Tech.Ed.Day.4.Track.Sessions

DEV316 - Developing Smartphone Applications using the .NET Compact Framework
by Sanjay Shetty

Not many choices to start my day with today. Came in here for a refresher on how to develop Smartphone applications. It was the same as what Sanjay had demonstrated during MDC. At some point, it did make me feel like getting an Xphone2 to try it out but then I guessed I should give more time for the smartphone (and the SDKs) to mature.

It is very limited to develop for smartphones now. No proper data storage and encryption. Have to rely on text files. There are also a lot of Gotchas and Catchas. Even the SDK is showing "specific cast is not valid" messages in VS.NET 2003. :(

DBM412 - Advanced SQL Querying Techniques
by Richard Campbell

Have to attend some database sessions to make myself feel more complete :p. Richard really have a sparkling character in keeping everyone interested in his topic. Good to learn some pretty cool querying techniques eventhough my level has reached beyond the intermediate level *Ahem*. The one thing that gave me the ummmph was - The Rozenshtein Method.

It is also nice to know about the history of SQL, DB2 and SQL Server. At the end of the session, all the audience were running to Richard for his SQL scripts (all wanting to impress their boss I guessed). I only asked to have a photograph taken with him :)

This is my 5 stars session for today.

DBM405 - Partitioning from Past to Present to Future
by Kimberly Tripp

I ended Tech.Ed with this session. Wanted to say "Hi" to Kimberly since both of us were the only girls in the MVP Wanted Contest. I'm only in for the SQL Server 2005 stuff as I've already know the concepts of vertical and horizontal partitioning. I've also tried the distributed partition view thingie that Kimberly described some years back.

The new partitioning strategy in SQL Server 2005 looks kinda bombastique but I like the idea because it simplifies maintenance. I think I need to read more on it and I guessed Kimberly's site is a good place to start!

After the session was over, I also asked Kimberly to have a photograph taken with me.