Do you enjoy our Black Marble events, but can’t always make it in person?  Busy day at the office, mean you can’t attend a full or even a half day event?  From 30 January 2012, we are introducing a series of online seminars – running most Mondays though to the end of June, we are covering a range of topics in bite-size sessions.  Follow the links for more information and to register – or call on 01274 300175 for more details.

30 Jan – Search Architecture

06 Feb – What is new in Azure?

20 Feb – Why Migrate from Visual SourceSafe to Visual Studio Team Foundation Server

12 Mar – Content Management with Avviso and SharePoint 2010

19 Mar – Visual Studio Team Foundation Server for Everyone

26 Mar – An Introduction to SQL 2012

16 Apr – Introduction to Azure

23 Apr – An Introduction to Lab Management

30 Apr – Microsoft Surface – It is not just Touch

14 May – Designing for SharePoint

21 May – How to Kickstart your ALM Process

28 May – Designing Applications for the Windows Phone

11 Jun – Creating Data Aware Visio Diagrams in SharePoint 2010

18 Jun – What is New in Azure?

We love Christmas at Black Marble and our Black Marble Christmas Adventure has already begun – please follow the adventure online to find out what peril has befallen Santa this time, and how the team can save him!  

Our website has it’s Christmas style on -  and our office is decorated from top to bottom!  Advent calendars are everywhere too

Plus, once again we are supporting The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) and Bletchley Park with our Christmas Cards, and I encourage you all to do the same.

Merry Christmas!

We are delighted at Black Marble to announce a great series of events to brighten your days through the darkness of Autumn and Winter.

Kicking off in September with the first of four Visual Studio events exploring the different products available – from Express to Ultimate – to help you determine which is best for you and your business.

21 September – Black Marble / 12 October – Microsoft London 
16 November – Black Marble / 14 December – Microsoft London.

Middle of October we are running our Mix in the North event – focusing on the highlights of MIX, the conference for web developers and UX designers working the Microsoft platform.  Joining us are Microsoft’s Michael McClary (@michaelmcclary), Will Coleman (@will_coleman) and Mike Taulty (@mtaulty).  As well as some great demos of Windows Phone 7, we will have a Microsoft Surface available for you to try.

During the evening, we will be welcoming companies who have signed up to (or want to sign up to) WebsiteSpark and BizSpark.

November starts with a day full of SharePoint greatness – the morning explores the key features we use having worked with SharePoint 2010 for over a year, and during the afternoon we are focusing on using SharePoint for Content Management.

December see a return of the Architecture Forum in the North – this year’s title is “Tools and Methods for Architects” and we are once again joined by Matt Deacon, Simon Thurman, Simon Davies, Giles Davies and Mark Richardson from Microsoft.

And top it all off, following the success of our Open Day we are opening our doors once more in December – join us for drinks, mince pies and plenty of Christmas cheer!

The Black Marble Brigade have finally foiled Professor iNfamy’s nefarious schemes … time to kick back and relax!

We at Black Marble wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year!

This year, Black Marble are making a donation The Bletchley Park Trust and The National Museum of Computing for every card sent … these organisations need your support to maintain our industry’s heritage.

Episode Five of Yule Time Travel is now available … can the Black Marble Brigade stop Professor iNfamy from wiping out Operating Systems as we know them?

This year, Black Marble are making a donation The Bletchley Park Trust and The National Museum of Computing for every card sent … these organisations need your support to maintain our industry’s heritage.  

Now the Black Marble Brigade have saved computing in the 1940s … can they save it in the 1980s??

Part IV of the Black Marble Brigade Yule Time Travel Adventure is now live … find out what nefarious plans Professor iNfamy has in store for desktop operating systems, and can our heroes thwart his scheme?

Part V coming this Thursday (17 December).

This year, Black Marble are making a donation The Bletchley Park Trust and The National Museum of Computing for every card sent … this organisations need your support to maintain our industry’s heritage.

The Black Marble Brigade are at Bletchley Park in the 1940s … can they save Colossus from Professor iNfamy’s evil plan? 

And why not visit the real WORKING Colossus at The National Museum of Computing? 

Plus, like Black Marble, you can donate to keep Colossus working for all future generations.

After a hiatus in 2008, the Black Marble Brigade return this year caught up in the machinations of the mysterious Professor iNfamy! 

Part I (left) on our website and on every desk with a Black Marble Xmas Card! 

Find out in Part II (right) where iNfamy’s time travelling scheme has taken them … that mansion looks familiar …  

Part III coming this Thursday …

This year, Black Marble are making a donation The Bletchley Park Trust and The National Museum of Computing for every card sent … this organisations need your support to maintain our industry’s heritage.

Once again, Black Marble, with friends and family, had a great Xmas lunch at the Chaophraya in Leeds.  Everyone who attended enjoyed the food, the company and the great gifts!  I’m now looking forward to the first Annual Black Marble Magic Show in the New Year  on our next Home Day!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish staff, friends, customers and partners a wonderful Christmas and prosperous New Year.

The latest selection of Black Marble Xmas cards have a distinctly sci fi theme … We are particularly fond of the snowman below inspired by our devs regular game playing!

Have a very Halo Xmas.