Microsoft Announces Two New Datacenters Now Available for Windows Azure April 5, 2012
Microsoft announced the availablility of two new datacenters for Windows Azure: "West US" and "East US". The new datacenters can be accessed using the Windows Azure Management Portal. Compute and storage features are now available in the new Data Centers. SQL Azure will come online in the coming months.
Microsoft Releases an Upgrade to the SQL Azure Data Sync Preview April 4, 2012
In keeping with Microsoft's practice of providing ongoing improvements to Windows Azure Microsoft announcecd the release of an upgrade of the SQL Azure Data Sync Preview. This update includes the most requested feature of enabling users to edit an existing Sync Group to accommodate changes they have made to their database schemas without having to re-create the Sync Group. Additionally, new information has been added to the portal that helps to more easily manage sync groups. Issues that affected ORM (Object Relational Model) frameworks such as Entity Framework and NHibernate working with Data Sync have been fixed. Improved error and status messages were also included. A new download is available for the on-premises Data Sync Agent that enables on-premises SQL Server data to be synchronized with SQL Azure databases.
New Best Practices Documentation Available: Protecting Your Data in SQL Azure February 27, 2012
The best practices documentation for SQL Azure is found under the MSDN heading SQL Azure Business Continuity. The documentation covers how to protect databases when individual servers and devices fail, how to protect databases from unwanted deletions or modifications and widespread loss of data center facilities.
Reduced Pricing on SQL Azure and New 100MB Database Option Announced February 14, 2012
Microsoft announced drastically reduced prices for SQL Azure cutting prices from 48% to 75% per month with the larger databases having the largest reductions in price. The new smaller sized 100 MB database is just $4.995 per month.
New SQL Azure Data Sync Webcasts and Videos Are Now Available. November 19, 2011
The Series of new Webcasts and Videos are available on Channel 9. To use the latest SQL Azure Data Sync you need to download the Microsoft Sync Framework Toolkit.
Microsoft Releases Important Updated SDKs and Tools for Windows Azure development. November 14, 2011
The releases include an updated Windows Azure SDK, a Windows Azure HPC Scheduler SDK, and a Windows Azure Platform Training Kit. The November Windows Azure SDK can be downloaded using the Web Platform installer. The Windows Azure HPC Scheduler SDK is available to be downloaded here. The hands-on labs, demos, and presentations of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit can be downloaded here.
The Windows Azure SDK for .NET includes a number of signifigant improvements including the Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio 2010. These tools include the following.
The Windows Azure HPC Scheduler SDK works with the Windows Azure SDK and contains modules and features that enable the authoring of high performance computing (HPC) applications that use large amounts of compute resources.
Microsoft Announces Release of October Windows Azure Platform Training Kit (WAPTK). November 2, 2011
Microsoft announced the release of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit – October 2011 Update. The Training Kit is available as a free download.
The Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs (HOLs), and samples to help developers learn how to build applications utilizing Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and the Windows Azure AppFabric. The new and updated features include the following:
A significant improvement is Microsoft's updated Web Installer which allows developers to select which hands-on labs, demos, and presentations to download. Previously the entire training kit had to be downloaded.
Microsoft Unveils New Features for the SQL Azure Q4 2011 Service Release and SQL Server Management Studio October 14, 2011
Gregory Leake announced new features to be included the upcoming the SQL Azure Q4 2011 Service Release. The new features will include
New features for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) were also announced. These features are scheduled to be shipped in SQL Server 2012 and will also be available on the web as a free download early next year.
Demonstrations of many of the new features can be viewed at the PASS Summit 2011 Live Keynote Streaming page.
Microsoft Has Released an new SQL Azure Reporting Community Technology Preview (CTP) October 13, 2011
Gregory Leake announced the new CTP is immediately available to most SQL Azure customers and does not have a limited sign-up capacity. Users can get the CTP by visiting the Windows Azure Management Portal where they can start using the SQL Azure Reporting CTP right away.
Microsoft Has Rolled Out the SQL Azure Q2 2011 Service Release September 9, 2011
Gregory Leake announced the SQL Azure Q2 2011 Service Release on the Windows Azure Team Blog. Leake revealed, "This upgrade is also significant in that it represents a big first step towards providing a common base and feature set between the cloud SQL Azure service and our upcoming release of SQL Server Code Name "Denali"." Leake further announced that "The Q2 2011 Service Release is foundational in many ways, with significant upgrades to the underlying engine designed to increase overall performance and scalability." Among the new features are improvements to the SQL Azure Management Portal to provide an "enhanced user interface".
Developers need to download and install updated management tools in order to be able to work with the new Release. The article contains links to the required downloads.
New Article: Understanding potentially impactful changes in the Office 2010 object model September 8, 2011
This very helpful article by J. Maguire on the Office IT Pro Blog, Understanding potentially impactful changes in the Office 2010 object model, provides vital information for developers. The article clearly explains how developers can understand the types of changes made to the Office 2010 object model and when and how they need to deal with the changes. The article states that most changes to the object models require no immediate action yet also makes it clear when changes need to be made right away so developers can avoid problems with their applications.
New TechNet Wiki Article: How to Manage SQL Azure Servers using Windows PowerShell August 10, 2011
The new Article, How to Manage SQL Azure Servers using Windows PowerShell shows how to use PowerShell to manage SQL Azure. The article demonstrates how to create a new SQL Azure Server using the Management REST APIs. It also explains how to create a Management Certificate, upload the Public Key, export the Private Key, create a Request Message, and create an XML Body.
New Release of the August Update to Windows Azure Platform Training Kit August 10, 2011
The August 2011 update of the downloadable training kit includes several new updates. Included are a new Hands-On Lab which features an introduction to Windows Azure Marketplace for Applications, leveraging the August 2011 release of the Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, using the latest version of the Azure Management Cmdlets, trying out Windows Azure Storage to support deleting snapshots, and some minor fixes.
New Windows Azure Platform Management Portal Updates Now Available August 3, 2011
Much faster loading and helpful new features are now available for the Windows Azure Platform Management Portal. In addition, the Portal is now available in 11 languages, there are new Context Menus that make tasks easier, and deployments can now be deleted while running. The portal is available at the following web address: https://windows.azure.com/. More information can be found on the Windows Azure Team Blog.
LINQ with SQL Azure Video July 1, 2011
Dhananjay Kumar, posted a video showing how to use LINQ with SQL Azure on his DEBUG MODE....... blog. The video shows how to set up LINQ to SQL Azure using the SQL Azure Portal and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.
The Microsoft SQL Azure Blog To Be Moved To The Windows Azure Platform Team Blog June 24, 2011
Steve Yi, Director of Product Management for SQL Azure and Middleware at Microsoft, announced in the Microsoft SQL Azure Team Blog, "In an effort to make it easier for you to stay on top of the latest product releases, resources, tools and news around the Windows Azure platform, today, we're excited to announce that the SQL Azure blog is moving into what will now be called the 'Windows Azure Platform Team Blog'. From now on, you can find all SQL Azure blog posts at www.WindowsAzureBlog.com."
He added that those primarily interested in SQL Azure posts can subscribe to a dedicated RSS feed specifically for SQL Azure.
Microsoft also announced that the Windows Azure AppFabric and Windows Azure Marketplace DataMarket blogs will also be consolidated with the Windows Azure Team Blog.
Microsoft Announces Free Ingress for All Windows Azure Customers Starting July 1st, 2011 June 22, 2011
The announcement in the Windows Azure Team Blog states, "For billing periods that begin on or after July 1, 2011, all inbound data transfers for both peak and off-peak times will be free."
This will make using Microsoft's Cloud services more attractive for customers who will need to migrate or insert a lot of data into the cloud in order to begin using SQL Azure or Windows Azure.
New SQL Azure Backup tool, Enzo Backup Beta Release, is Announced June 22, 2011
Herve Roggero, SQL Azure MVP, announced the release of the Enzo Backup tool for SQL Azure: "The Enzo Backup for SQL Azure solution (currently a Beta release) offers unprecedented flexibility by allowing you to backup a SQL Azure database and restore the backup to other SQL Azure databases or on premise SQL Server databases."
"The Enzo Backup for SQL Azure works as a local windows application allowing you to issue backup and restore requests for your SQL Azure databases. You can backup and restore from Blob storage or from your local file system. Backup files are compressed and contain both schema and data of a database."
Enzo Backup also includes a command-line utility that enables scheduled backup operations. Other Enzo Backup features are listed here and on Herve Roggero's blog.
SQL Azure will have new "Denali" features in a couple of months. June 2, 2011
David Robinson, Senior Lead Program Manager on the Microsoft SQL Azure Team, gave a presentation about upcoming, recently released, and present features for SQL Azure at Tech Ed North America 2011. He announced that with the next service release SQL Azure will be based on the "Denali" engine which will enable new features to be released more often. One new feature now available is the ability to create more than one server under the same subscription.
New SQL Azure features. June 2, 2011
Among the new features available are Multiple servers per subscription.
SQL Azure Data Sync CTP3 to be released this summer. June 2, 2011
You can read about the new features to be released in the SQL Azure Data Sync CTP3 in this Sync Framework Team Blog article.
SQL Azure Reporting Limited CTP and SQL Azure Data Sync CTP2 Registration is Closed June 1, 2011
Due to an overwhelming response to the SQL Azure CTP programs, Microsoft has closed the registration for the the SQL Azure Reporting Limited CTP and SQL Azure Data Sync CTP2. You can read about it on the Microsoft Connect SQL Azure Community Technology Previews (CTPs) page.
Free SQL Azure and Access Demonstration Applications Oct. 20, 2010
A new free 2007 version of the web based SQL Azure and Access Demonstration Application shows you what can be done with SQL Azure and Microsoft Access. We now have two editions: 2007 and 2010. Learn more and get the free download on the SQL Azure and Microsoft Access page.
Microsoft Unveils New Features for SQL Azure Oct. 30, 2010
Steve Yi's PDC 2010 video, "What's New in SQL Azure?", reveals the new features Microsoft is now adding to SQL Azure. The features include a new SQL Azure Developer Portal and web-based Database management tools. The new SQL Azure Data Sync CTP2 enables SQL Azure databases or tables to be synchronized between SQL Azure and on-premises SQL Server databases. Additionally, the new SQL Azure Reporting CTP enables developers to save SQL Azure Reports as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF files.
Microsoft announced that all of these features will be available before the end of the year. The SQL Azure Reporting CTP and the SQL Azure Data Sync CTP2 are beginning to be made available to developers now. You can apply for the CTPs here.
You can learn more about SQL Azure and download our SQL Azure and Microsoft Access demonstration application here.
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