We attended the Microsoft Partner conference with a completely open mind this past Summer, wondering what we might learn and what people we would meet in Toronto. We were unprepared for the vastness of the event, though we hung in there and paved our own way as we are apt to do.
Indeed, we even found a skywalk where we were completely alone above “the mob” of attendees. This bird’s eye view allowed us to find the best path and enabled us to surpass the masses. This reminds me of the way we approach our development—by viewing the big picture and running ahead full force, once again easily surpassing others.
Later on, we met presenters and attendees alike and spent our days going from session to session learning about the upcoming technologies, discussing our own, and experiencing the true vastness of the Microsoft Partner Network.
We made connections worldwide with other Partners and had opportunity to discuss some of the hot topics surrounding information exchange, particularly as it relates to the medical industry on a much more intimate level.
This conference was great in that regard, though a let-down in regard to most of the sessions. Perhaps we chose the wrong ones to attend. We left that conference feeling somewhat like we had spent a week being marketed to repetitively and wished we had learned more.
When we sent our developers to the Microsoft Build conference, we expected some more of the same. In fact, we joked about attending and “drinking the kool aid” that is Microsoft. We were encouraged however when the sessions took a more direct approach to give us the tools and taught us more in depth about those topics that were merely touched on at the earlier conference.
The Build conference gave us opportunity to work with other developers, to brainstorm and to use new Microsoft technologies and tools. It further brought in some playful competition with other developers in the Azure development arena.
Inphonite came home as proud recipients of all four Azure development prizes, including a watch, an RC Mini car, a speaker and the grand prize: a cool messenger bag made out of bicycle tires and a seatbelt.
Sadly we did not win any of the cash prizes for a new Windows 8 app. Instead of developing products for the Inphonite software line, we encouraged our developers to think outside the box and see if there was something they themselves wanted to develop. Everyone went off and did their own thing. In this way, we clearly work better as a team. Regardless, fun was had by all. There was a great stretch of imagination and skills, and we returned from Microsoft Build richer in technology, education, understanding and with a refreshing view ready to tackle some new projects.
