/PDC05

PDC 2005

http://www.brains-N-brawn.com/PDC05 9/18/2005

Introduction

this was my first PDC. i'm interested in lots of different technologies, so went to a mix of sessions. this article will primarily just be a list of different technologies and my current thoughts about them. NOTE alot of these technologies are beta (or alpha), so things will change at release. also, i only know a little bit about these ... so alot of this is probably wrong (you've been warned). right now this list is just composed of blogs that i've read and my own notes

• items marked in RED are things that i'm concerned about

Technologies

Acrylic

• http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/graphic_designer/default.aspx
• Photoshop killer
• designer tool for vector and raster images
• part of the Expression suite
• smart image select from MS research was really cool
• i think this app has the ability to erase unwanted objects in the image ... also very cool
• now this needs to get a basic 3D modeling tool built in
• not sure when this is released

Active Directory

• WS-Federation
• other stuff i dont care about

Atlas

• http://atlas.asp.net
• a framework, more than just an AJAX library
• will get ASP.NET server controls that are ATLAS enabled
• can be used declaratively (XML-script) or imperatively (JavaScript)
• works cross browser
• ? my guess is that it will not work on Pocket IE
• JSON?
• can be run in SideBar
• i think it comes sometime after VS 2005 release
• will be released incrementally, possibly monthly!

Axapta

• Microsoft Dynamics AX
• something to do with the Business Dynamics stuff

BI

• Business Intelligence
• these guys have alot of AI features that i would like to be exposed in WinFX
• available with SQL Server 2005

BizTalk

• expected to hear alot more about this
• for workflow outside of an application
• i think 2006 version is currently in beta
• they are working on some sort of visual designer too

C# Futures

• adding lots of language features for LINQ
• will the luddites push back
• will CF get these features?
• available with Orcas

Cider

• WPF Designer to be included with Orcas
• we should have got this before Sparkle

Compute Cluster

• beta nomination http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/hpc/beta.mspx
• for the scientific, academic, financial communities
• dont know anything about grid computing, if there are standards or such?
• what if i want to cluster my PocketPCs :)
• available sometime in 2006

Concurrency

• already an issue for game console developers
• becoming more of an issue for app developers
• clock speed increases are slowing down / adding more cores is on the rise

Digital Locker

• http://www.windowsmarketplacelabs.com
• can download past purchases
• holds license keys and such
• single transaction for multiple purchases
• shell integration?
• dont know about availability

DirectShow

• no clue what our replacement for this will be?
• we better not be locked out of this because of the MPAA DRM requirements

DirectX

• ZMan has a post on the ZBuffer : The DirectX 10 talk
• the overall feeling i got is that GDI+ is dead

DRM

• how are developers going to get screwed by the MPAA mandates in Vista?

Dyamic Languages

• couple sessions on this that i could not make
• the motto i've heard : typed when you can, but dynamic when necessary
• just want to write the code, types getting in the way
• VB is going to become more dynamic
• whats going to happen to IronPython?

Expression (Acryllic, Sparkle, Quartz)

• http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/default.aspx
• suite of tools for designers
• lacks a 3D Modelling tool

IE7

• better CSS
• phishing trust panel
• dynamic protect services
• tabbed browsing
• runs with low privileges
• quick tabs
• RSS built in
• can run WPF apps
• ? dont think this will support SVG 
• ? dont think this will have the Speech Add-in for IE
• assuming this will support inking better ?
• native XMLHTTPRequest for the AJAX cult
• this will run on XP SP2 as well as Vista
• no clue how this lets me develop stuff i could not develop in the past
• IE (6 and above) developer toolbar is in beta
• assumed that this is released with Vista

IIS7

• modular
• extensible
• no metabase
• ASP.NET integration
• everything is 64 bit
• assume this is released with Longhorn Server in 07

InfoCard

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/building/infocard/default.aspx
• this was new to me
• for handling identity
• hides cryptographic keys and such from end users
• assume this comes with Vista

