I've been thinking about this pet project for sometime. But due to some unforeseen circumstances (just heavy words for laziness) I could not get this ready before.
I'm getting it out of my hard disk now to show some love towards our Web Server Admins who keep our Web 2.0 world running !

IIS7 Mobile Admin is a mobile administration application to manage IIS7 remotely using the Web Browser on your mobile phone.

Ingredients

• IIS7 Hostable Web Core running inside a custom windows service written in C++
  Read about the service here http://www.awesomeideas.net/page/IIS7-Hostable-WebCore.aspx
  [ You can also use IIS7 website to host it and make sure you isolate into a different application pool ]
• ASP.NET based Website designed for use on browser of a cell phone using LINQ + IIS7 managed API (Microsoft.Web.Administration)

Currently version of this application is in no way a complete replacement for desktop version of IIS Manager (it might become later if I see enough interest ).

So lets talk about the scenario in which this could be extremely helpful.
Assume that you are a webserver admin and you have a lot of websites running on the server you manage. It's Christmas time and you are having a wonderful time with your family. You cell phone rings and on the other side is your customer screaming since their e-commerce website where people are shopping for Christmas is down.

In such scenarios you would have to reach for your computer, connect to the server through VPN and restart the application pool so that the site is back running atleast as a quick fix for Christmas. Now in this scenario if you are not at home or you cannot reach your computer you might've to drive to office to just recycle the application pool for the website.

You don't need to run to office or even reach your computer anymore with "IIS7 Mobile Admin" you can do this and more from your Internet connected Cell Phone.

Here is a screenshot of how it looks like on Pocket IE in full-screen mode

Since I don't want to complicate things too much and to reduce security related issues, I would try not to provide security sensitive features in this UI.

What is "must have" for this application, it's up to you to tell me through the comments below.

Once I get enough feedback I'll finish up and get this on http://www.codeplex.com for you to download application & code for free.

Recently I stumbled upon a discussion on facial recognition and creating models from them. Came to know that MSN China had lunched a service called "MSN Cartoon Beta".
Chinese is like French to me; I know neither :)

But I thought it would be an awesome feature to have for all Windows Live Services so tried my predict & clicking skills to get it working!
The following video demonstrates how to use the web based page to create MSN Cartoon without learning Chinese :)

Before beginning with the application there is a small web based install which pops-up but you know which buttons to click if you have used Windows for long enough!
The last button click on the page gives you a zip file containing the newly created smiley's for all  your cool expressions... Now stop reading and check the video and the site ;)

URL => http://cartoon.msn.com.cn/ 

If there is enough demand for audio commentary I will add voice to explain the different buttons and it's options.

Assume that you have a lot of contacts on Live Messenger which you would like to use in different applications provided in Vista.  By default you won't have direct access to contact due to security settings (encryption) to protect that information.

There is an easy tweak/option to enable this information.

In Windows Live Messenger go to
Tools -> Options -> Security (Uncheck the box shown below)

Now check your "C:\users\<login Name>\Contacts" folder, you will find a folder with your Live ID name and all your Messenger contacts inside that folder...

I have seen people using a number of tools to create screen captures of thier cool application for demos, blogs posting on video sites etc...
I have been using this tool for a long time, but it's existense is unknown to many. So here are the details

Windows Media Encoder

Home Page : http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

Download Page : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5691ba02-e496-465a-bba9-b2f1182cdf24&DisplayLang=en

How much does it cost?

It's FREE !!!

Glimpse of the options in the wizard 1st page (loads of options more...)

Is this tool only for screen capturing?
No way, go ahead and explore yourself

The output file is either WMA or WMV, and you can also select target profile like desktop, pocket pc etc...
Go ahead and showcase your applications & mashups live on those video sites :)

I read a lot of news and comments about Windows Vista Sideshow. Several comments are in the lines of saying... hmmm what is the big deal about this new feature? Why would I need a small display on my laptop to see my meeting room or tasks, I already have them on my mobile... So I thought I'll just add some of my dreams and some reality about Windows Vista Sideshow since the above thoughts are from people who are not ready to dream about the usage scenarios.

First of all Windows Vista Sideshow is not a feature but a technology powered by Windows Vista.

For more proof of another use of this technology you can see the new Windows Vista MCE remotes launched during CES.

http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=vista+side+show+remotes

Now is this only for laptops and Media Center Remotes? I don't think so!

Lets dream a little and see what else can be done or how this technology can be taken to the next level...

Lets say in next couple of years we get to buy these mini devices powered by Wifi/Bluetooth and have support for Windows Vista Sideshow. Assume that by year 2009, these mini devices become dirt cheap like 5 devices for $100 or so. So people (like me) would go and buy 5 or 10 or more of these devices and would fix it everywhere in the house

• On the refrigerator
• On the main door
• In the bed room
• In the car
• obviously in my MCE remote also and anywhere else you prefer...

and all these devices are being connected to the same computer running Windows Vista so that all the information required would be at your finger-tip anytime.

One of the differences with Microsoft Technologies is that you get a platform to develop and enhance it further. Which means that there are no bounds to how these mini devices can be used... for example these mini devices can be used in these scenarios (and many more which is limited by your ideas)

• Home automation, to an extend of replacing all the switches in the house
• Outlook calendar/tasks
• Windows Live Email/Calendar/Messenger Buddies
• Controlling music from your home theatre system (maybe Windows Vista MCE)
• Stock Quotes

After reading the above do you really think Windows Vista Sideshow is just a small little display attached to one of those expensive laptops?

What is so exciting about it? Huh! you can add your favourite search engine there?

Not just that but more! From my experience working in support I found search to be part of my life (I know it's become part of everyone's life). I'm sharing the feeling of my peers in IT world who uses search (any search engine) to find solutions to thier technical issues. Microsoft Knowledge base has tons of articles but I guess we didn't do a good job on indexing in the past to make it easily discoverable. But now that has changed by integrating Windows Live Search and now let us leverage it using IE7 built-in search.

So let us focus on "Topic Search" and steps for creating your own search provider for Microsoft Support Knowledge Base.

Here are simple instructions you need to follow, yea it's really simple.

1. Goto the following link (you can get this link from "Get more search providers" option from IE7 search box
   Add Search Providers to Internet Explorer 7
2. Goto "Create Your own" section
3. Provide name as "MS KB Search" in the box for 4th point
4. This is main portion of the trick
   1. Goto http://support.microsoft.com
   2. Enter "TEST" (without quotes) in the box below "Search Support(KB)" and hit ENTER
   3. Once the results come up, copy & paste the url into 3rd point on "Create Your own" section in the provider page
5. Now click "Install" and bingo it prompts you to add the provider you just created to IE7 search bar.

Next time you wanna search something on Microsoft Knowledge Base you can do it right inside IE7 search and select the new search provider you just created called "MS KB Search"

Read more about AddSearchProvider in IE7 here

The idea of Search Providers are not restricted to web search... I have found Domain name search provider on godaddy.com website!