Jackie Goldstein's Weblog

http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/beta2/beta2rtmchanges/default.aspx

You can watch the BillG PDC keynote today (8:30 AM PST) over here.

Get it hot off the presses, from MSDN subscriber downloads.   This version is compatible with the new September CTP of SQL Server 2005.

Good news for those of you missed me over the past 3 months (less significant for those of you who didn't notice that I was gone... :-) ).  It is pretty much 3 months to the day since my last blog posting.  Fortunately, all has been well - really well in fact.  I have just been SO overwhelmed with work and meeting deadlines (I saw the hour of 3:00 AM more often in a 2-week period than I have in a very, very long time...). 

Two weeks ago I first mentioned the GrokTalks that the Microsoft RDs were planning for TechEd US 2005 - albeit in a shroud of secrecy.   Scott Hanselman gave the first detailed description of these GrokTalks.  The short version is that they are unique 10-minute presentations that convey the essence of a variety of topics.  I had mine filmed at the end of the day on Tuesday - it was fun.  At the end of conference, once we have had time to do the required editing, there will be over 40 of these presentations available for viewing - be sure to check them out at www.GrokTalk.net

On the heels of our success of raising over $10,000 for the victims of the tsunami disaster, we are trying to do it even better.  We have assembled a group of over 20 top .NET consultants and speakers to donate some of their time for the same charity.

One of the new features that has first appeared in Beta 2 of VS 2005 are the ReportViewer controls and associated Report Designer.  This is basically a version of the SQL 2005 Reporting Services engine that can be rendered totally on the client (that means no SQL Server installation/license required for generating and viewing the reports).  It can also display and print reports that are generated remotely by an installation of SQL 2005 Reporting Services. There are controls for both WinForms and WebForms.  Very Cool

Do you want the opportunity to work with Brad McCabe ?  Brad is a MSDN Content Strategist, responsible for the VB and Data Access Dev Centers (and probably some others).  He is part of the team responsible for much of the content on MSDN.  If you like writing and explaining technology the position of a Content Strategist seems like a very cool one to me.  Here is a post describing the available positions.  (via Brad's Blog)