Kurt Shintaku's Blog

In case you missed it, Xamarin is now free, empowering every Microsoft developer to also be an iOS, Android, & Macintosh developer as well as a Windows & Web/Cloud developer.

Xamarin is a very popular C# & .NET development extension to Microsoft’s Visual Studio tools to enable developers to create applications for iOS/Android using the same code written for Windows apps or the Web apps.  Historically, Xamarin has cost roughly $2,000 per developer, above and beyond the cost of Microsoft’s Visual Studio tools, including its free version, Visual Studio Community Edition.

At BUILD 2016, Microsoft’s conference for developers, Scott Guthrie, said on stage during the day 2 keynote that now that the acquisition of Xamarin was complete, Microsoft could announce:

• Xamarin will be available at no charge to existing MSDN & Visual Studio Enterprise & Professional subscribers
• Xamarin would be available at no cost for users of the free Visual Studio Community Edition
• MSDN subscribers will also get Xamarin Studio on the Mac
• Microsoft will be releasing Xamarin Studio Community Edition – full featured for independent developers and small teams
• Xamarin’s core platform will be open sourced, meaning anything you need to run a Xamarin app on any OS or any device is now available as open source

Here is the announcement at 18:00 of the BUILD 2016 Day 2 Keynote by Scott Guthrie:
http://youtu.be/WC7ijoFzjEg?t=1088

Wanna grab Xamarin?  You can download Visual Studio w/ Xamarin integrated, just Xamarin alone, or Xamarin Studio for OSX:

• DOWNLOAD: Xamarin for VS, Without VS, or for OSX
  https://www.xamarin.com/download

Join Us in Seattle, October 25-28, 2016 at the world’s largest gathering of SQL Server and BI professionals.

What is PASS Summit?
Whether you’re a data novice or a SQL Server pro, PASS Summit is the place to find top-notch training, technical tips and tricks, and connections to take your skills to the next level. Organized by and for SQL Server and BI users, PASS Summit delivers the most technical content and greatest number of attendees, the best networking, and the highest rated sessions and speakers of any SQL Server event.

What is PASS?
PASS Summit is brought to you by PASS, an independent, not-for-profit association dedicated to educating and promoting data professionals who use the Microsoft data platform. Revenues from PASS Summit are used to support the global community year-round.

Why should I attend?
PASS Summit is the must-attend conference for all SQL Server professionals. You’ll recoup the cost to attend many times over through the wealth of learning, connections, and immediate solutions gained in 3+ jam-packed and inspiring days. Find out more about PASS Summit’s ROI.

How else can I get involved?
PASS Summit is only one of the ways that PASS supports SQL Server and BI professionals. Find out more by attending one of our many community events or visiting a local or virtual chapter.

For more information, visit:

• SQL PASS: PASS Summit 2016
  http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2016/Welcome.aspx

Are you a SQL admin/developer?

Watch the Top 10 sessions from PASS Summit 2015, an annual 3rd party conference for SQL Server, which showcased over 200 technical training sessions by top SQL Server experts from around the globe.

• Inside Wait Types, Latches, and Spinlocks (DBA) – Bob Ward, Microsoft CSS
• Building a Performance Monitoring System Using Extended Events and DMVs (DBA) – Ola Hallengren, Saxo Bank
• 3 Methods to End the Madness: Application Slowness Diagnosis (DBA) – Mindy Curnutt, TMW Systems / Trimble Navigation
• SQL Server Indexing Performance (AD) – Kimberly Tripp, SQLskills.com
• Optimizing SQL Server Performance in a Virtual Environment (DBA) – Denny Cherry, Denny Cherry & Associates Consulting
• Data Storytelling with R, Azure Machine Learning, and Power BI (BID) – Jen Stirrup, Data Relish
• Sophisticated Techniques to Use in SSRS (BID) – Mickey Stuewe, Sr. Database Developer
• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) Performance Internals (BIA) – Brian Knight, Pragmatic Works
• Run, Total, Run! (AD) – Itzik Ben-Gan, SolidQ
• DBA Mythbusters (DBA) – Paul Randal, SQLskills.com

Also:

• View other selected PASS Summit 2015 sessions free on PASStv.
• Own the entire set of PASS Summit 2015 session recordings.

For more, visit:

• Best of PASS Summit 2015
  http://www.sqlpass.org/Events/PASSSummit/BestofPASSSummit2015.aspx

If you missed Microsoft Envision 2016 in New Orleans, you can still catch up via the online recordings of the event from the keynote to the breakout sessions.

AGENDA:
Take a peek at the latest agenda and see what’s in store at Microsoft Envision.

