SQL Server 2005 at Long Last
After years of delays, Microsoft formally launched SQL Server
2005 today, along with Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006.
Microsoft product launches are frequently about partner announcements
and product momentum. This time that's even more true than usual.
With five years to find out what's coming in SQL Server 2005 and
hundreds of thousands of beta copies in the testing pipeline, SQL
Server is hardly a mystery to anyone who wanted to know what the
features would be.
Microsoft says more than 1,500 partners worldwide plan to ship
solutions based on SQL Server 2005. A group called the Visual Studio
Industry Partner program has 235 members shipping 800 products that
extend developer offerings. Microsoft also says some 600 partners
are preparing for the release of BizTalk next year with one offering
or another.
Microsoft posted nearly 100 partner announcements here.
For any ISVs out there looking for ways to jump on this bandwagon,
check out Becky Nagel's story
about the Front Runner program.
Patch Tuesday Again
Anybody else notice that Microsoft has a real boom-bust cycle with
security patches? On Thursday, Microsoft notified users that it
will probably post one
new security bulletin tomorrow for its monthly Patch Tuesday.
For the record, the patch will fix a critical flaw in Windows. Last
month, the company pumped out nine security bulletins. In September,
zero. In August, six. To recap: Aug = 6, September = 0, October
= 9, November = 1 (tentative). Should we just move to an every-other-month
schedule with emergency releases in between for critical patches?
Let me know at sbekker@rcpmag.com
if the monthly patch schedule is working for you.
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Bolstering Windows Live
Within two days of launching Windows Live, Microsoft began padding
the service with technology gained through acquisition. Microsoft
unveiled the set of supplemental online services for Windows users
last Tuesday. The original set of services included personalized
Web spaces, Web-based e-mail accounts, instant messaging, online
favorites, a virus removal service and PC maintenance services.
On Thursday, Microsoft
added Folder Share. The service, acquired from Austin, Texas-based
ByteTaxi Inc., provides for file synchronization and remote file
access.
One Reader's Take on Live
Speaking of Microsoft's Live services, last week I asked whether
you saw opportunities or threats in the Office Live services that
Microsoft will begin testing next year. Hank Gill, CTO and co-owner
of HR-ease in Tampa, Fla., sees opportunities for his company in
the service:
"This would be a terrific idea if they can pull it off.
I work with various groups in Tampa, which create short term or
temporary entities for six months to a year and they need access
to the best technology for short periods of time.
"This could really fill the niche. This will keep people
within the Microsoft brand so I don't have to support Linux and
OpenOffice!"
Let me know what you think at sbekker@rcpmag.com.
Posted by Scott Bekker on November 07, 2005 at 11:53 AM