The world’s most popular browser just got a whole lot better :-) It's now easier, faster and safer to venture out on the web.
Their is a host of new features:
- Accelerators, to ease the effort in mapping directions, language translations, etc.
- InPrivate browsing, that prevents your browse history from being saved
- Web Slices, to keep you updated on site changes
- Search suggestions, and
- SmartScreen Filter, to make your browsing experience safer
Go
download a copy and get your hands dirty.
Along with the increasing popularity of the web, AJAX has increased in popularity as a framework for enhancing web experiences. ASP.NET AJAX has provided developers with a way to use client-side code, without writing the JavaScript themselves This is very good news, if JavaScript is not your forte.
If this is a world that excites you, go check out a preview of ASP.NET AJAX 4.0. You can also find documentation and a short exercise on these new features.
The .NET 3.5 Enhancements Training Kit has been downloaded over 28 000 times. It's the easiest and fastest way to get up to speed on .NET Framework 3.5. It contains slides, scripted demos and labs. You can even impress family members with the content:-)
With .NET Framework 3.5 SP 1 the kit has been updated. So, download the updated Kit and get going. It even includes a 1-day and 2-day agenda, so you are able to provide some valuable training to your colleagues.
Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is not a traditional service pack. Aside from some bug fixes, normally associated with service pack releases, this service pack includes quite a lot of new features.
The .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 delivers:
- Performance increases between 20-45% for WPF-based applications.
- WCF improvements that give developers more control over the way they access data and services.
- Streamlined installation experience for client applications.
- Improvements in the area of data platform, such as the ADO.NET Entity Framework, ADO.NET Data Services and extensive support for SQL Server 2008’s new features.
Visual Studio 2008 SP1 delivers:
- Improved designers for building WPF applications
- Full support for SQL Server 2008
- ADO.NET Entity Framework and ADO.NET Data Services tooling
- Visual Basic and Visual C++ components and tools
- Improvements to TFS to respond to customer feedback on version control usability and performance, improved email integration with work item tracking and full support for hosting on SQL 2008.
- Improvements for Web development including richer JavaScript support, enhanced AJAX and data tools, and Web site deployment.
Visit the SP1 information page for an overview of these new features, as well as download instructions.
Enjoy!
SQL Server 2008 is now available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers and is already available for evaluation download.
SQL Server 2008 Enterprise. SQL Server 2008 Enterprise is a comprehensive data management and business intelligence platform that provides enterprise-class scalability, data warehousing, security, advanced analytics and reporting support for running business-critical applications. With this edition, it is possible to consolidate servers and perform large-scale online transactional processing.
SQL Server 2008 Standard. SQL Server 2008 Standard is a complete data management and business intelligence platform that provides best-in-class ease of use and manageability for running departmental applications.
SQL Server 2008 Workgroup. SQL Server 2008 Workgroup is a reliable data management and reporting platform that delivers secure, remote synchronization and management capabilities for running branch applications. This edition includes core database features and is easy to upgrade to the Standard or Enterprise edition.
SQL Server 2008 Web. SQL Server 2008 Web is designed for highly available, Internet-facing Web-serving environments running on Windows Server. SQL Server 2008 Web provides the tools necessary to support low-cost, large-scale, highly available Web applications or hosting solutions for customers.
SQL Server 2008 Developer. SQL Server 2008 Developer allows developers to build and test any type of application with SQL Server. This edition features all of the functionality of SQL Server Enterprise but is licensed only for development, test and demo use. Applications and databases developed on this edition can easily be upgraded to SQL Server 2008 Enterprise.
SQL Server 2008 Express. SQL Server 2008 Express is a free edition of SQL Server that features core database functionality including all of the new SQL Server 2008 data types, in a small footprint. This edition is ideal for learning and building desktop and small server applications, and for redistribution by ISVs.
SQL Server Compact 3.5. SQL Server Compact is a free embedded database designed for developers and is ideal for building stand-alone and occasionally connected applications for mobile devices, desktops and Web clients. SQL Server Compact runs on all Microsoft Windows platforms, including the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, and on Pocket PC and smartphone devices.
What I specifically like about the Express Edition 2008 (compared to previous versions) is that it includes a Management Studio - no separate download required.
It's all over! The developer presenters (both local and overseas) as well as the session content were awesome. We felt that we had the capacity this year to run both introductory and advanced developer sessions. The content was awesome! Did I say the content was awesome? Yes, I did:-)
Some personal impressions:
- We had a few first-time presenters that showed real commitment in preparing and delivering their sessions.
- The MVP's have grown to be a force to be reckoned with!
- The vibe amongst the TechEd delegates was great to experience.
- TechEd is definitely a deep technical event. The parties are the good. The content is even better.
- The depth of the content was awe inspiring.
- The move from Sun City to Durban was very successful. (We moved away from Sun City due to capacity constraints.) We're committed and ready to grow this event to one that developers cannot afford to miss.
We are aware that there is always room for improvement. Hence, we'll appreciate any honest feedback. The good, the bad and the ugly.
I can't wait for TechEd South Africa 2009!
Just in case you haven't heard, Silverlight 2 Beta 2 was released to market.
