Moderro Technologies www.moderro.com will debut its Xpack Internet Computer – an integrated (hardware, operating system and web management) solution for the Web 2.0 desktop SYS-CON's Cloud Computing Conference & Expo, November 19-21, in San Jose, CA. The Xpack features a clean and friendly user interface and operating system that was written by Moderro specifically for interacting with Web 2.0 applications. This functionality, combined with simplicity, security, a small footprint, energy efficiency, and backward compatibility make the Moderro Xpack a perfect choice for Web 2.0 office. “Web applications are an afterthought with operating systems confining them to a single-window browser, virtually pushing them into the background,” said Dan Itkis Moderro Vice President. “We decided to develop our own operating system, which makes web applications easier to use while ... (more)

Converting VB6 to VB.NET, Part I

If you're one of the many who have VB6 code, you have three basic options: stay with VB6, convert to .NET, or rewrite from scratch. In this article, we will look at converting VB6 code to VB.NET and C#. I'll discuss when it makes sense to convert versus staying with VB6 or rewriting from scratch. I will cover what converts well and what does not, different ways to do the conversion, how to get code ready to convert, and handling issues after the conversion. Executive Overview First, let's get an executive-level overview of where VB6 and VB.NET are at in their life cycles. Note that when I mention VB.NET in this article, I mean all three versions (2002, 2003, 2005). When I talk about a specific version, I will specify the version (such as VB.NET 2002). With the advances in VB.NET 2003, as well as its compatibility with VB.NET 2002, there is little reason to migrate ... (more)

Dealing With The C# 2.0 Genericity

The forthcoming .NET 2.0 Framework will introduce new important features. One of those features is genericity. Genericity is not really a new concept. It has been included in some previous languages as ADA, C++, Eiffel, and in the mathematical model of abstract data types (ADT). However, the C# 2.0 notation for genericity (see the first entry in the References section), the integration of genericity in the .NET type system, the efficient implementation of genericity in the CLR-JIT process, and the new generic features included in the reflection mechanism will strengthen .NET programmers' output. Genericity in .NET rests on the same basic reasons for which .NET promotes strongly typed languages: Readability: Explicit declarations tell readers about the intended meaning of the code Reliability: Thanks to explicit type declarations, a compiler can easily detect incon... (more)

F# on a Virtual Super Computer

With all the hype on the Web about grid computing and scaling out applications, I decided it was time to get my hands dirty. What's grid computing you ask? According to Wikipedia, "Grid computing is an emerging model that provides the ability to perform higher throughput computing by taking advantage of many networked computers to model a virtual computer architecture that is able to distribute process execution across a parallel infrastructure." If you're more confused by that definition, don't worry. It's really just a way of using computing power from a bunch of computers connected to a network. This, in essence, creates a virtual supercomputer. At this point, I was searching for a project to work on that could help me understand and use a grid. After attending optionsScalper's presentation on "F# under an Application of Quantitative Finance," I had my answer. F# ... (more)

Making the .NET Micro Framework Work for You

In this excerpt, we'll create the ultimate flashlight. With find-in-the-dark flashing behavior and a power-audit mode, this single-button-controlled device will become the ultimate in personal illumination for the twenty-first century. Figure 1 shows how the flashlight will be constructed. The .NET Micro Framework device will have an input from a push-button switch and will provide an output to a lamp. It will also have a connection to an external device so that it can transfer usage information to the external device in response to a trigger message. To make the flashlight work, the program inside it must be able to perform a number of tasks: It will need to provide a signal to turn on the lamp. It will need to read the state of the input button. For some of the later applications, it will need some form of a timer. It will need a way of communicating with an ex... (more)

Re: [APPS-REVIEW] Metalink XML Download Description Format (draft-bryan-

On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 8:05 PM, Dave Cridland wrote: > On Wed Sep 3 00:36:29 2008, Anthony Bryan wrote: >> >> > 2) The type attribute of the hash element ought to have values selected >> > from >> > the IANA registry of textual hash names; >> > http://www.iana.org/assignments/hash-function-text-names/ - section >> > 4.1.6.1 >> > & 4.2.4.1. >> >> Wow, thank you so much! I didn't know about that. Should I list the >> same hash types, or just have this: >> >> The IANA registry named "Hash Function Textual Names" defines values >> for hash types. >> >> > The latter - just point to the registry. Done. Thanks again, that seems to mesh well. I've changed the schema to just metalinkTextConstruct instead of the individual hash types too. >> > 4) Notational convention defines a different convention than is used in >> > the >> > examples. >> >> The RELAX NG Comp... (more)

Book Review: Requirements Engineering

It is not common to see a book like this come out in today’s technical book market, or for that matter in any era of the technical book market. Today most books are rushed to market, and publishers seem desperate for authors, because there is some real junk being published. But I am not comparing this book to the junk. I am comparing it to the classics like Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software, Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, and Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction, Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code . This book is going to be a classic. It is the best book I have seen on Requirements Engineering, by far!!!! It is organized very well. The logical flow and organization of the book helps to make it a great read from front to back, as well as a great reference. Some, I repeat "some", of w... (more)

TechNet Video: Becoming the Next Private Cloud Expert Now

This webcast builds on your understanding of Microsoft System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager. We do an architectural review and highlight the requirements, steps, and operations to construct a private cloud from a service standpoint, including constructing...(read more) ... (more)

Closing the Sale: Are You Giving Away Too Much?

I don't know about you, but I've always been squeamish when prospects ask me about pricing. My stomach churns as I hope against hope that it will be a non-issue. It never is. That's why I asked Mark Hunter, author of High Profit Selling, if he'd answer a few of questions. His new book is filled with numerous strategies to help salespeople deal with all sorts of pricing issues. (Note: Click here to get a free download of Chapter 1: http://thesaleshunter.com/high-profit-selling) Today's customers are busy people. They want you to net it out: "What do sell? How much is it?" How do you get them to quickly see that price is not everything? Mark Hunter:  The key is to get them talking quickly about their primary need – which means you have to ask them a compelling question. However, you can't always be sure if what they’re telling you is real or merely a dive... (more)

Windows 8 Notifications: Overview

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to experience Windows 8 – Windows reimagined – by downloading the Windows 8 Release Preview, but even if you haven’t gotten your hands on it yet, it’s clear that more than any other release, Windows 8 enables an intensely personal experience. Clearly Windows 8 design with its touch-first philosophy are front and center in creating that personal experience, but just as important is how your application proactively interacts with your users, keeping them informed of changes in application state like, say, the arrival of a new social media update. As you build applications for the Windows Store, consider ways your application can anticipate and thereby delight your users by using key paradigms such as tiles and notifications. There are two primary dimensions in which to classify notifications: the user experience and the delivery method. ... (more)

Bing launches ‘Edibly,’ a new shopping discovery app for iPhone

Pike Place Market On Friday, Bing launched ‘Edibly’ for iPhone, an application that will allow users to browse the Pike Place Market on their handsets. The application is designed to provide an in-depth and up to date look at the famed market. Naturally, you can expect a good deal of bellyaching from Windows Phone users over the company’s decision to build Edibly for only iOS. Too bad. You can find the app in the App Store here. Microsoft, in its classic PR form of threes, claims that the application will “help you shop with confidence, save time and discover new products.” Read the full story at The Next Web. ... (more)