Development on Windows 7 Began Before Windows Vista Was Even Over

Whether Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, likes it or not, Windows 7 fresh out of Redmond's oven took the limelight away from XP SP3 and Vista SP1, as the service packs are still cooking.

Microsoft is undoubtedly translucent to perfection on Windows 7... Well, not entirely. But as coders know... perfection is never achievable. This principle of building code also applies to translucency.


So, Windows 7 Ultimate edition Build 6.1 (Build 6519.1.x86fre.winmain.071220-1525) ISO 6519.1.071220-1525 is out and about. And leaked screenshots, videos and even torrents have been made available to the public. The Redmond company did manage to stir up some confusion, by claiming that Windows 7 was still in its planning phase. In this context, the three-year timeframe that Microsoft said would separate Vista from Windows 7, now delivered the next version of Windows in 2011. Not such a great perspective.

But as far as Microsoft is concerned, planning actually means building. The Redmond company has been developing Windows 7 throughout 2007, but as early as 2006? When Kevin Kutz, Director, Windows Client, explained that Microsoft would not talk about Windows 7. On February 13, 2007, he stated: "we are not giving official guidance to the public yet about the next version of Windows, other than that we’re working on it." And this was just two weeks after Windows Vista hit the shelves.

"It's not a state secret that we're in the early stages of development for the next version of Windows (given the internal name of Windows '7'). The specifics of what comes next are always the subject of fevered and sometimes inaccurate speculation, but you can be sure that we're not resting on our laurels. Windows is one of the most complex and sophisticated pieces of software in existence, and since it's about the most widely-used piece of software on the planet, it's a pretty exciting project to be working on. (...) For obvious reasons (Sinofsky can't you please let Tim be transparent? Just Tim! We promise he's enough, you can have all the other on the Windows project translucent, but just give us Tim – pretty please...), I'm not able to write anything about what's coming in Windows '7'," stated Tim Sneath, Microsoft group manager for client platforms.

David Overton, ISV Partner Account Manager at Microsoft, has revealed that traditionally Microsoft debutes work on a new platform even before the old one is over. In this context, the development of Windows 7 started before November 08, 2006, the day that Jim Allchin, former Co-President, Platform and Services Division, said: "it’s time!", announcing the releasing to manufacturing (RTM) of Vista.

Windows 7 "like every other version of Windows starts life before it's predecessor is finished, changes several times before is released and solves some of the issues people have with Vista as well as taking the product in new directions. This is not new or news inside Microsoft and excitement because we are working on the next Windows should be tempered - we are always working on the next version of Windows, Office and every other product we do (well, perhaps not Bob v2)," Overton stated.

One of the arguments that are being used to prove that Windows 7 does not in fact exist, and that all the materials on it are fake, is the operating system's resemblance to Vista in terms of graphical user interface. This is in fact how all Windows versions start along. The new GUI is among the last details to be implemented.

"As people who were 'in' early with Vista, the visual changes happen much later in the product lifecycle and under the hood changes can make a huge difference in things like pe

source: news.softpedia.com



| Continue Reading..

Microsoft to Buy Yahoo for $44.6 Billion

In its race to become the runner-up on the search engine and online advertising markets, Microsoft is about to give Google a little something to chew on.

The Redmond company is looking to buy Yahoo for no less the $44.6 billion. Microsoft has just announced the proposed acquisition of Yahoo for $31 per share. According to current estimates, the transaction is valued at no less than $44.6 billion and Microsoft is to offer both cash and stock. Yahoo has been increasingly losing its position on the search engine market, as well as its audience eroded by social networks.


The latest financial results posted by the Sunnyvale Internet giant feature a consistent loss, with profit dropping to $660 million for 2007, down from $751 million in 2006. Yahoo was even preparing to lay off a reported 1,000 workers of its 14,300 workforce, after the poor financial results of the past year. Microsoft's proposed acquisition offers shareholders a 62% premium to current trading price for Yahoo! The Redmond company has presented its proposition to Yahoo's Board of Directors.

"We have great respect for Yahoo!, and together we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online services market," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. "We believe our combination will deliver superior value to our respective shareholders and better choice and innovation to our customers and industry partners."

