November 2007 - Posts
I know that Visual Studio 2008 is getting most of the press today for releasing, but there was also a big CTP release from the SQL Server Team as well. The November CTP was released today in all its glory. This is a big release and there are a bunch of new features included in this release.
The list of features in this release is long, so if you are looking for a quick view of the features included the Connect Site has a nice graphic with the list of features by CTP Release. You can download the November CTP via the Microsoft Download Page. You do not have to be participating in the SQL Server Connect CTP program to have access to this CTP, although registering for the program will get you notifications for CTP resources such as White Papers, Webcasts, Chats, and other CTP goodness along with participating in the forums and giving feedback to Microsoft about the CTP.
Looks like I know what I will be doing this Thanksgiving!
Windows Live Writer has officially moved out of Beta. I have been using Live Writer from the early releases to post my entries. I was really happy with the authoring experience from the first version. As has been mentioned there are a couple things about the install that are a little outside the norm.
It was a little confusing at first being able to add things to the install as it was installing, but everything got installed successfully and this is my first post using the new release. I have not even begun to explore all the options and plug-ins available, but overall it is a solid release and in my opinion a great tool for my blogging.
Get it Here
Coming up next week I will be giving a presentation to the San Diego SQL Server Users Group on Thursday, November 15th, giving an overview of some of the new features coming in SQL Server 2008. I will talk a lot about the vision of SQL Server 2008 as a Data Platform and also demo some of the features that are in the latest public release, the July CTP.
http://www.sdsqlug.org/home/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.meetingDetails&presentationID=71
Come on out and check it out. There will be pizza and soda along with great content and socializing with other members of the group.
Look forward to seeing you there!
One of the fun things about being involved in the .Net User Group is the ability to be able to organize great conferences and bring first class speakers to the community. This weekend we are having an all-day conference with MVP Jason Beres that will focus solely on WPF and Silverlight. If you are doing any type of UI development this is a conference for you.
For User Group members the cost is only $49 bucks. We will have lots of giveaways and the event will be nice and intimate allowing you a great chance to come away with some great prizes such as Infragistics licenses, books, and Microsoft Software. The intimate nature of the event will also give you a great chance to interact with the speaker and other attendees making the event that much more beneficial.
For more details and to sign up for the event you can go here:
https://s08.123signup.com/servlet/SignUp?P=1522574191155957500&PG=1522574182300&Info=
Look forward to seeing everyone there.
I had a great time at the Silicon Valley Code Camp giving my presentations and getting to meet all the awesome attendees. I got to meet a lot of the great people up there that organized the event such as Peter Kellner and Anand Iyer. I am sure there are many more that I just not get a chance to meet so sorry to miss all of you. A big thank you to Foothill College as well. The facilities were beautiful, and everything worked perfectly for my sessions.
As for my sessions, the crowds were great in both sessions and everyone was very engaging with lots of questions. It is always interesting to hear what people are doing with SQL Server. For every feature you show, someone is using it or wants to use in a way that you never even thought of. I honestly learn a lot by giving the presentations and talking to people about SQL Server.
For those of you who attended the sessions I posted the slides at code up in my Sky Drive. You can access them below. If you have any feedback to share on the presentations feel free to drop me a comment or send me an email. Thanks everyone for the great attendance and I look forward to seeing you next year.
T-SQL Presentation:
http://cid-0de80c48ebb4bc36.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Silicon%20Valley%20Code%20Camp/SVCodeCamp_NewTSQLInSQLServer2005.zip
Reporting Services Presentation:
http://cid-0de80c48ebb4bc36.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Silicon%20Valley%20Code%20Camp/SVCodeCamp_DeliveringDataWithSQL2005ReportingServices.zip
Thanks to everyone for attending...
Andrew