help.net

After buying Urchin Software, Google Analytics is now available and free to use (you need to have a Google account).
From the site (doesn't seems to work yet anyway):
Learn how visitors interact with your website and identify the navigational bottlenecks that keep them from completing your conversion goals. Find out how profitable your keywords are across search engines and campaigns. Pinpoint where your best customers come from and which markets are most profitable to you. Google Analytics gives you this and more through easy-to-understand visually enhanced reports.

OK first I am like many very pleased that Microsoft (under a lot of pressure!) has finally announced some Service Packs for VS 2003 and 2005.
But I read carefully the post, and I am not totally sure it's perfect.
First a service pack for VS 2003 is scheduled for...April 2006 !?!? Hello Microsoft, you mean a service pack every 3 years and something? At this time, I don't thing I will use anymore VS 2003. I really don't get it, why not now? And does it mean we should expect the same delay with VS 2005? By the way what's about SQL 2005?
Other thing, the hot fixes. This has always been a problem for many, because obtaining a fix by calling a support center is ridiculous and time consuming (don't even mention the phone cost).
After all hot fixes are there to fix bugs, so why can't make them publicly downloadable?
Other grief is the format used for this announcement. I like the blog idea but this should be made public on MSDN, as a kind of contract between Microsoft and their customers, an engagement to say yes we listened and we are willing to help.

Yep happy to announce that the Launch event by the community INDA is right happening now all at the same time in different cities, Galway, Waterford and Cork. And of course the same happens in Belfast (Nimtug).

Another database engine but this one is from the guys behind REAL Basic.

If I have one blogger I respect regarding his honesty, it’s surely Roy Osherove. When Roy get troubles with VS2005, you are surely talking about serious issues. And when you know Roy is an MVP, where are we going?

You will enjoy this, dedicated to my friend Claudio Perrone :-)

Some favorite free .NET tools, list compiled by Richard Slade.