Posted 10/29/08 at 02:49:54 PM by Mark Edward Soper

It was called "Project Red Dog" during development, but this week Microsoft revealed its favorite color for its cloud computing development platform is actually blue - Azure, in fact.

Windows Azure Services Platform was introduced at this week's PDC, and includes the following key components, according to eWeek:

• Windows Azure (service hosting, management, low-level scalable storage, computation and networking)
• Microsoft SQL Services (databases and reporting)
• Microsoft .NET Services (.NET Framework workflow, access control, and so forth)
• Live Services (file and media synchronization between PCs, phones, apps and website)
• Microsoft SharePoint Services and CRN Services (business content, collaboration, and rapid solution development)

To learn more about the Azure platform, and what it might mean for the future of Microsoft, join us after the break.

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microsoft, Software, developer, cloud computing, SQL Server, Windows Azure, .NET Framework, CRN Services, SharePoint Services, Live Services

Posted 10/24/08 at 04:28:29 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Amazon has agreed to acquire casual web gaming company Reflexive Entertainment. The move marks the internet behemoth’s foray into casual gaming. Reflexive was constituted in 1997 and is stationed in Orange County, California. Reflexive is working on a game development and distribution service called Reflexive Arcade.

The Reflexive Arcade service will be restricted to only PC, Mac and web-based games. The true motivation behind this particular acquisition is not yet known. The two companies haven’t made the details of the transaction public.

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games, Software, pc, video games, browser, amazon, Mac, acquisition, developer, web, casual games, reflexive entertainment, distributor

Posted 06/20/08 at 09:46:31 AM by Chris Moody

Microsoft has issued a challenge for developers and newbie developers worldwide to use Microsoft's XNA Game Studio 2.0 to build their game for the Xbox 360. This year they are accepting teams from 1 to 7 people to compete. First prize is $40,000, second is $20,000, third $10,000, and fourth is $5,000.

The deadline is September 23, 2008, after which the judges will be choosing the best entries on 3 main criteria: Fun Factor (40%), Innovation (30%), and Production Quality (30%).

Ready to get your Design On? Head over to dreambuildplay.com and sign up!

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gaming, microsoft, contest, Xbox 360, developer, DreamBuildPlay, XNA, Game Studio, Prize

Posted 06/20/08 at 08:03:26 AM by Chris Moody

Just how much cooler can they make Microsoft's Surface? Oh, I suppose they could do a nifty holographic 3D interface but that is for the future. In the here and now, the Surface gives new meaning to "Desktop".

Crunchgear reports that at a recent conference they got to look at the SDK, which allows developers the ability to slide an object around and have it stop based on friction or what objects it hits. Think about sliding a photo across a desktop with your fingertips into a folder. The good thing is if you miss, it doesn't end up on the floor. It takes the intuitive interface of the desktop as we know it and brings it together with our most intuitive interface device, our hands. The promise for this technology for the future is outstanding.

Object Recognition is planned for the future. Users will be able to place physical objects on the display to trigger different types of response, like downloading images from your Bluetooth enabled phone or uploading music to an MP3 player.

Now don't you just want one of these for a coffee table in your living room?

Image Credit: Microsoft

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microsoft, display, Surface, consumer electronics, SDK, developer