Darren Straight's Blog

ICT Enthusiast and photographer.

By - Darren Straight

Silverlight 1.0 Released and Silverlight for Linux Announced

Microsoft today released to the Web (RTW) Silverlight 1.0 for Windows and Mac. Silverlight being Microsoft’s cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering richer user experiences on the Web. In addition, Microsoft will work with Novell Inc. to deliver Silverlight support for Linux, called Moonlight, and based on the project started on mono-project.com.Silverlight significantly reduces development and deployment costs and provides enhanced Web audio and

By - Darren Straight

Winner of $25,000 Microsoft Home Office Makeover Revealed

The Microsoft Office team and HGTV interior designer Vern Yip presented Microsoft Home Office Makeover grand prize winner Crile Carvey with a $25,000 home office redesign. Carvey, a software application and design business owner in Wheatland, Wyo., sought to bring order to his chaotic home office to increase his productivity and efficiency. The Microsoft Home Office team updated Carvey’s office,

By - Darren Straight

Universal Studios Hollywood closes Back To The Future The Ride

Monday was a sad day for many Back to The Future Fans as the Universal Studios Hollywood ride “Back to the Future – The Ride” closed forever to visitors at 8:00pm. 🙁 It’s a real shame to see Hollywood’s “Back to the Future – The Ride” close forever just like it did at Universal Studios Florida, luckily there’s no plans

By - Darren Straight

Update to management of the Microsoft adCenter trademark policy

Just a reminder that on  the 10th of September 2007, Microsoft will update the management of the adCenter trademark policy. Here are some key points that outline these changes. The heart of the trademark policy is unchanged. Microsoft adCenter disallows trademark infringement, and forbids advertisers from bidding on or using trademarked terms in a way that constitutes trademark infringement. Advertisers may not

By - Darren Straight

Mel Kirk from Carson Systems sings All By Myself!

Mel Kirk from Carson Systems who is responsible for coordinating the Future of Web Apps Event (FOWA) told me that I wouldnt dare post a video of her singing along to “All By Myself by Celine Dion” on my blog “haha, you wouldn’t dare :)” after I told her that maybe I should post it here on my blog “Maybe

By - Darren Straight

Microsoft registers Windows Live Translator Domain Names

Within the last 10 days a number of newly registered or recently transfered domains have made their apperance on MSFT name servers. A list of many (not all) follows. The highlights feature both domains with the terms translation (Windows Live Translator) and television (Microsoft Portable TV). WindowsLivetranslator-int.com, .net., .org windowsLiveTranslatorV.com windowslivetranslator.com, .net MicrosoftPortableTV.com microsoftTelevision.com SimplifyYourWork2008.com., .net, .org Surface.info zunedownlaod.com zunesdownload.com zunesubscription.com TheUltimateSteal.net,

By - Darren Straight

Video Search Platform, ClipBlast!, Partners with MSN Video

Video search platform, ClipBlast!, has struck an alliance with MSN Video, wherein ClipBlast! will automatically index MSN Video content as it becomes available. By indexing new clips from MSN Video on www.clipblast.com, ClipBlast! will enable viewers to browse news, sports, lifestyle and entertainment content streamed from more than 50 sources, including NBC and MSNBC, Food Network, HGTV, National Geographic, MTV

By - Darren Straight

Microsoft puts Office Open XML format up for international vote

After months of debate and controversy, Microsoft will reach a pivotal moment this weekend in its effort to win approval of its Office Open XML document format by a key international standards organization. The process won’t end there, but the result could play a big part in determining how things play out in the months ahead. The national bodies taking

By - Darren Straight

Family Guy Episodes Coming to Xbox Live

Microsoft and 20th Century Fox have announced that starting this Monday the 2nd of September, the first two seasons of the popular american animated tv show Family Guy will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Xbox 360 owners will be able to purchase each of the episodes from the first two seasons as well as the straight-to-DVD film “Family Guy