#Azure Action – Weekly Newsletter – 27th May 2011

	Local Overview
	New Australian Communications and Media Authority portal on Azure justSAMit– A cloud-based IT asset control software - helping businesses better manage their business operations Microsoft decides to push GreenButton – another local HPC Azure supercomputer!

	Readiness & Resources
Windows Azure:	Scaffolding and packaging a Windows Azure project in PHP Forging LinkedIn Authentication into WS-Federation
SQL Azure:	Getting Started With SQL Azure Development
AppFabric:	Windows Azure Azure AppFabric Cache Introduction
DataMarket:	An Introduction to DataMarket with PHP
Watch:	"Inside Azure" session now available for on-demand viewing Avalara Maps Sales Taxes on Windows Azure
Case Study:	Flextronics helps retailers track repairs of electronics devices
Tools:	Redgate - SQL Azure Backup Tool

	Guidance
Book:	Upcoming Programming Microsoft's Clouds: Azure and Office 365 Developing Microsoft SharePoint Applications using Windows Azure .
Walkthrough:	How to Deploy a Hadoop Cluster on Windows Azure
Architecture:

	In the news
General:	Australian IT - Cloud Computing Forum Is Microsoft's Future in Data-as-a-Service?
Microsoft:	India: Ballmer declares 300,000 new (cloud) jobs being created in the next five years
Windows Azure:	Fraud Prevention Measure for New Windows Azure Platform Accounts New Windows Azure sign up SMS challenge process Windows Azure SDK for PHP v3.0 released + Deal of the Day Site and Samples Microsoft Invites Sitecore to Join Windows Azure Platform Advisory Board Now includes input from the CMS Azure Edition Platform producer New Windows Azure Platform Pricing Calculator Doesn’t replace the TCO calculator but makes easy Windows Azure Bootstrapper: A Command Line Tool for post processing jobs like downloading, unzipping, installing outside web or worker role Since you don't want to always download and run during restarts, it will also help track those dependencies and only launch an installer one time “Microsoft readies 'Austin,' an Azure-hosted event-processing service" SQL Azure and Stream Insight Windows Azure Toolkit for iOS V1.0.1 Details about the recent update to the toolkit

	Events
Local:	I registered for the free Microsoft REMIX keynote. I encourage you too here. Meet the finalists of the Windows Azure My Concept Rules! Biyearly innovation and collaboration festival in just over a weeks time. A welcome addition to the line-up Amplify TV lets you watch the AMPlify festival live Tim Buntel (@tbuntel) presents at: Yow conference- Java developer conference - Cloud Nights 7/8/14th June Australian Computer Society - 23rd June Melbourne: Introducing Jasco 2SQL - Data migration faster and easier Well worth checking out RHoK #3 Fri, 06/03/2011 - Sun, 06/05/2011
Global:	TechEd (US) Windows Azure sessions available here
Webinar:	Windows Phone 7 and Azure Webinar Wrap-up Monetizing the Cloud, Software licensing on Windows Azure with InishTech Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT Website security testing on Windows Azure with Cenzic Wednesday June 1, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT Monetizing ISV Applications On Windows Azure With Metanga Friday Jun 3, 2011, 8:00 AM PDT

	Community
Like Azure?	Mailing list for OzAzure
	Become a fan: www.facebook.com/windowsazure (using the Azure Facebook Toolkit) Add yourself to my Azure Australia Twitter list Watch CloudCast - episode 4 coming soon (honest) Azure meet up / 1st Windows Azure user group….

	Questions
Q:	Are SQL Azure databases written multiple times?
A:	When you are creating a new SQL Azure database, you are actually creating three replicas of the database. This is done to ensure high availability. The replicas are completely transparent to the user. Currently, these replicas are in the same data center. The new database appears as a single unit for your purposes.
Q:	Can you co-admin a SQL Azure database?
A:	Not yet. Its coming the upcoming service release along with database import/export, Denali engine improvements and a preview of point in time restoration.