I installed the “almost” RC1 of Vista onto my $366 PC and I’ve finally got sound! In addition, I’ve got the real transparent Aero effects and playback of my .msdvr files (Media Center recorded TV shows) over the network. The “experience” scores out at only 2.9, but only ’cuz of my crappy CPU (1.67 GHz) and the video card (although it does real-time video and Aero — what more should it do?!?). The DVD video playback worked but not the audio, which was one of very few glitches (another was that it doesn’t show video on Google videos).
I’m running Vista Ultimate, and while I can’t tell what’s “ultimate” about it, it feels about time to make Vista the OS on my main computer. Certainly my sons like it on their computer, which is the real test.
Being able to listen to Teenage Dirtbag on the same device that I can use as a 1GBUSBHD and SD, mini-SD, MMC, RS-MMC and T-FLASH reader/writer: $37 (duh — $18 + $19 — you thought I was going to say “priceless” didn’t you?)
The sound quality ain’t that great, but don’t criticize the dog for being off key…
″XNA Game Studio Express enables individuals and small teams to more easily create video games using new, optimized cross-platform gaming libraries for Windows and Xbox 360. This beta release targets the development of games for Windows. The final version of XNA Game Studio Express will be available this holiday season and will enable development of games which target Windows and upon purchase of a XNA Creators Club subscription, the Xbox 360 as well.”
Has any other console vendor every let an individual develop games?
Windows Explorer Integration (and other integratey things)
Continuous Integration
TablePC Indispensables
ASP.NET Must Haves
Visual Studio Add-Ins
Notice how just his list of categories is longer than most people’s lists? Scott’s a gem. Guaranteed you’ll find something that makes your life better.
If you’re interested in the “same build (5536) released last week to Technical Beta and TAP customers” (according to Shawn Van Ness), you and 99,999 of your closest friends can download the pre-RC1 of Vista.
In massive writing avoidance mode, I found my way to Seth Godin (who I don’t know from Adam) doing a great presentation on stuff that’s broken at Gel 2006 (I conference I’ve never heard of) as a way to promote his site. I found the presentation itself at Presentation Zen, when I read about in Guy Kawasi’s essay on The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint, which I found on the sidebar of the Startup Success 2006, which I got to from the Churchill Club web site.I can’t for the life of me remember how I got to the Churchill Club web site, but it killed a lot of time (did I mention I was in writing avoidance mode?).
The Windows Live team has posted their WiFi beta and they’d love it if you checked it out. I already love the HotSpot Locator (there are lots of free hot spots in my neighborhood I didn’t know about!) and are working on a security blanket for unprotected hot spots as well as a bunch of other WiFi related stuff. Check it out!
