Win10 What's Up!

A few months ago we were approached by Microsoft to build some fun apps to help junior developers take advantage of the awesome new features of Windows 10.

Optical character recognition technology, IoT hub, Raspberry Pi, the Windows Universal Application Platform… we had a lot to cover in a few small applications.

The result is 4 Win10 Quick Starts, 4 awesome apps:

1. DoorBell. Whodat? Connect to a Raspberry Pi and send a picture of that person at your door straight to your phone. It's so meta.
2.  
3. MusicSync. Never again will you need to synchronise several people in different rooms of your house to hit the play button at the same time. Synchronise music playback through all of your Win10 devices to get the party started. 
4.  
5. CardReader. Throw away that dusty pile of business cards, CardReader automatically transfers them straight into your Windows People app. 
6.  
7. TugOWar. Who is the fastest clicker in the west? Compete against your friends in a heated battle by connecting to up to four Win10 devices.

Test out your coding skills and build something cool, fun and useful. Find them all on the Windows Dev site here.

 
Learn more about nsquared  by  following us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Work Together Better

O happy day!

The final installment of our Future of Work video series has arrived. Over three short videos, we have followed Paula and Sam as they found a new office space at an innovative Realtor and then watched as they collaborated with an Interior Designer to plan their new space. Finally on the latest installment Paula and Sam move into their new office space, complete with cutting edge collaborative innovation.

Work Together Better Video Series

As a team they use nsquared milestone to plan their projects and define their tasks effectively together.

Once project planning is complete the team uses their new touchscreen technology to have quick, pointed meetings. They load PDFs, Word and PowerPoint documents from their local network directly onto the DIGITABLE, annotate together and finally send the annotated files straight to their colleague's desktop device using nsquared presenter.

Team work isn't all serious. Immersive multiplayer games bring everyone together at the end of the day.

Smart tables, smart work flow. The future of work is here.

Click here to watch the Future of Work series now.

How Old Do You Really Look?

The Microsoft How Old? Project has been a phenomenon. The app, built to show off the new Windows 10 facial recognition API and the power of Azure cloud, uses algorithms to determine how old a user's face looks. And, understandably, it has become the definition of viral. It has grown faster than Facebook. It has even grown faster than Angry Birds. The stats speak for themselves:

• 1.2 million visitors per hour in 48 hours
• 540 million photos analysed to date
• More than 1/2 billion photos uploaded in 1 month
• 0-50 million users in just 7 days.
• Ellen even tweeted about it:

But don't stop at Ellen. THERE'S MORE.

We have exciting news: in a world first, the nsquared team is helping to bring the How Old? online experience into a real life experience.

All this work on How Old? has seemed to have weathered nsquared's faces by a few years, but stay tuned to see what this wrinkly crew has to offer. 

We are growing again!

With more and more digital tables being loved by our customers we are growing our team again. We need a salesperson and a graduate developer to join our team.

If you are looking for a challenging new role in a team that is intent on putting shared screen technology in more places then please get in touch.

We are recruiting a junior developer to help us with development of vision based solutions using technologies such as kinect.

We are also looking for an energetic young sales person that can help our team with customer interactions, product demonstrations and closing deals.

Both of our new team members will need be Australian citizens or hold Australian Permanent residency visas.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in joining nsquared please send us a cover letter and your resume to jobs@nsquaredsolutions.com

Introducing "Bet You Didn't Know"

A weekly segment that goes more in depth to the functionality and capabilities of nsquared software. Keeping you in touch with your digital table and helping you to get more from your interactive, shared experience.

“Bet You Didn’t Know” will introduce you to all the latest application releases, newest features, updates, bug fixes, as well give you a comfortable familiarity with your nsquared admin portal.

Learn how you can WOW colleagues, co-workers, customers and clients with your leading edge skills.

Stay in tune and in touch and turn that Bet you Didn’t into a Bet you Did! 

