#CONV15 – Convergence 2015 Atlanta – Day 4
The last day of Convergence 2015 had arrived.
Today, we actually arrived at the conference center early enough to grab some breakfast in the Meals Hall before heading over to the Philips Arena for the Closing Keynote presentation.
The introduction to the keynote contained information on the upcoming conferences, including Microsoft Convergence EMEA in Barcelona, Spain and next year’s Convergence in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Also mentioned were the Dynamics User Group Summits being held in Reno, Nevada, USA.
Then it was time for the keynote speaker, David Finn who is the Associate General Counsel and Executive Director, Microsoft Cybercrime Center.
David discussed the work of the Digital Crimes Unit at Microsoft and how they are using “big data” and visualization techniques to fight cybercrime.
David Finn from Microsoft’s Cybercrime team
By analysing the various botnet viruses and Trojans, Microsoft is able to apply to legally have the call back pings for instructions from the botnets diverted to Microsoft servers. This allows the botnets to be rendered harmless while also capturing data on the location and volume of the infections. This information can be visualized to show global infections of each virus.
David also discussed how Microsoft developed PhotoDNA technology which can be used to fight child pornography and can still identify illegal images even if they have been modified. This service is being used by many of the giants of the IT world.
For more information on the topics covered in the Closing Keynote, the best method would be to watch it yourself online via the Convergence Video Library.
Use the link below to go directly to the session video:
You can also view similar information on the following web article:
After the keynote, I was able to get back to the Expo for a while and complete the section of the floor that I had not got around to in my previous visits.
Then it was time to attend the one and only session that I went to that was not being presented by myself or Mariano…..
- CSG003-R2 Microsoft Dynamics GP: New 50 tips in 50 minutes
Mark Polino has the formula for these sessions just right, he rattles through 50 cool tips with just enough information to get you interested enough to jot down the tip number before he is on to the next tip. All the actual detail about the tips can be found on his website: www.DynamicAccounting.net (go to Free Stuff >> Presentations).
After sitting down the front and heckling Mark, it was time to sit down at the front and heckle Mariano in the final session of the Convergence 2015 conference. This was repeat of the CS15G002-R2: Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015: Upgrading and deploying session. Mariano still managed to pull a good crowd and keep them awake. The last timeslot in a 4 day (4.5 day, if you count PreGame) conference is always hard as everyone is tired and overloaded with information by that time.
And then it was all over, except for the most important part of any conference that I go to….
It was time for Tim Tam slams at the Omni Hotel’s Lobby Bar. Mariano had sent out a tweet to the usual suspects and we also had a few new suckers people join us for some chocolaty fun.
For the uninitiated: The Arnott’s Tim Tam (original) is a chocolate coated, chocolate cream filled, rectangular chocolate biscuit/cookie. If you nibble the chocolate from each end and then use it like a straw with a hot drink (hot chocolate or coffee), you can suck hard and then as soon as the liquid reaches your mouth throw back the entire biscuit into your mouth. Where it will dissolve, melt and disintegrate into an amazing chocolate “orgasm” in your mouth. This is known as the Tim Tam Slam.
Check out some videos below of your favourite GPUG team:
Andy Hafer doing the Tim Tam Slam at Microsoft Convergence 2015 in Atlanta (direct link)
Kim Peterson doing the Tim Tam Slam at Microsoft Convergence 2015 in Atlanta (direct link)
Bob McAdam doing the Tim Tam Slam at Microsoft Convergence 2015 in Atlanta (direct link)
For a full playlist of videos click: Tim Tam slams from Convergence 2015 Atlanta
Featuring:
- John Lowther
- Craig Klapman
- Cindy Reeves
- Tanya Markwith
- Andy Hafer
- Mark Huff (Hands Free)
- Kim Peterson
- Bob McAdam
- Belinda Allen
- Mariano Gomez
- Olga Acosta
- Eddie Yepes (FAIL!!!! :-) )
- Chris Dobkins
- Jorge Mejia (Partial Fail)
Note: Can you hear Emily Roen in the background? She wimped out at having a go at doing a Tim Tam Slam but was happy to watch others try.
After we ran out of Tim Tams, John, Mariano, Belinda and I walked through the CNN Center Mall on our way to Dantanna’s. We walked past the Cartoon Network shop and I got a photo with my intoxicated friend Rick from the show Rick and Morty.
We had a lovely farewell dinner at Dantanna’s. The steaks were excellent. I heard from John that the salad was good, even though I am not sure how he can tell.
John, Would you like some salad with your Thousand Island dressing?
As we were leaving the restaurant, the Njevity team arrived and so I got a chance to say one last good bye to Chris and Emily.
Chris Dobkins, Mariano Gomez, Emily Roen, David Musgrave
That’s it. Convergence 2015 Atlanta was now officially over.
David
This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.
Filed under: Conference, Dynamics, GP, Microsoft, News Tagged: Conference, Convergence 2015, News
This was originally posted here.
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