After Virtual Server 2005 and SQL Server 2005, we just announced that attendees for TechEd 2005 Europe will also receive a free* copy of Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition (see Terms and Conditions on the TechEd Europe website). What a deal...

BTW: you can still register if you want...

Oh oh, it seems there is only a limited number of free Beta Experience kits available. So if you want to receive a copy of Visual Studio Team System Beta 2, SQL Server 2005 April CTP and a WeFly247 training CD for free, it's time to act now (if you live in the EMEA region): http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience.

At this moment there are only 5796 kits available, but the number lowers almost every minute.

Direct links for:

• Belgium (English): http://www.microsoft.com/emea/msdn/betaexperience/nlbe/
• Belgium (French): http://www.microsoft.com/emea/msdn/betaexperience/frbe/

Steve Lanuit is a Belgian developer that is rather experienced with Managed DirectX and he's blogging. Steve is one of the developers of the "New World" project, the Belgian Imagine Cup 2004 finalist in the software design invitational.

You can find his blog at http://zeknight.blogspot.com. He already posted 2 HLSL examples with source code.

Many Tablet PC's contain a gyroscope. I wasn't aware that the one I have (a Toshiba Portégé) also contains one. After activating the Toshiba Accelerometer tool, I'm now able to open my Start menu or switch between the different applications by "shaking" my Tablet PC. Usefulness: probably not that high, I guess; coolness: really high...

If you have a Toshiba Portégé, you can enable this functionality by going through the Start menu to "Toshiba", then "Tablet PC" and then "Setup for Accelerometer Utilities". Note that this path can be different on your Toshiba Tablet PC. After you click this shortcut, you'll probably see the following application.

Wow, it seems we are hiring at Microsoft Belgium & Luxembourg. Our team (Developer & Platform Evangelism) is hiring 2 persons. One is an IT Professional Evangelist and the other one is an Academic Program Manager. And here is the full list of open positions:

• Senior Partner Technology and Solutions Advisor
• Senior Account Manager Financial Services
• Senior Account Manager Industry and Manufacturing
• Partner Account Manager ISV
• Solutions Sales Professional – Infrastructure (Management)
• Partner Sales Manager (PSM) focusing on Information Worker
• Solutions Sales Professional – Application and Development Platform
• Technology Solutions Professional – Infrastructure (focus on Management)
• Technology Solutions Professional – Infrastructure (focus on NOS/Security)
• Customer Service Manager
• Security Mobilization Program Manager
• Product & Solutions Marketing Manager
• Business Group Lead – Information Worker (IW)
• Product & Solution Marketing Manager – MS Office
• Product & Solution Marketing Manager – Information Worker Products
• Home & Entertainment Sales Manager
• Partner Account Manager Microsoft Business Solutions
• DPE – Academic Program Manager
• IT Professional Evangelist
• Technical Audience Marketing Manager
• Database - CRM Manager
• Enterprise Strategy Consultant
• Solution Sales – Application and Development Platform
• Services Executive
• Technical Account Manager
• MCS Infrastructure Consultant

You can apply by sending your CV and a motivation letter to:

Microsoft Belux
Human Resources Dept.
Culliganlaan 1
1831 Diegem
Belgium

Or by sending it by e-mail: hrbelux@microsoft.com.

This is way cool... You can give the home page of your Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone or Pocket PC a nice Beta Experience look-and-feel. (For those that don't know the Beta Experience, have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience.)

This is an example at how your Smartphone/Pocket PC home page can look like if you install the themes:

Smartphone theme

Pocket PC theme

You can install it on your own phone by following these steps:

• Download the file to your desktop PC.
• Copy the file to your mobile phone. (I placed it under "Storage/Windows", but I guess you can place it anywhere.)
• Start up the File Manager and go to the location where you stored the file.
• Click on the file and confirm the automatic installation of the theme.

It is possible to switch back to other home page skins at any time through the Settings menu.

Do not hesitate to drop me a note if you've installed them on your Smartphone/Pocket PC.

Note: If you decide to install the home page skin, you take full responsability for it. I had no problems installing it on my Windows Mobile 2003 powered Smartphone, but I cannot guarantee that it will work with yours too. Damage to your device, data loss or earthquakes (or anything else) are your own responsability if you decide to download and install these home pages.

Update: The files are now available from the Microsoft.com Download Center. I also updated the instructions.

Update April 2006: a new Beta Experience campaign started and a new Windows Mobile theme is available now.