Update: nsquared makewords on Windows 8. Perfect for the Surface Pro!

We have been working hard here in the nsquared studio to update our FREE educational app on the Windows 8 store - nsquared makewords. 

This educational game is aimed to help students (aged 3+) with object recognition, differentiation and to improve their recall and spelling. nsquared makewords has the ability to switch between a range of content packs, therefore allowing you to change and download new content as it is released.

Features 

- Multi Touch, Multi User (for up to 4 people)

- Drag tiles to spell different animals, objects, flags and more

- Competitive and co-operative learning against the clock

The update features the following:

- Fun music and sound effects

- Better, easier to use layout

- Great visual feedback for incorrect letters and words!

- Reshuffle the letters to make it easier to find the ones you're looking for 

- Use the bottom app bar to choose between vertical and table mode play

- Word order in each pack has been randomized for more replay-ability

- Completely revised and updated menu system

Please try nsquared makewords today for FREE - http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-au/app/nsquared-makewords/e182deac-77d6-4679-91a9-71ebfea82515  

Updated Developing for Microsoft Surface book

Our book, Developing for Microsoft Surface, is finally available in hardcopy from our friends at Lulu. We have also updated the cover of the book. You can now buy the book from the website.

Interview with Dr. Neil Roodyn about the book " Developing for Microsoft Surface"

A couple of weeks ago Dr.Neil Roodyn from nsquared released the first book about developing applications for Microsoft Surface.

At nsquared weve had a lot of questions regarding the book and we thought it would be nice to do an interview with the author.

The movie below gives an answer to the questions:
Why did Dr. Neil write the book?
Who did he write it for? Just for developers? Or is it for designers too?
Why should anyone get a copy of the book?
Why is it published as an ebook only?

Where can you get read a preview or get your own copy of the book?
The answer is here: nsquaredsolutions.com/surfacebook

World's First Surface Book Released!

Here at nsquared we've released the world's first Surface development book. Developing for Microsoft Surface has been created and compiled from the many training sessions delivered the world over by Dr. Neil, and focuses on crafting exceptional user experiences for Surface.

Guiding its readers on the complete journey from the initial unpacking of a Microsoft Surface unit, to the satisfying delivery of their first Surface application, Developing for Microsoft Surface deals mostly with the ideation of Surface application design. Along the way it is filled with plenty of hands on labs and practical exercises to help readers explore the adventure that is Microsoft Surface and hone their application development skills for this platform.

The book (rrp US $49.95) is available now in handy e-book format at the special introductory price of US $45.00. Click on the link below to get started now.

Are you our new developer?!

In this episode Dr. Neil and Freena talk about recruiting developers for nsquared.

Surface Vision Recognition

Join Dr. Neil and Maridee in Sydney as they talk about Microsoft Surface and vision recognition. Discover how Surface is different from other touch screens. Learn ways that developers can capitalize on the differences. Have fun!

Microsoft Surface Shell

Time for us to to discuss the Microsoft Surface Shell.
We explain the components of the shell and how Microsoft Surface applications can integrate with the shell.

Zune-Phone Rumors Persist

With all of the iPhone love in this office, you may wonder what we think of Windows Mobile... Well, truth be told, our founders were Windows Mobile geeks to start out with and there will always be a special place in our hearts for it.

The recent rumors published in the Washington Post, Engadget, and BrightHand suggest that Microsoft's "Project Pink" might actually be a phone in its own right instead of just extended Windows functionality for other devices that already contain Microsoft software. Whatever the case may be, nsquared is not just an iPhone shop. We have a love of all cutting edge technology, as long as it is gorgeous, sexy, and functional. The iPhone ticks these boxes. Will the Zune-Phone?

As always, if you need help developing your ideas for iPhone or Windows, contact us!

nsquared is Agile!

On Thursday last week, we received a request from some clients to spend time in Europe. We responded in agile fashion. Dr, Neil was on the plane from Australia by Sunday afternoon in response to their query, knowing full well that nothing can substitute for face-time with the customer (or potential customer).

