[The articles below were posted between January 27, 2004 and February 16, 2004 and appear in the March 2004 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Server Platforms

SQL Technology Bundled with Servers

Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) and Systems Management Server (SMS) are now available in lower-priced bundles that include SQL Server

SQL Reporting Services Launches

Reporting Services, a product for creating human-readable reports from databases and data warehouses, is available to SQL Server 2000 customers at no additional charge

Windows and Mobile

New Baseline Security Analyzer Uncovers Patch Problems

The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can find security problems on a PC, such as missing patches or configuration errors, but inconsistent results diminish its value

IE and ASN.1 Vulnerabilities Require Patches

Vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and the Abstract Syntax Notation 1 (ASN.1) library could create serious problems if exploited

Business Applications and Services

Business Solutions Roadmap 2004

Releases in 2004 will improve Microsoft Business Solutions' product portfolio, but functional overlaps among products will likely continue until Project Green becomes reality

Web Services Deliver to Office

Web service providers such as Salesforce.com and LexisNexis have created Office client components for their Internet-based services; their experiences illustrate the benefits and limitations of Office smart client solutions

Business Portal Moves to WSS

Microsoft Business Portal moves to Windows SharePoint Services, which puts this solution for browser-based access to Great Plains and Solomon data on track with Microsoft's broader portal strategy

Office Document Scrubber

A free Remove Hidden Data add-in enables permanent removal of comments and other sensitive data from Office files, including data that cannot otherwise be removed by users

Development Tools & Programs

FxCop Polices Components

FxCop analyzes compiled code to help developers follow guidelines for building reusable components and ensuring maximum compatibility across languages

Java Conversion Tool Updated

An update to the free Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA) enables it to convert a wider range of source code, including Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs)

Consumer Products and Services

Passport Role Scaled Back

Passport appears slated to return to its role as an authentication service for Microsoft sites and services, rather than as a strategic platform service

Xbox Updates, Xbox 2 Rumors

New bundles and packaging are meant to spur current Xbox sales; a deal with IBM suggests that the next Xbox will be based on PowerPC processors

MSN Toolbar in Beta

The MSN Toolbar, an add-on to Internet Explorer, blocks pop-up ads and provides one-click access to MSN services, such as search and Hotmail

Sales & Support

ASP.NET Spurs Web Hosting Push

A new version of Microsoft's Solution for Windows-based Hosting builds on advances offered by Windows Server 2003 and the popularity of ASP.NET

License Compliance Gets New Look

Antipiracy efforts will emphasize working with customers and partners to ensure compliance, rather than focusing on the threat of prosecution

Corporate News

Q2'04 Record Revenues Offset by One-Time Expense

In Q2'04, quarterly revenues topped US$10 billion for the first time, but profits were tempered by a one-time expense associated with a program to buy back employee stock options

Patents, Trademarks, MCPP at Issue

A patent-infringement verdict in a case involving printer technology and a settlement over music downloads illustrate Microsoft's continuing patent challenges

Patents Won't Affect Office-XML License

Microsoft has no plans to charge royalties to read and write to the Office 2003 schemas, despite recent patent applications covering those schemas