Microsoft News Tracker

Ingrid Marson at ZDNet UK:

References to free software and Linux were removed from a UN document after Microsoft claimed that such software aims to ‘make it impossible to make any income on software as a commercial product’

Microsoft asked for references to free software to be removed from a document presented at last week’s UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) conference, the software giant admitted on Friday.

The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is unhappy that the document was changed and claims that even though it was on the panel discussing the document, it was not made aware of Microsoft’s changes.

The document, known as the Vienna Conclusions, discusses issues around IT and creativity. The original draft of the document discussed how the free software model is changing the way people do business.

More details at the link.

From bizjournals.com:

Supercomputer maker Cray Inc. said Burton Smith, chief scientist and one of its founders, has resigned to take on a new role at software giant Microsoft Corp. Smith also resigned his board seat at Seattle-based Cray and will leave the company on Dec. 7, according to an announcement.

His role at Redmond-based Microsoft wasn’t announced, though Smith hinted in a statement that it has little to do with high-performance computing.

“I have truly enjoyed my long association with Cray and the opportunity to spend many years at the forefront of high performance computing,” said Smith. “Although I am excited to pursue a new and very different opportunity at Microsoft, I will miss being part of this talented team and I wish Cray continued success.”

Update (12/09): Microsoft finally issued a press release:

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Burton J. Smith is joining the company as a technical fellow. Smith joins Microsoft as a proven leader in the computer industry, serving most recently as chief scientist and member of the board of directors for Cray Inc. Smith will focus on working with existing groups within Microsoft to help expand the company’s efforts in the areas of parallel and high-performance computing. He will report directly to Craig Mundie, chief technical officer and senior vice president for Advanced Strategies and Policy.

Sify:

In a move that would provide consumers a hands-on experience of its technologies, Microsoft announced its retail strategy as part of which it would partner with over 500 retail outlets to offer all Windows powered products including Media Centre 2005, digital music devices and education software, under one roof.
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The company would partner with 500 retail centres in the next six months in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad. Microsoft would make investments in the infrastructure required for the showcase and will also provide its retail partners with marketing and training support.

According to Ranjivjit Singh, Group Director - Consumer Business, the company is also talking to media houses to offer electronic programming guide (EPG), a free service that would be available to all users of Windows XP Media centre PCs and serve as an electronic TV guide.
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EPG would be introduced in India in the first quarter of the next calendar year.

To increase affordability of its products, Microsoft said it would partner with personal computer manufacturers, banks and Government bodies to create more financing schemes, he added.

Aside from broadening market penetration, another objective seems to be to cut down on piracy which the article says is rampant.