New Book - Google Blogger

I have a new book - Google Blogger, coming up pretty shortly. If you have always wanted to create your own blog and don't know where to start, this book will show you how to get started using Google's free Blogger service.

Here is the synposis of the book:
"Learn how to build your own blog using Google’s free Blogger service. This book covers the basic and the not-so-basic concepts and technologies that you need to know in order to thrive in the blogging world.
With this book, you will learn how to use Blogger’s Post Editor and Dashboard to create sophisticated postings that include images and hyperlinks, and how to change the look and feel of your blog using templates. Other topics include making money using Google’s AdSense and Amazon.com’s Associates program, using photo blogging services, adding a site counter so that you can track your readership, using Blogger Mobile for mobile blogging, and how to archive your blog. For those of you who have your own Web hosting, you will learn how to publish your blog to your own server.
This book takes a rational, no-nonsense approach in a compact guide. The book is written to give you the basics…fast!

Technical accuracy is assured by Biz Stone, Former Senior Specialist on the Google Blogger Team. "

Updates to my book

I have posted the updates to ASP.NET 2.0: A Developer's Notebook on O'Reilly web site. To download the updated source code, click the Examples link. To download the list of changes, click the Visual Studio 2005 final release update link.

Sudoku Puzzle 1 - Easy

Here is an easy Sudoku puzzle for you to try your hands on. Beginning today, I will post a Sudoku puzzle every week. Each week, I will select a puzzle of varying levels of difficulty. Once you solve the puzzle, use the comments link at the bottom to let me know how much time you took to solve it. Have fun!

Note. Puzzles posted here only have one solution, unless mentioned otherwise.

free-1 Skype USB phone (from IPEVO)

I just bought the free-1 Skype USB phone (from IPEVO). This is one of the coolest USB phones I have ever seen. While it cost a little more than the rest of the USB Skype-enabled phones in the market, it looks much better. Best of all, the voice quality is crystal clear and works seamlessly with Skype (it is a Skype Certified phone). An added advantage is that it works on Mac OS X.

Hey, if you are using Skype as well, call me at weimenglee. :-)

Are you trying to find a cell phone company? The Internet can assist you in getting a pay as you go cell phone as well as find cheap cell phone plans, helping you get the best price around.

Unit Testing in Visual Studio 2005 Team System

Unit testing is one of the tasks that every programmer worth their salt needs to do. In this article I show you how to use the new Unit Testing feature of Visual Studio 2005 Team System to auto-generate the code needed to test your application.

Data Binding in Windows Forms 2.0 and An Overview of Windows Presentation Foundation

I have two articles published in CoDe Magazine in the Jan/Feb issue. They are:

Data Binding in Windows Forms 2.0
"Data binding is one of the common tasks that developers working with data have to perform. In Windows Forms 2.0, the new BindingNavigator and BindingSource objects can save you a lot of effort in data binding. This article will show how to perform tasks such as sorting and searching records using data binding. I will also show how to display master-detail relationships between tables using data binding in Windows Forms 2.0. "

An Overview of Windows Presentation Foundation
"These acronyms include WinFX, WinFS, WCF (Windows Communication Foundation; codenamed Indigo), and WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation; codenamed Avalon). In recent months there has been a lot of buzz going around WPF, which is one of the core components of WinFX. In this article, I will take you on a whirlwind tour of what WPF is and how you can start preparing for Vista by developing applications today using the available SDK. "

Review of Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart

Here is a nice review of my book - Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart, in ASP.NET Pro Magazine.

"ASP.NET 2.0: A Developer's Notebook" Updated for Final Release of Visual Studio 2005

I have recently updated my book - ASP.NET 2.0: A Developer's Notebook, to be compliant with the final release of Visual Studio 2005. While most of the code in the book will work without problem in Visual Studio 2005, I have taken this opportunity to fix some of the bugs in the book as well as update the few sections which contain code that break in the final release of Visual Studio 2005 (most notably the Client Callback Manager section). I hope this book will give you a quick overview of the new features in ASP.NET 2.0 and get you jumpstarted on new projects.

Looking for Sudoku puzzles testers

I am currently looking for testers of my Sudoku puzzles. As part of my new book, I am showing readers how to generate Sudoku puzzles of varying levels of difficulties, using a computer. I wanted to get readers feedback on how difficult my puzzles are, and whether they really fit in to the level of difficulty they are categorized in.

Beta testers will need to do the following:

1. Solve 3 puzzles for each level. There are total 4 levels - Easy, Medium, Difficult, Very Difficult.
2. Rate the level of difficulties for each puzzle.
3. Provide additional feedback (optional).

While I won't be able to offer financial incentives for being a beta-tester, what I can promise is lots of fun (if you are a Sudoku addict) and a complimentary copy of my book when it is published.

If you are interested, send me an email at wei_meng_lee@hotmail.com and I will get back to you. Thanks and have a nice holiday!