InfoPath

• runs in rich client and now the web
• design once ... run anywhere
• now runs on the web and HTML capable mobile devices
• can run on non MS browsers
• not XForms standard
• still no InfoPath Mobile for a rich client on PocketPCs
• released with Office12

LINQ

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/future/linq/
• Language Integrated Query
• DLINQ for databases and XLINQ for xml ... the DataSet killer
• lots of extensions to C# (and VB) language to support this
• ? will Compact Framework get this to work with SQL Mobile
• from where select
• type inferencing
• projection
• anonymous types
• heirarchical
• orderby ascending
• group by
• into
• strongly typed connection to DB
• Log
• works with objects, database, xml
• sort of XQuery in C#
• easier XML construction syntax
• i think this will be released with Orcas

Longhorn Server

• IIS7?
• sometime in 07

MAF

• Managed Add-In Framework
• dynamically load and communicate with generic components at runtime
• first in VSTA/Office12
• part of the CLR with Orcas

Max

• www.microsoft.com/max
• image application using WPF and WCF
• slick frame display with reflection

MCE

• Media Center Edition
• this session did not mention Emerald at all
• Emerald release possibly in mid October
• how does MCE get shell on XBox360? do we get that ability with Emerald (before WPF)?
• MCE Vista will run WPF apps
• no mention of MediaState becoming a full class citizen, instead of just a sample
• WPF apps will work with extenders
• there will be MCE specific controls / project templates
• showed a demo of it working with XBox 360
• media stack has been rewritten to be glitch free
• wont get MCE dev for Vista until post beta 2 builds

MDX

• Managed DirectX
• next SDK release will have some Whidbey features
• the JasJar device that people won will run MD3DM apps with a software driver
• was the XBox 360 running Managed DirectX for MCE Shell?

Mobility

• WindowsMobile and CompactFramework were underrepresented
• and i'm jealous that i couldn't take advantage of the JasJar offer :(

Monad

• object command shell syntax
• scriptable
• currently have no interest in this
• this comes sometime after Vista

MSN

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/msn/
• more developer stuff
• beyond AJAX pattern
• VirtualEarth
• Messenger Activity API
• MSN Search Engine has an API now
• Desktop Search extensibility is probably under this
• extend start.com with your own gadgets / widgets / startlet?
• rendering RSS feed extensions differently
• FireAnt (internal, used by next version of Hotmail) - marshals javascript structures to c# and back

Office12

• UI might be built with WPF?
• moving away from menus to tabs, ribbons, and icons (should be easier for Tablet users)
• XML file formats
• expanded tooltips
• hover galleries
• hidden text warning?
• sharepoint integration
• word Add-ins
• TODO bar
• datetime tasks
• preview attachments
• Outlook supports RSS
• ? will OneNote get an XML file format so that it can be used from other apps
• integrates workflow
• synchs with sharepoint
• available when Vista is released

Orcas

• next version of Visual Studio (after VS 2005)
• LINQ, Cider, MAF, WinFS, ...
• i'm assuming this would not come out until 07

P2P

• People Near Me for LANs
• People Near Me is native only ... lame
• PeerNet is Managed within WCF
• PNRP and Grouping (native) available on XP
• Groove is targeted at smaller workgroups with tight trust
• did not get to hear anything about Avalanche
• ? what about higher level P2P protocols

Quartz

• http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/web_designer/default.aspx
• web designer in Expression suite
• is this a Macromedia killer
• did a keynote show a new version of FrontPage?
• what about VS Express for Web Developers?
• no clue about release date?

RFID

• part of WSS
• fully managed
• write once, deploy many
• declarative rules engine
• what about compact framework?
• beta around thanksgiving

RSS

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/integrated/
• built into OS
• built into IE7
• ultimately supports ATOM too
• in new sharepoint
• gadget sidebar
• i'm assuming we get the new <List/> extension to the spec
• Outlook will support and will replace my Newsgator usage

Server 2003 R2

• what will this do for me?

