First look at Windows 10 and what is expected more?

First look at Windows 10 and highlights -
Terry Myerson - Executive Vice President for Microsoft's Operating Systems Group announced Windows 10 release and here are few excerpts -

1 Huge stress on enterprise and differentiation of personal and enterprise data. This will helps enterprise admins to simplify their job and be worried only about enterprise data.

2 New OS will allow enterprises to have its own marketplace and store fronts that will allow them to host their own applications, distribute and control.

3 Multi-tasking tool that should boost productivity in Windows 10 is Snap Assist, which lets you "snap" up to four apps at once to get suggestions for other open apps that may help you with a given task

4. Virtual desktops

5. Multi views in One - optimized for all devices - keyboard for one and touch for other

6. Start is back... yes, we heard that!

7. Key is Microsoft is now talking to have Windows 10 has the CORE OS across devices - not just PC's and laptops but phones, tables and may be consoles!

8. Though Microsoft has not revealed their business model and pricing yet but seems it will be a free upgrade for users/enterprises that own Windows 8/8.1. There may be sub $99 version of Windows 10 that would be provisioned on windows phone devices. Joe Belfiore - Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group at Microsoft. He is responsible for the design and software product definition of forthcoming generations of Windows Phones and to bring new OS Windows 10 across phone and devices.

9. Release date will be likely after Developer's build conference in April 2015, hence there is huge opportunity for developers to get their hands on the OS and play/test the new Windows 10.

10. Microsoft has release Windows Insider program which will likely read your feedback and incorporate as part of their flight feature program in development of Windows OS.
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Technical preview bits are available here for free and immediate Windows Test by developers. This barebones version will eventually become Windows 10 and will be available to the public for download at preview.windows.com.

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What would be good to have in Windows 10 operating system?

1 With Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, recent split of ebay and PayPal, and entry of Alibaba in US markets what's the strategy for Microsoft Payments? What's the roadmap in consumer space, especially, for Windows phone devices ...?

2 Plans to build and distribute more enterprise apps that would bring productivity and assist enterprises on the lines of IBM and Apple deal? Growth of marketplace apps will be key to Microsoft's success and adoption of its devices.

3 Security - still grey area, please avoid UAC popups as we had in Windows Vista.

4 Internet of Things (IoT) - Great to hear that Windows 10 will be also on IOT or so called embedded devices and connected car, but double click details missing. Whats the product roadmap on wearables?  Agree, Microsoft should not be in the race of catch up... but to stop being reactive... its imperative that there is a clear vision and roadmap for next 3 years in devices and services space which will help partners and developer community significantly.

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Side bar - Did you miss Windows 9 news or seems like we fast forwarded our life :) Nope, its just that Microsoft thought 10 is luckier than 9 and they decided to skip :)

These are all early findings. Will report back with more on Windows 10 in coming months, beginning with the availability of the early build preview.

Cheers - DJ

Windows Azure Data Strategies and management - deciding factor

Interesting read to explore in detail on Windows Azure data strategies published here by Microsoft. Help you decide on pros and cons on Azure. Also will help you decide choose right approach and data management strategies.

Windows Azure provides several different ways to store and manage data. This diversity lets users of the platform address a variety of different problems. Yet diversity implies choice: Which data management option is right for a particular situation?
This short overview is intended to help you answer that question. After a quick summary of the data management technologies in Windows Azure, we’ll walk through several different scenarios, describing which of these technologies is most appropriate in each case. The goal is to make it easier to choose the right options for the problem you face.

Here -

1. http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/manage/windows/fundamentals/cloud-storage-scenarios/
2. http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/solutions/data-management/#scenarios

Free trial to start with any of your Azure services on Microsoft as below -

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/free-trial/
SQL Azure:
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/sql-database/
Cache Service:
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/cache/
Storage:
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/storage/
HD Insight:
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/hdinsight/
Virtual Machines -
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/virtual-machines/

-DJ

Azure Starter Steps - Building your own first Azure application

As the next technology trend gets strong inclined towards Cloud Computing be it - Sales Force.com, Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure, my curiosity towards technology increases and have made an attempt to learn more about it myself :) I needed to get this blog rebooted to a new start as well and think this is the right topic to learn, explore and share as I move along further too.
Focus here would be Microsoft Cloud technology stack - Azure. Here are few bytes that would be helpful for starters who would want to learn about Windows Azure and Cloud computing in general. Ofcourse, there are bunch of materials lying out there but this is one stop shop for everything you need to know about Microsoft Azure.