"Our lives, our businesses, and even our society have been progressively transformed by the Web, and Yahoo! has played a pioneering role by building compelling, high-scale services and infrastructure," said Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft. "The combination of these two great teams would enable us to jointly deliver a broad range of new experiences to our customers that neither of us would have achieved on our own."

Yahoo has failed to officially respond or comment on the acquisition proposal from Microsoft. Still, it is clear that the Redmond company will not hesitate in the least to cough up no less than $44.6 billion for Yahoo. The aims is of course the online advertising market, which is estimated to double in the next couple of years, from $40 billion in 2007 to nearly $80 billion by 2010. Microsoft revealed that the move to buy Yahoo was made as a measure to counter Google and its increasing dominance over the online advertising market.

"The combined assets and strong services focus of these two companies will enable us to achieve scale economics while reaching R&D critical mass to deliver innovation breakthroughs," said Kevin Johnson, president of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft. "The industry will be well served by having more than one strong player, offering more value and real choice to advertisers, publishers and consumers."

source: news.softpedia.com



| Continue Reading..

Microsoft makes bid for Yahoo; May change the search game; Bid could rise

Microsoft said Friday that it is making an unsolicited offer of $31 a share, or $44.6 billion, to buy Yahoo in a move that would give the software giant more market share and become a significant threat to Google.


In a statement, Microsoft would allow Yahoo shareholders to get cash or shares of Microsoft. At a 62 percent premium to Yahoo’s closing price of $19.18 the deal would seem like a no brainer for suffering Yahoo shareholders. Yahoo said it will evaluate the offer “carefully and promptly.”

Analysts called Microsoft’s overture a “bear hug” and noted that the price tag may increase to seal the deal. Leland Westerfield, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, had the most interesting take on the deal. In a research note, he said:

The Yahoo offer could rise above $31. The valuation amounts to 12x projected core EBITDA for Yahoo, net of cash and equity assets from Yahoo! Japan and Alibaba and GMarket that amount to ~$12 per Yahoo. The offer, presented as an open-letter to Yahoo! Board, strikes us an effort to drive a wedge between Yahoo management and directors’ constituencies who might favor a transaction and those who resist a takeover - and therefore it is our view that Microsoft would ultimately need to sweeten its initial offer price in order to prevail.

On a conference call with analysts, Microsoft didn’t exactly shoot down the idea that the bid could rise. Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell ducked a question about whether the company’s bid for Yahoo was final. Microsoft executives said the time was right for the Yahoo offer. The two parties had been talking for 18 months, said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (see Dan’s conference call notes).

Another wild-card: Google could be a spoiler. In fact, Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney said Yahoo has few options to boost shareholder value right now. Yahoo’s one trump card should it want to remain independent would be outsourcing search to Google in a move that could boost earnings by 25 percent.

The deal, which has been rumored off an on for years, makes two things clear: Yahoo’s assets are promising despite naysayers and Microsoft is damn serious about being a search player. A long-awaited Microsoft-Yahoo made sense a year ago and makes sense now.

Meanwhile, Microsoft must be sensing that it has one big shot to catch Google in the search wars and Yahoo is the best way to make it happen. Google is still executing well, but there are worries about growth. On the surface, Microsoft’s bid is out of character, but given acquisitions like aQuantive it’s clear that Ballmer (left) is thinking a little like Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. In October, Ballmer said Microsoft would eventually dunk on Google–looks more like a roll-up to me.

Microsoft said the deal is about scale.

Ballmer said:

“We have great respect for Yahoo!, and together we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online services market. We believe our combination will deliver superior value to our respective shareholders and better choice and innovation to our customers and industry partners.”

Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft, said:

“Our lives, our businesses, and even our society have been progressively transformed by the Web, and Yahoo! has played a pioneering role by building compelling, high-scale services and infrastructure. The combination of these two great teams would enable us to jointly deliver a broad range of new experiences to our customers that neither of us would have achieved on our own.”

Indeed, the combinations of assets from a combined Microsoft and Yahoo is a bit staggering. MSN, Yahoo, Flickr, Zimbra and a bunch of other properties would be under one roof. The big question: Can Microsoft manage it all?

Some key questions to ponder: Would Zimbra become the future Office Live? How about rationalizing products, ad systems and search algorithms. What about ad markets? Cloud computing projects? The overlap is immense.


