apply for an msp 2011

Program Overview:
The Microsoft Student Partner Program recognizes top young minds from around the world that are passionate about technology. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop real-world skills to help you succeed in your future career, to help others learn about the technology of today and tomorrow, and to connect with other like-minded students, all whilst having a ton of fun along the way. The tenure is for 1 academic year and can be renewed by the MSP India Team if the MSP has acceptable performance and continues to meet the eligibility criteria.

What is a Microsoft Student Partner?
The ‘ideal candidate’ would be a passionate and enthusiast individual who wants to learn about new tools and technologies. You would need to have a whole range of skills including excellent time management, organization and communication skills to ensure that you could host successful campus events. An MSP should be comfortable and confident presenting in front of large audiences of both students and faculty members. General marketing skills come in very handy in order to allow you to articulate your ideas effectively when presenting. MSPs are social, friendly and approachable individuals who like to meet new people. You will require the ability work as a team as well as use your own initiative. In summary, MSPs are innovative and creative students who are extremely passionate about technology and who like to help others.
 

MSP India Program

2011-2012 Academic Year Selection Process

How to apply?
Applications for the 2011-2012 Academic Year are currently being accepted by filling the registration form at http://bit.ly/newmsp2011. This is only to express your intent of taking part in the selection process. NO confirmation emails will be sent.

The selection process will span across multiple months. Visit this page at least once every month for updates. Some indicative parts of the selection process are listed below:

• Part 1: You will need to create a video of yourself speaking about a Microsoft technology. We will provide further details on this page before 3rd June 2011.
• Part 2: You will need to create an innovative Windows Phone 7 App using the free development tool and emulator. We will provide further details on this page before 29th July 2011.
• Part 3: You will need to compete in the IT Challenge quiz within Imagine Cup 2012. We will provide further details on this page before 26th August 2011.

Disclaimer: This is a voluntary program for students and does not involve any fees. It is neither a course nor an internship.

Eligibility:
To consider applying for the MSP Program, you must be:

• Over 17 years of age. 
• Currently studying a full-time Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or Design (STEMD) course at an officially recognized University/College in India.
• Bachelor's/Master's Degree student who will complete the course during or after May 2012.

Competencies:
A good MSP is one who has the following basic qualities:

• Technical competencies
• Passionate about software
• Quick learner
• Respected by peers

Community-building competencies:

• Enthusiastic about technology
• High level of social activity, both online & offline
• Can organize college and city-level events

Fundamental competencies:

• Passionate about Microsoft technologies
• Confident & outgoing
• Good rapport with faculty
• Willing to share knowledge & eager to uplift self and peers

Responsibilities:
If you get selected as an MSP, here's an indication of some of your short term goals:

• Learn & implement emerging technologies like Windows Phone 7 apps using the free tools & emulator.
• Conduct at least 1 technical session per month in a Student Tech Club.
• Participate and drive entries for Imagine Cup.

If you get selected as an MSP, here's an indication of some of your long term goals:

• Promote and build your city-level Microsoft Student User Group
• Organize city-level events like DreamSpark Yatra by collaborating with other MSPs
• Mentor other MSPs

Benefits:
As an MSP, a host of benefits are available:

• Welcome letter
• Special MSP events conducted by Microsoft
• MSDN subscription after successful completion of probation period
• Rewards & Recognition for top performers
• Networking opportunities
• Technical training & resources
• Specific Microsoft events
• Interactions with MVPs & Microsoft Employees
• Internship & Recruitment announcements for top-performers

Contact Us:

• For queries regarding the MSP Selection process for 2011-2012 in India, post these on http://bit.ly/querymsp
• For other questions regarding the MSP India program, email newmsp@microsoft.com

Sony May Have a Honey of a Tablet in the Works

"Sony could build an amazing tablet that can differentiate itself from the multitude of other tablets by bringing synergies across Sony's many device and content categories," said tech analyst Azita Arvani. Sony has all the elements in place -- notebook/netbook functionality, hardware design expertise, the PlayStation console and games, the Reader, and a media player that has access to Sony's Qriocity and other music and audio services.


