Surface Duo First Impressions

The first-ever Microsoft Android phone arrived yesterday, and I have to say I’m impressed with the device. It’s been about 72 hours since I received it so I thought I would give you my first impressions.

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Nvidia acquiring ARM for $40 Billion

Nvidia has recently reported they will be acquiring ARM Holdings; the company behind ARM microprocessors. Nvidia is the top graphics processor company in the industry, and over the last 10+ years ARM processors (CPUs) have become the standard in all kinds of mobile devices.

ARM Holdings is currently owned by SoftBank; which purchased the company four years ago back in 2016 for $32 Billion. Nvidia has reported to be acquiring ARM Holding from SoftBank for $40 Billion. While SoftBank has reportedly struggled to grow the business, the Nvidia acquisition would mark a big win for SoftBank.

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The Weeks Top Links

Here are some of the most notable links from the week:

• Surface Duo First Impressions via Dan Patrick
• Tip 277 – Azure Functions on Kubernetes with KEDA Part 1 of 2 via Azure Tips and Tricks
• Nvidia acquiring ARM for $40 Billion – Create AI Powerhouse via Chris Pietschmann
• Azure Bicep: Create IoT Hub and Device Provisioning Service (DPS) via Chris Pietschmann
• Deliver your app at global scale with security & resiliency with Azure Front Door via Pantelis Apostolidis
• Using distroless images in Istio on Azure Kubernetes Service via Daniel
• Understanding TimerTriggers in Azure Functions via Sander van de Velde

Blog Articles

Here’s a collection of some of the most note worthy blog articles posted over the past week:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Azure Backup: Restore an Azure IaaS VM from a soft-deleted backup via wmatthyssen
• AKS |Azure Kubernetes Service: Node disk DOS by writing to container /etc/hosts (CVE-2020-8557) via zigmax
• Downgrade the Linux kernel on an Azure Ubuntu VM via Daniel
• AzureFunBytes Shorts – @Azure @Windows Virtual Machines via Jay Gordon
• Azure Backup: Create a Recovery Services vault with Azure PowerShell via wmatthyssen
• Deliver your app at global scale with security & resiliency with Azure Front Door via Pantelis Apostolidis
• AzUpdate: Automatic guest VM patching, Availability Zones in Migrate, Universal Print integration via Sonia Cuff
• Splitting up our ARM Templates with Azure CLI to improve our infrastructure deployment reliability via Sam Smith
• How to configure Azure Automatic VM guest OS patching via Thomas Maurer
• AzureFunBytes – Virtual Networks (VNETs) on @Azure via Jay Gordon

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Azure Files now offering NFS 4.1 in Preview via Rick Vanover
• NFS 4.1 support for Azure Files is now in preview via Rena Shah
• Azure App Service, Private Endpoint, and Application Gateway/WAF via AFinn
• Azure Files SMB Multichannel provides improved performance for clients via Gunjan Jain

Serverless and Functions as a Service (FaaS)

• Extract Excel file content with Azure Logic Apps and Azure Functions via Daniel Krzyczkowski
• Tip 277 – Azure Functions on Kubernetes with KEDA Part 1 of 2 via Azure Tips and Tricks
• Rendering PDFs with Razor Templates and PuppeteerSharp in Azure Functions via Anthony Chu
• Understanding TimerTriggers in Azure Functions via Sander van de Velde

DevOps

• Let’s compare the CLI experiences offered by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform via Richard Seroter
• AzureFunBytes – Office Hours with @jaydestro on @Azure, DevOps, more… via Jay Gordon
• How to manage existing Azure Resource Groups using Terraform via chrisjeffrey_uk
• Using Azure Key Vault secrets in PowerShell scripting via Wesley Haakman
• Same dacpac for Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions deployments via Kevin
• GitHub Actions for Security Code Analysis via Tobias Zimmergren
• Rendering PDFs with Razor Templates and PuppeteerSharp in Azure Functions via Anthony Chu
• Azure Backup: Create a Recovery Services vault with Azure PowerShell via wmatthyssen
• Splitting up our ARM Templates with Azure CLI to improve our infrastructure deployment reliability via Sam Smith
• AzureFunBytes Episode 14 – DevOps on @Azure Part II w/ @StevenMurawski via Jay Gordon
• Organize Data Platform presentations using Azure DevOps via Kevin
• Azure Files SMB Multichannel provides improved performance for clients via Gunjan Jain
• What is PowerShell Direct? via Techie Lass Blog
• AzureFunBytes New Episode Reminder – 9/10/2020 2 PM EDT – DevOps on @Azure Part II w/ @StevenMurawski via Jay Gordon
• Using Github Codespaces for Embedded Development via kartben