In the end, those headaches may be worth it. Sure, there would be some overlap between the companies, but Microsoft would get Yahoo’s managers like Sue Decker and research teams. Microsoft touted R&D critical mass and innovation as two big selling points. In addition, the two combined Web giants could cut a lot of costs. Microsoft is estimating about $1 billion in savings from the combined entity. CEO Jerry Yang (right) would have to consider the proposal in the name of shareholder value. Given the impatience of Wall Street it’s clear that folks aren’t going to wait around for Yang to grow in the job and get Yahoo back to $31 a share.

Specifically, Microsoft says the combined companies can target the following areas:

Scale economics driven by audience critical mass and increased value for advertisers;
Combined engineering talent to accelerate innovation;
Operational efficiencies through elimination of redundant cost;
And the ability to innovate in emerging user experiences such as video and mobile.
Microsoft added that it will dangle retention plans to keep talent and has processes and a plan in place to integrate Yahoo. We’ll overlook for the moment that Microsoft has never integrated a company as large as Yahoo.

The deal would allegedly close in the second half of 2008, but I’d expect the usual European Union hangups and U.S. approval.

Microsoft sent the following letter to Yahoo. Realistically it’s hard to see how Yahoo could say no.

January 31, 2008

Board of Directors
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Attention: Roy Bostock, Chairman
Attention: Jerry Yang, Chief Executive Officer

Dear Members of the Board:I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of Microsoft to make a proposal for a business combination of Microsoft and Yahoo!. Under our proposal, Microsoft would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Yahoo! common stock for per share consideration of $31 based on Microsoft’s closing share price on January 31, 2008, payable in the form of $31 in cash or 0.9509 of a share of Microsoft common stock. Microsoft would provide each Yahoo! shareholder with the ability to choose whether to receive the consideration in cash or Microsoft common stock, subject to pro-ration so that in the aggregate one-half of the Yahoo! common shares will be exchanged for shares of Microsoft common stock and one-half of the Yahoo! common shares will be converted into the right to receive cash. Our proposal is not subject to any financing condition.

Our proposal represents a 62% premium above the closing price of Yahoo! common stock of $19.18 on January 31, 2008. The implied premium for the operating assets of the company clearly is considerably greater when adjusted for the minority, non-controlled assets and cash. By whatever financial measure you use - EBITDA, free cash flow, operating cash flow, net income, or analyst target prices - this proposal represents a compelling value realization event for your shareholders.

We believe that Microsoft common stock represents a very attractive investment opportunity for Yahoo!’s shareholders. Microsoft has generated revenue growth of 15%, earnings growth of 26%, and a return on equity of 35% on average for the last three years. Microsoft’s share price has generated shareholder returns of 8% during the last one year period and 28% during the last three year period, significantly outperforming the S&P 500. It is our view that Microsoft has significant potential upside given the continued solid growth in our core businesses, the recent launch of Windows Vista, and other strategic initiatives.

Microsoft’s consistent belief has been that the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! clearly represents the best way to deliver maximum value to our respective shareholders, as well as create a more efficient and competitive company that would provide greater value and service to our customers. In late 2006 and early 2007, we jointly explored a broad range of ways in which our two companies might work together. These discussions were based on a vision that the online businesses of Microsoft and Yahoo! should be aligned in some way to create a more effective competitor in the online marketplace. We discussed a number of alternatives ranging from commercial partnerships to a merger proposal, which you rejected. While a commercial partnership may have made sense at one time, Microsoft believes that the only alternative now is the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! that we are proposing.

In February 2007, I received a letter from your Chairman indicating the view of the Yahoo! Board that “now is not the right time from the perspective of our shareholders to enter into discussions regarding an acquisition transaction.” According to that letter, the principal reason for this view was the Yahoo! Board’s confidence in the “potential upside” if management successfully executed on a reformulated strategy based on certain operational initiatives, such as Project Panama, and a significant organizational realignment. A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved.

