Data News – 2018 / 07

Welcome to edition 7 of my Data Platform News SELECTION. I’ve again collected a list of (at least for me) interesting links out of the internet dealing with data and/or Microsoft data platform. Enjoy the reading…

Hot off the press: SQL Operations Studio February 2018 release https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/dataplatforminsider/2018/02/15/the-february-release-of-sql-operations-studio-is-now-available/

Azure

• Azure Data Architecture Guide (recommended reading) -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/data-guide/
• Azure Strategy and Implementation Guide https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/azure-strategy-and-implementation-guide/
• Azure Data Lake Storage in Storage Explorer (public preview)  – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-azure-data-lake-storage-adls-in-storage-explorer-public-preview/
• From unstructured data to dashboard with Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Lake https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/azuredatalake/2018/01/25/from-unstructured-data-to-dashboard-with-azure-data-factory-and-azure-data-lake/
• Azure Databricks & Azure Free Account – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/services/databricks
• Edx course: Enabling Data Source Discovery with Azure Data Catalog https://www.edx.org/course/enabling-data-source-discovery-azure-microsoft-dat238x
• Microsoft Research Papers Behind the Cognitive Services – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/jennifer/2018/02/09/microsoft-research-papers-behind-the-cognitive-services/
• Azure Database Migration Services – February 2018 Updates https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/datamigration/2018/02/09/azure-database-migration-service-february-updates/

Data Platform

• SQL Server / Azure SQL Database
  • Sync SQL data in large scale using Azure SQL Data Sync https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/dataplatforminsider/2018/02/15/sync-sql-data-in-large-scale-using-azure-sql-data-sync/
  • Migrating to Azure SQL Database with Zero Downtime for Read-Only Workloads –> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/02/15/migrating-to-azure-sql-database-with-zero-downtime-for-read-only-workloads/
  • New Windows container images of SQL Server 2017 on Windows Server 1709 https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/02/11/new-windows-container-images-of-sql-server-2017-on-windows-server-1709/
  • Azure Database Migration Services – February 2018 Updates https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/datamigration/2018/02/09/azure-database-migration-service-february-updates/
• Power BI
  • Publish Power BI Files with Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) https://msftplayground.com/2017/12/publish-powerbi-files-with-visual-studio-team-services/
  • Integrate Power BI Dashboards, Reports and Tiles into a WPF Application https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/premier_developer/2018/01/27/integrate-power-bi-dashboards-reports-and-tiles-into-a-wpf-application/
  • Power BI Powershell scripts – https://github.com/Azure-Samples/powerbi-powershell
• AI
  • Artificial Intelligence: How we help machines learn -> https://paidpost.nytimes.com/facebook/artificial-intelligence-how-we-help-machines-learn.html?tbs_nyt=2018-feb-nytoffsite_pocket&189293206
  • What’s the difference between data sciences, machine learning and artificial intelligence? http://varianceexplained.org/r/ds-ml-ai/
  • AI school – https://aischool.microsoft.com/learning-paths

Miscellaneous

• Hot off the press: SQL Operations Studio February 2018 release https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/dataplatforminsider/2018/02/15/the-february-release-of-sql-operations-studio-is-now-available/
• Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Management Solutions for Analytics (published 2018-02-13) https://www.gartner.com/doc/reprints?id=1-4PHDA9J&ct=180123&st=sb% 
• Scott Hanselman: Why should I care about Kubernetes, Docker and Container Orchestration? https://www.hanselman.com/blog/WhyShouldICareAboutKubernetesDockerAndContainerOrchestration.aspx
• A new feedback system is coming to docs.microsoft.com https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/teamblog/a-new-feedback-system-is-coming-to-docs
• Free Data Ebook Archive (O’Reilly) http://www.oreilly.com/data/free/archive.html
• The story behind Micrsoft’s earnings: The intelligenct cloud powers customer innovation across industries https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2018/01/31/story-behind-microsofts-earnings-intelligent-cloud-powers-customer-innovation-across-industries/

Conferences

• Latest news: The dates for Build 2018 are announced -> May 7th-9th 2018 in Seattle, WA -> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/build plus: registration is live!
• February in London – #SQLBits 2018 -> 21st to 24th February 2018 Olympia London -> http://sqlbits.com/
• February in Germany – #SQLKonferenz in Darmstadt. Reserve your spot for (almost) everything around Microsoft Data Platform!
  The #sqlpass_de crew will take care of you! -> https://sqlkonferenz.de/agenda.aspx
• In April, Dublin will be the center of Power BI 🙂 The Data & BI Summit is coming to Dublin. There will be a Microsoft Deep Drive Track – See the details here (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/charles_sterling/2018/01/12/microsoft-deep-drive-track-at-the-bi-summit/)

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Data News – 2018 / 06

Welcome to edition 6 of my Data Platform News SELECTION. I’ve again collected a list of (at least for me) interesting links out of the internet dealing with data and/or Microsoft data platform. Enjoy the reading…

 

Azure

• Azure Search service upgrades: New hardware, unlimited document counts, and more! https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-search-unlimited-document-counts/
• Download the updated Azure, Cloud and Enterprise Symbol Collection (2.7) -> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41937

Data Platform

• SQL Server / Azure SQL Database
  • Operating System Best Practice Configurations for SQL Server -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/docast/2018/02/01/operating-system-best-practice-configurations-for-sql-server/
  • SQL Server CAT Team: Top Questions from New Users of Azure SQL Database – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlcat/2017/10/23/top-questions-from-new-users-of-azure-sql-database/
  • Bridging the Azure gap: Managed Instances – https://sqlperformance.com/2018/02/azure/bridging-the-azure-gap-managed-instances
  • SQL Updates Newsletter – January 2018: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlupdates/2018/02/05/sql-updates-newsletter-january-2018/
  • Build email notifications for SQL Database Automatic tuning recommendations – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/build-email-notifications-for-sql-database-automatic-tuning-recommendations/
• Power BI
  • Power BI Desktop February 2018 Feature Summary (lots of new features) – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-february-2018-feature-summary/
  • Power BI Service and Mobile January 2018 Feature Summary – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-service-and-mobile-january-2018-feature-summary/
  • New data.world connector in Power BI Desktop -> https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/connect-to-tens-of-thousands-of-datasets-on-data-world-with-the-new-connector-for-power-bi-desktop-and-join-the-webinar/
• IoT
  • Video: Go serverless for your IoT needs – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/go-serverless-for-your-iot-needs/
• Cosmos DB
  • Azure CosmosDB Graph API now generally available – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmosdb-graph-api-now-generally-available/
  • InfoWorld 2018 Technology of the Year Awards: CosmosDB and Project Olympus https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmosdb-and-microsoft-s-project-olympus-honored-in-infoworld-s-2018-technology-of-the-year-awards/
  • Free Ebook – Build Modern Apps with Big Data at a Global Scale (CosmosDB)  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cosmosdb-modern-apps-big-data-global-scale/
• AI
  • How is AI for video different from AI for images? -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/how-is-ai-for-video-different-from-ai-for-images/
  • Bing Speech API extends its text to speech support to 34 languages – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/bing-speech-api-extends-its-text-to-speech-support-to-34-languages/
  • Free: Microsoft AI Bootcamp Materials for Emerging & Pro Developers -> https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/machinelearning/2018/02/06/microsoft-ai-bootcamp-materials-for-emerging-pro-developers-now-available-for-free/
  • Video: The AI Show: Data Science Virtual Machine -> http://blog.revolutionanalytics.com/2018/02/dsvm-on-ai-show.html
• Python
  • Python Engineering at Microsoft Blog – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/pythonengineering/

Miscellaneous

• How we use Git at Microsoft -> https://www.visualstudio.com/learn/use-git-microsoft/
• Microsoft Lifecycle Policy search (enter the name of the product and your’ll get all the required support information): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/search
• Download the updated Azure, Cloud and Enterprise Symbol Collection (2.7) -> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41937

