Things are getting busy in the SiliconAngle newsroom as we gear up for VMworld next week (August 27-30), one of the biggest events we cover annually.  There’s building expectations around VMworld 2012, as EMC and VMware combine forces for a flash-focused storage and services strategy that truly appeals to the channel partners.  Did we mention Bon Jovi’s performing this year?

Analysts are abuzz with emerging news tips regarding VMware’s upcoming event, piecing together a story of new software, new hardware and revamped licensing agreements for the ecosystem.  Storage integration is a key play for VMware as the company matures, and we hope to learn more details around virtualization company’s public cloud strategy, set to take on Rackspace, AWS and MS.

Big data also continues to be a big draw, as we look at the top acquisitions in this space for 2012.  Groupon’s been a less promising investment for early supporters, some of whom are walking away from the deals company.  But big data is also an inspiring backdrop for art, as Kathryn Buford’s Innovative Big Data Series hears from Jer Thorp, a pioneer in the space and the man behind the 9/11 memorial  “All The Names.”

And as big data spreads across countless industries, the question of NoSQL’s relevance returns in a recent report by Wikibon, which analyzes Accumulo’s latest play for the enterprise.  Indeed, the matter of integrating enterprise applications is a growing problem as the Services market continues to boom, though one company sees this as a business opportunity.  MuleSoft CEO Greg Schott sits down with Kristen Nicole for her CEO Series this week to discuss the ways in which data is becoming a common language for backend systems and a fragmented IT industry.

Things are really shaking up in the social space, with the surprising demise of OnLive over the weekend.  Kit Dotson breaks down the OnLive debacle, noting the struggles of a cloud company that once had a promising grip on the gaming market.  On a positive note, social media has done wonders for the Nike brand with the unveiling of the LeBron shoes, retailing at a budget-breaking $315.

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