Data

• Microsoft reveals the environmental impact of undersea datacenter via Pradeep
• Microsoft’s underwater datacenter research project is a success via Pradeep
• Build fault tolerant applications with Cassandra API for Azure Cosmos DB via Abhishek Gupta
• Organize Data Platform presentations using Azure DevOps via Kevin

Internet of Things (IoT)

• Azure Sphere TLS certificate update via AzureSphereTeam
• What does the Nvidia deal for ARM mean for the internet of things? via Stacey Higginbotham
• Azure Bicep: Create IoT Hub and Device Provisioning Service (DPS) via Chris Pietschmann
• Azure Sphere OS update 20.09 now available for compatibility testing via AzureSphereTeam
• Vision AI made simple by new Azure IoT Central template via Kishorb

Machine Learning (ML) / Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• The new Apple iPad Air 4th Gen comes with A14 Bionic processor, all-screen design and USB-C via Pradeep
• Better outcomes with AI: Frost & Sullivan names Microsoft the leading AI platform for healthcare IT via John Doyle
• Nvidia acquiring ARM for $40 Billion – Create AI Powerhouse via Chris Pietschmann
• Vision AI made simple by new Azure IoT Central template via Kishorb

Development

• Microsoft announces new Project OneFuzz framework, an open source developer tool to find and fix bugs at scale via Jim Flack
• Using Github Codespaces for Embedded Development via kartben

Containers (Docker, Kubernetes, Service Fabric, etc)

• AKS |Azure Kubernetes Service: Node disk DOS by writing to container /etc/hosts (CVE-2020-8557) via zigmax
• Tip 277 – Azure Functions on Kubernetes with KEDA Part 1 of 2 via Azure Tips and Tricks
• Using distroless images in Istio on Azure Kubernetes Service via Daniel

Security, Identity, and Privacy

• Microsoft Security: Use baseline default tools to accelerate your security career via Jim Flack
• GitHub Actions for Security Code Analysis via Tobias Zimmergren
• Deliver your app at global scale with security & resiliency with Azure Front Door via Pantelis Apostolidis

Azure Stack

• Azure Stack Hub Partner Solutions Series – Eversource via Thomas Maurer
• Azure Stack Hub Partner Solutions Series – Eversource via thomasmaurer

Hardware

• Surface Go receives the September firmware update via Sean Chan

Linux

• Downgrade the Linux kernel on an Azure Ubuntu VM via Daniel

XBox / xCloud / Gaming

• Xbox Game Pass briefly explained: console, PC, xCloud streaming and more via Sean Hollister
• xCloud renamed to Cloud Gaming, launches tomorrow with 150+ games via Lewis White

Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality

• Apple Watch Series 6 announced with familiar design, Blood Oxygen sensor and more via Pradeep
• Join the Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud Webinar Series via Thomas Maurer

