This week we have Pat O’Day, Co-Founder & CTO, BlueLock and Eric Thomas, Senior Product Manager, mSpot (App of the Week).  This Week in Cloud Computing airs Wednesday at 3:30pm PT and is hosted by Amanda Coolong, Mark Jeffrey and Dave Linthicum.

Eric Thomas, Sr Product Manager at MSpot

NEWS HEADLINES
Amazon experienced EIGHT HOURS of downtime yesterday that affected the core e-commerce functionality of its main site. Their hosted IT infrastructure services were apparently unaffected.

Why the problems? Why would someone go w Amazon if they can’t even guarantee uptime with their own core site?

Article: http://bit.ly/amazonoutage

2) Microsoft has leaked plans for a Windows 8 app store.

The service will be hosted entirely in the cloud to help app developers with sales. Obviously a move to energize 3rd party Windows devs in the same fashion as Apple with iTunes.

Q: Do you think MSFT will power the store with Azure? Why did it take them so long?

Article: http://bit.ly/winappstore

3) Our very own David Linthicum is calling for more cloud innovation and less cloudwashing.

A lot of companies are merely repurposing their products in the cloud, with little thought to its value. Instead, we SHOULD be seeing more solutions that help us manage sharing and scaling of infrastructure.

Also need more management between private and public clouds rather than recasting a virtualization product as a cloud.

Q: What’s your take? Do you agree with Linthicum’s viewpoint?

Article: http://bit.ly/linthicumpost

4)  Savvis is now heading to the cloud with the launch of its Symphony Virtual Private Data Center.

Hook: it directly addresses the problem of making disparate applications communicating in the cloud. Typically very difficult and expensive. Now Savvis lets you integrate apps for things like security, marketing and data sharing in your own cloud.

Q: What will companies do with this capability? What are the foreseeable benefits?

Article: http://bit.ly/savvissymphony

5) Cisco’s on a roll with its cloud news. Last week they announced Lew Tucker was leaving Sun to head up their cloud initiatives, and this week they announced the Cius tablet. Yes, Mark. The cloudpad is finally here. :-)

Designed for biz. Smaller & lighter than the iPad, Android-based, focus on real-time communication, integrates w Cisco apps like WebEx. TWO cameras for video conferencing & shooting video, avail Q1 2011.

Q: Have to ask the obvious – will it be the iPad killer?

Article: http://bit.ly/ciscocloudpad

6) Previous guest OpSource was just named a top 10 cloud computing leader to watch by Datamation – congrats to Treb Ryan and co!

Announcement: http://bit.ly/opsourceleader