http://blogs.msdn.com/kevinboyle/archive/2009/12/10/have-fun-in-vegas-while-learning-about-azure-silverlight-windows-phone.aspx

Free and no Azure token required - PDC09 Windows Azure walkthrough, Step-by-step ‘hello world’ http://blogs.msdn.com/kevinboyle

In person ARCHITECT COUNCIL | 2010: A Cloud Odyssey

A half-day discussion of Cloud Computing and Microsoft's solutions.

Agenda

12:45PM: Introduction and Announcements
01:00PM: Windows Azure Platform – Overview of the Microsoft Cloud
01:30PM: SOA and Cloud Computing
02:00PM: Architecting Solutions Leveraging the Cloud
02:30PM: Making Sense of the Expanding Range of Data Storage Solutions
03:15PM: Best Practices with Data Interaction Frameworks
04:00PM: Groupthink

REGISTRATION LINKS

Irvine - December 1st

http://wweventstest.one.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032350826&Culture=en-US 

Los Angeles - December 2nd

http://wweventstest.one.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032350827&Culture=en-US

http://Stargate.MGM.com

MGM Studios - Silverlight enables fans to explore the set of the Stargate Universe and generates incremental Ad revenue for the Studio

 

Stargate.MGM.com is the official site for the Stargate TV and Movie franchise.  The Stargate franchise includes the TV Show ‘Stargate SG-1’, the longest running science-fiction series in US TV history. 

 

On July 8th, the site will re-launch to promote its new TV show, ‘Stargate Universe’ (coming to the Sci-Fi channel in the Fall of 2009).  Using Microsoft Silverlight and Photosynth technology, MGM and Microsoft brought the incredible detail of the sets from the show to the fans - using 3D and high-resolution photography. 

 

The application innovates on traditional advertising by triggering Ads when the user moves from Synth to Synth.  MGM embedded five-second spots that get the message across without pushing the user away.  The first release of the site contains three advertisements on a rotating cycle.  This first-of-its-kind formula enables incremental revenue without being obtrusive.

 

Situation

 

In May 2009, Microsoft and MGM partnered to build an application which gives old and new fans of Stargate their first look at the main location of the TV show, an ancient starship called the Destiny. The sets for the Destiny are amongst the most sophisticated ever built for a TV show, accurately capturing the spirit of a spaceship that has been abandoned for millennia.  

 

MGM wanted to give fans an accurate experience of what it would be like to walk around and live on the Destiny, and using Microsoft Silverlight and Photosynth were able to deliver an immersive 3-D experience.  This also provided an opportunity to drive incremental Ad revenue.

 

Solution

 

Over the space of two days, several hundred photographs were taken of some of the locations of the Destiny starship. These include the fan-favorite Gate Room, from where the crew embarks on their adventures through the Stargate as well as locations such as the ship’s control center, observation deck, and main shuttle.

 

These photographs were used to create a number of 3D scenes using Microsoft Photosynth technology.  This technology analyzes pictures and creates a virtual 3D space using the different viewpoints from different pictures. Because the pictures were shot in high resolution, fans can zoom in and see the sets in great detail.

 

Quote

 

“This experience is going to offer Stargate fans just what they want to see in just the kind of detail that they like. It’s a unique opportunity for people to walk around the ship, virtually, on their computer, from home. It’s phenomenal” said Thomas Hughes, Vice President of Worldwide Digital Media at MGM.

 

http://linerider.com

InXile Entertainment has collaborated with Microsoft to build a new version of the Line Rider game, making use of Microsoft's Silverlight technology and Windows Live Services. The new Line Rider uses Silverlight to provide a robust and intuitive game editing environment, and integrated Live Messenger provides a way for users to chat while editing tracks, and to share them.

http://www.cynergysystems.com/news/linerider.jsp
http://timheuer.com/blog/archive/2008/06/30/line-rider-in-silverlight-2.aspx

mms://wm.microsoft.com/ms/windowsserver/compare/BreakVideo.wmv

As a popular entertainment site with an advertising-based revenue model, Break.com must support high traffic volumes while enticing Web site visitors to spend time on the site. The company handles up to 35 million page views per day with only two Web server computers.

"That's the thing that I don't think a lot of people on the LAMP stack realize. [...] I think you'll find that Microsoft technologies compare very well individually. But that misses the big picture: Microsoft has created a platform that simply lets me architect and build applications in a way that I can't on LAMP.”

Nick Wilson, CTO, Break.com 

Windows Server comparison Q&A for microsoft.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/compare/interviewdetails.mspx?recid=23

Case study on .NET, Windows Server, SQL and Silverlight
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000002034 

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000003864

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/PerfectCarFinder/PhotoEdition.aspx

Kelley Blue Book leveraged .NET 3.5 SP1 to cut the head off their .NET Web Solution. They now leverage a mode-view-controller architecture so that they can get direct access to the necessary logic.

This enables them to serve new experiences on mobile devices and through Silverlight 2.  With the use of SL2, deeper user engagement will sell more Ads.  Users want data when they’re on the lot looking at cars – on their mobile devices.

http://promotions.newegg.com/silverlight/DC/index.html

Newegg wanted to create a deeper and more engaging experience for their customers.  It wanted to enhance the UX of their customers by creating a RIA with functional and powerful features that are intuitive.

Newegg built a DeepZoom catalog built on Silverlight 2.  A power search function was added, so when a customer is browsing they just need to enter a keyword, select “Go” and the results are presented in a much richer way.  The application has a slider bar that adjusts the search results by allowing the customer to drag the bar or each end separately which narrows or widens the search.   The results are updated and displayed as the bar is adjusted.  If the customer wants to look at a product more closely, a deep zoom feature is available which can zoom into the surface details of products in the HD clarity.