兩週前謠言紛傳微軟將在PDC 2008公佈除了Windows 7之外的另一樣武器，雲端計算平台，在當時，有人直接猜這個平台的名稱叫做: Windows Cloud。
不過，顯然叫做Windows Cloud太直接了(其實Windows7也滿直接的)，因此，數小時前公佈正式名稱將是： Windows Azure
Azure源自於12世界的法國，是藍色、藍天的意思，Windows Azure讓我馬上聯想到Windows 98 SE開機時，朵朵雲兒在大大的視窗Logo後面飄的畫面：
Azure這個字對我來說還有一份遙遠的熟悉感。話說我們那屆師大附中的畢業舞會也叫做Moulin Azure (藍磨坊)，當年主題是仿當紅的電影Moulin Rouge (紅磨坊)，而附中的吉祥色是藍色，因此有以上的組合。
ok言歸正傳，Windows Azure到底有啥料？我直接引用另外彭老師在今早1:38的Update:
在PDC 2008第一天的Keynote中，Ray Ozzie(微軟的架構長)宣佈了微軟雲端運算服務的正式名稱─Windows Azure(視窗蔚藍)，這是一個以雲端運算為基礎的服務作業平台，其中涵蓋了.NET Service、SQL Service、SharePoint Online Service、Dynamic CRM Service和Live Service。對開發人員而言，可以透過相同的開發工具(Visual Studio)建立解決方案，然後透過Windows Azure的Portal發佈自己的解決方案，透過微軟營運的雲端運算環境對外提供服務給客戶或網際網路世界的使用者。
Windows Azure官方網站今天也正式上線：
http://www.microsoft.com/azure/
可惜背景不是我想象中那種藍…
網站開宗明義指出Windows Azure的三大特色 Choice, Low Risk, No Distractions：
Choice. Windows Azure reduces barriers to entry to creating reliable and scalable web applications because it is based on and works with familiar Microsoft technology. Windows Azure supports Microsoft Web technologies such as ASP.NET, IIS, and Visual Studio 2008, so developers can use their existing skills to efficiently create, test, deploy, manage & monetize web services. Windows Azure supports standards and protocols including SOAP, REST and XML. Windows Azure welcomes third party tools and languages such as Eclipse, Ruby, PHP, and Python.
Low Risk Windows Azure provides you, the developer, with a scalable platform and a rich development environment that allows you to focus on the business logic of your application without worrying about operational constraints or lock-in.
No Distractions. The Fabric Controller technology in Windows Azure, enables you to scale applications seamlessly, as demand rises and falls. The built-in management services give monitoring and tracing capabilities, and allow you to stay focused on what you do best—create and deliver services and applications online.
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