SQL Updates Newsletter - December 2015

Recent Releases and Announcements

• SQL Server 2014 RTM CU11
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3106659
• SQL Server 2014 SP1 CU4
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3106660
• SQL Server 2012 SP3
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3072779
• SQL Server 2012 SP2 CU9
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3098512
• Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-technical-preview
• System Center 2016 Technical Preview 4Evaluations
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-system-center-technical-preview
• Announcing SQL Server Management Studio - December 2015 Release
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlreleaseservices/archive/2015/12/17/announcing-sql-server-management-studio-december-2015-release.aspx
• SQL Server Data Tools Preview update for December 2015
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2015/12/16/sql-server-data-tools-preview-update-for-december-2015.aspx
• Master Data Services - SQL2016 CTP3.2(December) is Released
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/mds/archive/2015/12/17/master-data-services-sql2016-ctp3-2-december-is-released.aspx
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/mds/archive/2015/12/03/master-data-services-sql2016-ctp3-1-november-is-released.aspx
  • In SQL Server 2016 CTP3.2 release, MDS introduced the following features:
    • Purge Soft Deleted Members
    • Change Set Email and Management
    • Edit Many-to-Many Relationships in Derived Hierarchies
    • View and Manage Revision History
• AdventureWorksCTP3 JSON Sample New database and samples for AdventureWorks 2016 CTP3 database are published 
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlserverstorageengine/archive/2015/12/07/adventureworksctp3-json-sample.aspx
• Introducing mobile reports and a brand-new web portal
  • Improved experience when viewing reports on smartphones and tablets - a responsive layout that adapts to very different screen sizes and orientations.
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlrsteamblog/archive/2015/12/17/introducing-mobile-reports-and-a-brand-new-web-portal.aspx
• Mobile Report Publisher preview now available
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlrsteamblog/archive/2015/12/21/mobile-report-publisher-preview-now-available.aspx
• SQLIO Disk Subsystem Benchmark Tool is being retired
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_server_team/archive/2015/12/11/sqlio-disk-subsystem-benchmark-tool-is-being-retired.aspx#.VoXIyzbSnb0
• Get a jumpstart on 2016 with the New Year’s Checklist in the Windows Store
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/12/31/get-a-jumpstart-on-2016-with-the-new-years-checklist-in-the-windows-store/
• Configuring SQL Server in Azure Virtual Machine gets easier
  • Users can now configure SQL Server connectivity, performance, security and high availability when they create a SQL Server VM in the Azure Portal. The new process eliminates time-consuming manual configuration after setup.
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/12/29/configuring-sql-server-in-azure-virtual-machine-gets-easier/
• Microsoft acquires Metanautix to help customers connect data for business insights Microsoft has acquired Metanautix, an innovative company that is helping solve one of the biggest challenges in the world of data analytics
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2015/12/18/microsoft-acquires-metanautix-to-help-customers-connect-data-for-business-insights/
• Power BI mobile apps add new features in latest update
  • The December 2015 update includes some first steps toward a single Power BI mobile app with access to all of your data from both SQL Server Reporting Services 2016 on-premises and Power BI in the cloud. It also brings notifications to the Power BI mobile app for iOS to help you stay up-to-date, along with other improvements for both iOS and Android. 
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/12/30/power-bi-mobile-apps-add-new-features-in-latest-update/
• Announcing the Power BI app for Windows 10 Mobile
  • https://i1.blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/12/30/announcing-the-power-bi-app-for-windows-10-mobile.aspx
• Preview now available of Power BI app for iOS with support for SQL Server 2016 CTP 3.2 
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/12/30/preview-now-available-of-power-bi-app-for-ios-with-support-for-sql-server-2016-ctp-3-2/
• Get ready for the Future of Education and Technology Conference Jan. 12-15
  • https://blogs.microsoft.com/firehose/2015/12/21/get-ready-for-the-future-of-education-and-technology-conference-jan-12-15/
• Always On Listener - MultiSubnet = TRUE Is Now Default Behavior
  • https://i1.blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2015/12/03/multisubnet-true-is-now-default-behavior.aspx
• Columnstore Index: Real-Time Operational Analytics using In-Memory Technology
  • https://i1.blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlserverstorageengine/archive/2015/12/09/columnstore-index-real-time-operational-analytics-using-in-memory-technology.aspx
• Announcing Power BI integration with Cortana and new ways to quickly find insights in your data
  • https://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/12/01/announcing-power-bi-integration-with-cortana-and-new-ways-to-quickly-find-insights-in-your-data.aspx?PageIndex=2
• How QR Codes will change BI Forever
  • https://i1.blogs.msdn.com/b/user_ed/archive/2015/12/11/how-qr-codes-will-change-bi-forever.aspx

Fany Carolina Vargas | SQL Dedicated Premier Field Engineer | Microsoft Services