While online advertising growth continues, there are significant benefits of scale in advertising platform economics, in capital costs for search index build-out, and in research and development, making this a time of industry consolidation and convergence. Today, the market is increasingly dominated by one player who is consolidating its dominance through acquisition. Together, Microsoft and Yahoo! can offer a credible alternative for consumers, advertisers, and publishers. Synergies of this combination fall into four areas:

Scale economics: This combination enables synergies related to scale economics of the advertising platform where today there is only one competitor at scale. This includes synergies across both search and non-search related advertising that will strengthen the value proposition to both advertisers and publishers. Additionally, the combination allows us to consolidate capital spending.
Expanded R&D capacity: The combined talent of our engineering resources can be focused on R&D priorities such as a single search index and single advertising platform. Together we can unleash new levels of innovation, delivering enhanced user experiences, breakthroughs in search, and new advertising platform capabilities. Many of these breakthroughs are a function of an engineering scale that today neither of our companies has on its own.
Operational efficiencies: Eliminating redundant infrastructure and duplicative operating costs will improve the financial performance of the combined entity.
Emerging user experiences: Our combined ability to focus engineering resources that drive innovation in emerging scenarios such as video, mobile services, online commerce, social media, and social platforms is greatly enhanced.
We would value the opportunity to further discuss with you how to optimize the integration of our respective businesses to create a leading global technology company with exceptional display and search advertising capabilities. You should also be aware that we intend to offer significant retention packages to your engineers, key leaders and employees across all disciplines.

We have dedicated considerable time and resources to an analysis of a potential transaction and are confident that the combination will receive all necessary regulatory approvals. We look forward to discussing this with you, and both our internal legal team and outside counsel are available to meet with your counsel at their earliest convenience.

Our proposal is subject to the negotiation of a definitive merger agreement and our having the opportunity to conduct certain limited and confirmatory due diligence. In addition, because a portion of the aggregate merger consideration would consist of Microsoft common stock, we would provide Yahoo! the opportunity to conduct appropriate limited due diligence with respect to Microsoft. We are prepared to deliver a draft merger agreement to you and begin discussions immediately.

In light of the significance of this proposal to your shareholders and ours, as well as the potential for selective disclosures, our intention is to publicly release the text of this letter tomorrow morning.

Due to the importance of these discussions and the value represented by our proposal, we expect the Yahoo! Board to engage in a full review of our proposal. My leadership team and I would be happy to make ourselves available to meet with you and your Board at your earliest convenience. Depending on the nature of your response, Microsoft reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo!’s shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal.

We believe this proposal represents a unique opportunity to create significant value for Yahoo!’s shareholders and employees, and the combined company will be better positioned to provide an enhanced value proposition to users and advertisers. We hope that you and your Board share our enthusiasm, and we look forward to a prompt and favorable reply.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Steven A. Ballmer
Steven A. Ballmer
Chief Executive Officer

Microsoft

source : blogs.zdnet.com


| Continue Reading..

Gmail and AdSense Login Error!

Google reported that the problem which some of the AdSense users had been encountering, that of not being able to login to their accounts, was found a reason and a workaround until further action is to be taken, but more about this a bit further down the page.

The error, "Welcome! You're signed in to Google Accounts under the email [your email address] and your Google Account password, but this is not a valid AdSense login," is caused by the same password being used for both the Gmail account and the AdSense one.

That is said to be the reason in 99.9 percent of the cases, so if you encountered it, you’d better go and change your password for one of the two.

Arlene Lee, with the AdSense Publisher support, has provided the first method of doing so, "first ensure that you're logged out of Google Accounts for any other products you use, such as Gmail or AdWords. Then, change your AdSense password at https://www.google.com/adsense/assistlogin. You’ll be asked to submit your login email address to us, and we’ll then send a reset link to that address. When changing your AdSense password, please be sure to select a unique password that you’re not using with any other Google product. After you've changed your AdSense password, please try logging in again at www.google.com/adsense."

What I said I’d get back to is the fact that the workaround is not actually a solution in the traditional way. That comes to be because the Google plan to create global profiles has not been set in motion yet. Once that happens, there will be just one account and one password for all of the services used, courtesy of the Mountain View-based company. Until then, just be sure you don't make the mistake above, even if it's easier to remember just one password.

source : news.softpedia.com
| Continue Reading..

XP SP3 Refresh 2 and Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 Join Windows 7

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate Refresh 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Refresh 2 have joined Windows 7 on torrent trackers.

