Dr. Z's Blog : Technology Discussion

Microsoft MultiPoint Server 2010

zxue — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:36:09 GMT

Would it be nice to share a computer simultaneously with multiple users? Yes, when Microsoft MultiPoint Server 2010 becomes available next year. While the new product is useful for many environments, it is ideal for educational institutions that want to provide more teachers and students with access to technology.

Key features of MultiPoint Server 2010 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Mapping a USB 2.0 keyboard, mouse, and headset to a monitor to create a student station.
Providing each station with an individual Windows desktop, similar to the Windows 7 experience.
Providing a teacher-friendly management user interface, called the MultiPoint Manager, to manage desktops, student accounts, and student sessions.
Providing a fast and easy way to distribute content to students’ desktops.

To find more information on the product, visit the Microsoft MultiPoint Server 2010 web site.

Introducing SharePoint 2010 (Beta)

zxue — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:21:03 GMT

SharePoint Server 2010 Beta provides an extensible platform to rapidly build solutions using familiar tools such as Visual Studio 2010 and SharePoint Designer 2010. Beta is available for download here.

To learn more about SharePoint 2010, visit Microsoft SharePoint web site. Also, check out David Chappell’s white paper, SharePoint 2010: Developer Platform White Paper.

PDC09 Demo App: Tailspin Travel (Visual Studio 2010)

zxue — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:59:25 GMT

You can now download the Tailspin Travel application from Codeplex (download here).

System Requirements: Tailspin was built using Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate, and there are a few features in use in the demo that require that version (e.g. coded-UI tests). If you’re using a different SKU, you’ll still be able to run the solution, but there will be some features you won’t be able to take advantage of. Because we consider the new Windows Server AppFabric a key part to the Tailspin Travel application, we also require that you have it installed. This is what enables the memory-caching, as well as the service/workflow containers, and monitoring support. SQL Server 2008 R2 isn’t a hard requirement, but if you don’t have it installed you won’t be able to deploy the Data-Tier Application (DAC).

In addition to the features that were demoed at PDC keynote, the released version of Tailspin contains many additional scenarios to help developers see a broader view of possibilities with the respective technologies.

PDC 2009: Announcing Availability of ASP.NET MVC 2 (Beta), WIF (RTM) and AppFabric (Beta)

zxue — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:48:30 GMT

At PDC’s keynote Bob Muglia announced availability of several products and technologies. Some of them will be available for download shortly.

a. ASP.NET MVC 2 Beta (for Visual Studio 2008 SP1)

ASP.NET MVC 2 is a framework for developing highly testable and maintainable Web applications by leveraging the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern. The framework encourages developers to maintain a clear separation of concerns among the responsibilities of the application – the UI logic using the view, user-input handling using the controller, and the domain logic using the model. ASP.NET MVC applications are easily testable using techniques such as test-driven development (TDD).

The installation package includes templates and tools for Visual Studio 2008 SP 1 to increase productivity when writing ASP.NET MVC applications. For example, the Add View dialog box takes advantage of customizable code generation (T4) templates to generate a view based on a model object. The default project template allows the developer to automatically hook up a unit-test project that is associated with the ASP.NET MVC application.

Because the ASP.NET MVC framework is built on ASP.NET 3.5 SP 1, developers can take advantage of existing ASP.NET features like authentication and authorization, profile settings, localization, and so on.

b. Windows Identity Foundation RTM (aka “Geneva Framework”)

Microsoft Windows Identity Foundation helps simplify user access for developers by externalizing user access from applications via claims and reducing development effort with pre-built security logic and integrated .NET tools. Users can benefit through single sign-on and seamless collaboration across organizational boundaries.

c. Windows Server AppFabric Beta (New product)

Windows Server AppFabric is a set of integrated technologies that make it easier to build, scale and manage web and composite applications that run on IIS. The Beta 1 of Windows Server AppFabric will be available for download shortly.

You can watch PDC keynote live broadcast at http://microsoftpdc.com

Facebook Toolkit for .NET Developers

zxue — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:26:50 GMT

Microsoft has just released a Facebook SDK that enables .NET developers to quickly and easily leverage the various features of the Facebook Platform. This toolkit has evolved over time with input from the community and from Microsoft. The latest release (v3.0) includes new architectural improvements and provides an asynchronous interface for using the toolkit from Silverlight and from WPF.

