Microsoft is challenging developers worldwide to create conversational robots, or BOTs, for MSN® Messenger and Windows Live Messenger and giving away more than USD $ 40K in prizes. Why not give it a try if you know some good coding.

Robots or “BOTs”, are software programs that you can add to MSN® Messenger and Windows Live™ Messenger. If you add a robot to your contact list, it can chat, give you customer service support, perform searches, make suggestions, play games and more. We’re looking for the best new robot ideas for Messenger. And $40,000 in fantastic prizes go to the top BOTs!

On May 16, the WinFS team whetted the appetites of advocates of Microsoft’s next-generation file system by sharing information on plans for a new, Microsoft-developed application for WinFS, code-named “Project Orange.”

WinFS, Microsoft’s next-generation file system, is still churning its way through the beta process. But that isn’t stopping Microsoft from building a new information organizer that rides on top of WinFS storage and the Windows Presentation Framework.

Microsoft has also posted some job postings on this Project Orange. See below and find the post here

If so, Project Orange may be the right fit for you! Project Orange is a brand new team tasked with building a next-generation Information Explorer based on WinFS and WPF (AKA Avalon) to help users finally get organized. This is a soup-to-nuts project focused on defining a breakthrough user experience for users to unify, organize, and explore their data in meaningful new ways. WinFS and WPF offer dramatic new opportunities for information management by merging the traditional world of relational databases with end user data and offering new opportunities for interaction & visualization.

Microsoft Project Orange is WinFS Killer App ? source

Microsoft on Monday announced the availability of MapPoint 2006, a new business mapping software. MapPoint 2006 can help customers improve decision-making capabilities and increase new business opportunities through the use of maps and geographical information, enabling better analysis, visualization and communication of business information. It also enhances its usefulness for mobile information workers by adding new Global Positioning System (GPS) integration and driver guidance capabilities so that users can make the most out of time spent away from the office. MapPoint 2006 is available today, and comes in two offerings: a stand-alone software package as well as one that includes both the MapPoint 2006 software and a new GPS locator hardware kit.

New MapPoint 2006 features that I like:

1. Wi-Fi positioning is also available through a computer’s wireless network capabilities and the Microsoft’ Location Finder, which accesses a database of known Wi-Fi access points to determine a user’s location.

2. Updated geographic data and a new GPS task pane that uses information from connected, compatible GPS devices to display current location, speed and traveling direction.

3. Driving directions for Windows XP users determine location from a connected GPS device and combine it with route information to deliver voice and text direction information.

3. MapPoint 2006’s demographic data refreshing capabilities will enable businesses to visualize up-to-date trends and combine business data with demographics to focus their marketing and better analyze results.

4. Easy integration with Microsoft Office solutions.

MapPoint 2006 launch by Microsoft source

Sheesh. What a dumb name. Wallop is a name for bullies. Microsoft Corp is not a leader anymore nowadays as they seem to be coming out with old Web 1.0 technology packaged in ugly Microsoft packages. Ho hum… I think they are getting too old and you know what they do with old rusty giants….They get melted down and stuffed into museums.

Microsoft Corp. has announced the spinout of a new social networking technology, developed by Microsoft Research, to create a new Silicon Valley startup, Wallop Inc. Wallop, whose aim is to deliver the next generation of social computing, is led by entrepreneur and CEO Karl Jacob, with Bay Partners providing Series A financing. Launching later this year, Wallop will introduce a new way for consumers to express their individuality online. Wallop developed a set of algorithms that respond to social interactions to automatically build and maintain a person’s social network.

New Microsoft Corp Social Networking Technology called Wallop source

Wallop’s definition by the Free Dictionary

1. To beat soundly; thrash.
2. To strike with a hard blow.
3. To defeat thoroughly.