Pedro Hernandez

Microsoft has released a new version of SQL Operations Studio, borrowing key features from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), including the ability to track SQL Server Agents used to execute scheduled administrative tasks, or “jobs” as they are commonly called. SQL Operations Studio is a free, cross-platform (Windows, macOS and Linux) database management tool that […]

Microsoft is making it a little easier for businesses to ditch their file servers and network-attached storage (NAS) equipment with its new Azure File Sync product. The cloud-based file-replication service for Windows Server is generally available, announced Tad Brockway, general manager of Azure Storage and Azure Stack at Microsoft, on June 19. “Azure File Sync […]

A new update to Microsoft’s OneNote desktop client promises to help laptop users eke out a little more time between battery charges. A new feature rolling out to users this month pauses data syncing operations between a user’s PC and the OneDrive cloud storage service when the software notices that Windows has enabled on its […]

Microsoft is betting that businesses offering internet of things (IoT) gadgets and services are in it for the long haul by rolling out a new service that takes some of the risk out of selling devices powered by Windows 10 IoT Core. “IoT devices are often in service for many years, so device support costs […]

A new integration between Windows Admin Center and an Azure Automation service will soon allow users to update managed servers running on Microsoft’s cloud. Available to members of the Windows Insider early-access program, a preview version of Windows Admin Center features integration with Azure Update Management. Released in April, Windows Admin Center is a free […]

Microsoft wants to make it easier for software developers using Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) Integrated Development Environment to keep track of their coding projects with a new batch of dashboard updates. Currently in beta, the updates include options to quickly switch between dashboards, set new permissions and bookmark frequently accessed dashboards. They are also […]

Out with old, in with the new. Users clinging to the “classic” version of the Skype desktop client for Windows will have until Sept. 1 before they are forced to upgrade, Microsoft is warning users of the popular communications software. On July 16, Microsoft began rolling out Skype version 8.0 for the desktop that delivers […]

Seeking to drive digital transformation in its retail operations and shake up its e-commerce business, Walmart appears to have found what it needed in Microsoft’s growing ecosystem of cloud IT and applications. The retailing giant announced on July 18 a five-year strategic partnership involving Microsoft’s cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) offerings. […]

Businesses that have placed their big data and analytics workloads on Azure SQL Data Warehouse should observe improved performance courtesy of a recent enhancements made by Microsoft. Jason Zander, executive vice president of Microsoft Azure, revealed that his group had flipped the switch on new capabilities that provide at least double the query performance. “This […]

Microsoft and GE are teaming up to outfit enterprises with cloud-based industrial-grade internet of things (IoT) products and services. Building on their existing partnership centered around GE’s Predix cloud-based industrial internet platform, the companies announced on July 16 that they are deepening their ties and using Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing offerings to make it happen. […]