AVG ZEN eyes the Internet of Things market

AVG ZEN is now available as a free download. This will cover your PCs, Laptops and Android Smart Phones & tablets  but I could not add my Windows Phone. Perhaps it will come in the near future. Other vendors of security also covered multiple devices. However, AVG ZEN will evolve to include the Internet of  Things to address a market that is going to skyrocket in the coming years. The keyword is evolve.

AVG Zen will not only cover the PCs but other things like, Cars, Refrigerators, Home Security devices, etc.

You can download and install this application from here:
http://www.avg.com/us-en/zen#get-avg-zen

I did install AVG ZEN and it was quite easy. Of course I could not add a Windows Phone. Perhaps Windows Phone, iPad etc will be covered as it evolves.

More details of installation:
http://hodentekmobile.blogspot.com/2014/03/did-you-know-that-avg-zen-free-download.html

A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a thousand pictures. Here is one that describes what AVG ZEN can do.

SQL Server Training in Honolulu: SQL Server 2012 related training at PCATT

These are the training schedules for the2nd Quarter of 2014 at Pacific Center for Advanced Technical Training(PCATT). There are two courses that you may be interested in, it is recommended that they are taken in the order shown to reap maximum benefit.

You can also access the reviews of the previous session in 2013 at the PCATT site.

Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)

 

SQL Server Reporting Services 2012: Native Mode Implementation

Please register with  http://pcatt.org/registration    or send an email to gcerny@hawaii.edu

 

Jump into action with Panasonic HX-A500

Wearable camcorder HX-A500 from Panasonic has great features.

You can wear it on the head without a helmet. It also has LCD monitor for spot checking and monitoring while recording. It has Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity making it possible for remote action and of course it accepts a microSD card.

Monitor, also wearable on the arm (see pic). For sports, inspection, slow motion photography and pretty much everywhere you want to capture the moment, this is the camcorder you should have.

At around $400 this should sell like hot cakes.

 

Read few more details here and the source of this post and picture.

http://hodentekmobile.blogspot.com/2014/03/camcorder-on-move-panasonic-hx-a500.html

Jump start on embedded development with Java ME 8

Java ME 8 is the route that you should follow to get into this hot field that takes you into the center of Internet of things. The platform has everything you need to get you there and beyond.

Java ME SDK offers a purpose-built toolbox for embedded development. Both simulation and emulation are supported for a variety of devices. These features make it faster to get the product into market by parallel efforts to simulate and emulate before testing the hardware proper.

Immediately you can start off with Oracle Java ME Embedded 8(Oracle implementation of Java ME 8) available for Early Access for the following platforms:

• Raspberry Pi Model B (ARM 11)--http://www.raspberrypi.org/
• STMicroelectronics STM32F4Discovery(ARM Cortex-M4)

Early Access version of the Oracle Java ME SDK 8 that supports Java ME 8 (merging of Java SE and Java ME) applications with emulation runtime for Windows 7 as well as Raspebery Pi and STMicroelectonics devices.

The early access programs costs nothing for evaluation and development under an Oracel license.

If you are thinking of becoming of becoming an embedded programmer make sure you read this very focussed article,
"How to become an embedded devveloper in minutes". Probably it takes more than minutes, perhaps more time as it involves software and hardware but that is what it takes.

Here is a screen shot of JAVA ME 8 Platform.

Read more here including the article mentioned:

http://www.oraclejavamagazine-digital.com/javamagazine_open/20140304#pg1

 

With home automation getting hotter by the day these devices and JAVA ME 8 can readily get you into the field.

SQL Server Data Tools to go with SQL Server 2014

On the heels of the new release date for SQL Server 2014 RTM, SQL Server Data Tools' (SSDT) availability was announced two days ago. It is fully compatible with SQL Server 2014.

Apart from bug fixes in the previous version, the following are the enhancements:

• Static code analysis extensibility
• Filter capabilities in the editable data grid
• Saving data compare settings to file (.dcmp)
• Additional TSQL Editor connection actions

With this all database tools are fully integrated with the following editions,

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Express for web
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 for Windows Desktop
• Professional
• Premium
• Ultimate

These will be pushed via VS Updates. You could also bring it in using Tools | Extensions and Updates menu.

