SQL Updates Newsletter - January 2015

o This release includes a number of performance improvements – most users will see up to a 4x improvement when loading data from an MDS server, without any additional server or environment changes

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/mds/archive/2015/01/06/update-for-the-master-data-services-mds-excel-add-in.aspx

· SQL Server Column-Store for SAP BW: Status and Release Planning

o SQL Server 2014 will be generally released by SAP soon. Once a customer has joined the TEA(Test, Evaluation and Assessment) program they can use SQL Server 2014 for the same database features and functionality that was available in the recent previous releases.

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/saponsqlserver/archive/2015/01/08/sql-server-column-store-for-sap-bw-status-and-release-planning.aspx

· 6 New Updates in Power Query

o ODBC Connector

o “From Azure” ribbon dropdown menu

o Workbook Settings dialog

o Option to enable or disable relationship detection

o Column & Row counts in Query Editor Preview

o Confirmation dialog to delete a query when deleting a worksheet

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/01/13/6-new-updates-in-power-query-january.aspx

· Hello…..Azure Data Factory!

o Microsoft introduced a new managed cloud service known as Azure Data Factory (ADF) to consume and process diverse data

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bluewatersql/archive/2015/01/26/hello-azure-data-factory.aspx

· Updated MSDN Documentation for Azure SQL Database Row-Level Security

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlsecurity/archive/2015/01/30/updated-msdn-documentation-for-azure-sql-database-row-level-security.aspx

· Power BI Announcement

o Anyone with a US business email account can try the preview of the new Power BI for free

o We’ll also introduce Power BI Pro, available at a low monthly price, with additional data capacity and features for the enterprise.

o On February 1 we are lowering the price of our in-market Power BI service

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/01/27/power-bi-announcement.aspx

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/01/28/power-bi-pricing-what-it-is-amp-what-it-will-be.aspx

· Video - Check out the cool new Power BI service

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/01/29/video-microsoft-unveils-the-new-power-bi.aspx

· Increasing Visibility for Our Customers: Announcing the Cloud Platform Roadmap Site

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/mackblog/archive/2015/01/31/increasing-visibility-for-our-customers-announcing-the-cloud-platform-roadmap-site.aspx

· Start planning your upgrade to SQL Server 2014 - SQL Server 2005 is approaching end of its support

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/sqlman/archive/2015/01/19/start-planning-your-upgrade-to-sql-server-2014-sql-server-2005-is-approaching-end-of-its-support.aspx

· Announcing the Women in Analytics blog

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/01/20/women-in-analytics-what-the.aspx

· New reference architecture has been released: Analytics over streaming data

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/querysimon/archive/2015/01/27/analytics-over-streaming-data-reference-architecture.aspx

· Visual Studio Team moves source to GitHub and offers Visual Studio as part of the Github student developer pack

o The GitHub Student Developer Pack is a new free offering for students

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_connection/archive/2015/01/12/visual-studio-team-moves-source-to-github-and-offers-visual-studio-as-part-of-the-github-student-developer-pack.aspx

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2015/01/13/quick-news-free-tools-for-student-developers.aspx

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/stevengu/archive/2015/01/12/microsoft-amp-github-free-tools-for-student-developers.aspx

· Announcing the Windows Azure Proof of Concept Accelerator, a proactive service offered by Premier Support

o Blends a traditional training workshop with a real project so that developers could immediately apply what they learned into a functional proof of concept

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/premier_developer/archive/2015/01/08/leverage-the-development-capabilities-in-the-cloud-faster.aspx

· A first look at Power BI on the Office Mechanics show

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/01/28/power-bi-on-office-mechanics.aspx

· Microsoft Azure adds world’s most powerful Virtual Machine available in the public cloud

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_developer_switzerland_news/archive/2015/01/14/microsoft-azure-adds-world-s-most-powerful-virtual-machine-available-in-the-public-cloud.aspx

· Registration for Build is Open - Prepare for a Windows 10 Deep Dive!

o https://blogs.msdn.com/b/stevengu/archive/2015/01/22/registration-for-build-is-open-prepare-to-go-deep-with-windows-10.aspx

· Announcing general availability of the latest update to Azure SQL Database, new SQL Database security features, more simplified automation for SQL Server in Azure Virtual Machines, and SQL Server on G-Series VMs

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/01/29/update-to-azure-sql.aspx

· SQL Server AlwaysOn Template in Azure Portal Now Supports Existing Domains and is Much Faster

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2015/01/29/sql-server-alwayson-template-in-azure-portal-now-supports-existing-domains-and-is-much-faster.aspx

· View the latest Microsoft datacenter tour video

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/blainbar/archive/2015/01/21/newest-datacenter-video-from-global-foundation-services.aspx

· Microsoft to Acquire Revolution Analytics

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/machinelearning/archive/2015/01/23/microsoft-to-acquire-revolution-analytics.aspx

· You are invited to participate in the Windows Server 2003 Modernization offering

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/ptsblog/archive/2015/01/14/you-are-invited-to-participate-in-the-windows-server-2003-modernization-offering.aspx#comments

· New hybrid cloud test environments are now published

o https://blogs.technet.com/b/solutions_advisory_board/archive/2015/01/15/closing-the-loop-new-hybrid-cloud-test-environments-are-now-published-based-on-your-feedback.aspx

· Recent Whitepapers/E-books/Training: