We discuss the exciting world of Azure ML and Data Science with an expert in the field, Microsoft's Buck Woody.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode116.mp3

Buck's blog: https://buckwoody.wordpress.com/

Cortana Analytics: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/cortana-analytics-suite/overview.aspx

Other updates:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-automation-classic-portal-will-redirect-to-the-new-azure-portal-march-2016/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/preview-temporal-tables-in-azure-sql-database/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/public-preview-hdinsight-tools-for-intellij/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/logic-apps-improved-designer-and-managed-apis/

http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2016/02/24/microsoft-to-acquire-xamarin-and-empower-more-developers-to-build-apps-on-any-device/

The guys have a great chat with Matt Usher, a Senior PM in the Azure team, on the Azure SQL Data Warehouse. Matt gives us the low-down on the  service and also provides some deep insights into the MPP technology used in the service. 

Azure SQL Data Warehouse Overview: http://aka.ms/sqldw
Create a new SQL Data Warehouse: http://aka.ms/newsqldw
Matt's Twitter: http://twitter.com/two_under

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode115.mp3

Other updates for the week:

New Storage Explorer http://storageexplorer.com - cross platform tool and actively maintained.

Announcing more open options and choice on Microsoft Azure
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/more-open-source-innovation-azure/

Build an Azure App Service to record Raspberry Pi Sensor Data
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/build-an-azure-app-service-to-record-raspberry-pi-sensor-data/

Guidance for enterprises looking to take their application portfolio to the cloud
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/guidance-for-enterprises-looking-to-take-their-application-portfolio-to-the-cloud/

Azure welcomes Parse developers
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-welcomes-parse-developers/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/ssl-connection-pricing-changes/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/swagger-support-for-azure-mobile-apps-net-server-sdk/

Cale and Sujit talk to Sam Gabor, who owns Advanced Trading Solutions, and discuss his foray into Azure, especially the SendGrid service for sending email. He offers valuable advice and tips for developers that want to incorporate sending email into their applications.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode114.mp3

Sam's tips on using SendGrid:

1. CAN-SPAM Act Info: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business Pay close attention to this part: “Each separate email in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act is subject to penalties of up to $16,000” In a bulk e-mail scenario, that can be disastrous!

2. SendGrid API Docs: https://sendgrid.com/docs/API_Reference/

3. Mail tester site: https://www.mail-tester.com/

4. Some pointers on increasing e-mail deliverability:

   1. White-label domains that send e-mail through SendGrid (https://support.sendgrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/200548228-All-You-Need-to-Know-About-Whitelabeling )

   2. Use http://mail-tester.com to score e-mails transmitted through SendGrid

   3. Always check SPAM reports in the SendGrid dashboard and act on them promptly.

Other updates:

You can transfer a subscription to a colleague
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/azure/mt130656.aspx

Export Band Data
http://winsupersite.com/microsoft-band/xportband-export-microsoft-band-data-gpx-file-format

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/price-reduction-for-azure-media-indexer/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-search-indexer-for-azure-blob-storage-now-in-public-preview/ 

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-premium-storage-available-in-more-regions/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-early-preview-of-azure-paas-services-and-devops-tools-for-azure-stack/

The guys chat with Russell Young, who has joined Microsoft as a Principal PFE specializing in supporting customers with Azure Development. Russell’s passion is helping customers with their cloud and mobile strategies, as well as planning, designing and architecting modern software solutions. He shares some of his experiences with Azure. 

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode113.mp3

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftservices/premier_support_developers.aspx

Big news from last week - Azure Stack is now available in Preview:

List of related links - http://aka.ms/azurestackakaguide

Help Forum - http://aka.ms/azurestackforum
Suggestions for Azure Stack - http://aka.ms/azurestackuservoice

Evan talks about his favorite topic, networking. Specifically high-speed networking within IaaS VMs for gaming and financial markets scenarios.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode112.mp3

http://www.ageofascent.com/azure-cloud-high-speed-networking/

Other resources:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/new-t-sql-programmability-features-in-azure-sql-database/

We are fortunate to have Azure Senior PM, Bernardo Muñoz on the show to talk about a new facility called Azure Resource Health which makes diagnosing problems with VMs etc. so much easier.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode111.mp3

