As you know, I work with a number of companies who are adopting WCF, WF, and Infocard.  Up until this past week, the names of the customers has been a well guarded secret.

With WinHec just passed, TechEd coming up in a few weeks, and launch not too far off on the horizon, the names of these customers and their projects are now starting to be revealed.

Last week at WinHEC, Ami Vora spoke to PressPass about a project at one of my customers, Tyco.

Yesterday, I blogged that one of my other customers, Leslie Muller from Credit Suisse will be doing a must-see chalk talk at TechEd 06 in Boston.

Today, we launch a new site, http://www.seewindowsvista.com, to highlight some companies that are using WCF, WF, and WPF on the client. Check it out to hear about one of my other customers, Dollar Thrifty Auto Group.  They're listed under “Managing the Big Picture.”  They're using both WCF and WF in a number of areas, and we'll be following up soon with a whitepaper on the use of WF in the UI, with specific references to their project.

If you only go to one Chalk Talk at TechEd this year, check out this one. 

Anyone who's worked in a large Enterprise is familiar with the challenges of getting new machines provisioned and available in a reasonable amount of time. Typically the wait is days/weeks/months. Credit Suisse has solved this problem, and Leslie Muller will be discussing the Virtual Machine Provisioning System that was built and deployed  earlier this year using WF, WCF, Virtual Server, ASP.NET, and AzMan.

I've had the privilege of being involved in this project, and I think this session will be great in a couple of respects. It's an opportunity to go beyond the samples and the case studies and listen to an Architect at a Fortune 50 customer who's developed and deployed WinFX successfully. It's also a great opportunity to connect with Leslie, who is a thought leader and is doing some very interesting, very impactful work that transcends verticals.

Full abstract and location details below: 

Abstract: Credit Suisse Group is a leading global financial services company, providing clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services worldwide. Like in most enterprises, Credit Suisse provided their developers with physical machines for development. Issues such as combination of authorization, physical delivery times and compliance-related workflows led to slow development timeframes. Their R&D group built an extremely extensible self-service virtual-machine provisioning system that enables software developers in a fraction of the time to easily, securely and rapidly provision on-demand disposable workstations, servers, and multi-tier environments. Credit Suisse will exponentially increase software developer productivity, drastically lower IT costs and ensure compliancy with continuously stringent regulatory requirements. The solution uses Windows Workflow Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, and Virtual Server.

Speaker: Leslie Muller (Architect - Credit Suisse Global R&D)

Location: TechEd Boston, Thursday 6/15/2006 from 10:15-11:30 in Theatre 2.

The title of this blog is “Living in a World of Connected Systems“. It does not say “Living in a World of Connected Systems Written Exclusively on the Microsoft Platform“.  Why?

First, the title would go from long to annoyingly long. More importantly, if you're in the Enterprise space you know it's a heterogenous environment.  If you've seen me speak, I talk more about how to interop with what you've got and explicitly don't preach 'rip and replace' your existing stacks.

Several of the companies I work with have ,at one point or another, made some investments in Java. When we chat about architecture, number one on their list of topics to discuss is interop.

If you're doing work in both .NET and Java today, and you want to do more interop - there's a video clip I want you to check out.

 Watch this video from the JavaOne 2006 keynote here.  (Annoyingly, you'll need RealPlayer, find that here).

The video shows WCF/Java interop, with Sun showcasing what was called Project Tango (aka Web Services Interoperability Toolkit), which in their words is described as

“Web Services Interoperability Technology (WSIT) is an open-source implementation of next generation Web services technologies that deliver interoperability between Java EE and .Net to help you build, deploy, and maintain Composite Applications for your Service Oriented Architecture. Built upon JAX-WS (Java API for XML Web Services), this implementation will be made available as the "Web Services Interoperability Technology (WSIT)" and is focused on four main categories: Messaging, Metadata, Security, and Quality-of-Service (QoS). “

Nigel Watling, one of the co-authors of “Windows Communication Foundation: Hands On!” has just published a video on Infocard over at Channel 9.

In the video, Nigel leads an in depth discussion of how InfoCard works, how it's designed (and why) and how it will evolve in the future with InfoCard chief Architect Arun Nanda and Software Developer Ruchi Bhargava

Check it out here.

So now that you've got the new bits, the next question is - “What's changed?”

The list of breaking changes for WCF and Infocard have been posted here.

You can now get Windows Vista Beta 2 and a new drop of WinFx (Beta 2/RC0).

This version of WinFX has a new Go Live license attached (the first since January). There's enough new since January that you'll want to make the jump to the May bits.

If you want to use Infocard, this is also the drop for you. This is the first broadly available build that has Infocard bits that work with IE7.

