Top News Stories
Oracle Makes a Fresh Run at SharePoint (PCWorld)
Oracle is hoping to make new inroads against the likes of Microsoft SharePoint with WebCenter Suite 11g, which was announced Tuesday. The company has pulled together a superset of capabilities from its various portal products for the new product, said Andy MacMillan, vice president of product management. The release traces back to Oracle’s “continue and converge” plan laid out in 2008 when it purchased BEA, which had a number of portal assets, MacMillan said. Oracle always intended to “bring together the best of the best … into a single unified use case,” while continuing to develop the portal products independently, he said.

SURVEY RESULTS – SharePoint 2010 Adoption Eclipses SharePoint 2007 (NothingButSharePoint)
Earlier this month, EndUserSharePoint.com and Global 360 conducted the latest update to their survey “How are businesses using SharePoint?” The first survey in August 2010 collected 886 responses, and this latest update captured 830 responses. The goal of the survey was to: • Determine the breadth and depth of SharePoint usage in the market today vs. August 2010 • Understand how companies are driving value out of their implementations, and • Identify challenges related to their investment.

Internet Explorer 9 Screenshots Shows Slight Changes (Windows 7 News & Tips)
Only a few days from the supposed release of the Release Candidate for Internet Explorer 9 and some screenshots have been released by a Russian website which show changes in the appearance of the browser. The speed and compatibility of the browser is also said to be better in this next release, but I’ll hit the high points of the changes made to the user interface.

Microsoft Unveils Online Services Support Lifecycle Policy (Redmond Channel Partner)
Microsoft announced today that it has rolled out a new support lifecycle policy for its Online Services offerings. The online policy differs from Microsoft’s support lifecycle policies for its customer premises-installed business products, which generally have two support periods of five years each (called “mainstream support” and “extended support”). Online Services represent a different support scenario because the hosted applications are updated and maintained by Microsoft, on an ongoing basis, at its server farms. Consequently, the support lifecycle policy for Online Services varies from that of the installed products.

Yes, I Still Love Windows Phone (WindowsITPro)
In early July 2010, I received a Windows Phone 7 prototype phone so I could write my latest book, Windows Phone Secrets. Since that day, a Windows Phone has been my primary phone, really my only phone, and I’ve never once considered switching over to an iPhone or Android device, both of which I own as well. Indeed, from the moment Microsoft announced this product, in February 2010, I was in love: here it was, a company that so clearly and completely screwed up its mobile strategy with Windows Mobile, finally being innovative and creating a superior platform and user experience. It was breathtaking to watch, and my commentary from March of last year, I Love Windows Phone, sums up my feelings nicely: “Windows Phone is a game changer, and that’s something that we can’t say all that often about Microsoft products,” I wrote. “I can’t shake the feeling of excitement, and while I keep waiting for some unfortunate bit of reality to come crashing down and ruin this vibe, it’s lasted far longer than seems reasonable. It’s been a long time, it really has. I love Windows Phone.”

Cloud Transparency & Sanctity of Your Data (ZDNet)
While many people muse over the possibilities for cloud computing, not unlike the trailer for the Cloud Appreciation Society DVD called ‘Cloud Spotting‘ above, enterprise end users try to divine their path forward through the thick information fog of possibilities. Spoilt for choice this spring in an increasingly crowded market of technology vendors, many of whom are adopting a consumer style service mantra of ‘we’ll take care of that’. Offerings essentially provide outsourced IT of various flavors, ranging from terra firma based on-site products dressed up as being in the cloud to services on the edge of the stratosphere in terms of security credibility.

Google CEO Shakeup: Advantage Microsoft in Apps War? (NetworkWorld)
You have to wonder if Microsoft execs were dancing the jig after hearing the news that business-minded Google CEO Eric Schmidt was replaced by 38-year-old co-founder and elusive search guru Larry Page. Page may be a tech visionary who invented the algorithm for Google’s search engine, but there is not a lot of confidence among industry analysts that he has the personality and business expertise to run day-to-day operations at a company of Google’s size and stature.

Microsoft Open Government – To the Cloud! (SYS-CON)
With the US Government announcing a ‘Cloud for Clunkers’ migration plan for Cloud computing, and also an Open Government initiative to make agencies more transparent and responsive to the public, this overlap area is a very fertile zone for driving adoption of the technology and new models. Needless to say Microsoft is one vendor offering a powerful solution set for the requirement.

Around the Blogosphere
Key Research, Questions & Decisions for SharePoint External Storage (NothingButSharePoint)
I use to support STS (SharePoint Team Services) servers back in 2000-2003. The biggest problems were the inconsistency between the disk storage and SQL.  Yep, back with STS the storage was a combination of SQL for list data and file storage.  Most of those issues related to permissions and lack of support for clustering. Seems like we’ve come full circle.  Microsoft Research did some digging…  You know the science side of computer science, and they found that BLOBs actually do work faster outside of SQL than inside of SQL.  Read the full paper “To BLOB or NOT to BLOB: Large Object Storage in a Database or in the File system.”

***NOW AVAILABLE*** Customizing and Extending the SharePoint 2010 Server Ribbon (Andrew Connell)
An article I worked very hard on has recently been published on MSDN. The article, Customizing and Extending the SharePoint 2010 Server Ribbon, is very long and a comprehensive companion to what you’ll find in the SharePoint 2010 SDK. I found there to be a lot to uncover and expose in the SharePoint 2010 ribbon while researching the subject. This paper was supposed to be around 15 pages but I couldn’t hold back… ended up over 40 pages! There are two detailed samples in there too. Learn about the components that make up the SharePoint 2010 Server ribbon and how to customize the ribbon by walking through two ribbon customization scenarios.

Changes Not Saved to SharePoint 2010 “Activities I am Following” Edit Profile Page (C5 Insight)
Recently, one of my colleagues came to me with an issue he was having with SharePoint.  After making sure it wasn’t friendly “user error”, I determined this to actually be a bug in SharePoint 2010 RTM.  Here’s the issue: On your SharePoint 2010 RTM farm, go to your My Site Profile page, and edit it.  You are able to change the “Activities I am following” once, and save.  But when you do it again, save and double-check, the change was not saved.  What gives?!

12 Technology Trends Shaping Financial Marketing (Partner Community Forum)
www.TheFinancialBrand.com has some interesting vertical insight to some of the major innovations and significant online/technology trends that financial marketers should watch in the coming years. (Please note: This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive or definitive list.) What do you think will be a major trend shaping financial marketing in 2010 and beyond? Please leave your thoughts and comments below.

The Facets of Collaboration Part 3–The Feature Jigsaw (Clever Workarounds)
Hi all and welcome to part three of my series on unpacking this mysterious phenomenon known as collaboration. In case you missed the first two articles (and I highly suggest that you read part 1 and part 2), I spent some 500 odd hours last year developing a SharePoint Governance and Information Architecture course. Amongst the sweat and tears of that particular endeavour, I researched many papers and online articles that attempt to look at the multitude of factors and variables that impact on collaborative scenarios where SharePoint might be leveraged. I also talked about Robot-Barbie, which represents the tendency for SharePoint features to be combined in such a way where the benefit gained is much less than the potential of the individual parts. Robot-Barbie solutions are to be avoided at all costs.

SharePoint Job Listings*
SharePoint Solutions Architect  – Memphis, TN
Our SharePoint Solution Architect will be regarded as a subject matter expert frequently contributing to the development of new ideas. You will work on complex problems / projects where situational analysis requires in depth evaluation of multiple factors. You will lead and / or provide expertise to functional project teams and may participate in cross-functional initiatives in this customer facing role.

SharePoint/Web Developer – New York, NY
Candidate will be responsible for overall technical solution and customer satisfaction.  Responsibilities will include performing requirements analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance for new and existing customer websites, web applications, web services, databases, and related technical solutions.  The candidate will also be responsible for evaluating new and emerging technologies to meet customer requirements; and will collaborate with program management, technical team, and customers to define requirements, input to schedules and cost estimates, and report status to satisfy project objectives.

Microsoft Updates
Configure Digest authentication for a classic-mode Web application (SharePoint Foundation 2010) (TechNet)
This article describes how to configure digest authentication for one or more zones within a Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 classic-mode Web application. A Web application is an IIS Web site that SharePoint Foundation 2010 creates and uses. Zones represent different logical paths for gaining access to the same Web application. Within each Web application, you can create up to five zones. A different Web site in IIS represents each zone. Use zones to enforce different access and policy conditions for large groups of users. To configure digest authentication for one or more zones in a SharePoint Foundation 2010 Web application, use the IIS Management Console to directly configure IIS.

SharePoint Events*

• January 26, Online, Bamboo Workflow Conductor – Automating Business Processes Webinar
• January 26, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central 2.0 Webinar
• January 26, Online, Bamboo Project Management Suite – Building Blocks for Implementing Your Own Project Management Solution Webinar
• January 26, Online, SharePoint 2010 Data Access Webinar
• January 27, Online, Strategies for Involving End Users in Your Migration Webinar
• January 27, Washington, DC, User Adoption for Developers: Agile for Delivery and Efficiency in SharePoint
• January 28, Online, Webcast: Effectively Prepare and Deliver SharePoint Success in 2011
• January 28, Online, SharePoint Saturday Boston #3 Webinar Series – Russ Edelman: Traversing The Term Store
• January 29, Hartford, Connecticut, SharePoint Saturday
• January 31, Online, SharePoint Saturday Boston #3 Webinar Series – Miller & Weeks: SURVEY RESULTS: How is your company using SharePoint?
• January 31-February 2, Toronto, Canada, SharePoint Summit
• February 1, Online, Bamboo Solutions Cloud Applications Webinar
• February 2, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 2, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 2, Online, Bamboo Workflow Conductor – Automating Business Processes Webinar
• February 5, Philadelphia, PA, SharePoint Saturday
• February 7-9, San Francisco, California, SPTechCon
• February 8, Online, Bamboo Solutions Cloud Applications Webinar
• February 9, Online, Bamboo Workflow Conductor – Automating Business Processes Webinar
• February 9, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 9, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 15, Reston, VA, Tech Training Tuesdays – SharePoint as a Developer Platform
• February 15-16, Minneapolis, MN, Delivering SharePoint Success Exclusive Mentoring Workshop
• February 16, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 16, Online, Bamboo Workflow Conductor – Automating Business Processes Webinar
• February 16, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Project Management Central Webinar
• February 16, Online, Build Tools Not Solutions Webinar
• February 23, Online, Bamboo SharePoint Administration Webinar
• February 23, Online, Bamboo Workflow Conductor – Automating Business Processes Webinar
• February 26, New Orleans, Louisiana, SharePoint Saturday
• February 26, San Diego, California, SharePoint Saturday
• February 26, Johannesburg, South Africa, SharePoint Saturday
• March 1-2, Washington, DC, Delivering SharePoint Success Exclusive Mentoring Workshop
• March 5, Redmond, Washington, SharePoint Saturday
• March 6-9, Baltimore, Maryland, SharePointConference.org
• March 7-9, La Jolla, California, SharePoint Best Practices Conference
• March 16, Online, The Business Side of Upgrading: Clean-up, Shape-up and Ship-over Webinar
• March 26, Lahore, Pakistan, SharePoint Saturday
• April 7 – 9, Oslo, Norway, Arctic SharePoint Challenge
• April 9, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, SharePoint Saturday
• April 20, Online, Leveraging External Content Types in SharePoint 2010 Webinar
• May 9, Houston, TX, SharePoint Saturday
• May 18, Online, Success is Spelled with U: You should get Users Involved Webinar
• June 15, Online, Secure and Accessible: Records Management Done Right Webinar
• June 20-21, Ullesthorpe, Leicestershire, UK, Delivering SharePoint Success Exclusive Mentoring Workshop

SharePoint Training*

• February 7-11, Minneapolis, MN, SharePoint Designer 2010 – Mindsharp
• February 7-11, Online, SharePoint Designer 2010 - Mindsharp
• February 7-11, Huntsville, AL, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer – Mindsharp
• February 7-11, Online, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer - Mindsharp
• February 14-18, Huntsville, AL, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• February 14-18, Online, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• February 14-18, Washington, DC, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer – Mindsharp
• February 14-18, Edmonton, AB, Canada, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer – Mindsharp
• February 15-18, Washington, DC, Office SharePoint 2007 Power End User – Mindsharp
• February 15-18, Online, Office SharePoint 2007 Power End User – Mindsharp
• February 21-25, Minneapolis, MN, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer – Mindsharp
• February 21-25, Online, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Developer – Mindsharp
• February 21-24, Minneapolis, MN, SharePoint 2010 Power End User – Mindsharp
• February 21-24, Online, SharePoint 2010 Power End User – Mindsharp
• February 28 – March 3, Orlando, FL, SharePoint 2010 Power End User – Mindsharp
• February 28 – March 4, Edmonton, AB, Canada, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• March 14-18, Minneapolis, MN, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• March 14-18, Online, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• March 21-25, Orlando, FL, SharePoint 2010 Core Technologies – Mindsharp
• March 21-24, Huntsville, AL, SharePoint 2010 Power End User – Mindsharp
• March 21-24, Online, SharePoint 2010 Power End User - Mindsharp

* Please contact Chris Dooley (chris.dooley@bamboosolutions.com) to be included in SharePoint Daily™.

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