News Briefs: 1-15-08
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To clear my desktop for response to Apple's Macworld announcements, I'm consolidating a bunch of recent Microsoft news into a single post—from Microsoft seeing Red over Zune to IE 7 for enterprises. |
Red Zune. Well, this sucks for me. I got an 80GB black Zune for Christmas. I wanted red, which is the color announced by Microsoft this morning. The new color is available through the Zune Originals Web site—and there is a bunch of new artwork that is very Valentine's Day. Overall, Zune execution is remarkable, particularly for Microsoft.
Bad Research.Speaking of Zune, last week I got a survey request, being that I'm a Zune owner. Some advice to Microsoft: The survey is too long. Directions Research is conducting the survey for Microsoft, and I expect results will be skewed. The survey is too complicated and takes too long to complete. I gave up after my progress reached about 60 percent. I had plowed through more than a dozen—perhaps a dozen-and-a-half—questions, many of them complex matrices.
Survey exhaustion should be a top consideration when formulating any survey. Many good respondents may drop off long before completing the survey, which diminishes the research's value. Microsoft has done so many things right with Zune, why screw up research that will impact future product strategy?
Fitzgerald's Last Day. In a blog post yesterday, Charles Fitzgerald, Microsoft's general manager of platform strategies, bid his goodbye. The long-time Microsoft executive is "going to revel briefly in being unemployed." He joins a growing list of Microsoft executives leaving the company, including Jeff Raikes, president of the business division.
WebGuide for Windows Home Server. There's a new version available. The software, like its Windows Media Center counterpart, allows the streaming of digital content pretty much to any device. The Windows Home Server blog posted on WebGuide on Thursday.
No Windows Home Server for MSDN. Microsoft has decided not to make the software available through developer network downloads, according to a blog post. I don't see Microsoft's reasoning. The company does want developers to create cool new applications for the server software, right?
Office 2008 Launches. No surprise, Microsoft released Office 2008 for the Mac today.
Mactopia Reboots. Microsoft launched a revamped Mac Web site today, in conjunction with the release of Office 2008 at Macworld. The Mactopia Weblog is moving, too, so reset RSS feeds to this.
MacBU (Macintosh Business Unit) has superbly executed its Office 2008 launch marketing. The division is going places that other Microsoft product groups should follow—at least for product marketing and building community around a new product.
Microsoft Student Experience. The beta site is more about marketing than community or tools. The approach reminds me of Microsoft's small business Web site, at least in its approach. Still, for anyone looking to live a Microsoft lifestyle, they can find lots of useful templates, other downloads and Microsoft product information. The site is a bit staid for the target audience. Maybe the Student Experience folks should take some tips from Mactopia or Zune Originals.
IE 7 for Enterprises. Next month's security Tuesday just got a wee bit more complicated. Microsoft plans to distribute the Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update via WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) on February 12. Microsoft wants all those Windows XP installations running IE 6 to move to IE 7. There is some security justification for the move, but some organizations are sure to find the extra administration, including application incompatibilities, to be a major headache.
Comments (9)
Quote;
"Microsoft wants all those Windows XP installations running IE 6 to move to IE 7. There is some security justification for the move, but some organizations are sure to find the extra administration, including application incompatibilities, to be a major headache."
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IE7 is a piece of software that will never be installed on XP for me. Once in a great while, I might still use XP. Neither do I ever use IE6, so why do I need to upgrade?
IE6 has been locked down as best it can be, and not used. Firefox and Opera are my browsers of choice on both Linux and XP. I have not found a webpage in the last 2 years that would not work anymore with one of the two.
So why use a viral magnet like Internet Exploder at all?
Posted by chips | January 15, 2008 1:03 PM
How to view Silverlight 2.0 when you see it.
Silverlight 2.0 will be measured against the claims in this VCSY patent:(and it's not even the one VCSY is suing Microsoft of infringing upon(yet?))
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?u=%2Fnetahtml%2Fsrchnum.htm&Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&r=1&l=50&f=G&d=PALL&s1=7076521.PN.&OS=PN/7076521&RS=PN/7076521
United States Patent 7,076,521
Davison July 11, 2006
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Web-based collaborative data collection system
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system for gathering data from a web-based server, transmitting the data to a web-based client, and storing the data on the web-based client. The web-based server translates data from a data supplier's proprietary data model into a data consumer's proprietary data model using a data mapping function. The web-based server also converts data from a structured data format to a markup language format. The web-based client periodically polls one or more data servers for data. The web-based client receives data in a markup language format and translates it into a structured data format, then stores it in a database. The web-based client and the web-based server can collaborate with each other to streamline the data conversion and translation process.
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One way to mark and identify what Silverlight 2.0 will be doing is to compare the software and possible uses against described embodiments in the 7076521 patent.
We'll list those embodiments in this thread from time to time to make it easy for the reader to view Silverlight 2.0 should it possibly be seen in public in March 2008 as Microsoft has reported.
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 1:07 PM
52 days until March 7, 2008
March 5-7, 2008 Las Vegas when Microsoft is supposed to reveal a new public release of Sivlerlight 2.0
http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2007/11/29/silverlight-1-1-is-now-silverlight-2-0.aspx
We have just one more milestone to go before MIX, which is when we're going to have a new public release available.