What is Agile? Dictionary.com says, "quick and well-coordinated in movement" and "marked by an ability to think quickly; mentally acute or aware."

Agile software development must be all of these things and more. It is a strict process focused on flexiblity, a disciplined aproach to being versatile. Those may sound like oxymoronic expressions, but not the case. At nsquared, we are rigidly committed to excellence through iterations (small steps to reach the larger goal), consistently relying on customer feedback and always ready to change direction in a moment's notice. In fact, Dr. Neil wrote a book about it!

Stay tuned for more adventures in agility with nsquared!

Are YOUR Development Skills Surfacing?

Microsoft Surface development poses many challenges. While the technological aspects aren't that complicated (if you know WPF, you're well on your way), the creative shift in mindset is enormous and essential.



Today Dr. Neil and I sat down in our Australia office to do our first vlog addressing some of these challenges in response to an article on the ars technica site. We plan to start doing these regularly, so stay tuned. If you need help or training on Microsoft Surface development, contact us!

Microsoft Surface Resto Touch

Presenting Resto Touch by after-mouse with a little help from their friends at nsquared in Sydney!

nsquared consulted for after-mouse on this magnificent application soon to be appearing on Microsoft Surface units at various restaurants and cafes in France. The application represents a revolution in customer service for the restaurant industry, allowing people to order drinks and food right from the comfort of their seats using the Microsoft Surface. The after-mouse creation even offers wine suggestions through a virtual sommelier.

The use of Microsoft Surface has created tremendous buzz and increased traffic for bars like the iBar in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, and such attention could easily become a reality for your retail or service-oriented business. As always, if you need help taking a Microsoft Surface idea and turning it into a gleaming experience, contact us!

Translation Station, iPhone language translation

Translation Station, Dr. Neil's latest iPhone application, was upgraded on June 21st. Translation Station is a free app using the Microsoft Translator that you can use to translate between twelve languages. Thanks Dr. Neil!

Download it here!

nsquared is building more iPhone apps every day! Come to us for help with your ideas at www.nsquaredsolutions.com.

nsquared's Seriously Sexy Surface Software

In an article on June 11 entitled Lonely Planet snaps up Microsoft’s sci-fi computer, Asher Moses described Lonely Planet as being the “first local company to harness Microsoft’s radical new Surface coffee table-computer…” Microsoft evangelist Shane Morris goes on to say, “Lonely Planet is the first Australian brand to start seriously exploring what you can do with Surface.”

This information is so factually deprived that it borders on slander.

Lonely Planet is NOT the first in Australia. Two reasons this article is mistaken:
1. Sydney based nsquared solutions has been developing Surface applications since the birth of the company in April, 2008. Dr. Neil, our CEO, was working with Surface applications before that and partnering with the US Microsoft Surface team. Dr. Neil has been responsible for ALL of the Surface training throughout Europe in 2008 and 2009. We have developed more than 12 separate, completely functional games and applications for Surface.
2. The Lonely Planet application is not going to be released in their Sydney store, so what is even the Australian connection, aside from the fact that the application just happened to be demonstrated at Australian REMIX 09?

We take exception to this nonsense. In addition to our history of developing Surface applications on our own, nsquared recently partnered with After-Mouse, a French based company and European leader in tactile technology development. After-Mouse was voted Microsoft Startup of the Day on May 15, 2009.

The following is a list of applications created by nsquared for Surface.

· The Chemistry App
· The Circuit App
· nsquared Numbers
· nsquared Letters
· Surface Says
· nsquared Snap
· Herding
· Word Play
· Where in the World
· Missing Card
· Name It

nsquared is continuing to innovate and develop natural user interfaces employing touch and vision systems with many more announcements to come.
As always, please contact us if you need help implementing your Surface ideas at http://www.nsquaredsolutions.com/.