               

It appears that Sony (NYSE: SNE) is definitely planning to join the tablet wars: Its CEO Howard Stringer told the Nikkei newspaper that the company was planning to deliver a Honeycomb-based tablet no later than the end of the year, and possibly, according to some versions of his comments, as soon as this summer.

If accurate, a Sony tablet -- especially one geared to the gaming market as this development appears to be -- could well realign the still nascent but fast-growing tablet market. There is the Sony name, for starters, and its deep expertise with gaming. Then there is the fact that its tablet reportedly will run the Android Honeycomb OS.

Sony did not respond to LinuxInsider's request for comment by press time.

Curved, Not Straight

Perhaps most interestingly, there is also talk that this tablet will sport a design different from the typical flat-backed tablet form factor. It will be gently curved, similar to an open book, rumor has it. Other tidbits reported but not confirmed by Sony: The screen will be 9.4-inches and it will include the PlayStation suite.
Whether such a device could challenge the inarguable leader in this space, Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad, is still an unknown, Steven Baker, VP of Industry analysis for NPD, told LinuxInsider. "There is very little current relevant product out there to make a judgment. Xoom has only been on the market for a few weeks, and there are no Honeycomb tablets to speak of on the market right now."
Also, Sony might not want to focus its tablet solely on the gaming market, he cautioned. "The iPad has already proven to be a strong gaming platform, so I don't see how that alone will give Sony differentiation."
It is necessary to get development and game providers on board if Sony is serious about becoming "the" gaming tablet, he added.

Ignoring the iPad?

Of course, Sony may not be thinking about competing with the iPad at all, speculated Peter Eckert, chief creative officer of Projekt202.
Gaming for touch tablets is very new, and games that specifically target that type of device are just emerging, he told LinuxInsider. Also, Sony will probably want to integrate its own gaming marketplace that it has through PlayStation 3.
" I don't think a Sony tablet will be a serious challenger for the iPad at first, but if people keep using it for games only or mostly, then they might just have a new following, and it might not be intended to be an iPad challenger," Eckert said.

The Sony Ecosystem

Given Sony's deep bench of IT expertise, there is every reason to think the company might wind up building a multifunction tablet, said Azita Arvani of the Arvani Group.
"Sony could build an amazing tablet that can differentiate itself from the multitude of other tablets by bringing synergies across Sony's many device and content categories," she told LinuxInsider.
Sony has all the elements in place, she said -- notebook/netbook functionality, hardware design expertise, the PlayStation console and games, the Reader, and a media player that has access to Sony's Qriocity and other music and audio services.
"Other major iPad rivals, including Samsung and Motorola (NYSE: MOT), do not have such an extensive array of in-house capabilities as Sony does," noted Arvani.
There will be some challenges, she said, one being wringing out all of these in-house synergies while avoiding internal turf battles. Another will be how to best position such a device: Will it be a gaming tablet or a media tablet?
Also, Sony fans will want to know how it relates to and interacts with other Sony devices, such has the Vaio notebooks/netbooks, PlayStation devices, Sony Readers and Sony Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY) mobile devices.

Online Security: Very Bad and Getting Worse

For many businesses and consumers, Symantec's news that cyberattacks are occurring with far greater frequency these days cannot be greeted with detachment, because they're striking so close to home. "At one point in time, hack attacks may have seemed theoretical to many people -- something that happened to someone else," observed SystemExperts consultant Philip Cox. The situation will only get worse -- the mobile on slaught hasn't even begun.

Facebook Opens Door to New Data Center, Invites the World In

Facebook wants to extend the idea of community sharing and collaboration to the hardware space, and it's starting with its own new data center, built with a slew of green tech innovations. All of the specs and designs for the center are available online at the Open Compute Project, which Facebook intends to be a hub for exchanging ideas that could trigger energy-efficiency improvements.