[From Juval Lowy (RD) & Justin Smith (Microsoft)]

If you're doing WCF work in VS 2008 Beta 2: looks like the SvcUtil.exe that ships with it does not work properly.  The tricks is to copy an old version over the one that is installed and run:

Sn.exe -Vr svcutil.exe

The Service Release 1 for VS 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals is now available for download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9810808c-9248-41a5-bdc1-d8210a06ed87&displaylang=en

Read all about it here:
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/936612

Service Release 1 (SR1) for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals is now available.  It addresses numerous known code defects as well as providing support for

• Cross-database references
  Support is improved so that you can reference objects within different databases by using database project references or by referencing a database metafile (.dbmeta). This support reduces or eliminates the cross-database reference warnings within a database project.
• Improved file support within SQL Server file groups
  You can define files within file groups as database project properties instead of having to create files and file groups within the pre-deployment storage script.
• Variables
  A Variables page is added to the database properties. This new page enables you to define setvar variables for use in the deployment scripts.

Additionally, SR1 supports the latest service pack release from Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Currently, the latest service pack is Service Pack 2 (SP2). SR1 also supports the Windows Vista operating system.

Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2 is now available for download:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/default.aspx

Download it right now, it will change you life.  Look how happy this guy is after installing it:

Be sure to read ScottGu's blog entry about this release, it contains important installation notes:
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2007/07/26/vs-2008-and-net-3-5-beta-2-released.aspx

[From Damir Tomicic, RD in Germany]

Now this is some cool advertising:
http://www.club-internet.fr/le-duel/

I downloaded the Carcassonne demo on Xbox 360 Live Arcade last week and just after a few minutes with the game, I purchased the full version.  This is an addictive game based on a German board game.  The goal is build roads and buildings using a set numbers of tiles.  The bigger the roads and building you build, the more points you get.  It's a refreshing change from your typical FPS 

I'm amazed that with the proliferation of LCD monitors, not many people know how to set Windows to have better looking, crisp fonts simply by turning on and tuning ClearType.  How can this help?  Well, look at this picture:

Amazing difference isn't it?  Note that you won't see any differences if you're using a CRT monitor.  This applies only to LCD monitors.  So how to turn this thing on?  You have a few choices:

1. In Vista it's turned on by default but you can't tune it
2. In XP, you use the Effects button in the advanced tab of the display properties but you can't tune ClearType
3. You use the ClearType Website but you'll have to install an ActiveX control
   
4. You download and install the PowerToy Tuner but it works only in Windows XP
   

The simplest thing is to use the Website:

XP: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/Step1.aspx
Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/tune.aspx

The XP PowerToy Tuner:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypePowerToy.mspx

[Via Laurent Duveau]

Google is hiring in Montreal for what looks like a new Windows app.  Here are the requirements:

But this is priceless:
"...onsite dry cleaning, plus a coin-free laundry room in the Mountain View office."
 
Read:
Expect to work 80+ hours a week 

http://jobsearch.monster.ca/getjob.asp?JobID=60105470&aid=62117328-2477&WT.mc_n=MKT000125

Yep, that's right.  Scott Hanselman has joined the Scott Guthrie's Developers Division at Microsoft.

Read all about it here:
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/BlueBadge.aspx

My good friend Étienne Tremblay was interviewed for an MVP feature on the MSDN Canada Community blog.

http://blogs.msdn.com/cdndevs/archive/2007/07/18/canadian-mvps-etienne-tremblay-microsoft-mvp.aspx

Way to go Étienne!

I was looking for an alternative to Daemon Tools for creating virtual CDs & DVDs from ISO files because I don't trust Daemon Tools anymore.  Even if their their download page displays this warning, I still don't trust them.

