This newsletter provides an overview of the Microsoft Application Platform and announces the first issue. It introduces the editor and explains that the newsletter will provide aggregated information on Microsoft technologies and products in 10-15 minutes bi-monthly. Readers are invited to provide feedback and can subscribe or unsubscribe via email or links. The issue highlights capabilities like data management, business intelligence and tools/ALM and lists associated Microsoft products. It also provides download links and news items.

1. MICROSOFT APPLICATION PLATFORM
Volume 1 Issue 1 June 2008
SOA &
Tools and User
.Net Data Mgmt Business BI Other
ALM Experience
Process
Feedback Subscribe / Unsubscribe
KEY
Welcome to the first issue of the Microsoft Application Platform ANNOUNCEMENTS
Newsletter. > SQL Server 2008 RC0
My name is Anish Patel, I am an Application Platform Solution Specialist at Microsoft
> .Net 3.5 SP1 Beta
Corporation. I am excited to bring you this first newsletter which I hope you will find of > Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 SP1
value. I will appreciate your feedback and how we can make it more useful to you, so Beta
please provide feedback. Also, note that this newsletter is my own creation based on
feedback and local regional needs. It is sourced from various news outlets and most
ourced > Commerce Server 2007 SP2 -
importantly any errors are my own. This first issue would not have been possible Enterprise Edition
without the help from several folks especially the content Review Team and Jessica
> Aspiring Architect Series 2008
Smutek in our Raleigh Office.
> BizTalk Server 2006 R3 TAP
Program Announcement
What is The Microsoft Application Platform?
The Microsoft Application Platform is a set of integrated technologies and tools
tools— > Silverlight Beta 2
spanning the user experience, collaboration and workflow, analytics and business > PerformancePoint Servicer Service
intelligence, business process management and service oriented architectures—that
Pack 1
enables your business to innovate and to create strategic advantage.
> SQL Server 2005 SP2 CU#8
Key capabilities provided by the Microsoft Application Platform are—Data Management,
are Released
Business Intelligence, SOA and Business Process, Development tools and lifecycle, and
User Experience.
Core products which enable these capabilities are—SQL Server, BizTalk Server, Visual
are SPECIAL POINTS OF IN INTEREST:
Studio, and Expression. Supporting products are—Office Business Application, Microsoft
are > Microsoft BI and Silverlight
Office SharePoint Server, Windows Server and PerformancePoint Server.
Perf > SQL Server Community
Communi
Worldwide
Fundamental Technologies—.Net Framework, Silverlight and Internet Information
.Net
> Communicator Add In for
Server.
Outlook 2007
> NBCOlympics.com
Why a newsletter?
Given the considerable amount of information which becomes available I thought this
> Xobni
would be a good means to try and aggregate that and also focus on information which
may be of interest to my customers. One of the key goals is to be able to go through
the information in 10-15 minutes and provide you references/links for more details.
15
How frequently will I get this newsletter?
About every two or three months.
How can I get off/on this subscription list?
Simply click on Unsubscribe for unsubscribing and Subscribe for subscribing.
ing
Alternatively send us an email (mappplat@microsoft.com with subject as Unsubscribe
mappplat@microsoft.com)
or Subscribe.
How can I provide Feedback?
Click on Feedback (mappplat@microsoft.com and send it our way. Will appreciate any
appplat@microsoft.com)
and all feedback and it will help us evolve this and make it more relevant and useful.
Content Reviewers: Brian Hitney, David Scruggs, Flavio Almeida, Karl Rissland and Dave Wiseman

2. Microsoft Application Platform Volume 1 Issue 1, June 2008
.NET Downloads, Whitepapers
First Page Last Page
• Business Planning Guide for Visual Basic 6.0 Applications:
This white paper helps businesses plan for the future of
News systems based on the Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 platform.
• Unity: The Unity Application Block (Unity) is a
• Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Application Servers, 2Q08 lightweight, extensible dependency injection container.
(Gartner, April 24, 2008) Foundational EAS technology is
• Works with Tool: The “Works with” tool determines
evolving to meet the challenges of constant innovation in
application readiness for Windows Server 2008.
business software. Gartner positions Microsoft in Leaders
Quadrant in the 2008 Magic Quadrant for Enterprise • Custom Alerting: The Microsoft Custom Alerting Sample
Application Servers. Read more here illustrates how to send alert messages to a custom
• Upgrading Sites to ASP.NET 2.0/3.5 desktop client from a middle tier component.
