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PDC 2009: Microsoft Cloud Services Vision Becomes Reality with Launch of Windows Azure Platform

mdingle — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Microsoft today announced the availability of the Windows Azure platform at the Professional Developers Conference. In his opening keynote, Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect, described Windows Azure and SQL Azure as core elements of the company’s cloud services strategy. The company also announced a set of new Windows Azure features, Windows Server capabilities, and marketplace offerings that make it easier for developers to build profitable businesses from their Microsoft-based solutions.

Bob Muglia also announced today the company’s plan to offer Windows Server virtual machine support on Windows Azure, enabling customers to more easily support virtualized infrastructure across the continuum of on premises and cloud computing, and the release to manufacturing of Windows Identity Foundation, enabling developers to provide more secure, simplified user access to both cloud and on-premises applications with open, identity-based claims.

For more information about today’s announcements at PDC visit www.microsoftpdc.com and follow the latest on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pdc09 and www.twitter.com/ch9live.

SQL Server August CTPs Roll Out Continues – Download SQL Azure Database, SQL Server StreamInsight

grantkd — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:47:00 GMT

We are excited to announce today that Microsoft has released the next wave of August community technology previews (CTPs), including SQL Azure Database, SQL Server Driver for PHP 1.1 and SQL Server StreamInsight August CTP for TechNet and MSDN subscribers. The CTPs will be available on August 19^th for public trial.

SQL Server StreamInsight – Enterprise-class scalability

With increasing volume and speed of data, customers are looking for ways to better utilize and act on information in real-time. SQL Server StreamInsight’s ability to derive insights from data streams and act in near real time provides significant business benefits. The key ingredients in SQL Server StreamInsight include low latency, high throughput integration with proven Microsoft development tools such as LINQ, Visual Studio, and the .NET Framework, which provide flexibility for customers and partner to customize the platform to meet their industry and business specific needs. For more information please visit the Data Platform Insider blog at http://blogs.technet.com/dataplatforminsider/default.aspx .

SQL Azure Database –Data anytime, anywhere

Organizations are seeing an explosion of data and data-driven Web 2.0 applications, as well as the need to extend existing applications to the cloud. With SQL Azure, a cloud-based relational database service, Web 2.0, ASP.NET and PHP developers use familiar tools and data models to develop on a pay-as-you-grow, secure, scalable and highly available database service with business continuity and minimal infrastructure cost. Additionally, the SQL Server Driver for PHP provides new capabilities for building PHP application including support for SQL Azure. For more information please visit the SQL Azure Team blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/.

Microsoft’s Scott Guthrie Announces the Release of Silverlight 2

grantkd — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Just over one year ago Silverlight debuted to the world - today, one in four consumers worldwide has access to a computer with Silverlight. Building on this fast-paced, historical success, Microsoft is releasing Silverlight 2, and the developments and innovations - as well as Silverlight adoption by companies like CBS College Sports, Blockbuster and more - are all further evidence that Silverlight is the industry’s choice for the creation and delivery of dynamic applications and interactive Web media.

What’s new? Silverlight 2 continues to exceed industry standards by re-affirming its commitment to openness and standards through supporting a new open-source Eclipse project. Created by France-based IT solutions provider Soyatec, the project is designed to integrate advanced Silverlight development capabilities into the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE), further increasing interoperability and allowing more choice and flexibility for delivering audio and video via the Web across different platforms and operating systems. Additionally, Silverlight 2 is chalk-full of great new features that will enable developers and designers to create even more stunning Web experiences for their customers.

To find out more about Silverlight 2, Eclipse open-source and Silverlight’s latest customers, please visit the Silverlight Virtual Press Room.