First, you can create your own Microsoft Azure Account and get free space on cloud - absolutely free! Microsoft has announced that it doesn't even require Credit Card information, only thing required is your cell number to validate your identity! It also provides retail subscriptions for Windows Azure. You would like to go here to sign up -

 

https://account.windowsazure.com/signup

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/purchase-options/

Benefits that come along with -

• 30 day free trial
• Pay as you go
• 6 month plans - $500 per month minimum w/- discounts
• 12 month plans - $500 per month minimum w/- greater discounts
• VL Enterprise agreements
• MSDN Subscription

https://account.windowsazure.com/signup?offer=Azure_MSDN

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/member-offers/msdn-benefits/

• Free credit depending on MSDN level up to $150 / month for Ultimate
• Discounted rates
• Microsoft FTE Azure employee pass was discontinued -> MSDN
• Microsoft Internal Billing for sponsored Azure solutions

Once you have created your Azure subscription account, you can get started creating your first Azure application with easy steps- 

1. Install Visual Studio and Azure SDK
2. Sign in to Windows Azure in Visual Studio Server Explorer
3. Create a Windows Azure Cloud Service Visual Studio project
4. Enter project name
5. Add ASP.Net Web role which would be Empty
6. Add "default.aspx" web form
7. Publish the Azure application from Visual Studio
8. Access your application – http://.cloudapp.net/ from cloud and wola!

In addition, below you can find Azure Service Visual Studio Template:

Visual Studio Template

It includes templates and components around Windows Azure services -
1 ASP.Net web role
2 WCF Service web role
3 Worker Role with Service Bus Queue
4 Worker Role
5 Basic Azure component management in Server Explorer

6 Cache Worker Role – provides a dedicated cache

Azure retail subscription pricing calculator:

Pricing Calculator

Manage your portal w/easy to use Azure management portal:

https://manage.windowsazure.com/

 

 

More.... - DJ

FY13 plans for Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager, Forefront User Access Gateway, and Forefront Threat Management Gateway...

Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager, Forefront User Access Gateway, and Forefront Threat Management Gateway remains alive and Microsoft plans to grow them in FY13 and beyond. here is the article on technet that details more:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2012/09/12/important-changes-to-forefront-product-roadmaps.aspx

Discontinuing further releases of the following Forefront-branded solutions:

• Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server (FPE)
• Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint (FPSP)
• Forefront Security for Office Communications Server (FSOCS)
• Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 (TMG)
• Forefront Threat Management Gateway Web Protection Services (TMG WPS)

 

Optimize the performance of Microsoft SQL Server environments

"Plan Explorer FREE and the launch of the new Plan Explorer PRO at 2012 Dev Connections in Las Vegas today, - will help for optimizing the performance of Microsoft SQL Server environments."

SQL Sentry Performance Advisor for
1. SQL Server delivers an advanced performance dashboard with relevant Windows and SQL Server metrics in a single view along with detailed insight of heavy SQL, blocking, deadlocks, and disk bottlenecks.

2. Analysis Services provides unparalleled insight into Analysis Services performance, including bottlenecks related to memory, storage systems, aggregation usage, queries and processing.
3. Event Manager is the ultimate scheduling, alerting and response system for managing SQL Server jobs, SharePoint jobs and other events that impact performance.

P.S: I do not recieve any compensation for writing or promoting these products but is merely interest...

IT: Winning the Retail War: How to Compete With Retail E-commerce Players

Winning the Retail War: How to Compete With Retail E-commerce Players

Accenture suggests 10 ways a multichannel retail approach can help in competing with retail e-commerce players.
Overview Today online retailers are the preferred choice for customers worldwide. Does this mean traditional retailing is over? No. Traditional retailers can too march ahead by offering a multichannel retail experience to customers. Online pure plays have changed the retail game with their new approach to technology, innovation and execution. To compete successfully with retail e-commerce players, Accenture recommends traditional retailers adopt a strategic thinking by applying key principles from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
Download the PDF report from the site here - http://www.accenture.com/us-en/Pages/insight-winning-the-retail-war.aspx

OR watch the video here -
http://www.accenture.com/us-en/Pages/insight-winning-the-retail-war-video.aspx

Encryption, key, identity, fraud management and others from Thales...

One of the finest solution that I stumbled upon for database encryption from Thales -

1. Add new levels of assurance to database encryption by helping your organization effectively protect and manage encryption keys.
2. With Thales - nShield hardware security modules (HSMs), you can take full advantage of native database encryption capabilities and still add higher levels of assurance to key management activities, ensuring optimal security, efficiency, and guaranteed accessibility to encrypted data.
3. By storing encryption keys in a protected environment, separate from the database itself, nShield HSMs enforce separation of duties between security staff and DBAs.

