If you’re an enterprise database developer who’s not on the Microsoft side of things, or if you’re considering a change of platform chances are you’re using/thinking a healthy combination of Oracle & Java. If that’s the case you’d be glad to learn that Oracle will be holding 3 developer days in 3 Middle Eastern cities this month.

The focus of the ODDs (Oracle Developer Day) will be Simplifying Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and J2EE development. The ODDs will be held on and in:

• Riyadh on the 27th of March 2006 at the Sheraton Hotel [Register]
• Jeddah on the 28th of March 2006 at the Crowne Plaza [Register]
• Amman on the 29th of March 2006 at the Grand Hyatt [Register]

So go ahead register immediately and mark your calendar. Space for the presentations and sessions is limited. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

We’ll see you there.

During the past week, I saw the blogosphere freak out as everyone held their breath for one of the most awaited annual events to occur- the Apple Special Event, presented by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. iRumors spread like fire (my favorite being the Mac Tablet iPod Video rumor, check out this video of how the fake was made), and even got a few seats here on Tech#, and speculations as to what Apple would unviel was discussed all around.

Now, the hour finally came, and I, a PC user, sat glued to my seat and completely preplexed, and read every single word that was blogged live until the Apple Special Event was concluded.

So what was in Jobs and Co’s magic pockets at their Apple ‘Fun’ Special Event 2006? Just to recap:

• Intel Mac Mini. The base model features an Intel Core Solo CPU — a single-processor, single-core CPU, but they are also introducing a Mac mini that features Intel’s Core Duo processor — the same kind of CPU that powers the iMac and MacBook Pro. The redesigned Mac mini features gigabit Ethernet, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, analog and SPDIF audio outputs and more. It is 2.5x - 3.2x faster than the original Mac mini.
  The new Mac mini also features Front Row, an application that makes it possible to view movies, listen to audio, watch music videos and more from your Mac, in full-screen, using an infrared remote control from across the room, making it a better home entertainment integration system.
• iTunes: One Billionth Download. Jobs recapped a recent event of import to Apple’s iTunes Music Store: The sale and download of its billionth song, “Ok, a billion sold, so we beat McDonald’s.”
• iPod Leather Cases. Apple is introducing $99 leather cases for the fifth-generation “video” iPod and ipod nano. Made of fine Italian leather, they incorporate a clever black ribbon that makes getting your iPod out a breeze.
  
• iPod Hi-Fi: Home Stereo. Reinvented. A three-driver system in one unit featuring an iPod dock on top. An auxiliary input rests in the back of the iPod Hi-Fi if you have an iPod shuffle. The device also ships with inserts designed to accommodate virtually all of Apple’s dockable iPod models.The speaker system includes two 80 millimeter (mm) mid-range drivers with a sealed acoustic suspension and a 130mm dual voice coil woofer featuring a ported bass reflex design, inside a sealed resin enclosure.
  The iPod Hi-Fi goes on sale today for $349.

Could this be today’s super secret announcement? We bought a data center to faciliatate full movie downloads for the iPod? Maybe! Here’s the news:

Ever-expanding Apple Computer Inc. has acquired an impressively equipped but never-used data center in Newark for an estimated $45 million to $50 million. The 107,000-square-foot facility, originally conceived for communications company MCI WorldCom before getting mothballed after its 2001 completion, is along Eureka Drive on Newark’s western fringe.

Speculation is high, check out the What Would Jobs Do post on engadget. What do you think it’ll be.

With the 28th of February drawing near everyone is coming to their own conclusions about what Apple might be announcing at their Ultra Secretive Event. The folks at ThinkSecret think it’s a video iPod (Photo Above/Below (standard mockup/photoshop warning applies)).

On the other hand Apple Insider is expecting an intel based Mac Mini, an iPod Boombox Audio System (ThinkSecret agrees on this one), and a 13 inch wide screen intel iBook.
Other sources claim Apple will launch an iTunes movie store in which you’d be able to buy full length movies for your iPod; which doesn’t make sense unless the 3.5″ video ipod becomes a reality.

