PDC Day 1 – Windows Azure

Windows Azure was the big topic on day 1 of the PDC conference in LA. Ray Ozzie opened the conference with a keynote position Windows Azure and Microsoft’s “three screens and a cloud” vision.

I particularly liked the introduction of SQL Azure Data Sync to connect on-premises data to SQL Azure and Windows Azure storage.

I also like the ability to map custom domains and the Windows Azure CDN. I ran a little experiment of this myself setting up two links:

1. http://letme.workit.co.nz – US Server
2. http://seeyou.workit.co.nz – CDN enabled

Test both links and after a few of you hit it the second one should begin to load faster off the Australian edge cache.

A big surprise was the announcement of Microsoft “Dallas”

Microsoft code-name “Dallas” is a Windows Azure- and Microsoft SQL Azure Database-powered information service that brings together data and imagery from leading commercial content providers and authoritative public data sources, under a unified provisioning and billing framework.

Developers can sign up for the free invitation-only Microsoft code-name “Dallas” CTP, which will be commercially available in 2010.

With the Azure platform set to start commercial operation in New Zealand on the first of Feb next year now is the time to start looking at this technology.

Beginning January 2010, new customers will be able to sign up for an offer to access services on the Windows Azure platform. Usage during the month of January will be at no charge, so you can see your exact usage while still enjoying free service.

On February 1, 2010, we will begin charging customers for using the Windows Azure platform.

If you want access to the platform sooner I recommend that you come along to the Azure unplugged event in December where Mike & Ryan will be distributing CTP tokens to developers.

Below are just some of the resources that have been updated at the PDC.