Microsoft has just made the Visual Studio 2005 BETA 1 Express editions available for free download.
There are currently 6 Express products available for download:

• Visual Basic 2005 Express
• Visual C# 2005 Express
• Visual C++ 2005 Express
• Visual J# 2005 Express
• Visual Web Dev 2005 Express
• SQL Server 2005 Express

These versions include many of the same productivity features found in Visual Studio, all streamlined to fit the needs of the non-professional Windows developer.

At the same time, the Microsoft developer community Channel 9 announced a coding contest.

Prizes are a XBox, a XBox Live! subscription for one year and a copy of Halo2.

So, what are you supposed to do in order to enter the contest?
I'll make it easy for myself and cite Channel 9 directly:

Entrants must access http://msdn.microsoft.com/express and download a version of free beta version of Microsoft Express software. The following beta versions are available for download: Visual C# 2005 Express Edition, Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition, Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition, Visual J# 2005 Express Edition, Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (collectively referred to as "Express").

Entrants must use a single version of Express to develop a "non-business" application and submit it online by following the instructions listed at http://channel9.msdn.com.express. However any entry can use a single version of Express in conjunction with SQL Server Express, but SQL Server Express is not required. Entrants may submit only 1 entry per category, and each entry must be substantially unique in content and function.


I have a pretty good idea already on what kind of application to write. It's probably gonna be some kind of project time tracking software. But I have to figure out the specs first.

Watch and learn ;)

Time to sit down and write something again ;)

I have just finished reading a Book by Isaac Assimov called I, robot. The book has just been brought to the big screen with Will Smith. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.

More news ;)
I've been thinking about starting a .Net Usergroup here in Hamburg. According to this website, there is supposed to be one here. But the homepage of the group is empty. And the leader doesn't reply on mails... SO..maybe there is a chance afterall.
I'll find out soon enough ;)

I just stumbled over this article on the net, which I simply needed to share with you:
Neo-Nazis tortured a young German in brutal way

The incident reminded of Abu Ghraib in Frankfurt/Oder (Germany), strange to say however it did not interested the media and did not reach the public.....
more in german or english (thanks babelfish).
I think it is unbelievable that anybody would do such things. And it even draws a worse picture of the media landscape here in germany...
How come nobody covered this subject?
My guess is, that nobody wanted to rehash it. Since we germans somehow seem to have a problem with our past, it's kind of understandable nobody wants to get reminded of it every day. But still... This doesn't justify the complete lack of media coverage happened here...
I mean, let me cite The Reason here:
I'm not a perfect person
there’s many things i wish i didn't do
[...]
it's something i must live with everyday
and all the pain i put you through
i wish that i could take it all away
And after all, being reminded of it everyday doesn't help much.
But this doesn't mean that I ignore the subject completely...

What do you guys think???

While surfing the net and checking my emails i received a mail containing a link to a great webpage for developers.
SharpToolbox
Let me give you an idea, what you'll be able to find there:

• ezCrypto .NET
• ezSMTP .NET
• Standards Master 2004
• Convert C# to VB.NET
• V#
• EasyThread
• DotTux
• 4ASPNET POP3
• CommentMaker
• FeinEvaluator
• FeinWindows
• CommentMakerPro
• Dundas Chart for .NET
• Xceed Chart for .NET
• Raster Imaging Pro for .NET
• and much more...

This will be one of my major ressources concerning .Net development..... They have a huge load of components. Both free of charge and not... Some are open-source, some are not.... I think you get the point. It mostly a list of all kinds of components.

Alright everyone,

I have just returned.... and let me say: OH MY GOD!!! It's been quite a while since I have seen so many nice ladies crowded in one place. I think I will be a permanent guest there!! Well, on wednesdays especially!! ;) So what kind of place is it?
It's called WallStreet. Why? Because the prices at that place depend on the number of times the drink has been ordered. Just like a stock market. So if you've got a taste, differing from the regular one, you're just fine. And let me confess two things right here:

1. I am a huge cocktail fan (which puts me in one league with at least one Microsoft employee
2. I have a strange (whatever that is) taste.... :P

That's all folks!

Enjoy the night and take care!

Off to see some soccer. Since the european champisonship is going on, I'll be off watching some soccer at a bar.
See ya!

Alright,
here is my first entry.
Since my last blog kind of deserted, I decided to start another one. Here I have the possability to post entries via SMS. So I'll try posting more often. ;)

Let's see....

BTW: Check out my current software project at http://torrentfeed.chicagoguide.de