Conferences

• Latest news: The dates for Build 2018 are announced -> May 7th-9th 2018 in Seattle, WA -> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/build
• February in London – #SQLBits 2018 -> 21st to 24th February 2018 Olympia London -> http://sqlbits.com/
• February in Germany – #SQLKonferenz in Darmstadt. Reserve your spot for (almost) everything around Microsoft Data Platform!
  The #sqlpass_de crew will take care of you! -> https://sqlkonferenz.de/agenda.aspx
• In April, Dublin will be the center of Power BI 🙂 The Data & BI Summit is coming to Dublin. There will be a Microsoft Deep Drive Track – See the details here (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/charles_sterling/2018/01/12/microsoft-deep-drive-track-at-the-bi-summit/)

Speaking at the first #DataBISummit in Dublin

It was that kind of “Wohooo” reaction when I got the information that I will speak at the first DataBISummit in April (24-26) in Dublin.

As the agenda is not officially announced yet (stay tuned for it) – I will not reveal my *two* session titles now.. but as soon as the schedule is published I will write more about the two topics I will talk about.

Just a small hint: Both are related to #PowerBI, #Reporting, #Cloud, #BusinessIntelligence..

Stay tuned and register… cu in Dublin!

Wolfgang

Speaking at #SQLKonferenz 2018

Another year is over and I am very happy to announce that I will again join the crazy #SQLDataMonster crowd in Darmstadt for SQLKonferenz. The published agenda looks really promising – I am looking forward to attend and learn from the great lineup of content. I am also very happy that I got a place in Nikos Precon about Columnstore technology… (this precon is sold out but there are other full day workshops that still have some spare places left).

My topic this year is all about the Power BI Report Server (PBIRS) – What is it? What makes it different compared to “normal” SQL Server Reporting Services? What are the differences between powerbi.com and PBIRS? How can you get and license PBIRS? …

I am really looking forward to three days full of #DataMonster topics…

 

Data News – 2018 / 05

Welcome to edition 5 of my Data Platform News SELECTION. I’ve again collected a list of (at least for me) interesting links out of the internet dealing with data and/or Microsoft data platform. Enjoy the reading…

 

Azure

• New in Stream Analytics: General availability of sub-streams, query compatibility and more -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-in-stream-analytics-general-availability-of-sub-streams-query-compatibility-and-more/
• Announcing the general availabilty of Azure Event Grid -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-the-general-availability-of-azure-event-grid/
• New Azure Data Factory self-paced hands-on lab for UI -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-azure-data-factory-self-paced-hands-on-lab-for-ui/
• Three new reasons to love the TSI (Time Series Insights) explorer -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/three-new-reasons-to-love-the-tsi-explorer/

 

Data Platform

• SQL Server / Azure SQL Database
  • JSON in SQL  Server – Use Cases -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/01/31/json-in-sql-server-use-cases/
  • Simplify REST API development for modern Single-page apps with SQL Server -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/01/29/simplify-rest-api-development-modern-single-page-apps-sql-server/
• Power BI
  • Microsoft Power BI – PC Magazines Editors’ Choice -> http://uk.pcmag.com/microsoft-power-bi/74174/review/microsoft-power-bi
  • Six ways Excel users save time with Power BI (On demand Webcast) -> https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-and-power-bi/
• Azure Database for MySQL -> Using the MySQL sys schema to optimize and maintain a database -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/using-the-mysql-sys-schema-to-optimize-and-maintain-a-database/
• Azure Database for MySQL – Using EXPLAIN to profile slow queries -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/using-explain-to-profile-slow-queries-in-azure-database-for-mysql/
•  IoT
  • Announcing IoT Extension for Azure CLI 2.0 -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/iot-extension-for-azure-cli-2-0-in-public-preview/
• Big Data
  • What I Always Wanted to Know about Big Data* (*but was afraid to ask) -> https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/what-i-always-wanted-to-know-about-big-data-but-was-afraid-to-ask