I can go on forever. I personally think Steve Jobs will first announce the billion iTunes song downloads.  Followed by announcing iTunes 7.0 and a Vongo like iTunes movie store, as well as the iPod video and Boombox. Donno about the rest. We’ll find out in 3 days.

I realize I’m a couple of days late, but my internet connection was down over the weekend. With that done let me start by saying I just love attending conferences. Especially when theres no registration fee. It’s such a break from the office and development routine. The whole idea behind EDC is to present new technologies to IT professionals in Jordan and the Middle East, and raise awareness of the latest products, programming techniques and SDKs available from Microsoft.

It happend that Microsoft was celebrating the launch of Visual Studio .Net 2005 and SQL Server 2005, at the same time EDC was held (from 20th to 22nd of Feb). Thats why all the sessions focused on the new technologies introduced by those products.

Following are some topics that I find interesting and rich in content:

• Windows Communication Foundation (previously known as Indigo).
• Windows Workflow Foundation (check www.windowsworkflow.net)
• And BizTalk 2006, which is a really easy to use application when it comes to implementation.

Coding is getting less everyday; and I can hear some of you complaining. Some people actually discussed this with the speakers, claiming that this will make the developers lazy. And the response was, which I agree with, that it won’t make developers lazy, it will actually increase developers productivity and help them focus on core business logic.

Why would anyone think this would make us lazy? Will increasing productivity and decreasing development time lead to having resources with no work? I don’t think so!

Anyway, I want to add a short brief on the Windows Workflow Foundation SDK, BETA 2 is out, all you have to do is download it and you should have the WinFX installed, if you download the WinFX now you’ll find that the SDK is already included in it. What can you do with this SDK? Well, the concept of workflow systems has really changed, now it is using the Magical Drag and Drop! You define your states, activities, activities handlers, the flow between states, all from a toolbox, then you edit the code by switching to code view, and here you go, you have a Workflow System.

But of course, you must have Visual Studio .Net 2005, which you will install the SDK on :).

For info on how to get the EDC CD check:
Jordev
Related Posts:
Microsoft EDC 2006 in Amman

Yes, seriously!The folks at Mix06 are having a contest and they’re literally asking those who are “dialed to the style” and “poetic with the aesthetic” to remix the MIX home page using the CSS building blocks that they’re providing.

I’m digging how they’re marketing the whole deal in such a hip way.

So, yeah, what’s in it for you? Actually, the prizes are awesome, including a ticket to the MIX conference (in Vegas, baby!) and a one-of-a-kind, MIX-themed, Xbox 360. Almost everyone can participate (with some exceptions), but the final submission date is 16th of March so hurry up and strut your mixing tools.

Wouldn’t be awesome if the 06’s CSS DJ was Arab? Submitting a design is easy, just visit this link.

For inspiration, I recommend you check out mezzoblue’s CSS Zen Garden.
Some designs have already been submitted, like the ones below:

Sumbit your design now!

[Via]

Apple announced it will hold a special event Tuesday, February 28
to show off some “fun new products”. Many think it will be the anxiously awaited video iPod which reportedly will sport a 3.5″ inch screen that will take up the entire front side of the device. The digital click wheel we’ve all grown accustomed to use will be overlaid on the touch-sensitive screen. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of watching movies through fingerprint stains.

On the other hand some people think Apple will showcase a new iMac / Macbook Pro based on Solo core processors now that the later has finally shipped *envious look*. Or perhaps the 17″ Macbook Pro due in June.

read more

Microsoft will be hosting EDC 2006 at Zara Expro from Monday 20th till Wednesday 22nd. The panel of speakers includes Jordan’s Minister of ICT, Aramex’s CTO, and a bunch of well known and estalbished evangelists and consultants such as Clemens Vasters.

I’m hoping this year’s Q&A will be more intelligent than last years. How to get a job at Microsoft isn’t the kind of question you’re expected to ask. I’m also hoping they won’t be giving out xboxes again. XBox is cool, but not beneficial for a development. An MSDN universal subscription sounds appealing.

Attending is free I presume. Linux zealots are welcome Register Here