Programming Sudoku (Technology in Action)

I have been slow in updating my blog recently as I have busy working on my latest book - Programming Sudoku.

Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

"Sudoku is the wildly popular new puzzle game. Sudoku puzzles are 9x9 grids, and each square in the grid consists of a 3x3 subgrid called a region. Your goal is to fill in the squares so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. And some squares already contain numbers or symbols, which lend clues toward the solution.

Programming Sudoku provides you with great approaches to building and solving Sudoku and other similar puzzles. Using ingenious artificial intelligence and game theory techniques, you'll learn how to get a computer to solve these puzzles for you.
This is a fun, intriguing read whether you're a novice or advanced programmer. It acknowledges the.NET platform as a base, but you'll find this book interesting whatever your programming background. The core techniques in the book enable you to solve Sudoku on any programming platform."

This book will show you how to solve Sudoku puzzles programatically as well as generate puzzles of varying levels of difficulties. It would be a fun read for both Sudoku beginners and Sudoku addicts. Even if you don't want a computer to solve your Sudoku puzzles, the techniques described in this book will help you to solve Sudoku puzzles in a systematic way.

Take the Pain Out of Deployments with ClickOnce

Deploying Windows applications in the age of client-server computing has never been easy. But smart client architecture offers a revolution that makes deployments and maintenance stress-free. Find out how to use the ClickOnce technology to turn your clients into smart clients.

What Is Virtualization

Virtualization lets you have multiple "virtual machines," each with its own operating system running in a sandbox, shielded from each other, all in one physical machine. But why would you want to do this? Wei-Meng Lee explains, and takes you on a tour of some of the most popular virtualization software available: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, VMware Workstation 5.0, and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Check out the article.

Check out Gadgets for Geeks

If you are a gadget freak, you have to check out the new Gadgets For Geeks blog - http://gadgetsforgeeks.blogspot.com/. Edited by yours sincerely, Gadgets For Geeks is an online publication targeted at geeks, by geeks. Check it out today and let me know what you think!

VP-820-L NEXPHONE Homephone Adapter

Rather than buying a Skype phone at the moment, I opted for a VoIP gateway instead. And so today I got the VP-820-L NEXPHONE Homephone Adapter. It is a slim device and plugs directly into my computer via USB. One phone jack plugs into the PSTN line while the others connect to my regular phone. The beauty of this device is that I can continue to use my regular phone for Skype calls as well as regular PSTN calls. And if I want, I can even plug in my cordless phone for making Skype calls. Of course, you won't have Skype integration into the handset, much like the Linksys phone. But for now, I have no complaints.

The ideal Skype handset – The Linksys CIT200 Cordless Internet Telephony Kit

The Linksys CIT200 Cordless Internet Telephony Kit is a cordless handset that works seamlessly with Skype on your computer.

Here are its advertised features:

* You don't have to sit in front of your computer to talk to your friends with Skype™

* USB Base Station connects to your PC and puts your Skype contact list on the handset's screen -- just choose and talk

* Handset features illuminated Caller ID screen, speakerphone, call waiting, and intercom to other (optional) handsets

* Also supports SkypeOut™ dialing and incoming SkypeIn™ calls

Check it out at: http://www1.linksys.com/international/product.asp?coid=52&ipid=821

I am going to get one if I find one locally!

Karen's VS Blog: Q&A With MVP Wei-Meng Lee

Recently I had an interesting Q&A with Karen Watterson, editor for Visual Studio Developer. Karen asked some interesting questions that bring back fond memories of the past. You can read my answers to these questions at: Karen's VS Blog: Q&A With MVP Wei-Meng Lee.

Be sure to also check out the Karen's:

• VS Blog
• SQL Blog

My new toy!

I just got a new toy - the i-Mate JasJar! It's the world's first Windows Mobile 5.0 3G-enabled GSM/GPRS mini-laptop with Wi-Fi. Everything you want on a Pocket PC, it has it! Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, SD slot, VGA screen, rotatable screen, landscape and portrait modes, phone capability, built in cameras (2, one on the back and one at the front of the screen for video conferencing), illuminated keyboard....basically it has all the right stuff in the right place!

Application Settings in Windows Forms 2.0

Thanks to the new Application Settings in Windows Forms 2.0, it's a lot easier to persist both user and application settings. In this article, I will show you how.

What's New in Windows Mobile 5.0?

Microsoft recently released the latest version of the Windows Mobile platform, Windows Mobile 5.0. What's cool and new? This article gives you the rundown of the best new features.

And if you are in the market for a good Windows Mobile 5.0, the Dell Axim x51V seems like a good buy!

O'Reilly Book Covers

If you are always facinated with the animals on O'Reilly book covers, wait till you check out this list of spoof covers.

And if you are really curious about why a particular animal is chosen for a title, you got to read this: Animal Magnetism: Making O'Reilly Animals.

