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Windows Azure – a Cost-Effective Platform for ISVs

Use of a Windows Azure application server instance is now just USD$15 a month.
A SQL database starts at just $5 a month.
Data transfer is $0.12 per GB (inbound is free)
There’s a free trial offer with lots built-in, and other discount packages available.

This is now at a price-point that is very competitive with discount hosting providers, but even better when you consider the Platform as a Service capabilities, SLA and scalability offered when you start putting things together…

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Navigating Windows 8 Beta with only Touch, Mouse or Keyboard

Sunday March 11 2012Sunday March 11 2012 colinizer Win8, Windows 8

Since the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Summit and the release of Windows 8 beta, I’ve been making serious use of my Windows Build conference tablet in different situations. Sometimes (due to chosen hardware, dead mouse batteries, etc.) I didn’t have input access via touch, keyboard or mouse. It’s even possible to find oneself having only one more of access. This can make getting around Windows more interesting, but Microsoft has made practically every navigation action available through all input modes. I’ve created a list of how to do major Windows 8 navigation using each of these input modes…