Azure – The Microsoft Cloud Platform

 

Earlier this week at the PDC we announced our Cloud Platform Azure. The Microsoft’s Azure Services Platform is a group of cloud technologies, each providing a specific set of services to application developers.

The components of the Azure Services Platform can be used by applications running in the cloud and by local applications running on a variety of systems, including various flavors of Windows, mobile devices, and others. The key components as show in the diagram below include:

·         Windows Azure: Provides a Windows-based environment for running applications and storing data on servers in Microsoft data centers.

·         Microsoft .NET Services: Offers distributed infrastructure services to cloud-based and local applications.

·         Microsoft SQL Services: Provides data services in the cloud based on SQL Server.

·         Live Services: Through the Live Framework, provides access to data from Microsoft’s Live applications and others. The Live Framework also allows synchronizing this data across desktops and devices, finding and downloading applications, and more.

 

Azure Channel 9 videos:

· Ray Ozzie Reflections on Azure

· Introducing Windows Azure – Manuvir Das

· Windows Azure for Developers – Steve Marx

· Inside SQL Services – Dave Campbell

· Inside .NET Services – Dennis Pilarinos

Azure Services Platform Resources:

· Azure Services Platform Developer Center

· Live Framework

· Introduction to Azure Services Platform by David Chappell

PDC 2008 Highlights on Azure and other  key notes:

· http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/pdc/default.mspx

· http://notatpdc.com/presentations/

(this is a virtual PDC for folks who couldn’t attend the sessions)

Additional information on Azure and how to register for the Community Technical Preview is available at the following link

Strategy Architecture Council – San Francisco Session (Cost $0.0) | Azure Platform

At Microsoft, cloud computing is a major component of our technology strategy and platform, this rich and massively scalable cloud platform “Azure” was unveiled at the PDC on 10/27/08.

Starting next month we will be holding Strategy Architecture Council sessions on “Cloud Computing and Impact on Architecture”.

Come for a discussion on how Microsoft’s cloud platform “Azure” can be leveraged to create a new class of applications that are more connected, dynamic, and can extend existing IT investments towards cloud computing.

Please join us for this *FREE* event which will provide great opportunity to learn, share and network with your peers and other company leaders. Also don’t forget there will be free give aways (hint..hint..Zune)

EVENT SUMMARY

Microsoft and Cloud Computing – Cloud computing represents the new wave of innovation that will significantly transform many aspects of computing as we know today. During this session, we will discuss Microsoft’s outlook and strategy in moving towards cloud computing; providing the next-generation cloud-based platform for building services in the cloud.

Microsoft Cloud Services Platform – Discussion on key components of the new Microsoft Cloud Services platform with an overview of .NET Services, SQL Server Data Services, and Foundational Services. A key component in cloud computing is the ability to compose multiple cloud-based services from different organizations into a logical unit to serve a specific purpose. However, connecting, orchestrating, and managing services in the cloud still require a level of sophistication similar to enterprise SOA implementations. We will take a look at an implementation of multiple-enterprise business applications utilizing Microsoft Cloud Services to facilitate cloud-based transactions that connect and span heterogeneous organizations.

Live Services Platform – Discussion on Microsoft’s Live Mesh platform, a platform designed combine the world of the web and the world of digital devices. You will learn about the underlying service architecture behind this mass-scale cloud service and client platform, including services such as: FeedSync-based synchronization, accounts and security, P2P communications, pub-sub infrastructure, and the Mesh Operating Environment (MOE).

AGENDA

 11:45 AM  Arrival

 12:00 PM  Lunch and announcements

 01:00 PM  Microsoft and Cloud Computing

 02:00 PM  Live Services Platform

 03:15 PM  Azure Services Platform

 04:30 PM  Open discussion

 05:15 PM  Raffle and close

 

REGISTER

Register for a date and location near you! To register, please click on the link below or call 1.877.MSEVENT (1.877.673.8368).

12/18/2008
San Francisco, CA
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/InviteOnly.aspx?EventID=5D-BC-15-14-81-B7-05-DA-9F-C0-E7-E4-23-88-67-BE&Culture=en-US

Silverlight 2 is Ready

 

Earlier this week on Monday (10/13) Microsoft announced the availability of Silverlight 2. Over the last year Microsoft Silverlight has enabled developers and designers to create compelling media experiences(Silverlight Showcase ) and rich Internet applications (RIA) on the Web via an easy-to-use, quickly installed browser plug-in.

Highlighs of Silverlight 2 Features:

•.NET Framework support with a rich base class library. This is a compatible subset of the full .NET Framework.

•Powerful built-in controls. These include DataGrid, ListBox, Slider, ScrollViewer, Calendar controls and more.

•Advanced skinning and templating support. This makes it easy to customize the look and feel of an application.

•Deep zoom. This enables unparalleled interactivity and navigation of ultrahigh resolution imagery.

•Comprehensive networking support. Out-of-the-box support allows calling REST, WS*/SOAP, POX, RSS and standard HTTP services, enabling users to create applications that easily integrate with existing back-end systems.

•Expanded .NET Framework language support. Unlike other runtimes, Silverlight 2 supports a variety of programming languages, including Visual Basic, C#, JavaScript, IronPython and IronRuby, making it easier for developers already familiar with one of these languages to repurpose their existing skill sets.

•Advanced content protection. This now includes Silverlight DRM, powered by PlayReady, offering robust content protection for connected Silverlight experiences.

•Improved server scalability and expanded advertiser support. This includes new streaming and progressive download capabilities, superior search engine optimization techniques, and next-generation in-stream advertising support.

•Vibrant partner ecosystem. Visual Studio Industry Partners such as ComponentOne LLC, Infragistics Inc. and Telerik Inc. are providing products that further enhance developer capabilities when creating Silverlight applications using Visual Studio.

•Cross-platform and cross-browser support. This includes support for Mac, Windows and Linux in Firefox, Safari and Windows Internet Explorer.

Get Silverlight 2

· Silverlight 2 will be available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight (Customers already using a previous version of Silverlight will be automatically upgraded to Silverlight 2).

· A technology preview of the Soyatec project is available today at http://www.eclipse4sl.org, with a complete version available in second half of 2009.

Additional Information:

Also, for additional great detail on Silverlight 2, see the following blogs and pages:

ScottGu’s Blog and post on Silverlight 2 as well as other relevant posts on Silverlight.

Tim Heuer’s Blog

Up in the Cloud Platform

 

When you switch your TV on, you’re probably don’t think how far those electrons traveled to reach you in order to power the TV and which electric grid the electricity service was provisioned.

Like electricity, the next big upgrade to corporate systems department may be something you will use but never see. It could be “cloud computing,” the next phase in the evolution of SAAS technology.

Cloud computing is the internet based development and use of computer technology (‘Computing’). It is a style of computing where IT-related capabilities are provided “as a service”, allowing users to access technology-enabled services from the Internet without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them.

According to some analysts cloud computing represents a sea of change in the way computing is done in corporations and estimate that within the next five years, the annual global market for cloud computing will surge to $95 billion.

The Microsoft’s version of cloud computing, Software plus Services strategy, is designed to let customers choose whether they want traditional on premise software, software as a service, or a combination of the two.

There is a excellent short paper by David Chappell that does a nice job on the key concepts of cloud computing which is a must read. As David mentions in his blog post that this paper will stimulate discussion about this subject prior to PDC (Oct 27-30,2008) which is when Microsoft will be unveiling about their Cloud Platform.