Find both Vista and WinFX  here.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/downloads/products/getthebeta/default.aspx#developWinFXApps

If you're an architect or an aspiring architect, you'll want to check out skyscrapr.  The site just launched today, and it definately fills a need.

Here's the scoop from the home page.

Skyscrapr is your window on the architectural perspective. Discover the different disciplines of system architecture, as well as perspectives on building successful systems. Check out our architects' blogs, learn about industry trends, download webcasts, watch videos, find training, and more.

	Solution Architecture Solution Architects decide which technologies to use. They work very closely with developers to ensure proper implementation. They are the link between the needs of the organization and the developers.
	Infrastructure Architecture The Infrastructure Architect finds the pragmatic solutions to the requirements of the organization as presented by the Strategic architect. They like to make things work. They know robust and secure systems keep everything running smoothly.
	Strategic Architecture Enterprise Architects create the master blueprint that guides their organization’s business and IT systems. They have the vision and long-term perspective that gives an organization direction.
	Industry Architecture Industry Architects focus on the cutting edge of technology in their industry. Whatever the business imperatives may be, Industry architects develop the vision and the roadmap to get there.

While I'm very good about posting the WF webcasts I'm doing, Paul Andrew keeps his list up to date with everyone's WF presentations.

He's got a good list going, check it out here -

http://blogs.msdn.com/pandrew/articles/460630.aspx

Because of what's possible to do with Infocard in the Feb CTP bits, I know that only a subset of my readers have used InfoCard up to this point, but as the folks who got an interim build of Infocard at the Mix06 conference can tell you, Infocard = goodness.

I expect people will start experimenting with Infocard with the next community release of WinFX.  In anticipation of that release becoming available, I wanted to make sure people had a single place to find the content currently available, such that you can be ready to hit the bits running.

Until my book comes out later in the year, this should help you get going.  Trust me when I tell you that this stuff is going to be the way we handle identity on the web. The Windows guys love it, the Linux guys love it, the Identity guys love it, and most importantly the Business folks love it. 

So, without further ado, this is my recommended syllabus to get prepped for Infocard:

First, get up to speed on the Laws of Identity and the Identity Metasystem.

From there, read David Chappell's whitepaper “Introducing Infocard“ which can be found here

If you want a little more background, you can read this other intro article or this article that goes a bit deeper.

Now if you're a visual person, and would like to see some videos, I'd recommend checking out my colleague Nigel Watling and Andy Harjanto's Channel 9 video here

Now you're ready to kick the tires and actually see this thing in action on your own machine.

You'll need the WinFX bits, which can be found here. Follow the directions in the section for developing WinFX applications.

NOTE: You'll need the post-February CTP bits to use Infocard in scenarios that involve a web browser (vs. services)

Check out Mike Jones article on using Infocard in a Web Browser, which can be found here. You can also check out Kim Camerons simple tutorial which you can find here.

Maybe now that you've used it, you're curious as to how the implementation of Infocard came to be. Check out Kim Cameron and Mike Jones' paper on Design Decisions here.

The folks at Ping Identity have put together a good whitepaper called “Integrating with Infocard“, which you can find here.

What about blogs for ongoing education? The two I read regularly are  Kim Cameron's identity blog which is here and Andy Harjanto's blog which is here.

I was in London earlier this week, and ended up having to come back the US a bit earlier than planned. As a consequence, I didn't have a chance to work with one of my customers on tracing, and committed to following up when I got back to the US.

If you know me, you know I hate re-creating the wheel, so I did a quick search to see if this information was already documented. As fate would have it, Madhu Ponduru literally just put together a good post on the subject.

If you haven't tried tracing yet, you definately should.

Check it out here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/madhuponduru/archive/2006/05/18/601458.aspx

If you're not familair with Juval Lowy, he's one of our Regional Directors and writes some great content that you can find in a number of areas (including MSDN online and in print).

He's just released an article on WCF instance management techniques - check it out here.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/winfx/default.aspx?pull=http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/06/WCFEssentials/default.aspx

I'm delivering a webcast next Monday, on WCF and WF in Retail and Hospitality. Details are listed below.  Also listed below is a link to Vittorio's webcast that covers Infocard for this vertical.

 Vittorio's got a session entitled Using Infocard to Safely Manage Customer Identity

Check it out here

http://www.microsoft.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?CMTYSvcSource=MSCOMMedia&Params=%7eCMTYDataSvcParams%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ID%22+Value%3d%221032296340%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ProviderID%22+Value%3d%22A6B43178-497C-4225-BA42-DF595171F04C%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22lang%22+Value%3d%22en%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22cr%22+Value%3d%22US%22%2f%5e%7esParams%5e%7e%2fsParams%5e%7e%2fCMTYDataSvcParams%5e

Vittorio also recently did a session focused on the manufacturing vertical. You can check that out here.

http://www.microsoft.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?CMTYSvcSource=MSCOMMedia&Params=%7eCMTYDataSvcParams%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ID%22+Value%3d%221032295605%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ProviderID%22+Value%3d%22A6B43178-497C-4225-BA42-DF595171F04C%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22lang%22+Value%3d%22en%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22cr%22+Value%3d%22US%22%2f%5e%7esParams%5e%7e%2fsParams%5e%7e%2fCMTYDataSvcParams%5e

Happy viewing.