You can find more info on the SDK and detailed instructions about how to create a Fackbook application here.

The Toolshed Man Starts a New Chapter

zxue — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:30 GMT

A colleague of mine, who I got to know while working out of the Microsoft New England office, decided to start a new chapter after 12 years of service. He is best known as Russ’s Tool Shed. If you think developing .NET applications can be fun, you are absolutely right. Check out one of his episodes on Channel9.

Resources for Developing Windows 7 Applications

zxue — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:01:15 GMT

Microsoft has put together a list of online resources to help developers get started with creating Windows 7 applications, including links to application compatibility tool, Windows SDK, managed code for Windows 7 APIs, and the training kit. See more detail here. The training kit includes many sample Windows 7 applications and presentations.

Also, you can download and run a reference Windows 7 application called “PhotoView” at the MSDN site. The application features the Image Viewer, a WPF application that runs on XP. But when you run the same application on Windows 7, it unlocks new technologies such as Taskbar, the Sensors and Location Platform, and Multitouch, as well as “old” Vista friends such as Application Recovery and Windows Search.

Technorati Tags: Windows 7,Application Development,Training Kit,PhotoViewer

Intel CEO Paul Otellini Speaks about Windows 7 and PC Refresh Cycle at FoxBusiness

zxue — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:11:23 GMT

(Starting at 2'50" of the video clip)

Why asked by FoxBusiness reporters why businesses may not put off upgrading to Windows 7 this time, Intel CEO Paul Otellini responds by saying that three are three things coming together. Most corporations are using XP. That's been almost ten years old now. Most computers are four to five years old; they are costing corporations more to keep than to buy the new one. CFOs are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of business improving for 2010. That could start the refresh cycle again.

Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 Available

zxue — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:50:07 GMT

The Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework Beta 2 is available to MSDN subscribers on Monday, October 19th, with general availability on October 21st.

Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Beta 2

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/dd441784.aspx

Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 Walkthroughs

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/dd441784.aspx

Setting Beautiful Bing Pictures as your Windows 7 Background

zxue — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:51:54 GMT

To set beautiful Bing pictures as your Windows 7 desktop background, download the custom theme file, install it on your Windows 7 computer and optionally modify the setting. A blog post outlines the three steps in detail.

If you are curious about how the custom theme works behind the scenes, and how the Bing images are downloaded to your computer via an RSS feed, read this blog post. Amazing!

For Windows XP users: the custom theme will not work on XP. However, you still can enjoy Windows 7 themes on your XP if you like. Watch this interesting youtube video to find out how.

Note: A Windows desktop theme is a combination of pictures, colors, and sounds on your computer. It includes a desktop background, a screen saver, a window border color, and a sound scheme. Some themes might also include desktop icons and mouse pointers. Windows comes with several themes including Aero themes you can choose from. Click here to learn more about Windows theme and how to change and customize your desktop theme. You can download additional themes from Microsoft.com and other web sites.

Insights to Six Concerns Over Windows Azure

zxue — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:26:31 GMT

In his blog post titled “Outlook for Azure – scattered clouds but generally sunny”, Vishwas Lele, CTO of Applied Information Sciences, addresses concerns over pricing, scalability, performance, remote desktop access and applicability of Windows Azure, and offers his insights based on his knowledge of and hands-on experience with Windows Azure in its pre-release versions.

In his closing mark, he states that while the Azure product team is working hard to address and improve some technical aspects of the Azure platform, “for the rest of us, who want to build cloud application using the .NET building blocks we know and the VS.NET based tools we love, work is cut out for us as well …”

An Architect’s perspective on Silverlight 3

zxue — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:56:50 GMT

October 27, 2009 at 11:00am – 12:30pm PST

Title: An Architect’s perspective on Silverlight 3

Presenter: Tim Heuer

Abstract: Many .NET developers are becoming more and more interested in the Rich Internet Application development space, and in particular Silverlight. In this session we will step back from a detailed implementation technology and take a higher level look at Silverlight from the architect’s perspective. We will discuss the types of applications where Silverlight makes sense and some scenarios where Silverlight may not be the appropriate technology. We will also delve into some of the architectural decisions that the architect must consider when writing applications for this platform and where some of the tradeoffs may lie.

