During the PDC 10 keynote today Don Box showed how to quickly code up an application (“Rafiki”) that takes advantage of new Windows Azure Platform services. Rafiki helps conference attendees find and connect with other attendees so they can network and discuss similar interest. If you’re here at the PDC event in Redmond and you’re... read more
You’ve just signed a big partnership and expect traffic to your site to increase. Oh-oh, what if your site can’t handle the load? Autocosmos.com is a web portal that allows users from eight Latin-American countries find the best car deals, offer cars for sale, and find quality car insurance, among other services. Following a strategic... read more
The Fabrikam Shipping demo shown at TechEd 2010 has been updated to showcase a cloud-based subscription model. As announced by Vittorio, “FabrikamShipping SaaS is a complete subscription based solution running on the Windows Azure platform and publicly available thru www.fabrikamshipping.com. It offers a web-based customer onboarding UI, which anybody can use for creating test subscriptions... read more
Just finished that task on your daily commitments? No need to tweet your status, just check it off your myTODO list, and let the application tweet for you. The myTODO sample application is a simple list sharing service that integrates with Twitter. This sample demonstrates not only how easy it is to build powerful applications... read more
You have an existing on-premises application, integrated with your directory system and accessing local data. Your operations staff knows how to administer and manage it. Your users won’t accept having to create yet another set of credentials. Is there any hope of moving your application to the cloud? The Moving Application to the Cloud on... read more
The Developing Applications for the Cloud on the Microsoft Windows Azure Platform book is the second volume in a planned series about Windows Azure technology platform. Volume 1, Moving Applications to the Cloud on the Windows Azure Platform, provides an introduction to Windows Azure, discusses the cost model and application life cycle management for cloud-based... read more
Gooooooooooaaaaalll! As the 2010 FIFA World Cup approached, the Bola Facebook application reached two million monthly active users. In this social application players own teams, build a stadium, gain sponsorships, and can challenge both friends and other random Bola players in their level to compete in soccer matches. Taking advantage of the scalability of Windows... read more
Once again your friend from Company X skillfully found a way to introduce into your conversation the topic of his trip to PDC and how much he learned about Azure. You force a smile, and you want to be happy for him, but deep inside you feel your stomach begin to knot and anxiousness suddenly... read more
You’re not afraid of mice, unlike those keyboard junkie coworkers. Indeed, you’ve read Tufte and understand the power of visualization. And with the Windows Azure Management Tool you can have your cake and eat it too: the power of the Azure Service Management CmdLets within the familiar GUI of the MMC. You can use it... read more
Face it, you’re a command prompt junkie. You have sign on your desk that reads, “Icons? We don’t need no stinking icons!” Keyboard ablaze, the scrolling text tells any passer-bys that you are getting it done. And now that “getting it done” can include managing your Windows Azure applications, right from the comfort of a... read more