Visual Studio 2013 with SQL Server tools can be downloaded from here:
http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs

Note that both SSDT VS 2010 and SSDT VS 2012 are available stand alone.
Review what's new in this update here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2014/03/25/sql-server-data-tools-for-sql-server-2014-is-available.aspx

Review the posts for earlier version:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2012/12/sql-server-data-tools-gets-updated.html

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/02/about-ssdt-and-vs-2012.html

Follow link for more:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/hh297027

Power View and Multi-dimensional Models

This feature is new in SQL Server 2014.

In SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services you had the option to create Power Views using the Reporting Services Service in SharePoint 2010. In order to create the Power Views you needed to create tabular data model in SQL Server Analysis Services 2012. You needed a separate instance of SQL Server Analysis Services installed to support Tabular Data Model as the default was Multi-dimensional.

With SQL Server 2014 Power Views can be created using Multidimensional models, the same model used in OLAP Cubes. Just as Tabular Data Models supported Data Analysis Expressions(DAX), multi-dimensional models also support querying with DAX.

Power View is not exclusive to SharePoint but can be created using Excel 2013 although somewhat limited in features compared to those created using SharePoint.

Chapter 6: Power View and Reporting Services

This chapter in my book describes how to create Power Views from scratch.

 

Copenhagen Zoo -->Shame on you sadists

There appeared to be no compelling reason to kill innocent animals at the Copenhagen Zoo except economics. First it was Marius, the baby giraffe (18 months) and now euthanizing two lions and their cubs. The acts were sadistic not only killing but also how they managed the killed animals. People who attended the zoo to watch should hang their head in shame.

Callous, inhuman, despicable are the words to express my feeling.

This picture is from Daily Mail:

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2589039/Danish-zoo-faced-international-outrage-killing-18-month-old-giraffe-faces-criticism-euthanising-four-lions.html#ixzz2x6OiNapQ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

If you are shopping for Smart Phones, check out HTC M(8)

HTC M(8) is 'SmartPhone of the day'. It is out and you can get it. It challenges  similar phones recently released such as Samsung Galaxy s5 and Nexus 5. They are all in the ball park for most of the specs (details in my other blog, http://hodentekMobile.blogspot.com) except some minor variation in physical dimensions and operating system the same for all three, Android KitKat.

Quite a bit of price differential between Nexus 5 and M(8). Of course M(8) has superior camera optics and software; and sound

The color choices, if you want to actually  buy, are limited to Gunmetal Gray and Glacial Silver. Although you can buy from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, only Verizon can provide you the Glacial Silver. All carriers have similar plans.

Nice cool feature of HTC M(8) is that it can release you from a remote, M(8) it can be used as a remote. It has some very attractive APPS: HTC BlinkFeed; HTC Boom Sound (this appears to be big deal) and SenseTV.

More technical details on my other blog:
http://hodentekmobile.blogspot.com/2014/03/smart-phone-htc-m8-is-out-get-it.html

Here is a screen shot of M(8) from this site here:
http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one-m8/

Note: HodentekMobile blog is not endorsing Verizon, just an example how much it would cost to buy on a plan. Device only is in the range of  $699.00 to $749.00 give or take a dollar.
 

Native Mobile application Development or Application Development with HTML5

Developing mobile applications with HTML5 is one of the hottest topics and it appears that the interest is diminishing (number of developers wanting to use HTML5 has fallen to 59% which had peaked in 2012 to 72.7%) according to,

http://www.appcelerator.com.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/q4-2013-devsurvey.pdf.

Native applications appear to perform better. The reason being that native apps can perform equally well on all browser platforms compared that developed using html5. Written once and run on all is a stretch if you use HTML5.

It appears HTML5 is now best suited for a smaller group that is limited to desktops, content consumption, etc. When it comes to games and enterprise applications such as customer relationship management etc. native applications are preferred.




http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=247499

Another side of the story is the continuing browser wars with browser vendors not giving a serious try to work towards its adoption in a vendor-neutral uniform way.

