Visual Studio 2012 RTM comes with Lightswitch and other enhancements

*VS2012 allows designing and building UIs with Blend
VS2012 RTM has Blend which can be used to build Windows 8 App using:
1. HTML  project type for JavaScript
2. XAML project type supporting code development using C#, VB or C++
VB provides more project options with Blend to create Windows 8 apps.
Designing screens for Window 8 apps is a breeze with Blend support

*Lightswitch is part of VS2012. You can create both HTML5 and Silverlight based apps
  LightSwitch+HTML5 works with any browser.

*Use OData protocol to feed Lightswitch application

For example: You can access the famous Northwind from a ODATA endpoint at
http://services.odata.org/Northwind/Northwind.svc
With any of the authentication methods.

* Ability to create multiple Solution Explorer windows and move them on to connected monitors.

*IDE has grown so much, there is even a search feature to search the IDE for objects

Follow Jeff Cogswell's article + Slide from which this post is generated here:
http://www.eweek.com/developer/slideshows/visual-studio-2012-rtm-comes-chock-full-of-enhancements/

Window 8 seeks Fed's patronage

At a recent Microsoft Window 8 reception Microsoft displayed Windows 8 for federal audience and it appears federal IT was looking for a secure and innovative platform. The event was hosted by FedScoop in Washington D.C., to more than 250 government and Fed executives.
Windows 8's 8 features that may be most appealing to government are:

* The new 'Metro' interface with touch capability across all foot prints
* The Charms bar hidden but avialable
* The Windows runtime providing a sandbox environment
* Windows to Go, OS on a USB stick with full security
* Windows store for apps distribution
* Access to File History doing away with backup & restore
* Reset and Refresh features to handle troublesome system situations
* Desktop available as an app

Let's hope this will ramp up the sales!!

Read more if you need more...
http://fedscoop.com/microsoft-debuts-windows-8-to-federal-it-community/

Breaking news: T-SQL in SQL Server to query SQL Azure Federations

Aloha from Bengaluru,


Microsoft has come up with an easier solution to scale out.

SQL Azure Federations is the answer.

With T-SQL you can:

* Use T-SQL to create federated tables and migrating data from on-premises to SQL Azure
* Manage SQL Azure Federations by splitting the root member table using T-SQL

Details are here:
http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/tip/Split-root-table-with-T-SQL-in-SQL-Azure-Federations

Authored by Roger Jennings - a.NET developer and writer

Do you need to upload 2GB files?

Aloha from Bengaluru

Microsoft SkyDrive has just released the stuff that helps you to upload 2GB files. That's hefty!!

You can also pick and choose files that you need (Selective Sync) from SkyDrive as well as better organize your uploads. SkyDrive also has a SkyBin. You don't need it, send it to SkyBin and, you want it, get it restored.

Web, Mobile and Desktop (WMD, not that WMD) boundaries are disappearing. They are all one and the same, your stuff, but just 3 avataras.

Note: SkyBin is the blogger's construct.

Organize

Share / Sync

Skybin (Recycle bin on SkyDrive)

Microsoft beefs up Azure Support

Aloha from Bengaluru

This is a much needed item for one and all interested in developing; porting to Windows Azure. The level of support of course depends on how much you are willing to pay or, how long are you willing to wait. I like the developer pricing although we have to wait and see how effective the support is. I hope it has improved,
; in the early days of Windows Azure it was not that great. Here is the Wait / Price support matrix for different levels.

Pricing