First, PowerPivot is right there on-stage with DataMarket. It is [...]]]> So we finally have a product, the codename “Dallas” product is now announced and shipping (or whatever that means as a cloud-based application). I’ll let you read up on the product itself http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/marketplace/ – what I want to comment on is what it means to PowerPivot.

First, PowerPivot is right there on-stage with DataMarket. It is the primary end-user delivery vehicle for DataMarket data feeds. So much so, take a look at this screen shot of the PowerPivot for Excel download page:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e081c894-e4ab-42df-8c87-4b99c1f3c49b&displaylang=en

Yup, we have a re-release of the PowerPivot add-in – and with this comes an improved DataMarket flow for getting data.

Here is the old add-in:

After install:

No, there are not any bug fixes, but there is a streamlined access path for loading data from DataMarket:

Notice that it is easier to launch into DataMarket. Within there you can browse existing datasets – and once you find one, we will automatically fill-in the URL if you specify that you want to use it in PowerPivot as your client tool. And we also make it easy for you to fill-in what account to use for accessing it.

WOW! Data feeds on steriods. Now that is geekie . . . Give it a try. DataMarket has many free, no-charge data feeds.

Enjoy!

_-_-_ Dave