WinInsider

Microsoft says that support for its next-generation Windows Media platform, code-named Corona, has extended well beyond online content creators and streaming media functionality, thanks to its stunning quality and low bandwidth requirements. The company is at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2002 trade show this week, touting three new initiatives to further adoption of the Corona technologies in high-end audio and video solutions.

In this month's Bonus Pack edition more Unix and Lunix flaws discovered; Round up of Microsoft Hearings; Intel shows off Prescott's 0.09-micron processor; and Intel's new Xeon MP faster than RISC chips from IBM, Sun or MIPS; Why enterprise vendors are endorsing Win2K DC?; Microsoft SQL Server Rated No. 1, again; Plus a ton more...

This is what's been going on in antitrust court, as Microsoft uses its legal opportunity to disclose everything but the hotel-room liaison photos. Day nine of this excellent entertainment resumed yesterday. In his opening arguments, Microsoft attorney Dan Webb produced a document sent by AOL to the office of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller containing AOL's preferred ways to rein in Microsoft. Many of those same ideas are now being demanded by none other than the same Iowa AG.

None of this is illegal, but it sure does raise the question of whose welfare these antitrust suits are looking out for. On the evidence presented so far, the road to the federal antitrust case looks like it was paved by Microsoft's rivals; they showed up early in Washington, D.C., to lobby, make donations and in general cuddle up to the Justice Department. They had everything but their own Justice parking spaces during the Janet Reno-Orrin Hatch (R., Novell) antitrust years.

California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a 60-year-old veteran of 30 years in Democratic politics, was in Washington two weeks ago for the national conference of state attorneys general and dropped by a federal district courtroom for an hour or so. In progress was the latest stage of antitrust proceedings against Microsoft. His interest may have been stimulated by the more than $75,000 in campaign contributions from corporate rivals of the embattled technology giant.

Lockyer has his eyes on a future bid for governor. Heavily favored for re-election to a second term as attorney general this year, he has raised $5 million so far to make sure. His listed contributions from Microsoft competitors and their law firms, as of last December, totaled $75,500--with $50,000 from Oracle Corp.

It's amazing to me how much time people spent this week (mis)analyzing the Microsoft/Unisys Anti-UNIX Web site which was originally running on (chuckle) FreeBSD but then quickly switched to Windows Server after word leaked out. Yeah, it's stupid, but this is so typical of Microsoft, and to be fair, it wasn't like the site was hosted by the software giant; it was farmed out to a hosting company, of course. Anyway, after the site went up on Windows, it mysteriously disappeared for a few days (cackle) and, my oh my, didn't the Linux sites just eat that up, though it's back up now. Anyway, here's a little flipside for you, courtesy of Alex Boge: An anti-Windows Web site, www.linux64.com, runs on Windows 2000 (bruhahaha). Let the flame wars begin!

When Microsoft formally introduced its .NET strategy in mid-2000, analysts were confused about how the company would pull off such a massive platform shift. Two years later, they're still wondering. But .NET isn't vaporware, and it's not a pipe dream. In fact, .NET is happening today.

• Does .NET require Windows?
• Which Windows versions support .NET?
• Parts of .NET sounds a lot like Java. Is it just a Java rip-off?
• OK, so what's the point? How does this make my life better?

Code-named Office NGO ("Next Generation Office") in the animation, this Office version will include links to a number of of online services, including a secure My Office Web site; a consolidated email account with Web-based Inbox; Office .NET Notifications; online scheduling with a sharable calendar; Meeting Workspaces for viewing agendas, pending tasks, and related documents, SharePoint Team Services-based Team Workspace for sharing information with team members; and a set of online content such as templates, online training, communities, and the like.

So is it real? Is Office NGO really a sneak-peak at Office .NET? It's hard to say, and though some UI inconsistencies have me thinking that this is an April Fools prank, I will say this: If it is fake, it's the most elaborate fake I've ever seen. Let's take a look.

Software giant Microsoft Corp. tweaks its organizational structure so often that some in the industry have come to refer to the changes as the annual spring cleaning. This year's restructuring, which included the resignation Wednesday of president and chief operating officer Rick Belluzzo, is just more evidence that, despite the occasional interloper, Microsoft's destiny likely always will be in the hands of chairman Bill Gates and his longtime sidekick, chief executive Steve Ballmer.

"I think no matter how the company is organized, Bill and Steve are in charge," said David Smith, a vice president at Gartner who follows Microsoft.

Microsoft this summer will institute some changes to Windows XP as part of a settlement agreement meant to benefit consumers and increase competition. But some state trustbusters and Microsoft's chief rivals aren't convinced that those changes go far enough. The software maker says it plans to start testing Windows XP Service Pack 1 as early as next month, with a final release slated for late summer. The update will introduce support for Mira wireless devices and the Freestyle digital media interface. More importantly, the update will let consumers and PC makers remove access to about a half-dozen of Microsoft's so-called middleware technologies integrated into Windows XP.

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Ford Motor Company, the world's second largest automaker and a Microsoft Global Account, is running Microsoft Content Management Server 2001 as the Web content management solution for its flagship corporate Web site, Ford.com. Facing rapid growth and frequent content update requirements for its site, Ford enlisted Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) to assist in building a cohesive Internet vision for the future of the Web site. Content Management Server 2001 was implemented for its scalability and ease of use to reduce the costs associated with operating and maintaining Ford.com and to increase Ford Motor Company's agility in delivering fresh and relevant content to its user base.