Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Breaking Changes from V1.1 to Whidbey Beta1
Breaking Changes from V1.1 to Whidbey Beta1 Three handy lists.
Gartner: iPods, other small storage devices pose security risk - Computerworld
Gartner: iPods, other small storage devices pose security risk - Computerworld "The iPod may be popular, but it also poses such a major security risk for businesses that enterprises should seriously consider banning it and other portable storage devices, according to a study by research firm Gartner Inc.
The devices, using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or FireWire (IEEE 1394), are risky because they could be used to introduce malicious code into a corporate network or steal corporate data, the Stamford, Conn.-based research company said in its report, "How to Tackle the Threat From Portable Storage Devices."
This might have been an insightful and timely bit of advice -- about 15 years ago; today, it seems like rather pitiful and sensationalistic headline-grabbing.
The devices, using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or FireWire (IEEE 1394), are risky because they could be used to introduce malicious code into a corporate network or steal corporate data, the Stamford, Conn.-based research company said in its report, "How to Tackle the Threat From Portable Storage Devices."
This might have been an insightful and timely bit of advice -- about 15 years ago; today, it seems like rather pitiful and sensationalistic headline-grabbing.
XP Service Pack 2 to Skip Older Windows, for Now
XP Service Pack 2 to Skip Older Windows, for Now "Microsoft Corp. has no plans to port the security and feature enhancements due in Windows XP Service Pack 2, now in final beta testing, to older versions of Windows.
The decision means that enterprises running older versions of Windows will be less secure and more vulnerable to attacks than those running XP systems that upgrade to the latest service pack, which includes many security improvements.
Microsoft officials in Redmond, Wash., last week said the company's focus is on shipping a high-quality SP2 release to customers. It is, however, leaving the door open to supporting older versions and is evaluating the technical feasibility of such an endeavor."
...
"Other users, however, are not as concerned. Charles Reid, project manager for iNet-Consulting. com Inc., in Los Angeles, said that he believes operating systems such as Windows 98 are inherently insecure and that he would much rather see Microsoft spend resources supporting current and future product releases rather than older ones.
"If customers want more secure systems, then upgrade," Reid said. "The user community is better off if organizations like Microsoft are constantly moving ahead instead of trying to go back at the same time."
The decision means that enterprises running older versions of Windows will be less secure and more vulnerable to attacks than those running XP systems that upgrade to the latest service pack, which includes many security improvements.
Microsoft officials in Redmond, Wash., last week said the company's focus is on shipping a high-quality SP2 release to customers. It is, however, leaving the door open to supporting older versions and is evaluating the technical feasibility of such an endeavor."
...
"Other users, however, are not as concerned. Charles Reid, project manager for iNet-Consulting. com Inc., in Los Angeles, said that he believes operating systems such as Windows 98 are inherently insecure and that he would much rather see Microsoft spend resources supporting current and future product releases rather than older ones.
"If customers want more secure systems, then upgrade," Reid said. "The user community is better off if organizations like Microsoft are constantly moving ahead instead of trying to go back at the same time."
Enterprises Slow to Dump IE
Enterprises Slow to Dump IE "The calls to dump Internet Explorer may be getting louder, but they are falling largely on deaf ears among enterprise users.
IT managers and users say that while the rash of security flaws associated with IE has drawn new attention to its vulnerabilities and has led some individuals to switch browsers, enterprises are reluctant to change browsers because of their reliance on IE-specific intranet applications and Web sites.
...
Microsoft is promising to beef up security in IE with the forthcoming Service Pack 2 update to Windows XP. In fact, many of the current woes would not occur if SP2 were already in use.
"We know that all of the recent attacks in the past 12 months would not be possible if Service Pack 2 had been in the market," said Gary Schare, a director in Microsoft's Windows client division."
IT managers and users say that while the rash of security flaws associated with IE has drawn new attention to its vulnerabilities and has led some individuals to switch browsers, enterprises are reluctant to change browsers because of their reliance on IE-specific intranet applications and Web sites.
...
Microsoft is promising to beef up security in IE with the forthcoming Service Pack 2 update to Windows XP. In fact, many of the current woes would not occur if SP2 were already in use.
"We know that all of the recent attacks in the past 12 months would not be possible if Service Pack 2 had been in the market," said Gary Schare, a director in Microsoft's Windows client division."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Excerpts of memo sent to employees
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Excerpts of memo sent to employees "Obviously, we all want to increase the value of our stock, and we have the best opportunity to do that since the end of (fiscal 1998). Our stock was around $25 then, as it is now, and we have more than doubled our operating profits since. Shareholders then were betting we would work hard for all these years to make the company worth that mid-'98 stock price. We have done so. I see a number of other public companies or soon-to-be-public companies that will deal, as we have, with flat stock price for a number of years while they build adequate profits for their stock prices. The key now to growing our stock price is growing profits even more. If we grow our profits, our stock price is poised to respond."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft CEO tries to "rally the troops" in cost-conscious time
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft CEO tries to "rally the troops" in cost-conscious time "First, Microsoft employees lost the stock-option program, then the laundered towels in company locker rooms. Now, company bean counters are tinkering with the free supply of sodas, and it's not going over well in Redmond.
...
As for the management processes, Ballmer said it is necessary to have "integrated innovation" across the company's divisions, especially with 16,000 employees now working on the next version of Windows."
...
As for the management processes, Ballmer said it is necessary to have "integrated innovation" across the company's divisions, especially with 16,000 employees now working on the next version of Windows."
The New York Times > Technology > Amid Belt-Tightening, Microsoft Talks of a Bright Future
The New York Times > Technology > Amid Belt-Tightening, Microsoft Talks of a Bright Future "In a telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Mr. Ballmer said he was more optimistic about Microsoft's prospects than at any time in the last three years. He noted the strength and upward trend in its mainstay desktop software businesses, server software, and the encouraging improvement in emerging businesses like its MSN Web sites and Xbox video game consoles and games.
Mr. Ballmer also added that Microsoft was more confident about competing against the rising challenge of open-source software like the Linux operating system, which is distributed free. Microsoft's competitive response is to emphasize what it contends is the lower total cost of owning, maintaining and supporting its Windows operating system."
A factoid from the article: Microsoft now has 57,000 full-time workers.
Mr. Ballmer also added that Microsoft was more confident about competing against the rising challenge of open-source software like the Linux operating system, which is distributed free. Microsoft's competitive response is to emphasize what it contends is the lower total cost of owning, maintaining and supporting its Windows operating system."
A factoid from the article: Microsoft now has 57,000 full-time workers.
Browser Wars II? Alternative Browser Downloads Surge in Wake of IE Exploits
Browser Wars II? Alternative Browser Downloads Surge in Wake of IE Exploits "The long-stagnant Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) might command about 95 percent of the Web browser market but a recent spate of security vulnerabilities seems to be finally helping IE's competitors make some inroads into the market. Even the usually staid United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has taken the unusual step of advising users to switch to a different browser because of IE's many attacks. The result has been a bonanza for safer browser alternatives such as Mozilla and Opera.
The Mozilla Foundation reports that daily downloads of its Mozilla browser suite and Firefox Web browser have doubled since US-CERT's recommendation; on the day of the US-CERT announcement, the foundation says that users downloaded the products more than 200,000 times. "More people seem to have reached their threshold level of frustration dealing with problems with IE and Windows and have found the Mozilla software a good solution to solving those problems," Chris Hofmann, The Mozilla Foundation's director of engineering, said. "US-CERT's recommendation is just a reflection of the trend we have seen for quite some time."
The Mozilla Foundation reports that daily downloads of its Mozilla browser suite and Firefox Web browser have doubled since US-CERT's recommendation; on the day of the US-CERT announcement, the foundation says that users downloaded the products more than 200,000 times. "More people seem to have reached their threshold level of frustration dealing with problems with IE and Windows and have found the Mozilla software a good solution to solving those problems," Chris Hofmann, The Mozilla Foundation's director of engineering, said. "US-CERT's recommendation is just a reflection of the trend we have seen for quite some time."
WSJ.com - 36% Of Computer Software Worldwide Pirated - Indus Group
WSJ.com - 36% Of Computer Software Worldwide Pirated - Indus Group "Of all computer software installed worldwide last year, 36% was pirated, costing the industry $29 billion in lost revenue, an industry alliance said Wednesday.
The problem is worsening, in part because of increased file-swapping over the Internet, said Jeffrey Hardee, Asian regional director for the Business Software Alliance, backed by industry giants such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM).
Detailed year-on-year comparisons aren't available because the alliance has broadened its data to include software on servers as well as personal computers, he said. Earlier surveys looked only at business software.
Three of the top five countries with the highest incidence of pirated software were in Asia, Hardee said, naming China (92%), Vietnam (92%) and Indonesia (88%). The others were Ukraine (91%) and Russia (87%)."
The problem is worsening, in part because of increased file-swapping over the Internet, said Jeffrey Hardee, Asian regional director for the Business Software Alliance, backed by industry giants such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM).
Detailed year-on-year comparisons aren't available because the alliance has broadened its data to include software on servers as well as personal computers, he said. Earlier surveys looked only at business software.
Three of the top five countries with the highest incidence of pirated software were in Asia, Hardee said, naming China (92%), Vietnam (92%) and Indonesia (88%). The others were Ukraine (91%) and Russia (87%)."
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
CNN.com - NY Post picks wrong running mate for Kerry - Jul 6, 2004
CNN.com - NY Post picks wrong running mate for Kerry - Jul 6, 2004 "The New York Post, in a front page gaffe reminiscent of the 1948 headline wrongly announcing President Truman's defeat, proclaimed Tuesday that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry would select Rep. Dick Gephardt as his running mate."
Clearly these guys need to read more blogs; the widely-blogged hangar snoops were right...
Clearly these guys need to read more blogs; the widely-blogged hangar snoops were right...
Parties to Allow Bloggers to Cover Conventions for First Time (washingtonpost.com)
Parties to Allow Bloggers to Cover Conventions for First Time (washingtonpost.com) "The Democratic Party plans to give media credentials to a select group of bloggers who want to cover the event, where Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) is expected to accept his party's presidential nomination. The group has not announced which bloggers might get the passes, but that information will come in the "next few weeks," an event spokeswoman said. The convention begins July 26."
Unless they plan to use some type of jamming device, I don't see how they can prevent people from blogging, e.g., using Verizon wide-area wireless.
(Okay, that's enough blogs + politics for this month...)
Unless they plan to use some type of jamming device, I don't see how they can prevent people from blogging, e.g., using Verizon wide-area wireless.
(Okay, that's enough blogs + politics for this month...)
ongoing ? Bad, Bad IBM!
ongoing ? Bad, Bad IBM! "Tux has been replaced by the Weird Blond Kid on the Route 101 F.Y.O. billboard at Redwood City. This is culturally damaging and basically destroys IBM’s open-source street cred. Please bring the Penguin back!"
The bizarre world of Route 101 billboard etiquette (read the full post...)
The bizarre world of Route 101 billboard etiquette (read the full post...)
USaviation.com Forums -> Edwards Vp
USaviation.com Forums -> Edwards Vp "John Kerry"s 757 was in hgr 4 pit tonight John Edwards vp decals were being put on engine cowlings and upper fuselage."
Via Dave Winer, via many others... You may have noticed that I try to keep my posts focused on technology and business topics, but I thought this instance was blog-worthy -- it's a fascinating case study of universal quasi-journalism. As long as I'm making a political post, I may as well also direct your attention to the George Bush birthday haiku site, which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee informed me about (via email) this morning...
Via Dave Winer, via many others... You may have noticed that I try to keep my posts focused on technology and business topics, but I thought this instance was blog-worthy -- it's a fascinating case study of universal quasi-journalism. As long as I'm making a political post, I may as well also direct your attention to the George Bush birthday haiku site, which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee informed me about (via email) this morning...
WSJ.com - Oracle's PeopleSoft Defense Could Make Waves
WSJ.com - Oracle's PeopleSoft Defense Could Make Waves "Oracle Corp.'s high-stakes legal strategy to defend its proposed $7.7 billion hostile acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc. has laid the groundwork for the broader roll-up of the business-software industry planned by Chief Executive Larry Ellison.
In a four-week trial in San Francisco, Oracle cast itself as an underdog in a global battle with Microsoft Corp., International Business Machines Corp. and SAP AG to provide integrated software systems to business and government customers. In so doing, Oracle sought to transcend concerns of the Justice Department over the impact a takeover of PeopleSoft would have on competition in a narrower niche of the software market.
Legal observers say Oracle could hand government antitrust lawyers a rare courtroom defeat. After testimony ended last week, proposed findings in the case are to be submitted this week, and U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will hear closing arguments July 20; a ruling is expected by summer's end.
Oracle still faces a possible antitrust challenge from the European Commission in Brussels. But a favorable ruling in the U.S. case would increase pressure on PeopleSoft executives to enter into takeover talks with Oracle.
An Oracle victory also could clear the way for additional acquisitions by Oracle and accelerate the consolidation of the $170 billion-a-year business-software industry. Indeed, the trial revealed that in the days after Oracle launched its bid for PeopleSoft in June 2003, IBM, Microsoft and SAP each considered big investments or mergers.
...
Evidence is ample that business software is ripe for a shakeout. A recent study by the consulting firm Bain & Co. found that nearly two-thirds of about 500 publicly traded software companies lose money. But nearly all software companies with revenue above $1 billion are profitable, the study found."
