Firefox - Version 1.5 released

My favourite browser has released a major upgrade v1.5 which has been in Beta since september download firefox 1.5 today

My new desk

I have found my new computer desk.



My name even begins with C

I'll have to get it...

Taken from the inside photos of Google's new offices in London...

Restart Now or Later...

Windows update is wonderful, it allows you to get the updates you need when you need them. Great. But why does it annoy you to death about rebooting your system after you install the updates. (thats a retorical question, I know your still at risk until reboot).

Install Now or Later ? If you choose later, see you again in 10 minutes annoying popup.

Killing the process that launches this popup doesn't help (wuauclt.exe) so here is a good guide to removing this annoyance using local group policy tool gpedit.msc

Ironically you need to reboot to get the Policy updates to take effect. I thought windows was supposed to have to reboot LESS often these days...

To get around an immediate reboot run "net stop wuauserv" to remove the message.

FW: New MS Certifications

If you are wondering why the internet may seem slower over the past week,
its because Microsoft developers and SQL database fans (believe it or not
there are quite a lot of them) have been trying to get their hands on the
latest versions of SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio .Net 2005, via MSDN or
any other means.

While the rest of the world gets on with its business this is a BIG deal in
the Microsoft Developer world and expect to see better Web and windows
applications filtering through as a result.

It brings a new SQL server database, .Net Framework 2.0 and a new (and much
improved) development environment.

If course there are some new Training Courses on the way from Microsoft to
"certify" that you know all about this new stuff.

I listened to this Webcast on the new Certifications

https://www118.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=msft102705lb&pw=3JH8XV21

You specalise in a particular product such as SQL 2005 and get a "Technology
Specialist" certificate for that, then move up to the Professional Developer
(Windows, Web or Enterprise) based on your "Technology Specialist"

The next exams become live End January 2006, MS press books etc will be
available by the end of the spring 2006.

The Q&A section was the best part of the WebCast they recommend doing the
Net 1.1 exams if you have started until the new ones come out then take the
upgrade exams.

Technology specialist certifications expire when the product support does
(i.e. when SQL 2005 is retired, approx timeframe 5 years)

Professional Developer certifications MUST be renewed every 3 years. If
there are no new products in those 3 years the new exams will be based on
Best Practices in that technology (such as Application Blocks, Enterprise
Library etc.)