Azure IoT News – August 2021 by Think About IoT

Azure IoT News-August 2021

Azure IoT News is here, in this blog, for the first time!

I decided to inform you about Azure updates in the field of IoT every single month.

Week 1-8/8

There wasn’t any update in the first week of this month.

Week 9-15/8

🔸 The first news is about Azure Percept.

Azure Percept DK July Software update is now available!

These updates include fixes related to security, Wi-Fi, and Out Of Box Experience UI localization and they are highly recommended in order to keep the device up to date with the latest fixes and features.

 Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/apdk2107update/

🔸 The next is about Azure Sphere.

Azure Sphere OS version 21.08 is now available for evaluation in the Retail Evaluation feed. The retail evaluation period provides 14 days for backward compatibility testing.

This evaluation release of 21.08 includes enhancements and bug fixes for the OS only.

Areas of special focus for compatibility testing with the 21.08 release should include apps and functionality utilizing:

– cURL

– SPI

– I2C

In addition, 21.08 includes updates to mitigate against the CVE-2021-22924 (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures – CVEs).

Visit this link for more: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/general-availability-azure-sphere-os-version-2108-expected-on-aug-25/

🔸 The next news is about Azure Machine Learning.

Azure Machine Learning public preview announcements for August 2021 are here!

If you want to learn more, follow this link: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-machine-learning-public-preview-announcements-august-2021/

🔸 Azure IoT Central news and updated features from July 2021 

These updates are related to:  

  • Raw data view improvements 
  • Last connect or disconnect timestamp in device details 
  • IoT Edge system module commands 
  • IoT Edge device monitoring 
  • IoT Central documentation 

To learn more about these updates, visit this link: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-iot-central-new-and-updated-features-july-2021

Week 16-22/8

🔸 The retirement date for Azure IoT Central version 2 has been extended & the new due date is 1 March 2022!

Make the switch early to gain the benefits of version 3 which provides many new features that are not available in version 2.

Version 3 includes:

  • Raw Data View to review telemetry sent from your devices to quickly identify and resolve issues.
  • Public APIs with built-in support for lifecycle management, operations, and data querying.
  • Improved Data Export for receiving real-time enriched data and unlocking business insights.

To avoid service disruptions, migrate your Azure IoT Central apps to version 3 before 1 March  2022.

Learn more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/iotcentralv2/

Related to IoT Azure news:

🔸 Because Azure Cosmos DB Java SDK v4 has up to 20% enhanced throughput, TCP-based direct mode, bug fixes, and provide support for the latest backend features, it will be retired the 3.x version of the Azure Cosmos DB Java SDK for SQL API on 31 August 2024.

Learn more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/retirement-notice-update-java-sdk-3x-to-java-sdk-4x-by-31-august-2024/  

🔸 The Azure Cosmos DB continuous backup with point-in-time restore now in general availability! It helps to recover from accidental deletion of your account or container, in addition to accidental data modification or deletion.

Learn more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-cosmos-db-continuous-backup-with-point-in-time-restore-now-in-general-availability/  

🔸 Azure Static Web Apps has added preview support for Private Endpoints.

Learn more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-static-web-apps-adds-public-preview-support-for-private-endpoints/

🔸 Version 2.x of the Azure Cosmos DB .NET SDK will be retired on the 31st of August 2024.

Because version 3 of the Azure Cosmos DB .NET SDK includes updated features and improved performance, we’ll retire version 2.x of this SDK on 31 August 2024.  To avoid service disruptions, migrate to Azure Cosmos DB .NET SDK version 3 by 31 August 2024.

Version 3 includes:   

  • Improved performance through stream API support.
  • Built-in support for change feed processor library and bulk operations.
  • Mockable APIs for easier unit testing.

Learn more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/action-required-update-your-azure-cosmos-db-net-sdk-to-version-3-by-31-august-2024/

Week 23-29/8

🔸 The first news about this week is about Azure Sphere. Azure Sphere OS version 21.08 is now available in the Retail feed. This release includes bug fixes in the Azure Sphere OS and the following enhancements:

  • Security updates
  • Improved stability for Ethernet support
  • Improved stability for I2C devices
  • New Azure Sphere Gallery samples
  • Documentation updates

In addition, 21.08 includes updates to mitigate against the CVE-2021-22924 (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposure).

