If you are looking for some nice controls for your next Silverlight 3 application, then make sure and stop by VectorLight.Net.  These controls seem to be very light weight and stable, and best of all, they are currently free.  A Live Demo of the controls can be found here.

The list of current offerings include:

• Color Selector
• Dropdown
• Fieldset
• File upload
• ItemViewer
• Magnifier
• Main Menu
• Menu ( popup )
• Popup Bubble
• Popup Dialog
• Popup MessageBox
• Progress Bar
• Rich TextBlock
• Rich TextBox
• Roller Blind
• Scroller
• Spell Checker
• Table
• TextBlock Plus
• Text Rotator Blind
• Tree View
• Viewer

Two months after it’s initial release, Microsoft has updated it’s RIA services. 

.NET RIA Services May 2009 Preview

Today we posted a minor update to .NET RIA Services.  This release is mainly focused on addressing bug fixes we have heard in the forums and delivering on a few key areas… There are a lot of other long lead work items that will fall into future releases. 

Download it today from: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/RIAServices

Here is a list of what is available in the May 2009 Preview:-

1. Tons of bug fixes. Most of the bugs reported in the forum have been addressed.
2. New Business application Template… This template adds login\create new user to the Silverlight Navigation Application template.

   

   

3. Authentication Sample
4. XML Metadata provider Sample…  We have heard very clearly that folks want an option to store validation metadata outside of custom attributes.  This sample shows how to find metadata in an Xml file, but you could easily extend to find validation information from a database.
5. Linq2Sql Domain Provider Sample..  Out of the box we support POCO (plan old CLR object), Linq2Sql and Entity Framework, but we know folks are actively looking into building support for nHibernate, Sharepoint, etc.   This is a great sample that shows you the ends and outs of writing a provider.  It is the actual product code we use for the Linq2Sql provider (plus a little clean up).
6. Updated asp:DomainDataSource that works great with asp Dynamic Data

All the samples (March 2009 and May 2009) can be found at http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/RIAServices

I’ve been absent from the blogosphere for a bit, but will be returning soon. I’ve been working with a new company on newer technologies like Silverlight 2.0 and loving it. I expect to hear exciting announcements tomorrow coming from Mix ‘09 and then I will start up the blogging again. 

Also, I will be at DevConnections in Orlando next week so stay tuned for updates.

Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 is now in beta and available for download from MSDN. Make sure you don't install it on your development machine until you've tested your setup in a virtual environment.

Here is the feature set copied from Microsoft's website:

Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 includes:

• Improved designers for building WPF applications
• Full support for SQL Server 2008
• The introduction of the ADO.NET Entity Designer
• Visual Basic and Visual C++ components and tools (including an MFC-based Office 2007 style 'Ribbon')
• Improvements to Team Foundation Server to respond to customer feedback on version control usability and performance, improved e-mail integration with work item tracking and full support for hosting on SQL Server 2008
• Improvements for Web development including richer JavaScript support, enhanced AJAX and data tools, and Web site deployment

The .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 includes:

• Performance increases between 20-45% for WPF-based applications - without having to change any code
• WCF improvements that give developers more control over the way they access data and services
• Streamlined installation experience for client applications
• Improvements in the area of data platform, such as the ADO.NET Entity Framework, ADO.NET Data Services and support for SQL Server 2008's new features.

Additional Details

In addition, Service Pack 1 for the .NET Framework and Visual Studio 2008 includes a number of new features:

• Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Visual Designer Changes
• .NET Framework 3.5 Client Profile
• New ADO.NET Data Features
• Team Foundation Server Improvements

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Visual Designer Changes

• Cold startup performance improvement ranging between 20-45% depending on application size without needing to modify any code.
• Additional WPF features for text, graphics, and media to deliver better performance. For example, effects like DropShadow and Blur were implemented using software rendering; with Service Pack 1 these are now implemented using hardware acceleration. Other examples include:
  • Text, especially when used in Visual and DrawingBrush, is substantially faster.
  • Data scalability improvements - Container Recycling, TreeView virtualization, and more to enable richer data editing support
  • Media performance improvements
  • A much improved WriteableBitmap that enables real-time bitmap updates from a software surface
• Visual Studio 2008 introduced a brand new designer for WPF applications. Since Visual Studio 2008 released many additional features have become available for inclusion in the designers. These include event tab support within the property grid for control events, toolbox support within source mode, and a variety of other common asks and improvements.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Workflow Foundation (WF) Changes

