[The articles below were posted between April 28, 2003 and May 19, 2003 appear in the June 2003 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Applications

Windows SharePoint Services Supports Office Collaboration

The combination of Windows SharePoint Services and Office 2003 marks Microsoft's latest attempt to position Office as a tool for team collaboration

SharePoint Portal Server Radically Redesigned

By layering on top of Windows SharePoint Services, SharePoint Portal Server 2003 gains flexibility and power, but the radical changes will make upgrades complex

Real-Time Communications Product and Kit

Microsoft's Greenwich technology for instant messaging, voice, video, and other real-time communications will yield a server product and a developer kit in the third quarter of 2003

Great Plains 7.5 Combines Products

The new Great Plains 7.5 lineup simplifies packaging and adds a low-cost option for businesses with no more than 10 concurrent users

Operating Systems

Message to OEMs: Focus on Consumers

At WinHEC 2003, Microsoft showed how it hopes to spur the PC market by concentrating on digital media, advanced graphics, communications, and ease of use

Windows Embedded OS Roadmap

The Windows embedded roadmap shows continued support of multiple embeddable OS products, which Microsoft will incrementally upgrade to target key markets, such as voice-enabled devices

Windows 64-bit Supports AMD

Microsoft will provide 64-bit versions of Windows for AMD's new processors, but the applications picture remains unclear

EMC Deal Shows Storage Evolution

An expanded alliance with EMC could improve Microsoft's support for a major brand of networked storage products; the deal also illustrates trends that expand the networked storage market

Security Guides for Windows Server 2003

New security guides from Microsoft will help administrators configure the security settings of Windows Server 2003--the first Microsoft server product to ship 'secure by default'

Windows Supports Net Access Control

Support for 802.1x port-based network access control in Windows can prevent eavesdropping and unauthorized network access on both wired and wireless local area networks

Low-Cost Version of Windows CE

A low-cost version of Windows CE .NET 4.2 sells for US$3 or less per device, and new evaluation and emulation packages have been released

Development Tools & Programs

Orchestration Standards Move Ahead

The Business Process Execution Language (BPEL)--a new standard for business process orchestration jointly developed by Microsoft and IBM--is moving toward standardization

Windows Server 2003 Logo and Certification Programs

The Windows Server 2003 logo program places special emphasis on the Datacenter Edition and 64-bit computing

Desktop Applications

Office 2003 Delayed

Microsoft will delay the release of Office 2003 until late summer or fall 2003 to give time for another round of beta testing

Commercial & Consumer Services

Anti-Spam Alliance, Team Formed

Microsoft will work with AOL and Yahoo to fight spam, and has formed a new team to develop and license antispam technologies

Appliances & Emerging Networks

Xbox Expands Online Offerings

Xbox Live hopes to attract new users and keep current ones interested by offering new communications services, letting gamers post results to Web sites, and keeping subscription prices low

Automotive Efforts Continue

Car-based computing has not taken off, but Microsoft remains committed to the concept and has just released Windows Automotive 4.2, the fifth version of its automotive computing platform

Corporate News

Xbox Losses Up Despite Lower Sales

Microsoft's 10-Q filing for Q3'03 suggests that cutting manufacturing costs for Xbox might not be enough to stem losses in the Home and Entertainment group

DoJ Prompts Protocol License Changes

After complaints from potential licensees, Microsoft has agreed to make it easier for companies to license proprietary protocols used by Windows clients to work with Windows servers