Nate Mook

Microsoft overnight announced packaging and pricing details for its next-generation Office System of client and server products, now officially named "Office 2007." The company is largely keeping prices the same as Office 2003, making minor changes to the suites it will offer.

Scheduled to be available by the end of this year, Office 2007 includes a new user interface that replaces the standard toolbars with "ribbons" offering features specific to the current task. Outlook 2007 has a few new features of its own, including a "To Do" bar for viewing mail, tasks and appointments in a single pane, and a built-in RSS reader.

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When trying to download the seven security updates released by Microsoft on Tuesday, many users found one of the patches continually failed to install. MS06-007 covered a denial of service attack in the Windows TCP/IP stack. In response, Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and updated the patch.

The issue only affected users trying to upgrade through Automatic Updates, Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services and Systems Management Server 2003 when using the ITMU. Microsoft has since resolved the problem and says the patch will be properly installed the next time Windows checks for updates. Users can also visit Windows Update manually.

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Sun Microsystems on Wednesday issued a beta release of Java Platform Standard Edition 6, the company's next-generation development language targeted at so-called Web 2.0 programmers. Perhaps most enticing for those new to Java, the update adds a framework for supporting popular scripting languages such as PHP.

Java SE 6 -- previously known by the code-name "Mustang" -- also leverages JavaScript and includes a full "Web services client stack," along with support for recent Web services specifications like JAX-WS 2.0 and JAXB 2.0. In addition, the release will bring support for Windows Vista.

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Japanese Nintendo DS owners will soon be able to watch TV and surf the Web on the handheld game console thanks to upcoming add-on cards. Nintendo has selected Opera to power the browsing capability, which utilizes the device's built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and touch screen.

The DS browser uses the same core as Opera's desktop software and employs the console's dual screens. Opera's rendering engine automatically formats Web pages specifically for the device.

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As Microsoft heralded the arrival of February's Patch Tuesday, Apple had its own Valentine's Day present for loyal users: the fifth update for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. The release tackles a number of minor issues in the operating system, including bugs in Safari and networking, along with a slew of Intel-related fixes.

With the first Intel iMacs already in customers' hands and Apple's MacBook Pro shipping this week, Apple has used Mac OS X 10.4.5 to correct small problems across a variety of applications, including Dashboard, QuickTime, Front Row, and with streaming media. All Mac OS X users can upgrade to the new version through the system's built-in Software Update mechanism.

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After four years in development, the Mozilla based Camino Web browser for Mac OS X has gone gold with the release of 1.0. Unlike Firefox, which employs XUL for its user interface, Camino was designed from the ground up using Apple's Aqua interface and native widgets for rendering Web sites.

Camino was initially started due to the lack of work being done to make Firefox feel like a real Mac application, and came before Apple launched its own Safari browser. Camino is now considered one of the fastest browsers available and remains popular despite efforts by Firefox developers to improve the Mac version.

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In his keynote address at the RSA Conference in San Jose Tuesday, Bill Gates outlined his vision for ensuring security on PCs and the growing number of connected devices. The Microsoft chairman also issued a call to action, saying the industry needs to support a "trust ecosystem."

Trust, said Gates, will be the foundation on which future security infrastructure is built. The idea is to establish relationships between people and businesses when it comes to PCs, similar to those that exist in the physical world. For example, Windows Vista will require low-level code to be signed and comply with strict policies.

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Microsoft on Tuesday rolled out a mobile version of Office Communicator, the company's instant messaging client designed for businesses that integrates with Live Communications Server. Communicator Mobile runs on Windows Mobile based devices, and sports a user interface similar to the desktop client.

Communicator serves as the preferred client for LCS 2005, which streamlines business communication and is the core of Microsoft's real-time collaboration vision. With Communicator, users have access to presence features that rout incoming messages based on a schedule, or offer additional availability data such as the next available meeting.

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Microsoft late Monday released the long awaited second beta of Windows Defender, formerly known as Windows AntiSpyware. Beta 2 incorporates a redesigned user interface and new threat level system for informing users of malware. Microsoft says the release is less intrusive and easier to use.

Windows Defender was officially named in November, and was designed to emphasize the product wasn't just about spyware. The tool came from Microsoft's acquisition of GIANT Software. The Redmond company has bulked up Defender Beta 2 with an improved detection engine and is integrating the technology directly into Windows Vista - much to the ire of some partners.

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While it's not yet ready to officially enter the Chinese market like rivals MSN, Yahoo and Google, AOL has launched a beta test for a Chinese language version of its Web portal. The site is designed to reach the Chinese speaking community in the United States, rather than the growing number of Internet users in China.

The new portal brings together Web search, blogs, e-mail and news from North America, Europe and Asia, AOL says, and will be available in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters. Video content will also be offered, including full-length movies and popular TV episodes from China.

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VeriSign on Monday announced it was joining the federated identity market, offering up a new solution for Web sites to authenticate users and joining forces with eBay, PayPal and Yahoo. The service will challenge established standards such as Passport and the Liberty Alliance Project backed by Sun.

VeriSign Identity Protection, or VIP, will initially be implemented PayPal and across Yahoo's Web properties. Later this year, SanDisk will launch USB devices with built-in VIP passwords, much like RSA's popular SecurID product. PayPal plans to offer the devices to customers as an added protection mechanism.

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Yahoo has released the first major update to its Yahoo! Music Engine software since the product's launch in August of last year. Atop the list of new features is a streamlined user interface, less memory usage and a "device wizard" for creating automated playlists on portable players.

Yahoo! Music Engine (YME) integrates with Yahoo! Music Unlimited, the company's subscription music store that enables customers to download as many tracks as they wish, and optionally transfer them to portable devices. Pricing runs $10 per month when purchased annually.

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Italian automaker Fiat has joined forces with Microsoft to unveil a voice-activated in-car communications system called Blue&Me at the Geneva Motorshow this month. Blue&Me is based on Windows Mobile for Automotive and offers a wide range of functionality, along with connectivity to wireless devices.

For example, drivers can activate their mobile phones and make calls using the car's built-in Bluetooth support. A USB port in the glove box allows drivers to connect their own MP3 files for listening on the road. The Windows platform promises support for any number of devices, rather thank locking users into specific hardware. Fiat's Alfa Romeo will be the first line to offer the Blue&Me system.

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With the first public preview release of Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft has outlined its plans to bring RSS into the core of Windows, opening up APIs and a "Common Feed List" for all applications to access. The advantage, the company says, is an end to bothering with OPML thanks to a unified storage for feed data.

OPML, or Outline Processor Markup Language, is an XML format for outlines that has been popularized for use in exchanging lists of RSS feeds between RSS aggregators. For example, a user can export a list of feeds from one location into OPML and easily import them into another application or Web based service.

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Microsoft on Wednesday began shipping Windows Server 2003 R2, which was released to manufacturing in early December. The release serves as an interim update to Microsoft's flagship server OS between Windows Server 2003 SP1 and Longhorn Server, due in 2007.

R2 has already begin shipping on servers from HP, Dell and IBM, and Microsoft will be replacing current Windows Server 2003 editions in retail sales channels with the new release. In addition, Microsoft rolled out its "Midsize Business Promotion," which bundles R2, Exchange Server 2003 and MOM Workgroup Edition for a 20 percent discount.

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