P.S. If your devices are connected to the internet, they will receive the updated OS from the cloud.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/general-availability-azure-sphere-os-version-2108/

Related to IoT Azure news:

🔸 Machine Learning Studio (classic) will retire on 31 August 2024.

Because Azure Machine Learning now provides rich, consolidated capabilities for model training and deploying, the older Machine Learning Studio (classic) service will be retired on 31 August 2024. Make a transition to using Azure Machine Learning by that date.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/machine-learning-studio-classic-will-retire-on-31-august-2024/ 

🔸 Retiring version Async 2.x of the Azure Cosmos DB Java SDK on 31 August 2024.

Because Azure Cosmos DB Java SDK v4 has up to 20% enhanced throughput, TCP-based direct mode, bug fixes, and provide support for the latest backend service features, Async 2.x version of the Azure Cosmos DB Java SDK for SQL API will be retired on 31 August 2024.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/retirement-notice-update-java-async-2x-to-java-sdk-4x-by-31-august-2024/

🔸 Azure Functions support for Python 3.6 is ending on 30 September 2022.

To avoid any service disruption in your applications, you have to upgrade to Python 3.8, and then follow the steps to update your applications settings before 30 September 2022.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-functions-support-for-python-36-is-ending-on-30-september-2022/

🔸 Azure Functions support for Node 8 is ending on 28 February 2022.

To avoid any service disruption in your applications, you have to upgrade to Node 14, and then follow the steps to update your applications settings before 28 February 2022.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-functions-support-for-node-8-is-ending-on-28-february-2022/

🔸 Azure Functions support for Node 6 is ending on 28 February 2022.

To avoid any service disruption in your applications, you have to upgrade to Node 14, and then follow the steps to update your applications settings before 28 February 2022.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-functions-support-for-node-6-is-ending-on-28-february-2022/

🔸 Azure Functions support for PowerShell 6 is ending on 30 September 2022.

To avoid any service disruption in your applications, you have to upgrade to PowerShell 7, and then follow the steps to update your applications settings before 30 September 2022.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-functions-support-for-powershell-6-is-ending-on-30-september-2022/

🔸 Azure Functions support for Node 10 is ending on 30 September 2022.

To avoid any service disruption and potential security vulnerabilities in your applications, you have to upgrade to Node 14, and then follow the steps to update your applications settings before 30 September 2022.

Read more here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/updates/azure-functions-support-for-node-10-is-ending-on-30-september-2022/

Community News

🔸 “Jonnychipz Weekly # 33 – Holiday” is here and I had the honor to become one of this week’s Azure News community Reporters!!  

It’s covering the Last Week of Azure News and Updates, Welsh Azure User Group News, and some great Community Callouts. 

Find it here: https://youtu.be/YxIAeaPbF6Q 

🔸 Moreover, in the community, I am happy to announce the Bradford Cloud User Group August Event that will be on the 26th of August where @jonnychipz and @pete_codes will be doing two amazing sessions! I am looking forward to this!

That’s all folks! 👋

Have a wonderful time and don’t forget to relax! 🙂

If you have any questions, please reach out!

You can also be informed about Azure IoT News for September 2021 here: https://www.thinkaboutiot.com/index.php/2021/09/04/azure-iot-news-september-2021-by-think-about-iot/.

3 Thoughts to “Azure IoT News – August 2021 by Think About IoT”

  1. Nice. I’ll watch video soon.😎😎
    But I think, your idea to put here update about Azure and the way you write is very interesting. It is the first time I hear Azure Sphere OS.
    My preoccupation: when you talk about bug fix on wifi and others, is Azure running on IoT devices like raspberry so their work on the wifi security(what I know is Azure run on cloud, so why wifi ??).
    I don’t need to google about Azure anymore, I find the right place .

    1. mariamou7

      Thank you so much, Tawal, for your kind words!
      Until I write an article on Azure Percept, see here what it is and why it needs Wi-Fi:
      https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/azure-percept/#product-overview

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