Screencast: What's new in C# 3 - Automatically Implemented Properties, Type Inference, Initializer

Bruce Kyle of Microsoft and Stuart Celarier of CheckFree explore the new languages features in C#. It's a whirlwind tour of the important language features since C# 1. Stuart describes the feature and why it is useful. But doesn't get into best practices nor suggested usages. Just the facts about the feature.

Whirlwinds are bite-sized webcasts, each is shorter than 15 minutes. You can start anywhere in the series to learn about the parts you're most interested in.
Part 5 is about automatically implemented properties, type inference, and initializers. These are features that can save you tons of typing. These features are part of C# 3 in .NET 3.5.

Other Whirlwind episodes: What's new in C# 2
Whirlwind 1 - Generics
Whirlwind 2 - Iterators
Whirlwind 3 - Partial types, Anonymous methods
Whirlwind 4 - Accessors, Static Classes, Nullable Types

What's new in C# 3
Whirlwind 5 - Automatically Implemented Properties, Type Inference, Initializer

ASP.NET MVC Source Code Now Available On CodePlex

Scott Guthrie announces the availability of the ASP.NET MVC source code on CodePlex

http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/03/21/asp-net-mvc-source-code-now-available.aspx

What tastes better, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Oracle 11g?

What tastes better, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Oracle 11g?
Find out here: http://www.databasetastechallenge.com/landing/index.html
You can win some cool prizes

Mix 2008 Sessions

Mix08 Sessions
Adding Instant Messaging to Any Site
Keiji Kanazawa, Nikhil Kothari
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T03.wmv

Advanced Cross-Browser Layout with Internet Explorer 8
Scott Dickens
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/CT07.wmv

Advanced Search Engine Optimization: Generating More Site Traffic from Search
Nathan Buggia
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT03.wmv

Bringing Hosters and Developers Together with IIS7
Robert Cameron, Tito Leverette
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT08.wmv

Building AOL's High Performance, Enterprise Wide Mail Application With Silverlight 2
Eric Hoffman, Marc Katchay, Stefan Gal
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT01.wmv

Building Applications and Services with .NET Framework 3.5
Justin Smith
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T26.wmv

Building Great AJAX Applications from Scratch Using ASP.NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008
Brad Adams
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T34.wmv

Building Rich Internet Applications Using Microsoft Silverlight 2, Part 1
Joe Stegman, Mike Harsh
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/CT01.wmv

Building Rich Internet Applications Using Microsoft Silverlight 2, Part 2
Joe Stegman, Mike Harsh
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/CT02.wmv

Creating a RESTful API with Windows Communication Foundation
Haider Sabri, Paul Walker, Viphak Lay
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T01.wmv

Creating Better User Experiences: Design Methods
Dan Harrelson, Kim Lenox
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX07.wmv

Creating Better User Experiences: Design Strategy
Dan Harrelson, Kim Lenox
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX04.wmv

Creating Better User Experiences: Information Architecture
Dan Harrelson, Kim Lenox
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX06.wmv

Creating Better User Experiences: Interaction Design
Dan Harrelson, Kim Lenox
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX05.wmv

Creating Rich, Dynamic User Interfaces with Silverlight 2
Karen Corby
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T20.wmv

Design at Speed of Light
Cinthya Urasaki, Daniel Makoski, John Reid, Tim Wood, Zachary Jean Paradis
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL02.wmv

Developing Applications with Microsoft Virtual Earth
Chris Pendleton
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T17.wmv

Developing Applications Using the Model View Controller Pattern
Scott Hanselman
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T22.wmv

Developing Data Driven Applications Using ASP.NET Dynamic Data Controls
David Ebbo
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T24.wmv

Developing with Windows Live
Angus Logan
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T29.wmv

E-commerce Done Right
Gerard Johnson, Matthews Rechs, Nicholas Rockwell, Steve Nelson
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL12.wmv

Encoding Video for Microsoft Silverlight
Ben Waggoner
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BCT07.wmv

Everything You Need to Know about Diagnostics and Debugging on Microsoft Internet Information Services 7
Mai-lan Tomsen Bukovec
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T06.wmv

Exploring Moonlight: Novell's Implementation of Silverlight on Linux
Miguel de Icaza
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T31.wmv

From Flash to Silverlight: A Rosetta Stone
Rick Barazza
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T30.wmv

From Long Tail to Fuzzy Tale: Why "Fuzzy" Is the New Clear
David Armano
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX02.wmv

Getting Clued In to Experience Management
Lou Carbone
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX01.wmv

How Design Impacts the Bottom Line
Dave Blakely, David Watson, Jason Brush, Jimmy Kim, Luke Wroblewski, Will Tschumy
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL11.wmv

I Wanna Go Mobile!
Chad Stoller, David-Michael Davies, Derrick Oien, Eric Breitbard, George Linardos, Michael Platt
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL09.wmv

