Fleux .NETCF UI Library – KitchenPal contributions

It is now possible to download the modified version of the great Fleux project by José Gallardo Salazar, which I used for KitchenPal Metro-style interface. I added some custom UI controls (Tile, ApplicationBar, Textbox, Checkbox, Button, ImageButton, WrapPanel) and added general support for Windows CE 6.x/7.x devices, in addition to Windows Mobile. Maybe in the future these enhancements could be integrated in the main project. For now, download the source code from here and use it in your embedded projects! Let me know if you use it or find/fix any issues.

Kinect SDK Beta 2

Today the new Kinect for Windows SDK Beta 2 has been released. It’s still for non-commercial use, waiting for the commercial SDK license which should be released at the beginning of the next year. For the event, the new official Microsoft Kinect SDK developer portal has been launched:  http://www.kinectforwindows.org/

Some of Beta 2 changes:

• Faster  and Improved Skeletal Tracking

With updates to the multi-core exemplar, Kinect for Windows is now 20% faster than it was in the last release. Also, the accuracy rate of skeletal tracking and joint recognition and been substantially improved and it is possible to choose which device has to be used for skeletal trackin, when more than one Kinect is plugged to the machine.

• Status Change Support and APIs

You can now plug and unplug your Kinect without losing work/productivity and computer crashes. Also it is possible to monitor Kinect status within your applications.

• 64bits and Windows 8 Developer Preview support

Now drivers, SDK and Runtime support Windows 8 developer preview for desktop application, ant it is possible to build 64bits applications.

• Sample applications updated

You can enter the ”Kinect Effect”, too. This is what people are doing now and/or will do with Kinect soon:

Windows 8 + Kinect SDK

Marina, the MSc Computer Engineering student I’m mentoring for her Master Degree thesis, is developing an Home-automation/communication Embedded system for elder/disabled people, leveraging Kinect SDK and Windows Embedded Standard 7.

After Microsoft BUILD event, we also decided to try Windows 8 Developer Preview with Metro Style app + Kinect. Actually we have some problems with WinRT/Kinect SDK compatibility: does anybody have any ideas or advices about that?

CatchTheDrop - Kinect SDK Game

Some weeks ago I presented the Kinect SDK at the BUILD Live in Turin community event.

In that occasion, with the help of Marina Sabetta, a MSc Computer Engineering student I’m mentoring for the Master Degree thesis, I demoed a simple single/two-players game, made with the Kinect SDK for Windows. The purpose of the game is to catch the falling drops as fast as possible: it has been programmed in WPF/C# and the game shows the basics of Kinect Skeleton tracking feature.

Project binaries and sources are now available on Codeplex: http://catchthedrop.codeplex.com.

Comments and suggestions are welcome!

WPC 2011

From 18 years, WPC represents for Italian IT Professionals a great training opportunity about Microsoft technologies. 2011 edition will take place on November 22-24 at Centro Congressi Milanofiori, Assago (MI).

WPC is for all IT professionals, developers, system-managers, IT consultants, managers:

• 3 days
• 6 tracks
• more than 60 speakers
• more than 90 sessions

Some topics:

• Windows 8
• Kinect SDK
• HTML5
• Windows Phone
• SQL Server “Denali”
• Hyper-V
• Lync

There will be also a special place where you can meet and talk with Microsoft MVPs.

For further information: www.wpc2011.it

You can follow the event also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!

Steve Jobs

The world will miss a great visionary, genius and innovator. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and to everyone who has been involved and changed by his work.

Microsoft Windows Embedded MVP 2011 Award

I am delighted to announce that I have been honored Microsoft Windows Embedded MVP.

The Microsoft MVP Program is a worldwide award and recognition program that strives to identify amazing individuals in technical communities around the globe who share a passion for technology and the spirit of community. To become an MVP (Most Valuable Professional) candidates are nominated by Microsoft or other community members: they are rigorously evaluated for their technical expertise, community leadership, and voluntary community contributions for the previous year. These individuals are chosen because they are exemplary community leaders who voluntarily share their passion and real-world knowledge of Microsoft products with others.

Congratulations to the 143 new Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Awardees and 764 MVPs who were re-awarded this year. Especially, I want to congratulate with my colleagues Marco Bodoira and Beppe Platania who have been awarded Windows Embedded MVPs too!

I’m very happy.
Thank you to all involved Microsoft and non-Microsoft people who made this possible!