SharePoint

• slide library
• mobile view
• RSS built in
• saw scenario of Access to Emailing an InfoPath Form. filling out that form in Outlook then the result getting pushed back to Access
• UI improvements
• iCal files exposed
• version history and tracking
• send email to team site discussion board
• document management and workflow
• create blogs (w/comments) and wikis
• synchs to Office
• i think this comes out late 06

SideBar

• http://www.microsoftgadgest.com/
• real time data without being intrusive or distracting
• gadgets are mini applications for the desktop, web, and devices
• gadgets can be developed with a # of diff technologies
• the devices tie in is through SideShow
• start.com will have web gadgets
• i think i saw a gadget dragged from a web page onto the SideBar ... sweet
• guess that song gadget ... gay
• released with Vista

SideShow

• http://microsoftgadgets.com/sideshow.aspx
• this has some SPOT in it!
• buttons on notebook : left, up, down, right, enter, context
• there is a shell and you can create your own apps with an XML format (not XAML or WPF/e?)
• some apps will run with the computer off
• saw a prototpye Asus notebook
• there is an SDK with emulator now

Sparkle

• http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/interactive_designer/default.aspx
• this is the gayest name ever. how about adding a 3D Modelling tool to the Expression suite and calling it 'Fabulous' or 'Flaming'
• i would prefer for MS to add a visual XAML tool into VS.NET before creating an external tool for designers
• this is a large fully managed app ... sweet
• the developers actually used Sparkle to work on Sparkle ... sweet
• not sure when this is released?

Speech

• Vista bakes speech into the shell
• recognition and synthesis has gotten ALOT better
• will support 8 languages out of the box
• microphone bar for usability
• will work with most apps for free
• still need to train for best dictation
• Speech will not run in WBA applications ... this sucks
• doesnt look like Speech Add-in for IE will be a part of IE7
• so basically multimodal web apps are dead
• MS Agents remain dead too
• no word on VoiceCommand API for CompactFramework
• no word on updated Pocket IE Speech Add-in for WindowsMobile 5
• no word on Speaker Identification for Speech Server
• these guys should give away USB microphones (or headsets) for hands on labs and presentations
• next version of Exchange has speech built-in

Tablet

• has new ripple, flicks, panning for usability
• some devices can now have touch screens (just like PocketPCs)
• can we programmatically turn off touch screen?
• there is training now, is it based on dictionary / strokes
• programming model makes many common tasks simpler
• i want a generic accelerometer API
• ink is build directly into WPF
• still no way to write a custom recognizer in managed code
• basic shape reco has been added
• still no way to replace the entire dictionary
• will work in WBA scenarios

VB Futures

• will also get LINQ
• more late binding?
• supposed to become more different than C#

VirtualEarth

• http://virtualearth.msn.com/
• http://www.viavirtualearth.com/
• can be used by commercial apps free of charge
• only has maps for the united states
• no routing, but MapPoint WS does
• currently available

Vista

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista
• can use a USB memory stick for more memory
• live preview
• Alt-Tab gives Flip 3D
• quick search is everywhere
• thumbnails for alot of file types
• virtual folders built w/XML (for developers)
• paint w/metadata
• parental controls
• ESRB rating
• shrink to print
• discover RSS
• feeds list
• subscribe
• RSS store
• auto optimize (wont slow down over time)
• superfetch (vs battery life)
• sandbox processes
• network stack has been rewritten (faster)
• media stack has been rewritten (more intuitive, glitch free, per app volume)
• probably second half of 2006

VSTA

• Visual Studio Tools for Applications
• how is this different than VSTO? 
• not currently interested in this

WBA (some people were calling these 'Express' apps too?)

