Darren Straight’s Blog

Hey everyone I’m staying in London from the 2nd to the 4th of October, so if anyone wants to meet up for a drink/chat feel free to let me know!

On the 2nd I’m not doing much at all (thought the extra day in London would be nice) though I’m most possibly attending mashup* demo in the evening and on the 3rd/4th I’ll be attending The Future Of Web Apps Conference along with the Live Filming of Diggnation and the Future of Web Apps Party - w00t!

So yeah if anyone wants to meet up for a drink/chat anytime on the 2^nd of October or on the night of the 3^rd and 4^th of October then feel free to let me know – I’m always up for meeting people! :)while I’m there I’ll be more delighted to do so!

Also on the 17th of October I’ll be in London for The Great Facebook Debate Event - so if anyone’s in London then well you know - ping me!

All drinks are on you of course - hehe just kidding!

mashup* Demo is an event which has been put together to provide a simple and effective way for startups, growing businesses, enterprises and corporates to present themsevels to an audience of professionals who would include:- investors, media journalists and bloggers, potential partners and industry influencers.

mashup* Demo has been created because we’ve been asked by many startups and growing businesses if they could present/demo at previous mashup* Events. - Simon Grice Co-Founder of Mashup

 The event will be run on the 2nd of OCtober 2007 between 15.00 and 18.00 in central London, followed by a drinks reception afterwards.

mashup* Demo will work like this:

1) there will be up to 15 Demo companies presenting

2) there will be up to 150 people in the audience at each session

3) tea & coffee will be served for 45 mins before the kick off time for each session (2.15pm) which allow a general amount of networking/ positioning to take place

4) each demo company will have a “5 minute” slot to pitch why people in the audience should come and talk to them and see their extended demo, immediatly after all the presentations. There will be brief Q&A - use of the Internet is encouraged to actually do a brief demo.

5) each demo company will have a desk with WiFi to present what they are doing to audience in the general networking area.

6) each Demo company will be listed on the mashup* Demo website.

7) each Demo company will be highlighted in all emails to all mashup* Demo attendees in relation to the mashup* Demo! event.

each Demo company will be able to host their video (from the event and/or a pre-made one) on the mashup* Demo site for up to 6 months.

Costs… we’ve considered this carefully so have tried to price things fairly.

• to attend the event as an investors, partner etc. will cost £35 inc. tea/coffee and snacks

• to attend the event as blogger/journalist the event will be free - but if you don’t blog about mashup* Event/Demo and the companies you’ve seen then you’ll need to pay

• to attend the event as a Demo company will cost £350 - if you’d like to discuss a reduced price please get in touch - mashup* is not ‘for profit’ so we’re totally committed to making this work for all where needed

Microsoft’s Windows Live division has recently launched a website called Real Live Moms from Windows Live which allows all thoses caring moms/mums/mothers out there to create a personalized Windows Live Space from which they can network with other mums.

Here’s a small list of stuff Real Live Moms from Windows Live can let moms/mums/mothers do:

• Create Windows Live Spaces Blogs
• Create scrapebook slide shows
• Chat on Windows Live Messenger
• Email with Windows Live Hotmail
• Find local parks (for the kids) and day spas (for mom) using Live Search Maps
• Learn how to easily share photos
• Read helpful parenting tips
• Design and print free mom business cards
• Find fun mom-centric gadgets to add to your space

Check it out at http://www.reallivemoms.com/

Via: Mashable | InsideMicrosoft

IBC 2007 sees the start of the first large‑scale technical trial of the LiveStation platform, designed to distribute broadcast channels over the Internet to a freely downloadable player, based on a Microsoft Silverlight user experience.

LiveStation is a revolutionary new global network that will enable broadcasters to deliver live audio and video to a potential audience of hundreds of millions of broadband connected consumers.

Developed by Skinkers, a Microsoft participated company, LiveStation uses unique peer network distribution that is far more scaleable and economic than conventional streaming.

“LiveStation is based on real-time peer-to-peer distribution technology exclusively acquired from Microsoft,” explained Matteo Berlucchi, CEO of Skinkers. “This allows broadcasters to take advantage of a managed peer network to reach large online audiences with live radio and television and reduce their distribution costs dramatically.”

