[The articles below were posted between Nov. 21, 2005 and Dec. 19, 2005 and appear in the January 2006 hardcopy edition of Update. One or more are available below for free to non-subscribers.]
Windows & Mobile
- Free! Server Products Going 64-Bit
- Customers will find an increasing number of servers available in 64-bit versions, and Microsoft will begin to drop 32-bit versions as early as 2007
- Windows Server 2003 R2 Released
- Windows Server 2003 R2, an interim server release, addresses identity management, storage management, and branch office needs; customers looking for simplifications in these areas should evaluate the release
- WinFS: A First Look
- A first beta enables developers to evaluate the planned WinFS service for Windows, which enables storage, organization, and retrieval of both data records and conventional files in a unified database
- Peer-to-Peer Networking Expanded for Vista
- Peer-to-peer networking in Vista will be part of the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), but it must compete with numerous other Microsoft technologies and products
- Eolas Ruling to Cause IE Changes
- To avoid further infringing upon a patent covering interactive Web pages, Microsoft will change Internet Explorer, but these changes will be less disruptive than originally threatened
- Desktop Search Comes to Enterprise
- Windows Desktop Search is a version of MSN Desktop Search with support for enterprise deployment, but its place in Microsoft's overall enterprise search strategy is uncertain
- Digital Cable Coming to Media Center
- Some Windows Vista PCs with Media Center will be able to receive digital cable signals, but many details, such as copy protection restrictions, are still unknown
- Dec. 2005 Security Updates
- Dec. 2005's 'Patch Tuesday' included patches for vulnerabilities in Windows and Internet Explorer and tools to address problems caused by Sony's copy-protection scheme
Consumer Products & Services
- Free! Xbox 360 Launches
- Retailers and gamers were frustrated by inventory shortages as the Xbox 360 launched, but history suggests this will not hurt demand
- Windows Live Adds Classifieds, Local Search
- 'Fremont' is an online classified advertising service with some unique features; Windows Live Local includes aerial images and user annotations
- MCI PC-to-Phone Service for Windows Live
- Microsoft has partnered with MCI to provide Windows Live Messenger users with PC-to-phone calling capabilities
- Pinnacle Bundle Offered
- The latest version of Digital Image Suite bundles video-editing software from Pinnacle; Works Suite and Streets and Trips have also been updated
Server Platforms
- Changes to Server Virtualization Roadmap
- Virtual Server will get one more stand-alone release in 2006, then virtualization technology will become a core feature of Windows
- SQL Server 2005 Toes Trustworthy Line
- SQL Server 2005 adheres to the principle of 'secure by default' and introduces features to help administrators manage the security of database servers and the data housed in those servers
- Capacity Planner 2006 Ships
- A new modeling and simulation tool for Exchange and Operations Manager systems is available to TechNet subscribers
Development Tools & Programs
- Graphics Framework to Go Multiplatform
- The Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) will come in variations for different scenarios, offering different capabilities and supporting different platforms, but developers must choose among overlapping technologies
Business Applications & Services
- Outlook 12 Adds Internet Hooks
- Outlook 12 will have some interesting new features, particularly support for RSS and iCalendar data sources, that are independent of the type of mail server used
- Faster Diagrams in Office 12
- A feature code-named IGX will enable Office 12 users to quickly insert business diagrams in documents
- Portfolio Management Line Acquired
- The portfolio-management software business of UMT has been acquired to support Microsoft's Project line
- Monitoring Steers Office Suite
- Service Quality Monitoring (SQM), an optional monitoring feature introduced in Office 2003, is influencing design of the next version of the Office suite
- Office XML Submitted to Ecma
- Microsoft will submit the default Office 12 format, Office Open XML, to the Ecma standards body, hoping to make its document formats more acceptable to governments
- Burgum to Relinquish MBS Top Spot
- Doug Burgum will vacate the top spot in Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS); however, the change is not likely to trigger any immediate technical or strategic shifts in the division
- New Versions of Great Plains, CRM
- Released Dec. 2005, Great Plains 9.0 debuts a role-based user interface and expands Web services support; in addition, a new version of MSCRM adds support for marketing and service management
- Small Business Accounting, Retail Linked
- A free download links Microsoft's Small Business Accounting with its two retail point-of-sale offerings
Sales & Support
- Licensing Advisor Provides Volume Pricing
- A Product Licensing Advisor Web site helps volume licensing customers get estimated retail prices for Microsoft products
- Pre-Owned Licenses for Sale
- A British firm is legally reselling previously owned volume software, taking advantage of transfer of ownership provisions in Microsoft's Open License program
- Partner Portal, Points Modified
- The partner portal has been redesigned and the points system for determining partner status has been simplified
Corporate News
- South Korea Orders Windows Changes
- The Korean Fair Trade Commission has ruled that Microsoft illegally bundled digital media playback and instant messaging into the Windows client, and digital media streaming functions into Windows Server
 |