• Web Browser Applications
• WPF running in a browser
• will these only run in IE7, or IE6 too?
• WCF will not work in these apps without additional permissions ... lame
• Speech will not work in these apps without additional permissions ... lame
• WWF will not work in these apps without additional permissions ... lame

WCF (Indigo)

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/webservices/indigo/default.aspx
• unifies COM, MSMQ, WSE, etc...
• supports both SOAP and POX/REST
• API looks really clean and extensible
• what about WCF/Everywhere, for WCF on Compact Framework?
• will not run without enhanced security, so worthless for WBA apps
• available with WinFX

Win32

• almost all of the sessions i went to were managed

Windows Mail

• previously Outlook Express
• spam filter
• word wheel (also called quick search)
• data store is now file based (.eml, .nws) including account settings
• has some shell integration
• microsoft help groups built in by default
• mark as question, suggestion, answer, fully answered
• rating for posts and posters (bronze, silver, gold) ... MVP hunting
• with Vista

WinFS

• Windows FileSystem
• relational file system
• currently using OPath, will ultimately be DLINQ
• will work downlevel to XP SP2
• comes out after Vista ... lame

WinFX

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/building/default.aspx
• WCF, WPF, WWF, Speech, Ink, ...
• will run on Vista, XP and Server 2003
• same time as Vista

Win Server System (WSS)

• or Windows Sharepoint Services?
• also though i heard Office 12 Server?
• this message is not very clear to me at the moment
• more than just a file server
• user experience and connected systems
• i'm assuming Sharepoint is the big player in this?
• not sure when this comes out?

WPF (Avalon)

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/building/presentation/default.aspx
• brings together rendering of text, 2D, 3D, and media into the same pipeline
• can run in the web (WBA / Express)
• GDI+ is dead
• pretty much anything can be animaged
• can paint video over 3D
• cleartype over video
• overlay videos
• animations
• product rotation
• supports WMV, MPEG, AVI ... needs to support alot more

WPF/E (Everywhere)

• XAML and JScript
• this might be more Atlas like, than WPF?
• did not get to see any of this in action
• is this the Flash killer?
• to run on mobile devices and be cross platorm
• no clue about release

WSE3

• Web Service Enhancements
• MTOM
• will this end up with WS-ReliableMessaging?
• to be released about a month after VS 2005

WWF (WinOE)

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/building/workflow/default.aspx
• Windows Workflow Foundation
• model human and system ineractions
• has a great looking visual designer with debugging
• code and designer round tripping
• hosted in process
• easy to write Activities ... could be a new 3rd party 'control' market
• used by Office and Sharepoint ... ultimately by BizTalk
• BizTalk is for workflow outside the scope of an application
• manages state and lifetime (can be long running)
• does this have a rules engine that i can use? with its own designer / declarative syntax?
• this will not run in a WBA sandbox
• i'm assuming we dont get the engine for the Compact Framework?
• released with Vista

XAML

• eXtensible Application Markup Language
• XML syntax for WPF UI (also DataBinding, Animations, etc...)
• designers can create this using Sparkle in the Expression Suite
• VS.NET needs to get a drag and drop visual designer
• can do vector graphic images
• released with WinFX

XBox 360

• got to see an early version at the MCE session!
• it can render the full MCE shell (including animations)
• can be used as an extender for WPF applications
• i'm assuming this means the XBox 360 has .NET on it?
• so will i be able to write my own applications to run on the XBox?
• i think the date is November 22nd?

XPS (Metro)

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/integrated/
• XML Paper Specification
• PDF killer?
• XML printing and viewing format
• subset of WPF for fixed representations
• embedded fonts and vector scaling capabilities
• the Office 12 file formats are different, but zip packaging is the same
• hardware will eventually support XPS print spool format
• existing apps will be able to print to the XPS format (MS Digital Document Writer)
• will there be an XPS viewer for WindowsMobile?
• not sure when this comes out?

Pictures

• crazy hotel room
• booth babes

Conclusion

this was the best conference i've ever been to. each timeslot had multiple sessions that i wanted to go too, and almost every session i chose was really good. there were plenty of side events, including great parties! cant wait for the event DVD to arrive and i'll definitely try to attend future PDCs

Updates

i'll keep updating this as i find out more. still lots of data to consume

• CommNet powerpoints for sessions i could not attend, and Hands On Labs
• Channel9 videos, buzzcasts, screencasts
• MSDN Webcasts and Articles

Future

going to have to start working with some of the technologies above