So I'm at Mix06 ...

After a long journey from Brussels over Atlanta to Las Vegas, and on the day that Team Foundation Server RTM'd, we (Gerd, Hans & I) finally arrived in The Venetian in Las Vegas. The good thing on traveling for almost 24 hours is that I managed to clean up my Inbox. It's been a long time that I managed to get through all my mails. Still have some tasks scheduled in my 2007 Office system To-Do Bar. But I will take care of those on the return flights.

So last night I arrived at the Venetian for Mix06, a new event focused on the web for developers, designers and business decision makers of leading consumer web sites.

At MIX the attendees will learn how the next versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Windows Vista, due later this year, are going to dramatically improve your customers' experience. Microsoft is delivering a wide range of web development technologies that will help you to unlock new revenue opportunities and lower development costs.

• Be the first to get the latest preview build of IE7
• Work with the members of the Internet Explorer team in the Compatibility Lab to get your site ready for IE7
• Test drive "Atlas," Microsoft's powerful new framework for building cross–browser, cross–platform AJAX applications
• Explore Windows Live! , Microsoft's new consumer services strategy
• Learn how to deliver revolutionary, media–rich Web content with the new Windows Presentation Foundation. Find out how to extend your content, media and services into the living room with "Windows Media Center and Xbox 360™
• More than 50 separate sessions and discussions for Web developers, designers and business professionals

Attendees can also explore Labs and product tours in “The Sandbox”, which include topics such as “Atlas”, Gadgets, Messenger, 2007 Office System, WinFX, an IE7 Compatibility Lab, as well as tours of Vista, MCE, Windows Mobile, and Ultra-Mobile PCs. In addition, MIX has been closely working on this with MSN.

Talking about MSN: earlier this week I had an interesting chat with Kris Hoet, Consumer Marketing Manager at Microsoft Belux. Kris, soon taking up a new challenge as Consumer Marketing Manager for the EMEA region, who's really diving in the consumer platform opportunities told me some interesting facts on how Windows Live sees evolving the gadgets, those mini-apps that engage with customers; where they will run and why they are valuable. Furthermore he also touched briefly on MSN Search, MSN Alerts, Windows Desktop Search Extensibility for Partners, the MSN Messenger Activity API, Virtual Earth/Windows Live Local and MSN Spaces. Interesting stuff which also affects a lot of developers. But more on that later!

See you at Mix.

tag: Mix06