The Salty Korean

As of March 1st, 2008 Microsoft will force you to use the new way to access your MSDN subscription.  This is terrific news!  Since I have 3 people access MSDN from remote locations (out of my 5 user license), we’ve all had to sign into MSDN from a common Live id.  Microsoft is now requiring you to setup in the Partner management website 3 different technical contacts.  Once you setup those 3 different technical contacts (https://partners.microsoft.com/PartnerProgram/ManagePeople.aspx?tab=8) they can then associate their Live id with their MSDN account.

This is great news because I would always have to sign out, then sign into the common MSDN user account in order to access subscription benefits.

So the question is, what do I do when I need to add 2 more people to access MSDN, which is part of my Partner MSDN 5 license benefits?  When or if I find out, I’ll try and let you know.  Perhaps one of you can help enlighten me.

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Participate in Live, Virtual, or Hosted Events

I received this today via e-mail.  You will eventually be able to watch the keynote and other speakers at the official west coast launch.  The Silverlight app is definitely more feature rich than many of the other Silverlight websites I’ve seen so far.  It’s extremely interesting that you can create a “backpack” of videos.

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MSN and CareerBuilder released an article titled “Where the Jobs Are: Top Jobs in 10 Industries”.  I found it interesting that Information Technology was the first industry listed.  Below are the top 5 jobs listed for IT.  I also found it interesting that the growth for “computer applications software engineers” was a whopping 45% by 2016, a mere 8 years from now.  That’s 5% per year.  So what exactly is a computer applications software engineer?  I’m guessing that it’s a software developer / programmer for the desktop (non web based programming).  But that is only because they used the word “application”.  As we all know, who are in the industry, applications are a mix of desktop and web technologies now, but I’m guessing they don’t know that.  I can only guess they are referring to system drivers and other hardware interfacing software when they listed “Computer systems software engineers” but who knows …  I definitely like the listed salaries, it’s gone up from the $55-65k, I remember seeing 5-8 years ago.

1. Network systems and data communications analysts
Projected growth by 2016: 53 percent
Median annual salary: $64,600*

2. Computer applications software engineers
Projected growth by 2016: 45 percent
Median annual salary: $79,780

3. Database administrators
Projected growth by 2016: 29 percent
Median annual salary: $64,670

4. Computer systems software engineers
Projected growth by 2016: 28 percent
Median annual salary: $85,370

5. Network and computer systems administrators
Projected growth by 2016: 27 percent
Median annual salary: $62,130

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I received an e-mail (copied below) about Microsoft ending the paid referrals to new subscribers of adCenter.  I find this extremely perplexing because of Google’s dominance in this area, plus Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo!.  The number one reason for Microsoft to buy Yahoo! is so it can merge the two online advertising programs.

So why kill the one program that helps encourage people to use their online advertising?  At least this program encouraged me to list it and recommend it, whereas I never would have before.  Perhaps some of can shed some light on the subject.  Note that they are still paying for subscribers to their toolbar and virus service, two services that I will not be referring to any customers.

adCenter Affiliate Program to Close February 29, 2008
Thank you for your participation in the adCenter Affiliate program. Unfortunately, the adCenter offer will no longer be available after February 29th, 2008.

Any banner or text ads that you currently have placed and are receiving traffic will still be eligible for payout through February 29th. However, any traffic after this date will no longer be eligible for the coupon or commission payout. As of today, February 20th, no new marketing material will be available to current affiliates and new affiliates will not be able to sign up for the offer.

Final commission payout for any activity through the end of February will be processed and paid out in the month of March as usual. Please be sure to remove all marketing materials associated with this offer from placement by February 29th as you will no longer receive credit for this activity.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but hope that you will take advantage of other offers available within the Microsoft Affiliate Network including Windows Live OneCare and Windows Live Toolbar. You can find more information about these programs by logging into the Affiliate Account Center and selecting Offers from the left-hand side navigation.         
Thank you for your participation in the Microsoft Affiliate Network. Please let us know if you have questions.

**
Melissa Witt**
Affiliate Manager
Microsoft Affiliate Network

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I live just miles from the Wal-Mart headquarters.  Half the people I know live and breathe Wal-Mart.  I sell software to the vendors that hawk their wares at Wally World.  So it’s not a surprise to me that Wal-Mart dealt the final destructive blow to HD-DVD and Toshiba.  Today Toshiba announced the disbandment of HD-DVD, marking a close to the format wars.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1627196120080216

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23186582/

An “I toldja so” may be in poor taste, but months ago I predicted how Wal-Mart’s BluRay section was a huge win for Sony and would eventually spell the death for HD-DVD.  (the blog post never got migrated from my old personal site)

The Reuters article above talks about hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.  With all my ties to Microsoft, I’m curious to know how this will impact them.  They had already talked about releasing compatibility with BluRay later this year, but from my understanding their investment with HD-DVD technology was extensive.  What kind of losses will it generate for them?

This just goes to show how impactful Wal-Mart can be on technology.

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