• MSDN Magazine: Automate Web App Deployment with • VSeWSS11 User Guide, Samples and Walkthroughs: A
the SharePoint API User Guide, Samples and Walkthroughs in VB.NET and
• Beef Up Windows Apps with the Visual C++ 2008 Feature
C# for the VSeWSS 1.1 tools for developing custom
Pack
SharePoint applications with Visual Studio 2005.
• Office Development Components Series: These audio
programs introduce the components of Visual Studio • MSDN Community Distribution CD (May 2008): MSDN
2008 that you can use to develop solutions that Community Distribution CD Image Download
incorporate Microsoft Office applications. • OBA Composition Reference Toolkit: The OBA
• Enterprise Library 4.0 - May 2008: Enterprise Library is a Composition Reference Toolkit brings to surface the
collection of reusable application blocks designed to underlying composition capabilities of the 2007 Microsoft
assist developers with common enterprise development Office system.
challenges. This release includes: Caching, Cryptography,
• ILMerge: ILMerge is a utility for merging multiple .NET
Data Access, Exception Handling, Logging, Policy
Injection, Security, Validation, and Unity Application assemblies into a single .NET assembly. It works on
Blocks. executables and DLLs alike and comes with several
• Clear Channel Communications Cuts Code 84 Percent, options for controlling the processing and format of the
Speeds Interface 400 Percent output. See the accompanying documentation for details.
• Windows Workflow Foundation Web Workflow Approvals
Starter Kit: A starter kit Web application that includes
Training & Events task-oriented workflow using Windows Workflow
Foundation.
• Smart Client Software Factory Source Code--April 2008:
• Microsoft 2008 PDC Registration is Open—Event on Oct
The Smart Client Software Factory provides an integrated
26—30, 2008, Los Angeles,
set of guidance that assists architects and developers in
• VSLive! in New York—Sep 7-10, 2008, New York City
creating composite smart client applications.
• VSLive! In Las Vegas—Oct 13 –17, 2008, Las Vegas
This release is for Visual Studio 2008 and contains the
• HOLs for WSS 3.0 Dev: A set of 10 Hands on Labs for
Smart Client Software Factory source code.
Developing Applications for Windows SharePoint Services
3.0 with Visual Studio 2005 • Visual C++ 2008 Feature Pack: Visual C++ 2008
• .NET 3.5 Enhancements Training Kit: .NET Framework Libraries Extension Feature Pack Refresh
3.5 Enhancements Training Kit containing Labs, Demos • Web Service Software Factory: Modeling Edition Source
and PPTs Code - February 2008: The Web Service Software
• Michael Howard's SDL Development Practices session: In Factory: Modeling Edition is an integrated collection of
this session, Michael Howard discusses secure resources designed to help you quickly and consistently
development practices, as part of the Microsoft Security
build Web services that adhere to well-known
Development Lifecycle (SDL)
• Michael Howard's "Everything Developer Security" architecture and design patterns. This release is for
session: In this session, Michael Howard answers general Visual Studio 2008 and contains the Service Factory
questions about secure development issues and source code.
strategies • WCF LOB Adapter SDK: The Microsoft© Windows
• Michael Howard's Threat Modeling session: In this Communication Foundation (WCF) Line-of-Business (LOB)
session, Michael Howard discusses threat modeling and Adapter SDK provides for a simplified programming
the important role it plays in the Microsoft Security
model on top of the WCF Channel Model by adding
Development Lifecycle (SDL)
• Hands-on Labs for Windows® Workflow Foundation in C# metadata browsing, searching and retrieving
and VB.NET functionality, and development tools for generating and
• Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit (Beta 3) testing adapter code.
• OnRamp: Next Generation Web Development on the • ASP.NET MVC Preview 3: ASP.NET MVC Preview 3
Microsoft Platform • Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 - Download
• Get a 40% Discount on SQL Server Reporting Services • .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta Downloads
Courseware
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Microsoft Application Platform Page: 2

3. Microsoft Application Platform Volume 1 Issue 1, June 2008
Microsoft® Expression Blend™ 2 is the professional
design tool used to create engaging Web-connected
TOOLS AND ALM experiences for Microsoft® Windows®. The Expression
Blend 2.5 March 2008 Preview allows you to create
First Page Last Page
Microsoft® Silverlight™ 2-based applications.
