Works, Digital Imaging Software Updated

Updates to Microsoft’s low-end personal productivity suite and consumer digital imaging products were released in Aug. 2004, in time for the U.S. back-to-school season. These and other products from the Home Products and Services Division (such as the Encarta encyclopedia and Money personal finance manager) serve as important anchors for Microsoft in the retail channel and provide attractive low-cost add-ons for OEMs to bundle with PCs intended for budget-conscious consumers, including students.

Works 8 Adds Calendaring Features

Microsoft’s low-cost productivity suite for consumers, Works, includes a basic word processor, spreadsheet, calendar, and database. Scheduled for release by the end of Aug. 2004, Works 8 includes the following new features and enhancements:

• Up to four users can create color-coded calendars and share this information with one another; support for the Internet Engineering Task Force-standard iCalendar (iCal) format lets users share appointments with applications