Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Microsoft has released long awaited service pack 1 for Visual Studio 2010. You can download this from here.

This Service Pack includes number of feature enhancements along with the bug fixes. Major enhancement for me is the HTML 5 support and IntelliTrace (formally known as Historical Debugger) for SharePoint.

Here are some of the major enhancements:-
General

• Many Bug Fixes
• Help Viewer 1.1
• Sliverlight 4 Support
• Basic Unit Testing support for the .NET Framework 3.5
• Performance Wizard for Silverlight
• IntelliTrace for 64-bit and SharePoint
• Detecting mixed-mode installations
• Software rendering (for Xp and Win2k3)

Web development

• IIS Express support
• SQL Server CE 4 support
• Razor support (Introducing "Razor")
• Web PI integration
• Deployable dependencies
• HTML5 and CSS3 support
• WCF RIA Services V1 SP1 included

XAML Editor/Designer

• Go To value definition
• Style IntelliSense
• Data source selector
• Advanced grid commands
• New Thickness Editor
• Sample data support
• Increased stability

C++

• MFC-based GPU-accelerated graphics and animations
• New AMD and Intel instruction set support
• Visual Basic Runtime embedding

For more details on above items visit Description of Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1. Also visit ScottGu's Blog for more details.

Also Microsoft has release Service Pack for TFS 2010. If you are using TFS then it is a must have for you. For further details you can go to Brian Harry's blog.

Microsoft WebsiteSpark Program!!! An opportunity to boom your business

WebsiteSpark is a recently announced program by Microsoft. Basically this program is for freelance developers and companies who are providing web development and design services to their customers. Through this program they will get free software and support from Microsoft for three years.

Eligibility Criteria and Enrollment in WebsiteSpark
Eligibility Criteria is very simple:-

• Companies whose primary business is to provide Web development and design services to their customer.
• Company must have 10 or less employees

So, if you want to get benefits from this program, go to WebsiteSpark Homepage and signup now.
In enrollment process you have to get an ‘Approval Code’ from a Microsoft Champ, Network Partner or Hosting Partner. For further details about enrollment visit WebsiteSpark Faqs.

What software are available for free in WebsiteSpark Program?
WebsiteSpark program provides following softwares to their members for free of cost for three years:-

Development Tools

• Visual Studio® 2008 Professional Edition 3 user licenses
• Expression® Studio 2 (or 3) 1 user license, available only to the Primary Contact for the Web Pro
• Expression® Web 2 (or 3) 2 user licenses
• Windows Web Server® 2008 (or Windows Web Server 2008 R2 when available) 3 user licenses
• SQL Server® 2008 Web 3 user licenses  

Production and Deployment

• Windows Web Server® 2008 (or Windows Web Server 2008 R2, when available) (4 Processor License)
• SQL Server® 2008 Web (4 Processor License)

What are other benefits of WebsiteSpark Program?
There are other benefits from WebsiteSpark Program as well which are listed below:-

• Professional Support from Microsoft
• Free online training
• Managed newsgroups on MSDN (a community of over six million developers) and/or other Microsoft online properties
• Access to broad community support through connections with Network Partners, Hosting Partners, and peers with complementary services and technologies
• You will also qualify for Special Offers from Microsoft

What will happen once 3 year period is completed?
After the completion of three years there is no obligation to continue use of any of software and there is no cost for those three years except $100 program fee at end of three years.
Also WebsiteSpark members can purchase all software (mentioned above) in only $999/year. Another offer is to purchase only production server software i.e. Windows Web Server® 2008 R2 and SQL Server® 2008 Web in only $199/year.

Conclusion
In the current period of recession, WebsiteSpark program is a great opportunity for freelance developers and companies to establish and grow their business through support and trainings from Microsoft. Anyone who feels interested should go to WebsiteSpark home page. Also it is my humble request to share this with all freelancers and small companies to help them.

Microsoft, Yahoo! Change Search Landscape

CodeProject

Global Deal Creates Better Choice for Consumers and Advertisers

SUNNYVALE, CA and REDMOND, WA - 29 July, 2009 - Yahoo! and Microsoft announced an agreement that will improve the Web search experience for users and advertisers, and deliver sustained innovation to the industry. In simple terms, Microsoft will now power Yahoo! search while Yahoo! will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers. More...