In a four-week trial in San Francisco, Oracle cast itself as an underdog in a global battle with Microsoft Corp., International Business Machines Corp. and SAP AG to provide integrated software systems to business and government customers. In so doing, Oracle sought to transcend concerns of the Justice Department over the impact a takeover of PeopleSoft would have on competition in a narrower niche of the software market.
Legal observers say Oracle could hand government antitrust lawyers a rare courtroom defeat. After testimony ended last week, proposed findings in the case are to be submitted this week, and U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will hear closing arguments July 20; a ruling is expected by summer's end.
Oracle still faces a possible antitrust challenge from the European Commission in Brussels. But a favorable ruling in the U.S. case would increase pressure on PeopleSoft executives to enter into takeover talks with Oracle.
An Oracle victory also could clear the way for additional acquisitions by Oracle and accelerate the consolidation of the $170 billion-a-year business-software industry. Indeed, the trial revealed that in the days after Oracle launched its bid for PeopleSoft in June 2003, IBM, Microsoft and SAP each considered big investments or mergers.
...
Evidence is ample that business software is ripe for a shakeout. A recent study by the consulting firm Bain & Co. found that nearly two-thirds of about 500 publicly traded software companies lose money. But nearly all software companies with revenue above $1 billion are profitable, the study found."
Monday, July 05, 2004
ongoing -- The Problem With Online Music
ongoing -- The Problem With Online Music "The New York Times today hits the nail on the head: if you’re buying music over the net, you’re buying it in severely damaged condition. When I plug my computer into the really good stereo at home, the difference between the way music sounds coming off CD or vinyl or a good FM signal, and the crippled version from MP3 compression isn’t subtle. I used to think that if you were listening to music on headphones on a bus or train or plane or in a crowd, the MP3 lossage really didn’t matter much. But recently I’ve been listening to the Shure 3C phones, and it’s obvious that we really shouldn’t be ignoring these compression issues; in particular since lossless compression is available right here, right now."
Ray Ozzie, CEO, Groove Networks
Ray Ozzie, CEO, Groove Networks "Q: Is Groove Notes done right?
The contrast mostly is that Notes, besides being e-mail, was a collaborative infrastructure for within the firewall in global enterprises. It never served outside contractors. Groove was fundamentally born as an Internet application into a world of cooperating companies.
Q: It seems like few organizations took advantage of the collaboration features in Notes.
Some enterprises, particularly the ones that started early, used both e-mail and collaboration. And some have even stopped using e-mail but retained the collaboration functions; some use just the e-mail. The primary value people got and continue to get is rapid application development. You could build applications very quickly to deploy to multiple people within the organization. Notes might have frustrated people, but it solved the issue of replication very definitely.
...
Q: How is the Linux port going?
We've put it on hold. We had it demo'ed at our launch event in late 2000, but we put it on ice. There's not the customer demand on this point in time."
Via Groove's company blog
The contrast mostly is that Notes, besides being e-mail, was a collaborative infrastructure for within the firewall in global enterprises. It never served outside contractors. Groove was fundamentally born as an Internet application into a world of cooperating companies.
Q: It seems like few organizations took advantage of the collaboration features in Notes.
Some enterprises, particularly the ones that started early, used both e-mail and collaboration. And some have even stopped using e-mail but retained the collaboration functions; some use just the e-mail. The primary value people got and continue to get is rapid application development. You could build applications very quickly to deploy to multiple people within the organization. Notes might have frustrated people, but it solved the issue of replication very definitely.
...
Q: How is the Linux port going?
We've put it on hold. We had it demo'ed at our launch event in late 2000, but we put it on ice. There's not the customer demand on this point in time."
Via Groove's company blog
The New York Times > Technology > No Longer a Solitary Pursuit, Video Games Move Online
The New York Times > Technology > No Longer a Solitary Pursuit, Video Games Move Online "Multiplayer games played on the Internet with PC's have been popular mostly with tech-savvy crowds. Players using PC's have to be capable of configuring their computers to meet a game's technical requirements, but playing online with a game console is simpler. Once a console is hooked up to an Internet connection, players merely click a button that takes them directly to the online game portal.
In the United States, Sony has sold three million consoles with the online feature, more than 10 percent of the 25 million total PlayStation 2's sold, according to the company. But so far only about 1.2 million users are actually playing online, said Michael Goodman, a senior analyst with the Yankee Group, a research firm.
Microsoft says that a million of its 14 million Xbox users have purchased an online kit and subscribe to Xbox Live, the online play feature. While Nintendo sells an online adapter for its GameCube system, the company "does not see online gaming as an important part of our business at this time," a company spokeswoman said. Only two games for the GameCube are currently available online.
...
For $50 a year, Xbox Live users can play the 100 online games currently available; that number is expected to reach 150 by Christmas. In addition to the console with its standard Ethernet port, Xbox users must purchase a $70 Xbox Live starter kit, which includes a year's subscription, one game and a feature that PC players do not typically have - a headset that allows players to talk as they play online."
In the United States, Sony has sold three million consoles with the online feature, more than 10 percent of the 25 million total PlayStation 2's sold, according to the company. But so far only about 1.2 million users are actually playing online, said Michael Goodman, a senior analyst with the Yankee Group, a research firm.
Microsoft says that a million of its 14 million Xbox users have purchased an online kit and subscribe to Xbox Live, the online play feature. While Nintendo sells an online adapter for its GameCube system, the company "does not see online gaming as an important part of our business at this time," a company spokeswoman said. Only two games for the GameCube are currently available online.
...
For $50 a year, Xbox Live users can play the 100 online games currently available; that number is expected to reach 150 by Christmas. In addition to the console with its standard Ethernet port, Xbox users must purchase a $70 Xbox Live starter kit, which includes a year's subscription, one game and a feature that PC players do not typically have - a headset that allows players to talk as they play online."
WSJ.com - Apple's New iMac Desktop Won't Ship Until September
WSJ.com - Apple's New iMac Desktop Won't Ship Until September "In a statement, Apple said it had stopped taking orders for the current generation of iMacs and expects its inventory of these machines to run out in the next few weeks. "We planned to have our next generation iMac ready by [this] time. ... But our planning was obviously less than perfect," Apple said. "We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers." An Apple spokesman declined to elaborate.
The delay is another problem for Apple's computer division, which steadily has been losing market share. Apple sold just 1.7% of the world's personal computers in the first quarter, down from 2% in the first quarter of 2001, according to market researcher Gartner Inc.
...
The slip-up comes at a particularly bad time for the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker, because it means Apple won't have a current model available for schools and universities -- one of its core markets -- during the back-to-school shopping season. Overall sales are likely to suffer, because Apple won't have a consumer-oriented desktop computer available for much of the current quarter, which ends in late September."
The delay is another problem for Apple's computer division, which steadily has been losing market share. Apple sold just 1.7% of the world's personal computers in the first quarter, down from 2% in the first quarter of 2001, according to market researcher Gartner Inc.
...
The slip-up comes at a particularly bad time for the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker, because it means Apple won't have a current model available for schools and universities -- one of its core markets -- during the back-to-school shopping season. Overall sales are likely to suffer, because Apple won't have a consumer-oriented desktop computer available for much of the current quarter, which ends in late September."
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - Of, By and For
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - Of, By and For "Bart Decrem, Joe Costello and Mitch Kapor have launched ob4.org, which stands for "of, by and for" -- as in words paraphrased from Abraham Lincoln in his timeless Gettysburg Address."
Ellison's defining moment | Perspectives | CNET News.com
Ellison's defining moment | Perspectives | CNET News.com "Capping his company's four-week trial against the Justice Department, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison's masterful testimony on Thursday convincingly laid out the legal case for why Oracle should be allowed to be a cold-hearted acquirer.
For the most part, the cultural aspects of Oracle's hostile $7.7 billion bid for PeopleSoft have overshadowed the technical realities of the deal.
Oracle has earned a reputation for aggressive--some say ruthless--behavior. If it takes over PeopleSoft, it will fire most of the company's 8,000 employees. And official protestations notwithstanding, it's clear Oracle will compel PeopleSoft customers to go on a migration path they'd rather not take."
Reality check: the govt can say "no," but it's ultimately still a question of shareholders saying "yes" (assuming the govt undoes the "no" part)
For the most part, the cultural aspects of Oracle's hostile $7.7 billion bid for PeopleSoft have overshadowed the technical realities of the deal.
Oracle has earned a reputation for aggressive--some say ruthless--behavior. If it takes over PeopleSoft, it will fire most of the company's 8,000 employees. And official protestations notwithstanding, it's clear Oracle will compel PeopleSoft customers to go on a migration path they'd rather not take."
Reality check: the govt can say "no," but it's ultimately still a question of shareholders saying "yes" (assuming the govt undoes the "no" part)
Friday, July 02, 2004
Q&A: Sun's James Gosling on Java tools, woes - Computerworld
Q&A: Sun's James Gosling on Java tools, woes - Computerworld: "[ComputerWorld] Is it your charge to make a lot of money on tools?
[Gosling] For us, the real goal is to make it so that the software ecosystem is as healthy as possible. We don't have to be fabulously cash-positive. We just have to be not fabulously cash-negative, because these tools are enormous. They're tremendous engineering efforts. There are a lot of tools companies that are like three guys in a garage. In the tool world, you just can't compete with a team that small.
[ComputerWorld] Still, despite the fact that Sun created Java, its application server and your commercial tools remain at the bottom of the market-share list.
[Gosling] You've picked a couple that have been in trouble. The app server is doing a lot better. Recent market share data for NetBeans is noticeably better. The app server thing for us was just a Marx Brothers comedy. There was this period where you couldn't buy a company without getting another app server, and then this huge political mess [followed]. We literally had like six [application servers]."
[Gosling] For us, the real goal is to make it so that the software ecosystem is as healthy as possible. We don't have to be fabulously cash-positive. We just have to be not fabulously cash-negative, because these tools are enormous. They're tremendous engineering efforts. There are a lot of tools companies that are like three guys in a garage. In the tool world, you just can't compete with a team that small.
[ComputerWorld] Still, despite the fact that Sun created Java, its application server and your commercial tools remain at the bottom of the market-share list.
[Gosling] You've picked a couple that have been in trouble. The app server is doing a lot better. Recent market share data for NetBeans is noticeably better. The app server thing for us was just a Marx Brothers comedy. There was this period where you couldn't buy a company without getting another app server, and then this huge political mess [followed]. We literally had like six [application servers]."
Enterprise Security Today (Online Security): NewsFactor Network - Viruses & Worms - Microsoft Issues Update To Fix IE Vulnerabilities
Enterprise Security Today (Online Security): NewsFactor Network - Viruses & Worms - Microsoft Issues Update To Fix IE Vulnerabilities "
After a grueling seven days in which two viruses exploited vulnerabilities in the Internet Explorer browser, and the federal government, no less, warned users away from IE -- Microsoft has responded with software updates.
These do not fix the flaw completely; however, the company says the updates do close the loophole that hackers had been exploiting, because they change the setting in the Windows operating system.
At best, though, says TruSecure's senior scientist Russ Cooper, it is an interim fix that bypasses the real problem. "What Microsoft has done is disable a well-functioning component because it cannot fix the vulnerability right away," he told NewsFactor."
After a grueling seven days in which two viruses exploited vulnerabilities in the Internet Explorer browser, and the federal government, no less, warned users away from IE -- Microsoft has responded with software updates.
These do not fix the flaw completely; however, the company says the updates do close the loophole that hackers had been exploiting, because they change the setting in the Windows operating system.
At best, though, says TruSecure's senior scientist Russ Cooper, it is an interim fix that bypasses the real problem. "What Microsoft has done is disable a well-functioning component because it cannot fix the vulnerability right away," he told NewsFactor."
WSJ.com - WebMethods Down 34%; Sees 1Q Loss On Weak Software Sales
WSJ.com - WebMethods Down 34%; Sees 1Q Loss On Weak Software Sales "Shares of WebMethods Inc. (WEBM) fell 33% Friday to a new 52-week low after the company warned of a wide first-quarter loss amid weak software sales.
The Fairfax, Va., maker of integration software said it failed to close several large transactions in the quarter that ended Wednesday. Software license fees will be $13 million to $14 million in the June quarter, down from $21.8 million in the year-ago period and below analysts forecasts of about $26 million.
...
WebMethods, which sells software used to link different databases and computer systems, has been hard hit by the tech slump. It has reported only one profitable quarter since it went public in 2000."
The Fairfax, Va., maker of integration software said it failed to close several large transactions in the quarter that ended Wednesday. Software license fees will be $13 million to $14 million in the June quarter, down from $21.8 million in the year-ago period and below analysts forecasts of about $26 million.
...
WebMethods, which sells software used to link different databases and computer systems, has been hard hit by the tech slump. It has reported only one profitable quarter since it went public in 2000."
Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger
Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger: "John wanted to know about what I thought about IE's security
John Dowdell at Macromedia is wondering why I haven't said anything about our government's recommendation to use non-IE browsers....
Look at myself. I use Firefox about 40% of the time right now (that means I use IE 60% of the time). How do I protect myself? So, while I argue with myself, make sure you take the steps needed to protect yourself."
This and the following post must annoy the Microsoft PR people, but it's pretty clear, on a positive note, that Microsoft isn't micro-filtering either employee blogs or Slate.
(The post's permalink appears to be broken)
John Dowdell at Macromedia is wondering why I haven't said anything about our government's recommendation to use non-IE browsers....
