Cloudy @ NERD This Week

There are a few special events coming up this week at the Microsoft Research and Development Center (aka NERD) in Cambridge to which I wanted to call your attention.   All three actually involve cloud-computing: two approach cloud and Windows Azure head on, and the third, on Windows Phone 7 development, includes a segment on how the cloud is involved in developing mobile applications.  As usual all events are free, but please RSVP at the links below.

Boston Azure Hackathon – February 16th, 4 – 9 p.m.   This is a hands-on event sponsored by the Boston Azure User Group (which also meets monthly at NERD).  There are limited spaces available, so please register as soon as possible, and then follow the event on Twitter via the hash tag: #bostonazurehack

Making Windows Azure Cool: Cloud Hackathon – February 17th, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.   This ‘Hackathon’ is the first meeting of the new Hack-the-Cloud Meetup being organized by Kyle Quest and focusing on hands-on use of various cloud technologies. The topic for this first meeting is using Erlang and Node.js with Azure, but you’ll also have the ability to help shape the group’s charter and suggest future topics.

WebsiteSpark Meetup presents: Windows Phone 7 Development with Silverlight – February 17th, 6 – 8:30 p.m.   At this special meeting of the Boston WebsiteSpark group, Wintellect Senior Consultant John Garland introduces the fundamental concepts needed for attendees to start developing their own applications with Silverlight for the new Windows Phone 7 platform.