Read related stories here:

http://www.infoworld.com/t/javascript/mobile-app-developers-interest-in-html5-slipping-232971

http://www.html5rocks.com/en/mobile/nativedebate/

http://www.infoworld.com/t/html5/half-full-or-half-empty-html5s-mixed-outlook-238915?source=rss_application_development

Packt celebrates its 2000th book

ALOHA

PACKT has published so far, 5 of my books (0.25% of Packt books). Actually I am one of the early non-open source authors writing on Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services 2005. Packt has covered a wide area of software, both Open Source and proprietary and PACKT champions the Open Source movement.

Here are my books:

https://www.packtpub.com/authors/profiles/jayaram-krishnaswamy

To mark this important event in its publishing history, PACKT isoffering a very good deal beginning 18th-Mar-2014 and continuing up until 26th-Mar-2014. Following are the benefits readers can avail during this period.

·         Unlimited purchases during the offer period

·         Offer is automatically applied at checkout

Packt books are known for their focus and technical excellence.

Perhaps it will do good for yo to check out the offerings yourself. Kindly follow this link to take full advantage of this offer:

http://bit.ly/1j26nPN

If you want to take a look at my books and parts of its contents there is no better way than following these links.

http://hodentek.blogspot.com

http://hodentekMSSS.blogspot.com - 100% SQL Server

http://hodentekHelp.blogspot.com - free help Q&A type

Also Packt article archives have 100's or more of my articles on database and web related topics.

Mahalo

Jay

You need to Uninstall SQL Server 2014 CTP1 to install SQL Server 2014 RTM

SQL server 2014 RTM will be available from April 1, 2014. It's time to take out SQL Server CTP1. You really need to take out CTP1 if you have installed it as these are the general restrictions:

• Upgrading from SQL Server 2014 CTP 1 to SQL Server 2014 RTM is NOT supported.
• Installing SQL Server 2014 CTP 1 side-by-side with SQL Server 2014 RTM is NOT supported.
• Attaching or restoring a SQL Server 2014 CTP 1 database to SQL Server 2014 RTM is NOT supported.

However upgrading from CTP2 is supported but degrading to CTP2 from RTM is not.

According to the same source the following upgrades are supported as seen in the referenced link:

• Attach a SQL Server 2014 CTP 2 database to an instance of SQL Server 2014 RTM.

• Restore a database backup taken on SQL Server 2014 CTP 2 to an instance of SQL Server 2014 RTM.
• In-place upgrade to SQL Server 2014 RTM.
• Rolling upgrade to SQL Server 2014 RTM. You are required to switch to manual failover mode before initiating the rolling upgrade. Please refer to Upgrade and Update of Availability Group Servers with Minimal Downtime and Data Loss for details.
• Data collected by Transaction Performance Collection Sets installed in SQL Server 2014 CTP 2 cannot be viewed through SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2014 RTM, and vice versa. Use SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2014 CTP 2 to view data collected by the Collection Set installed in SQL Server 2014 CTP 2, and use SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2014 RTM to view data collected by the Collection Set installed in SQL Server 2014 RTM.

Watch for a detailed post on uninstalling SQL Server 2014 CTP1 here:
http://hodentekMSSS.blogspot.com

SQL Server 2014 goes RTM

SQL Server 2014 RTM, billed as 'Microsoft Cloud First Platform' will be RTM on April 1, 2014
The main feature is the in-memory OLTP processing which will turbo- charge transaction processing making it as much as 30 times faster. In order to use this feature you need memroy-optimized databases and tables declared as memory optimized. These memory-optimized tables are stored in file groups.

In-memory transaction processing appears to be not new, but peer pressure from products already in the market makes it important to highlight this feature in this offering as it is fully integrated with the present version.

The other prominent feature is the enhancements to Microsoft Azure in particular the enhancements leading to integration between on premises and cloud based environments. SQL Server 2014 instances can be backed up to Windows Azure Storage which can then be deployed as Windows Azure VM by just invoking a wizard. This  can then be designated as a high availability node for SQL Server 2014.

