LINQ and other .NET Framework 3.5 Improvements

With the addition of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) in .NET Framework 3.5, the process of building SQL queries using error-prone string manipulation is a thing of the past. LINQ makes your relational data queries a first-class language construct in C# and Visual Basic, complete with compiler and Intellisense support. For Web applications, the ASP.NET LinqDataSource control allows you to easily use LINQ to filter, order and group data that can then be bound to any of the data visualization controls like the ListView and GridView controls. In addition, all the other improvements to .NET Framework 3.5, including the new HashSet collection, DateTime offset support, diagnostics, garbage collection, better thread lock support, and more, are all available to you in your ASP.NET applications.

Watch the LINQ How Do I Video Series

Part 1: Introduction to LINQ and SQL

Part 2: Defining our Data Model Classes

Part 3: Querying our Database

Part 4: Updating our Database

Part 5: Binding UI using the ASP:LinqDataSource Control

Part 6: Retrieving Data Using Stored Procedures

Part 7: Updating our Database using Stored Procedures

Part 8: Executing Custom SQL Expressions

Part 9: Using a Custom LINQ Expression with the control

LinqDataSource Technology Overview

ASP.NET AJAX Video Tutorials

You probaby heard ASP.NET AJAX. If don't read this.
You can

• create next-generation interfaces with reusable AJAX components,
• enhance existing pages using powerful ajax controls with support all modern browsers,
• access remote services and data from the browser without yons of complicates scripts,
• take advantage of the improved efficiency and ease of use in Visual Studio 2008, with its built-in support for ASP.NET AJAX, improved JavaScript support, and a new Web page designer interface.

If you wonder 'how can i start to learn, note that all links written below:

1. How Do I: Get Started with ASP.NET AJAX?
2. How Do I: Get Started with the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit?

more videos can be reached this link

Google to Introduce OpenSocial API

Google plans to unveil an open API for tapping into social networking sites, even without the support of the two biggest players.

Google hopes to increase its slice of the social networking pie tomorrow with an announcement of OpenSocial, an API that taps into social networking sites like LinkedIn, Hi5, Friendster and its own Orkut. The API is intended to do for these sites what Facebook's API has done for it: to increase the reach and penetration of social networking into users' lives, enhancing the availability and immediacy of social networking services.
Google's API is positioned as the open alternative to the current API of Facebook and the planned API of MySpace—Google's interface will span multiple sites and services.
Google may be a bit late to this party, however. The Facebook API has already enabled the creation of over 7,000 independent applications tied into the site. MySpace has said that it, too, will offer an API along the lines of Facebook's, and with MySpace pulling in by far the largest share of social networking traffic, the impact of its API could be huge.

This post is quoted from http://www.ddj.com/web-development/202800678?cid=RSSfeed_DDJ_All