Integrating Media in Silverlight Applications
Ed Maia
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BCT05.wmv

Integrating Your Site With Internet Explorer 8
Jane Kim
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T21.wmv

Internationalizing XAML Applications in Windows Presentation Foundation and Microsoft Silverlight
Ken Azuma, Laurence Moroney, Ted Kitamura
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T15.wmv

Introducing SQL Server Data Services
Nigel Ellis
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT05.wmv

Is Web 2.0 Sustainable? What business models will work?
Dave McClure, Don Dodge, Kimbal Musck, Robert Scoble, Ryan McIntyre
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL15.wmv

Keynote I
Dean Hachamovitch, Ray Ozzie, Scott Guthrie
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/KYN0801.wmv

Keynote II
Guy Kawasaki, Steve Ballmer
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/KYN0802.wmv

Making it Simple: Designer/Developer Workflow
Christian Schormann, Ken Azuma, Marcelo Marer, Mark Ligameri, Robby Ingebretsen, Robert Tuttle, Ryan Lane
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL01.wmv

Microsoft Expression Web: From Comp, to CSS, to Code!
Nishant Kothary, Tyler Simpson
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/C04.wmv

Mobile Devices and Microsoft Silverlight: A Primer on the New Technology
Amit Chopra, David Kline
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T12.wmv

Monetization 101
Erynn Petersen
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT07.wmv

Opportunities and Challenges in Mashing Up the Web
Aaron Fulkerson, Andi Gutmans, Michael Scherotter, Sam Ramji, Shawn Burke
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL13.wmv

Overview of Microsoft Ad Formats
Alam Ali
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/C05.wmv

Partying with PHP on Microsoft Internet Information Services 7
Drew Robbins
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T27.wmv

Real World Design: Working with Silverlight and WPF in the Design Studio
Beau Ambur, Chip Aubry, Chris Bernard, Nathan Dunlap, Rich Weston
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL16.wmv

Real-World AJAX with ASP.NET
Nikhil Kothari
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T16.wmv

RESTful Data Services with the ADO.NET Data Services Framework
Pablo Castro
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T07.wmv

Silverlight and Advertising
Eric Schmidt
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BT06.wmv

Silverlight as a Gaming Platform
Joel Neubeck, Scott McAndrew
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/CT03.wmv

Social Networks: Where Are They Taking Us?
David Morin, Garrett Camp, Guy Kawasaki, John Richards, Joseph Smarr, Marc Canter
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL08.wmv

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Design Problems (and Selling Your Solutions) with Pictures
Dan Roam
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/UX03.wmv

The Business of Microsoft Silverlight
Danny Riddell
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/B01.wmv

The Human Brain Relationship: Advanced and Adaptive User Interfaces
Ya'akov Greenshpan, Yochay Kiriaty
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/CT04.wmv

The Open Question
Andi Gutmans, Miguel de Icaza, Mike Schroepfer, Sam Ramji
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL04.wmv

Tools and Applications for Publishers
Rishi Bal
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T18.wmv

Touch Me: Where Are Interfaces Going?
Chris Bernard, Dale Herigstad, Daniel Makoski, Dave Wolfe, Doug Cook, Yoshihiro Saito
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL10.wmv

Understanding Microsoft Partner Programs for Designers, Developers, and Agencies
Bill Vlandis, Hakan Soderbom
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BCT03.wmv

Using Microsoft Silverlight for Creating Rich Mobile User Experiences
Giorgio Sardo
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/C02.wmv

Virgins, Spaceships and Hob-nailed Boots!
Paul Dawson
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/C03.wmv

Web 2.0 and Beyond: What Is the Business Reality?
Bryan Biniak, Chris Saad, Frank Arrigo, Loic Le Meur, Tim Kendall
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL05.wmv

Welcome to Internet Explorer 8
Chris Wilson
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/BCT08.wmv

What Is the face of the next Web?
Anthony Franco, Chris Bernard, Garrick Schmitt, Mark Kurtz, Paul Dain, Tjeerd Hoek
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL07.wmv

What's New in Windows Presentation Foundation 3.5
Rob Relyea
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T11.wmv

What's the Secret Formula?
Dan Harrelson, Daniel Makoski, Jensen Harris, Mike Schroepfer, Nishant Kothary
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/PNL14.wmv

Windows Presentation Foundation Using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Mark Wilson-Thomas
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T02.wmv

Working with Data and Web Services in Microsoft Silverlight 2
Eugene Osovetsky
http://msstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o21/mix08/08_WMVs/T13.wmv

Which Framework Would You Pick StrataFrame Or CSLA.NET?

If you would have to choose between StrataFrame or CSLA.NET, which one would you pick?
The team I am part of at work is trying to pick a framework for new development and they like these two the best. Are these two something you would pick or do you know a better one?