• Source Code for Silverlight 2 Beta 1 Controls: This
Downloads, Whitepapers download contains the complete source code and unit
tests for the Silverlight 2 Beta 1 controls included in
• Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Beta Downloads System.Windows.Controls.dll,
• Visual Studio® Team System Code Name "Rosario" April System.Windows.Controls.Extended.dll, and
2008 CTP (VPC Image): Visual Studio® Team System System.Windows.Controls.Data.dll.
Code Name “Rosario” is the version of Team System that • Virtual Earth SDK 6.1: This software development kit
(SDK) provides programming references and how-to
follows Visual Studio Team System 2008. This release
topics for getting started with the Virtual Earth map
provides the earliest public glimpse of the work in control.
progress on the next generation of Team System. • Web Client Composite Library for .NET Framework 3.5:
• Developing Custom Applications with SharePoint Server This library provides reusable application blocks for
2007: With a close look at a real-world example, learn creating composite responsive Web clients.
how to build business solutions that leverage a broad • Web Client Modularity Application Block for .NET
Framework 3.5: This application block provides guidance
range of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
on how to create modular composite user interfaces.
Enterprise capabilities. • Web Client Search Application Block for .NET Framework
• Visual Studio Team System 2008 Capabilities White 3.5: This application block provides guidance on how to
Papers: These white papers describe the key capabilities improve UI search patterns.
of Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 in greater • Web Client Validation Application Block for .NET
depth. Framework 3.5: This application block provides guidance
on how to improve responsiveness for UI validation.
• Requirements Management with Team System White • Live Search SDK: Documentation and samples for using
Paper: This white paper describes requirements the Live Search Web Service.
management with Team System.
• Team Foundation Power Tools: The Visual Studio Team
System 2008 Team Foundation Server Power Tools is a DATA MANAGEMENT
set of enhancements, tools and command line utilities First Page Last Page
that improve the Team Foundation Server 2008
experience. News
• TSMMD: A productivity tool for Architects and Developers
to model application health scenarios in Microsoft Visual • SQL Server Data Services
Studio Team System.
• Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools: Visual Studio
2008 Extensions, Version 1.2
Training & Events
• Webcast Series: 24 Hours of SQL Server 2008
USER EXPERIENCE • Essential SQL Server 2008 for Developers Web Seminar
First Page Last Page Series
• SQL Server 2008: Updating Your Skills from SQL Server
2005
News
• Microsoft Shows New Attitude at MIX08, but Consistency
Will Be Key (Gartner Research, April 17, 2008) This
Downloads, Whitepapers
report looks at the major announcements made at
Microsoft's MIX08 conference. David Mitchell Smith, Ray • SQL Server 2008 on Windows Server 2008 - A Dell
Valdes and Brian Prentice state that “Web designers will Whitepaper
no longer just be creating innovative consumer-facing • White Paper: SQL Server 2008 Compared to Oracle
Web sites. They’re going to be leading the redesign of the Database 11g
computing experience in the enterprise.”
• Inside Silverlight 2.0
SOA & BUSINESS
PROCESS
Downloads, Whitepapers First Page Last Page
• Microsoft Expression Blend 2.5 March 2008 Preview:
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Microsoft Application Platform Page: 3

4. Microsoft Application Platform Volume 1 Issue 1, June 2008
Business Intelligence Platforms.
News • Microsoft Is Positioned in Leaders Quadrant for Magic
Quadrant for Data Warehouse Database Management
• MSDN Magazine: Connect Enterprise Apps with Hosted Systems, 2007
BizTalk Services • Microsoft Business Intelligence Customer Awards
• Enhancements to BizTalk B2B functionality • The Next Big Thing in BI
• How To Choose Among The Four Bright Lights Of BI
Training & Events
Training & Events
• BizTalk Server 2006 Tutorials: The BizTalk Server 2006
tutorials contain detailed steps for implementing simple • TechNet Webcast: PerformancePoint Server 2007:
scenarios to give new users an experience of using a Planning Implementation Methodologies and Best
variety of BizTalk tools while creating compiled, testable Practices (Level 200)
solutions. • TechNet Webcast: PerformancePoint Server 2007: M&A
Implementation Methodologies and Best Practices (Level
200)
Downloads, Whitepapers • On Demand Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server
2007 Webinar & Demo
• BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Installation and Upgrade Guides: • Data Mining and Business Intelligence for Enterprises
Download the installation and upgrade instructions for • Microsoft Business Intelligence Conference—2008 — Oct
BizTalk Server 2006 R2 and BizTalk RFID. 6—8 2008, Seattle, WA
• BizTalk Accelerator for SWIFT SP1: The BizTalk
Accelerator for SWIFT 3.0 Service Pack 1 and BizTalk
FileAct and InterAct Adapters for SWIFT 2.3 Service Pack Downloads, Whitepapers
1 support SWIFTReady Financial EAI GOLD Certification
requirements for 2007, including processing support for • PerformancePoint Servicer Service Pack 1
SWIFT XML-formatted messages (“MX”) and support for
SWIFT Alliance Access and SWIFTAlliance Gateway
version 6.0, which are products of S.W.I.F.T. SCRL.
