Microsoft extends reporting services to Windows Azure Cloud

On June 13 Microsoft released the Windows Azure SQL Reporting. Now the name is official and replaces the SQL Azure Reporting Services. Here is a screen image from one of Microsoft's Advertisment.

Now developers can build reports on Azure using familiar tools such as BI Development Studio and SQL Server Data Tools. Creating reports will be no different from the way on-premises reports are authored. SQL Reporting on Azure provides consistent APIs for viewing, managing and executing reports. It also provides for rich formatting, data visualization and exporting reports in a variety of formats.

These features (Elastic scale and high availability; and secure access)t has already attracted customers to implement this service such as Fujitsu and Biobest (an agriculture based business).

The good news is it is free to use till August 1, 2012 after which you get charged. You need to have an account on Azure to utilize this service.

More details here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_business_intelligence1/archive/2012/06/12/announcing-windows-azure-sql-reporting-general-availability.aspx

For Reporting Services, I recommend my popular book here:

For getting the ins and outs of SQL Azure I recommend my comprehensive book here:

You want to develop front-end with SQL Azure, look no further. Here is a link to my book which is somewhat weighted for data access:

Mahalo

Jay (mysorian)

Regarding Amazon.com Reviews

This whole matter of  http://Amazon.com review and many other such reviews should serve a purpose. It should not be a vehicle for and because of,


*Wrong audience type


*disgruntled because of economic grudge (outsourcing)


*irresponsible reviewers( had a look it, toss it in the trash, etc)


*vested interest (publisher, friend, gift, etc)


* incomplete reviews


It is time http://Amazon.Com take some positive steps.

Will Nokia bundled with NFC steal the market?

Touch that can change a company

Well NFC (Near Field Communication) technology is supposed to be the credit card buster of the future. Touch your NFC enabled phone to an ATM mchine, outcomes the green backs (of course from your bank account. You do not need to insert your credit card and enter credentials etc. You start off transaction without all these preliminaries). Besides this kind of transaction NFC can provide a whole lot of new experience.

NFC is the future face of how we will be communicating with the external world be it health services, entertainment, finance, banking etc. Perhaps you should update your knowledge base on NFC by visiting their site here, http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutus/

To get a quick take on what NFC is about perhaps you should immediately go to this page here,http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutnfc/nfc_in_action/

Nokia NFC-enabled version of Lumia 610 smart phone was recently launched. Nokia enabled this on Windows 7 Phone OS by building a NFC software stack on top of it and it is offering the NFC services (payments) in France and UK through Orange (http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/04/11/nokia-lumia-610-taps-into-nfc-with-orange/). Here is a YouTube video regarding NFC-enabled Lumia,

The moral of this post is that Nokia will not be a looser for long and it will rebound with new energy. I have started taking bets!

Mahalo.

What is common between Amazon.com and Nuclear Fusion?

Perhaps a lot, perhaps, just a coincidence! But Jeff Bezos name is associated with both. His connection to Amazon.com needs no explanation, but I came across his name in a document at the following site,

http://www.generalfusion.com/downloads/gf_pr_series_b.pdf.

I believe that the connection is true since Jeff Bezos is such a bright and forward looking guy. If the name turns out to be a coincidence, I ask forgiveness.

Nuclear Fusion has been touted as the future of mankind for its energy requirements. Despite spending untold resources; thousands of brilliant people in dozens of countries participating, fusion energy has not been realized beyond the breakeven levels.

This new idea from GeneralFusion may turn out to be the solution although it is still in its very early stages. Perhaps Jeff can see into the future.

Thank you Michael Reusch for bringing this news item to my attention:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/05/general-fusion-targets-prototype-by.html

Fusion Research Pictures here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=tokamak&hl=en&rlz=1C1TSNP_enUS473US473&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TZO6T6OfDIXbiALt6cikBw&ved=0CHMQsAQ&biw=1454&bih=699

SQL Server Express 2012 and LocalDB

Sql Server Express 2012 the latest free version of SQL Server from Microsoft has five options of download from a small foot print version (SQL Express 2012 LocalDB or simply LocalDB) to the full  version with all bells and whistles. The product comes in both (32  bit) and (x64bit) versions in several European and Asian Languages.

  LocalDB, an embeddable small foot print version of SQL Server Express ideal for learning as well as providing backend support for desktop,  web, and small server applications is also installed when you choose  to install "SQL Server Express 2012 with tools". In this article the  installation of SQL Server Express 2012 with tools and moreusing the  sqllocaldb executable to administer the LocalDB is described.

Read the full article here,


http://www.sswug.org/articlesection/default.aspx?TargetID=63070