DiscountASP.NET has launched a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 hosting beta program using SQL Server 2012 RC0. The program is available to current customers at no additional cost.

The patches released Tuesday include one for the Duqu bug but not for the BEAST. The one patch was pulled after engineers at SAP found it interfered with their software.

Microsoft is giving up on its Tag codes and switching to NFC. The Tag app will be able to read the old codes, QR Codes, and NFC tags.

Idera announced a new webcast in the "Secrets of SQL Server" series titled "Database Worst Practices". The webcast, scheduled to run December 14, 2011, will feature Pinal Dave, a Microsoft Technology Evangelist, and author of the SQL Authority blog.

A bug in the SMS service in WinPhone 7.5 can make it susceptible to a hack. A malicious message can cause the device to reboot and shut down the messaging hub on the phone. This page includes a short video showing how it works.

The project is "stealth" and, so far, the rumors are merely rumors. But. There is some indication that Microsoft may have plans to replace the WinPhone kernel with Win8 sometime next year.

OneNote, the note-taking and project management program, is now available for the iPad. Version 1.3 allows the application to run in "full resolution" on the device.

ATC-NY has now released Chorus Service Version Control (SVC) to help you keep control Windows desktop software versions in a large, distributed network. SVC supports SOA technologies such as: WS-BPEL, WSDL, XSLT, and XML Schema.

Microsoft has released several Windows Azure and SQL Azure updates. Some features promised for this year seem to be missing.

Silverlight 5 has been released. It offers a variety of new features, including Postscript Vector Printing and an improved graphics stack with 3D support using the XNA API on Windows.