More here -
http://www.thales-esecurity.com/solutions/by-technology-focus/database-encryption

Great ready solution for mobile payments, trust, key and identity management. Controlling Fraud and Protecting Intellectual Property solution from Thales.

The proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets not only gives consumers more choice, it also has the potential to dramatically expand the payments ecosystem, bringing new players such as mobile operators and handset manufacturers into the mix. Multiple payment advocates are competing for attention, with each party advancing a different vision for where the consumer’s electronic wallet—the trusted source of credentials—should reside: on a card, on a phone, or in the Cloud. These various approaches create new challenges and in some cases have the potential to establish new business models. The traditional role of banks in issuing physical cards that are mailed to users could be replaced by new classes of intermediaries such as Trusted Service Managers (TSMs) that provide over-the-air provisioning capabilities to mobile devices.

The Thales solution is based on the GlobalPlatform Card Specification Version 2.2 and EMV Card Personalization Specification (CPS V1.1), providing the ability to establish a secure session with the Secure Element (SE) based on Global Platform Secure Channel Protocol 02 (SCP02) and to prepare secure messages for the SE.

More here - http://www.thales-esecurity.com/solutions/by-technology-focus/mobile-payments

Watch Windows 8 Surface launch event and Surface dropped on stage!

Windows 8 RT Surface live event webcast
link above -  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windows/liveevent2.aspx


Watch Windows 8 Surface Launch Event Webcast

(Start from 48th  minute to see the event,
Scan to 3 hour :20 minutes to watch Surface
dropped on stage!)

 

 

SCM 101

Supply Chain is key to almost all organizations, and few key modules that one must be aware of while working on Supply Chain implementation. These are basic modules that one would need to learn to understand the SC business. Will talk in detail on each in coming days,

Modules -

1. Planning and Forecasting
2. Production Planning and scheduling
3. Materials management and Stock movement
4. Order to Cash Cycle - Order, Fulfillment and Financials
5. Inventory management
6. Distribution Centers (D/Cs)
7. Supply Chain management
8. Logistics and Transportation management (Shipping and Carrier management)
9. Supplier quality check
10. Reverse Logistics  - Returns and Repair
11. Customer Service/Care

 - D

Accenture Quarterly results - 4th quarter

Accenture triggered 5% on the stocks today just before the announcement of its 4th quarter results. Accenture PLC's (ACN) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings jumped 37% as the consulting company reported strong bookings.

For the quarter ended August 31, company posted a profit of $611.9 million, or 91 cents a share, up from $445.5 million, or 66 cents a share, a year earlier beating market expectations of 88 cents a share in profit.
Accenture's revenue increased 23% to $7.17 billion. Net revenue, which is before reimbursements, also rose 23%, to $6.69 billion. In June, the company gave an upbeat net-revenue outlook of $6.4 billion to $6.6 billion. Operating margin rose to 13.8% from 13.2%.

Here is an overview-

-- Fourth-quarter revenues increase 23% in U.S. dollars and 14% in local currency, to $6.7 billion; quarterly EPS increase 38%, to $0.91; free cash flow is $1.2 billion --


-- For full year, revenues increase 18% in U.S. dollars and 15% in local currency, to $25.5 billion; EPS increase 28%, to $3.40; and free cash flow is $3.0 billion --

-- New bookings are $8.4 billion for fourth quarter and $28.8 billion for full year --

-- Company increases semi-annual cash dividend 50%, to 67.5 cents per share;

--Board of Directors approves $5 billion of additional share repurchase authority --

-- For fiscal year 2012, Accenture expects net revenue growth of 7% to 10% in local currency and EPS of $3.80 to $3.88, an increase of 12% to 14% --
 
New bookings were $8.4 billion, its highest quarterly bookings ever. Accenture's CEO Pierre Nanterme said the achievement reflected strong demand for Accenture's services, although he said the company is closely monitoring the economic environment.

I think also heard, that the people hire this year was over 70,000 along with GDN and the biggest book value was the Nokia deal this quarter.

Strongest Revenue growth seen as follows -
Resource Operating Group (18%), followed by PRODUCTS (16%), Financial Services (13%) and EMT (Electronics Media and Telecommunications) (13%) and Health Services OG (12%).

Also, Accenture’s total cash balance grew strong @ $5.7 billion, compared with $4.8 billion at Aug. 31, 2010.
http://newsroom.accenture.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5296

Download PDF here - http://newsroom.accenture.com/article_download.cfm?article_id=5296