Introducing the New Windows Azure

Yesterday, Microsoft announced previews of new Windows Azure services that help developers build applications that connect data to users across public and private clouds, take advantage of VHDs and deploy scalable websites quickly and cheaply.

Today, Scott Guthrie will host “Meet Windows Azure” to introduce these new services. Then on Monday, as part of TechEd North America and broadcasted live online, Scott, along with Mark Russinovich, Quentin Clark, and Bill Staples will host “Learn Windows Azure”, going deeper into the new features!

In case you missed the announcements, here are the highlights:

• Windows Azure Virtual Machines enable the moving of workloads on virtual hard disks (VHDs) between on-premises environments and the cloud. Windows Azure supports both Windows and Linux VHD images, which can be customized or chosen from a pre-populated gallery. With the commonly supported VHD format, developers and IT Pros can move existing workloads like a SQL Server database or an existing line-of-business application into Windows Azure to create greater scale, lower cost or deploy to new users.

• Windows Azure Virtual Network enables the creation, extension and management of virtual private networks into Windows Azure. Organizations can now more effectively and securely extend their corporate networks into the cloud.

• Windows Azure Web Sites makes building .NET, Node.js, Java and PHP web experiences easier and cheaper than ever while supporting deployment techniques like Git and FTP and framework applications like WordPress, Joomla!, DotNetNuke, Umbraco and Drupal that web developers already know and trust.
• The new tools that make up the new Windows Azure SDK (June 2012) include updated support for Java, PHP and .NET and adds Python support, while providing 100% command line support for developers using a Windows PC or a Mac. .

As I posted in Think You Know Windows Azure? Think Again, I encourage you to:

Tune into Meet Windows Azure, streaming live from San Francisco to, and discover the new Windows Azure services. Learn more >>
Tune into Learn Windows Azure on Monday June 11 for a deeper dive. Learn more >>
If you haven’t done so already, register for the Windows Azure DevCamp live in Toronto or streamed online on June 20 to dive even further. Register for Windows Azure DevCamp in Toronto >> Windows Azure DevCamp Online >>