Twenty months after SQL 2008 was released, Microsoft announced this morning SQL Server 2008 R2 has been released to manufacturing in a conference call with Sr. Vice President Ted Kummert. After several “Launch Goofs” and speculated dates, the definite dates are May 3rd, 2010 for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and the public will have the R2 available to them on May 13th, 2010. Although, a trial version and a light weight Free SQL Server 2008 R2 Express is already available for download.
Although I cursed Pivot tables at a previous job where we lived by them on a day to day basis, a highly talked about feature of R2 is PowerPivot. PowerPivot is a self serviced data tool for user access using Excel 2010 and SharePoint 2010. A feature I look forward to is the Report Builder 3.0. Coming from Crystal Reports development and just recently began using SSRS, the new release will provide enhanced wizards, visualizations and authoring.
Other features include a Master Data Services to centrally manage critical data assets companywide and across diverse systems. In addition, Master Data Services will enable more people to securely manage master data directly. Also featuring StreamInsight a latency complex event processing platform to help monitor, analyze and act on the data in motion to make more informed business decisions in near real-time.
And even though PBM was only slightly mentioned in the Q&A, R2 will be capable to manage applications and instanced by policy. To learn more about PBM, pick this book up, Pro SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management.
To conclude, the most important detail of conference call in Redmond was SQL Server 2008 R2 availability dates, May 3rd for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and May 13th available for public download. There’s no Launch party as of yet, however you can get more details on the R2 Digital Tour.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Next Gen iPhone: Lost and Found
Weather Gray Powell lost his iPhone or this is just a distraction so Steve Jobs can really WOW Apple fans for a different announcement, Gray Powell will go down in history. Just like Thomas “John” Crapper (going to the John or taking a Crap), Gray Powell will be synonymous with losing things.
“Make sure you back up that data, you don’t want to Powell it”. “Those Redsox are having a Gray season aren't they?”
But this story needs more fact checking. Why is it that Gizmodo has the scoop and how did they get the phone from the guy sitting next to Powell and some “Random Really Drunk Guy”. Or could this simply be some ploy.
“Make sure you back up that data, you don’t want to Powell it”. “Those Redsox are having a Gray season aren't they?”
But this story needs more fact checking. Why is it that Gizmodo has the scoop and how did they get the phone from the guy sitting next to Powell and some “Random Really Drunk Guy”. Or could this simply be some ploy.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
T-SQL Tuesday #005 SQL Server Report Services Basic Parameter Tips
Today is my first attempt to participate in T-SQL Tuesday. T-SQL Tuesday is an idea by Adam Machanic, inviting new and existing SQL Server bloggers to post about the same topic on the same day. I decided to take a look at this Tuesday’s topic, Reporting, and give it a go.
I come from developing Visual Studio applications with SQL Server databases, and Crystal Reports have been my reporting tool of choice. Until now of course, I utilize SQL Server Reporting Services. This has been a recent change, and the hardest thing for me was to find basic help or online resources. Aside from sources writings on how to install and configure SSRS, therefore I share with you basic parameter tricks. The first thing one need to know is they must have SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio or Visual Studio installed.
SSRS allows you to set parameters on your report on the SQL syntax. For instance, you want to show a report pertaining to specific date range, your SQL would be something like this:
SELECT ProductID, Description, ModelNo, WarrantyExp FROM Products WHERE WarrantyExp BETWEEN (@DateFrom and @DateTo)
When you browse to this report, you will see on the toolbar two input boxes, DateFrom and DateTo. Open the “Report Data” Tab from the View menu. You will see a directory with Parameters, these being the ones in your query. You can right click and select their dataype, to where a DateTime datatype will enable a date picker in the input boxes at run time. Keep in mind that the input boxes will be names accordingly to the parameter variable without the “@” sign.
I come from developing Visual Studio applications with SQL Server databases, and Crystal Reports have been my reporting tool of choice. Until now of course, I utilize SQL Server Reporting Services. This has been a recent change, and the hardest thing for me was to find basic help or online resources. Aside from sources writings on how to install and configure SSRS, therefore I share with you basic parameter tricks. The first thing one need to know is they must have SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio or Visual Studio installed.
SSRS allows you to set parameters on your report on the SQL syntax. For instance, you want to show a report pertaining to specific date range, your SQL would be something like this:
SELECT ProductID, Description, ModelNo, WarrantyExp FROM Products WHERE WarrantyExp BETWEEN (@DateFrom and @DateTo)
When you browse to this report, you will see on the toolbar two input boxes, DateFrom and DateTo. Open the “Report Data” Tab from the View menu. You will see a directory with Parameters, these being the ones in your query. You can right click and select their dataype, to where a DateTime datatype will enable a date picker in the input boxes at run time. Keep in mind that the input boxes will be names accordingly to the parameter variable without the “@” sign.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Free Ring Tones – No gimmick
Being that it’s Christmas season, I figured I give some of you free ring tones. How you ask? I been playing around with ring tones for a while, shortening music files, making alterations, configuring MIME and creating XML. In that time, I realized, there are easier ways to do it. Moreover, there are sites that offer the free files. I have not tested on many phones, so it will be a trial and error for some.
First step, you visit a website with ringtones, I use www.tuneusin.com or try www.coolfreeringtones.com. Next, select the music genre and select a song. Here is where it varies. On a smartphone, play the song, or sample, directly on the browser. Copy the link and send as an SMS to yourself. Read below on how to do this. Another way to do this is visit the site directly from your phone and do the same steps, however, it is not a mobile friendly site. When you receive the text or visited the link of the MP3 or MDI, you have an option to save the file on your smartphone, At this time, true on Moto Queue and Blackberry, you have the option to save as a Ring Tone. Voila!
For phone without online access, follow the first step, then opt to save the file or download the file to your computer. Next, you email yourself the file to your phone as an MMS and attach the file. (see how below). When you receive the MMS on your phone, for most flip phones including most LG and Razors, you play the MMS and select the option to save. At that save time, you have the option to save a Ringtone as well.
Sending SMS and MMS messages via email Go to your email client of choice and send an email accordingly to the table below. Remember, phone number, with area code first, no dashed "-" or parenthesis "()" followed by the @ sign and SMS or MMS extension. Example: 2125551212@message.alltel.com
First step, you visit a website with ringtones, I use www.tuneusin.com or try www.coolfreeringtones.com. Next, select the music genre and select a song. Here is where it varies. On a smartphone, play the song, or sample, directly on the browser. Copy the link and send as an SMS to yourself. Read below on how to do this. Another way to do this is visit the site directly from your phone and do the same steps, however, it is not a mobile friendly site. When you receive the text or visited the link of the MP3 or MDI, you have an option to save the file on your smartphone, At this time, true on Moto Queue and Blackberry, you have the option to save as a Ring Tone. Voila!
For phone without online access, follow the first step, then opt to save the file or download the file to your computer. Next, you email yourself the file to your phone as an MMS and attach the file. (see how below). When you receive the MMS on your phone, for most flip phones including most LG and Razors, you play the MMS and select the option to save. At that save time, you have the option to save a Ringtone as well.
Sending SMS and MMS messages via email Go to your email client of choice and send an email accordingly to the table below. Remember, phone number, with area code first, no dashed "-" or parenthesis "()" followed by the @ sign and SMS or MMS extension. Example: 2125551212@message.alltel.com
| Carrier | SMS Address | MMS Address |
| Alltel | @message.alltel.com | |
| AT&T | @txt.att.ne | @mms.att.com |
| Boost Mobile | @myboostmobile.com | |
| Sprint PCS | @messaging.sprintpcs.com | @pm.sprint.com |
| T-Mobile | @tmomail.net | |
| Verizon | @vtext.com | @vzwpix.com |
| Virgin Mobile USA | @vmobl.com |
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
My Tech Tools 2009
Friday was “ShareWare Day”. It turned me to share my top 20 tools of 2009. Although previously mentioned on my Tools I use on a daily basis, this list is compiled in order, with a summary on my top 10.
- Google Voice: I use this as a personal VOIP manager. I have the ability to give out one phone number, and I can mange call to my office or cell phone. Moreover, voicemails are transcribed and sent via SMS or email.
- Chrome Browser: This is my default browser.
- Pidgin: I utilize this to connect instant messenger accounts, including AIM, Live, Google Talk and Facebook Chat.
- Gmail: My default email client. I connect any POP account in addition to Hotmail and Gmail accounts.
- Google Calendar: Online calendar, you can share public and private meetings.
- Google Sync: This is a great tool, I can sync my Google Voice Contacts and Google Calendar appointment to my Outlook and Blackberry.
- Virtual Box: This is Sun Microsystems virtual machine application. i have flawlessly ran multiple operating systems using Virtual Box rather than VM Ware, or Virtual PC.
- Fedora Linux: I was introduced to linux via Red Hat Linux 7. After Redhat 9, the FOSS OS took Red Hat to the enterprise level and created Fedora Linux, the same OS open to the community.
- Ping.fm: With Ping.fm, you can configure one social network update to post on multiple sites, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin and more.
- VLC media player: It the ultimate media player. I have note found a media file it will not play.
- CCleaner
- Last.fm
- Rapid Share Downloader
- Live Writer
- DropBox
- WinRAR
- FireFox
- Spybot - Search & Destroy
- Juice
- Tooble
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)