CSLA.NET: http://www.lhotka.net/cslanet/
StrataFrame: http://www.strataframe.net/

Also keep in mind that while CSLA.NET is free, StrataFrame is not.

Download ASP.NET MVC Preview 2, Silverlight 2 Beta 1 and Silverlight 2 SDK tools for Visual Studio 2008

Download the second preview of ASP.NET MVC and the first Beta of Silverlight 2
Also download the first Beta of Silverlight 2 SDK tools for Visual Studio 2008
Enjoy

Install Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1

The links below are not live yet but will be soon

Install Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 8 can be installed on Microsoft Windows Vista® Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista, Windows XP® Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Server® 2008 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). Downloads are available from the following locations:Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista x64 Edition and Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Window XP SP2
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Server 2003 SP2
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Server 2003 SP2 x64 Edition and Windows XP SP2 Pro x64 Edition

Microsoft Announces SQL Server Data Services

What is Microsoft SQL Server Data Services?
SQL Server Data Service (SSDS) is a highly scalable and cost-effective on-demand data storage and query processing web service. It is built on robust SQL Server technologies and helps guarantees a business-ready service level agreement covering high availability, performance and security features. Microsoft SSDS is accessible using standards based protocols (SOAP, REST) for quick provisioning of on-demand data-driven & mashup applications.

How does Microsoft SQL Server Data Services differ from traditional on premise relational SQL Server Database?
SQL Server Data Services is a storage and query processing utility providing mega scale, high availability, reliability, and geo-distributed data services in the Cloud. Customers use the service on-demand, with no up-front cost. It eliminates the initial investment in hardware and software and the on-going cost for storage administration, scale maintenance. Developers and Service providers can quickly run their on-demand applications with minimal infrastructure cost.

What can I do with SQL Server Data Services?
Customers can use SQL Server Data Services to store virtually any amount of data in the Cloud. They can query and modify data as required by the specific business scenarios. SQL Server Data Services support standards-based REST and SOAP interfaces designed to work with any Internet-development toolkit. The primary wire format is XML. Developers and service providers can quickly run on-demand applications with ease. The data has flexible schema which can be modified dynamically by the application. The data is provided with high availability and reliability virtually anywhere, anytime.

Rest of the FAQs here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/dataservices/faq.mspx
Main SQL Server Data Services site here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/dataservices/default.mspx

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 Whitepapers

Microsoft released some Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 Whitepapers. download them here: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ProjectName=ie8whitepapers&ReleaseId=581

Some Ajax improvements

AJAX Navigation enables users to navigate back
and forth without leaving the AJAX application and could be used
navigating a page without performing a traditional full navigation.
This allows websites to trigger an update to browser components like
the address bar by setting the window.location.hash value, firing an
event to alert components in the page and even creating an entry in
the travel log.

DOM Storage is a simple-to-use method for
storing and retrieving strings of key/value pair data. Data can be
stored per tab instance for a session or persisted to the local
machine. This allows pages to cache text on the machine which
reduces the effect of network latencies by providing faster access
to pre-cached data. Several innovative uses are possible. For
example, use this in combination with the new network connectivity
event to allow a page to cache data if it detects that the computer
is offline.

Connectivity events allow websites to check
when the user is connected to the network and receive notification
of connectivity changes.

Six connections per host instead of two for
broadband scenarios and a scriptable property allow for more
improved performance by allowing parallelization of downloads in
Internet Explorer 8. In addition, this increases functionality by
ensuring a request is not blocked to a host if two connections
already exist. Websites can optimize their downloads based on a
scriptable property.

XMLHTTPRequest Enhancements include a timeout
property that can be set to cancel the request if necessary,
allowing developers to manage the request better.

Yahoo Launches Silverlight Developer Center

Yahoo launches Silverlight Developer Center! The URL is below :-)

http://developer.yahoo.com/dotnet/silverlight/

Silverlight - What, Where and How? - 3 Part Screencast

Channel 9 has posted a three part silverlight screencast. What is covered in this series?

- Why Silverlight? What is Microsoft up to?
- Web Development today - the need for User Experience
- What is this XAML stuff? WPF?
- Good Overview and hands on with Expression Blend
- What you need to get started today and where you can get it. Does it cost anything?
- Demos sprinkled throughout to help reinforce concepts
- I take you step by step in creating your first Silverlight application (yes I used 2.0 this time).
- Storyboards, Images, setting properties, firing/capturing events, using the VS2008 Tools, even adding Ink support.
- Just for giggles I also show how easy it is to put the new control inside a Vista Gadget.
- Lots of links to additional resources and where you can get more help.

Part 1: Watch the screencast(WMV)
Part 2: Watch the screencast(WMV)
Part 3: Watch the screencast(WMV)