Microsoft today released an Out of Band Security Update to address a .LNK vulnerability in Windows. MS10-046 addresses that vulnerability in Windows which has a maximum severity rating of Critical and an Exploitability Index rating of 1. The security vulnerability affects all supported editions of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. It is recommended that customers deploy the updates as soon as possible to help protect their computers from criminal attacks. In order to continue to benefit from security releases, customers who are currently on unsupported version of Windows upgrade to the latest version of Windows.

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Mitch

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As announced earlier this month, LightSwitch Beta 1 was released yesterday, offering a simple, fast way to build applications for the desktop, web, and the cloud. This early look at the upcoming addition to the Visual Studio family allows you to build custom business apps with little or no development experience.

LightSwitch provides prewritten code and other reusable components to handle routine tasks and offers step-by-step guidance. But you can also use Visual Basic .NET or C# to write custom code.

Applications created with LightSwitch support exporting data to Microsoft Office Excel for sharing and reporting. You can also attach your application to existing data sources  including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Azure, SharePoint, Microsoft Office Access (post-Beta), and other third-party data sources.

Since this is an early beta, some of the features are subject to change based on ongoing development activities and customer feedback. Read the release notes for more information.

For the full rundown, including a helpful tutorial, read Jason Sanders blog.

Download LightSwitch Beta 1.

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Mitch

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Looking to cut the effort, cost and risk of migrating to SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2? Microsoft yesterday rolled out two free migration assistants: Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL v1.0 and Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Access v4.2.

SSMA for Access converts Access database objects to SQL Server database objects, loads those objects into SQL Server, and then migrates data from Access to SQL Server. You can also link Access tables to SQL Server tables so that you can continue to use your existing Access front-end applications with SQL Server or SQL Azure. SSMA for Access supports migration from Access 97 and higher to any edition of SQL Server.

SSMA for MySQL supports migration from MySQL 4.1 and higher to any edition of SQL Server and lets you quickly convert MySQL database schemas to SQL Server schemas, upload the resulting schemas into SQL Server, and migrate data from MySQL to SQL Server.

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Mitch

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Microsoft has unveiled an updated preview of the upcoming version 2 release of Windows Home Server, code named “Vail,” based on Windows Home Server 2008 R2.

New features in the “Vail” release include:

·   Extending media streaming outside the home or office

·   Improvements in multi-PC backup and restore

·   Simplified setup and user experience

·   Significantly expanded development and customization tools for partners

Test the latest beta and provide feedback via the Connect program

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Mitch

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The new TechNet ON feature package focuses on the role of IT in the Cloud and adapting your skills for success in the new platform. It starts out at the strategic level with an interview with Microsoft CIO Tony Scott. Then check out TechNet Magazine’s Top 10 Essential IT Skills and Redmond Magazine’s IT Cloud Survival Skills.

We then surface the training, tools, and other resources to help plan and update your skills to maximize your career potential.

The TechNet ON packages are updated every two weeks on the TechNet homepage.

More to come,

Mitch

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