Get-Process -Name “Hiatus” | Stop-Process

So it’s been a while.

Can’t say I’m happy with the blank period, but things get in the way; like depression, anxiety and illness, leading to gateways of gaming and drinking (not to be mistaken with not being bothered…and each person has their way to deal/cope).

In any case, it’s time to crawl back out of my hole:

!

Right? Because there is no hiatus 😉

FY20 has started, and with that there’s all the announcements from Microsoft.

At the start of the month, the Microsoft Partner Network threw a curve-ball at all its Partners by announcing the retirement of all Partner Action Pack; Support Calls; and Internal Usage Rights (IURs) Licensing.

Through some rather resounding negative feedback from the Partner Community, the Microsoft Partner Network has rolled back these changes – huzzah!

Pretty large steps to take just before Microsoft Inspire + Microsoft Ready 2019, where Gavriella Schuster, Corporate Vice President | One Commercial Partner,  admitted to the error in judgement and reiterated the importance of the Partnerships.
Then she opened to a pretty inspiring set of Corenotes to follow by Judson Althoff (EVP of Worldwide Commerical Business), Brad Smith (President | Chief Legal Officer) and Satya Nadella (CEO).

While I don’t have the opportunity to attend such events, I live vicariously through those that are fortunate to go and watch the VODs.

During Satya’s Corenote, a few very interesting things were shown:

• Mind blowing scaling of Azure SQL Database Hyperscale.
• Julia White delivering her presentation via proxy of a Hologram of her speaking in Japanese, combining multiple components of Azure Cognitive Services.
• Azure Spatial Anchors (Preview) in Minecraft Earth!
• Rehearsal Coach in PowerPoint!
• I want to make special mention of ‘Dave’, who has leveraged Microsoft Teams and it’s extensibility into SharePoint Online; Stream; QnA Maker; Machine Learning and MS Graph to provide a space for 500+ students just in one of his classes to collaborate and create (not just consume) coursework at University of NSW. Make sure you check out his presentation.

There is some amazing work being done and the potential is still widely untapped.

These Corenotes and many of the presentations can be viewed from here.

Also, they have brought in a new Microsoft Partner Security Competency; information can be found in PDF.

Re-cap on my 2019 Goals:

• Read Satya Nadella’s “Hit Refresh”, and then my back-log (haven’t touched back-log yet)
• Learn at least two programming languages (barely learning one at the moment)
• Learn at least one new spoken language (French on Duolingo has been going OK, unfortunately my streak was lost a couple times when it hit midnight suddenly, but I have been at it every day)
• Sub-2:00 Half Marathon (haven’t even really run yet this year, 12KM City to Bay is coming up in about 7 weeks)
• Spend more time with family and as senpai (Working on this)

Not particularly impressive progress, but still have 5 months…

Some exciting-ish news coming soon, but I shall save that for another post 🙂

Featured image from https://www.wattpad.com/