Did you hear of Windows Azure? If not maybe you don’ deserve to be on this planet. And quite probable that you are unknown to the Cloud computing. Cloud computing is the easiest way to avoid capital expenditure where you don’t own physical infrastructure and pay only rentals for service usage to third party. Some of the popular categories of cloud applications are SAAS (Software as a Service), PAAS (Platform as a Service), MSP (Managed Service Providers), Internet Integration. Microsoft recently jumped into this futuristic domain of Cloud service by launching its Windows Azure platform. Windows Azure would function as the hub of the cloud services tactic of Microsoft. It extends a flexible environment for developers to create cloud services and applications. With Windows Azure, you can shorten your time to market and adapt as demand for your service grows.

Touted as the operating system of Cloud services, Azure would unfold as “development, service hosting and service management environment for the Windows Azure platform.” As an open platform, Azure supports non-Microsoft and Microsoft languages. So developers can create applications using Microsoft Visual Studio as well as PHP, XML, REST, SOAP.

For the first time, production deployment on world class application delivery infrastructure is available for free. Yes, FREE! Citrix, a world leader in application delivery infrastructure with annual revenues grossing over $1.6 billion has come up with this innovative offering, XenServer. This server packs in a lot a virtualization punch with freebies like XenMotion for unlimited server management, and integrated storage management amongst other things.

The latest and free XenServer is powered by the same Xen® virtualization engine which drives nearly every independent cloud today. It is significant to know that today close to 75 percent of corporate servers globally are not virtualized. The decision of Citrix to offer virtual platform free would jumpstart a new revolution enabling performance strides in enterprise datacenters by harnessing the scale and economics of the cloud for the first time!

The latest Citrix XenServer is a feature-loaded virtual infrastructure engine with great elements like:

• Proven Hypervisor Engine powered by the 64-bit industry standard Xen open source hypervisor that leverages performance, scalability and security in next-generation servers, microprocessors and operating systems.
• Live Motion and Multi-Server Resource Sharing that facilitates movement of virtual machines from server to server without service interruption or zero downtime.
• Powerful Central Management allowing total management for unlimited number of virtual machines and servers.
• Easy Administration & Setup with intuitive Web 3.0 style search, and built-in auto-help that makes learning a snap for new administrators.
• Integral Storage Management compatible any existing storage systems with features like dynamic multi-pathing capabilities and host-based logical volume management.

Nathan Day, Chief Technology Officer of Softlayer commenting on the Xen virtualization engine said, “We can gain even further leverage using the full power of XenServer in our next-generation cloud computing platform with more efficiency and richer functionality than ever before. XenServer, as part of the Citrix Cloud Center (C3) platform, is really leading the way in the emerging cloud segment by helping its customers and partners navigate the rapidly-evolving technology.”

Mark Bowker, Enterprise Strategy Group’s analyst remarked, “Free hypervisors with limited functionality have been around for a long time. We see this move as substantially different because it offers a competitive, enterprise-ready virtual infrastructure platform with full centralized management, live motion and support for unlimited virtual machines and servers – with no strings attached.”

What could be the idea behind such a wildly incredible step from a global company to offer state-of-art infrastructure to both Enterprise and Cloud providers amidst soaring server prices? The move is aimed actually to spur the adoption of virtual platform for enterprise-level customers and to initiate full Windows support by external cloud providers to their current Linux offerings.

The world of mobile advertising was stunned to silence as global search engine major, Google acquired AdMob, the leading mobile advertising player early this week. AdMob, founded by Omar Hamoui in 2006, had made significant inroads in the potential-rich mobile advertising arena in a very short time.

Susan Wojcicki, Vice President of Product Management at Google underlining the importance of AdMob deal remarked, “AdMob is the quintessential Silicon Valley startup — generating impressive year on year revenue growth — and we’re excited to welcome this talented team to Google.”

Google’s expectations from the AdMob deal can be outlined as:

• Enhanced engagement for advertisers in their interactions with mobile user community.
• Greater relevant ads and access to more ad-supported content for users.

Google’s acquisition of mobile display advertising firm, AdMob happened at a cost of $750 million. The deal was a lucrative trade0ff for its CEO Omar Hamoui who observed, I think people underestimate how important ads have been to funding the development of innovative content on the Internet. Our goal all along at AdMob has been to make it possible for developers and publishers to bring their products and ideas to mobile with the same business model.”

ZNET data centers around the world are glad to note thatHyperCloud, the first virtual rank[2-vRank] memory module of 16 GB for servers is going to be launched for the first time across the globe by Netlist Inc. Netlist Inc, is a California-based premier manufacturer of high performance modular memory subsystems that produces 1 million modules annually.

HyperCloud is a double-data-rate three, registered dual in-line memory module [DDR3 RDIMM] which maxes server utilization improving application performance in any data center. It harnesses Netlist Inc’s proprietary rank multiplication ASIC technology to fully populate three memory channels with 16GB vRank RDIMMs. 4 physical ranks are hidden from the memory controller hub and presented as 2 vRanks. Dual socket servers can then be fully filled in with 24 16GB 2 vRank RDIMMs producing a total capacity of 384GB!

Steve Conway, Research VP, Technical Computing at IDC pointed out, “In HPC datacenters, servers are typically under-utilized due to memory bandwidth and memory capacity bottlenecks. Netlist is addressing these limitations with its new high-performing DDR3 RDIMM solution, called HyperCloud,” which is “is designed to improve server productivity and application performance, especially for memory-intensive applications and workloads.”

The debut of HyperCloud is expected at the Supercomputing Tradeshow, taking place in Portland, Oregon from 17-19 November, 2009, in booth number 2398. Sampling of HyperCloud to major OEM customers is planned by Netlist sometime in December with production slated for Q1 2010. HyperCloud modules would be retailed in 4GB, 8GB, & 16GB 2 vRank module options. HyperCloud is surely going to give a new lease of life to data center memory across the world.

Google has recently announced its decision to open source its java script infrastructure behind its web apps like Gmail, Google Docs etc. The decision came in the wake of Google’s genuine attempt to make building of web applications easier. For the uninitiated, it is good to know that Google Maps, Google Docs and Gmail are Java-script intensive applications from the stable of Google.

The closure Java widgetry includes a compiler, server-agnostic library, cross-browser and a host of pre-compiled templates. Developers can adopt a command-line approach to the compiler or pass through a web application that Google has offered that allows code to be compiled through a text box or a RESTful API. Google is also providing a Firefox extension that displays various performance enhancements. The JavaScript optimizer outlined as the “Closure Compiler” compiles web apps into high performance, compact JavaScript code. As it checks, syntax, eliminates dead code, warns about JavaScript shortcomings, then rewrites them and minimizes the rest, so it would run real fast on browser JavaScript engines.

It is not difficult to unravel the strategy behind such opensourcing moves by Google: Microsoft would surely be miffed by the surge in web apps!