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Some Microsoft news items for this week that did not find a post of their own:
First, some low comedy in Microsoft Re-patches Repatch, Issues Third Fix For IE Flaws:
Although Microsoft didn’t use the term, the just-fixed vulnerability was a “regression,” a bug not present earlier but introduced by an error in the patch.
“This update cycle has not been an example of our best work,” admitted Tony Chor, group program manager for Internet Explorer, in an entry on the team’s blog.
Last month, Microsoft attacked eEye Digital’s chief hacking officer, Marc Maiffret, for what it called “irresponsible disclosure” of the original long URL bug. Maiffret struck back by pointing out that Microsoft released far more information on the company’s security blog than he had in his warning.
Microsoft sued over multiplayer online game patent.
Microsoft promises not to sue over their intellectual property in Web services standards that they helped create.
Microsoft pre-paid cards to check software piracy:
To check piracy of its software, Microsoft on Wednesday announced that it would launch pre-paid cards in India before this year-end.
The pre-paid system has been a success in Brazil where it is being currently tested. Also known as ‘Pay-as-you-go’, powered by Microsoft® FlexGo™™ technology, the scheme — as it works in Brazil — will require customers to pay upfront 50 per cent cost of the computer and buy pre-paid cards from the company showrooms or retailers for hourly access to the computer.
We mentioned FlexGo previously here.
Famous last words via Stan Beer – Monthly Patch Tuesday gone with Vista says Microsoft:
According to a Microsoft security specialist at Microsoft, monthly downloads of security patches to protect against viruses, trojans, worms and other software nasties just itching to take control of our computers will probably be a thing of the past with the coming of Vista. Although there will probably be still the need for the occasional fix, it will not be very often. At least that’s the plan.
I’ll have to call Vegas and see what odds they’re offering on that one.
Dare Obasanjo spots a gem from Mark Nottingham that offers an interesting explanation for the WS-* edifice of Web services – Vendor-pires:
Anne-Thomas Manes extolls the virtues of WS-*;The single, most important feature that inspires my enthusiasm about WS-* is that it has universal support from all the major vendors.
Ah, there we are; major vendors. What she’s basically saying here is that if you’re silly enough to have invited one of these vampires into your home, you’ll have the option of selecting other vampires to replace them at will, and that your vampire will be able to talk with your neighbors’ when they’re not fighting weird, ritualistic vampire fights.
Show me the interoperable, full and free implementations of WS-* in Python, Perl, Ruby and PHP. You won’t see them, because there’s no intrinsic value in WS-* unless you’re trying to suck money out of your customers. Its complexity serves as a barrier to entry at the same time that it creates “value” that can be sold.
Check out the comments too, but it has to hurt when your technological marvel is hard to distinguish from a fiendish conspiracy.
Speaking of fiendish plots, Nicholas Carr refers us to an article in The Atlantic (subscribers only) by Matthew Stewart on The Management Conspiracy. A small excerpt from Carr:
After retiring from consulting, though, he “decided to check out the management literature”:
Partly, I wanted to process my own experience and find out what I had missed in skipping business school. Partly, I had a lot of time on my hands. As I plowed through tomes on competitive strategy, business process re-engineering, and the like, not once did I catch myself thinking, Damn! If only I had known this sooner! Instead, I found myself thinking things I never thought Id think, like, I’d rather be reading Heidegger! It was a disturbing experience.
Heidegger or Management theory – there’s a heck of a choice!
And speaking of management, but not theory, Steve Ballmer is on a roll delivering bon mots in regard to Google – Google Not in Microsoft Crosshairs, Ballmer Claims:
But Microsoft CEO admits his company wants to replace Google as top Internet ad revenue recipient.
If that’s got you scratching your head, how about Microsoft CEO: catching Yahoo, Google to take time:
“I don’t think you will see some overnight transformation,” Ballmer said. “It is going to have to be longer term. It makes sense for us to talk about five years.”
What else could he say?
Microsoft releases MapPoint 2006:
Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of MapPoint® 2006, an industry leader in business mapping software. MapPoint 2006 can help customers improve decision-making capabilities and increase new business opportunities through the use of maps and geographical information, enabling better analysis, visualization and communication of business information. It also enhances its usefulness for mobile information workers by adding rich new Global Positioning System (GPS) integration and driver guidance capabilities so that users can make the most out of time spent away from the office. MapPoint 2006 is available today, and comes in two offerings: a stand-alone software package as well as one that includes both the MapPoint 2006 software and a new GPS locator hardware kit.
If you aren’t familiar with it, MapPoint is a standalone mapping application intended for businesses. There’s a Web service version as well. Streets and Trips is its consumer cousin.
Microsoft releases new “software as a service” (SaaS) application hosting solution:
Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Microsoft® Solution for Windows®-based Hosting for Applications Version 1.0. The new solution provides independent software vendors (ISVs) and hosting service providers with the platform, tools and best practices to deliver software as a service, an area in which leading IT market research and advisory firm IDC estimates spending will reach $10.7 billion (U.S.) worldwide by 2009.
One of the little publicized Microsoft hosting solutions. Admittedly, it’s a specialized market.
Beta 1 of Virtual Server 2005 R2 service pack 1 released:
Beta 1 of Virtual Server 2005 R2 service pack 1 includes:Intel Virtualization Technology compatibility Host Clustering technical white paper and the VB script Beta 2 includes the features of Beta 1 plus:
AMD Virtualization compatibility Active Directory integration and management features Volume Shadow Service (VSS) Expanded guest and host OS support
Download Beta 1 here. Beta 2 is planned for Q4 and final release in 1Q2007.
‘Mendicino’ Version 1.0 Ready to Roll. Mary Jo Foley reports that Mendocino, the SAP/Microsoft joint project linking Office to the SAP back-end will be announced tomorrow.
Windows Live ID has been rolled out in place of Passport for the Windows Live sites. Passport login information still works, of course. More details here.
Dare Obasanjo points to the inaugural post in the Windows Live ID weblog by Lead Program Manager Trevin Chow which clarifies the objectives of Live ID quite succinctly:
Windows Live ID is the upgrade/replacement for the Microsoft Passport service and is the identity and authentication gateway service for cross-device access to Microsoft online services, such as Windows Live, MSN, Office Live and Xbox Live. Is this the authentication service for the world? No :-) It’s primarily designed for use with Microsoft online services and by Microsoft-affiliated close partners who integrate with Windows Live services to offer combined innovations to our mutual customers. We will continue to support the Passport user base of 300+ Million accounts and seamlessly upgrade these accounts to Windows Live IDs. Partners who have already implemented Passport are already compatible with Windows Live ID.
Hit the link for more details on some of the new technologies in Live ID including Infocards and Web services.
