I really enjoyed taking part in the E4D expert day. The organization, atmosphere and the audience were perfect. I'd like to thank Eyal and Sarit for the opportunity to deliver three lectures in this event. I'd like also to thank the professional people that came to hear me. I enjoyed the interaction, the hard questions, the comments and feedbacks you have provided. For those of you that took part in one of my seminars, please contact me and request a link to the materials download sites. Please tell your friends about the seminars. If you want to have the full course, or other CodeValue course, take a look at: http://college.codevalue.net/
Microsoft has shut down its Windows Phone MVP program; they will reopen it as more consumer-focused group. I don't know all the reasons for that, and I would appreciate if they could rearrange the group without retire all mobile MVPs, but I think that there is something else that this news tells us. Windows Phone is not a niche, it is part of something bigger, and the client/consumer device story is changing. We consume information through our PC, Phone, Slate device, TV, Xbox. All of them are part of our everyday user interface, and in many cases for the same server side application like office 365, or Gmail.
This is also the sign that if you are a user interface/client side developer, you should not focus on mobile device development, or PC user interface development only. You should target your development skills to be able to develop for all of them. The Microsoft development story provides you the ability to use almost the same tools and language to develop across all devices UI including the PC and Xbox. Apple gives you the same experience for the iPhone and the iPad, Android O/S runs on Phone and Tablet too.
HTML 5 provides you the ability to develop cross platform for all platforms, and soon also for Windows 8 (but I am quite sure that HTML for Windows 8 will be Microsoft bound development tools and API).
So focusing on more consumers oriented MVP group is not a bad idea, and I hope that many of the old Windows Phone MVP will be part of this group; after all they have got their MVP for what they are and what they are doing. Of course, it they don’t like the new Windows Phone and the new Windows 8 running on slate device, they can't promote and evangelist Microsoft, Microsoft will not choose them…
I have just received a mail telling me that I am continued to be a C++ MVP, 6 year in a row. I am happy to be C++ MVP. Although I am doing a lot of .NET and C# developing, I am also continue to have C++ project, Win32 and COM and I am doing a lot of interop. I have also taught several C++ classes this year including Advanced Windows Debugging Techniques and Windows Concurrent Programming in the Multi-Core Era with the new concurrent runtime and libraries of VC++ 10. The rumors say that C++ will play big role in the upcoming Windows 8 and that the Build event is not just about JS and HTML 5, but also a lot of C++.
I want to thank the VC++ team for this recognition and also to thank Guy Burstein for his support.
As the title said, I am not alone. Josh Reuben, a colleague at CodeValue, one of the most talented and professional person that I know also recognized as an MVP. This is his first time and he earned it by hard work. People, who know Josh, know that he has a list of what he has to read and learn for the coming 2-3 years. When you open one of his computer books you see that the important words and line are marked with yellow marker.
If you want to meet Josh, come to his XNA lecture at Expert Days next week.