New language on the block - KPL (Kids Programming Language)

From TechWeb:

"Microsoft has signed on to promote a new programming language intended to replace BASIC as the first step students take towards learning how to code. The Kid's Programming Language, or KPL, was developed under the direction of Jonah Stagner, and his colleagues, ex-Microsoft program manager Jon Schwartz and former NCR engineer Walt Morrison. The three run the software consultancy Morrison-Schwartz Inc. "

You can download KPL from: http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com/download.htm

Here is a screenshot of the KPL IDE:

One cool feature is that you can directly translate KPL code into C# and VB.NET, making KPL a very good language for getting kids started on programming and then eventually moving into .NET programming using C# or VB.NET:

Sample projects for Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart (O'Reilly)

Some readers wrote in and asked if the code samples for my Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart is available for download. Yes, it is now available at this O'Reilly site (click on the Examples link). The two sample projects include a Windows application called LibraryApp that allows you to keep track of your libary of books. It connects to Amazon.com web service and pulls information down to your computer. Hey, if you connect a barcode scanner to your computer, this app can actually automatically build your own library system, complete with book covers and detailed book information. Way cool!

The second app shows how to build a simple shopping cart application using the new features in ASP.NET 2.0. Shows quite a number of features - Master pages, Profile services, etc.

Check them out (even if you don't have the book)!

Avalon series at DevX.com

Tim Sneath, Windows Vista Technical Evangelist at Microsoft, blogged about the series of Avalon articles that I have written for DevX.com.

Here is the list:

Be an Avalon Test Pilot and Build the Windows UIs of Tomorrow
Avalon, the nascent framework for building next-generation user interfaces in Windows Vista, is available now in beta, but you don't have to wait for Vista (a.k.a. Longhorn) to get started. We unpacked it early in order to give you a jump start on building the UIs of tomorrow.

Learn Navigation in "Avalon"—the Windows Presentation Foundation
Windows Presentation Foundation, the nascent framework for building next-generation user interfaces in Windows Vista, is available now in beta, but you don't have to wait for Vista to get started. In this second article in the series, we show you how to use the new navigation model.

Create Data-Aware Applications in "Avalon"—the Windows Presentation Foundation
In WPF you can bind UI elements to a wide variety of data sources, including XML data, Web services, as well as databases. Learn how data-binding works in the Windows Presentation Foundation with this sample project using an XML data source.

Globalize and Localize Your "Avalon" Applications Using LocBaml
You already know that internationalizing your applications can propel you into new markets. But did you know that the Windows Presentation Framework can make it easier than ever to do? Learn how to write culture-aware WPF applications using this example.

Thanks, Tim!

Globalize and Localize Your "Avalon" Applications Using LocBaml

You already know that internationalizing your applications can propel you into new markets. But did you know that the Windows Presentation Framework can make it easier than ever to do? Learn how to write culture-aware WPF applications using this example.

Enhancing Skype

If you're a Skype fan, you know it can be used to make internet phonecalls. But did you know about all the cool tools you can use to enhance it? Checkout my latest article on WindowsDevCenter.com.

What is ASP.NET?

If you are new to ASP.NET, you might want to take a look at a recent article I wrote for O'Reilly Network. Here is the scoop:

What Is ASP.NET by Wei-Meng Lee -- Part of the .NET Framework, ASP.NET allows developers to build dynamic web apps and web services using compiled languages like VB.NET and C#. Wei-Meng Lee provides a look under the ASP.NET hood, describing how it works, its improved support in areas like state management and tracing and debugging, and important new features in version 2.0.

MVP Summit 2005

I will be attending the Microsoft Global MVP Summit at Redmond from 28th Sep to 1st Oct 2005. If you are also attending, I would be happy to meet up with you and perhaps we can have a chat over coffee. See you!

Writing A Custom Membership Provider for your ASP.NET 2.0 Web Site

If you have an ASP.NET Web site that stores any registration or log in information for your users, you probably know that the Membership provider in ASP.NET 2.0 uses a SQL Server Express 2005 database. But what if you want to use something else? This article will show you to use your own data source for storing membership information.

Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart Published!

I just received my advance copy of the Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart today; looks very good and feels great!. This is a book that I spent a good five-month working on, rewriting a couple of times to ensure that it is not only useful to beginning VB programmers, but more importantly it should be a effective jumpstart for VB6 programmers. I had the honor of working with Jay Roxe (Product Manager of Visual Basic at Microsoft), who provided a lot of feedbacks and advice for the book. If you are new to Visual Basic and want to work on the .NET platform, give it a look and let me know what you think of it.

Thanks to the various technical reviewers and advisors - Robert Green (formerly Visual Basic team at Microsoft), Jeff Barr (Amazon.com), Paul Yuknewicz (Microsoft), and Joseph Binder (Microsoft).

The new iPod nano

Apple has just released the incredibly small and pencil-thin iPod nano. With a 1.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight and weighing a mere 1.5 ounces, the new iPod nano comes in two versions - 2GB (US$199) and 4GB(US$249). There are also two colors to choose from - White and Black. Enough said, check it out yourself!