The LiveStation player is also one of the first available applications to use the latest Silverlight technology to deliver a dynamic and distinctive user experience. Silverlight allows high-quality video to be mixed with rich animated vector graphics and text overlays. Future releases of LiveStation will use the capabilities of Silverlight to deliver VC-1 encoded video on both Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OSX operating systems.

“LiveStation is a great example of the power of Silverlight, created using familiar tools and technologies, and enabling even lower delivery costs,” said Gabriele di Piazza, director of the Media & Entertainment Group at Microsoft. “Silverlight enables rich interactive applications such as LiveStation to enhance the end-user experience by seamlessly combining video with interactive graphics.”

Following a successful pilot, LiveStation will initially be available as a technical trial with services from selected broadcasters. Based on the extremely positive feedback so far received from broadcasters, many additional channels are expected to join before the full launch of the LiveStation platform in 2008.

So if you’re heading to IBC2007 (Amsterdam) then be sure to head over to the Microsoft exhibition stand to catch LiveStation being demonstrated for the first time in Europe.

Following my recent post about Microsoft registering various Windows Live Translator Domain names and the even recent apperance of a Windows Live Translator Feedback page. Windows Live Translator Beta is now live at the following urls’s:

• http://translator.live.com
• http://translate.live.com
• http://windowslivetranslator.com

I’ve been checking it out and from what I see so far it’s pretty good. I for one really like the look and feel of it and how you can switch between diffrent layout views with ease.

Weather Central a provider of state-of-the-art broadcast weather solutions, has today announced a strategic alliance with Microsoft. The alliance integrates worldwide aerial, satellite imagery and mapping technology provided by Microsoft Virtual Earth into Weather Central’s 3D interactive software applications on-air.

“We are constantly investing, updating data and improving our offering to the consumer, which makes Microsoft Virtual Earth one of the leaders in data imagery solution,” said Stephen Lawler, general manager of the Virtual Earth Business Unit at Microsoft. “Working with industry partners such as Weather Central, we are able to combine real-time news and weather information along with high-resolution map imagery to provide television viewers with the information they need to help plan their lives.”

“This strategic alliance is pioneering the future of news, weather and traffic graphics,” said Bill Baker, President of Weather Central. “Traditionally our customers were limited to covering news and weather with their current map database to their community, thus limiting their coverage or competitive capabilities. Now we can provide our customers worldwide high-end data imagery to tell the news and weather story anywhere in the world.”

Check out the below promotional video from Weather Central which was shown at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas this year - we have thanks to Chris Pendleton a Technical Evangelist for Microsoft Virtual Earth for getting hold of it!

Video: Weather Central Featuring Virtual Earth

Following my earlier post today about the Windows Live Suite. I can now tell you that The Windows Live Suite Installer has now been released for Download!

You can grab it at: http://get.live.com/wl/all

Windows Live Hotmail
The next generation of Web-based e-mail

• Drag-and-drop organization
• Security features to help kill spam and viruses
• A preview pane to see messages from your inbox

Learn more

Windows Live Mail
Multiple e-mail accounts on your desktop

• An easy way to manage your many e-mail accounts
• Powerful virus scanning and other security features
• One-click access to Windows Live Spaces and Messenger

Learn more

Windows Live Messenger
Connect, share, and make every conversation count

• Connect via text, voice, and video
• Share photos and other files instantly
• Generate money for your favorite cause with the “i’m” initiative

Learn more

Windows Live Search
Say hello to the next generation of search

• Find it fast, whatever it is
• Slice and dice search results the way you want to see them
• Get results for news, shopping, images, and more

Learn more

Windows Live Toolbar
Think outside the search box

• Start a search from any Web page
• Help protect against phishing scams and viruses
• Highlight any address to see a Smart Menu map

Learn more

Windows Live Gallery
Personalize your Windows Live experience

• Download cool new features that you can add to Windows Live Spaces,
   Toolbar, and Writer
• Find new emoticons, backgrounds, and more to add to Messenger
• Create and upload your own add-ins and gadgets

