Niels Lohmann [1] did a video of the closing session [2], given by Sir Tony Hoare [3] at a Summer School in 2006. Even if I passed his way several times over here in Cambridge, it's great to see this video. Good job Niels.

"At the International Summer School Marktoberdorf 2006, Tony Hoare was asked to give the talk at the closing session. He gave a lot of advices for Ph.D. students, and I am glad I made a video of it to share these advices"

[1] http://niels.ebytehost.com/ 
[2] http://niels.ebytehost.com/videos/advice-for-phd-students-from-tony-hoare
[3] http://research.microsoft.com/users/thoare/

Ever stuck in sorting a huge bullet list? One of the 90% unknown Word features found at [1].

The Sort Text command can be used to alphabetize lists instantly.

1. Type a list of names, pressing ENTER after each name. Your list should look something like:
   • Madeleine Kelly
   • Brian Cox
   • Tamara Johnston
2. Select the entire list.
3. On the Table menu, click Sort.
4. Click Options, click Other, press SPACEBAR and then click OK.
5. In the Sort by list, click Word 2, and then click OK.

   Now your list looks like this:

   • Brian Cox
   • Tamara Johnston
   • Madeleine Kelly
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5, but click Word 1 in the Sort by list, and your list will look like this:
   • Brian Cox
   • Madeleine Kelly
   • Tamara Johnston

[1] http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA101154421033.aspx

Additional lightweight XML editor [1]. Must have if you play a lot with XML files.

[1] http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=72d6aa49-787d-4118-ba5f-4f30fe913628&DisplayLang=en

Due to some unknown reasons, Windows told me synchronizing with my Windows Mobile device was not able anymore. The error message told me some issues with the COM port. For some reason the COM port in ActiveSync was rest to port 3. Using the Toshiba Bluetooth Manager on my m200 I have to reset the port to 7.

Afterwards I had to update the partnership on my mobile device. After checking ActiveSync in the Bluetooth settings dialog for the specific device, the Bluetooth connection worked again.

First you make a mess, then you clean it up.

William G. Perry Jr.

Invisible computing [1]. Not brand new but quite interesting to read:

"This site has the source code and documentation for Microsoft Invisible Computing. It is a research prototype for making small devices part of the seamless computing world. This site contains the source code and is available free of charge for research and educational use under the Microsoft Shared Source License."

And even better, the code is Shared Source [2].

[1] http://research.microsoft.com/invisible/default.asp
[2] http://research.microsoft.com/invisible/EULA.htm

Windows Vista comes with a whole bunch of new, high-color icons. How to create own icons for Vista applications is explained in the Vista Icon Creation Guidelines [1]. If I find some time I will purchase Axialis IconWorkshop [2]. The tutorial [3] for that tool look quite promising.

[1] http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/UxGuide/UXGuide/Resources/WhatsNewInVista/Icons.asp
[2] http://www.axialis.com/iconworkshop
[3] http://www.axialis.com/tutorials/tutorial-vistaicons.html

I quite like the possibility offered by Mac OS with the detection of network errors when the system cannot connect to the network. Microsoft now also offers such a tool as Hotfix (KB914440) [1]. 

"The Network Diagnostics for Windows XP tool analyzes information about your network connectivity to help you troubleshoot network-related problems with your computer."

After installing the tool, IE proposes to use the tool after a network error.

 The Network Diagnostic Tool is accessible by the  Tools / Diagnose Connection Problems ... menu.

Viewing the log file after the check allows to review the performed actions.

[1] http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=EA541E8E-85A3-4D2F-A3A4-B329D03FC2FA&displaylang=en

Not much time for doing a lot of other stuff since I am just working on a paper for Pervasive 2007 [1].

[1] http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/conferences/pervasive20...

Giving a talk [1] to the Cambridge SPA group on the 8th November about programming robots, Microsoft Robotics Studio and the CCR.

[1] http://www.bcs-spa.org/cgi-bin/view/SPA/Programmin...