Look at myself. I use Firefox about 40% of the time right now (that means I use IE 60% of the time). How do I protect myself? So, while I argue with myself, make sure you take the steps needed to protect yourself."
This and the following post must annoy the Microsoft PR people, but it's pretty clear, on a positive note, that Microsoft isn't micro-filtering either employee blogs or Slate.
(The post's permalink appears to be broken)
Nick Bradbury: Slate recommends Firefox
Nick Bradbury: Slate recommends Firefox: "Wow. Even Microsoft-owned Slate.com is recommending Firefox over IE (via kottke.org)."
Jonathan Schwartz's Weblog: Java One, 2004
Jonathan Schwartz's Weblog: Java One, 2004: "This year's JavaOne conference was different. It felt different. If you were there, you know what I mean. In prior years, it was either about this terrifically new concept called Java software, and how the future is limitless - or it was about a new spec or application domain. Tantalizing, but futuristic. But this year, the CEO of Siemens VDO Infotainment demonstrated a BMW running Java on its dashboard, and we talked about helping them to cultivate a developer community for automobile platforms. I demonstrated a Medic Touch device that collected my biometry, and propagated it through my cell phone to a health monitoring service. I remixed a ringtone from AirMixer's library of Sony's music, and sent it to my phone. And we open sourced Java 3D, and Project Looking Glass. As in GPL'd it. "
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - An Academic Look at Blogs
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - An Academic Look at Blogs "Into the Blogsphere" is an academic exploration of the "rhetoric, community, and culture of weblogs." Some of this is pretty dry for average folks, but it's worth some time if you care about the subject."
No clear-cut winner in Oracle antitrust trial | CNET News.com
No clear-cut winner in Oracle antitrust trial | CNET News.com: "After four weeks of the Oracle antitrust trial, the corporate software industry's complex web of alliances and rivalries has been untangled, but there's still no clear answer to the central question--whether an Oracle-PeopleSoft merger would be anticompetitive."
I think there's a clear-cut winner: Microsoft. Now every IT decision-maker who has read the news in the last 4 weeks knows that Oracle and other competitors are paranoid about Microsoft leading a new wave of price competition in enterprise apps.
I think there's a clear-cut winner: Microsoft. Now every IT decision-maker who has read the news in the last 4 weeks knows that Oracle and other competitors are paranoid about Microsoft leading a new wave of price competition in enterprise apps.
WSJ.com - After Long Lag, Sony Puts iPod In Its Cross Hairs
WSJ.com - After Long Lag, Sony Puts iPod In Its Cross Hairs " Sony Corp. has unveiled its most serious challenge yet to Apple Computer Inc.'s hot iPod music player: its first Walkman with a hard drive, allowing it to store thousands of songs. But can the company that made portable music popular back in the 1970s regain the edge in the digital-music age -- or is it too late to the party?
Sony's new Network Walkman can hold as much data as a midsize iPod (20 gigabytes), but is much sleeker and smaller -- about the size of a business-card holder -- and 30% lighter. It's scheduled to go on sale this month in Japan and in August in the U.S.
...
Indeed, Sony's very attachment to its own technologies is partly to blame for its lateness. "I don't really like hard disks -- they're not Sony technology," said Takashi Fukushima, head of the Walkman division, when asked why it took the company so long to roll out its challenge to the iPod. "As an engineer, they're not interesting."
And when it comes to focusing marketing muscle on its new Walkman, Sony may be fighting with itself. Just last month, a different division of the company -- the one responsible for Vaio personal computers -- started sales in Japan of its own hard-drive-equipped portable music player, called the Vaio Pocket. It will be sold in the U.S. in September for about $500.
The Vaio Pocket has a 40-gigabyte hard drive and a color screen -- in contrast with the monochrome screen of the new Walkman. The Vaio Pocket also can display images such as photos taken by digital cameras, something the Walkman can't. But both use the same music-management software, link to the same Sony Connect music site and are being marketed as portable music players.
The big difference with the Vaio Pocket "is that it came out of the Vaio group," said Shizuo Takashino, Sony executive deputy president and the person in charge of both product lines. "They overlap a bit. But I think that's OK."
Mr. Takashino explains that Sony is known for letting its business units develop products autonomously, and that ultimately either the Walkman or Vaio player will probably win out in the market. Then, he adds: "I suppose from the standpoint of focus and selection it's not the best thing."
Sony's new Network Walkman can hold as much data as a midsize iPod (20 gigabytes), but is much sleeker and smaller -- about the size of a business-card holder -- and 30% lighter. It's scheduled to go on sale this month in Japan and in August in the U.S.
...
Indeed, Sony's very attachment to its own technologies is partly to blame for its lateness. "I don't really like hard disks -- they're not Sony technology," said Takashi Fukushima, head of the Walkman division, when asked why it took the company so long to roll out its challenge to the iPod. "As an engineer, they're not interesting."
And when it comes to focusing marketing muscle on its new Walkman, Sony may be fighting with itself. Just last month, a different division of the company -- the one responsible for Vaio personal computers -- started sales in Japan of its own hard-drive-equipped portable music player, called the Vaio Pocket. It will be sold in the U.S. in September for about $500.
The Vaio Pocket has a 40-gigabyte hard drive and a color screen -- in contrast with the monochrome screen of the new Walkman. The Vaio Pocket also can display images such as photos taken by digital cameras, something the Walkman can't. But both use the same music-management software, link to the same Sony Connect music site and are being marketed as portable music players.
The big difference with the Vaio Pocket "is that it came out of the Vaio group," said Shizuo Takashino, Sony executive deputy president and the person in charge of both product lines. "They overlap a bit. But I think that's OK."
Mr. Takashino explains that Sony is known for letting its business units develop products autonomously, and that ultimately either the Walkman or Vaio player will probably win out in the market. Then, he adds: "I suppose from the standpoint of focus and selection it's not the best thing."
Microsoft's financial risks paying off
Microsoft's financial risks paying off "John Connors' willingness to take a risk with Microsoft Corp.'s $56.4 billion in cash is paying off.
Microsoft's 45-year-old chief financial officer has generated a 7.3 percent average annual return on investments in the past three years. The gain is almost triple that produced by companies with more than $1 billion in sales, according to Chicago-based consulting firm Treasury Strategies Inc.
Microsoft, with more cash than any U.S. non-finance company, has performed "pretty darned well" by investing more in stocks and bonds with lower credit ratings, Connors said in an interview. Apple Computer Inc. and Intel Corp. keep most of their cash in money market instruments."
Microsoft's 45-year-old chief financial officer has generated a 7.3 percent average annual return on investments in the past three years. The gain is almost triple that produced by companies with more than $1 billion in sales, according to Chicago-based consulting firm Treasury Strategies Inc.
Microsoft, with more cash than any U.S. non-finance company, has performed "pretty darned well" by investing more in stocks and bonds with lower credit ratings, Connors said in an interview. Apple Computer Inc. and Intel Corp. keep most of their cash in money market instruments."
CA to Open Source Ingres (revisited)
CA to Open Source Ingres (revisited): "Computer Associates will be open sourcing the 20-year-old Ingres database - the Linux version - under its own open source license based pretty much on the so-called Common Public License (CPL), which will let it charge handsomely for indemnification, maintenance and support.
...
[CA] and JBoss announced plans to create complete open source software for Java and high-performance relational storage. It'll consist of JBoss' J2EE app server, the JBoss Hibernate object-relational query service and Ingres.
The idea is to create a platform for building Java and J2EE applications that include persistence, cache, replication, transactional integrity and security.
On Linux, the widgetry will include the open source Oracle Cluster File Systems (OCFS) for enhanced performance.
The pair will build an open source driver to optimize integration between Hibernate and Ingres and indemnify joint customers. They'll co-market and CA will peddle the JBoss Professional Open Source Services directly as part of its Ingres support license so that JBoss handles JBoss support issues."
I had a briefing from the CA DBMS folks yesterday and have been checking my initial assumptions following CA's announcements about open-sourcing Ingres -- I now think it has some serious disruptive potential for the open source DBMS space.
...
[CA] and JBoss announced plans to create complete open source software for Java and high-performance relational storage. It'll consist of JBoss' J2EE app server, the JBoss Hibernate object-relational query service and Ingres.
The idea is to create a platform for building Java and J2EE applications that include persistence, cache, replication, transactional integrity and security.
On Linux, the widgetry will include the open source Oracle Cluster File Systems (OCFS) for enhanced performance.
The pair will build an open source driver to optimize integration between Hibernate and Ingres and indemnify joint customers. They'll co-market and CA will peddle the JBoss Professional Open Source Services directly as part of its Ingres support license so that JBoss handles JBoss support issues."
I had a briefing from the CA DBMS folks yesterday and have been checking my initial assumptions following CA's announcements about open-sourcing Ingres -- I now think it has some serious disruptive potential for the open source DBMS space.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Guinness World Records recognizes Cisco router - Computerworld
Guinness World Records recognizes Cisco router - Computerworld "The same book that boasts the world records for most glasses balanced on a chin, the tallest snowman and the longest continuous clapping session now includes Cisco Systems Inc.'s new router for directing Internet traffic.
Guinness World Records certified Cisco's CRS-1 router as the highest-capacity Internet router at 92Tbits -- 92 trillion bits per second -- of total throughput. That makes it the first networking technology to be recognized by Guinness World Records, which has tracked record-breaking achievements around the world for almost 50 years.
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The CRS-1, which Cisco unveiled in May, is capable of downloading the entire printed collection of the U.S. Library of Congress in 4.6 seconds. In comparison, a dial-up modem would take 82 years to download that amount of data. The CRS-1 is designed for telephone companies to deliver data, voice and video services over the Internet."
Guinness World Records certified Cisco's CRS-1 router as the highest-capacity Internet router at 92Tbits -- 92 trillion bits per second -- of total throughput. That makes it the first networking technology to be recognized by Guinness World Records, which has tracked record-breaking achievements around the world for almost 50 years.
...
The CRS-1, which Cisco unveiled in May, is capable of downloading the entire printed collection of the U.S. Library of Congress in 4.6 seconds. In comparison, a dial-up modem would take 82 years to download that amount of data. The CRS-1 is designed for telephone companies to deliver data, voice and video services over the Internet."
WSJ.com - IBM Document Shows Co Worried About Oracle Deal
WSJ.com - IBM Document Shows Co Worried About Oracle Deal: "International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) felt threatened enough by Oracle Corp.'s (ORCL) bid for PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT) that it recommended acquiring middleware software companies and taking 'blocking' stakes in applications vendors, according to an internal document.
IBM is 'exposed to potential consolidation' in the applications market and needs to 'establish more control over acquisitions,' says the review conducted only days after Oracle announced its unsolicited tender offer in June 2003."
Lots of intriguing insights in this trial, but I don't see a clear outcome emerging yet.
IBM is 'exposed to potential consolidation' in the applications market and needs to 'establish more control over acquisitions,' says the review conducted only days after Oracle announced its unsolicited tender offer in June 2003."
Lots of intriguing insights in this trial, but I don't see a clear outcome emerging yet.
Sony challenges Apple with 20GB music player | CNET News.com
Sony challenges Apple with 20GB music player | CNET News.com "Sony Electronics will begin selling two hard-drive music players this fall which, combined with its new music download service, will create an iPod-like parallel universe.
The consumer electronics giant announced two products late Wednesday: the $400 20GB Network Walkman NW-HD1 and the $500 40GB Vaio Pocket VGF-AP1L. Both players will be available in fall for use with the Sony Connect music download service, which was launched in May. The devices and the service will make Sony the latest to compete with Apple Computer's iPod and iTunes products. Sony's belated arrival compares poorly with its historical leadership position in the portable music player business, said Susan Kevorkian, an analyst with research firm IDC."
iClone...
The consumer electronics giant announced two products late Wednesday: the $400 20GB Network Walkman NW-HD1 and the $500 40GB Vaio Pocket VGF-AP1L. Both players will be available in fall for use with the Sony Connect music download service, which was launched in May. The devices and the service will make Sony the latest to compete with Apple Computer's iPod and iTunes products. Sony's belated arrival compares poorly with its historical leadership position in the portable music player business, said Susan Kevorkian, an analyst with research firm IDC."
iClone...
News Article | Reuters.com: Dell Offers $100 Rebate for Old Apple iPods
Technology News Article | Reuters.com: Dell Offers $100 Rebate for Old Apple iPods "Dell Inc. is running a promotion that gives customers $100 off on some of its Dell Digital Jukebox music players if customers send in to the No. 1 personal computer maker their old Apple iPods to be recycled, the company said on Wednesday.
The mail-in rebate offer applies to Dell's 15-gigabyte music player, which carries a regular price of $199, said the Round Rock, Texas, company. The player has a battery life of about 20 hours, about two times that of Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod, Dell said.
The mail-in rebate offer applies to Dell's 15-gigabyte music player, which carries a regular price of $199, said the Round Rock, Texas, company. The player has a battery life of about 20 hours, about two times that of Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod, Dell said.
The New York Times > Technology > Delta to Invest in Radio Tags for Luggage at Airports
The New York Times > Technology > Delta to Invest in Radio Tags for Luggage at Airports "Fewer than a million of the 80 million or so bags Delta handles in an average year fail to reach their final destination on the same flight as their owners, but locating and delivering misdirected luggage costs the airline about $100 million annually, according to Robert Maruster, Delta's director of airport strategy. Not only will the technology cut down on the number of bags that fail to get on the right flight, Mr. Maruster said, but once Delta develops software to provide its agents with data from the tracking system, the agents should be able to tell passengers where their luggage went and when Delta will be able to deliver it."
