Today I added to my blog Snap.com's quick preview feature. To use this, just hover your mouse on any external hyperlink on this page that points to a URL outside www.venkatarangan.com. For example, hover on top of this word "Vishwak" (or) "Easytools" to see a quick snapshot of those sites.

Hope this is useful for readers. Please post your comments.

Wish you all a happy new year 2007.

Today I received a good new year gift - I was nominated and accepted by Microsoft as one of their MVPs (Microsoft Valuable Professional) - Visual Developer Solutions Architect. I have been a Microsoft Regional Director from 1999 but this is an additional title for me to hold.

Update 1/Feb/2007: I received my MVP Welcome Kit and the MVP Certificate

I have been to Malaysia couple of times, I liked the country so much that I went there for my honeymoon. Last week my Sister's family had been to Malaysia and I gave them an itinery - I have given it below for benefit of others who are going to KL.

Kuala Lumpur:

1.  Battu Caves (Murugan temple, Batik/Tin/Shoe Factory) - Half a day
2. Mid valley mega mall in the city – 3 to 4 hours
3. Genting Highland (Can be seen by a day dour, go top by Cable Car) - Full day
4. Butterfly Park in the city – 2 to 3 hours
5. China town – toys and all china items
6. Lebu Ampang – South Indian Banana leaf food
7. Sri Mahamariamman Temple
8. Petronas Twin tower – need to get pass the day before; 1 to 2 hours
9. Suriya KLCC - this mall is next to Petronas Tower
10. Menara KL Tower – good to go in the evening around 5:30PM/6PM; 2 hours
11. Independence Square/War memorial – Good Photo Opportunity: 1 Hour
12. Palace: Entrance Photo: 10 minutes
13. Little India / Masjid India

Langkawi:

1. Aquarium – Definite see
2. Beautiful Beaches – Can be done as part of a day tour / seen individually
3. Eagle Square (Dataran Lang) – Can be done as part of a day tour
4. You can also rent 2/4 wheelers and go around
   

Reference Sites:

• http://www.tourism.gov.my/
• http://www.malaysiasite.nl/

சில்லுனு ஒரு காதல், சூர்யா ஜோதிகா நடித்த இந்தப் படத்தை ஓரிரண்டு மாதங்கள் முன்பு பார்த்தேன்.சூர்யா ஜோதிகாவின் திருமணத்தின் பொழுது வெளிவந்தது மட்டுமே படத்திற்கான விளம்பரமாக அமைந்தது.படத்தில் கணவன் மனைவி உறவை/அன்பை ஆழமாக அதே சமயம் இயல்பாக இயக்குனர் சொல்லியுள்ளார், மற்றபடி படத்தைப் பார்த்தப்பொழுது என்னை எதுவும் மிகவாக கவரவில்லை.

படத்தின் பாடல்களை பிறகு தொலைக்காட்சியில் பார்க்கும் பொழுது, பாடல் ஒளிப்பதிவு மிகவும் நெர்த்தியாக தெரிகிறது -குறிப்பாக "நியுயார்க் நகரம்" பாடல் மிக அழகாக Editing செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஒரு காட்சியில் சூர்யா வலதுப்பக்கமாக வெளியேரினால் அடுத்த காட்சியில் ஜோதிகா இடதுப்பக்கமாக தோன்றுவார், ஒருவரில் (கணவன் சூர்யா) இருந்து மற்றவர் (மனைவி ஜோதிகா) வருவது போல் மிக நெர்த்தியாக தொழில்நுட்பத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தியுள்ளார் இயக்குனர் கிருஷ்ணா

இதைத் தவிர பாடல் சிடியை தினமும் வண்டியில் கேட்டப்பொழுது "நியுயார்க் நகரம்" பாடலும், "அம்மி மிதிச்சாச்சு" பாடலும் என்னை வெகுவாக கவர்ந்தது. இதில் "நியுயார்க் நகரம்" பாடல் முழுவதையும் கவிஞர் வாலி ஆங்கில கலப்பிண்றி (காபி பொன்ற ஒரிரு தவிர) இயல்பான தமிழில் எழுதியுள்ளார் - குறிப்பாக டயரியை (Diary)  நாட்குறிப்பு என்று அழகாக சொல்லியுள்ளார். ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் அந்த பாடலை கேட்கும்பொழுதும் ரகுமான் குரல் மனதை வருடாமல் விடவில்லை.  

Microsoft has recently launched a viral marketing effort for an upcoming product through a website titled Center for Digital Amnesia. It is rumoured on the Internet blogsites that it is about Windows Live Storage (something similar to xDrive).

And personally - I haven't heard from any Microsoftie on this

(Image Copyright: Microsoft Corporation)

WPF/E is a subset of WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) technologies from Microsoft. Microsoft is expected to make WPF/E available on wide platforms apart from Windows, including Mac OS, Mobiles and more.

When WPF/E was announced earlier this year in Mix '06, I was little skeptical on how far Microsoft will go to make it ubiquitos and useful. With the Dec CTP release of WPF/E I guess I will have to eat my doubts .

I downloaded and played with the Dec CTP (Community Release) version of WPF/E for last few days. The Dec CTP is small (1MB download), works in Windows and MacOS. The WPF/E browser plug-in works in both IE and FireFox - WPF/E works as a browser plug-in just like Adobe Flash. For me, WPF/E looks like a very promising technology for two reasons: 1) It is based (subset) on the same XAML specification - instead of making developers learn a new model, this is a good move. 2) It works as a browser plug-in, can make it ubiquitous.  For WPF/E to complement Flash in a big way, MS has to come out fast with versions for as many platforms as possible, keep the XAML subset as close to as possible to the full-blown .NET Fx 3.0/WPF.

Resources:

• MSDN WPF/E Website
• Download Dec CTP from Microsoft.com
• Download Samples Pack from Microsoft.com
  
• Introduction to WPF/E
• View the Sample Slideshow from Channel9
• Mike Harsh (Developer in WPF/E Team) blog

I have been a Microsoft Regional Director from 1999. Everyone I get introduced to first ask me what is Microsoft Regional Director Program and who can be a RD?. So far the best way I could describe was by saying "RDs are not Microsoft Employees. They are third party technical evangelist who are passionate on Microsoft Technologies".  

This week one of my fellow RDs, Jonathan Goodyear has written this piece on "Who is a MS RD" in ASP.NET Pro Magazine. Thanks Jonathan.

Apart from Windows Live Mail (Hotmail) the two other Windows Live Services that I use everyday and can't live without are:

1) Windows Live Favorites (comes as part of Windows Live Toolbar) that lets you keep bookmarks across all the PCs you use synced up using your Windows Live ID. On an average I use at least 3 machines (My Office Desktop, Laptop and my Home PC) everyday and before this service, I was going nuts emailing the links. Several years back I have been a user of Yahoo bookmarks service that lets you store and search bookmarks through a webpage but I missed the browser integration convenience.

The only nuance I found was if you are using Windows Vista, for some reasons the option to install Favorites button doesn't appear in WL Toolbar. You just need to go to favorites page directly and install it from there. I don't know the reason, but It works.

2) Windows Live Writer - the blog writing client software that I am using to write my blogs. dasBlog before 1.9.x didn't support file upload from WLW, but now everything works great. I am one happy blogger! 

If you are using Windows Vista and wish to Remotely connect to that PC from a Windows XP machine, then remember to download the new RDP Client 6.0. This version is for Windows XP and in this version Clipboard copy-paste works flawlessly between Windows XP Host and Vista Client machines.

RDP Client 6.0 Download

If you have watched Ray Romano in his popular Everybody loves Raymond, you will know how funny he can be. His comedy is most of the time clean, everyday family happenings. I love this serial that I have the entire DVD collection with me.

In this book titled "Everything and a Kite" Ray narrates with his usual humour about Wifes, Kids and more. When reading the book as a Married man with a Kid, there were many sentences that I could relate to my life and at the same time laugh on them. A good read over a long flight.

I am probably the first few in India to lay hands on a Zune Player. Last week I received a Zune Player - thanks to Microsoft RD Program and My Vista, My Office Challenge.

The first thing that strikes you is the package which is Simple, Compact & Clean. Definitely something I haven't seen before from Microsoft. There is no big logos or long instructions.  

The device itself is fabulous, well designed for day to day usage. The buttons are cleanly lay out, intitutive to use. The device sports Audio (WMA, MP3), Video (WMV) Playback, Radio Tuner, WiFi to share songs (which play on other device for 3 days/3 times) & Photo Slideshow.  The Audio & Video playback is flawless. Overall a serious competitor to Apple iPod.

The only thing I desire in Zune, is a better Desktop Software. For some reasons the software didn't install the necessary device drivers in my Home Windows XP SP2 PC, while it worked fine in my Office (WinXP SP2) machine. Hope Microsoft which makes great software like Windows Vista and Office 2007 comes out with a better Zune Desktop Software.

Update 20/12/06: There has been a new release of Zune Software yesterday that works with Windows Vista.

T.Nagar Talk (a local paper) today carried a piece about Centre for Social and Economic Justice. This Organizations runs a site creditcardvictims.org for helping consumers for their rights with credit card companies. The site offers some good advice on smart usage of credit card. Though sites like this are common in the USA, even the popular TV Show Oprah has a website on this - but in India, this is a new effort.

Read my earlier post on Credit Card Regulations in India. Last week I had a good experience - for official use I had bought 3 mobile phones on a same day from one shop with my Citibank card. I got a call with in few hours from Citibank Service Center in Gurgaon verifying whether I did the transactions. This is what I call "Good Service" and protecting consumer interests.