From world hunger to disease to environmental change, our planet faces many challenges. But when met with imagination and ideas, obstacles turn into opportunities.

Imagine Cup is a global competition for student teams who combine inspiration with technology to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems. Every year, students come up with amazing solutions that use technology to improve education, help environmental sustainability, and reduce poverty and child mortality.

If you are a student, or know students, assemble your team together, put your thinking caps on and start imagining how you can help create a better future! Winning teams have a chance to share their ideas at the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals right here in Australia and compete for cash grants and other prizes! The skills and experience you could gain while developing your ideas, the confidence that comes with presenting your innovations, and the access you get to influential business leaders could be life changing – as they’ve been for many previous contestants.

If you can imagine how technology could help solve the world’s toughest problems, it’s time to enter Imagine Cup 2012.

Kick-start your career by getting involved in The Imagine Cup 2012 today! REGISTER NOW

Aussie Comps: All you need is an idea at Round 1 – it’s that easy!

• Game Design – 14 Feb (AEDT) – If you love gaming and exploring virtual worlds, why not have a shot at creating a game that will make a positive impact in the real world? By entering, you’ll learn the art of game design and take the first steps towards a career in game development. Round 1 submission deadline is 14 February 2012.
• Software Design – 13 March (AEDT) – Unleash your ideas and technical talent to create cutting-edge software applications that can help make the world a better place. Get a team together and get cracking – round 1 submission deadline is 13 March 2012.

Online Challenges

• Kinect Fun Labs – 6 March (GMT)
• Windows Metro Style App – 6 March (GMT)
• Windows Azure – 13 March (GMT)
• Windows Phone Challenge – 13 March (GMT)

We do require you to enter a credit card (which helps verify your identity as a legitimate Azure users). But it will not be charged with the new default spending limit.

To see the steps, see Jim O’Neill’s post The New, Improved No-Risk Windows Azure Trial. He shows how you can sign up in just a few steps.

This is courtesy of the December release of Windows Azure has unveiled a new Windows Azure site and sign-up experience. In the past, one of the biggest concerns and roadblocks was that you could overspend on your free trial.

The second edition of the Windows Azure Platform, by Tejaswi Redkar (at Microsoft Services) and Tony Guidici (Microsoft ISV Evangelist) is now available in hard copy and Kindle formats.

More info here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1430235632/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d20_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=0E94CJ63FWZ9FMRQT2TG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846#_

I had a great time at the Big Picture in Melbourne and Sydney is tomorrow. No event is ever perfect, but the team did a great job creating this new style of event. I really hope we continue this format in the future.

Here are some tips to get the most out of the event:

1) Review the Agenda and Sessions and if there’s a session you like, get in quick. The early sessions full up quickly. Or hang out until the afternoon as there’s plenty of room. Download the full agenda | Download the event guide

2) When you arrive, make a note of the areas you’re interested in and see which Microsoft people are in the room. If you need an introduction, please shout.

3) If you’re with a colleague, maybe split up as you’ll cover more ground.

4) Preinstall a QR code reader on your device so you can build your digital back pack.

5) Create yourself an electronic business tag using a QR code generator or Microsoft tag, especially if you don’t have any business cards handy

6) If you have a question or can’t find someone, please let one of us know.

Cloud is featured at the event, both in the Mission Control (how to manage your infrastructure) and the Productivity areas. Hope to see you there!

Event website is: http://www.microsoft.com/australia/thebigpicture

Pictures from the event are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/microsoftaustralia/

[Update:  Tim Buntel has uploaded his slides to his slideshare]

For the launch of Windows Azure in Australia, we hired a sky writer to write Azure in the skies above Sydney. Funnily enough, reading the Twitter stream, most people in the city thought it was a new brand of perfume being launched.

I had no idea at the time that I would be the new Partner Strategy & Marketing Manager driving Azure adoption amongst Australia’s partners. If you have, or planning to build a business on Azure, this blog is for you. I’ll include resources, things I learn being new to role and hopefully receive some feedback from you on what is going well and where we need to improve.