Two, very powerful conferences overlapped this week and I'm still processing information that I learned and how elements can be tied together.
Mix + MEDC
First, I would have loved for Mix and MEDC to be combined into one conference. The Mix keynote described how a continuous story is finally being built from PCs to devices and how the Internet spans both - the world are no longer separate. That said, there is nothing wrong with an industry specific event like MEDC, but the foresight of Mix was exactly what the MEDC attendees needed to hear and the details of MEDC was exactly what Mix attendees needed. I expect that TechEd and PDC will benefit from Mix + MEDC 07 overlap.
Silverlight for average folks
The second thing that stuck me is that the potential of Silverlight is amazing. As a website dabbler and non-programmer, I need to learn more about how to use Expression and Blend to create Silverlight experiences. Loren told me that he'd hold a little workshop to help me start at the very beginning. I can write HTML, follow patterns in php, a little Javascript, create a little Flash, etc. and he says that he thinks I can pick up on the C# needed for Silverlight relatively quickly. How about a tool to enable beginners? None for now. But for now I have so many questions, like is text in Silverlight search engine searchable? Loren?
Streaming conversations and sessions
Did you see our UStream broadcasts of the keynote and sessions? Itty bitty pictures, low sound quality, but it was a worthwhile experiment. Similarly to the Stickam recordings at CES, We used a Samsung Q1P Ultra-Mobile PC running Windows Vista, Microsoft Lifecam NX-6000 with mic, and Loren's UStream account. Any time the camera is bouncing around during a session, it was probably me holding the Q1. I don't sit still very well :)
I'm sure we'll use it again, but with a modified approach. Mainly, we'll use an external mic. The audio quality is notably horrible. At least we expected that.
Continuous wifi
We wanted to wander the halls with the camera and Q1, but we quickly found that though the wifi was reliable, it was reliable for sedentary use only. Once we started moving around we would find gaps in the wireless and lose connection. EVDO on the Toshiba M400 didn't help much either, as that service was even slower and also had gaps.
I think that continuous wifi coverage will be something that is expected at conferences within this next year's time. It's good now, but on-the-go requires a little different set-up.
Getting the most out of a battery
Several people walked up to me and asked, "You're the person who was recording the keynote, right?" Yep, I was one of many. What these people really wanted to know was how the Ultra-Mobile PC handled the day.
Day 1 - All day use. The Q1P switched off of AC power and onto battery at 7:30am. By 20 minutes into the keynote, we switched off the M400 and connected the webcamera to the Q1P UMPC with extended battery. After the keynote, it went over the Sandbox, where it continued to run on battery. It was in my bag hibernating for a while, but because it was in a carry case with keyboard I ended up just leaving it on the table until 4pm. The battery warning did come on around 4pm, so I plugged it into a power adapter for about 20 minutes, then took it around the room to record some conversations. Then, I switched to a fully-charged standard battery. All in all, the little UMPC ran until fairly late into the evening before it was plugged into an outlet again. By far, the Q1P has been the best performing conference PC that I've used.
I kept wireless on, audio on, had IE 7 open with a few tabs, turned off Messenger and other apps that I wasn't running, popped in and out of OneNote several times. Had Origami Experience open. Yes, it was a minimal use, but the 2 batteries kept me going as long as I needed them to.
Ever shrinking computers
"Oooh," was a common exclamation from MEDC audience at talks involving UMPCs, UPPCs, Tablet PCs, and other small form factor PCs. MEDC attendees got a glimpse of how they can take advantage of larger screen realestate of small computers like UMPCs and WPF and Silverlight can add a layer of cool factor. Though they were engrossed in the software technology, the gadget show-and-tells helped reinforce that usefulness can come in small packages.
I do wonder as diversity increases, which designs will win-out. Which hardware platforms will prevail? Professional designs like the OQO Model 2 made the biggest impressions and questions about the HTC Shift were numerous, but people also had consumers on their mind. Good. Consumers are critical to the success of today's technology - it isn't just enterprise.
Hallway conversations
Talking with speakers and attendees inbetween sessions is the best part of a conference. Learning about what Dr. Neil Roodyn is up to, visiting with Robert Scoble on the way to the airport, running into Josh Bancroft from Intel in the hallway, learning from Rob Zelt or Paul Mooney what they thought about the last attended session while visiting in the blogger room, or a nice poolside chat at an evening MEDC event. Opportunities for impromptu conversations are all around and my favorite part about a conference.

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What Is New in Tablet PCs and UMPCs.

It was great to bump into you, and to meet you, Lora! I'm sorry I didn't make it to dinner - I was working on some stuff in my room, and I actually crashed out and fell asleep in my chair.

But I did get to chat for a few minutes with Frank and Dr. Neil when I went to their sessions on Thursday, so that was good.

I'll tell you the same thing I told them:

Hypothetically, if you could do anything you want with the site/domain UMPC.com (e.g., turn it into any kind of community or resource you could imagine), what would you do?

Let me know if you have any ideas. There just might be an opportunity to do something cool there.

See you next time!

Some ideas, Josh: What Is New : Interactive Design & UMPCs I have plenty more, but this is a start :)

__________________
-- Lora Heiny

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