Tim Heuer

I currently work for Microsoft as a program manager for Microsoft Silverlight, a web technology aimed at delivering rich internet experiences to users. Before this current role, I was a developer evangelist for Microsoft serving the Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana and Utah areas aiming to strengthen and support communities and software developers in these geographies.

Event ID: 1032427862

Link to Register: An Architect’s perspective on Silverlight 3

Deploying Windows 7 from an Infrastructure Architect’s Perspective

zxue — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:54:50 GMT

October 28, 2009 at 11:00am – 12:30pm PST

Title: Deploying Windows 7 from an Infrastructure Architect’s Perspective

Presenter: Doug Klokow

Abstract:

We’ll discuss 5 key areas centered on deploying Windows 7: Developing business justification – Evaluate the capabilities provided by Windows 7 and develop a plan for how to realize business value from these solutions; Where are you today – Explore the differences of preparing for Windows 7 based on your current desktop operating system; Application readiness – Explore the tools and resources available to gain insight into your readiness to deploy Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8, and/or Office 2007/2010; Deployment readiness – Explore the tools and resources available to create a design and deployment solution for your enterprise; Training your employees – Discuss available resources for training your IT Staff and End Users.

Doug Klokow

Part of Microsoft Consulting Services for 9 years focused on client desktop deployment solutions. He is part of the Virtual Deployment Practice that is focused on driving early customer deployment on Microsoft client technologies and is also supporting Microsoft’s Desktop Virtualization capabilities and service offerings.

Event ID: 1032427863

Link to Register: Deploying Windows 7 from an Infrastructure Architect’s Perspective

Choosing the Right Version of Windows 7

zxue — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:35:07 GMT

While Microsoft has made great effort to simplify the choice of the latest operating system -- Windows 7, there are still confusions among consumers and users as to which version of Windows 7 is the best for them. The Microsoft web site lists 3 versions, with retail pricing and high-level feature comparisons: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate. A detailed comparison, feature by feature, is documented by this article at Wikipedia.

For home users, the Home Premium edition is the typical choice. For business users, the Professional edition is recommended. If you need some advanced features such as virtual disk boot (virtualization) and DirectAccess (a VPN-like solution), Ultimate is your best bit whether you are a home user or business user.

There are several variations to the three editions that may offer additional choices for you.

Windows 7 Starter edition is for netbooks only and comes with very basic features.
Windows 7 Home Basic will be available in emerging markets and will not be available in several countries including the United States.
Windows 7 Enterprise edition. This edition, which contains the same features as Windows 7 Ultimate, is a volume licensing option for enterprise customers.
European alternative editions and South Korea alternative editions. More detail to come.
All editions except the Starter edition support both 32-bit and 64-bit. If your PC hardware supports 64-bit architecture, you may choose the 64-bit version of your selected Windows 7 edition.

Molly Wood and Ina Fried at CNET recently interviewed Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and asked him about Windows 7 editions, and other questions concerning Windows Mobile 6.5, Courier Tablet, Apple Tablet, Bing vs. Google, and Zune HD. Check out the video if interested.

Microsoft SQL Azure Database Community Technology Preview (CTP) Just Released

zxue — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:44:00 GMT

The SQL Azure Database CTP includes:

· Relational data model supporting Transact-SQL (T-SQL), including T-SQL stored procedures. Access SQL Azure with familiar data access APIs such as ODBC, OLE DB, ADO.Net, PHP, etc. The high degree of compatibility with SQL Server enables easy migration of existing Line of Business (LOB) or Web applications to the cloud.

· Self-provisioning, auto-healing and disaster recovery, with high availability and no physical database administration. Self service provisioning means you can provision any number of databases and not have to worry about machines, disks, or server configuration.

Pay-as-you-grow multi-tenant scalable service model.
Efficiencies from an enterprise class data center without the administrative overhead.
Support for familiar tools so developers can leverage existing skills to speed time to solution

SQL Server Driver for PHP CTP will include:

Support for SQL Azure, PHP version 5.3, and UTF-8
Support for Scrollable results and row count
Migration to the SQL Server 2008 Native Client framework with enhanced performance