[The articles below were posted between March 29, 2004 and April 19, 2004 and appear in the May 2004 hardcopy edition of Update. One or more are available below for free to non-subscribers.]

Server Products

Free! More Integration on Management Roadmap

A bevy of new or enhanced management products is on tap for release by the end of 2004, but products managed with Dynamic Systems Initiative technology will not appear for several years

Corporate News

Free! Sun Deal Signed, Litigation Ends

The US$1.95 billion settlement with Sun should lead to better interoperability between the two companies' products, but the two companies will remain fierce platform competitors

EU Aims to Restrict "Future Conduct"

The European Commission's antitrust ruling will have little effect on Microsoft's business for now, but could lead to still more investigations and private lawsuits on bundling

Intertrust Suit Settled

A US$440 million patent-infringement settlement with Intertrust removes some uncertainty surrounding Microsoft's digital rights management (DRM) technologies

Windows and Mobile

XP Service Pack Needs Significant Testing

A large number of security-related changes in Windows XP Service Pack 2 will require users to test it as if it were a new release

64-Bit Choices to Increase

Intel’s decision to adopt AMD’s 64-bit architecture, which provides native support for 32-bit applications, will spur the adoption of 64-bit computers and Microsoft’s 64-bit products

Many Eyes Look Through Windows

Microsoft has expanded its Shared Source Initiative to increase the amount of source code it is making available to developers

Security Update CD Available

A CD with security updates for Windows client operating systems is available for users who don’t have high-speed connections to the Windows Update site

April 2004 Critical Security Updates

Three critical updates were issued in Microsoft's Apr. 2004 monthly security posting; all enable an attacker to gain complete control of a computer over the Internet

Windows Mobile 2003 Gets Display Tweaks

A minor update to the Windows Mobile platform enables Pocket PC and Smartphone OEMs to build devices with higher screen resolutions and different display orientations

Business Applications and Services

FRx 6.7 Adds a Report Manager

A new FRx module helps organize documents related to regular financial reporting events; however, FRx 6.7 integration with Great Plains and Solomon will wait until the third quarter of 2004

Location Server Supports Cell Phone Tracking

MapPoint Location Server will aid development of mobile and fixed applications that can track the whereabouts of cell phones

Accelerator Aims at Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance

The Sarbanes-Oxley Solution Accelerator helps companies document their internal financial controls, as required of U.S. public companies by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Office 2004 for Mac Ships

Office 2004 for Mac includes several new features designed to increase productivity and illustrates the difference in priorities between the Mac Business Unit and the Windows Office team

Small Business Center Replaces bCentral

Small Business Center will replace bCentral as Microsoft’s small business Web site brand; the new site will provide more information about Microsoft software for small businesses

Visio 2003 Network, Developer Tools

Recently released toolkits support network diagramming and development of specialized design applications using Visio 2003

Development Tools & Programs

Speech Server for Voice Applications

Windows Speech Server, a server product for creating interactive voice response applications, is now available

Whidbey Preview Available

A preview version of the next version of Visual Studio, code-named Whidbey, is available on MSDN, but the final release won’t come until the first half of 2005

Consumer Products and Services

Game Development Platform Planned

XNA, a common game development platform for Xbox and PC, could lower costs and eventually help Xbox developers appeal to the much larger Windows installed base

MSN Mobile Deals with Platform Providers

MSN Mobile strikes deals with Openwave and Qualcomm, two companies that compete with Microsoft's other mobile efforts

MSN Search Changes Outlined

MSN will more clearly separate algorithmic search results from paid results in July 2004 and is working on new search tools

MSN Signs Major League Baseball

RealNetworks' loss is Microsoft's gain, as MSN will get the online rights to broadcast a comprehensive package of video and audio from Major League Baseball games

Sales and Support

Language Localization Accelerated

A new Local Language Program will ease the task of making Windows and Office available in additional languages and encourages local communities to be involved in creating customized versions