If you've got a SQL 2000 solution in place somewhere and are looking to upgrade it to SQL 2005 in the near future, then there is a solution to help you do this now. Its called the Upgrade advisor. Its been through some serious changed due to some great...

I'm sure this is applicable for all 12 of you who want to develop specifically for the Vista platform, but i thought I'd mention it anyway. MSDN now has a Windows Vista MSDN page . There is some great info about developing for the new interface as...

According to MSDN Subscriptions page you can now download Beta 1 of Windows Vista from MSDN Subscriptions If you've got a subscription head over there and download a copy!

If you were looking forward to going to Tech Ed but were procrastinating - you've missed out! Thats right! We've sold out of our 2000 Tech Ed 2005 tickets in Auckland! We've still got four weeks to go too! If you are really desperate I suggest you...

There is a cool new SQL Server & Visual Studio 2005 launch site. Its got a movie feel to it (see if you can spot it). You can download wallpapers, ringtones as well as watch some great modernized videos. Check it out at http://www.escapeyesterworld...

Longhorn is officially to be named Windows Vista. It was announced yesterday internally and today externally. View the announcement at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul05/07-22LHMA.mspx See - its coming! Start saving your pennies...

I'm in Atlanta, waiting for the DPE Keynote to start - its hard to get on the net here (at least for Nigel and myself). Our hotel room has broadband but it's dodgy at best and generally just doesnt work. There is WiFi at the event but when you get...

So Craig - you want to know about my tablet? I was given the duty of speaking at the Tablet PC user group in September so I decided I'd better get a clue about developing on them. So I emailed our IT dept (great tech crew!) who sent me down a first...

I'm about to head to the airport to catch a flight to Auckland. The goal is to get to Atlanta, but given the strikes at AirNZ long haul crew are putting us through - its a bit of a lottery. I understand that my flight to LA is oversold - so I'm probably...

Matin emailed me to let me know about the new shareware starter kit . If you've been thinking about writing and selling some software but don't know where to start you'll want to check out this kit. Dan also gives a great overview of it that should...

I'm doing a presentation in September that I'll need a tablet for so I thought ld better learn! So far I like it!

I've Been a great fan of SPB Software for ages. They make some of the best software around for the Pocket PC. If you've been wanting some great software for your Pockets PC or phone Edition head over to geekzone for 20% off SPB titles until the end...

This is the second cool keyboard I've seen today.... have a look at http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/

Nigel has put up a first cut of the schedule for Tech Ed - if you've been waiting to see it - you can view it here

I just read on Digital Media Thoughts about a kid who was killed because he had an iPod (whether this was what the attackers wanted is not clear) and - surprise! - the boys father received a consoling phone call from Steve Jobs! It guts me to think...

According to the Wellington Linux mailing list archive we are welcome to go back ! It looks like our visit started some good healthy discussion in the group too. I suspect that next time will be lots of fun. Maybe those who weren't there would like...

We had a great night last night at the Wellington .Net User Group. We had 50 people turn up to listen to talks on Visual Studio Team Suite, AJAX.Net and Developing for Windows Media Center. After my talk last night I thought I'd put up a list of the...

If the previous ways to get MSDN Universal have still been out of your price range, you'll be pleased to know that we've managed to bring the price down by a massive 48%. That means that it now costs NZ$3565! More details are in Seans blog post...

When we went to the linux user group on Monday we were given Kubuntu 5.04 CDs (not because we were from Microsoft but because we just happened to say yes when offered one). I hear a lot about how Linux is easier to install today. I know it is true...

Handango and HP have released the HP hw6500 Pocket PC Phone edition in Europe and Asia according to an email I received over night from Handango. The hw6500 is a square screen device which sets it apart from the other Windows Mobile devices out there...

We are now at over 60% capacity for Tech Ed 2005 on August 29-31 in Auckland. That is over 1200 people of a possible 2000 people have now fronted up with a registration fee (or their employer did :-) ). Its starting to look like we will sell out well...

I'm wearing out my keyboard on my blog today... but I wanted to add one or two more... Rory has a great post on the fiasco around the Scoble/Ballmer interview and the Slashdot response . Dare also has some good comments about innovation and Microsoft...

Check out this cool video of an XBOX 360 ad being put up opposite a Sony Playstation press event. How cool is that? BTW - this came from the blogs of Major Nelson

AJAX = Asynchronous Javascript And Xml. Microsoft has a project called Atlas which will deliver some solid AJAX stuff to VS2005 via an addon pack. Things planned for Atlas include: Atlas client script framework ASP.Net Server controls for...

Well - its hardly an invasion, but it makes for good headlines..... :-) Tonight myself and Brett Roberts will be attending the Linux User Group here in Wellington. We dont have a slot or anything, we are simply turning up. If you want to have a chat...