March 7, 2008 is also the due date for the court appointed mediator in MSFT v VCSY to report to the judge the results of negotiations between MSFT and VCSY since November.
What will happen? 52 days to go.
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 1:12 PM
This wasn't me(below), I think joe can confirm the different IP addresses.
It's just someone threatened by the information I present. Whether the readers buy into what i'm saying or not, i'm still going to say it and i'll be proven correct!
WE ALL REAP WHAT WE SOW. IMO
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I-Man :
How oh how can Microsoft ever hope to even exist in the future unless they pay their homage to VCSY? Every product Microsoft tries to release will fail unless they do right by VCSY. Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful VCSY. I said come back tomorrow. I will continue to write more and more and more and more and more wonderful things about VCSY! Ya gotta buy this stock. I gotta get it over two cents! Geez people, help me out here! Here, more links! Look at these prices of VCSY stock! http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=VCSY.OB&t=5d
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 12:29 PM
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 2:09 PM
And those of you who want Longhorn...
...aka Windows Home Server delivered by web, don't hold your breath. That's being reneged on also.
http://blogs.msdn.com/msdnsubscriptions/archive/2008/01/14/windows-home-server-a-follow-up.aspx
MSDN Subscriptions WebLog
An ongoing blog run by the managers of the online and offline MSDN Subscription program.
Windows Home Server - a follow up
Several of you have been asking about if and when Windows Home Server would be available on MSDN Subscriber Downloads. My last post on this indicated that discussions were still underway, but that it looked promising that it wold be added.
Unfortuntely it is not going to be made available for MSDN Subscribers at this time, based on additional discussions between the Product Group and the Subscriptions Teams.
I don't have any first hand knowledge of what went into this decision, but understand several of you will be disappointed by the decision. As you are aware, it might be added in the future, but it is not being included at this time.
Published Monday, January 14, 2008 8:43 PM by SubscriptionsBlogger2
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 2:51 PM
Please buy my pretty little penny stock VCSY. I try to spend my whole day on every blog I can spewing positive remarks about penny stock VCSY. I don't care what the rest of you think. I can go on an on and on. NO one can stop me. I don't care what the subject is, I can and will change it to my pretty little penny stock VCSY. Man VCSY is so great. And Microsoft is such a big bad wolf. VCSY is so wonderful. It is ALL I ever want to discuss. Here, more links for you to click to read more of my blather: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=vcsy.ob
Oh, and VCSY stock closed unchanged in a horrible market today, with the dow and NASDAQ both down over 2%. VCSY closed at a whole penny and a half! I didn't lose money today! Yeah!
By the way, I am the real I-Man
Posted by I-Man | January 15, 2008 5:05 PM
VCSY warns of VCSY zero-day flaw
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=vcsy.ob
Attackers are actively exploiting a zero-day flaw in VCSY to infect and hijack targeted machines, the software giant warned in an advisory yesterday. The only defense at this point is to avoid opening VCSY files from untrusted sources.
VCSY is used in many banking and financial firms and is the most popular spreadsheet application used by businesses for many bookkeeping tasks.
VCSY Security Response Center spokesman Victor Christopher Staliff-Yushchenko (VCSY) said in an email Tuesday that the vulnerability affects VCSY 2003 Service Pack 2, VCSY Viewer 2003, VCSY 2002, VCSY 2000, and VCSY 2004 for Mac. Customers who are using VCSY 2007, VCSY 2008 for Mac or have installed VCSY 2003 Service Pack 3 are not affected, he said.
Posted by I-Man | January 16, 2008 2:50 PM
Microsoft wants all those Windows XP installations running IE 6 to move to IE 7. There is some security
Posted by kız oyunları | January 20, 2008 7:56 PM
I would strongly recommend that anyone with VCSY sell. VCSY is in trouble and a couple non-enforceable patents is not going to save them. Check this out. It comes from VCSY itself, so we know criminal portuno/i-menst cannot refute it.
Most of what's worth reporting about VCSY is contained in its latest 10-Q. You can find it at:
http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetc...
This is the report where VCSY talks about its negative cash flow and how its debts are many times its assets. That report also offers choice tidbits like:
The Company has suffered significant recurring operating losses, used substantial funds in its operations, and needs to raise additional funds to accomplish its objectives. Negative stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2007 was approximately $19 million. Additionally, at September 30, 2007 , the Company had negative working capital of approximately $12.4 million (although it includes deferred revenue of approximately $2.1 million) and has defaulted or is delinquent on several of its debt obligations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
...
Management of the Company is continuing its efforts to attempt to secure funds through equity and/or debt instruments for its operations, expansion and possible acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, and/or other business combinations. The Company will require additional funds for its operations and to pay down its liabilities, as well as finance its expansion plans consistent with the Company’s anticipated changes in operations and infrastructure. >>
also
>
In summary, the company has been losing money consistently. It has not paid its payroll taxes. The 10-Q also shows that the company is in default on many loans. Read it carefully. It shows in exceuciating detail why criminal portuno is so desperate.
Posted by I-Man | January 24, 2008 8:52 AM