The New York Times > Technology > Oracle Says Fear of Microsoft Led to PeopleSoft Bid
The New York Times > Technology > Oracle Says Fear of Microsoft Led to PeopleSoft Bid "Mr. Ellison said in Federal District Court in San Francisco that Oracle believed that acquisitions were essential to its ability to compete with Microsoft, which - along with SAP - was clearly poised to put pricing pressure on the market for corporate application software. Companies use the software to manage tasks like procurement, customer relations and human resources.
"The second Microsoft enters a market, prices drop like a rock," Mr. Ellison said. "Microsoft's strategy is always to be the low-cost provider, up to and including zero. It was fundamental to our decision to buy PeopleSoft."
"The second Microsoft enters a market, prices drop like a rock," Mr. Ellison said. "Microsoft's strategy is always to be the low-cost provider, up to and including zero. It was fundamental to our decision to buy PeopleSoft."
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Windows Server System Magazine - Microsoft's Platform Strategies for 2004-2005
Windows Server System Magazine - Microsoft's Platform Strategies for 2004-2005: "This is the third Trends & Analysis column in a series focused on the past, present, and future of Microsoft's platform strategies. The first column, 'Understanding Microsoft's Platform Strategies,' established a framework for evaluating Microsoft's product line in terms of platforms, tools, applications, and services. The second, 'Microsoft's Platform Strategies Today,' described how .NET has matured during the last two years. This one focuses on .NET Framework 2.0, Visual Studio 2005, and SQL Server 2005, three of the most important development projects Microsoft has ever undertaken."
(3-page article; annoyingly the "printer friendly" version seems to be busticated at the moment)
(3-page article; annoyingly the "printer friendly" version seems to be busticated at the moment)
XAML Today
XAML Today: "When Longhorn is released, developers and organizations will face a challenge: do we build for Longhorn and sacrifice backward compatibility; do we build for pre-Longhorn versions of Windows and sacrifice the benefits of Avalon/XAML; or do we develop two versions in parallel, with the difficulties and costs that entails? This dilemma can be expected to persist for years, as Longhorn slowly approaches majority adoption.
There is a better way. By beginning to use XAML now, and by choosing a XAML engine that will evolve with Microsoft?9s spec while remaining stable and dependable, developers gain a host of benefits:
XAML applications built today will port to Longhorn.
Applications built in XAML today benefit immediately from the portability, manageability and security offered by Longhorn?9s two-tier programming model.
XAML experience gained today will be in demand and valuable as Longhorn adoption grows.
Applications written for Longhorn after its release will work with pre-Longhorn versions of Windows. "
(Xamlon's value proposition)
There is a better way. By beginning to use XAML now, and by choosing a XAML engine that will evolve with Microsoft?9s spec while remaining stable and dependable, developers gain a host of benefits:
XAML applications built today will port to Longhorn.
Applications built in XAML today benefit immediately from the portability, manageability and security offered by Longhorn?9s two-tier programming model.
XAML experience gained today will be in demand and valuable as Longhorn adoption grows.
Applications written for Longhorn after its release will work with pre-Longhorn versions of Windows. "
(Xamlon's value proposition)
"BW Online | July 5, 2004 | A Sweet Deal In Suite Software
BW Online | July 5, 2004 | A Sweet Deal In Suite Software "Simdesk Technologies Inc. is a strange little operation, even for an Internet company. Its chief executive, Louis A. Waters, is not a techie but the retired head of onetime sanitation giant Browning-Ferris Industries Inc. And while it's little known, the 100-person Houston firm has a gargantuan ego. Having won a few deals over Microsoft Corp. (MSFT ), executives are convinced the Redmond (Wash.) giant is obsessed with squishing them before they get too powerful. Among other fears, SimDesk founder Ray C. Davis believes Microsoft may have tapped his cell phone and worries that it has planted a spy in his staff. "I think they'll go to any limits to squelch us," says Davis.
But here's the strangest part: Microsoft should be a tad nervous. That's because SimDesk may be closing in on one of tech's Holy Grails: anytime, anywhere computing on the cheap.
For years, Microsoft, IBM (IBM ), and others have painted visions of a future in which people could easily tap into their programs and information from whichever computer they happen to be using. But SimDesk is the first company to provide that promise in an ultra-affordable way. Individuals can log on to the SimDesk Web site, use basic programs, including word processing, e-mail, and spreadsheet packages, and store their stuff on the company's computers -- all for just a few dollars per person per year. There's no need to spend $399 to buy Microsoft's Office suite of applications.
...
What's more, SimDesk isn't for everyone. While its applications are compatible with Microsoft's ubiquitous Word and Excel, they lack some of the bells and whistles -- including so-called pivot-tables used by spreadsheet mavens to crunch data. More important, people who are used to instant response from PC software may have to wait seconds as even the simplest commands travel to SimDesk's servers in Houston and back."
Know many people who pay $399 for Office these days? I don't. I also don't know many people who want a browser/GUI 3270 suite of productivity tools.
But here's the strangest part: Microsoft should be a tad nervous. That's because SimDesk may be closing in on one of tech's Holy Grails: anytime, anywhere computing on the cheap.
For years, Microsoft, IBM (IBM ), and others have painted visions of a future in which people could easily tap into their programs and information from whichever computer they happen to be using. But SimDesk is the first company to provide that promise in an ultra-affordable way. Individuals can log on to the SimDesk Web site, use basic programs, including word processing, e-mail, and spreadsheet packages, and store their stuff on the company's computers -- all for just a few dollars per person per year. There's no need to spend $399 to buy Microsoft's Office suite of applications.
...
What's more, SimDesk isn't for everyone. While its applications are compatible with Microsoft's ubiquitous Word and Excel, they lack some of the bells and whistles -- including so-called pivot-tables used by spreadsheet mavens to crunch data. More important, people who are used to instant response from PC software may have to wait seconds as even the simplest commands travel to SimDesk's servers in Houston and back."
Know many people who pay $399 for Office these days? I don't. I also don't know many people who want a browser/GUI 3270 suite of productivity tools.
Jonathan Schwartz's Weblog
Jonathan Schwartz's Weblog $.07 (my standard bet) says this blog pulls a Rudder (i.e., is updated infrequently)
WSJ.com - Sun Urges IBM to Contribute To Open-Source Community
WSJ.com - Sun Urges IBM to Contribute To Open-Source Community "Scott McNealy, Sun Microsystems Inc.'s chairman and chief executive officer, challenged International Business Machines Corp. to contribute intellectual property to the open-source community of software developers.
Mr. McNealy's remarks, at Sun's annual JavaOne conference, were a pointed retort to an open letter from IBM to Sun earlier this year, which urged Sun to make its popular Java programming language available on an open-source basis. In a portion of a keynote speech that he labeled with the question "where is the outrage?" Mr. McNealy suggested that IBM should be making contributions from its own vast pool of patents and other intellectual property before it publicly criticizes Sun not rushing to do so.
...
In a press conference following his speech, Mr. McNealy said IBM should now take some similar steps, since the giant computer maker has more patents "than any other company on the planet." He said he believes that IBM "has Java envy," and "would love to wrest stewardship of Java away" from Sun. One reason is that Sun's success with Java helps Sun woo computer customers, he said.
...
IBM wasn't the only company slammed by Mr. McNealy, who is known for his barbed wit. He also challenged Red Hat and Microsoft Corp. to get involved in the community process for managing Java. In the case of Microsoft, which is now something of a partner to Sun by virtue of a legal settlement between the companies earlier this year, Mr. McNealy also was critical of the software giant for not doing more to stop computer viruses.
"They are Microsoft viruses, that's what they are," Mr. McNealy said."
Good to see the progress continuining in the Sun/Microsoft relationship...
Mr. McNealy's remarks, at Sun's annual JavaOne conference, were a pointed retort to an open letter from IBM to Sun earlier this year, which urged Sun to make its popular Java programming language available on an open-source basis. In a portion of a keynote speech that he labeled with the question "where is the outrage?" Mr. McNealy suggested that IBM should be making contributions from its own vast pool of patents and other intellectual property before it publicly criticizes Sun not rushing to do so.
...
In a press conference following his speech, Mr. McNealy said IBM should now take some similar steps, since the giant computer maker has more patents "than any other company on the planet." He said he believes that IBM "has Java envy," and "would love to wrest stewardship of Java away" from Sun. One reason is that Sun's success with Java helps Sun woo computer customers, he said.
...
IBM wasn't the only company slammed by Mr. McNealy, who is known for his barbed wit. He also challenged Red Hat and Microsoft Corp. to get involved in the community process for managing Java. In the case of Microsoft, which is now something of a partner to Sun by virtue of a legal settlement between the companies earlier this year, Mr. McNealy also was critical of the software giant for not doing more to stop computer viruses.
"They are Microsoft viruses, that's what they are," Mr. McNealy said."
Good to see the progress continuining in the Sun/Microsoft relationship...
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - Apple's Next Operating System
Silicon Valley - Dan Gillmor's eJournal - Apple's Next Operating System "Apple has never been shy about adopting other people's good ideas, and there's already some controversy over a feature called "Dashboard," which collects a bunch of small software programs people use frequently -- such as calendar, address book, calculator or weather forecasts -- and brings them to the forefront for a quick display at a keystroke. Dashboard looks a lot like a currently available shareware application called Konfabulator," which does pretty much the same thing."
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
ACM: Ubiquity - Does It Matter?
ACM: Ubiquity - Does IT Matter? "Does IT matter? One might as well ask, "Do people matter?" Business today can't exist without either resource, but spending more on either of them cannot guarantee success unless it contributes to a rational strategy. IT itself is no answer to anything except IT sales. Apply IT innovatively, creatively, and appropriately to a sound organizational purpose, though, and stand back. It's the application that makes the difference; not merely the technology. So in the end Carr and I agree: IT is indispensable, a necessary but not sufficient ingredient of advantage. In my book that amounts to, "IT Does Matter," but no one would buy that book."
The New York Times > Technology > Apple Putting More Focus on Simplifying Searching
The New York Times > Technology > Apple Putting More Focus on Simplifying Searching "The race between Tiger and Longhorn was something of a theme at the conference, which has long attracted a crowd of Macintosh aficionados. One billboard-size sign greeting developers read, "Redmond, we have a problem"; Microsoft's headquarters are in Redmond, Wash.
Another sign read, "Get your copiers ready," referring to Apple's longstanding claim that many of Windows' best innovations were copied from the Macintosh.
"They're copying our concepts," Mr. Jobs said. "I'd kind of like to get credit sometime," he added. In the late 1980's, Apple sued Microsoft, accusing it of copying the Macintosh operating system."
Another sign read, "Get your copiers ready," referring to Apple's longstanding claim that many of Windows' best innovations were copied from the Macintosh.
"They're copying our concepts," Mr. Jobs said. "I'd kind of like to get credit sometime," he added. In the late 1980's, Apple sued Microsoft, accusing it of copying the Macintosh operating system."
Microsoft Debuts Express Product Lines for Visual Studio and SQL Server
Microsoft Debuts Express Product Lines for Visual Studio and SQL Server "SQL Server Express Edition
SQL Server Express Edition helps developers build reliable data-driven applications by providing a freely redistributable, easy-to-use and robust database. It includes the rich functionality included in the SQL Server 2005 database engine, such as stored procedures, views, triggers, cursors, Common Language Runtime (CLR) support and Extensible Markup Language (XML) support. Building on the success of the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE), SQL Server Express Edition will be available for download at no cost to users. In addition, SQL Server Express Edition provides an embedded database that enables independent software vendors (ISVs) to embed a lightweight, cost-effective database into applications.
With Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition, Microsoft delivers an easy-to-use tool for Web application development. Building on developers' success with Visual Studio .NET 2003, ASP.NET Web Matrix and ASP.NET as a Web application platform, Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition is a highly productive tool that helps students and enthusiasts build dynamic Web applications, such as personal Web sites, blogging sites and more. Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition provides a dedicated Web tool that is built from the ground up to meet the specific needs of Web developers and includes innovations across the design surface, project system, platform and code editor, including IntelliSense® and debugging tools. Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition also includes a built-in development Web server and publishing tools that when used with SQL Server Express Edition enable users to quickly build and deploy dynamic Web applications to online hosting providers.
...
Each of the Express products are scheduled to be available for download by the end of the week."
Check out the Microsoft FAQ for details -- the imminent releases are beta. SQL Server Express replaces MSDE, but it'll also probably be very useful for competing with MySQL and other open source DBMSs.
SQL Server Express Edition helps developers build reliable data-driven applications by providing a freely redistributable, easy-to-use and robust database. It includes the rich functionality included in the SQL Server 2005 database engine, such as stored procedures, views, triggers, cursors, Common Language Runtime (CLR) support and Extensible Markup Language (XML) support. Building on the success of the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE), SQL Server Express Edition will be available for download at no cost to users. In addition, SQL Server Express Edition provides an embedded database that enables independent software vendors (ISVs) to embed a lightweight, cost-effective database into applications.
With Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition, Microsoft delivers an easy-to-use tool for Web application development. Building on developers' success with Visual Studio .NET 2003, ASP.NET Web Matrix and ASP.NET as a Web application platform, Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition is a highly productive tool that helps students and enthusiasts build dynamic Web applications, such as personal Web sites, blogging sites and more. Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition provides a dedicated Web tool that is built from the ground up to meet the specific needs of Web developers and includes innovations across the design surface, project system, platform and code editor, including IntelliSense® and debugging tools. Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition also includes a built-in development Web server and publishing tools that when used with SQL Server Express Edition enable users to quickly build and deploy dynamic Web applications to online hosting providers.
