Microsoft News Tracker

Stefan Goßner has the details, but basically it adds support for the products announced Monday: Visual Studio 2005, .NET Framework 2.0, SQL Server 2005, and ASP.NET 2.0. Owen Allen also has more as does Ryan Rogers.

Jonny Evans at InfoWorld:

As many as one million Windows users may have switched to Macs this year as the iPod halo transforms Apple into a technology industry “darling”, an analyst said Monday.

In his latest note to clients, received by this reporter, Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf reflects that Apple’s fast-paced series of innovations have driven its resurgence.

And that’s just for the 1st three quarters of calendar 2005. Admittedly, it’s an estimate and a million users isn’t going to break Microsoft, but it illustrates the perceived drag from a nontraditional PC product like the iPod and Apple’s resulting momentum.

Todd Bishop at the Seattle PI:

Microsoft Corp. has a new name for its anti-spyware program, and unlike some of its choices for other products, there’s no question this time about whether it has the right to use the moniker.

But the software developer who signed over that right isn’t happy about the way Microsoft secured it.

More about this instance and related cases by following the link.

From the AP:

Microsoft Corp. expects to sell up to 3 million of its new Xbox videogame consoles within 90 days of the console’s launch, an executive said Tuesday.

Bryan Lee, chief financial officer with Microsoft’s Home and Entertainment unit, told investors and analysts at the Harris Nesbitt Media and Entertainment Conference that the company is aiming to sell between 2.75 million and 3 million consoles worldwide within 90 days following its Nov. 22 debut in North America.

The North American debut will be followed by a Dec. 2 launch in Europe and a Dec. 10 launch in Japan.

Lee also said he expects consumers to spend $1.5 billion in the first 90 days after the Xbox 360’s launch on the console and peripherals such as games and subscriptions to its Xbox Live online gameplay service.

ActiveWin has the story:

The Xbox 360 Launch event will take place at a yet-unnamed location in the middle of the desert in CA. There will be thousands of gamers there from around the world, celebrating the launch of Xbox 360. There will be copious Xbox 360 systems set up with high-def monitors, surround sound, the works. Plus food and drink stations, live entertainment and a one-of-a kind Xbox 360 gift for everyone. Microsoft is calling it “Burning Man Meets E3″– it’ll be a party unlike anyone’s ever been to.

I’ll bet. More details by following the link.