Ever wanted to send a strongly typed message over a Windows Azure Storage Queue? Here is a neat little trick that helps you do that a bit better than the string payload the CloudQueueMessage carries. Note: The code and artifacts for this post are available on the AzureContrib site or with your friendly call to the nuget package manager: PM> Install-Package AzureContrib. The Windows Azure Storage Queue Service is a light weight easy to use queuing service used for “reliable, persistent messaging between Web Roles and Worker Roles”. It can be used for so much more like serializing...

Two upcoming conference events in Stockholm, Sweden: Follow up event on BUILD and Scandev on Tour – the latter now with a brand new track! Follow up on BUILD Windows in Stockholm When the #Awesome BUILD conference (I’m just guessing here presupposing here nobody except the softies know) there will be a follow up event at China teatern in Stockholm on September 27. Sign up here: Uppföljning Build, Stockholm 2011-09-27 Scandev on tour 2011 Later in the fall, on October 18, also in Stockholm there will be a one day developer conference: Scandev...

Two exciting new releases from the Windows Azure today which is already installed on my system: Release of the Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Update of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit So what’s new? The new Azure Tools now include Profile applications running in Windows Azure This is a really cool new feature. You can now deploy your application with one of four profiling settings turned on. This enables collection of profiling information in the application as it is running in the cloud. ...

It appears the Skype Upgrade (5.3.0.120) still offers a free Google Toolbar! I don’t know if WTF is too strong? One has to wonder what kind of deal Google had with Skype for them to honor it still in the installer even after the purchase by Microsoft? Couldn’t stop myself from screenshooting and now blogging the latest Skype update when the installer ran on my machine: Cheers, M.