Info Worker

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools is a free, easy-to use version of SQL Server Express that includes more features and makes it easier than ever to start developing powerful data-driven applications for the web or local desktop.

Download SQL 2008 Express with Advanced Services here and SQL 2008 Express with Tools here.

I'm not entirely sure how this Outlook 2007 plug-in works, but this Microsoft Research project seems to have the ability to alert you of delayed or lost e-mail that you have sent. I am still trying to figure out how it works, but so far it seems like a pretty cool, and free, add-on for Outlook.

Give it a try here.

It is strange that a few weeks ago, the construction updates for Streets and Trips 2009 showed up on Microsoft's download center, but no mention of Streets and Trips 2009 anywhere else on the site. Now, without much fan fare it seems, they've released 60 day trial versions of Map Point 2009 and Streets and Trips 2009. I am hoping it is an improvement over the 2008 version because the perspective view seemed to be a 'last-minute addition' that was quirky at best, and the forced 'auto-reroute' feature made some people upset.

I ended up going back to Streets and Trips 2007 with the updated database from 2008 due to all the other quirks I had with 2008.

With that said, I have heard rumors that this release has a lot new to it compared to the past few releases, so I'm hoping this is true. If I weren't on an EVDO connection right now, I would download them both and give them a whirl in a VM. Unfortunately, I still can't seem to dig up any "What's New" information.

You can download Streets and Trips 2009 here and Map Point 2009 here.

Grab it here. The SQL 2008 Express with Tools is not available yet.

Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack Preparation Tool
Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (.exe – online installer)
Visual Studio 2008 SP1 (.iso image – offline installer)
Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions with SP1 (.exe – online installer)
Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions with SP1 (.iso image – offline installer)
Visual Studio 2008 Team Foundation Server Service Pack 1
Visual Studio 2008 Shell (isolated mode) with Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package
Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) with Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package
Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Remote Debugger (full installer)
Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Stand-Alone Profiler (full installer)
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64)
.NET 3.5 SP1 (online installer - only downloads needed binaries)
.NET 3.5 SP1 (offline installer - full download)
Silverlight Tools Beta 2 for Visual Studio 2008

Interesting gotcha that should be resolved this week if things go as scheduled. According to the information in the SQL 2008 release notes, Visual Studio 2008 SP1 is due sometime this week and is a requirement for some installations of SQL 2008.

In the interim, do not install the Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta, which can cause version conflicts.

When Visual Studio 2008 SP1 is available, here are the guidelines for install order:

If Visual Studio 2008 is not currently installed on your computer, you can install SQL Server 2008. No further action for installing Visual Studio is required.

If Visual Studio 2008 is currently installed on your computer, you cannot install SQL Server 2008 successfully unless you perform one of the following actions:

Install Visual Studio 2008 SP1 before you install SQL Server 2008.

Uninstall Visual Studio 2008, and then install SQL Server 2008. After you install SQL Server 2008, you can install Visual Studio 2008. Then, you can install Visual Studio 2008 SP1.

Only install components of SQL Server 2008 that do not require Visual Studio 2008. Do not select the following features: Management Tools (Basic or Complete), Integration Services, Business Intelligence Development Studio.