Geoff Snowman recently reminded me about the MSDN Flash newsletter. If you aren't already receiving this newsletter, then you might want to subscribe. You can even get local news. Geoff has provided instructions how here . -Marc

Do you want to know what's new in BizTalk Server 2006? Find out by watching this upcoming webcast . You can learn about BizTalk Server 2006 and get Beta 1 here . If you are interested in deep training on BizTalk 2006, here are a few options: Business...

VS2005 Team Foundation Server Beta 3 is now available for download from MSDN . See Rick LaPlante's blog (he's the GM in Developer Division responsible for TFS) for the scoop on this release. If you're working with a US Federal Government Agency and...

The installation guide for Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Beta 3 is available for download from here . If you're still using a version prior to Beta 3 and can't for some reason upgrade to Beta 3 right now, there are installation guides for Team...

We're seeing more and more examples everyday of customers and partners either using or wanting to use Microsoft Office 2003 as a Smart Client for business applications that collect, analyze, manipulate, or present information, that uses the power available...

So, have you ever wanted to know how you would add a user to an Active Directory data store using .NET code? This article shows the basics of .NET development with AD, using the "Directory Services" namespace. Including: - How to create an object...

On October 2, 2005, the existing MSDN Registration system will be replaced with a new system to manage MSDN Subscriptions licenses and associated benefits and entitlements through MVLS and eOpen. Volume Licensing Administrators will need to designate...

The content from the PDC Visual Basic 2005 Resource CD is now available on the MSDN site...there's tons of good stuff in there including articles, videos, tools, VB6 upgrade content, samples and starter kits, demos, useful links, VB language futures articles...

Clinic 2806: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers This online clinic provides students with knowledge and skills essential for the creation of applications with enhanced security. Students will learn about the need for implementing...

September 28th, Federal Developer Dinner Lap around SQL Server 2005...

Art Rask, Don Rubin, and Bill Neumann have put together a great article explaining how to implement this functionality on SQL Server 2005. If you have a need for this type of database security, let us know. -Marc

G. Andrew Duthie, one of our DPE counterparts in the Mid-Atlantic area, is running a security code camp on October 29th in Reston, Virginia. You can find more information on his blog . You can register here . -Marc

The patterns and practices folks have been getting rave reviews for the Security Guidance for the .NET Framework 2.0 content they've assembled. There are 25 "how-to's" currently available with a bunch more coming soon. The available ones are: ...

One of the things we are asked repeatedly from our Federal customers is how to ensure web applications are 508 compliant. We have heard you loud and clear and built rich accessibilty support into ASP.Net 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005. Have a look at the...

After fussing in line at the beginning of PDC to get NO RC BITS, all is well after every attendees (including me) received the VS 2005 RC bits on Thursday. BTW, for customers that are considering standing up a VSTF, the beta 3 bits are ONLY DAYS AWAY...

The folks over at patterns & practices are working on a VB6 to VB.Net Migration Guide. The guide is still a work in progress, but you can get an early look at http://www.gotdotnet.com/codegallery/codegallery.aspx?id=07c69750-9b49-4783-b0fc-94710433a66d...

Lots of great Visual Basic content, demos, and samples here . You'll want to check this resource out even if C# is your primary language. -Marc

On 9/13/05 Virtual Server Standard Edition will be added to MSDN Universal and MSDN Enterprise Subscriptions. Virtual Server 2005 Standard will be added to MSDN Universal & MSDN Enterprise Subscriptions Virtual Server 2005 Standard will be...

Step into the Visual Studio 2005 Virtual Lab for Free Visual Studio 2005 Modules · Visual Studio 2005 Click Once Deployment · Crystal Reports for Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 (C#) New! · Crystal Reports for Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 (Visual Basic...

A: September CTP. These two releases are in sync and work great together! -Marc

SQL Server 2005 September CTP is now available for download from MSDN ...I should have included this in my previous post. --Darryl

Visual Studio 2005 RC (Release Candidate) is now available for download for MSDN subscribers --Darryl

You can now register for the launch tour at http://www.microsoft.com/events/2005launchevents/default.mspx . -Marc

Well.. I rolled out of the keynote a few days ago and queued up with the rest of the DVD junkies in order to get the beta software distributed to PDC attendees. Queue was forming fast, but media distribution people (or MDPs) would not start handing...

Paul Flessner (Senior VP of Server Applications) announced today in his SQL Server 2005 Update the delivery of the SQL Server 2005 September CTP . You can download Books Online for the September CTP here . -Marc