Of course to reap all this benefit you need to purchase SQL Server 2014. I know people using SQL Server 2000 even now, I assume it is still supported.

For more information read these articles:
http://www.infoworld.com/t/dbms/sql-server-2014-supercharged-in-memory-tables-azure-connectivity-238639?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_pm_2014-03-18

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-sql-server-2014-crowns-redmonds-data-platform-7000027444/

Windows Azure/Oracle Colloboration is done deal

It is now official that the collaboration deal is in place according to a general availability. Details here:
Announcing General Availability of Oracle Software on Windows Azure and Updates to Windows Azure Traffic Manager

Open and flexible platforms are in vogue and that was adopted as a rule by Windows Azure. Partenership with Oracle reaches a new height with this collaboration and what this means is the following Oracle products are now generally available as viratual images and more with license thrown in.

On Windows Server 2008 R2
Oracle database 11g R2 -Standard and Enterprise
Oracle Weblogic Server 11g R2 -Standard and enterprise
Oracle database 11g R2 and Oracle Weblogic Server 11g R2 Standard
Oracle Weblogic Server 11g Standard

On Windows Server 2012
JDK6
Oracle database 12c and Weblogic Server 12c Standard
Oracle database 12c Standard
Oracle Weblogic Server 12c Standard
Oracle database 12c and Weblogic Server 12c Enterprise
Oracle database 12c Enterprise
Oracle Weblogic Server 12c Enterprise

You can get to them via the Windows Azure Image gallery.
It is very easy to access these images to create your virtual server application.
Login to portal
Click the portal icon and open this window

Click on From Gallery and then Select Oracle on the list on the left to display the following:





Well you can try it or buy it from Windows Azure as shown:

Good luck with your implementations!!

 Vis-a-vis the collboration Oracle supports all these for databse and java developers.

Hosting π in the cloud

I received an email which I would like to share with my readers. This public art project in the cloud (the real cloud) is really interesting. How did it look from ground level? AirSign has hoisted PI to the skies.

The above image of PI is from Bing

Hi Jayaram,
Five synchronized AirSign aircraft just began circling over SXSW in Austin, spelling out hundreds of characters in the infinite pi sequence across 100 miles of sky in honor Pi Day tomorrow, 3/14. This public art project is a celebration of the universal language of pi and the limitless potential it represents.
Patrick Walsh, the CEO of AirSign is available to talk about how these aircraft were able to create this spectacle with such precision, what went into its planning and execution, and why this event is taking place.
This story is already trending on social media with #PiInTheSky. Feel free to join in on the fun.
Please contact me if you’re interested in setting something up!
Best,

Ginny
Ginny Grimsley
National Print Campaign Manager

Watch this video:

Internet Explorer 11 cannot play audio file with data in Base64

You can play audio files with data in Base64 in HTML 5. Of course not all browsers support this feature. I just found out that IE 11.0, the latest browser cannot. Mozilla Firefox 26.0 can and Safari 5.1.7 cannot.

Safari 5.1.7 does not even display the audio player control.

IE 11 displays the control with the error, Invalid Source.

But Mozilla plays it cool!!!

You can review the details here:

http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-code-audio-file-to-run-in-html5.html
 

Visual Studio 2013 Express for Web may flummox you - 1

Usually I have a easy time with Microsoft products because I have battled for long. But Visual Studio 2013 Express for Web did put me into an uncomfortable position.

For example when you try to open an existing web site, you have the option only to open the ftp site. It looks like this is a bug, an answer I extracted out of posing the question to Microsoft forums here:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/45889822-4d75-412e-9d3c-fa06439d2ccd/open-web-site-displays-only-ftp-web-site-control-in-visual-studio-2013-express-for-web?forum=vssetup#6095bc6a-f838-49ce-928a-11d22abbb7ec

This is what you see when you try to open a web site in VS 2013 Express for Web (free):

 

This is what you see when you use the full version(not free):

 

 



Microsoft, be generous!


 

Get NuGet Packet Manager for VS 2013

Given a VS Project, NuGet Packet Manager provides support to automatically,

• Download
• Install
• Upgrade
• Configure and
• Remove

packages.