This version has an option to install client-side software applications (DAEMON Tools Searchbar and Save Now) that deliver a limited number of behaviorally targeted and contextually relevant coupons, ads and comparative shopping results directly to consumers desktops - without compromising the privacy, security or smooth functioning of peoples computers! No URL hijacking or redirects! In order to support FREE distribution of DAEMON Tools we highly encourage you at least to try out this optional software! (you can remove it anytime later when you wish: via Control Panel-> Add/Remove Programs)

So I was looking for a free alternative that would work in Windows Server 2003 64-bit and I found MagicDisk from the makers of Magic ISO Maker. They also have a 32-bit version.

http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-mount.htm

The installation does not require a reboot and It could not be any easier to use:

• Right click MagicDisc trayicon
  
  
   
• Select "Virtual CD/DVD-ROM"
  
  
   
• Select one of virtual CD/DVD drivers. (for examples: K: No Media)
• Click "Mount"
  
  
   
• Browse and select the CD/DVD image you wish to mount.
• Click "Ok"

Dominic asked me this week about the Internet service I'm using.  I use Videotron's commercial Internet service and I noticed on their Website that they now offer a 10mbps service.  I was subscribing for the 7Mbps service @ $70 + $30 for a static IP address.  Their 10Mbps service is $100 with one static IP address.  Basically, if you're paying for the 7Mbps service + 1 IP address, you're paying the same as the 10Mbps service but without the speed.  Go figure!  I called and was upgraded for the Extreme Super High Fast Internet access.  The Quad Core seems to appreciate 

http://www.videotron.com/affaires/en/internet/index.jsp

I was looking to upgrade our user group Website from DotNetNuke 3 to the lastest version but I couldn't find how to on the DNN Website.  A quick search lead to this article by Mitchel Sellers:

http://www.mitchelsellers.com/Blogs/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/106/Upgrading-DNN-3x-to-DNN-4x.aspx

Worked like a charm.  Thanks Mitchel!

Microsoft annouced at it's parners conference details about the next big launch event.

The date: February 27, 2008

The place: Los Angeles

The products: SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008

The reality: SQL Server 2008 will release in Q2 2008

I'm very proud to say that for the second year in a row, I achieved Gold for Microsoft Regional Director Global Reach Award.  That's many many many hours of volonteer community work that I'm holding in my hands.

Programming WCF Services

Author: Juval Lowy
Publisher: O'Reilly
ISBN-10: 0596526997
ISBN-13: 978-0596526993
Retail Price: $44.99 US, $58.99 CDN
Publication Date: February 2007
Softcover: 610 pages
Online information: Table of contents, sample chapter, index
URL: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596526993/index.html

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) is Microsoft unified platform for developing service-oriented (SO) applications and it is part of the .NET Framework 3.0. What does this mean? Well, Microsoft was offering various ways to create SO applications in the .NET Framework (Web services, Remoting and MSMQ) each with their own programming model. The problem was that you had to decide early which technology you would use and because the programming models were very different, you had to stick with your decision (or scratch that code and start over). WCF is the unification of the SOA technologies and it will simplify the job of the architects and developers but it also means that they have to learn a new programming model.

“Programming WCF Services” is a book targeting developers who have already used or looked at WCF and want to get a deeper understanding of the technology. Well known author and speaker Juval Lowy knowledge of WCF is undisputable: he was on the WCF strategic design review board and it shows. The amount of information crammed in this book is staggering but be warned, this is not a beginner’s book nor is this a step by step book. Each aspect of WCF is covered in details from the data contracts to the transactions. Lowy even includes WCF coding standards in one of the appendixes.

If you want to learn WCF from scratch, I would recommend “Learning WCF” by Michele Leroux Bustamante but if you want the ultimate WCF book, look no further and grab of copy of Lowy’s book. High praises for “Programming WCF Services”.

I was looking for a quick way to post pictures on my Website.  I tried using WSS but it's too much work when you have hundred of pictures.  Scott Guthrie posted this last week:

ASP.NET Photo Handler: Bertrand has posted a cool photo album HttpHandler for ASP.NET that allows you to easily drop images into a web directory and automatically generate a nice photo album of them (complete with EXIF information, stack sorting icons, etc).  Might be very useful for people enjoying holidays this summer.  Download the code here.

All I can say is Wow!  Just drop a few pages into a website then just copy your pictures into sub directories.  Voilà!  I can't be easier then that.  Thanks for Bertrand LeRoy for this fantastic app.

http://www.codeplex.com/PhotoHandler

The server got a major upgrade this weekend.  I had to replace the power supply that died so I bought a more reliable one, the Antec TruePower Trio 550.  Look at the size of the fan! 120mm and very quiet.

 At the same time, I upgraded the CPU from an Intel Pentium D 820 to a Core 2 Quad Q6600.  Nice!