Learn more

Windows Live Spaces
Your blog, your photos, your social network

• Your own blog in minutes
• Turn photos into online slide shows
• Fun social networking

Learn more

Windows Live SkyDrive
Password-protected online storage and sharing

• Password-protected online storage for any type of file
• Share with friends, store files for yourself, or share with the world  
• Get to your stuff from any online computer

Learn more

Windows Live Photo Gallery
Edit and upload photos and videos

• Easily import and edit your photos
• Organize, add captions, and mark favorites for slideshows
• Share online with just a few easy clicks

Learn more

Windows Live Writer
Easily publish pictures, videos, and other rich
content to your blog

• See exactly what your blog posts will look like as you write them
• Compatible with Windows Live Spaces, WordPress, Live Journal, and many
   other blog services
• Insert and customize photos, videos, tags, and lots of other cool
   content

Learn more

Windows Live OneCare Family Safety
Safer Web browsing and communications

• Manage the Web sites your children can see
• Manage the people your children interact with online
• Stay informed about Web usage from almost any computer, anywhere

Learn more

Windows Live Home
Start here for search, blogging, e-mail, and more

• A central page to connect to all your Windows Live services
• Quickly see what’s new in your e-mail and social network
• Communicate instantly, share files, and check on your PC safety

Learn more

This morning the Windows Live Wire Blog published an entry from Chris Jones, Vice President of the Windows Live Team at Microsoft, announcing that starting today we woud all be able to test out the new Windows Live Suite of Windows Live software at http://get.live.com/wl/all.

In this announcement Chris Jones mentions the following to be included in the Windows Live Suite Download:

• Windows Live Mail (The desktop email client)
• Windows Live Photo Gallery (Photo Sharing)
• Windows Live Writer (Blog post publishing tool)
• Windows Live OneCare Family Safety (Parental controls)
• Windows Live Messenger (Instant Messaging - version 8.5)
• and more!!!

However as he mentions “and more” it’s not sure what other suprises if any the Windows Live Team may have in store for us - hopefuly it will be… well actually I’ll let you make up your own mind on what it could be!

Update: Windows Live Suite Installer has now been released at http://get.live.com/en-us/wl/all

Got the following comment today:

Anikrichard | anlikivanna.80@mail.ru | wwwwww.com | IP: 72.9.235.218

hello , my name is Richard and I know you get a lot of spammy comments ,
I can help you with this problem . I know a lot of spammers and I will ask them not to post on your site. It will reduce the volume of spam by 30-50% .In return Id like to ask you to put a link to my site on the index page of your site. The link will be small and your visitors will hardly notice it , its just done for higher rankings in search engines. Contact me icq 454528835 or write me tedirectory(at)yahoo.com , i will give you my site url and you will give me yours if you are interested. thank you

Sep 5, 3:10 PM

What a joke hey - why would I even think about emailing this guy Richard, especially when I have Akismet!

And it seems I’m not the only one who’s recieved this same blog post comment spam. Maybe I should email/icq the guy and play along with his game..

WeShow, the human-powered guide to the world’s online videos, is making it easier for Web users to enjoy an ever-changing collection of high-quality videos tailored to viewers’ specific interests with new products.

Officially launching last month for consumers, WeShow onDesktop is a mini-application that resides on the user’s desktop and can be launched on demand—without opening a Web browser—to enjoy the latest videos from over 200 channels.

Similarly, new widgets designed specifically for the social networking communities such as Facebook, MySpace, Hi5 and Ning enable members to easily choose their favorite entertainment categories and broadcast automatically updated videos directly on their profile pages.

With the launch of these products and the recently launched onSite—a video widget application for bloggers and Web site owners—WeShow provides users with a unique portfolio of video widgets.

Starting today, viewers will also have the ability to select and stream their favorite videos, from video repository sites such as YouTube, Dailymotion and Metacafe, which are outside of WeShow’s editorialized collection directly through WeShow widgets and mini-applications. This new feature gives WeShow viewers even greater freedom to customize and share their favorite videos in one simple, convenient place whether on a blog, the desktop or inside of MySpace, Facebook and other social networks.

Check it out here:  http://www.weshow.com/uk/widget.action