Download NuGet Packet manager extension for VS 2013 from here: http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/

The NuGet Gallery here (nuget.org) is the central package clearing house used by all package authors and consumers. You need Power Shell 2.0 to work with NuGet Packet Manager.

There is also an independant command line bootstrapper tool called nuget.exe that you may want to use:

http://nuget.codeplex.com/releases/view/58939

2014 GraphConnect Conference to be held in San Francisco

On October 22 the one and only Graph database conference will be held in San Francisco. A large number of individual graphists and Global 2000 corporate presence is expected. If you are interested you can submit a paper now. Follow this link:

http://www.graphconnect.com/

This is also a comprehensive learning event if you want to get into Graph databases.



Made for social networking and more, Neo4J is one of the top graph databases. Review here:
http://www.toolsjournal.com/integrations-articles/item/2278-5-open-source-graph-databases

You can download a Neo4J manual in PDF and read about the various related information regarding the languages (to develop) that you use to work with Neo4J and the large number of companies that have gotten on to graph databases and in particular Neo4j.


Read this interesting article on Graph Databases:
http://www.neotechnology.com/50-shades-graph-graph-databases-transforming-online-dating/

Red Hat steps into Microsoft's turf

Red Hat steps into Microsoft's turf offering a PaaS consisting of Microsoft.NET and SQL Server. This service is going to be offered (not ready yet) on Red Hat's OpenShift platform with UHURU software providing the code support. Open source UHURU was started by former MSFT Employees.

About OpenShift:

 

When it starts working, Red Hat Open Shift will use Microsoft.NET and SQL server 'cartridges' on windows Server by itself or as a virtual server. In effect you can have a Microsoft.NET Cartridge to pair with third part database 'cartridge' allowing a great deal of flexibility. Of course OpenShift would orchestrate the various cartridges.

 

Microsoft does offers LINUX distributions but not Red Hat. Could this be the driving force?

 

About UHURU:

 

Visit Uhuru's web site here:

 

http://uhurusoftware.com/

 

 

 

Key feature of UHURU in its own words:

"The Uhuru AppCloud is a new way to think of Cloud Computing for people who need to deploy web applications. Instead of messing with provisioning and configuring servers, just focus on writing great software and let the PaaS take care of the servers. Unlike other PaaS offerings, the Uhuru AppCloud doesn’t lock you in to service providers, programming languages or platforms."

Update your knowledge base reviewing the following (post summarized from these sites):

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246790/Red_Hat_to_take_on_Microsoft_with_.NET_hosted_service?taxonomyId=158

http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/red-hat-take-microsoft-net-hosted-service-237792?source=rss_infoworld_top_stories_

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15172997/red-hat-enterprise-linux-vhd-in-azure
 

Publishing to a Web site from VS 2013 is easy

Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Express for Web (which is free) can be used to create a new web site application and pulish to a web site.

The steps are easy to follow and shown here:

Step 1. Launch VS 2013 Express for Web.

Step 2: Click from File -->New Website

Step3: Create a ASP.NET Web Forms application in File System . This will be using ASP.NET 4.5 SP1

Step 4: Right click Web application to display the following

Step 5: Click Publish Web site. You need to create a Profile


 

Step 6: Click the handle for import (not the ellipsis button)

Step 7: In the drop-down click <New Profile...> and provide a name. Click Publish.

The Publish Web page is displayed. VS 2013 Express for Web publishes using the Web Deploy method by default.

Step 8: Provide the information and you are all set.

Visual Studio 2013 Express for Web might also have a problem as it fails to open an existing web site.

FileZilla is a nice FTP program

In the last post I described moving an ASP.NET website contents from one hosting provider to another. What if you want to temporarily download your web site content to a folder on your computer? The answer for this is to use a FTP program that is easy to use and freely available.

FileZilla is a free FTP solution which provides both an FTP Client (allowing downloading your site content) and FTP server (you can upload files to a site) and is supported by a forum and its users.
You can download FileZilla from here:

https://filezilla-project.org/

For using FileZilla to move web site contents to file/folder system follow this link:
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-is-filezilla-and-how-do-you-use-it.html