Microsoft has released the Vista UX Guidelines in pdf format, for those of you that want it on the go (or want an easy way to print it). 

The big question I have is... why not xps? Is Microsoft's own format not good enough for them?

Microsoft has made improvements on SyncToy and released the beta for public consumption. Like the name suggests, SyncToy lets you keep your files syncronized between folders and computers.

Here are the new features for the 2.0 beta release:

Dynamic Drive Letter Assignment: Drive letter reassignment will now be detected and updated in the folder pair definition.

True Folder Sync: Folder creates, renames and deletes are now synchronized for all SyncToy actions.

Exclusion Filtering Based on Name: File exclusion based on name with exact or fuzzy matching.

Filtering Based on File Attributes: The ability to exclude files based on one or more file attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden).

Unattended Folder Pair Execution: Addressed issues related to running scheduled folder pairs while logged off.

Folder Pairs With Shared Endpoints: Ability for folder pairs associated with the same or different instances of SyncToy to share end-points.

Command line enhancements: Added the ability to manage folder pairs via the command line interface.

The SyncToy engine has been rearchitected to provide scalability and the ability to add significant enhancements in future releases.

Sync engine is also more robust insomuch that many single, file level errors are skipped without affecting the entire sync operation.

Sync Encrypted Files: Sync of Encrypted files works when local folder and files are encrypted, which addresses the common scenario involving sync between local, encrypted laptop PC folder and remote, unencrypted desktop PC folder.

64-Bit compatibility

Folder pair rename

Sub-folder Exclusion Enhancements: Descendents creates under excluded sub-folders are automatically excluded.

Folder Pair Metadata Moved: Folder pair metadata removed from MyDocuments to resolve any issues with server-based folder pair re-direction setup.

Removed combine and subscribe actions.

I will be presenting on Continuous Integration & MSBuild at the SC Code Camp. This will be the first time I've presented at a Code Camp. In fact, it will be the second time I've done a technical presentation. The first was the past Tuesday in Florence. This has been quite a big step for me.

The odd thing is that I'm in the "Smart Client" track. I guess they ran out of room in  "Tools and Framework." My presentation will be during Session 5, 2:35 - 3:40. If you make it, be sure to say hi.

If you're running Visual Studio 2005 on Windows XP, you probably aren't too satisfied with the default font. Courier New isn't exactly the easiest font on the eyes. However, options are limited due to the need for mono-spacing.

Microsoft made up for this by distributing Consolas with Vista, so I recommend switching to it. If you're on XP, you have a little bit of work to do.

First, make sure your ClearType font-smoothing is turned on. You can use the ClearType tuner here. Then, download and run Consolas Font Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.

Smashing Magazine has a great article called 10 Usability Nightmares You Should Be Aware Of.

The author goes over ten design faux pas you should avoid when designing your website. Many of them are horrible, yet I know I come across them all the time.

1. Hidden log-in link.
2. Pop-ups for content presentation.
3. Dragging instead of vertical navigation.
4. Invisible links.
5. Visual noise.
6. Dead end.
7. Content blocks layering upon each other.
8. Dynamic navigation.
9. Drop-Down Menus.
10. Blinking images.

There is a list of things you should do at the end of the article:

1. You don’t use pop-ups.
2. You don’t change users’ window size.
3. You don’t use too small font sizes.
4. You don’t have unclear link text.
5. You don’t have dead links.
6. You have at most one animation per page.
7. You make it easy to contact you.
8. Your links open in the same window.

I disagree with the last one. I think it is perfectly okay to open external links in a new window, although I would agree with that point for internal links. In the era of tabbed browsing, using new windows (tabs) for external links makes it easier for users to return to the site at the point they were reading.

Add another weapon to your Kodefu arsenal. Jospeh Albahari has released LINQPad, the easy way to LINQ!

Can't wait for C# 3.0 and LINQ? Well you don't have to! Dynamically query SQL databases today in LINQ: no more struggling with antiquated SQL. Download LINQPad and kiss goodbye to SQL Management Studio: LINQPad supports LINQ to objects, LINQ to SQL and LINQ to XML—in fact, everything in C# 3.0 and .NET Framework 3.5. LINQPad is also a terrific learning tool for experimenting with this exciting new technology.

It does require an installation of .NET 3.5 beta 2, but at least you don't have to install the full Visual Studio 2008 to start using LINQ. If you really want to build your chops, Joseph's issued the LINQPad Challenge.

If you think that you understand LINQ—or would like to—then I invite you to take the LINQPad challenge. The rules are simple:

1. Locate the shortcut for SQL Management Studio on your Start Menu and move it some place else.
2. In its place, insert a shortcut to LINQPad.
3. For the next week, perform all your ad-hoc SQL queries using only LINQPad.

At the end of the week, you will actually think in LINQ, rather than thinking in SQL and translating to LINQ. (LINQPad also allows old-fashioned SQL queries for tasks are genuinely impossible or clumsy in LINQ. You'll feel an unpleasant sense of failure, though, should you cheat and use this feature frivolously :)

This is a great way to stay ahead of the curve. Begin your training today!