Blog about this service: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/reduce-troubleshooting-time-with-azure-resource-health/

Other updates and resources:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/the-state-of-the-union-with-microsoft-pulse-and-azure-event-hubs/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-batch-service-update-december-2015/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/analyzing-your-azure-search-traffic/

Cale talks about his project and how he leveraged Azure Search and DocumentDB to get a project off the ground quickly.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode110.mp3

Azure Automation: Graphical and textual runbook authoring
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-automation-graphical-and-textual-runbook-authoring/

Azure Blockchain as a Service Update #3
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-blockchain-as-a-service-update-3/

API Management: Advanced caching and throttling policies
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/api-management-advanced-caching-and-throttling-policies/

Notifying users of data received from sensors or other systems
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/notifying-users-of-data-received-from-sensors-or-other-systems/

Azure Automation Desired State Configuration generally available
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/automation-dsc-overview/?WT.mc_id=azurebg_email_Trans_981_MOSP#what-is-azure-automation-dsc

Azure Premium Storage generally available in additional region
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/storage/premium-storage/?WT.mc_id=azurebg_email_Trans_981_MOSP

Microsoft Operations Management Suite alert notification and remediation in public preview
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/operations-management-suite/overview.aspx?WT.mc_id=azurebg_email_Trans_981_MOSP

Azure Role-Based Access Control with custom roles generally available
http://blogs.technet.com/b/ad/archive/2015/12/10/custom-roles-in-azure-rbac-is-now-ga.aspx?WT.mc_id=azurebg_email_Trans_981_MOSP

Classic NSGs now supported in Ibiza

Cale and Sujit review the podcasts in 2015 and discuss some of the highlights of the year that defined Azure.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode109.mp3

Other updates:

Introducing a simplified configuration experience for SQL Server in Azure Virtual Machines
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-configuration-experience-sql-server-virtual-machines/

Load data to Azure Data Lake Store with high throughput
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/yingqin/archive/2015/12/29/load-data-to-azure-data-lake-store-with-high-throughput.aspx

Azure WebJobs with Storage Queue and Exceptions
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mustafakasap/archive/2015/12/26/azure-webjobs-with-storage-queue-and-exceptions.aspx

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/guids-migration-documentdb/

Based on some feedback from a Twitter follower, Cale and Sujit do a bit of a deep dive on Azure Service Fabric.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode108.mp3

Other updates:

Microsoft Azure Stack: Hardware requirements for preview release
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-azure-stack-hardware-requirements-for-preview-release/

September update for Web Apps and App Service environments in the Azure Preview Portal
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/september-update-for-web-apps-and-app-service-environments-in-the-azure-preview-portal/

Backing up DocumentDB Databases
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/backing-up-documentdb-databases/

Just FYI - Support Ending for the .NET Framework 4, 4.5, 4.5.1 @ January 12, 2016
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/deva/archive/2015/12/22/just-fyi-support-ending-for-the-net-framework-4-4-5-4-5-1-january-12-2016.aspx

Open Source + Azure (series)
https://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/TechNet+Radio/TechNet-Radio-Part-1-Open-Source--Azure-Building-Linux-in-the-Cloud

FREE! Online training on Azure Big Data/Machine Learning
https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/implementing-big-data-analysis-8311?l=gOOGH0Yy_4304984382

The guys talk to Piyush Joshi who is a Senior PM in the Azure Mobile Engagement Services team. He gives us the low-down on this new offering.

Media file: http://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode107.mp3

Here are some useful links: 

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/mobile-engagement/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/mobile-engagement-overview/

Recent blog post - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-mobile-engagement-december-2015-update/

Twitter handle - https://twitter.com/AzureMobileEng

Other recent updates:

Azure Data Lake now integrated with Azure Data Catalog
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-data-lake-now-integrated-with-azure-data-catalog/

DocumentDB paging support with TOP and more query improvements
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/documentdb-paging-support-with-top-and-more-query-improvements/

Announcing the StorSimple Virtual Array Preview
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-the-storsimple-virtual-array-preview/

Glimpse at Application Insights Telemetry
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/glimpse-application-insights/