SQL Server Reporting Services is a comprehensive, server-based solution that enables the creation, management, and delivery of both traditional, paper-oriented reports and interactive, Web-based reports. An integrated part of the Microsoft business intelligence framework, Reporting Services combines the data management capabilities of SQL Server with familiar and powerful Microsoft Office System applications to deliver real-time information to support daily operations and drive decisions. Reporting Services provides an embeddable and extensible framework that enables customers and partners to build custom business intelligence applications. Developers can use any developer tool or platform that works with Web services. This flexibility and interoperability makes it easier to create reports that leverage packaged or custom applications in almost any environment. Wh... (more)

Making the .NET Micro Framework Work for You

In this excerpt, we'll create the ultimate flashlight. With find-in-the-dark flashing behavior and a power-audit mode, this single-button-controlled device will become the ultimate in personal illumination for the twenty-first century. Figure 1 shows how the flashlight will be constructed. The .NET Micro Framework device will have an input from a push-button switch and will provide an output to a lamp. It will also have a connection to an external device so that it can transfer usage information to the external device in response to a trigger message. To make the flashlight work, the program inside it must be able to perform a number of tasks: It will need to provide a signal to turn on the lamp. It will need to read the state of the input button. For some of the later applications, it will need some form of a timer. It will need a way of communicating with an ex... (more)

EC Slaps Microsoft with Largest Single Fine It Has Ever Levied

The European Commission this morning slapped Microsoft with a massive $1.33 billion fine (899 million euros) for charging too much for the communications protocols it was ordered to share with competitors in March of 2004. It is the largest single fine ever levied by the EC and the second time that it has dunned Microsoft for not complying with its original antitrust order. The first time was in July of 2006 when Microsoft had to fork over $357 million for not providing useable documentation for the protocols.  The original fine that Microsoft paid in 2004, itself record setting, was for $613 million, a mere half of today’s penalty.  So far then Microsoft’s European adventure has cost it $2.3 billion but it’s likely to have to open its checkbook again after the EC finishes the two new investigations into the company’s business practices that it... (more)

High quality over-the-air TV

In a post about Comcast: "I bought EyeTV devices for three of my computers so I could receive digital over-the-air broadcasts. It amazes people when they find out that such high quality transmissions are available for free over the public air waves." I got a couple of questions wondering what I was talking about, and I promised to write about it here. So here goes. A few years back a friend told me he had put an antenna on the roof of his house and was receiving digital versions of local TV stations. He showed me, but even though it was the familiar programming, I didn't understand what I was looking at. Last night, when the Obamas were on 60 Minutes, I watched it in digital, using an antenna next to the computer, plugged into an EyeTV USB dongle thing. The picture quality was awesome. Every bit as good as if I were watching it over DirecTV, which I pay $100 a month f... (more)

Cloud Services Interest Erupts in Groundswell

The anticipated benefits from adopting managed cloud services have reached the executives suites of many corporations. Proactive CEOs and CFOs are pushing their IT leadership team to seek out actionable information and guidance. There's also a constant stream of service providers announcing new offerings -- and the momentum is becoming a global phenomenon. As a result, Forrester Research has witnessed an expanding number of client inquiries around cloud computing. The acceleration in market development has been building for some time now. Forrester analysts responded to more than 264 client inquiries about cloud computing between January 2008 and April 1, 2009 from companies of all sizes and industries. IT Teams are Adopting Cloud Strategies Once considered a niche business technology where awareness was viewed as optional, Forrester now says that knowledge of cloud c... (more)

Speaking at Tulsa TechFest 2009

@SPKyle let work get in the way of his speaking gig, so I get to fill his spot this year. :-)  I’m going to be giving my intro talk on Enterprise Search.  This is a good talk for anyone that isn’t very familiar with what Enterprise Search can do for their organization.  It’s also good for those that are looking to learn more about what other types of content can be indexed.  I’ve also updated it to include what’s new in search with SharePoint 2010. It wouldn’t be a Tech Fest without a Dot Net Mafia event.  If you are coming in early to speak or attend the conference, we’ve got something for you to do Thursday night.  We’ll be meeting at our usual venue, Dirty’s Tavern (325 E. 2nd St – 2nd and Elgin) which is just a few blocks down from the Crowne Plaza hotel.  We’ll probably be meeting there around 7:00 or 8:00 and hanging out until whenever.  If you get hungry, th... (more)

