Mary-Jo is on holidays and recruits Aidan Finn to replace her?
"I’ve asked a few illustrious members of the worldwide Microsoft community to share their insights via guest posts on a variety of topics — from Windows Phone, to Hyper-V. Today’s entry is all about Hyper-V Replica and is authored by Aidan Finn”
Aidan Finn is a Microsoft Valuable Professional (MVP) with an expertise in Virtual Machine. He works for MicroWarehouse Ltd, an Irish Value Added Distributor, as a Technical Sales Lead, working closely with Microsoft and VARs in Ireland. He blogs on aidanfinn.com, tweets as @joe_elway, and has written or contributed to books such as Mastering Hyper-V Deployment (Sybex, 2010) and Microsoft Private Cloud Computing (Sybex, 2012).
This guest post by Aidan explains Hyper-V Replica, a new feature in Windows Server 2012. The up and coming new version of Windows Server includes loads of new features that will see Microsoft leapfrogging VMware for all your virtualisation requirements. Hyper-V replica is just one of them.
Well done Aidan for being considered one of a few illustrious members of the worldwide Microsoft community
Here’s his post: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/one-of-windows-server-2012s-secret-weapons-hyper-v-replica/12707?tag=mantle_skin;content
Enjoy
Let me open with a big congratulations to last week’s winners (Damian Niezgoda, Michael Maher and Anthony McCarville) all of whom are getting a 32GB USB drive as their prize for completing my Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge - to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro - Lync Online, SharePoint Online & Deployment exam.
I started this little initiative back in February as a way to get you excited about learning (again?) and to give you an extra incentive and some guidance. I’ve been kicked off of my top spot on the Top Ten list for Ireland and have given away loads of TechNet Subscriptions and weekly prizes. I did promise to keep this going until the Summer, which officially was the 1st May. I still had a few prizes left and it’s been colder in the last few weeks than it was at Christmas! Summer is finally here (it was 23 degrees in Belfast yesterday) and the forecast is looking good. This will be your last MVA Challenge
So, get your version of this screenshot into my inbox by the end of May (by close of play on Thursday May 31st). Your challenge is to pass the Understanding Microsoft’s High-Availability Solutions test.
I hope I have been successful, that you’ve enjoyed playing along and that you’ll continue learning without my little incentives.
Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).
This week’s winners were Brian O’Hanlon, Jonathan Flack and Joe Glynn. They each won their choice of either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32GB USB memory stick – and all they had to do was learn!
This week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge is to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro - Lync Online, SharePoint Online & Deployment exam.
Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Monday 21st May to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
SQL Server User Group meeting in Dublin on the 23rd May @ 18:30 Always On offers a huge leap forward in terms of High Availability. This session is a demo-based introduction to the high availability changes in SQL 2012 emphasising key features and benefits. The event is free to all. However, registration is mandatory for safety and security reasons. Register here: http://www.mtug.ie/Home/tabid/38/ctl/Details/Mid/369/ItemID/100/Default.aspx
Always On offers a huge leap forward in terms of High Availability. This session is a demo-based introduction to the high availability changes in SQL 2012 emphasising key features and benefits.
The event is free to all. However, registration is mandatory for safety and security reasons.
Register here: http://www.mtug.ie/Home/tabid/38/ctl/Details/Mid/369/ItemID/100/Default.aspx
And it’s on a YouTube video!
scroll to the YouTube video at 3:12
“VMware Cloud Infrastructure Suite is really more of a marketing term. Those of you know our products deeply know that they don’t fit this well together as they need to. Some of them have multiple databases, some don’t look the same, some install differently, and what I can’t stand that is Site Recovery Manager doesn’t currently work with vCloud Director. So, what we are basically able to say is that we created and acquired companies that led to a lot of individual products that don’t work well enough together yet.”
Oh, and if you’re in the market for a “real” Private cloud – here’s your solution:
Last week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) challenge was to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Platform course. The three winners are: Jonathan Flack, Paul Mateer and Brian Milton. Well done guys, your prize is on its way to you (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).
This week, we’re going to continue learning about Office 365.
So, to be in with a chance of winning a prize, login to the Microsoft Virtual Academy and pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Exchange Online course.
Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Monday 14h May to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
A quick call out to last week’s winners. Congratulations to John Healy, Eoin Bailey and John Freeney, all of whom have won a prize of their choosing (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).
This week, we’re going to learn all about Office 365.
So, to be in with a chance of winning a prize, login to the Microsoft Virtual Academy and pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Platform course.
Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Tuesday 8th May (the Monday is a public holiday) to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
“Pretty Soon Every Individual and Firm Will be in the App Business” – John Kennedy Silicon Republic.