...
Each of the Express products are scheduled to be available for download by the end of the week."
Check out the Microsoft FAQ for details -- the imminent releases are beta. SQL Server Express replaces MSDE, but it'll also probably be very useful for competing with MySQL and other open source DBMSs.
The New York Times > Technology > Microsoft to Offer Streamlined Products Aimed at Programmers
The New York Times > Technology > Microsoft to Offer Streamlined Products Aimed at Programmers "Microsoft is making a bid today to win over new developers with a stripped-down line of products including a free database and inexpensive developer tools. The new offerings - called "Express" versions of more feature-packed Microsoft products - are intended for the 18 million people worldwide who write useful programs, but do not make their living as software developers.
...
The ranks of nonprofessional developers, Microsoft estimates, are growing at about 8 percent to 15 percent a year, which is four or five times the growth rate of professional developers. "More people are finding that some computer science skills are important in business and other fields," observed John Montgomery, a director of product development in Microsoft's developer division.
"Those are 18 million nonprofessional developers and we want as many of them as we can writing Windows applications, and to convert some of them to professional developers," Mr. Montgomery said."
...
The ranks of nonprofessional developers, Microsoft estimates, are growing at about 8 percent to 15 percent a year, which is four or five times the growth rate of professional developers. "More people are finding that some computer science skills are important in business and other fields," observed John Montgomery, a director of product development in Microsoft's developer division.
"Those are 18 million nonprofessional developers and we want as many of them as we can writing Windows applications, and to convert some of them to professional developers," Mr. Montgomery said."
WSJ.com - Amazon Countersues, Seeking To End Toys 'R' Us Partnership
WSJ.com - Amazon Countersues, Seeking To End Toys 'R' Us Partnership: "Amazon.com Inc.'s fraying relationship with Toys 'R' Us Inc. took a turn for the worse Friday when Amazon filed a countersuit against the toy retailer, asking a judge to allow termination of its contract with Toys 'R' Us and award it in excess of $750 million.
In unusually harsh language directed at a once-close partner, Amazon's complaint, filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Passaic County, refers to Toys 'R' Us's 'chronic failure' to live up to obligations under the two companies' contract. "
In unusually harsh language directed at a once-close partner, Amazon's complaint, filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Passaic County, refers to Toys 'R' Us's 'chronic failure' to live up to obligations under the two companies' contract. "
Boston.com / Business / Technology / Accidental contractor: Groove Networks unexpectedly lands major customer: US government
Boston.com / Business / Technology / Accidental contractor: Groove Networks unexpectedly lands major customer: US government "When he founded Groove Networks in 1997, technologist Ray Ozzie envisioned a target market for its collaboration software: businesses eager to communicate with their partners and suppliers. ''In the founding documents, I don't think there was a single mention of the government," Ozzie admitted.
Today, government represents roughly 40 percent of Groove's sales. Groove software is being deployed by the Pentagon and civilian agencies rebuilding Iraq, and by Department of Homeland Security officials coordinating security for the Democratic and Republican conventions. Defense and security sales are likely to climb in coming years, as collaboration between agencies increases. And with private-sector customers still holding back on technology spending, government sales could represent a growing share of Groove's business mix."
Today, government represents roughly 40 percent of Groove's sales. Groove software is being deployed by the Pentagon and civilian agencies rebuilding Iraq, and by Department of Homeland Security officials coordinating security for the Democratic and Republican conventions. Defense and security sales are likely to climb in coming years, as collaboration between agencies increases. And with private-sector customers still holding back on technology spending, government sales could represent a growing share of Groove's business mix."
Monday, June 28, 2004
InfoWorld: Sun returns to old haunts
InfoWorld: Sun returns to old haunts "If boasts and promises were the same as execution, Sun would win every game. Maybe Solaris on Opteron will be Sun’s straight and true road south of Sparc. Or maybe Sun will just make a lot of noise about that pairing in July and go back to waffling among Linux and Solaris and Xeon and 32-bit Sparc so that no one — customers or software partners — can make sense of it. It will take an engineer to solve this one, and not just any engineer. Mr. Fowler, I hope your cape is back from the cleaners."
WSJ.com - Is Apple Losing Its Sheen?
WSJ.com - Is Apple Losing Its Sheen? "Even as overall PC shipments grew 12% in 2003, Apple's computer shipments were flat for the year, according to research firm Fulcrum Global Partners. At the end of March, Apple dropped out of research firm IDC's top 10 list of world-wide computer makers for the first time ever. Apple's share of the global computer market has eroded across the home, business and government markets over the past year, dropping to 1.7% overall at the end of March, down from 1.8% in early 2003, says Gartner (though its share is up in the education market). And in the company's last fiscal quarter, Apple's computer sales were sequentially flat or down across all models, particularly for its flagship iMac desktops.
The trend lines are worrisome because, despite the success of the iPod, computers are still Apple's core business. The music players account for just 14% of overall Apple revenue while Macintosh computers make up most of the rest. What's more, the Macintosh is slightly more profitable for Apple than the iPod. Macintosh gross margins are 23%, according to Wall Street analysts. Gross margins for the iPod stand at 22% and are predicted to decline because of creeping competition in the music player market."
The trend lines are worrisome because, despite the success of the iPod, computers are still Apple's core business. The music players account for just 14% of overall Apple revenue while Macintosh computers make up most of the rest. What's more, the Macintosh is slightly more profitable for Apple than the iPod. Macintosh gross margins are 23%, according to Wall Street analysts. Gross margins for the iPod stand at 22% and are predicted to decline because of creeping competition in the music player market."
Microsoft eases up reins on Windows CE coding
Microsoft eases up reins on Windows CE coding "Microsoft Corp. plans to let makers of custom devices modify the underlying code for a specialized version of the Windows operating system and distribute products running on altered versions of the program -- without sharing the results of their work with the Redmond company.
The decision, to be announced today, is highly unusual for a company that is known for carefully protecting what amount to the blueprints for some of its biggest products. Under existing programs, even the company's trusted partners are allowed only to view the Windows source code, but not to make changes for any commercial purposes."
The decision, to be announced today, is highly unusual for a company that is known for carefully protecting what amount to the blueprints for some of its biggest products. Under existing programs, even the company's trusted partners are allowed only to view the Windows source code, but not to make changes for any commercial purposes."
Friday, June 25, 2004
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Bill Gates could join the ranks of bloggers
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Bill Gates could join the ranks of bloggers "Bill's blog won't be all business, either. He's expected to share personal details such as tidbits from recent vacations, according to tech pundit Mary Jo Foley's Microsoft Watch newsletter. Citing unnamed sources, she reported yesterday that Gates is about to start blogging "real soon now."
...
Blogs were first produced by techies in the late 1990s using special software that makes it easy to produce and update the personal Web pages.
Now 44 percent of U.S. Internet users contributed content to the Web, and 2 percent maintain their own blogs, according to a February study by the Pew Internet & American Life research project. With about 128 million adult Internet users in the country, that would mean there are more than 2.5 million blogs.
...
The challenge, especially for busy executives, is keeping blogs up to date.
Eric Rudder, a senior vice president at Microsoft, started a blog in May 2003 but let it lapse for months at a time. Co-workers jokingly suggested they would use his name as a verb, meaning letting one's blog go dormant."
The article also notes, despite its somewhat nasty initial tone ("Bill Gates has a reputation for coming late to the party, then making a big splash when he arrives"), that Bill Gates already publishes many of his speeches and articles.
...
Blogs were first produced by techies in the late 1990s using special software that makes it easy to produce and update the personal Web pages.
Now 44 percent of U.S. Internet users contributed content to the Web, and 2 percent maintain their own blogs, according to a February study by the Pew Internet & American Life research project. With about 128 million adult Internet users in the country, that would mean there are more than 2.5 million blogs.
...
The challenge, especially for busy executives, is keeping blogs up to date.
Eric Rudder, a senior vice president at Microsoft, started a blog in May 2003 but let it lapse for months at a time. Co-workers jokingly suggested they would use his name as a verb, meaning letting one's blog go dormant."
The article also notes, despite its somewhat nasty initial tone ("Bill Gates has a reputation for coming late to the party, then making a big splash when he arrives"), that Bill Gates already publishes many of his speeches and articles.
Gates took a look at PeopleSoft
Gates took a look at PeopleSoft "Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates considered making a minority investment in PeopleSoft Inc. to help the company remain independent and fight a hostile takeover bid from Oracle Corp.
In an e-mail dated June 7, 2003, the day after Oracle announced its offer, Gates wrote to Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer that the bid for PeopleSoft "made me wonder if we should approach them and suggest a minority investment to bolster their independence in return for a modest platform commitment."
In an e-mail dated June 7, 2003, the day after Oracle announced its offer, Gates wrote to Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer that the bid for PeopleSoft "made me wonder if we should approach them and suggest a minority investment to bolster their independence in return for a modest platform commitment."
Microsoft open to open source
Microsoft open to open source "Microsoft Corp. says it is looking to turn over more of its programs to open-source software developers, playing a greater role in a process that the Redmond company has criticized strongly at times in the past.
Money-makers like the company's Windows operating system and Office productivity suite aren't on the table -- or anywhere near it.
But the company has so far released two software-development tools to the open-source community, and it wants to continue the practice, a Microsoft platform manager told an industry group this week.
...
"Is that a threat to our business? Well, as much as we didn't get that sale or make that customer happy, yes," he answered. "Is it a threat to our overall business? No. There's lots of customers out there and I would hope that we're making all of them happy so they keep coming back."
Money-makers like the company's Windows operating system and Office productivity suite aren't on the table -- or anywhere near it.
But the company has so far released two software-development tools to the open-source community, and it wants to continue the practice, a Microsoft platform manager told an industry group this week.
...
"Is that a threat to our business? Well, as much as we didn't get that sale or make that customer happy, yes," he answered. "Is it a threat to our overall business? No. There's lots of customers out there and I would hope that we're making all of them happy so they keep coming back."
InfoWorld: Update: AOL to buy Advertising.com for $435 million
InfoWorld: Update: AOL to buy Advertising.com for $435 million: "America Online Inc. (AOL) has agreed to buy online marketing startup Advertising.com Inc. for $435 million in cash, it said Thursday, in a move aimed at shoring up its ad business among mounting competition from Internet rivals."
Personally, I would have postponed this press release a few days, following the theft of 92 million customer ids for spam purposes...
Personally, I would have postponed this press release a few days, following the theft of 92 million customer ids for spam purposes...
InfoWorld: Beehive gains Eclipse support
InfoWorld: Beehive gains Eclipse support: "BEA Systems Inc.'s Project Beehive will get a boost next Monday when the company announces at JavaOne that the Eclipse organization is working on a 'top level' project that will support the product, according to sources.
Project Beehive, announced last month, was heralded by the company as the industry's first open source foundation for building service-oriented architectures and enterprise-class Java based applications. It is based on BEA's WebLogic Workshop application framework."
Project Beehive, announced last month, was heralded by the company as the industry's first open source foundation for building service-oriented architectures and enterprise-class Java based applications. It is based on BEA's WebLogic Workshop application framework."
Gmail invitations
Gmail invitations The nice folks at Google gave me a bunch more Gmail invitations; let me know if you want one -- pbokelly @ gmail.com
Thursday, June 24, 2004
InformationWeek > High-Performance Computing > Microsoft To Develop 'High Performance' Windows > June 23, 2004
InformationWeek > High-Performance Computing > Microsoft To Develop 'High Performance' Windows > June 23, 2004 "The software, due in the second half of 2005, represents a different approach to high-end computing than the company's currently available DataCenter edition of Windows. DataCenter is designed for use on symmetric multiprocessing servers, where a single version of Windows can run on up to 64 processors. Microsoft's in-development High-Performance Computing platform will split the workload across many smaller machines, each of which has its own imprint of Windows.
Microsoft plans to aim Windows Server 2003, HPC edition, at companies in life sciences, engineering, finance, and other industries where highly scalable systems built with relatively low-cost hardware are being applied to demanding applications. "Parallel-computing clusters are increasingly being seen in the enterprise," Microsoft product manager Dennis Oldroyd says. "It's been the domain of academia and research. Now, with low-cost standardized hardware, it's becoming less of a niche play."
Microsoft plans to aim Windows Server 2003, HPC edition, at companies in life sciences, engineering, finance, and other industries where highly scalable systems built with relatively low-cost hardware are being applied to demanding applications. "Parallel-computing clusters are increasingly being seen in the enterprise," Microsoft product manager Dennis Oldroyd says. "It's been the domain of academia and research. Now, with low-cost standardized hardware, it's becoming less of a niche play."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Comdex event canceled for '04
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Comdex event canceled for '04: "Among the diehards was Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who has delivered a keynote speech every year since 1983. His father even came to help with the slide projector at the first show.
Gates' annual opening-night speech became a highlight of the show, and a chance for him to share his vision for the industry. "
Gates' annual opening-night speech became a highlight of the show, and a chance for him to share his vision for the industry. "
The New York Times > Business > Microsoft Tells Court It Won't Be a Rival to Oracle
The New York Times > Business > Microsoft Tells Court It Won't Be a Rival to Oracle "While Microsoft is not a litigant in the antitrust trial, the company's strategy in business software looms large in the government's case.
