Scott Cate: Family: Scott Cate: Technology

Microsoft PDC Sessions/Keynotes online for Download

Scott Cate — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:11:00 GMT

If you’re seen the tech new recently, you’ve heard about the Microsoft PDC (Professional Developers Conference). If you couldn’t make the conference (like me) then you’ll be happy to know that Microsoft has posted video of all the sessions and keynotes.

And they’re available for download. In fact, here is a set of CURL scripts that will download them for you all at once (or overnight depending on your bandwidth).

The script basically says – do I have this file? If no, go get it.

Included with the scripts, is a handy Renamer, that renames the file to the session name, which is much more meaningful than the original session number. But … what if (like my) you download 1/2 of them, and the other 1/2 die (or aren’t available)?

If you use the Renamer, the next time you try to fetch the videos, you’ll be fetching them all over again. So I hacked on the Renamer script a bit, to create an Un-Renamer :) Basically the same script backwards. It just took a few minutes, but I thought it might be helpful to provide for others.

Enjoy: PDC09UnRenamer.zip

Travel from Hotel Berlin to the Messe Convention Center

Scott Cate — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:59:00 GMT

At TechEd in the US, there are normally dozens of “Official” hotels, and a bus line that is dedicated to your hotel. Just wake up, exit your hotel, get on the bus, snooze for a while, and wake up (again??) at the convention center. Not this year, or at least, not at our hotel. I’m not sure if this was a TechEd decision, or a city of Berlin decision. It doesn’t look like the convention center is setup the same as LAX, or Orlando, where dozens of Bus queues could be handled. Then again, this place is huge so it’s possible (probable) that I missed it.

There is a train that is pretty convenient between the hotel and the convention center, but for my first trip, I was a little confused, so I thought this would be helpful for others, trying to get between the two places. Particularly for those that might not be familiar with trains/tubes in Europe. Not all the signs are in English, and virtually none of the announcements are, so again, I hope this will be helpful.

First, as a speaker I received an email to print that is a weekly transportation pass. The email says the pass needs to be printed, and then validated, but when I went to the train station ticket booth, they said it does not need to be validated, just keep it with you, and if you’re asked for your train pass, just show it. So it’s on the honor system – but have your pass with you. The station isn’t like NY where you need a pass to enter the station, or the train, you just have to have it with you if you’re asked to present it. Mine looks like this …

I should have printed it with a color printer, so it looks more official, but ... it’s too late for that :)

OK, now that you have your pass, here is a map of the Hotel Berlin, Berlin, and the closest two train stations ... it’ll be an extra stop on the train (while you’re sitting) but I recommend the Lollendorf station. The only reason I’m showing both is that the original directions talk about taking the Wittenberg station, but this one is closer, and the directions are easier. Literally exit the front of the hotel, and make a right down Einemst (Which in my mind is Em-In-Em street – although I know that isn’t correct :) If you look down this street two or three small block, you’ll actually see the train overpass, so you know you’ll be walking in the right direction.

If you’re not familiar with trains/tube lines, here is a quick lesson. Every train has two names. The train itself has a Line that it’s on, like U1, U2, U3, and second, it has a destination. The train literally runs on a line, and it just goes back and forth. The line that you’re looking for is the U2 line. So when you enter a train station, look for U2, this is the platform that you need. Now you might be confused that there are two U2 platforms, one for each direction of the train. When you are going to the convention center from the hotel, you want to get on the U2-Ruhleben. I think it is 7 or 8 stops, and you want to exit at the Theodor-Heuss-Platz station.

One thing to note is that the doors don’t open automatically like most trains in the states, so don’t just stand there, press the green circular open button, and the door will open for you.

When you come up from the station, street side, you’ll be a little confused because there is very little direction. Look across the street and you’ll see a big blue structure, and beyond that, you’ll see a Sky Needle that is very similar to the Needle in Seattle. It’s very large, and tall, probably 50 stories. Even with it’s size, you might miss it based on the trees that are blocking your view. On your tube map, you’ll see this listed as Funk-Turm. Walk towards it walking down the Masuren allee Neue street.

This actually takes you to the back of the convention center, and TechEd registration is on the Entrance South. Once you see the convention center, simply head towards it. The signs here are in both German and English, so you’ll be able to find your way.

One final tip … if you have an iPhone – there is a free application you can download that has all the Berlin tubes on it. It’s named “Berlin City” and has an icon of the likes to the London Tube. You know the famous red circle with the blue line through it. Here is a snap shot of the app running, showing the line you need to be on.

Or you could just take a taxi :) I’m not sure of the price, since my rail pass was free, the taxi will be more expensive, and you won’t get the exercise. The one pro of a taxi would be eliminating the walk from to/from the stations, but hey ... it’s Europe ... They want you to walk.

