remote Desktop Connection Application to remotely connect from one Computer with Windows Vista Ultimate installed to another Computer with Windows Vista Ultimate installed on the same local area network and workgroup.

But every time I try to connect to the other PC from either the first or second PC I get the following message:

“The authentication certificate received from the remote computer has expired or it not valid.”

And the thing is I’ve tried pretty much everything from Windows Vista’s Online Help (here) to a Windows Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ post by the Terminal Services Team (here) and lots more… and still no luck!

So I’m hoping that someone can help me out here, there has to be someone that has experienced exactly (or very similar) the same problem as me and managed to fix it.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s help.

Top 10 Search Keyphrases for February 2007

1415 different keyphrases were used to find my site in February 2007, here are the top 10 with the amount of times they were used plus their overal usage percentage.

vtunnel | 3350 | 39.2%
https //vtunnel.com | 404 | 4.7%
https// vtunnel.com | 326 | 3.8%
https//vtunnel.com | 318 | 3.7%
websites like vtunnel | 111 | 1.3%
sites | like | vtunnel | 110 | 1.2%
https/vtunnel.com | 109 | 1.2%
https.//vtunnel.com | 67 | 0.7%
vtunnel proxy | 66 | 0.7%
https //www.vtunnel.com | 65 | 0.7%

Other phrases | 3603 | 42.2%

This Account Has Been Suspended - HostGator!

09:15am GMT (04:15am EST)

Just turned my PC on and eek for some reason my domain name “darrenstraight.com” is coming up with this message:

This Account Has Been Suspended
Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible.

I hurry up and load my Billing Page for this domain hosted at HostGator and within minutes I find the problem, it seems that my account has been suspended because I have an unpaid invoice of $179.40 for a Hosting Package (hosting another domain) I had already previously cancelled and had my money refunded for after it was auto-renewed back in January.

09:36am GMT (04:36am EST):

Time to submit a support ticket to the sales department!

10:36am GMT (05:36am EST):

Ok so only an hour has passed since I submitted the support ticked with a priority of “Critical” and it’s still early morning in the US, but I really do hope someone reads my message soon, as my visitors are really going to be wondering what’s happening soon! :(

12:11am GMT (07:11am EST):

Great News, my website, my blog and everything else I have hosted at HostGator, is now online, so sorry to everyone who couldn’t access it this morning, all should be fine now.

Hello,

Your account is now online. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Regards,
James McHugh
HostGator.com