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Microsoft Previews Mads Kristensen Keynote at Orlando Dev Conference

• By David Ramel
• 10/23/2024

Microsoft today previewed a keynote presentation by Visual Studio guru Mads Kristensen at an upcoming developer/IT pro event where he will be joined by other company dev luminaries such as Jon Galloway, Rachel Kang, and James Montemagno.

What's more, the keynote for a co-hosted AI-centric show will be delivered by Microsoft's Steve Sanderson, the creator of Blazor who has lately been toying with AI-powered "smart components" for .NET.

"Join Mads Kristensen, principal product manager at Microsoft, as he shares insights on how the Developer Division designs software to meet the diverse needs of IT pros, DBAs, security specialists, data scientists, and developers worldwide," said Microsoft's Jim Harrer in a blog post today (Oct. 23). "Learn from Mads' experience about overcoming challenges and creating essential, beloved products for millions of users."

Kristensen will be keynoting the Live! 360 multi-conference event next month in Orlando. It's a big umbrella event that also hosts shows for Visual Studio, AI, Data, Cloud & Containers, Cybersecurity & Ransomware and more. Of special interest to readers of Visual Studio Magazine is the Visual Studio Live! conference.

"Live! 360 Orlando offers unmatched opportunities to network with top experts and fellow professionals," Harrer said. "With attendance capped at just 1,500, you'll have the chance to meet speakers and product managers in casual settings. Don't miss the Welcome Reception on Monday evening and visit our speaker's booth throughout the event. Whether you want to discuss GitHub Copilot or the future of .NET, these events provide the perfect opportunity to connect."

Harrer also announced pricing discounts for subscribers to the Professional or Enterprise edition of the company's flagship IDE.

He also listed other highlights of the conference that runs Nov. 17-22:

• Visual Studio Live! & Cloud & Containers Live! Keynote: The Cloud-Native, Run Anywhere Future of .NET 9 Is Here! November 19, 8:00 AM -- 9:00 AM Featuring Jon Galloway, Rachel Kang, and James Montemagno, this keynote will showcase the incredible potential of .NET 9 for cloud-native development and its evolving capabilities for running anywhere.
• Data Platform Live! Keynote: Secure, Unified, and Scalable Data in the Era of AI November 19, 8:00 AM -- 9:00 AM Presented by Davide Mauri and Drew Skwiers-Koballa, this keynote will dive into how Microsoft Azure Data technologies provide the secure, scalable platforms needed to leverage AI and build next-gen applications.
• Artificial Intelligence Live! Keynote: How and Why, AI is Redefining Your Apps November 19, 8:00 AM -- 9:00 AM Steve Sanderson will explore how AI-driven features like semantic search, data extraction, and intelligent workflows are transforming modern software development.

As far as those discounts, Harrer said they can be unlocked for those two subscriber groups at My.VisualStudio.com. Non-subscribers can still take advantage of early bird pricing through the end of this week.

Noting the conference's 300-plus sessions across 40 tracks, Harrer said: "Live! 360 Orlando is one of the most hands-on, knowledge-packed events of the year. Whether you're interested in the latest developments in .NET 9, Azure AI, Microsoft Copilot, or building Copilot Agents, there's a session for you. Plus, a dedicated conference within Live! 360 focuses exclusively on cybersecurity, ensuring you'll stay ahead of the latest threats."

The conference is presented by the parent company of Visual Studio Magazine.