Other

• Azure Artifacts billing changes coming October 2020 via Helen Huang
• Apple announces iPad 8th Gen with A12X processor for $329 via Pradeep
• Preparing for what’s next: Building landing zones for successful cloud migrations via Jeremy Winter
• Surface Duo First Impressions via Dan Patrick
• Can we make GraphQL type safe in code? via Aaron Powell
• Microsoft’s underwater server experiment resurfaces after two years via Chaim Gartenberg
• Oracle Wins Bid for TikTok’s U.S. Operations via Paul Thurrott
• On why wasting 0.000005 seconds is still bad idea via Davide Mauri
• ByteDance won’t allow TikTok’s algorithm to be part of a sale; Microsoft is rejected as suitor via ZDNet | microsoft RSS
• Microsoft says it’s not acquiring TikTok after ByteDance rejects offer via Tom Warren
• TikTok could go dark in USA as ByteDance refuse to sell its secret algorithm via Surur
• Surface Duo bumper cases will be available in three new colors via Rahul
• iFixit tears down the Surface Duo via Surur
• The Cloud Skills Show Episode 5: Web via Adam Jackson
• The Cloud Skills Show Episode 6: Student Special – 17 Sept via Adam Jackson
• Onboarding : Azure API Performance via parisamoosavinezhad
• Azure Private Link and DNS via Geert Baeke
• Surface Duo Dev: Learning Resources For Beginners via Nitya Narasimhan
• Microsoft confirms Surface Neo is merely delayed, not cancelled via Surur
• TSMC will mass produce 5nm Apple chips starting Q4 of 2020 via Sean Chan
• How Microsoft built its folding Android phone via Tom Warren
• Videos show what the Surface Duo can help you do better via Athima Chansanchai
• Surface Duo Dev: Do One Better with Dual Screens! via Nitya Narasimhan

Videos

Here are links to some of the videos that have been posted over the past week:

• The Launch Space via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
• An Introduction to Microsoft Hybrid SQL Server Solutions | Data Exposed: MVP Edition via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
• ARM Series #10: Template for Resource X | The DevOps Lab via Channel 9
• Prepare your cloud environments using Azure landing zones via Azure Friday (HD) – Channel 9
• Countdown Show: Microsoft Ignite 2020 – Episode 2 | The Countdown Show via Channel 9
• Prepare your cloud environments using Azure landing zones | Azure Friday via Channel 9
• TWC9: Microsoft Ignite, Surface Duo Release, WSL2 Updates, Xbox Series S and more | This Week On Channel 9 via Channel 9
• Azure IoT TLS – Changes are coming | Internet of Things Show via Channel 9
• Simplifying Vision AI in Azure IoT Central | Internet of Things Show via Channel 9
• Azure SQL Edge: Demo, Renewable Energy | Data Exposed via Channel 9
• Azure SQL Edge: Demo, Renewable Energy | Data Exposed via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
• //Pixel Perfect… //True Stories Faces via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
• How can I improve the writing experience of my Surface Duo app? | One Dev Question via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
• ARM Series #9: Loops | The DevOps Lab via Channel 9
• Analyzing your Data Lake with Power BI and Azure Synapse | Data Exposed via Channel 9
• OSS Framework Support in Azure Machine Learning Service | AI Show via Channel 9

Podcast

To complete the collection of different mediums to allow you to consume your Azure news / info in any way you want, here’s a list of the podcasts released this week:

• Episode 376 | Return of the JEDI, Ignite sessions and getting Fluid via Microsoft Cloud Show
• Steve Sanderson on Blazor – Episode 106 via Azure DevOps Podcast
• Episode 345 – Barracuda SD WAN via The Azure Podcast
• 046 – Azure Static Web Apps with Elio Struyf via Ctrl+Alt+Azure

Latest Featured Articles

Azure Service Updates

Here are the latest service updates from Microsoft over the last week:

• Public Preview – Get Retail Rates for all Azure Products/Services
• Azure Site Recovery update rollup 50 – September 2020
• Azure IoT Central new and updated features—August 2020
• Azure Private Link Service is now generally available in China
• IT Service Management Connector (ITSMC) is now available in Azure Government
• Azure Pipelines announces the general availability of scale-set agents
• Azure Time Series Insights now supports AAD groups
• Azure Virtual Machines DCsv2-series are now available in Southeast Asia
• Public Preview: Application Insight in UK West, Germany West Central, Switzerland West and Australia Central 2
• IoT Hub TLS certificate update
• Azure Sphere OS update 20.09 is now available for compatibility testing
• Additional Azure SQL Database gateways changes effective October 12, 2020
• Update .NET to 4.7.2 for Azure Data Factory upgrade by 01 Dec 2020
• Query Acceleration for Azure Data Lake Storage is now generally available
• Azure Synapse SQL on-demand now enforces TLS 1.2 on outbound connections
• Azure Cloud Services – Introducing support for Resource Health
• Custom Translator—September new features, improvements and bug fixes
• Azure Blob storage object replication is now generally available
• Change feed support is now generally available for Azure Blob Storage
• Automatic VM guest patching is now in public preview

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