Podcasts. I'd been interested in them before, but because my old mp3 player was a bit dodgy, I'd really only listened in on my desktop. As a result I'd stuck mostly to screencasts, and largely bypassed podcasts altogether.

Knowing I had alot of traveling coming up, I recently upgraded to a new portable music device. I loaded it up before I left, downloaded some technology content, some news podcasts(Meet the Press, and Wall St Journal Tech Week), as well as some comedy (Ricky Gervais - the guy who created The Office - is hiliarious) 

Loaded up, I listened to podcasts as I went from Seattle->Denmark->London and back again.  Annoying lines at customs that were 4 rows deep didn't seem so bad. The 2 block line to get through security in Denmark, no worries - I was being entertained and educated with an interview of a tech legend. Podcasts are a beautiful thing.

I was looking forward to this before, but even more so now - I'm sitting don with Ron Jacobs next week to record a few ARCast sessions. Ron is part of our Architecture Strategy Team and does some great podcast work that's posted up on Channel 9. 

If you've not come across the ARCasts yet, I'd definately recommend checking them out.  You can find them here: http://channel9.msdn.com/shows/ARCast_with_Ron_Jacobs

Ingo Rammer just posted an article on migrating Remoting to WCF. It's good stuff - if you're doing remoting today, you should read this.

Find it here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnvs05/html/NETremoteWCF.asp

Keith Brown has just published a good article on Infocard over at MSDN.  I'd definately recommend checking it out.

Find it here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/05/SecurityBriefs/default.aspx

you end up finding stuff that you've done in surprising places. Today I was pleasantly surprised to find out one of my webcasts is on the main page of Microsoft Germany's architecture site.

Coincidentally, I'm heading off to Germany (Munich) and London next week to work with customers on some architectural reviews. If you're in either city and would like to sync up while I'm there, send me an email - mmercuri@microsoft.com.

NOTE: There is a political refernece below, as it is a topical situation that got me thinking about trust communities in search.  This blog is a-political, and the scenario is used as it is the one that sparked the idea. I take no stance on whether the claims made by Mr. Snow are valid/invalid.

I was reading some news sites this week, and was reminded that this was the first week of US President George Bush's new press secretary, Tony Snow. 

Before he gave his first press conference, he did something interesting.  He sent out press releases questioning the validity of comments made by the New York Times, USA Today, and other publications.

So this got me thinking.  Playing devils advocate, suppose that he's right. If I trust Tony Snow (based on his historical record of trust worthiness), I may now discount results from these media outlets in favor of others.  But for me to discount these sources when searching, I can't. Even if I cease to trust them (or trust them less), they show up in the the rankings per Google or Microsofts opinion of their relevance.

The search engines from Google, MSN, and Yahoo have their own algorithms to consider relevancy. One of the things these search engines do provide is a level of filitering for “safe content“, blocking out material that may be considered objectional (i.e. these block pornography results). 

What they don't do is consider in the rankings is the levels of trust of an individual or of community. What I want to see is something that goes to the next level, don't just block what's objectionable, show me the results that are relevant to me based on trust.

Perhaps one of the media outlets Mr. Snow referenced, let's pick a fictional name, say MakeBelieveReporting, Inc., is regularly mis-reporting information or is slanting stories towards a particular political viewpoint.  I may cease to trust that organization to provide news to me, and would like to rank them lower in my personal results when searching for news, if not remove them altogether.

When I search for news, perhaps there are certain stations / periodicals I trust - for example the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, CNBC, and my friends John Smiths blog. These are entities - regardless of web site traffic or the opinion of the search engine I'm using -that *I* trust to be accurate and provide me information.  I do not, however, want results from news outlets that are part of MakeBelieveReporting, Inc. as I have ceased to trust them.

What I'm thinking of isn't based on assumed trustworthiness based on click traffic, this is based on trust relationships.  Even if I visit a site twice per year, it could be far more relevant to me than a site that is viewed more regularly by others.

And my community of trustworthy providers could be extended based on the feedback of those people I trust. 

There's the concept that if person A trusts person B, and person B trusts third party C, that person A shoud likely trust Corporation C based on the fact that he trusted person B's judgement.

In the previous example, I trust my friend John Smith who writes a blog.  If John trusts the Crosby Herald, and I trust John, then I too could trust the Crosby Herald and have it included in my community of trust that is reflected in my search results.