[UPDATE]

It turns out - this is the longer way (in the post below). Ugg. Sorry. I don' t have images for this, but I have another set of directions. You're basically doing the same thing as my directions below, but if you make a train connection, then you end up with a shorter walk to the Entrance South.

Here are the updated notes ... In order to get closer to the Entrance South, exit the train at the Zoologischer Garten station and change onto the S Bahn line S9(Spandau) or S75(Olympiastadion) and exit at Messe Süd.

Google – Please Enhance your Single Sign-In

Scott Cate — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:23:00 GMT

This is a just a quick rant – and maybe, just maybe, there is a solution out there that I’m not aware of. I’m a fan of several Google services. But I cringe every time I have to log in to a service, because I can’t remember which one of the now three accounts I have.

It all started with Gmail. When Gmail was announced – I signed up with ScottCate@ Gmail.com – which was my first Google account. With this account, I started using most Google services, logging in with my ScottCate@ account.

Then months (or years???) later, Google announced Applications, and I signed up for Scott.Cate@ myKB.com which was my second account. To my knowledge – there is no way to merge or link the Gmail account, and my applications account, so now if I see a service to play with like Google Wave, or Google Voice, I have to decide which account to use.

So when Google Voice was announced, I was lucky enough to already have a CentralStation.com account, so it was migrated. And the Applications email didn’t let me log in, so I “Linked” my Google Voice account to my Gmail account. Then months later, Voice announced support for your own number, but I couldn’t see a way to do that with an exiting account, so I setup a new account under Scott.Cate@ myKB.com. Oh wait – That email is now setup as a Google account. Not an applications account.

See my confusion? Now I have a Google Account, and a Google Apps Account – with the same name – Scott.Cate@ myKB.com. I’m sure this whole thing it my fault – and I did it all wrong. But I know I’m not alone, just searching online, I can see a lot of others having this same problem.

The core problem here is that Google treats Application accounts separate than Google accounts. Two totally different and unrelated entities. I’m sure this is a great technical problem, but it’s painful for their consumers.

My simple request from Google.

Please offer a Merge between Gmail and Google App accounts feature.

Thank you!

MacBookPro Cries for help on Sleep

Scott Cate — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:10:24 GMT

As I closed the lid on my MBP today, it let out a very loud and annoying cry for help. Like it was saying ... Nooooooo, Don't close me, I'm not ready to sleep! This the first time it happened, and luckily I was at Gangplank HQ and peeps were around to grab a quick video. All in fun .... A quick shut down and restart seems to have solved the issue, but we'll see what happens over the next couple days/weeks. Wish me luck.

Watch this quick YouTube Clip.

Google Maps Tip: Right Click for Point-To-Point Directions

Scott Cate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:55:00 GMT

A friend asked me today on twitter about this, and after I explained it in 140 char's or less (probably very badly) he asked for a screen cast. The core question was - How can I use Google Maps to create point-to-point directions, without having to type anything, only using the mouse.

Here you go :)

The real trick is right click, but hey, here's a YouTube HD Screencast to show it live and in color.

False Advertising on Google.com/Products

Scott Cate — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:28:00 GMT

Are companies just allowed to put whatever bait-and-switch pricing they want on Google Products?

I'm searching for a replacement keyboard for my MacBook Pro. I could just replace a couple of keys, but it seems like the price of a whole new keyboard might be the same price, and then I'll have plenty of extras :)

Anyway ... Back to my rant ...

I did a search on Google Products, and found the keyboard I was looking for, for an amazingly low price of $37.99

Only to click through to the website, and find a Bait-And-Switch price of $54.99.

I'm sure this is all pretty automated (and maybe even a legitimate mistake) but it sucks for the consumer.

Just saying....

Taking asp.net app offline – with appoffline.htm

Scott Cate — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:18:00 GMT

Don’t beat your head against the wall for this next time Scott – just read your old notes.

As a gentle reminder (to self :) the file name is App_Offline.htm

not ... AppOffline.htm

and not ... AppOffline.html

it’s ... App_Offline.htm (casing does not matter but don’t forget that underscore)

The Best Online Training is now Free or $500 off from PluralSight

Scott Cate — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:26:00 GMT

In an announcement that I just received from INETA, PluralSight On Demand training is now free to INETA user group leaders, $500 less for all INETA user group members, and a one month free pass to User Group members that are currently unemployed.

Are you active in your local INETA user group community? If you’re not – you should be.