Of course, I also had to upgrade the CPU fan
I bought an ultra silent ASUS Silent Square.

Left is the ASUS fan, right is the stock Intel fan.

With all that cooling, the server is surprisingly quiet because of the quality of the parts but also because of the size of the fans.

Now that's an interesting news for Canada:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jul07/07-05MSExpandVancouverPR.mspx

Microsoft Expanding Canadian Operations in Greater Vancouver Area

New software development center to be opened in fall 2007.

REDMOND, Wash., and TORONTO — July 5, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it intends to expand its presence in Canada by opening a new software development center in the greater Vancouver, British Columbia, area. The Microsoft Canada Development Centre will open in the fall of 2007 and will be home to software developers from around the world.

“Microsoft is a global company, and our greatest asset is smart, talented, highly skilled people,” said S. Somasegar, corporate vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. “Our goal as a company is to attract the next generation of leading software developers from all parts of the world, and this center will be a beacon for some of that talent.”

The Microsoft Canada Development Centre will operate as one of a handful of development centers outside the company’s Redmond, Wash., headquarters; the others are located in North Carolina, Ireland, Denmark and Israel.

In addition, the company houses research and development centers in the United Kingdom, India, China and the Silicon Valley. The Microsoft Canada Development Centre builds on recently announced expansions to Boston two weeks ago and Bellevue, Wash., two months ago. The Vancouver area is a global gateway with a diverse population, is close to Microsoft’s corporate offices in Redmond and allows the company to recruit and retain highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S.

“In collaboration with our Redmond head office, we determined that opening a regional development center in Canada would create a tremendous opportunity for Canada,” said Phil Sorgen, president of Microsoft Canada. “We have long advocated that Canada would be a wonderful place to locate Microsoft development. We have burgeoning high-tech and software industries and a globally envied quality of life, and our cities represent exactly the kind of environment that leading information workers want to live in. This center will help Microsoft remain globally competitive while providing strong economic benefits to British Columbia and Canada.”

Scenario: You have a Web application that is set to use cookieless sessions and want to call Web Services running in the same app domain and want to share the session state between the ASPX and the ASMX pages.

Problem: If you declare the Web Service path in the ScriptManager, the session ID will not be inserted automatically by AJAX or ASP.NET so when you'll call the Web Service, it will not be able to retrieve the session.

Solution: You need to use the Invoke method of the Sys.Net.WebServiceProxy object instead of declaring the WS in the ScriptManager section and you need to stuff the Session ID in the URL.  Just replace the JS line that call the Web method with one that use the Sys.Net.WebServiceProxy object Invoke method.
 
Sys.Net.WebServiceProxy.invoke('http://localhost/(S(<%=Session.SessionID %>))/SimpleService.asmx',
'SayHello', false,{}, OnComplete, OnError,"User Context",1000000);

More info about Sys.Net.WebServiceProxy.Invoke :
http://ajax.asp.net/docs/ClientReference/Sys.Net/WebServiceProxyClass/WebServiceProxyInvokeMethod.aspx

Since I installed Vista, I'm puzzled about the fact that the CPU on my laptop spike at 100% for 10-15 seconds every few minutes even if the computer is iddle.  Looks like the culprit is the service gathering information for the Reliability Monitor.

Here's a great article that describe what the heck Reliability Monitor is:
http://www.petri.co.il/reliability_monitor_windows_vista.htm

OK, I don't need it so how can I disable it?

1. Right click on the Computer icon on your desktop and select Manage
2. Expand Task Scheduler / Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows
3. Right click on RAC / View / Show hidden tasks

The RACAgent should now appear.  Right click on it and disabled it.  That's it! 

Jean-Luc David: Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)

Nous discutons avec Jean-Luc David de Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), le sous-système de communication du .NET Framework 3.0. Entre autres, nous discutons en quoi le modèle de programmation WCF unifie Services Web, .NET Remoting, Microsoft Transaction Server, et Microsoft Message Queuing dans un modèle d'architecture orientée services.

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Just got the news that Jean-René Roy was awarded MVP for his fantastic work in the developers community.

Congrats JR!

Just got back from a week of vacations in Punta Cana and got the good news: I'm renewed as a MVP for ASP.NET.  Yeah!