Think about the days before Axciom, TRW, and credit reports. People vouched for other people to get jobs, apartments, loans, etc.

When you sign for a loan and you are not a known entity, you need a co-signer or guarantor. The bank says, I don't know if I can trust this person, but I trust the co-signer.  The co-signer also trusts the loan recipient to pay the money back.

If someone co-signs for a loan for me and I decide not to pay it, there are financial responsibilities that are then taken on by the co-signer. The co-signer will trust the recipient less, as a result of mis-placed trust, the bank may stop trusting the co-signer's ability to identify a trustworthy loan recipient.

In another example, suppose you make plans to go out to dinner with your spouse on Friday night, and when you ask her where they'd like to go, she says “you pick - I trust you.“  If you're new to the area, you may ask a colleague - whom you trust - for a recommendation of a local restaurant. If you go to the recommended restuarant and you end up getting food poisoning from the meal, you probably will not look to your colleague for advice on restaurants in the future - and you - who vouched for the restaurant -will likely end up at a restaurant of your spouse's choosing next time around.

Your spouse trusted you, you trusted the colleague and when the information relayed turned out to be bad, two things happen. You cease to trust the advice of the colleague (atleast in the context of cousine), and your spouse trusts you less as the broker of the information.

Once you start adding in trust, you also need to be able to trust in context.  That same colleague from work may not be someone I trust on picking restaurants, but may be someone I look to as a source on technology subjects.

What we need is search that includes both consideration of these communities of trust, where we as participants in the web determine who is trusted and who is not, and provide the ability to apply trust in context.

By introducing contextual trust as a first-class citizen in search, it has the opportunity to both provide results more relevant *to me*, and as trust=traffic=revenue, provides a financial incentive for providers to be trustworthy.

That's my two cents  - what do you think?

I'm happy to report that the Windows Communication Foundation: Hands On book will be out in just a couple of weeks, and that I've just signed on to do another one.  This next book is tentatively titled “Understanding Infocard“ and will be written for APress. This will hit bookstores in Q1 of next year, most likely in January.

If you want more info on Windows Communication Foundation: Hands On, it is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes&Nobles, and others.

If you're like me and wanted to go but missed it - good news.  The sessions have just been posted online for free view/download.

Sessions here: http://sessions.mix06.com/

NGW034 - From "Username and Password" to InfoCard

DIS003 - Today's Identity Crisis, and the Identity Metasystem

For those unfamiliar with MIX, here's the pitch -

“

Have you seen this error:

System.ServiceModel.ProtocolException: The remote server returned an unexpected response: (502) ProxyError (The URL is invalid. The request was not entered correctly. Enter the correct URL and try again.) -> System.Net.WebException: The remote server returned an error: (502) bad gateway.

?

If you're using Http and getting this error or “(504) Gateway Timeout“ errors, there's a good chance it's tied to your proxy configuration.

For those unfamiliar with the binding elements specific to proxies, Kennyw covered this recently, I'd recommend checking it out.

Get the scoop here - http://kennyw.com/indigo/106

Working with Enterprise customers, I know alot of you had scenarios where you wanted to use Plain Old Xml (POX). I'm happy to report that it's official - support for POX messages to TexEncoder is in and will ship in v1.0 of WCF.

Steve Maine posted the good word here:

http://hyperthink.net/blog/2006/04/12/Checkin+1383521.aspx

As long as I'm blogging about cool stuff, have you seen RoboCast yet?

http://www.francisshanahan.com/robocast/

Francis Shanahan has put something together that's pretty cool.  It will take your blog entries, “read them” using the Speech APIs, and record the audio as MP3s. Effectively taking written content and making it a podcast, no human voice work required.

When I first saw it, I thought - pretty cool. When I thought about it a bit more, I realized it opened up the option of podcasting to individuals who may not have the opportunity otherwise due to certain disabilities. That takes it from pretty cool to very cool for me.

Ok - this has nothing to do with WCF or WF, but I've got tell you about this great piece of software I'm using called Orb.  As you may have gathered from my blog, I travel.  Alot.

Even though I have a MediaCenter PC, a TiVo, and a ComCast DVR, up until recently I haven't had remote access to my recorded content.

While on my last trip (Las Vegas, Notes2.NET Conference), I picked up a Slingbox for use on this conference (FinServDevCon) While the slingbox is cool, there was more that I was looking for. Orb gave it to me - and it was free and installed in <5 minutes.  I'm currently working on this entry while watching a recorded show on my home machine from Comedy Central streaming to my laptop over the hotel internet connection. Now I work at Microsoft, and I've had friends who had streaming video to their phones 2 years ago - but this is something anyone can set up and get going in minutes.

If you travel al