Best of Channel9, 2004

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Microsoft's video blog site, Channel9. So much so, that I spent quite a bit of time over my recent vacation catching up on videos from 2004.

Different segments amazed me for different reasons. Some demo'd Microsoft products I didn't know existed (Photo Story 3). Others gave me a glimpse into toys I've yet to own (Tablet PC, Portable Media Center). A few even provided a look at new technologies being developed at Microsoft Research.

Most of the Channel9 content is geared towards developers, so some of you may find this to be a bit dry. It's certainly raw and unpolished, direct from developer to developer, without the touch of traditional Marketing forces that be.

Without further adieu, here are my top 25 Channel9 picks from 2004 (this should keep you busy for a while!):

Mobile Devices

Neil Enns - Can you give us a demo of the SmartPhone?

Neil Enns - What's cool about his SmartPhone

Neil Enns - Why would anyone want a cell phone with a camera on it?

Neil Enns - If a cell phone developer said "I'm going to go with Java" what would you say?

Ori Amiga - Tour of mobile devices with Visual Studio for Devices team

Ori Amiga - What kinds of apps can you build for the next version of Mobile Devices?

Alex Kipman - Building a mobile service

Tablet PC

Peter Loforte - The Tablet PC has changed my life (in bed)

Peter Loforte - What's cool about the upcoming Tablet PC software?

Peter Loforte - What is a Tablet PC doing when someone writes on the screen?

Bert Keely - Souping up the Tablet PC

Bert Keely - SmartPhone and Tablet PC together

Bert Keely - Tablet PC and maps

Robert Williams - What did you learn from building the Tablet PC?

Robert Williams - Is the Tablet PC technology good enough for using the pen only?

Susan Cameron - New Tablet PC powertoy under development

Miscellaneous

Rich Davies - Inside the SPOT watch team*

Brett Bentsen - A look at the Portable Media Center

Larry Hryb - Join in an Xbox Live game

Vladimir Rovinsky - Demo of just released Photo Story 3

Jason Flaks - What is Windows Media Connect?

Jeffrey Snover - Monad explained

Jeffrey Snover - Monad demonstrated

Research

Lyndsay Williams - MSR/UK's "sensecam"

Andy Wilson - First look at MSR's "touch light"*

* Must-see!

Yeah.. I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.