[The articles below were posted between Sep. 29, 2008 and Oct. 20, 2008 and appear in the November 2008 hardcopy edition of Update.]

Windows & Mobile

Windows Successor Requires Additional Research

Although Microsoft is working on new OS technologies, such as MinWin, Singularity, and 'Midori,' Windows will likely change incrementally over the years before being replaced by any new alternative

Windows HPC Server 2008 Released

The release of Windows HPC Server 2008 moves Microsoft deeper into the high-performance computing market

OEMs Get Media Center Update

A Media Center update for Windows Vista delivers a new copy-protection scheme and additional broadcast standards, but it is available only with new PCs, and DirecTV support is still missing

Business Applications & Services

Communications Server Update Coming

Communications Server 2007 R2, available in Feb. 2009, will run on Windows Server 2008 and is 64-bit only; it also includes feature improvements and new tools for developers

Systems Management and Security

Toolset Checks PC Health, Aids Recovery

The Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DART), part of the Desktop Optimization Pack (DOP), helps diagnose and recover unbootable PCs

Configuration Manager Updated to R2

Configuration Manager 2007 R2 adds support for application virtualization and improves integration with SQL Server Reporting Services and Forefront Security

Application Platform

SQL Server 2008 Improves Auditing, Change Tracking

New features in SQL Server 2008 will help administrators and developers audit and track database changes, but some features ship only in the product's Enterprise and Developer Editions

Dynamic Data Controls Simplify ASP.NET Applications

New Dynamic Data and routing features in ASP.NET speed creation and maintenance of simple Web applications that work with databases

Silverlight 2 Now Available

Silverlight 2, the latest version of Microsoft's platform for rich Internet applications (RIAs), makes it more competitive with Adobe's Flash

BI Improvements on SQL Server Roadmap

'Kilimanjaro,' a set of business intelligence improvements for SQL Server, is planned for the first half of 2010

Visual Studio Database Edition Merger

Visual Studio Team System Database Edition, an integrated development environment for database programmers and administrators, has been discontinued as a separate offering

Consumer and Small Business

Ad Platform Coming to Mediaroom

Advertisers conducting TV campaigns on broadcasts delivered by Microsoft's IPTV platform will get the kind of audience tracking, measurability, and addressability found today in Web advertising

Sales, Marketing, and Services

New Virtualized Desktop Scenarios Licensed

Starting in Jan. 2009, Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) subscriptions will provide an officially sanctioned way to license a greater variety of virtualization scenarios than is possible today

Open Plans Support Tactical Buying

Open volume licensing plans are aimed at smaller customers, although they can be used by enterprises and have become more complex over time

New Packaged Services for SA

Consulting services focused on Exchange deployments and 'business value' have been added to the list of Packaged Services available with Software Assurance

Corporate and Legal

Repurchase, Dividend Increase Approved

Microsoft launches another share repurchase program and increases its quarterly dividend to US$0.13 per share