Jampot Techologies know how to make this happen and have recently being featured on Engadget, Fast Company, BBC and Intels AppUp show (skip to 3.40). Jampot’s App Builder tool allows any person or company with no technical skills create and publish a mobile app for Windows Phone, Android and iOS for $29 a month. These apps can be created in minutes and the content updated in real time. Jampot see themselves as the WordPress of app development, democratizing who can have an app. To find our more go to www.theappbuilder.com
The mobile app market is set for major growth in the next few years – Gartner anticipates that in 2015 over one billion smart phones will be sold worldwide. This is quite simply a phenomenal statistic and if we thought the burgeoning mobile app market was substantial now, its going to radically accelerate from this point on.
Well, what does this mean for Irish businesses? Fundamentally they need to sit up and take notice. This is only the beginning – companies and organisations are starting to realise that they need to stand out from their competition and need to evolve their communication strategy to interact with mobile users via engaging apps.
Thinking about it quite literally, a mobile app enables a business to be on a person’s body, right in their pocket, purse or bag. You can’t get closer to their decision making than being on the device they often care for more fondly than their children and spend more time with than their partner!
The problem is that many small companies can’t afford to have an app built on one platform, never mind the three major platforms (Windows Phone, iOS, Android). The technical and publishing requirements also often leave business owners baffled, resulting in a barrier that is stopping organisations from communicating effectively with their customers and taking advantage of this massive opportunity.
Microsoft Ireland has recognised these issues and is providing businesses with the tool to build their own app by recommending TheAppBuilder. TheAppBuilder revolutionises the industry, where literally any person or company can create an app in minutes and preview it on their phone for free. Once ready to publish to the Windows, Apple and Google stores a $29 a month subscription allows publication on all three, plus unlimited updates to the app.
Anyone, no matter what their level of technical expertise can build a mobile app quickly and easily – restaurants, photographers, beauty spas, churches, sports clubs, e-learning companies, race car drivers and thousands of other organisations have built an app using TheAppBuilder. Agencies are finding it particularly useful as they can quickly turn-around inexpensive client apps for events, conferences and campaigns.
Businesses can build and preview their app for free before selecting a no contract, no hassle subscription at www.theappbuilder.com. Go Build!
Microsoft Ireland has been running an App Me Up initiative for the last few months – and will continue for the foreseeable future. We’re offering a free Nokia Lumia 800 to any Irish (North and South) developer who publishes four Apps.
We’re giving you the free tools you’ll need to develop your Apps. Advice and Guidance on how to build and publish it. The ability to have your App promoted widely and if you publish four Apps, your free Nokia Lumia 800. So far we have given away close to 30 phones – and there’s more where they came from!
If you’re new to App development, have a quick look at this short (two minute) video of Finn Krewer talking about his experience so far.
Solar Sprint from Tipperary’s NeverMind Game studio has just launched exclusive to Windows Phone. Guide a planet from one solar system to another in order to grow and create new life. Dodge asteroids while collecting space dust to make your planet bigger. Be careful not to fly too close to the sun! See a video of the game in action at http://youtu.be/XBGlqIupbFU
Marketplace Link: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/97eea42e-56c8-4baa-bf07-9fd79cbf7679
You can’t take your eyes off the premiership title race this season. For Man United fans on the go get 1st4 Live Manchester United Scores developed by Irish developer Ranyart. The app has live commentary, match reports, live scores, league table and team news and live tile support. With only three games left in the season you don’t want to miss a second of it. Get the free app at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/ce84b47a-9b9d-4206-ac5f-9dc03d081e5e Not a Man United fan, don’t worry other team will be available for next season.
Winner of Microsoft’s March App of the Month, Irish made iSpeak is an instant text and speech translator. Simply choose the language to translate to, speak your phrase and the app will read it in a local language and accent. Just in time for the summer holidays, there is a generous free trial and the full app is only 99c get it at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/0ed197e0-d9c5-40d9-9845-570bf121094d Please note this app uses your data connection to translate so when abroad we recommending using on wifi.
Winner of Microsoft’s February App of the Month, Irish made BusFinder gives you access to live updates on the latest Dublin bus departures by searching for a bus stop or route. You can create a Live Tile of the bus stops you use most on your phone home screen so you can instantly see when your next bus is due without needing to open the app. You can try the full version of BusFinder for free for one week, the full cost is only 99c. get it at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/b30deeff-6dec-4717-bb2b-212982375795
Produced by the Nokia Institute of Technology, this is a windows phone must have with its gorgeous visuals and its free price tag. Blast through cannons on 32 levels as a bodysuited daredevil. Use elastic bands and trampolines to jump above obstacles or through fire rings, remembering to avoid falling and cracking your helmet. Be on the lookout for fire breathers as you bounce walls on multiple combos in the pursuit of cheers and trophies. Get it now at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/ae7684da-8cf8-4173-8c69-00e39aaa06c6
A quick call out to last week’s winners. Congratulations to Paraic Nolan, Anthony McCarville and DJ Wilson all of whom have won a prize of their choosing (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).
This week’s challenge on the Microsoft Virtual Academy is to pass the Windows Azure Security Overview test.
Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on the 30th April to be in with a chance of winning a prize.