"It is not true we intend to move into the space," Mr. Burgum testified. "Enterprise software is about few customers, very high prices and long negotiations. Microsoft's strength is low prices, high volume, packaged software."
Mr. Burgum, who runs the Microsoft Business Solutions division, said Microsoft determined it would take "years and years and years" for the company to create products and train a sales force focused on the enterprise market. "That would be a formidable task that would take more money than Microsoft would be willing to commit," he said.
Mr. Burgum added that his division, which was formed by Microsoft's acquisition of Great Plains Software in 2001 and Navision in 2002, was still losing money.
...
In the cross-examination of Mr. Burgum, Dan Wall, Oracle's lead lawyer, pointed to internal Microsoft documents in which company executives described their intent to sell Microsoft programs like Axapta to large corporations.
"They absolutely have designs on the large corporations," Mr. Wall said in an interview, referring to Microsoft's software strategy. Calling Mr. Burgum's direct testimony an "exercise in semantics," Mr. Wall said it was critical to look at Microsoft's intent to supply a "full solution stack," from the operating system to enterprise applications."
"It is not true we intend to move into the space," Mr. Burgum testified. "Enterprise software is about few customers, very high prices and long negotiations. Microsoft's strength is low prices, high volume, packaged software."
Mr. Burgum, who runs the Microsoft Business Solutions division, said Microsoft determined it would take "years and years and years" for the company to create products and train a sales force focused on the enterprise market. "That would be a formidable task that would take more money than Microsoft would be willing to commit," he said.
Mr. Burgum added that his division, which was formed by Microsoft's acquisition of Great Plains Software in 2001 and Navision in 2002, was still losing money.
...
In the cross-examination of Mr. Burgum, Dan Wall, Oracle's lead lawyer, pointed to internal Microsoft documents in which company executives described their intent to sell Microsoft programs like Axapta to large corporations.
"They absolutely have designs on the large corporations," Mr. Wall said in an interview, referring to Microsoft's software strategy. Calling Mr. Burgum's direct testimony an "exercise in semantics," Mr. Wall said it was critical to look at Microsoft's intent to supply a "full solution stack," from the operating system to enterprise applications."
MSN Announces Comprehensive Worldwide Upgrade to MSN Hotmail
MSN Announces Comprehensive Worldwide Upgrade to MSN Hotmail: "MSN? Hotmail?, the world's most popular free Web-based e-mail service, will undergo a major upgrade, delivering customers world-class e-mail protection as well as enhanced storage to satisfy all their needs. Starting in early July, MSN will roll out free e-mail anti-virus protection to all the 170 million MSN Hotmail customers worldwide, making MSN Hotmail the only free global e-mail service to both scan and clean incoming and outgoing e-mail for viruses and worms before they can enter a customer's inbox. MSN also announced it will bring increased storage - 250MB inboxes - to free MSN Hotmail customers in multiple markets and will introduce MSN Hotmail Plus, an upgraded premium Web service to help customers get the most out of MSN Hotmail.
...
The upgraded premium Web service called MSN Hotmail Plus is designed for customers who want to get more out of their MSN Hotmail account. MSN Hotmail Plus will be priced at $19.95* per year in the United States and will provide customers with virtually infinite storage - 2 GB of online storage and the ability to send 20MB attachments, as well as additional offline storage limited only by the size of their computer hard drive. MSN Hotmail Plus subscribers will receive additional benefits, including a more streamlined Web e-mail experience with no graphical advertisements and no account expiration."
...
The upgraded premium Web service called MSN Hotmail Plus is designed for customers who want to get more out of their MSN Hotmail account. MSN Hotmail Plus will be priced at $19.95* per year in the United States and will provide customers with virtually infinite storage - 2 GB of online storage and the ability to send 20MB attachments, as well as additional offline storage limited only by the size of their computer hard drive. MSN Hotmail Plus subscribers will receive additional benefits, including a more streamlined Web e-mail experience with no graphical advertisements and no account expiration."
WSJ.com - Personal Technology
WSJ.com - Personal Technology: "Personally, I plan to stick with Microsoft Office. Despite my distaste for Microsoft's monopoly, it does the job and is reasonably priced for consumers. But, if you're looking for an alternative, try WordPerfect."
Walt trashes Evermore Integrated Office, doesn't think StarOffice/OpenOffice rates a revised review, and thinks WordPerfect Office, at ~$90 (student/teacher license) for home users, is reasonable. Of course, you can also get the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition for list price of $149 ($125.99 at Amazon at the moment).
Walt trashes Evermore Integrated Office, doesn't think StarOffice/OpenOffice rates a revised review, and thinks WordPerfect Office, at ~$90 (student/teacher license) for home users, is reasonable. Of course, you can also get the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition for list price of $149 ($125.99 at Amazon at the moment).
WSJ.com - Microsoft Says Flirting With SAP Was Partly To Battle IBM
WSJ.com - Microsoft Says Flirting With SAP Was Partly To Battle IBM: "Gates also ruminated about an SAP acquisition in a June 7, 2003 e-mail to Ballmer.
'Another thought that came to mind is that it's time we bought SAP,' he wrote. 'Given our view of the need to strengthen our platform and our willingness to use value to do it, it seems interesting.'
But in the same e-mail, Gates also hedged his bets.
'Thinking about this PeopleSoft bid by Oracle made me wonder if we should approach them and suggest a minority investment to bolster their independence in return for a modest platform commitment,' he wrote."
Mission accomplished -- in part thanks to Oracle -- apparently without the minority investment.
'Another thought that came to mind is that it's time we bought SAP,' he wrote. 'Given our view of the need to strengthen our platform and our willingness to use value to do it, it seems interesting.'
But in the same e-mail, Gates also hedged his bets.
'Thinking about this PeopleSoft bid by Oracle made me wonder if we should approach them and suggest a minority investment to bolster their independence in return for a modest platform commitment,' he wrote."
Mission accomplished -- in part thanks to Oracle -- apparently without the minority investment.
WSJ.com - Microsoft Plans 'Starter' Version Of Windows for Asian Markets
WSJ.com - Microsoft Plans 'Starter' Version Of Windows for Asian Markets: "Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a version of its Windows operating system geared toward beginning computer users in Thailand and Malaysia starting this September.
The offering, dubbed Windows XP Starter Edition, will be part of government-sponsored programs aimed at providing more affordable personal computers in those countries.
The system won't have all the functions of Windows XP offered in the U.S., but it will have new features tailored to first-time users, Microsoft spokeswoman Heidi Reys said.
She said the starter edition will have many of the typical Windows features, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, but the company wouldn't provide details of what the system will lack."
The offering, dubbed Windows XP Starter Edition, will be part of government-sponsored programs aimed at providing more affordable personal computers in those countries.
The system won't have all the functions of Windows XP offered in the U.S., but it will have new features tailored to first-time users, Microsoft spokeswoman Heidi Reys said.
She said the starter edition will have many of the typical Windows features, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, but the company wouldn't provide details of what the system will lack."
Boston.com / Business / Technology / Salesforce.com soars 56% in debut, to $1.7b in value
Boston.com / Business / Technology / Salesforce.com soars 56% in debut, to $1.7b in value "The online software pioneer's shares rose $6.20 from their initial public offering price to close at $17.20. The performance, which left Salesforce.com with a $1.7 billion market value, outstripped the average first-day gain of 13 percent posted by companies that have gone public so far this year, according to Renaissance Capital, a Greenwich, Conn., research firm.
...
The biggest difference between Salesforce.com and yesteryear's Internet companies shows up on the income statement. Unlike early dot-com firms, Salesforce.com makes money, earning $3.5 million on revenue of $96 million in its last fiscal year, ended in January. The company posted a profit of $437,000 on revenue of $35 million during the first quarter of the current year."
Oh, so that explains why Salesforce.com now has a market cap greater than, e.g., Macromedia and Sybase. The bubble is back -- oh joy...
...
The biggest difference between Salesforce.com and yesteryear's Internet companies shows up on the income statement. Unlike early dot-com firms, Salesforce.com makes money, earning $3.5 million on revenue of $96 million in its last fiscal year, ended in January. The company posted a profit of $437,000 on revenue of $35 million during the first quarter of the current year."
Oh, so that explains why Salesforce.com now has a market cap greater than, e.g., Macromedia and Sybase. The bubble is back -- oh joy...
Boston.com / Business / Technology / US case vs. Oracle boosted [by Microsoft]
Boston.com / Business / Technology / US case vs. Oracle boosted [by Microsoft] "During his testimony, Burgum told US District Judge Vaughn Walker, who is presiding over the case, that ''there's a gap" in the functionality of its business applications software that renders it unsuitable for the computing needs of large corporations.
''It would take years and years and years" for Microsoft to match the capabilities of software made by SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft.
Burgum said Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft doesn't have plans to beef up its software to handle the needs of large corporations."
That's a bit perplexing.
''It would take years and years and years" for Microsoft to match the capabilities of software made by SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft.
Burgum said Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft doesn't have plans to beef up its software to handle the needs of large corporations."
That's a bit perplexing.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Hotmail to offer 250MB of free storage | CNET News.com
Hotmail to offer 250MB of free storage | CNET News.com "Microsoft said Wednesday that it will boost storage limits in its Hotmail Web e-mail service, a move intended to counter similar steps taken by rivals Google and Yahoo.
The upgrade will increase Hotmail's free e-mail storage limits from 2 megabytes to 250MB and its paid e-mail service, which costs $19.95 a year, from 10MB to 2 gigabytes. The changes will begin in early July."
The upgrade will increase Hotmail's free e-mail storage limits from 2 megabytes to 250MB and its paid e-mail service, which costs $19.95 a year, from 10MB to 2 gigabytes. The changes will begin in early July."
WSJ.com - Salesforce Shares Climb In Public Trading Debut
WSJ.com - Salesforce Shares Climb In Public Trading Debut: "Salesforce.com Inc. shares rose sharply in their trading debut Wednesday, marking a triumph for the software company that weathered a series of setbacks and securities-law gaffes en route to the initial public offering.
After opening at the $11 offering price, shares of Salesforce.com, a customer-relations software company based in San Francisco, surged $6.20, or 56%, to close at $17.20 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The initial public offering of 10 million shares, led by Morgan Stanley, priced above estimates of $9 to $10 a share. That range was raised earlier this week from previous estimates of $7.50 to $8.50. The strong demand for the shares came despite some high-profile mistakes along the way to the public markets, including an earnings restatement and mandated delay in marketing the IPO because of comments made by the company's chief executive."
After opening at the $11 offering price, shares of Salesforce.com, a customer-relations software company based in San Francisco, surged $6.20, or 56%, to close at $17.20 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The initial public offering of 10 million shares, led by Morgan Stanley, priced above estimates of $9 to $10 a share. That range was raised earlier this week from previous estimates of $7.50 to $8.50. The strong demand for the shares came despite some high-profile mistakes along the way to the public markets, including an earnings restatement and mandated delay in marketing the IPO because of comments made by the company's chief executive."
WSJ.com - AOL Employee Is Accused Of Selling Names to Spammer
WSJ.com - AOL Employee Is Accused Of Selling Names to Spammer: "An America Online software engineer was charged Wednesday with harvesting a list of 92 million customer screen names that was eventually used to send spam.
...
Mr. Smathers, working at AOL offices in Dulles, Va., stole the list of screen names and sold it to another man, Sean Dunaway, of Las Vegas, who repeatedly sold the list to spammers, federal prosecutors said in a criminal complaint."
...
Mr. Smathers, working at AOL offices in Dulles, Va., stole the list of screen names and sold it to another man, Sean Dunaway, of Las Vegas, who repeatedly sold the list to spammers, federal prosecutors said in a criminal complaint."
Organizer cancels Comdex 2004 | CNET News.com
Organizer cancels Comdex 2004 | CNET News.com: "Computer trade show Comdex, once the biggest event on the tech calendar, has been canceled this year, a victim of the growing interest in shows emphasizing consumer electronics and specialist IT gear. "
I suspect not many people are upset about this...
I suspect not many people are upset about this...
Don Box's Spoutlet: More on Taligent
Don Box's Spoutlet: More on Taligent: "Also interesting was my chance conversation with Chris Lovett, dev lead and architect of the XML editor in Whidbey. He happened to mention that he was at Taligent, and had numerous insights into why the project ended the way it did. "
Don Box's Spoutlet: Logan on the API War
Don Box's Spoutlet: Logan on the API War "Indigo (one of the three "pillars of Longhorn") does in fact install on XP and Windows Server 2003. The experience on all three platforms should be comparable.
Also, for those who can still stand to look at COM, Indigo should be quite usable using COM APIs (e.g., CoCreateInstance, CoGetObject, CoSetSecurityBlanket), so for a lot your COM skills will still apply.
I know its fun to paint MSFT as clueless dolts who don't care about developer or customer investments, but the reality isn't quite that black and white."
Also, for those who can still stand to look at COM, Indigo should be quite usable using COM APIs (e.g., CoCreateInstance, CoGetObject, CoSetSecurityBlanket), so for a lot your COM skills will still apply.
I know its fun to paint MSFT as clueless dolts who don't care about developer or customer investments, but the reality isn't quite that black and white."
Digital Media Europe: News - Lucent and Microsoft TV to collaborate in digital TV services provision
Digital Media Europe: News - Lucent and Microsoft TV to collaborate in digital TV services provision "Microsoft and Lucent Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol television (IPTV) software platform with Lucent solutions to enable telecommunications providers to add digital TV services to their existing broadband product offerings."
