On Monday, June 7^th, Anvil Digital helped Microsoft launch Expression Studio 4 at Internet Week in New York City. During the main keynote, Anvil Digital was invited to share some experiences we have had with Expression Studio, specifically SketchFlow and how we have been able to help customers take their ideas from concepts, to completion much more rapidly by taking advantage of SketchFlow.

The keynote kicked off with Bill Buxton, Principal Researcher at Microsoft, talking about User Experience and how we should focus on convergence and tools that can help developers create applications for multiple devices.

Product demos were fantastic, and Microsoft had the opportunity to show off Expression Encoder, Expression Web, and Expression Blend. Some of the great features that were announced publicly at the launch included:

• Built-in SEO Optimization for Expression Web.
• SuperPreview for Safari as well as Firefox and IE that allows users not only to see what web pages will look like rendered on the different browsers, but also debug and resolve inconsistencies.
• Adaptive Smooth Streaming allowing users to stream live events using the Adaptive Smooth Streaming technology.
• SketchFlow SharePoint Integration for managing customer feedback
• Finally Microsoft invited some partners (including Anvil Digital) to the stage to talk about Expression Studio, and how we use it on a day-to-day basis.

Once the keynote was over, breakout sessions took place at Internet Week HQ with various technologies from different companies on display. Everything from Windows Phone, to Interactive Spray Painting Boards was on display at Internet Week HQ Pavilion.

It’s quite spectacular to see where we are heading in our industry. Expression Studio is one of the tools that Anvil Digital uses to help our clients express their creativity, understand their requirements with SketchFlow, and build immersive interactive experiences with Expression Blend and Web.

Download Expression Studio 4 Ultimate

Anvil Digital Speakers Headline Microsoft
Tech Days 2009

At Anvil Digital we have always been firm believers in supporting the technology community by helping drive user groups like the .net User Group, planning special events like the Silverlight vs. Flash Smackdown and helping sponsor and present at local code camps. We are committed to ensuring our entire team is up to speed on the newest, cutting edge technologies
and there's no better way to learn, than to teach!

Last year’s Microsoft Tech Days were a smashing success, so when we heard Microsoft would be coming around for Tech Days 2009, we were thrilled.  We were even more thrilled to be invited to speak at the event!  This year we had a  total of 6 speakers from Anvil Digital helping lead sessions ranging from Test Driven Development Techniques, to Expression Blend for Developers.

Tech Days are amazing, not only because you get to learn all about cutting edge technologies from industry experts, but also because you get a chance to see what everyone else is working on.  It also allows companies that might not have the budget to send all their developers to PDC or TechEd, a chance to send them to an equally engaging and educational local conference.

Some of the sessions Anvil Digital was responsible for included:

• Building Restfull Services with WCF
• Optimizing Your Apps for the Windows 7 User Experience
• Expression Blend for Developers / What’s New in Silverlight 3
• Interoperable Web Platform: IIS7, Web Platform Installer and Web App Gallery
• Test Driven Development Techniques
• SOLIDify Your Microsoft ASP.NET MVC Applications

Highlights from Microsoft Tech Days 2009

Anvil got the show on the road by presenting Developer Fundamentals and Best Practices.  There was a packed house on hand for the show as we presented Test Driven Development strategies, and how they can be so incredibly effective at reducing pre-release bugs by almost 90% in some cases.  Test Driven development was a perfect topic to tackle since Anvil Digital has really focused on TDD and Agile over the last few years and has really seen some huge benefits.

Next door we had another team talking to attendees about the benefits of using Expression Blend and the Sketchflow product that comes as a part of Blend.  During the presentation, we were able to build a working Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application using Blend all the way from initial concept, to completion.

If you couldn't attend Techdays, or are interested in seeing our presentations, don't hesitate to contact us for more details!

Make sure you check out the Tech Days 2009 facebook page, read some of the twitter chatter around Tech Days 2009.  A huge thanks to Microsoft for bringing together hundreds of developers and IT Pro’s under one roof for an awesome two day event!

You can find out more about Microsoft Tech Days 2009 at TechDays.ca