By RyanKamauff

Here are the top tech news and stories of the day.

• The latest iteration of Halo, Halo 4, will use Microsoft’s Azure as the back-end - This is Microsoft’s attempt to assure delivery of service to gamers without fail. Every time Halo 4 (or another similar game) goes down, Microsoft loses money and loses their reputation. The unveiling of Halo 4 will be a big deal, and this will be a huge stress test on Azure. Via Mashable, more here.
• GigaOM has an article describing the need for a more distributed power grid, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy - Katie Fehrenbacher highlights the failings of the power grid by comparing it to the communications grid. Some substations will be down for weeks, despite the best efforts of power companies to prepare for this disaster. Via GigaOM, more here.
• SohoOS is growing as a suite of tools for micro-businesses - The SohoOS suite has exploded to almost 940k businesses using the service, with 1500 added daily. These are businesses that make around $60k a year, and use the service for Invoicing, Web Presence and Contact Management. Via TechCrunch, more here.
• Boxee has landed and exclusive Walmart distribution deal - Boxee is one of the more interesting internet TV capabilities. It has a DVR option, replete with per-month cloud storage. Walmart’s adoption of the box gives it a huge footprint and increases the likelihood of it finding itself in living rooms this holiday season. Via GigaOM, more here.
• Google has released Chrome Remote Desktop - the Chrome browser app is now available as a stable release and can allow you to connect to your computer from remote locations. You can also use the “Remote Assistance” feature to connect with others and offer or receive help with your computer. It also allows real-time audio feed and copy and paste between local and remote machines. Via BetaNews, more here.
• Hurricane Sandy takes out many of the cell networks - While the cell networks have greater resiliency than power grids, they still were hit hard by the storm. Here are some details from the networks themselves regarding outages. Via Mashable, more here.