SBC plans billions on high-speed fiber | CNET News.com
SBC plans billions on high-speed fiber | CNET News.com "Hoping to better compete against cable and cell phone service providers, SBC Communications has begun a five-year, multibillion construction project to deploy high-speed fiber into much more of its network.
The $4 billion to $6 billion project will enable SBC to sell broadband that's more than five times faster than the service the company currently offers, SBC Chairman Ed Whitacre said here Tuesday during a keynote address at the telephone trade show Supercomm 2004. Over that higher-speed connection, SBC now has tentative plans to sell television programming using Microsoft's Internet-based TV technology, which it will begin testing later this year, along with less expensive Net phone dialing."
The $4 billion to $6 billion project will enable SBC to sell broadband that's more than five times faster than the service the company currently offers, SBC Chairman Ed Whitacre said here Tuesday during a keynote address at the telephone trade show Supercomm 2004. Over that higher-speed connection, SBC now has tentative plans to sell television programming using Microsoft's Internet-based TV technology, which it will begin testing later this year, along with less expensive Net phone dialing."
The New York Times > Science > Cones, Curves, Shells, Towers: He Made Paper Jump to Life
The New York Times > Science > Cones, Curves, Shells, Towers: He Made Paper Jump to Life "On the mantel of a quiet suburban home here stands a curious object resembling a small set of organ pipes nestled into a neat, white case. At first glance it does not seem possible that such a complex, curving form could have been folded from a single sheet of paper, and yet it was.
The construction is one of an astonishing collection of paper objects folded by Dr. David Huffman, a former professor of computer science at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a pioneer in computational origami, an emerging field with an improbable name but surprisingly practical applications.
...
Dr. Huffman's folding was a private activity. Professionally he worked in the field of coding and information theory. As a student at M.I.T. in the 1950's, he discovered a minimal way of encoding information known as Huffman Codes, which are now used to help compress MP3 music files and JPEG images. Dr. Peter Newman of the Computer Science Laboratory at the Stanford Research Institute said that in everything Dr. Huffman did, he was obsessed with elegance and simplicity. "He had an ability to visualize problems and to see things that nobody had seen before," Dr. Newman said."
See full article for a couple amazing photos.
The construction is one of an astonishing collection of paper objects folded by Dr. David Huffman, a former professor of computer science at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a pioneer in computational origami, an emerging field with an improbable name but surprisingly practical applications.
...
Dr. Huffman's folding was a private activity. Professionally he worked in the field of coding and information theory. As a student at M.I.T. in the 1950's, he discovered a minimal way of encoding information known as Huffman Codes, which are now used to help compress MP3 music files and JPEG images. Dr. Peter Newman of the Computer Science Laboratory at the Stanford Research Institute said that in everything Dr. Huffman did, he was obsessed with elegance and simplicity. "He had an ability to visualize problems and to see things that nobody had seen before," Dr. Newman said."
See full article for a couple amazing photos.
The New York Times > Technology > Salesforce Raises $110 Million After Delay
The New York Times > Technology > Salesforce Raises $110 Million After Delay "Salesforce.com Inc., a maker of Internet-based sales software, raised $110 million in an initial public offering yesterday.
The company, based in San Francisco, sold 10 million shares at $11 each. It had initially planned to sell the shares at $7.50 to $8.50 each, according to regulatory filings."
The company, based in San Francisco, sold 10 million shares at $11 each. It had initially planned to sell the shares at $7.50 to $8.50 each, according to regulatory filings."
Boston.com / Business / Technology / WiFi set for landing
Boston.com / Business / Technology / WiFi set for landing: "After more than a month of testing, Logan officials are launching a new two-tier WiFi service that will give travelers free access to flight schedules, airport information, and news headlines at LoganWiFi.com.
Unlimited access to the Internet will cost $7.95 a day; no hourly rate is offered.
The $2 million-plus telecommunications network that's powering the new WiFi access in terminals B, C, and D -- the international terminal, E, began offering WiFi in February -- will also support secure private wireless access for airlines, officials at the Boston airport, and State Police. They can use the network for everything from gaining access to law-enforcement databases to processing baggage."
Unlimited access to the Internet will cost $7.95 a day; no hourly rate is offered.
The $2 million-plus telecommunications network that's powering the new WiFi access in terminals B, C, and D -- the international terminal, E, began offering WiFi in February -- will also support secure private wireless access for airlines, officials at the Boston airport, and State Police. They can use the network for everything from gaining access to law-enforcement databases to processing baggage."
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Downtown Boston.NET begins July 1st 5pm with CLR Internals
Downtown Boston.NET begins July 1st 5pm with CLR Internals Great speaker/topic and free pizza as well...
The New York Times > Business > Google Edits Its Prospectus to Highlight Risk of Loss
The New York Times > Business > Google Edits Its Prospectus to Highlight Risk of Loss "Google revised the document it will give prospective investors yesterday, to state even more pointedly that the unusual auction process for its initial stock sale could cause its shares to fall after the offering.
"If your objective is to make a short-term profit by selling the shares you purchase in the offering shortly after trading begins, you should not submit a bid in the auction," the revised prospectus stated."
"If your objective is to make a short-term profit by selling the shares you purchase in the offering shortly after trading begins, you should not submit a bid in the auction," the revised prospectus stated."
Microsoft still a collaboration lightweight - silicon.com
Microsoft still a collaboration lightweight - silicon.com "Despite appearances, Microsoft has been a player in the collaboration marketplace for years thanks to its email clients and server platforms. But of late, it's been trying to make inroads into the wider collaboration space with new technologies designed to push messaging, conferencing and portals into the mainstream.
It would be too easy to suggest that this is another Microsoft exercise in customer lock-in as it diversifies to avoid stagnation in its traditional markets. After all, it seems pretty clear that enterprises that already own Microsoft infrastructure would want to consider wider collaborative options. Still, it seems the company has some way to go to convince even this captive market of its neophyte talents."
It would be too easy to suggest that this is another Microsoft exercise in customer lock-in as it diversifies to avoid stagnation in its traditional markets. After all, it seems pretty clear that enterprises that already own Microsoft infrastructure would want to consider wider collaborative options. Still, it seems the company has some way to go to convince even this captive market of its neophyte talents."
CRN | Microsoft Has New Take On Virtualization
CRN | Microsoft Has New Take On Virtualization "Microsoft promises to ease server application migration and simplify test environments with the forthcoming release of Virtual Server 2005, an application that virtualizes the Windows 2003 Server operating system. Virtual Server 2005 allows administrators to concurrently run multiple operating systems or multiple instances of Windows 2003 Server.
While server virtualization is nothing new, Microsoft's approach is different from competitors such as VMware. Virtual Server 2005 creates its virtual machines on top of Windows 2003 Server, compared with products that perform virtualization at the hardware level.
Both styles of virtualization have advantages and disadvantages. Hardware-level virtualization provides an operating system-agnostic approach, but often lacks tight integration with host operating systems. On the other hand, Microsoft's approach requires Windows 2003 Server, but Virtual Server 2005 can leverage the management and performance tools included in Windows 2003 Server, making virtualization almost transparent."
While server virtualization is nothing new, Microsoft's approach is different from competitors such as VMware. Virtual Server 2005 creates its virtual machines on top of Windows 2003 Server, compared with products that perform virtualization at the hardware level.
Both styles of virtualization have advantages and disadvantages. Hardware-level virtualization provides an operating system-agnostic approach, but often lacks tight integration with host operating systems. On the other hand, Microsoft's approach requires Windows 2003 Server, but Virtual Server 2005 can leverage the management and performance tools included in Windows 2003 Server, making virtualization almost transparent."
Monday, June 21, 2004
WSJ.com - AOL Withdraws From Part Of Instant-Messaging Market
WSJ.com - AOL Withdraws From Part Of Instant-Messaging Market "In a move to lessen its involvement in the corporate instant message software business, America Online Inc. is expected to announce today that it will transfer about 150 customers of a corporate instant-messaging software product to IMlogic Inc., a closely held Waltham, Mass. provider of instant-message security and compliance software.
The AOL product, AIM Enterprise Gateway, which allows companies to manage their employees' use of AOL Instant Messenger, will be discontinued. The customers transferred in the deal will use IMlogic's IM Manager product, which also manages traffic on Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Messenger and Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo Messenger."
The AOL product, AIM Enterprise Gateway, which allows companies to manage their employees' use of AOL Instant Messenger, will be discontinued. The customers transferred in the deal will use IMlogic's IM Manager product, which also manages traffic on Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Messenger and Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo Messenger."
Dan Bricklin: Multics reunion and honoring Prof. Corbato
Dan Bricklin: Multics reunion and honoring Prof. Corbato: "Yesterday I attended the Multics Reunion at MIT. It consisted of a symposium during the day and a dinner in the evening honoring the head of the project, Prof. Fernando J. Corbato (known to all as Corby). Multics was a major OS project started in 1965, which influenced many operating systems since, most notably Unix. I worked on it from January 1970 until September 1973. It is where I met Bob Frankston.
...
Why was Multics so secure? Several reasons, including: Buffer overflows are the single most common source of security vulnerabilities today, but Multics didn't have them. Why: The system was written in PL/I, not C, which handles oversize strings well. The hardware was used (unlike today's x86's) to keep execute bits off on data and to make address overflows fault or wrap back into data and not code or other data. Stacks grew in a positive direction, not negative like today, making it hard to overwrite subroutine return information (the common exploit today). Also, security was a primary goal of Multics, built in from the first -- it was not an option."
...
Why was Multics so secure? Several reasons, including: Buffer overflows are the single most common source of security vulnerabilities today, but Multics didn't have them. Why: The system was written in PL/I, not C, which handles oversize strings well. The hardware was used (unlike today's x86's) to keep execute bits off on data and to make address overflows fault or wrap back into data and not code or other data. Stacks grew in a positive direction, not negative like today, making it hard to overwrite subroutine return information (the common exploit today). Also, security was a primary goal of Multics, built in from the first -- it was not an option."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft gets digital pep talk
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Microsoft gets digital pep talk: "Should Microsoft dump its digital-rights management system?
Cory Doctorow, a London-based writer and outreach coordinator for the Electronic Freedom Foundation, gave a talk last week at Microsoft's research division proposing just that.
DRM systems, designed to prevent unauthorized use of music and other files, don't work and are bad for society, Doctorow said, according to a transcript of the speech he posted online. Microsoft's customers don't want their music locked on to computers, only to disappear when the hard drive crashes, he said.
Microsoft has stood up for its customers and for progress in the past, and it should do it again by making a music player that plays songs in any format, he said.
'This is a company that looks the world's roughest, toughest antitrust regulators in the eye and laughs,' he said. 'Compared to antitrust people, copyright lawmakers are pantywaists. You can take them with your arm behind your back.' "
Cory Doctorow, a London-based writer and outreach coordinator for the Electronic Freedom Foundation, gave a talk last week at Microsoft's research division proposing just that.
DRM systems, designed to prevent unauthorized use of music and other files, don't work and are bad for society, Doctorow said, according to a transcript of the speech he posted online. Microsoft's customers don't want their music locked on to computers, only to disappear when the hard drive crashes, he said.
Microsoft has stood up for its customers and for progress in the past, and it should do it again by making a music player that plays songs in any format, he said.
'This is a company that looks the world's roughest, toughest antitrust regulators in the eye and laughs,' he said. 'Compared to antitrust people, copyright lawmakers are pantywaists. You can take them with your arm behind your back.' "
The New York Times > Technology > Advertising: The Internet Ad You Are About to See Has Already Read Your E-Mail
The New York Times > Technology > Advertising: The Internet Ad You Are About to See Has Already Read Your E-Mail "But the service turns out to have some interesting self-imposed constraints. Google has created what is the electronic equivalent of a television network's standards and practices department to determine which e-mail messages are suitable for ads and which are not.
Google will not display ads on e-mail messages with words related to sex, guns, drugs and other topics it considers off limits. "We want the ads to be family friendly," said Susan Wojcicki, Google's director of product management. "There are some topics for ads we have decided that are not appropriate to be shown on e-mail."
Google will not display ads on e-mail messages with words related to sex, guns, drugs and other topics it considers off limits. "We want the ads to be family friendly," said Susan Wojcicki, Google's director of product management. "There are some topics for ads we have decided that are not appropriate to be shown on e-mail."
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Don Box's Spoutlet: The Taligent Effect
Don Box's Spoutlet: The Taligent Effect "The Taligent effect is what happens when a group of people put adherence to a software trend first and lose sight of the value of shipping software that people will actually use.
Taligent was Apple's (and later IBM's) attempt to rewrite an existing product using the trends of the day. The product was an operating system (first called "Pink" when it was at Apple). The technology trend was objects, but because the project hung around so long without shipping, the trend at the end of the project was frameworks.
What was the net artifact of Taligent? Three beautifullyproducedbooks from Addison Wesley. That's it. No DLLs or EXEs that I can see.
...
Given the amount of excitement over SOA, I'm confident that there are several projects that are repeating the exercise as you read this.
As always, the book will likely be better than the movie."
Taligent was Apple's (and later IBM's) attempt to rewrite an existing product using the trends of the day. The product was an operating system (first called "Pink" when it was at Apple). The technology trend was objects, but because the project hung around so long without shipping, the trend at the end of the project was frameworks.
What was the net artifact of Taligent? Three beautifullyproducedbooks from Addison Wesley. That's it. No DLLs or EXEs that I can see.
