Microsoft News Tracker

Ed Oswald has an exclusive at BetaNews:

EXCLUSIVE Microsoft plans to roll its Passport authentication service into the Windows Live family of Web services by 2007, renaming it to Windows Live ID, BetaNews has learned. While the company is keeping mum on specifics, the service would make use of Microsoft’s new InfoCard technology.
…
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the existence of Windows Live ID to BetaNews late Monday, calling it the authentication service for Windows Live. “You may consider it a major upgrade to Passport technology,” he said. According to Microsoft, Windows Live ID would play a large part in making upcoming services possible.

“We do plan for Windows Live ID to work with InfoCards in the future,” he continued, although declined to say whether the feature would make it into the service’s initial launch.
…
With over 30 services potentially taking on the “Live” moniker, industry watchers are warning that the Redmond company risks diluting the brand like it did with the .NET concept.

If this is correct, I detect a bigger branding disconnect than that. Passport and InfoCard are completely different technologies for addressing the same problem and as I mentioned earlier today, while Passport has a deserved reputation as too proprietary, the Open Source crowd is now saying the same thing about InfoCard. Renaming Passport as Windows Live ID won’t do anything for its acceptability and forever tarnishes the Windows Live ID name for the eventual InfoCard solution.

As for the Microsoft fad of renaming every product as “Windows Live Something,” there’s more detail in the article and this is a perfect example. Currently Passport is in a sort of “Microsoft Use Only” limbo - why does it need to have “Windows Live” slapped on it? What’s next, Windows Live Bob?

This video answers the question posed in the title. The only thing missing is “iPod Live.” Via Microsoft’s Robert Scoble who says, “Ouch!”

Just two weeks ago, Bill Gates was touting the InfoCard identity management system coming in Windows Vista. Today it appears that an Open Source alternative will be announced. Joris Evers at CNET:

IBM and Novell on Monday are expected to announce an open-source response to Microsoft’s forthcoming InfoCard identity management technology.

The companies plan to contribute to an open-source initiative code-named Higgins Project. The project aims to help people manage their plethora of Internet logins and passwords by integrating identity, profile and relationship information used across authentication systems on the Net.
…
The open-source project, managed by the Eclipse Foundation, is a response to Microsoft’s InfoCard identity management technology, Anthony Nadalin, distinguished engineer and chief security architect at IBM, said in an interview.

“This is a move to help get identity management out in the open source. InfoCard is one user-centric identity system…but the implementation Microsoft has is not what I would call open,” he said. “There are a lot of hidden elements.” One example, he said, is how it interacts with Active Directory, Microsoft’s identity management technology for businesses.

Microsoft has been taking pains to make sure that InfoCard doesn’t suffer the same fate as Passport, which was viewed as too proprietary, by touting its open nature ([1],[2],[3]). It looks like they have a way to go. Also, all of these identity management systems require that Web site proprietors sign up to use them in place of their existing security arrangements. That alone guarantees a long, rancorous process.

Update: The IBM press release is here.

It was fun while it lasted, but after the weekend excitement about Microsoft’s Origami project, it appears that sobriety is prevailing. John Markoff at the NY Times:

Richard Doherty, the president of Envisioneering, a consumer electronics consulting firm, said that his company had received an invitation to a briefing for analysts at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash., on Thursday.

“It’s a ‘technology’ we’ve been invited to see,” Mr. Doherty said. “That could be all kinds of things. But a device that is near to shipping would be surprising. If Microsoft was working with any of the major chip makers on a new device, it would be a long shot that that piece of information would not slip out until the product was almost ready.”

Frank Shaw, a spokesman for Microsoft, said Saturday that the company was not planning an announcement on Thursday, but that it would have something to talk about at an industry event next month. He would not comment on the intent of the Web site but confirmed that it did belong to Microsoft. The Digital Kitchen video, he said, was created about a year ago and shows an early prototype of Origami.

Todd Bishop from the Seattle P-I:

The March 2 date on OrigamiProject.com instead refers to plans to offer more details on the site.

Bishop also has a longer article detailing some of the Origami speculation.

The difficulty here is that all that swell viral marketing has built up a head of steam which Microsoft has to be careful doesn’t vent back at them. Kent Newsome:

So here’s the thing Microsoft, you’ve built the buzz. You’ve got people interested.

You’re talking the talk.

Just make sure that when you finally pull up the curtain that whatever’s behind it can walk the walk.

Otherwise cover your ears, because the explosion, both bozo and blogo, will be loud.

The “bozo explosion” reference is here. One does have to wonder why a viral marketing site was created if there’s really nothing to hype yet.

Microsoft yesterday put an end to all the speculation, by formally releasing the lineup for the versions of Windows Vista that will be available when it ships later this year:

The Windows Vista product lineup consists of six versions, two for businesses, three for consumers, and one for emerging markets: Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Starter. The number of offerings is the same as the number of offerings currently available for Windows® XP. More important, the lineup is designed to deliver clear value to a broad range of customers, each product tailored to meet specific needs of various segments of customers — home PC users, small and medium-sized businesses and the largest enterprises — and is aimed at bringing 64-bit, Media Center and Tablet PC functionality into the mainstream.

The Windows XP comparison is rather misleading since some Windows XP versions (e.g. 64-bit, Tablet) were hardware specific and the Vista versions are function specific. Here’s a quick rundown:

Windows Vista Business
- 32 or 64-bit
- Aero UI capable
- Integrated desktop search
- Tablet PC capable

Windows Vista Enterprise
- Everything in Vista Business
- Includes BitLocker drive encryption, and Virtual PC Express, and Subsystem for Unix-based Applications.
- Only available under Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

Windows Vista Home Basic
- For “basic” home computing
- 32 or 64-bit but no Aero
- Includes home features such as a new Search Explorer, Sidebar and Parental Controls.

Windows Vista Home Premium
- Everything in Vista Home Basic
- Aero UI capable
- Integrated desktop search
- Tablet PC capable
- Windows Media Center capable
- Integrated DVD burning and creation

Windows Vista Ultimate
- “All the entertainment features, mobility features and business-oriented features available in Windows Vista” which I take to mean “all of the above.”

Windows Vista Starter
- Limited function version with very basic features for developing countries
- 32-bit only

All the details are not spelled out, but I can think of several quibbles. Most obviously, the distinction between the Business and Home families seems fairly arbitrary. I wonder how many businesses will just opt for Ultimate if it really comes with everything? All this variation is also a hidden cost for OEM’s who stock prebuilt systems and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did a lot of narrowing down of choices as well.

Pricing wasn’t revealed and that, of course, adds another dimension. Support wasn’t mentioned either, but presumably the Home family will follow the current home support model while Business and Ultimate will follow the business support model. Finally, there was no mention of “N” versions without Windows Media Player for the European Union, but presumably there will be such versions of at least some of the above.

Update: Scott Braden presents a skeptical view at Redmond magazine. Teaser:

If you think Microsoft will be offering the many upcoming versions of Office and Vista simply in the name of consumer choice, then Braden’s got a bridge he’d like to sell you.