Miscellaneous

• GDPR – On Demand Webcast Recording: Thriving in the GDPR era: How to accelerate your journey to compliance -> https://info.microsoft.com/ThrivingInTheGDPRera-OnDemandRegistration.html
• Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Separating data location and IS -> https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-us/articles/industries/health/cybersecurity-in-healthcare-separating-data-location-and-is/
• Power Apps
  • Using SQL Server Views in PowerApps -> https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/using-sql-server-views-in-powerapps/
  • PowerApps Learning Resources -> https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-powerapps-learning-resources/
  • Implementing Offline Capability In Your App -> https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/implementing-offline-capability-in-your-app/

Conferences

• February in London – #SQLBits 2018 -> 21st to 24th February 2018 Olympia London -> http://sqlbits.com/
• February in Germany – #SQLKonferenz in Darmstadt. Reserve your spot for (almost) everything around Microsoft Data Platform!
  The #sqlpass_de crew will take care of you! -> https://sqlkonferenz.de/agenda.aspx
• In April, Dublin will be the center of Power BI 🙂 The Data & BI Summit is coming to Dublin. There will be a Microsoft Deep Drive Track – See the details here (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/charles_sterling/2018/01/12/microsoft-deep-drive-track-at-the-bi-summit/)

Data News – 2018 / 04

Welcome to edition 4 of my Data Platform News SELECTION. I’ve again collected a list of (at least for me) interesting links out of the internet dealing with data and/or Microsoft data platform. Enjoy the reading…

 

Azure

• The Developer’s Guide to Microsoft Azure (2nd edition) – https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/campaigns/developer-guide
• Data Science Virtual Machines in Azure (DSVM) -> http://aka.ms/dsvm
• Azure Friday Video: Get Intelligent Insights for Improving Azure SQL Database Performance -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvQmOWWJ9E&feature=youtu.be&a=
• Working with Azure IoT data in Azure SQL Database -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/01/23/working-with-azure-iot-data-in-azure-sql-database/

Data Platform

• SQL Server / Azure SQL Database
  • SQL Server 2017 on Linux – Webcast series. Watch the on-demand recordings here -> https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/dataplatforminsider/2018/01/22/sql-server-2017-on-linux-webcast-series/
  • SQL Setup ToolSuite – Product Browser .. list the SQL Products installed on a machine (From CSS SQL Server Engineers) -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/psssql/2018/01/24/sql-setup-toolsuite-introduction-2-product-browser/
  • Simplify data access using de-normalized models – using JSON in SQL Server > https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/01/24/simplify-data-access-using-de-normalized-models/
  • SQL Server VLDB in Azure: DBA Tasks Made Simple -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlcat/2018/01/22/sql-server-vldb-in-azure-dba-tasks-made-simple/
• Power BI
  • recommended reading! Checklist for Finalizing a Data Model in Power BI Desktop by Melissa Coates (https://www.sqlchick.com) -> https://www.sqlchick.com/entries/2017/12/23/checklist-for-finalizing-a-data-model-in-power-bi-desktop
  • Report Theme Generator V3 -> Huge Update with support for >20 visuals!! ThanksMike Carlo!  https://powerbi.tips/tools/report-theme-generator-v3/
  • January Update for the On-premises data gateway https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/on-premises-data-gateway-january-update-is-now-available/   (PowerShell commands, Updated Mashup engine)
• Business Intelligence
  • 10 Ways to use Business Intelligence SOftware in your Organization -> http://dataconomy.com/2017/12/10-ways-use-business-intelligence-software-organization
• Data Science
  • Data Science Virtual Machines in Azure (DSVM) – duplicate link [also in Azure section] > http://aka.ms/dsvm
• IoT
  • Create a Microsoft IoT Central application -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-iot-central/quick-deploy-iot-central
  • double post [also in Azure] Working with Azure IoT data in Azure SQL Database -> https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlserverstorageengine/2018/01/23/working-with-azure-iot-data-in-azure-sql-database/

