Digital Agencies

If you want to find out more about SharePoint 2010 for Internet Sites , 51 minutes into this key note by Steve Ballmer at the SharePoint Conference has the first look.

http://www.mssharepointconference.com/pages/videoplayer.aspx?vhid=7

It looks brilliant!

.::. Alex

Useful resources from a campaign that covers BI and SQL Server 2008 - find out more here:  http://www.emergestronger.net/

.::. Alex

Excellent web platform playbook has been added the Partner Network -

"This resource is designed to help Microsoft solutions partners quickly locate up-to-date, relevant Microsoft Web Platform content from a variety of sources in order to better learn, prepare, and compete."

Find out more here

.::. Alex

The Microsoft Partner Programme portal has just added a new section of informaiton and resources on Commerce Server. A great starting point for all Commerce Server activity!

Find our more here - https://partner.microsoft.com/uk/40013175 

.::. Alex

I have just booked my trip out to MiX. If you are from a Digital Agency from the UK and would like to meet at the conference please let me know and we can catch up.

"Take your web development and design skills to the next level at MIX09. Now in its fourth year, the MIX conference is a gathering of designers and developers who are building the world’s most innovative web sites.

Just like you, Microsoft understands that the Web is the future of commerce, education, and communication, and we want to make sure you have the tools and knowledge to create the next generation of UI, applications and web design."

 .::. Alex

Apparently, this has been one of the most requested items for MOSS developers worldwide – and I can understand why.

“Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Online is a collection of Web-based tools and technologies built on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 that help you store, share, and manage digital information within your company. This white paper describes the customization (or extensibility) capabilities that are supported with the Standard offering of SharePoint Online.”

Access the document here

.::. Alex

A new XAML for designers course has been added to the Microsoft Partner Learning Centre (you will need to sign into access it). Description and link - 

"This Labcast series provides hands-on experience designing user experiences in Microsoft Expression Blend 2. The training course explains the basics of the user interface, shows how to create and manipulate 2D and 3D objects, and describes how to animate these objects using Expression Blend 2 combined with Microsoft Visual Studio."

 Access the course here

 .::. Alex

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/intranet_design.html
 

“In total, the 10 winners were built on 26 different products — substantially fewer than the 41 used in 2008 or the 49 used in 2007. Most impressively, fully half of the winning intranets used SharePoint, especially the recent MOSS platform (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007).”

Thanks to John Penrose for sending this over, very useful.

.::. Alex

It’s one of those things that over the years I haven’t really thought much about. Like my clients, when I was working in web agency, I really didn’t worry too much about the SQL server we used – but I can’t think of any project where it wasn’t Microsoft SQL server.

We needed a server, it was part of the project, we paid for it, it worked, there were no problems and everything was fine. On reflection it shows the type of organisations we were working with and web development we were doing at the time.

However, there are options which you may have never considered or could offer a competitive edge to a bid with a customer -

·         SQL Server 2008 Express is a free and productive database that offers all the SQL Server programmability and allows users to seamlessly grow up to Enterprise level of functionality when and if required.

·         SQL Server 2008 Web edition is a cost-effective and highly scalable database for corporate Web sites.

·         The new SQL Server PHP Driver enables PHP developers to continue to use PHP but target SQL Server

.::. Alex

I have had a question that I can’t find a good answer to. I am looking for a definitive list of the differences between WFE and Silverlight to help with the migration of WPF applications to Silverlight. The best link – supplied by Sam Noble who asked the question – is http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc903925(VS.95).aspx.

If you can help further, please comment with the URL for better information.

.::.  Alex

The top chap, Steve Brennan, from Xpertise has offered a fantastic discount for their December 8^th Silverlight course for Microsoft Partners -  Microsoft Expression Tools and techniques for designing User Interfaces with Microsoft Silverlight 2 Course.

·         “Microsoft Expression Tools and Techniques for designing User Interfaces with Microsoft Silverlight 2” Course RRP = £1,400 (4 days)

o   1^st delegate @ 20% discount = £1,120 for the delegate course place

o   2^nd delegate booked on the same course from the same partner/organisation @ 30% discount applied to both bookings = £980 per delegate course place

Please contact steve.brennan@xpertise.co.uk or dial 0845 757 3888 to make your course booking.

.::.  Alex

“Microsoft Releases Silverlight 2, Already Reaching One in Four Consumers Worldwide

Microsoft announces new rich Internet applications development and streaming media features; company outlines plans for supporting Windows, Mac and Linux tools for developing Silverlight applications.”

Find out more here

.::. Alex

I have recently been asked a number of times for Microsoft case studies to help with Silverlight pitches. There are a lot Silverlight case studies out right not - you can view them all here.

If you have a project that you think would make a good Silverlight case study, please let me know and so we can discuss things further.

 .::. Alex

Today I needed to provide a list of Silverlight training for a partner who does a lot Web Content Management. I have traweled the the partner learning centre and again found all the free and on demand training. Quite a nice follow up from the Silverlight training.

Video Demo

•  MSDN Webcast: The Evolution of Web Content Management in the 2007 Version of Microsoft Office 

General MOSS 2007

•  Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Feature Walkthrough
•  SharePoint Architectural Overview & Technical Walkthrough
•  Architecting a Portal Solution
•  Architecting Document and Records Management Solutions
•  MOSS 2007: Enterprise Content Management
•  MOSS 2007: Collaboration
•  MOSS 2007: Enterprise Search
•  MOSS 2007 Extensibility and Integration
•  MOSS 2007 Administration

Web Content Management

•  Overview of the Web Content Management Features of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
•  Architecting Content Management for your Web Site
•  Web Content Management Overview

Sales and Marketing

•  Public Sector Partner Briefing: Using Education Collaboration Demos in Your Customer Presentations
•  Capitalizing on the SharePoint Opportunity
•  Driving Demand for SharePoint - Marketing to your Customers
•  Selling SharePoint - Identifying Opportunities & Closing the Deal

SharePoint Services

•  Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Feature Walkthrough
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 1: Foundations - Session 1: Introducing Windows SharePoint Services
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 1: Foundations - Session 2: What's New -- Document Management and Collaboration
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 1 Foundations - Session 3: What's New -- Business Process and Workflow
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 2 Session 4: Site and Site Collection Administration
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 2 Session 5: Farm Administration: Maintenance, Optimization and Best Practices
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 2 Session 6: Authentication, Permissions and Security
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 3: Customization and Development with Windows SharePoint Services 3 Session 7
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 3: Customization and Development Session 8: Customizing Sites and Applications with SharePoint Designer 2007
•  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Series 3: Customization and Development Session 9: Developing Custom Applications using Visual Studio

SharePoint Designer

•  Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 – Feature Walkthrough
•  Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 – Data Form Web Part
•  Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 – Designing Interactive Dashboards
•  Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 – Master Pages

.::. Alex