...
Given the amount of excitement over SOA, I'm confident that there are several projects that are repeating the exercise as you read this.
As always, the book will likely be better than the movie."
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Joe Beda's EightyPercent.net: Defending the rich client
Joe Beda's EightyPercent.net: Defending the rich client "The real question is: What are we to do? Without arguing about the fine points, we are stuck with a choice. We can either continue adding doodad on top of doodad to Win32 (and maintain backward compat from an API and binary perspective) or we can try and make a fresh start with WinFX and set ourselves up for the future. Look at the timelines: Windows 1.0 with the start of Win16 came out in 1985. Windows 95, with the mainstream advent of Win32 came out in 1995. It is now 2004.
Now is the time for Microsoft to either watch the Windows rich client sail in to the sunset or to do its best to reinvigorate it. The only way to make this happen is to go "all-in" and think big. We want to empower developers by making a much richer, network connected and modern API for programming on windows. WinFX is all about taking what we've learned over the last 20 years and creating a solid platform for the next 20 years. We will provide the right API, backward compat for old applications and a great bridge between the two for developers. If we really want developers to write code that only runs on windows, we have to provide features and enticements that they can't get anywhere else. While I don't think that it is too late, I do think that we have our work cut out for us."
Longhorn team member response to Joel and Jon, via Scoble (BTW it was VisiCalc and not 1-2-3 at PDC 2003)
Now is the time for Microsoft to either watch the Windows rich client sail in to the sunset or to do its best to reinvigorate it. The only way to make this happen is to go "all-in" and think big. We want to empower developers by making a much richer, network connected and modern API for programming on windows. WinFX is all about taking what we've learned over the last 20 years and creating a solid platform for the next 20 years. We will provide the right API, backward compat for old applications and a great bridge between the two for developers. If we really want developers to write code that only runs on windows, we have to provide features and enticements that they can't get anywhere else. While I don't think that it is too late, I do think that we have our work cut out for us."
Longhorn team member response to Joel and Jon, via Scoble (BTW it was VisiCalc and not 1-2-3 at PDC 2003)
Nokia cash boosts Mozilla | CNET News.com
Nokia cash boosts Mozilla | CNET News.com "Nokia has funded a cell phone browser project at the Mozilla Foundation, breathing new life into the open-source effort once written off as Microsoft roadkill.
Sources familiar with the deal this week confirmed that Nokia paid Mozilla to produce a cell phone browser based on the foundation's open-source code base. The resulting project, called "."Minimo," has produced a workable prototype, or "pre-alpha milestone
Sources familiar with the deal this week confirmed that Nokia paid Mozilla to produce a cell phone browser based on the foundation's open-source code base. The resulting project, called "."Minimo," has produced a workable prototype, or "pre-alpha milestone
Friday, June 18, 2004
java.net: Don't Make me Eat the Elephant Again [Jun. 15, 2004]
java.net: Don't Make me Eat the Elephant Again [Jun. 15, 2004] "When I got an early glimpse of the EJB3 directions from the ServerSide conference and from the Colorado Software Symposium, I was tremendously excited. I've since tempered my enthusiasm, but it's been difficult to put those intangible reservations into words. In this article, I attempt to put some of my initial misgivings into solid, logical arguments."
Nick Bradbury: How Microsoft Lost the API War
Nick Bradbury: How Microsoft Lost the API War: "Joel Spolsky's recent essay on Microsoft's API shift is a slam dunk. It's a long article (as blog posts go), but it's a must-read for developers.
Funny enough, I seriously considered moving my development to .NET by writing FeedDemon 1.0 in C#. The C# language itself is very nice, and .NET certainly makes some things a lot easier than Win32. But several existing RSS readers received poor reviews due to their .NET-related memory usage, and requiring the 20MB .NET runtime is suicide for most downloadable shareware apps. So, in the end I stuck with Delphi, which I'd used to create both TopStyle and HomeSite. Delphi creates standalone (ie: no runtime) Win32 executables, which for the moment makes it a better choice for shareware."
Funny enough, I seriously considered moving my development to .NET by writing FeedDemon 1.0 in C#. The C# language itself is very nice, and .NET certainly makes some things a lot easier than Win32. But several existing RSS readers received poor reviews due to their .NET-related memory usage, and requiring the 20MB .NET runtime is suicide for most downloadable shareware apps. So, in the end I stuck with Delphi, which I'd used to create both TopStyle and HomeSite. Delphi creates standalone (ie: no runtime) Win32 executables, which for the moment makes it a better choice for shareware."
ENT News | News: Windows to Hit 60 Percent of Server Unit Shipments by 2008
ENT News | News: Windows to Hit 60 Percent of Server Unit Shipments by 2008: "In terms of unit shipments, IDC expects Windows to dominate, capturing 60 percent of all server unit shipments in 2008. Linux-based servers will represent 29 percent of all server unit shipments by that time, the research firm projects.
The overall server system revenue pie for 2004 is expected to be $53 billion, 5 percent higher than the 2003 market. By 2008, IDC expects the market to grow to $60.8 billion.
While the IDC numbers have Windows and Linux shipments together accounting for nearly 90 percent of the market, the big profit margins will remain with Unix and other proprietary platforms."
The overall server system revenue pie for 2004 is expected to be $53 billion, 5 percent higher than the 2003 market. By 2008, IDC expects the market to grow to $60.8 billion.
While the IDC numbers have Windows and Linux shipments together accounting for nearly 90 percent of the market, the big profit margins will remain with Unix and other proprietary platforms."
Transition plan for hosted sites
Transition plan for hosted sites "A personal note of thanks to the members of the Weblogs.Com community whose sites were in limbo for this last week. I'm sorry the ride has been so rough.
A community that was fading slowly, seems to, in some ways, be coming back to life. It's a loop back to the beginning of weblogs. Some of the old comraderie is back, and it's something to behold.
Thanks for all the kind email expressing concern for me personally. What an inspiration!"
Dave Winer resurrects Weblogs.com content...
A community that was fading slowly, seems to, in some ways, be coming back to life. It's a loop back to the beginning of weblogs. Some of the old comraderie is back, and it's something to behold.
Thanks for all the kind email expressing concern for me personally. What an inspiration!"
Dave Winer resurrects Weblogs.com content...
Yahoo scraps enterprise IM | CNET News.com
Yahoo scraps enterprise IM | CNET News.com "Yahoo confirmed on Thursday that it is no longer selling a version of its popular instant-messaging service for corporations, ending the Web portal's attempt to sell IM as a software package.
The dropping of Yahoo Messenger Enterprise Edition marks the end of the Web portal's now-defunct enterprise software division. The unit was created in 2000 to sell customized Web portals and video conferencing services for internal use in corporations. But in October 2003, Yahoo scrapped the division and melded its businesses with their consumer counterparts."
The dropping of Yahoo Messenger Enterprise Edition marks the end of the Web portal's now-defunct enterprise software division. The unit was created in 2000 to sell customized Web portals and video conferencing services for internal use in corporations. But in October 2003, Yahoo scrapped the division and melded its businesses with their consumer counterparts."
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Upgraded Intel chips enhance graphics and sound
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Upgraded Intel chips enhance graphics and sound "Intel, whose integrated circuits run more than 80 percent of the world's PCs, is releasing chips such as Grantsdale to enhance the semiconductors that work with its main processor. Sharper graphics, lower power use and wireless Internet connections are more important to consumers and businesses than clock speed, the rate that electrical pulses move on a chip, investors said.
...
Intel's Siu demonstrated computers that will show multiple high-definition video pictures on 60-inch wide screens and play movie-theater-quality audio on multiple speakers without the addition of "hundreds of dollars of cards."
...
Intel's Siu demonstrated computers that will show multiple high-definition video pictures on 60-inch wide screens and play movie-theater-quality audio on multiple speakers without the addition of "hundreds of dollars of cards."
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Bloggers Up in Arms Over Closure of Weblogs.com
Bloggers Up in Arms Over Closure of Weblogs.com: "Blogging pioneer Dave Winer has shut down the Weblogs of about 3,000 users on weblogs.com, one of the first blogging sites.
"This is not a company here, this is a person," Winer said in the message. "To expect company-type service, well, that's just not going to happen." He said an imminent move and ongoing heart problems played a part in his decision to all but abandon the site. "There are other things on my mind, believe it or not," he wrote in a Wednesday post on Scripting News, one of the Internet's longest-running blogs."
"This is not a company here, this is a person," Winer said in the message. "To expect company-type service, well, that's just not going to happen." He said an imminent move and ongoing heart problems played a part in his decision to all but abandon the site. "There are other things on my mind, believe it or not," he wrote in a Wednesday post on Scripting News, one of the Internet's longest-running blogs."
Sleepycat Software Unveils Java Database Edition
Sleepycat Software Unveils Java Database Edition: "Running in step with the growing popularity of Java among the developer community, Sleepycat Software Inc. on Wednesday announced the availability of Berkeley DB Java Edition, a Java version of its flagship open-source database.
Berkeley DB Java Edition incorporates an open-source dual-license business model and has been built to allow the non-relational database to take advantage of Java's portability, deeply integrated threading, and ease of application development benefits, said officials of the Lincoln, Mass., company. "
Berkeley DB Java Edition incorporates an open-source dual-license business model and has been built to allow the non-relational database to take advantage of Java's portability, deeply integrated threading, and ease of application development benefits, said officials of the Lincoln, Mass., company. "
InfoWorld: Oracle buying BPM vendor Collaxa, sources say
InfoWorld: Oracle buying BPM vendor Collaxa, sources say: "Oracle Corp. is acquiring software startup Collaxa Inc. in a move to strengthen its application server by adding technology that will make it easier for companies to automate business processes, sources familiar with the plan said.
Most of the large middleware vendors, including IBM Corp. and BEA Systems Inc., have been adding business process management, or BPM, capabilities to their application servers. Several pure-play vendors, including Action Technologies Inc. and Intalio Inc., are also in the market.
Oracle hopes to bolster its Application Server 10g software by adding technology from Collaxa to the product, industry sources said. Based in Oracle's home town of Redwood Shores, California, privately-held Collaxa was founded in 2000 by employees from the former Netscape Communications Corp. and NetDynamics Inc., among others."
Most of the large middleware vendors, including IBM Corp. and BEA Systems Inc., have been adding business process management, or BPM, capabilities to their application servers. Several pure-play vendors, including Action Technologies Inc. and Intalio Inc., are also in the market.
Oracle hopes to bolster its Application Server 10g software by adding technology from Collaxa to the product, industry sources said. Based in Oracle's home town of Redwood Shores, California, privately-held Collaxa was founded in 2000 by employees from the former Netscape Communications Corp. and NetDynamics Inc., among others."
Microsoft Business Solutions Showcases ERP Strategy and Road Map
Microsoft Business Solutions Showcases ERP Strategy and Road Map: "Microsoft Business Solutions works closely with its value-added reseller partners and independent software vendor partners to ensure that each of the ERP products provides core financial management functionality and beyond to customers; each solution also offers unique features and functionality to meet the specific needs of different organizations based on size, industry, business processes and, in some cases, the geographies in which they conduct business.
Microsoft Axapta supports advanced manufacturing and supply chain management in addition to core financial management for the upper midmarket segment and for divisions of large organizations or multinationals.
Microsoft Great Plains offers midmarket segment businesses cross-industry financial management, with rich out-of-the-box functionality and a broad set of add-on solutions.
Microsoft Navision is also known for cross-industry financial management for the lower midmarket to midmarket segments, as well as for the ease with which it can be customized to accommodate the unique business processes of the local market in which it is implemented.
Microsoft Solomon provides financial management with particular strength in the areas of project management and accounting and distribution; the solution targets organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "
Microsoft Axapta supports advanced manufacturing and supply chain management in addition to core financial management for the upper midmarket segment and for divisions of large organizations or multinationals.
Microsoft Great Plains offers midmarket segment businesses cross-industry financial management, with rich out-of-the-box functionality and a broad set of add-on solutions.
Microsoft Navision is also known for cross-industry financial management for the lower midmarket to midmarket segments, as well as for the ease with which it can be customized to accommodate the unique business processes of the local market in which it is implemented.
Microsoft Solomon provides financial management with particular strength in the areas of project management and accounting and distribution; the solution targets organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "
Microsoft stock buyback may be in works
Microsoft stock buyback may be in works "Microsoft Corp. may be poised to repurchase billions of dollars worth of its stock to reduce its huge cash balance and improve its share price, a Goldman Sachs analyst says.
Rick Sherlund, who has followed the Redmond software company since it first sold shares to the public 18 years ago, wrote in a report published Monday that he expects the company to announce "a large share repurchase program and possibly a special distribution of cash, as well, to address the current cash position."
Microsoft has more than $56 billion in cash. Sherlund noted that it also has $15 billion in what he described as "strategic investments." Under one scenario, Sherlund wrote, the company could borrow an additional $30 billion and buy back as much as $100 billion of its stock. Microsoft is currently debt-free."
Rick Sherlund, who has followed the Redmond software company since it first sold shares to the public 18 years ago, wrote in a report published Monday that he expects the company to announce "a large share repurchase program and possibly a special distribution of cash, as well, to address the current cash position."
Microsoft has more than $56 billion in cash. Sherlund noted that it also has $15 billion in what he described as "strategic investments." Under one scenario, Sherlund wrote, the company could borrow an additional $30 billion and buy back as much as $100 billion of its stock. Microsoft is currently debt-free."
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