Posted: July 30th, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft, Tech and CS, Technology | Tags: Microsoft | No Comments »
Day after Microsoft release Bing Search Engine or as they call it decision engine I put it bing to test. Search was ok but I didn’t find it smarter than Google, then I checked the Maps option and it was horrible. But its been few weeks and today I went to bing after I saw its travel option on the television addvertisment. And let me tell you its impressive and I think its one step ahead Google. So this is what I did, I just typed
Bing Search Box
on the search box, and following result shows up as the first result among many others.
Bing Travel Prediction
. I would say up to this stage Google and Bing are neck to neck on this but after you click above option Bing kicks to the next gear like Alberto Contador climb mountains by dancing on his saddle. Yeap, as person who is in the field of HCI and Data Mining, I was very impressed on what I saw in bing. It has predictions on ticket prices such as if they were to stay steady or to go up. Yes it says that
Note that deals are compiled on yesterday’s lowest airfares and can change often.
but its still ahead Google at least on this matter.
Not only that it gives nice graphical representation of the price fluctuation along with the prediction of the price with respect the date.
So, its True that this is no ordinary search engine, but Machine Learning at its best. So if I was Google I would be bit worried about bing. Google as new era technology company had the advantage of learning from all the mistakes made my giants like Microsoft, Yahoo, etc. But I guess for the first time, Microsoft using it potential and capability and thinking out of the box. And the best thing is they are simply try to match everything that Google does where they have been doing it for the past decade. I am not a big Microsoft fan but I have to give props for this to Microsoft, Bravo.
Posted: March 26th, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft, Travel | 2 Comments »
I landed around 11.00am in Tacoma, Seattle airport. Unfortunately Avis rental car computer system was down so there was a very long line. Microsoft had a reservation for me at Hilton hotel in Bellevue. I must say Microsoft really take care of the people they bring into town. I checked out the restaurants in the area and found out few good Sea Food places. I normally like to check out local joints when I got to a new place. I believe that’s the only way you find out the real taste of the town. So its time to step out side and check check out the area.
Posted: March 25th, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft | No Comments »
If you read my previous posts related Microsoft, you already know that I did write similar post just before the day that I was about to fly. But this time I think I am actually going to take off. In January day before flying day by this time (9.00pm central time), I got a phone call from Microsoft informing that interview is postponed. Its almost 10.00pm and looks like I have the green light.
So, I had little bit time to brush up knowledge on Data Structures, and some algorithms. I think its going to fun, no matter what I get the opportunity to go inside Microsoft and get interviewed by some of the smartest people in this planet. I am hopping to do my best and also I am not going to forget to enjoy.
Keep in tune, I am sure there will be few posts after the trip…
Posted: January 25th, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft | No Comments »
Microsoft has send an email asking to send four new dates for them to reschedule the interview trip to Seattle. Lets hope that this time I wont get a call just before flying day from Microsoft…
Posted: January 22nd, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft | No Comments »
Theoretically I should be writing this blog from Seattle, but if you read my post you know where I am, anyway I think I found some reasoning for the re-scheduling of my interview. This is just my theory and my opinion. Microsoft announced that they are cutting 5000 jobs and close to 1200 pink slips are effective from today. According to this news I came up with two reason for the re-scheduling of my interview.
1. May be some of the personal from my interview panel lost their jobs and they got to know that last minute.
2. Microsoft thought that its unethical or Morally wrong to interview new hires on a day that exsisting employees getting pink slips (lay offs).
Which one it is, I guess will never know…
Posted: January 21st, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft | 3 Comments »
As you know by now, I am all set to fly to Redmond, Seattle to for Microsoft Interview. I have done online check-in and printed all the necessary documents and few brain teasers to read during the flight. It was almost 8.30pm in CDT and my phone started ringing. I looked at the Caller ID and I recognized it was from Microsoft.
I was right on and it was Microsoft. It was not my recruiter nor Tejpreet who was doing Scheduling and Travel Organization. In fact I spoke to her two hours ago to confirm about some reimbursement related to Park N Fly. So I had clear green light for everything for tomorrows trip.
Getting back to the phone call, Person who called me said introduce him self has a Microsoft Staffing Manager and he said that My Interview has been canceled at the last minute and he was so sorry to call me so late. I was confuse, I said I just had a conversation with the travel organization person and she didn’t tell me anything about it. He said it just happened because personal from interview panel are unable to confirm the scheduling time. So they don’t want me to come and get me interviewed by different panel. He also said you don’t have to worry about contacting my recruiter or any other person because Microsoft will take care of everything and they will re-schedule the interview.
Isn’t this crazy, Who would organize Flying Tickets, Hotel (Reservation was at Hilton), Rental car and all the other reservations without confirming with the Interview Panel…
I think there is more to this than just simply saying interview panel can’t make it…
Posted: January 20th, 2009 | Author: Anuradha Uduwage | Filed under: Java Ruled, Microsoft | Tags: Microsoft, Travel | 5 Comments »
Sometime in November I saw email which I never expected. Recruiting Organizer from Microsoft email me to find out possible dates for me to fly to Seattle for the Microsoft onsite interview. Her name was Tejpreet and I must say that she was really helpful. When I contacted her, she said that she will be the person who is scheduling my interview dates and other arrangements during my trip to Seattle.
Over the past month or so, we had to over come few confusions related the position that I was planning to apply interms of Internship or full-time position. Only because Microsoft wanted to setup appropriate interview. Once we clear that out, we had to clear out few scheduling conflicts. But Thanks to Tejpreet, all those conflicts were solved and changes were made to satisfy both the parties.
So Yesterday, I got the ticket and hotel details and its final that I will be flying to Seattle Microsoft Office to get interviewed by the Giant in Software World.
One more thing, My recruiter told that I will be getting interviewed by two teams within MSSQL team.
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