Why would you be interested?
- Silverlight 2 Beta 2 has a Go Live license, meaning that you can now build commercial applications on Silverlight.
- It contains a whole host of controls that will ease the development process.
Get an overview of the new features from Scott's blog.
Where can I download the necessary tools? You'll get it all from http://silverlight.net/GetStarted.
Come and share your experiences, both business and technical, at the first South African Information Worker Community Meeting. Bring along an open mind, and ideas of what you would like to see in future community meetings.
Date: 18th June 2008
Time: 16h00 - 17h30
Venue: Microsoft South Africa, 3012 William Nicol Drive, Bryanston
To Register: Click here.
The final agenda for Saturday's Devs4Devs event:
8:15-8:45 Registration
8:45-9:00 Welcome
9:00-9:20 Presenters
· Nyaladzi Mpofu - Windows Mobile Development with Visual Studio 2008
· Carlos Goncalves - Building and Interactive Agent using Unified Communications Managed API
9:30-9:50 Presenters
· David Russell - Introduction to Microsoft Sync Framework
· Martin Cronjé - Building Domain Specific Languages using Visual Studio 2008 Extensibility SDK
10:00-10:30 Tea break
10:30-10:50 Presenters
· Mike Geyser - Liberating Synchronous Processes from the Tyranny of Timeouts
· Erica Vismer - Increase your BIQ.: Developing a business intelligence solution with Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server and the Business ScoreCard Manager.
11:00-11:20 Presenters
· Rudi Grobler - WPF Data Binding Explained!
· Simon Munro - SQL Service Broker for Developers
11:30-11:50 Presenters
· Brent Samodien - ASP.Net 3.5 Dynamic Data Templates
· Paul Wandrag - Challenging technology forces on Application Development
11:50-12:00 Closing
MVPs (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) and the Microsoft DPE (Developer and Platform Evangelism) Group in South Africa have joined forces to bring you an event on interoperability. No technology exists on an island. Come see how different technologies can be used together.
For further detail, visit Willy-Peter Schaub's blog entry on this event.
If you're a developer in either Cape Town or Johannesburg, don't miss out on Brad's visit to South Africa.
Brad Abrams was a founding member of both the Common Language Runtime, and .NET Framework teams at Microsoft Corporation where he is currently the Group Program Manager for the UI Framework and Services team which is responsible for delivering the developer platform that spans both clients and web based applications as well as the common services that are available to all applications. Specific technologies owned by this team include ASP.NET, parts of Silverlight, and Windows Forms.
Aside from presenting at the MIX Essentials 08 events in Johannesburg and Cape Town, he will also do some community events in the evening. In Johannesburg he will do a talk on Silverlight 2 and in Cape Town he will talk on MVC.
Simply follow the links to register today!
You can now register for this first-time event in Gauteng. It's going to be fun, exciting and a great learning experience. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning :-) See you at the event.
Why not create your own games with XNA Game Studio 2.0? You can now even create games that will play on a Zune device. If you've tried your hands on gaming development, or is eager to give it a first shot, then check out the XNA Creater's Club. Premium membership is unfortunately only available in the US for the Beta program. Nonetheless, nothing prevents you from downloading XNA Game Studio and putting your game creation to the test. Go for it!
Join us for a jam-packed morning of developer technical sessions at the Microsoft Offices in Bryanston, Johannesburg. We’ve invited developer presenters to come present on their favourite topics. It’s going to be to the point, concise, each presentation limited to 20 minutes. It will be a great learning experience for all of us! And a lot of fun!
Register today!
Presenters and Topics:
- David Russell - Introduction to Microsoft Synch Framework
- Mike Geyser - Liberating Synchronous Processes from the Tyranny of Timeouts
- Rudi Grobler - WPF Data Binding Explained!
- Martin Cronjé - Building Domain Specific Languages using Visual Studio 2008 Extensibility SDK
- Nyaladzi Mpofu - Windows Mobile Development with Visual Studio 2008
I'll keep the list updated as more presenters finalize their topic selections.
(To understand this blog entry and get more detail, visit Ahmed's blog.)
From TechEd Sun City to TechEd Durban, all is about to change. Bigger venue! More attendees! More sessions! More depth! More vibe!
However, without you, there is no TechEd :-)
I'm sure you're looking for more topics. This year we're doing it with 70 developer breakout sessions across all TechEd tracks. That's excluding Chalk and Talks, labs and other sessions. Go check Ahmed's blog for the 50 purely developer sessions.
I'm sure you're looking for famed international presenters. This year we're doing it. Go check Ahmed's blog.
I'm sure you're looking at having a good time. This year we're doing it with street parties, etc.
We believe it's a great deal!
Yet, all of this may not be enough to get you to attend.
So, tell us, what will it take to get you to TechEd. Or, what will it take to get your boss to let you go, sponsor your ticket, and give you 2 days leave to recover after TechEd?
The calculation is simple: more developers attending this year, means more sessions and more international speakers next year. We can grow a mountainous developer experience, every year building on the previous!
But, first of all,we need your feedback. We like honest feedback.
More Posts
Next page »