[The articles below were posted between Jul. 31, 2006 and Aug. 21, 2006 and appear in the September 2006 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Windows & Mobile

Windows Networking Reworked for Enterprises

Changes to the networking components of Windows Vista and Windows Longhorn Server will improve network performance, security, and manageability, but a new network map may be less useful

IE7 Coming Through Automatic Update

Internet Explorer 7.0 will be distributed through Automatic Update, but IT managers will have the option to block installation on their systems

SA Supports Legacy Hardware

A slimmed-down edition of Windows XP is now available for Software Assurance customers to extend the life of their legacy hardware

XenSource Partnership Deepens

A new partnership between XenSource and Microsoft will ensure that virtual machines running Xen-enabled Linux will run equally well on either the upcoming Windows 'Longhorn' or XenEnterprise hosts

Aug. 2006 Security Updates

Aug. 2006's 'Patch Tuesday' included several critical and important patches, including one critical patch that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged Windows users to deploy immediately

Server Platforms

Speech Server Becomes Voice Feature

Speech Server 2007, originally planned as a stand-alone product, will be folded into Office Communications Server 2007

Communications Alliance With Nortel

Nortel and Microsoft will be jointly developing, marketing, and selling solutions built on Microsoft's Unified Communications platform

Development Tools & Programs

MSDE Complicates Vista Migration

Two versions of the SQL Server Desktop Engine, MSDE 1.0 and 2000, will not be supported on Windows Vista or 'Longhorn' Server

CodePlex: Shared-Source Developer Community

CodePlex, a new developer-oriented Web site, serves communities of developers working on software projects that complement Microsoft products

Business Applications & Services

New Dynamics Licensing Includes Free CRM

Business Ready Licensing eliminates per-module Dynamics pricing and simplifies the Enhancement Plan maintenance contract, but customers may find themselves licensing Dynamics modules that they do not need

OneNote Goes Mainstream

The inclusion of OneNote 2007 in several Office 2007 editions poises Microsoft's note-taking application for widespread usage; a series of incremental improvements from OneNote 2003 adds up to a significant upgrade

Healthcare Software Expansion

Acquisition of a clinical data management product has kicked off Microsoft's expansion into healthcare software

Virtual PC, VBA Dropped for Mac

Two Microsoft products for the Macintosh—Virtual PC and Visual Basic for Applications—are being discontinued

Industry Builder Program Grows

Four new companies have joined the Industry Builder certification program for Dynamics partners, but the program so far includes solutions only for Dynamics AX

Consumer Products & Services

iPod, iTunes Competitors Coming This Year

Zune is a new brand of digital media products and services from Microsoft; the first Zune products, a portable audio/video player and online store, will be available in 2006

Spaces Extends Live Strategy

With its latest update, Windows Live (formerly MSN) Spaces takes on social networking sites like MySpace

Desktop Application Aids Blogging

Windows Live Writer, a WYSIWYG blog editor that works with multiple blogging services, shows Microsoft's strategy to link thick client software with online services

Corporate News

Five Businesses Head Into FY'07

New leaders and a reorganization from seven to five business segments are intended to help Microsoft expand into new areas while imposing greater discipline on existing businesses