Pirated versions of Microsoft's software products and especially those developed under the Windows umbrella brand have a tradition of migrating on peer-to-peer file sharing networks. And Beta variants of the Windows operating system make no exception to this rule. And in this context, the second Refresh of the Release Candidate versions of XP SP3 and Vista SP1 have been leaked and are now available for download via BitTorrent clients, just like Windows 7.

With all the excitement orbiting around the first development release of Windows 7, namely Milestone 1 Ultimate edition Build version 6.1 (Build 6519.1.x86fre.winmain.071220-1525) ISO 6519.1.071220-1525, downloads claiming to be the next iteration of the Windows operating systems have begun popping out on various torrent trackers. According to reports from users that simply could not help it to jump the gun, all the Windows 7 torrents are actually ISO files containing everything but the next version of Windows.

But while fake zero byte ISO images are masquerading as the Windows 7 M1 release, the same is not the case with Vista SP1 and XP SP3. Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 Build 6001.18000 is offered in a variety of ways, from a standalone installer to a slipstream installation. The registry script that Microsoft offers Connect users in order to tweak the Vista registry to identify, download and install Vista SP1 from Windows Update servers also leaked alongside torrents that claim to be the final version of the service pack. This is obviously not the case. Windows Vista SP1 is set to be released to manufacturing by the end of the first quarter of 2008, with all indications pointing to February for a more realistic RTM date.

And last but definitely not least, XP SP3 RC Refresh 2 Build 3282 was also leaked outside of the selected pool of 15,000 testers that it was released to through Connect, just as Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2. Apparently, the fact that all the Connect users involved in the testing process of Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are under a Microsoft Non Disclosure Agreement has done little to stop the actual leaking of the service packs. Testers are not supposed to share the update package, the resulting installation or even details with anyone.

"This is the self-extracting executable that contains the update package for Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate Refresh 2. Release documentation, including lists of fixes and known issues, are available in the downloads section of the Connect site. It is recommended that you apply this update package to an activated, genuine copy of Windows XP, in a test environment. As with any pre-release software, it is also recommended that you back up files and settings on your machine before applying this update package. You may apply this package to previous pre-release editions of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (e.g. the Release Candidate Refresh)," reads a fragment of the Microsoft official documentation that accompanied XP SP3 RC Refresh 2.

source: news.softpedia.com


| Continue Reading..

Windows Vista Wow! Forget about Vista SP1, XP SP3 and Windows 7!

That's it, forget about Windows XP Service Pack 3, about Windows 7, the next iteration of Windows and even about Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

So what if consumer demand for Windows XP is still strong even in the context of Vista? So what if original equipment manufacturers and users have forced Microsoft to prolong the availability of XP via the OEM and retail channels until mid 2008, taking sales away from Vista? So what if XP SP3 is stealing all the limelight away from Vista SP1? And so what if Windows 7 is moving to the Windows center stage with Milestone 1 in the detriment of Vista rather than XP? The Windows Vista Wow is making the mother of all comebacks!


Well... January 30, 2008 was supposed to be Vista's day. The celebration of the first year anniversary since Microsoft's latest Windows client hit the shelves. On January 30, 2008 the Wow was supposed to turn one, but it died sometime along the way... throughout the many sped bumps of 2007, the Wow was simply kicked off Vista's ride. Now the operating system flies solo, after the $500 million marketing campaign all but completely flopped. But still, it's the celebration of the one-year anniversary of Windows Vista's worldwide release. And Microsoft's idea for Vista's first birthday was to perform a round table Q&A with members of the Windows Vista team, as well as others that have been involved in the development, testing, deployment and selling of the operating system.

Bellow you will be able to find some excerpts of the Q&A. The highlights are my own:

1. 70% consider Vista better than XP – So what about the other 30%? 30% is by all means quite a large share of users that fail to see anything better in Vista compared to XP. And with Vista having sold 100 million licenses, that's 30 million users!!!

"The fact that we've passed the 100 million mark in licenses says something about people's response, but even more important has been people's increasing enthusiasm for using Windows Vista. With any new operating system, there's a natural reluctance to upgrade because people have concerns about compatibility, they’re uneasy about learning something new or unsure about what the move to a new operating system will bring. But those who are using Windows Vista have generally been very pleased. We commissioned independent studies from IPSos and NPD to explore the attitudes of users about the operating system not only in the U.S., but also in China, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK. According to NDP, 70 percent of these users say it's an improvement over their previous operating system," said Neil Charney, General Manager, Microsoft Windows Client.

