One of the best learning during Tech-Ed week was to know about SQL Server Data Services which might be suitable for the web-based platforms, type of what we have and 2 interesting features for me were 'Business ready SLA & Application Agility' To know further about SSDS I recommend:

Introduction about SSDS - http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/data-services.aspx

Primer on MSDN - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc512417.aspx