Microsoft teases 'Trustworthy Computing'
Reuters | at | by Mike
Named after a protective statue of the Greek goddess of wisdom, "Palladium" is being used to describe a broad-based security system for the Windows operating system that will involve both hardware and software. As Microsoft wraps up its antitrust case and settles into marketing its newest Windows operating system and seven-month-old Xbox video game console, the cash-rich software giant is directing attention toward its next generation of products, including Palladium and others carrying code-names such as "Longhorn" and, reportedly, "Freon."
Palladium will most likely be an integral part of the next version of Windows, which is code-named "Longhorn." In a detailed interview with Fortune Magazine this week, Gates provides a broad view of what Longhorn will hope to accomplish once it succeeds the current Windows XP (once code-named Whistler) operating system sometime after 2005. Gates explains that Longhorn will be much more intelligent in that it will recognize users and tasks seamlessly, and tailor itself to specific situations and needs.