I have subscribed to the PluralSight.com On Demand Training for almost 5 months now, and I love it, here’s why. There is simply too many technologies to be good at all of them. With PluralSight On Demand, you can spend a few hours in front of a really nice Silverlight player, and get your foot in the door to most of the Microsoft Technologies. Since my membership started, they have updated several courses, as well as added courses around VSTS and ASP.net MVC. I love love love love this online training – I really can’t say enough great things about it.

Lastly is a free 1 month offer to anyone that is an INETA user group member, and is currently unemployed. WOW – talk about giving back to the community – and at the right time. You’re out of a job, and want to sharpen you MS Stack Skills. This is the plan for you.

Here is a copy/paste of the INETA announcement. Check with your local user group leader to see if you qualify.

Tier 1: Group Leaders receive a free 1-year subscription to Pluralsight On-Demand!. On-Demand! is a great resource for Group Leaders to improve their .NET skills and enhance their presentations. Group leaders can offer the group member subscription discount and the unemployed member free pass, outlined further below. Our purpose is to empower the group leaders and provide them with a resource to not only improve individual .NET skills, but help build the relationship among the user group and create a common synergy. To get started, they simply send an email from the web page listed and they will be provided an INETA Group Leader “kit” with the scoop – details at: http://www.pluralsight.com/main/partnerPrograms/ineta.aspx
Tier 2: User Group Members receive a $500 discount off of the 1-year Pluralsight On-Demand! subscription. This is a grass roots effort to contribute to the success of the .NET User Group community by providing high quality Pluralsight On-Demand! training opportunities. Group members can access the discount by reaching out to Pluralsight directly, existing relationships with Pluralsight and their instructors, contacting their Group Leaders, seeing the promotions in the INETA newsletters, blogs, tweets, and other viral channels.
Tier 3: Unemployed Group Members receive a free 1-month pass to Pluralsight On-Demand!. This tier, as mentioned above, gives the Group Leader an opportunity to provide an unemployed group member with an opportunity to sharpen their skills and ramp up Microsoft technologies. In the past month, we’ve already heard about (2) instances where developers became employed after using Pluralsight On-Demand! training. We require the Group Leader to introduce Pluralsight to the unemployed member for validation and to endorse the core mission of INETA and .NET user groups – to provide structured, educational support to the growing worldwide community of Microsoft .NET developers. After the 1-month pass, unemployed Group Members can purchase the Pluralsight On-Demand! subscription with the $500 discount.

DiscountASP.NET Expands Open Control Panel API to include SQL Backup API

Scott Cate — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:51:00 GMT

(Copy of Press Release: August 4th, 2009)

ASP.NET hosting and SQL hosting leader, DiscountASP.NET, announces expanding their Open Control Panel API with the addition of APIs for SQL 2008 Database backup. The new SQL Backup API is part of DiscountASP.NET's Open Control Panel Initiative, whose goal is to offer an open hosting system framework which provides customers with maximum control over their hosting presence management.

In 2006, to support this initiative, DiscountASP.NET introduced an ASP.NET web service API library which customers can use to develop their own web, desktop, or mobile applications that interface directly with their web hosting account. In the first phase, DiscountASP.NET exposed methods to retrieve resource usage information, and manage some IIS functions, such as recycling their application pool. Today, DiscountASP.NET expose methods for customers to backup their SQL 2008 databases.

DiscountASP.NET customers can activate access to the API library through their control panel and are assigned a unique Authentication Key. In addition, a Sandbox Key is provided so that customers can test their applications without the risk of making changes to their hosting account.

About DiscountASP.NET:

DiscountASP.NET is an innovative global leader in Microsoft Windows hosting, focused on providing the best value in .NET hosting and SQL database hosting. A Microsoft Gold Certified partner, DiscountASP.NET was one of the first hosts to launch SQL 2008 hosting and Windows 2008 hosting. Through strong word-of-mouth and their commitment to Microsoft technology, DiscountASP.NET has become the choice for affordable enterprise-class ASP.NET web hosting.

More information:

http://discountasp.net/

http://discountasp.net/sp_opencontrolpanelinitiative.aspx

Google Hosted App Wish – Phone Number Notes

Scott Cate — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:10:50 GMT

When I type in a phone number, I like to know a little bit of info around that number. Might be an extension, a cell number, a spouse number, notes to call within time zones, etc.

Google mail has contacts, and each contact can have as many numbers as you like. Each number also has a Type list, but their fixed. Even if this was limited to 15-20 chars, it would be enough space for my notes.

As it is now, these notes get appended to the phone number. When syncing across devices, the phone number gets garbled, and is no longer recognized as a phone number.

It’s really not to much to ask, and I think every Google Mail / Contacts user on the planet could benefit from this.

Here is a mock – red square == what I’ve added.