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| The Azure Services Training Kit includes hands-on labs, presentations, and demos that are designed to help you learn how to use the Azure Services Platform. The new release includes new demo scripts, new presentations, and three additional hands-on labs for Live Services. | Learn More about Windows Azure Faster with How Do I Videos |
| | From the Editor Despite all the negative news about the economy and the looming recession, there are things we can do today to make ourselves valuable. We know some things for sure - that companies will need to leverage technology wisely in order to survive. Cloud Computing and SaaS Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is one of the technologies widely regarded as a cost-saver. Many businesses are turning to SaaS to cut costs by avoiding the expenses of installing and maintaining on-site software. That makes the current environment a great time to learn about cloud computing. Granted, cloud computing is exceptionally new. However, it is inevitable that all developers will need to consider it. Still not convinced? Read this article. What can you do right now? You can learn about Windows Azure for free. First, download and install the following: I have written two blog entries that can help you get started. I Am Speaking at Microsoft - Register Now! (Azure, Debugging, Mobility) March 3, Mountain View, CA Don't let the fact that this is free let you believe that it isn't very valuable. Come see me for 4 hours at no cost. This will save you untold hours of debugging and developer setbacks. Don't just sign up. Be sure to show up. Your Second Chance If You Missed the PDC There is a second chance for those of you who missed the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) last October. The PDC was a great place to learn about the future of Microsoft technology. So if you have only one day to soak up the highlights from PDC, let me suggest the MSDN Developer Conference in San Francisco on February 23. New Silverlight User Group The goal and vision of this user group is to foster a designer-focused dialog around Silverlight. Yes, developer topics are addressed, but this user group wants to focus on the designer. A good designer focuses on visual communication and presentation to create and combine symbols, images, video and related Web technologies, resulting in a visual representation of ideas and messages. Other goals include the fostering of a dialog around the business, design and technical justification of going with Silverlight vs. other RIA platforms. Silverlight makes it easy to build rich video player interactive experiences. Silverlight includes the ability to "go full screen" to create a completely immersive experience, as well as to overlay menus, content, controls, and text directly on top of running video content (allowing you to enable DVD-like experiences). You can expect to meet some of the world wide leaders of Silverlight technologies at these user group meetings. Last night I met up with Scott Stanfield, the founder and CEO of Vertigo. Vertigo is a developer/designer hybrid firm creating unique UX in Silverlight. Vertigo won the 2008 Microsoft Partner of the Year award for the Hard Rock Memorabilia site. Recent media-related Silverlight work includes the Democratic National Convention and Microsoft's Mojave Experiment campaign. I also met up with Archetype, which is a leading interactive design and engineering firm, specializing in rich Internet applications, branded experiences, and advanced user interfaces. Archetype demoed two Silverlight applications: The Digital Forum, a video-based Silverlight 2 application focused on Microsoft's Partners' solutions; and Arcana, a Silverlight 2 free-form video editor. Some links to explore: WomenBuild We are offering an extra bonus. MDC is including the really cool "WomenBuild" workshop (you don't have to be a woman to join the fun) that draws on the power of creative thinking to shift group conversation from talking heads to focused minds. In this workshop, attendees participate in an environment of rich, interactive experiences by modeling real-life business challenges and solutions with LEGO Bricks as part of the LEGO Serious Play Program (LSP). Are You a Startup? BizSpark Is Your FriendBizSpark is a program for early stage startups whereby companies can get software through MSDN subscriptions at no upfront cost. BizSpark is now picking up quite a bit of steam with thousands of companies now enrolled in the program. Send my colleague Anand Iyer an e-mail to get a code to join BizSpark today. More About Visual Studio Team SystemWebcast: Deep Dive into VSTS: Illuminating the Possibilities February 20, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time VSTS is an integrated software development platform used to build the mission-critical applications by delivering role-based tools for architects, developers, testers, database professionals, and project managers. Special Offers for Visual Studio Team System 2008: | • | Act fast to save 30% when you step up from Professional Edition with MSDN Premium to Team System Development Edition with MSDN Premium. Bonus Database Edition is included - get both sets of functionality for the price of one. | | • | Save 30% when you step up from any Team System Edition with MSDN Premium to Team Suite with MSDN Premium. | | • | Buy Team System Development Edition with MSDN Premium and get Database Edition - all for the price of one. | |
What's Happening Near You User Groups
| February 19, Milpitas, CA
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| Adam Shostack and Michael Howard reveal in this short and fun video the top ten security pet peeves which can mislead you and prevent you from developing secure applications. |
Web Resources
| February 19, 5:00 P.M., Microsoft Island in Second Life This month at TSUG, MVP Wes MacDonald will present "Deployment Strategies with Team Build". In addition, Shai Raiten will present an introduction to custom work item controls. Log in to TSUG-VE and reference this link to attend. Event Details | Add To Calendar | Security for Developers
| Using end-to-end application scenarios, this guide shows you how to design and implement authentication and authorization in WCF. You'll learn how to improve the security of your WCF services through prescriptive guidance including guidelines, a Q&A, practices at a glance, and step-by-step how to articles. | Training
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| This newly-released collection offers a comprehensive introduction to the Microsoft suite of Virtualization products. Collection 6333 includes four two-hour clinics, covering Hyper-V and Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, and Microsoft Application Virtualization. |
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| Using Expression Blend and Expression Encoder with Visual Studio and Silverlight, VML established a unified work platform that eliminated time-consuming exchanges between designers and developers, and provided more time for a focus on quality. |
| Kelley Blue Book rebuilt its IT infrastructure using Windows Server 2003, SQL Server 2005, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. The company now has a reliable IT infrastructure that provides strong security, is easy to manage, and enables the rapid delivery of new Web experiences. |
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