• https://www.microsoft.com/en/envision/agenda

Here’s a blurb from the site about the Envision channel where recordings are stored:

You can watch the opening session, as well as many other general and breakout sessions on-demand approximately 48 hours after the conclusion of the sessions on our Microsoft Envision YouTube channel. Bookmark it and access a wealth of informative and thought-provoking content right at your desktop or mobile device.

RECORDINGS:

Here’s the opening keynote recording, featuring Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who shares his observations on how technology and businesses are driving transformation in today’s world:

For all 200+ recordings go to the following link:

• Microsoft Envision 2016 On-Demand (Recordings)
  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLpbYpA5YvjXt1GKC7Jftzw

They also have sessions segmented into leader types, challenges, and trends:

• Sales Leaders sessions
• Marketing Leaders sessions
• IT Leaders sessions
• Finance Leaders sessions
• Business Leaders sessions
• Business Challenges sessions

Or industries:

• Manufacturing & Resources sessions
• Retail and CPG sessions
• Hospitality & Travel sessions
• Healthcare sessions
• Government sessions
• Insurance, Banking & Capital Markets sessions
• Professional Services sessions
• Sports & Entertainment sessions

NEXT YEAR:
For more information on Envision, including next year’s conference in 2017 Los Angeles, check out the Envision site:

• Microsoft Envision Web Site
  https://www.microsoft.com/en/envision/

If you’re a web developer that missed the Microsoft Edge Web Summit, you’re not too late!  Recordings of the majority of the sessions are available on-demand.

Here’s a description of the conference:

Microsoft Edge Web Summit is a free conference organized and staffed by the engineers building Microsoft Edge and Chakra. We’ll be presenting a full day of technical talks covering the EdgeHTML rendering engine, the open-source Chakra JavaScript engine, and developer tools. You’ll hear what’s next for the web platform that powers Windows 10, straight from the engineers who build it, and you’ll get an inside look at powerful techniques and new tools to make your life as a developer just a little bit easier.

Here’s the link to the recordings:

• CHANNEL9: Microsoft Edge Web Summit – On-demand
  https://channel9.msdn.com/events/WebPlatformSummit/edgesummit2016

For more information about Microsoft Edge development, check the following resources:

• https://twitter.com/msedgedev
• https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/

We’re pleased to announced Microsoft Envision 2017 will kick off on February 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA!

Details TBD.

• SITE: Microsoft Envision Web Site
  https://www.microsoft.com/en/Envision

Download the Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio Capabilities Overview diagram and get a high-level view of the capabilities of Machine Learning Studio.

To keep it nearby, you can print the diagram in tabloid size (11 x 17 in.).

Read more here:

• POST: Overview diagram of Azure Machine Learning Studio capabilities
  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/machine-learning-studio-overview-diagram/
• DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio Capabilities Overview
  http://aka.ms/mlstudiooverview

Download the Azure Machine Learning Algorithm Cheat Sheet and get help figuring out how to choose a machine learning algorithm for your solution.

To keep it nearby, you can print the diagram in tabloid size (11 x 17 in.).

Read more here:

• POST: Download the machine learning algorithm cheat sheet
  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/machine-learning-algorithm-cheat-sheet/
• DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Algorithm Cheat Sheet
  http://download.microsoft.com/download/A/6/1/A613E11E-8F9C-424A-B99D-65344785C288/microsoft-machine-learning-algorithm-cheat-sheet-v6.pdf

Toyota announced today that it’s creating a new company called Toyota Connected to serve as the carmaker’s data science hub as it seeks to connect cars to people’s daily lives. Microsoft’s Azure will be the cloud computing platform, providing a hybrid solution for everything Toyota Connected creates as it works to make driving more personal, more intuitive and safer.

“We’ve all been talking about big data for a long time, but we are at a unique point in history where the technology is catching up with what we hope to achieve by delivering new services and capabilities into the vehicle,” said Zack Hicks, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Connected.

Here’s the video from FOX Business, featuring Zack Hicks, CIO of Toyota North America, and CEO of Toyota Connected:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• TOYOTA: Toyota Expands Focus on Software- and Data-Driven Mobility with Toyota Connected
  http://toyota.us/1qmBUku
• MICROSOFT: Toyota and Microsoft connect drivers to the future
  https://blogs.microsoft.com/transform/2016/04/04/toyota-and-microsoft-connect-drivers-to-the-future/

Other media coverage:

• Geekwire: Microsoft takes stake in new Toyota connected car subsidiary that utilizes Azure
  http://www.geekwire.com/2016/toyota-partners-microsoft-new-connected-car-subsidiary-utilizes-azure/
• CNBC: Toyota expands Microsoft partnership in connected vehicle services
  http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/04/
• TechRepublic: Toyota partners with Microsoft on new data science company, Toyota Connected
  http://www.techrepublic.com/article/toyota-partners-with-microsoft-azure-on-new-data-science-company-toyota-connected/
• Investor’s Business Daily: Toyota Looks To Microsoft To Take On Tesla, Alphabet
  http://www.investors.com/news/toyota-ratchets-up-rivalry-with-tesla-alphabet-in-connected-cars/
• Reuters: Toyota expands Microsoft partnership in connected vehicle services
  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-toyota-connectivity-microsoft-idUSKCN0X11LL
• Fox Business (VIDEO): Toyota, Microsoft partner to develop cutting-edge tech for your car
  http://finance.yahoo.com/video/toyota-microsoft-partner-develop-cutting-113628993.html
• USATODAY: Toyota teams with Microsoft on connected cars
  http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/04/04/toyota-connected-car-microsoft/82602066/
• PCMAG: Toyota, Microsoft Launch Connected Cars Joint Venture
  http://in.pcmag.com/cars/102112/news/toyota-microsoft-launch-connected-cars-joint-ventu
• ZDNET: Toyota forms Toyota Connected, builds data science on Microsoft Azure
  http://www.zdnet.com/article/toyota-forms-toyota-connected-builds-data-science-on-microsoft-azure/
• Automotive News: Toyota teams with Microsoft on connected-car venture
  http://www.autonews.com/article/20160404/OEM06/160409916/toyota-microsoft-form-joint-venture-for-connected-technologies
• FORTUNE: Toyota teams with Microsoft on connected-car venture
  http://fortune.com/2016/04/04/toyota-microsoft-data/

Watch the Virtual Security Summit on demand now to:

• Learn about modern cybercriminals and their evolving tactics
• Hear how cyberwar and cyberterrorism affect you and your organization
• Learn from leading security experts about how they keep their organization safe
• Discover tools you can use to keep your people, platforms and devices secure

Agenda:

• The State of Cybersecurity
  P. W. Singer – Strategist & Senior Fellow, New America Foundation, and author, Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know
• Who is the Modern Cybercriminal?
  James Lyne – Global Head of Security Research, Sophos
• Anatomy of a Breach: How Hackers Break In
  Matt Kemelhar – Director, Incident Response & Recovery, Microsoft
  Jim Moeller – Principal Cybersecurity Consultant, Microsoft
• Fighting Cybercrime with the Intelligent Security Graph
  Pete Boden – Cloud & Enterprise Infrastructure Security Services, Microsoft
  Richard Boscovich – Assistant General Counsel, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft
• Why You Should Trust the Cloud in These Tumultuous Times
  Dennis Garcia – Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft
• What is the Future of Cybersecurity?
  Paul Edlund – Chief Technologist, Microsoft
• Protecting Your Organization on a Single Security Platform
  Andrew Conway – Sr. Director, Product Marketing, Cloud Platform, Microsoft
  Alym Rayani – Group Product Manager, O365 Security, Microsoft
• Live Demo: Protecting against, Detecting and Responding to Threats
  Julia White – General Manager, Cloud & Enterprise, Microsoft
• Expert Perspective: Microsoft’s CISO on Cybersecurity
  Bret Arsenault – CISO, Microsoft

Visit:

• Microsoft Virtual Security Summit On Demand
  https://vts.inxpo.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowKey=30260

Our Power BI Security web site has been updated to reflect the new Power BI v2 as well as the new Power BI Security whitepaper that we’ve created.

Data Storage Security
Power BI uses two primary repositories for storing and managing data: data that is uploaded from users is typically sent to Azure BLOB storage, and all metadata as well as artifacts for the system itself are stored in Azure SQL Database.

The dotted line in the Back End cluster image, above, clarifies the boundary between the only two components that are accessible by users (left of the dotted line), and roles that are only accessible by the system. When an authenticated user connects to the Power BI Service, the connection and any request by the client is accepted and managed by the Gateway Role (eventually to be handled by Azure API Management), which then interacts on the user’s behalf with the rest of the Power BI Service. For example, when a client attempts to view a dashboard, the Gateway Role accepts that request then separately sends a request to the Presentation Role to retrieve the data needed by the browser to render the dashboard.

…

[taken from

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/powerbi-admin-power-bi-security/]

If you haven’t seen it, you may want to check out our whitepaper on the topic:

• WHITEPAPER: Power BI Security
  http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/8/C/48CFCF8A-2025-4B97-B249-7B505E26E7ED/Power%20BI%20Security%20Whitepaper.docx