New Windows Azure Features and New Zealand Event

New Windows Azure Features & New Zealand Event

Yesterday, we announced a number of exciting new services that will be available in preview, along with several updates to already existing Windows Azure services. Windows Azure is now more flexible, more open, more powerful, and easier to use!

From start-ups to enterprises, New Zealand companies can take advantage of the new and existing Windows Azure features at local and global scale, while taking advantage of the savings provided by the cloud.

New services include:
o Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) capabilities, including Windows Azure Virtual Machines for Windows and Linux-based applications, as well as the Windows Azure Virtual Network to securely link Windows Azure with on-premises networks.
o Windows Azure Web Sites which enable developers to quickly and easily deploy web sites with support for multiple frameworks and popular open source applications.
o An integrated Windows Azure Preview Portal.

Updates to existing services, including:
o Interoperability updates including new libraries for Java and Python.
o Improved developer productivity with updates to the Windows Azure SDK and support for Visual Studio Team Foundation Services.
o Improved application services, including updates to Windows Azure Active Directory, the Content Delivery Network (CDN), distributed caching, and support for Media Services.
o Windows Azure SQL Reporting for secure, flexible and cost effective cloud-based reporting.

Windows Azure Event in Auckland 21st of June:
To train New Zealanders on the new and updated features, we are running an event in Auckland on the 21st of June for developers and IT Pros alike. With local and international speakers, it’s going to be huge – so huge, in fact, that we have hired out a movie theatre to showcase the latest features on a beautiful 2K digital projector. Who wouldn’t like delicious popcorn for morning tea!?

This will be an exciting event with entirely new sessions presented by speakers coming all the way down from Redmond in the United States – Ori Amiga (Principal Group Program Manager on the Windows Azure Core Platform Engineering Team) and Nick Harris (Senior Technical Evangelist for Windows Azure). Of course, they’ll be joined by local Azure superstars Ryan CrawCour, and Thiago Almeida! We’ll have spot prizes, a delicious catered lunch, more spot prizes, and ice cream for afternoon tea. Check out the full agenda and presenter bios below, then register your seat!

FREE TO ATTEND, BUT SPACE IS LIMITED - BOOK YOUR SEAT TODAY! .

Full Agenda

8:00am Arrival Coffee
8:30am Kick-off/Introduction
9:00am

Getting Started with the Windows Azure June 2012 PreviewIn the first session, you will learn how to quickly get started building cloud applications using several of the exciting new Windows Azure features and services provided with the June 2012 preview. You will see a parade of demos showing how these new services can be used in a variety of scenarios.

10:15am Break - Morning Tea
10:45am Windows Azure Web SitesWindows Azure Web Sites is a simple, yet powerful platform for web applications in the cloud. In this session you will see how you can build and deploy everything from Wordpress blogs to high-scale web applications using your favourite languages, frameworks, and tools.
11:45am Windows Azure Virtual MachinesWindows Azure provides a simple and flexible model for migrating and extending applications through direct access to Virtual Machines. In this session you will learn how to provision and customize Windows Azure Virtual Machines and configure Virtual Network connectivity to migrate, build, and connect applications.
12:45pm Break - Lunch
1:30pm Windows Azure Storage, Databases, and Service BusEvery application needs to store and manage data. In this session, you’ll get a first-hand look at the complete set of scalable and highly available data services including Windows Azure Storage and SQL Databases. You’ll see how you can effectively use these services to build, migrate, and extend data-centric applications in the cloud while using familiar tools.
2:30pm Windows Azure Cloud ServicesIn this session, you’ll learn how to build and deploy powerful and scalable applications using Windows Azure Cloud Services. You will see several exciting new features such as TFS integration and co-located cache. Finally, you will also be introduced to several application services such as the Windows Azure Service Bus and Access Control Services.
3:30pm Break - Afternoon Tea
4:00pm Building Device Applications with Windows AzureSo, you’re building apps that span multiple devices and you’re curious about what the cloud can offer. Is it possible to deploy scalable Web apps and services on Windows Azure? How about storing data in the cloud? Is it possible to use the cloud for push notifications to the device? In this session, you’ll learn how to build device apps that are backed by scalable cloud services with the Windows Azure platform.
5:00pm Wrap-up/Prizes
5:30pm Finish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenters

Ori Amiga

Principal Group Program Manager on the Windows Azure Core Platform Engineering Team

His team is responsible for key platform technologies such as the Windows Azure Service Model, Runtime, SDK, Service Management and Infrastructure-as-a-Service APIs. He joined Microsoft in 1999 driving platform efforts in the Enterprise Server division. In 2002 he joined the Mobile and Embedded Devices division, and drove the development platform offering for Windows Mobile and later as the Group Program Manager for the Visual Studio for Devices team. In 2005 he became the GPM for the Visual Studio Tools Platform team in the Developer Division, and most recently drove the Live Mesh / Windows Live Developer Platform before joining Windows Azure in 2010. In his spare time, Ori is an avid traveler, enjoys motoring, gaming, and tennis.

 

Nick Harris

Senior Technical Evangelist, Windows Azure

Nick Harris is a Technical Evangelist at Microsoft specialising in Windows Azure. Before Microsoft, he founded his own startup AdGAC a mobile advertising company developed utilizing Windows Azure, WP7 and ASP.NET MVC. In the 9 years prior, Nick worked as both a consultant and Senior Software Engineer delivering smart client applications, distributed enterprise applications and airborne software systems. While not working you can find him blogging about Windows Azure along with a diverse range of related technical content.

Twitter @cloudnick   | Blog https://www.nickharris.net

 

Ryan CrawCour

Azure Developer Evangelist, New Zealand

Ryan CrawCour is a technical evangelist for the Windows Azure Platform. With over fourteen years of experience architecting and designing integrated solutions, he has achieved solid track record in rolling out distributed connected solutions that scale. Ryan is passionate about using technology to solve business challenges; as a result he focusses on working with software vendors to help highlight new developments in the Windows Azure Platform and guide them on their journey to the Cloud!

Twitter @ryancrawcour   | Blog https://blogs.msdn.com/ryancrawcour

 

Thiago Almeida

Developer Evangelist, New Zealand

Thiago Almeida is a Developer Evangelist at Microsoft New Zealand, with over ten years of experience working as a solutions architect and technical leader with a proven track record in designing and delivering solutions in the Asia Pacific region. Along with promoting Microsoft developer platforms Thiago focuses on Software startups, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and Windows Azure.

Twitter @nzthiago   | Blog https://blogs.msdn.com/thiagoalmeida

 

 

FREE TO ATTEND, BUT SPACE IS LIMITED - BOOK YOUR SEAT TODAY! .