Miscellaneous

• Windows 10 gets a Windows Diagnostic Data Viewer – https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/01/24/microsoft-introduces-new-privacy-tools-ahead-of-data-privacy-day/
• PowerShell Core 6.1 Roadmap –https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/powershell/2018/01/24/powershell-core-6-1-roadmap/

Conferences

• February in Germany – #SQLKonferenz in Darmstadt. Reserve your spot for (almost) everything around Microsoft Data Platform!
  The #sqlpass_de crew will take care of you! -> https://sqlkonferenz.de/agenda.aspx
• In April, Dublin will be the center of Power BI 🙂 The Data & BI Summit is coming to Dublin. There will be a Microsoft Deep Drive Track – See the details here (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/charles_sterling/2018/01/12/microsoft-deep-drive-track-at-the-bi-summit/)

Thanks,

Wolfgang

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Previous DataNews Selection posts: https://workingondata.wordpress.com/category/datanews/

Data News – 2018 / 03

Welcome to edition 3 of my Data Platform News SELECTION. This weeks collection is a not as extensive as I planned to – but: we are having #SQLSatVienna 2018 this week and I am a “little” bit involved in organisation tasks…

Nevermind, enjoy the links…

 

Azure

• Optimize your Azure spendings; Hints from the Azure Team (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/premier_developer/2018/01/11/optimize-your-azure-spend/)
• New Alerts (preview) in Azure Monitor (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-alerts-preview-in-azure-monitor)
• Download – Visual Guide to Azure – Cheat Sheet (https://info.microsoft.com/we-azure-cntnt-fy17-07jul-01-visual-guide-to-azure_registration.html)

Data Platform

• DEVops for Data Science – Release Management (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/buckwoody/2018/01/11/devops-for-data-science-release-management/?Wt.mc_id=DX_MVP5001676)
• FREE Ebook: Six cloud data challenges solved for app developers (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/six-cloud-challenges-solved/)
• Power BI
  • Best design practices for reports and visuals (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/power-bi-visualization-best-practices)
  • Tips for creating stunning reports (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/power-bi-reports-tips-and-tricks-for-creating)
  • Tips for designing a great Power BI dashboard (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-dashboards-design-tips)
  • Power BI Developer community January update: Power BI Embedded , Single visual embedding, Custom layout, Update report, RLS support in Tile&Dashboard,  … (https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-developer-community-january-update/)
  • Balanced Scorecards in Power BI (https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/balanced-scorecards/)
• IoT
  • New Azure IoT services supported by IoT DevKit (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/iotdev/2018/01/14/new-azure-iot-services-supported-by-iot-devkit/)
• AI
  • FREE ebook – The Future Computed: Artificial Intelligence and its role in society (https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2018/01/17/future-computed-artificial-intelligence-role-society/)
  • Microsoft on the Way to AI – Microsoft is building technology to put numbers in perspective (https://blogs.microsoft.com/ai/aha-now-get-microsoft-building-technology-put-numbers-perspective/)
• Azure Data Factory
  • Visual Tools enabled in public preview in Azure Data Factory (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/adf-v2-visual-tools-enabled-in-public-preview/)
• Azure Data Lake
  • Azure Data Lake Tools integrates with VS Code Data Lake Explorer (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-data-lake-tools-integrates-with-vscode-data-lake-explorer-and-azure-account/)
• Cosmos DB
  • Recap of 2017 (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmosdb-recap-of-2017/)

Miscellaneous

• Microsoft Portal for inclusive Design  – Designing for inclusivity (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/design/inclusive)

Conferences

• In April, Dublin will be the center of Power BI 🙂 The Data & BI Summit is coming to Dublin. There will be a Microsoft Deep Drive Track – See the details here (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/charles_sterling/2018/01/12/microsoft-deep-drive-track-at-the-bi-summit/)

Thanks,

Wolfgang

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Previous DataNews Selection posts: https://workingondata.wordpress.com/category/datanews/