Interactive TV in Windows Media Center

I happened to be switching between channels the other night and went to enable subtitles for a particular program (a feature of MCE in Windows 7 that I’ve grown to really appreciate).

I was surprised to see an extra menu appearing - “Interactive TV”. Wow, I wonder what it does? Nothing apparently but it is intriguing. I’m not sure if this is something new in MCE, or a new feature for the television transmission in my area.

A reply to my query on the Australian Media Centre forums suggests this is a new feature that some channels are now transmitting.

Passed 70-515, 70-516 and 70-519

Back in April I participated in three ‘beta’ exams for Microsoft:

• 70-515 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 4, Web Applications Development
• 70-516 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 4, Accessing Data with ADO.NET
• 70-519 Pro: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0

Being ‘beta’ means that you get to do the exams for free (as they are using you to find any mistakes etc), but if you pass then it counts as passing the real exam. These exams have just been publicly released, and I just found out I passed all three! As a result I can now add the following certifications to my list: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist

• .NET Framework 4, Web Applications
• .NET Framework 4, Data Access with ADO.NET

~Microsoft Certified Professional Developer~

• ~Web Developer 4~

Updated: Turns out I was incorrect, you do also need to complete 70-513 before you qualify for the MCPD Web Developer 4. This has now been clarified in the prerequisites for the certification.

CodeCampSA 2010

Adelaide’s own CodeCampSA is on July 24-25th this year, and all you have to do is follow these easy steps:

1. Visit the CodeCampSA website for all the details
2. Register to say that you’re coming (it’s free, but helps with catering and arranging access to the wireless LAN etc)
3. Keep up to date with the latest news by subscribing to the CodeCampSA feed.

Once again, we’re privileged to have speakers from both Adelaide and interstate – including LobsterPot Solutions’ very own Rob Farley and some fellow named David Gardiner 😀

If you’ve got any free time over that weekend and you’re interested in learning new things about .NET, software development, SQL Server, SharePoint and other related things, I’d strongly recommend you try and get down to UniSA’s City West Campus. I know I’m planning to be there for the whole weekend!

Finally, it’s probably not too late to contact Peter Griffith if you’ve got the urge to present on a topic.