• New Hosting Wizard for WCF Service projects.
• Enhancements in Test Client such as support for RM Sessions, Message Contract and Nullable<T> types enables testing of broader set of WCF-based services.
• Expanding reach of DataContract Serializer by relaxing the need of having [DataContract]/ [DataMember] on types and by supporting an interoperable mechanism for dealing with object references.
• Improved Partial Trust Debugging Experience with support for Event Log.
• Support for ADO.NET Entity Framework entities in WCF contracts.
• Improvements in writing REST based services ranging from easily supporting ServiceDocuments publication and consumption to providing greater control and usability of UriTemplate.
• Significant performance improvements on large workflow-based projects in Visual Studio.
• Considerable scalability increases for hosted WCF services in IIS7-integrated mode.

It looks like my local cable company is getting worried with Verizon FIOS moving into the area. A lot of my co-workers are telling me about letters they have been getting in the mail about speed increases, while others have just been ninja upgraded. My connection went from 7/0.6 to 20/2, but I am hoping to get a little more up speed.  Here are the results of my speed test.

I ran across this a few weeks back and thought I would go ahead and post them here. Funny Stuff.

Microsoft has announced a new program called DreamSpark to get over $2000.00 of free developer tools into the hands of college students. It is a bit too late for me, but I still wouldn't mind having that 12-month free membership to the XNA creators club.

The full list of free software:

• Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
• Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
• XNA Game Studio 2.0
• 12-month free membership in the XNA Creators Club
• Expression Studio, which includes Expression Web, Expression Blend, Expression Design and Expression Media
• SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
• SQL Server Developer Edition
• Virtual PC 2007
• Visual Basic 2005
• Visual C++ 2005
• Visual C# 2005
• Visual J# 2005
• Visual Web Developer 2005

Full information can be found at https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/

Wow, I thought I would be getting my SQL Sever 2008 at the up coming launch event, but it looks as if I will be getting a release candidate instead.

Here is the news:

Microsoft Postpones SQL Server 2008 Release

Microsoft postponed the final release of SQL Server 2008 until the third quarter of 2008. The company had planned to release the product during the second quarter but announced on a blog dedicated to SQL Server that it will now ship a release candidate for the new version in the second quarter with the final release to manufacturing version expected in the third quarter. The company also said that the new date still keeps the company on track to ship the database software within the original goal of 24 to 36 months after SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft said downloads of SQL Server Community Technology Preview (CTP) have reached more than a 100,000 copies. The CTP works like a test or beta version of the product.

On the blog, Microsoft emphasized that SQL Server 2008 is a major release for the company because it not only improves on the capabilities of the 2005 product, but it also provides the foundation for Microsoft's business intelligence software.

The 2008 version also includes features like Resource Governor, Backup Compression, Transparent Data Encryption, Enhanced Report Designer, FileStream Data Types (to manage unstructured documents), Spatial Data Support, and Compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

According to Microsoft, SQL Server is now running data warehouses larger than 20 TB in size.

It has been little over a year since the release of Vista and now the first set of improvements are hitting the streets. Service Pack 1 is now available to MSDN subscribers. As I understand it, Service Pack 1 is mainly focused on addressing specific reliability issues, performance and supporting additional hardware and not being used for new features.  

Here are some things to know about SP1 from Microsoft TechNet:

• If you have a prior version of the SP1 beta installed, you must uninstall it prior to installing the final version. Use the Control Panel applet "Programs and Features" and select "View installed updates" from the top left of the task pane. Under Windows, look for "Service Pack for Windows (KB936330).
• Some TechNet Plus subscribers may encounter an issue with a small set of hardware devices that may not function properly after updating a Windows Vista PC to SP1.   This is an issue with the way the device drivers were re-installed during the SP1 update process, not with the drivers themselves—these drivers worked on Windows Vista RTM and they work on Windows Vista SP1.  This problem is typically corrected by simply uninstalling and reinstalling the driver.
• We are working with the manufacturers of these devices to get the drivers and their install programs updated, and also on other solutions we can use to ensure a smooth customer experience when updating to SP1 over Windows Update. For new PCs provisioned with Windows Vista SP1, this is not an issue.