Gladinet Releases Cloud Desktop v1.4.2 with Support for Windows Azure

Cloud Computing for SMBs Gladinet has announced the release of Cloud Desktop v1.4.2. This version adds the soon-to-be-released Microsoft Windows Azure platform to the list of cloud storage providers that the service platform supports. Cloud Desktop, which provides an Internet-based virtual disk drive for users, also supports AT&T; Synaptic Storage, Amazon S3, Google Docs and EMC Atmos, among many others. "Gladinet's mission is to provide our customers with what they need at the moment they need it," stated Jerry Huang, co-owner of Gladinet. "That's why we are out in front and ready for the introduction of Windows Azure. Our newest version of Cloud Desktop enables users to mount Azure storage and many other cloud storage services as a virtual drive or folder on their computers." The platform upgrades Windows Explorer into a cloud storage portal, and users can map eac... (more)

Backup to Windows Azure Storage in 3 Easy Steps

Azure at Cloud Expo Cloud Computing Expo - Azure was in Public Preview for quite some time now. In our previous posts about Windows Azure, we went directly into how to map a network drive to Azure Blob Storage and start setting up backup tasks to Azure Storage. We didn’t mention exactly how to acquire a Windows Azure account since it was invitation only. Yesterday, Windows Azure was transitioned from Public Preview mode to Full Production mode. It took me a while to understand how to setup the Azure account and start using the Azure Storage. I will share the steps here in this article. Hopefully, in 3 big steps, you will be using your Azure Blob Storage from Windows Explorer and smooth sailing thereafter. Step 1: Activate windows Azure Subscription Instead of the invitation only mode in Public Preview, you can now activate your Windows Azure subscription from the ... (more)

Cloud Expo Preview: Security, Residency, and Malevolence

Cloud Expo Opening Keynote Security will be one of the top-of-mind issues at Cloud Expo when it opens April 19 at the Javits Center in New York. Here are just three examples: 1. A session to be presented by Intel architect Charlton Barreto addresses the challenge of "building a more secure, trustworthy cloud." Register Today and Save $550 ! Explore Sponsorship Opportunities ! As he says, "Cloud computing allows companies to perform feats of computation that would otherwise have been impossible, or at least prohibitively expensive. However, cloud computing has generally lacked the security features typically required by small and medium-sized enterprises. Likewise, in using public clouds, IT cedes control over key security parameters to the service provider." Barreto's session promises to cover "technology advances, such as Trusted Boot Chains to enable or disable a... (more)

The Marketing Arm’s wireless practice delivers mobile messaging services using message master® xsp

Mobile messaging platform supports connectivity to aggregators and carriers Potsdam, Germany, 18th August 2010: Derdack (www.derdack.com), provider of enterprise notification software and mobile messaging platforms, today announced that the wireless practice of The Marketing Arm, is live on message master® xsp. The SMS/MMS gateway software enables The Marketing Arm to securely and reliably connect to aggregators via SMPP for message delivery. "We quickly realised that of the specialised solutions that were available, message master® xsp offered a cost effective and proven system," said Mike Jelley, co-founder of The Marketing Arm's wireless practice. "Its ability to connect to aggregators via SMPP and Derdack's global carrier class references were key factors in our decision to choose their mobile messaging software. It's a very good product for companies that need a ... (more)

Cloud Computing, SOA and Windows Azure - Part 3

For a complete list of the co-authors and contributors, see the end of the article. A cloud service in Windows Azure will typically have multiple concurrent instances. Each instance may be running all or a part of the service's codebase. As a developer, you control the number and type of roles that you want running your service. Web Roles and Worker Roles Windows Azure roles are comparable to standard Visual Studio projects, where each instance represents a separate project. These roles represent different types of applications that are natively supported by Windows Azure. There are two types of roles that you can use to host services with Windows Azure: Web roles Worker roles Web roles provide support for HTTP and HTTPS through public endpoints and are hosted in IIS. They are most comparable to regular ASP.NET projects, except for differences in their configuration... (more)