XTreamer gives "Unknown Device" when connected as USB

Connecting the XTreamer (v2.01) to a computer by using the USB connector will result
in "Unknown Device" error. The XTreamer is detected by Windows XP as a USB Hub, however,
while trying to identify the exact hardware and its appropriate driver the process fails as the
XTreamer is being detected as "Unkown".

I had figured out that for some reason, while the XTreamer's USB wireless lan antenna is being connected, the WLan device is being detected by windows along with the USB mass-storage device, causing the whole process to fail!

The solution, simply disconnect any USB device attached to your XTreamer while you try
to connect it to your PC.

Get windows Temporary directory with C#

Such an easy question often being asked… How can I easily obtain the temporary directory?

So the answer is fairly easy:

string tempPath = System.IO.Path.GetTempPath();

If you are looking for ways to obtain further information of the environment variables for example, you should read this.
It will give you a broad view on Temp, System and User Data folders by using:
Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(FIELD));

80 Cores, who and why do we need it?

Jerry Bautista of Intel has a great post trying to answer the question "Who needs a 80 cores machine?". That question rose after Intel had disclosed its "80 core disclosure" showing a demo of a 80 cores machine.

It is the endless debate on how much computer strength do we need, and I had learned that the answer is always "As much as we can get!", Jerry shows some simple examples of the capabilities and applications such computer may have.

Here is a nice demo of realistic water effect demonstration, It is all computer generated currently offline but consider have such capability in real-time, on-line!

Read Jerry's blog here.

TechED 2008

We are about to attend Microsoft's TechED 2008 in Eilat. I believe that this TechED will be as exciting as the one I had attended just two years ago. Microsoft is renowned of its latest trend for overwhelming and increasing number of new technologies, and it just about to show off again with Visual Studio 2008, Windows Server 2008, Silverlight, some already known technologies with a drill down and experience perspective and more and more!

I might have further news, but I keep it private for now. In the meanwhile I'll post here some links regarding this excellent event.

if you can attend make sure you save yourself a room.

Links:

- TechED 2008 official site (Hebrew)
- Tamir Khason's - XNA and WPF and more.

Is testing really sucks?

I've just stumbled into an interesting approach described by James Whittaker, who has a nice solid opinion on testing. James distinguishes between strategy and tactics in software testing.

I could not agree more, read it here.

The first Multi-Touch laptop

Just stumbled upon the new HP 12" laptop.

Their marketing guys are really creative – loved their work!

Click here If you can't see the embedded video.