Blog List

I finally got around to setting us up an account on the Windows Phone 7 marketplace and thought I’d share some of the experience as it might help others and i’ll update this post if i’ve done something incorrectly.

I mainly followed the following blog posts:

http://codejoker.com/2010/08/06/windows-phone-developer-account-guide/

http://notgartner.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/a-disappointing-windows-marketplace-mobile-developer-experience/

There’s some good points to note in these to help you not have to do this process twice.

For me I got stuck on the SWIFT number. For years my bank gave me a 9 digit number that I’ve given to people to pay us from overseas. When I entered this on the site I received a “Incorrect Format” error. Thanks to Nial, it’s apparantly just your normal BSB number. So I tried that and it seemed to like that much better. Only when I build an app that costs money and get paid will I know if this is correct

I set our account up as Tax Entity Type : Business and when I looked at the other forms needed for the W8-BEN it seemed that the ITIN form was only for individuals. After consulting twitter I was pointed to the EIN forms to complete for a business. After reading stories from others on the cost and effort it took them for this step I almost submitted the form and was content to lose the 30%. When I read a bit more about the EIN, the process for this seems, at the moment, to be fairly simple.

Download and fill out the SS-4 form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf As we’re outside the US...

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Each year we sit down and look at all the work-related activities we were involved in throughout the year and reflect on a few things like: the effort involved, the monetary return, the level of grief/pain, the level of enjoyment . When I thought back on all the things I’d done this year, it turned out my top 3 were activities that didn’t directly earn me money doing them, and in fact I gave up my own time and days away from paid work to do. It’s good that we’re in an industry and in a position in life where we can do work and then can afford to give time and effort to things that are rewarding. So my top 3 rewarding activities for the year:

Imagine Cup – This year I was really fortunate to be involved in Imagine Cup. Many thanks to Andrew Parsons for getting me involved. This wasn’t around when I was at university, but I really wish it was! This year I was involved in judging two rounds of Game Design and the finals of Software Design. The game design was very cool. It was amazing the quality of the games that had been entered by students in their own time on top of their studies. If you want to check out the top 3 Games Finalists for 2010 have a look at these: By Implication's Wildfire: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/wildfire-preview-power-to-the-people/

NomNom Productions' Shift: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/shift-preview-staring-at-the-sun/

Green Gear Studios' Island of Nazeth: http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/island-of-nazeth-preview-taking-out-the-trash/

...

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linux.conf.au is on in Brisbane this year, from 24-29 January: http://lca2011.linux.org.au/

It has become traditional to hold a Girl Geek Dinner during the week of LCA to allow the visiting girl geeks to meet up with the local crowd, even when the locals might not be attending the conference. This fosters a greater sense of community amongst women in tech across the country and the world, and further supports the central tenet of Girl Geek Dinners.

The dinner is fully sponsored by Red Hat, and will be held at the Red Hat offices at North Quay. Come along to meet some new faces!

Date: Monday, 24 January, 2011. From 6-8pm. Nibbles to be provided at the venue, and a restaurant/bar (to be announced) to be designated for people who wish to carry on later into the night .

People: We must cap the attendees at a maximum of 50. The usual GGD rules apply, so boy geeks are more than welcome to come, but must have a girl geek escort.

Food: Platters of nibbles and soft drink/juice will be provided by Red Hat at the venue. Alcohol and more substantive meals can be purchased at the bar afterwards.

Where: Red Hat Brisbane, Level 1, 193 North Quay, Brisbane. We will have someone at the door to let you in. Parking is very limited in the city, so catch any public transport to Roma St station, it's only a 5 minute walk from there.

When: Monday 24 January, 2010, starting at 6pm. At Red Hat offices until 8pm, and a venue to be decided afterwards.



If you wish to bring children with you to the official part of the dinner (at the Red Hat offices), then you are more than welcome. There will not be any alcohol served at the event. If they are over 6, please make sure you arrange a ticket for them (so we can cater). However, the event is likely to be fairly crowded and could be noisy, so...

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