14 DAY TRIAL // At the end of June 2009, Microsoft opened up access to the development tools associated with its first commercial example of surface computing. At that time, the Redmond company indicated that partners would be granted access to a stripped down edition of the Microsoft Surface software development kit. In this sense, the software giant offered partners the Surface SDK minus the hardware component. Now Microsoft is doing the same for the MSDN Academic Alliance.
According to Eric Havir, Sr. manager, Digital Communications at Microsoft/Surface, “the Microsoft Surface SDK Workstation Edition is now available for subscribers with the MSDN Academic Alliance.” Developers accessing the Surface SDK via MSDN-AA will get the same deal as company partners, namely the Workstation edition of the SDK, but not the full package, which also includes a Surface developer unit.
“MSDN-AA makes it easier and less expensive for academic institutions to obtain Microsoft developer tools, platforms and servers for instructional and research purposes. Microsoft Surface's multi-touch, multi-user experience is already changing the world. Now, professors will be able to differentiate themselves and their school – building curricula on how to develop for Surface as a springboard into the future of computing. Students will be able to run the simulator on every workstation in the lab, developing with Surface for application projects,” Havir added.
In mid-July 2009, Microsoft Surface QuickStart went live, which, together with the Microsoft Surface Partner Program, is designed to help developers start building applications for Microsoft Surface. Although it doesn't come with a physical tabletop computer, the Workstation Edition of the Surface SDK comes with a simulator that is designed to allow a certain level of testing that would normally require a Surface unit.
“The MSDN Academic Alliance is the easiest and most inexpensive way for academic departments to make the latest Microsoft software available in labs, classrooms, and on student PCs. The program, which is available in more than 45 countries worldwide, has two primary goals: To make it easier and less expensive for academic institutions to obtain Microsoft developer tools, platforms, and servers for instructional and research purposes. To build a community of instructors who can share curriculum and other learning resources to support the use of these technologies,” Microsoft noted.