2. Vista vs. XP – Throughout the development of Vista Microsoft has also run the "Life With Windows Vista". The program permitted 50 ordinary families to live with Vista as it was built and provided feedback. Robin Mason is the mom of a family that participated in the program.

"That's been my experience, too. Around the time of the launch last year, I was asked how I'd compare Windows Vista to Windows XP. I gave Windows XP a rating of 75 and Windows Vista 80. After using Windows Vista this past year on two of the three computers I have at home, I'd give it a 90. Nothing's perfect," Mason stated. 75? 80? 90? Out of what? 1,000?

3. In China, Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium got a permanent price discount. No less than 67% for Home Basic and 50% for Home Premium. That's while the rest of the world still pays $199 and $239 for the two SKUs. But on the other had, Vista Ultimate, the pirated edition is sold in China for as little as $1, certifying the failure of the Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy mechanism to keep the operating system genuine. In mid-July, Microsoft worked with the FBI and China’s Public Security Bureau to crack a counterfeiting ring from southern China province of Guangdong, responsible for pushing $2 Billion worth of Microsoft pirated software.

"I'm very pleased that Lenovo participated in the launch of Windows Vista as one of the top strategic partners of Microsoft worldwide and China. We worked hard with Microsoft to create a positive user experience by the seamless integration of Lenovo's unique LXT technologies and Windows Vista, and providing richer applications. We have also helped more customers to understand and adopt Windows Vista by leveraging Lenovo's marketing and service network. I'm very happy to see Windows Vista gaining popularity and more recognition from users along the way," revealed Chen Shaopeng, Lenovo's Senior Vice-President and President of Greater China Region.

4. Compatibility is getting better. Compatibility has been getting better throughout 2007? Are we there yet? Or on January 30, 2009, Microsoft is going to say that compatibility is still getting better?

"We've worked diligently with industry partners to increase the number of Windows Vista-compatible applications and devices, while also building support for them. While we were happy with what we launched with, we also built the system to update seamlessly with the new technology that has been and will be added every day. Today, Windows Vista supports over 43,000 hardware products, almost doubling the 23,000 thousand at launch," Charney added.

5. Microsoft got sued for its Vista logo programs from users claiming that they got duped in purchasing machines deemed Vista Capable and that were not Vista Premium Ready. Ooops...

"Microsoft developed the two-tier Windows Vista Logo Program to help customers more easily identify software and devices that have been tested for compatibility with Windows Vista. Today more than 900 hardware partners have certified thousands of devices and hardware components for Windows Vista that support new innovations in graphics, networking and imaging. We now have 3,494 software and 3,360 hardware products available on retail shelves," explained Jeff Price, Senior Director in the Windows Group at Microsoft.

source: news.softpedia.com



| Continue Reading..

Windows Server 2008 Domain Re-Directs To Apple

A solution provider in Florida that owns the domain name windowsserver2008.com has re-directed the URL to Apple's online store, where visitors are greeted by a giant image of the recently unveiled MacBook Air.


On Wednesday, the enthusiast blog Inside Microsoft reported the odd development and suggested that the windowsserver2008.com domain had been bought by a Mac fan and re-directed to Apple.com in order to embarrass Microsoft.

However, on its webpage, domain owner Symmetry Technical Consultants of Coral Gables, Fla., actually lists itself as a Microsoft Certified partner, which is the second highest designation within the vendor's channel program. ChannelWeb couldn't find any mention of Apple products on the Symmetry's Website.

Symmetry, which offers a variety of desktop support, networking, managed services, connectivity, and software support services, registered windowsserver2008.com in October 2006 and owns the rights to the domain until October.

The prank has reportedly been causing quite a stir within Microsoft, although ChannelWeb was unable to reach company officials for comment.

Earlier this month, sources told CRN that Windows Server 2008 had reached the final stages of testing, and Microsoft is expected to release it to manufacturing prior to next month's Feb. 27 launch event in Los Angeles.

Early reports from channel partners that have been testing release candidates of Windows Server 2008 have been glowing, as a result of features like virtualization, Network Access Protection, Internet Information Services 7.0, Server Core, Bitlocker, Terminal Services, and improvements to Active Directory.

source: crn.com


| Continue Reading..