• How to Track Failed Messages in BAM: This white paper
describes how to track failed messages in Microsoft®
OTHER
First Page Last Page
BizTalk® Server 2006 by using Business Activity
Monitoring (BAM). It contains steps for creating a basic
solution for tracking failed messages. It also provides tips News
for variations to track different types of failed messages. • New Social Bookmarking features for MSDN, TechNet and
• Adapter Pack: The BizTalk Adapter Pack has adapters for Expression
Oracle Database,mySAP Business Suite and Siebel • Step-by-Step Guide for Testing Hyper-V and Failover
eBusiness Applications Clustering: Shows you how to test using Hyper-V and
• BizTalk Server 2006 Best Practices Analyzer V1.1 Failover Clustering together to make a virtual machine
• Microsoft BizTalk LoadGen 2007 Tool: Microsoft BizTalk highly available.
LoadGen 2007 is a tool that is used to run performance • How Microsoft IT Manages Physical Security through
and stress tests. Strategic IT Convergence: The purpose of World Wide
• BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Legacy Modernization with Host Security Operations is to protect Microsoft’s assets in a
Integration Server 2006 manner consistent with corporate culture.
• Nielsen Media Case Study: Nielsen Media Research, part
of the Nielsen Company, is the world’s leading provider of
television, radio, and print audience measurement and
BUSINESS advertising information services.
INTELLIGENCE
First Page Last Page
News Training & Events
• MSDN Webcast: Introduction to SharePoint for .NET
• Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence Platforms, 2008 Developers: Silverlight and SharePoint Server (Level
(Gartner, February 1, 2008) Gartner positions Microsoft 200): MSDN Webcast: Introduction to SharePoint for
in Leaders Quadrant in the 2008 Magic Quadrant for
____________________________________________________________________
Microsoft Application Platform Page: 4

5. Microsoft Application Platform Volume 1 Issue 1, June 2008
.NET Developers: Silverlight and SharePoint Server
(Level 200)
• One free eLearning Training session
• Office Development Overview Series: These audio
programs provide an overview of Microsoft Office
development using Visual Studio 2008.
• Learn how to develop on Microsoft Office SharePoint
Server 2007—Do Less. Get More. Develop with
SharePoint. Local User Groups: Are you a member of your local user
• Developing Solutions with SharePoint Server 2007 community?
• Commerce Server training available, August 4-8 Los
Angeles SQL Server
⇒ Charlotte SQL Server Users Group -
http://ww.Charlotte-SQL.org
⇒ Triad SQL Users Group—http://www.triadsql.com/
Downloads, Whitepapers
.NET
• Commerce Server 2007 SP2 - Enterprise Edition: Service ⇒ Triangle .Net User Group—http://www.trinug.org/
Pack 2 (SP2) for Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 ⇒ Guild Online—
Enterprise Edition provides support for running http://www.developersguild.org/Default.aspx?ta
Commerce Server 2007 Enterprise Editions on Windows bid=1
Server 2008. In addition, it includes compatibility with ⇒ Greenville/Spartanburg .Net User Group—
Visual Studio 2008, .NET 3.5 and fixes for several issues http://www.gsatc.org/
in the product. No new features are introduced in SP2. ⇒ Triad Developers Guild: http://www.triaddev.org/
• Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site Release 2
• Identity & S+S: from the enterprise to the Internet and
back
• Microsoft ® Windows Server ™ 2003 Performance This newsletter will be archived at http://www.mappplat.com
Advisor: Performance diagnostic tool for Windows Server
2003 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
• Deep Zoom Composer: Prepare images for use with the
Deep Zoom feature in Silverlight 2 Beta 1
• Release to Web of Documentum and FileNet Indexing
Connectors
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Microsoft Application Platform Page: 5