Microsoft just announced at Build 2016, the developer edition of SQL Server 2014 that is free for Visual Studio Dev Essentials members.

The Open Data Platform Initiative (ODPi) announced the release of its ODPi runtime specification and test suite in order to ensure that the applications will work across multiple Apache Hadoop distributions.

NetApp has released a new version of its SANtricity storage operating system with the intention of speeding up analytics workloads.

As of the January CU releases, these caution messages have been updated, and Microsoft is now recommending the ongoing proactive installation of CUs as they have become available.

SQL Server 2016 is making numerous enhancements to In-Memory OLTP in order to make it easier to use and better performing.

Oracle just announced a new service offering that allows businesses to bring Oracle’s cloud to their locations, on-premises.

Blue Data, the leading provider of infrastructure software platforms for Big Data, has announced the spring release for the BlueData EPIC software platform.

Analytics company Kyvos Insights is aiming at making big data more accessible by making its scalable, self-service online analytical processing (OLAP) solution accessible to users of Microsoft Azure HDInsight.

Microsoft announces that there second SQL Server 2016 release candidate SQL Server 2016 Release Candidate (RC) 1, is now available for downloading.

Microsoft has noted that with RC1, the SQL Server stretch Database service on Microsoft Azure is now the default data storage service on Azure for Stretch Database.

Microsoft announces a new reporting portal, which would help in providing valuable insights about usage and details of the Office 365 service, directly in the new Office 365 admin center.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced that its AWS Database Migration Service, which was earlier available as a preview, is now available to all AWS customers.

Microsoft launches Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of SharePoint Server 2016. This is an important landmark in the delivery of this release, which includes new capabilities for users.

Microsoft has launched SharePoint Server 2016. For SharePoint admins this means improved provisioning and update management,

Microsoft has announced new feature updates to Power Pivot for Excel 2016 as part of an Office 365 subscription. This updates will include the ability to save a diagram view as a picture and enhancements to the relationship dialogue experience.

Pure storage has launched an all flash blade system, along with flash array, which is aimed at capturing big data workloads and expanding the company among small and mid-sized businesses.

Microsoft is turning the crank on its SQL Server 2016 launch machine by going after Oracle database users with a migration offer.

Microsoft announces the new version of Analysis Services and Reporting Services Management Packs. They also released a new SQL Server Dashboards Management Pack, which includes the dashboard components.

MariaDB Corporation announced today the spring 2016 release of MariaDB Enterprise.

SQL Server 2016 Upgrade Advisor Preview is a standalone tool which enables users of earlier versions of SQL Server to identify their requirement for upgrading their SQL Server database to the most recent version of SQL Server.