In response to complaints from users that the new Windows Vista End User License Agreement was too restrictive, Microsoft announced on Thursday that it would change the license. The new license wording is now more similar to that of Windows XP, which appeared to be less restrictive.
Previously, the Vista EULA had stated that customers who purchased a retail version of the product could reassign the software "to another device one time." Now, the license reads as follows: "You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.
In an unusual partnership, old foes Microsoft and Novell have joined forces to work on harmonizing their products.
The companies said Thursday they will collaborate on development of specific technologies, for example to help Microsoft's Windows, a proprietary operating system, work with Novell's Suse Linux, which is based on open-source code. On the business side, they will promote each other's products.
In addition, the software makers have struck a deal on patents designed to give customers peace of mind about using Novell's open-source products, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Novell CEO Ronald Hovsepian said at an event here.
With the corporate delivery of Windows Vista imminent, Microsoft is also rolling out a new volume licensing scheme for business customers.
Meanwhile, the company yesterday backed away from consumer licensing terms that would have only let a purchaser move Vista from one PC to another a single time, after a marketplacewide outcry that the restrictions were too harsh.
Under Microsoft's new volume licensing program, dubbed Volume Activation 2.0, for Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn," each Vista license acquired under a volume license agreement needs to be activated -- a switch from previous programs.
With the upcoming business launch on Nov. 30 of its Windows Vista operating system, Microsoft is promoting a host of new opportunities for developers.
The Redmond, Wash., software giant is highlighting Windows Vista, Office 2007 and the Web via its AJAX toolcodenamed "Atlas"as key development platforms.
In addition, Microsoft officials said the platforms enable developers to build applications that were previously either unthinkable or were difficult to build.
The platforms are getting good reviews from users. Andrew Brust, chief of new technology at Twentysix New York, said the Atlas technology will be a boon to user interface sophistication.
On Halloween, Microsoft and award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson announced some horrifying news for video game fans: They're delaying the production of the long-awaited "Halo" movie until an unspecified time in the future. The movie was previously set for a summer 2008 release.
"At this time, Microsoft, Peter Jackson, and Fran Walsh have mutually agreed to postpone making a feature film based on the 'Halo' video game," Microsoft said in a written statement issued late Tuesday. "While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for 'Halo' to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait."
Microsoft has tapped a group of consulting partners to help ensure companies' applications will be compliant when they decide
to deploy Windows Vista across the enterprise.
Through an initiative Microsoft has dubbed the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Factory, or ACF, Microsoft has trained
a group of partners and is giving them access to a host of internal resources to help customers make sure their applications
will work with Vista, said Dave Wascha, director of Windows client for Microsoft.
Paul Flessner, who helped Microsoft develop a competitive enterprise database, plans to leave his post at the end of
the year.
Flessner will leave his role as vice president of the Data Storage and Platform Division as of Jan. 1 to pursue personal endeavors,
a spokeswoman from Microsoft's public relations firm confirmed on Wednesday. However, he will stay on at the company part-time
and continue to work on projects within the Platform Services Division.
Ted Kummert, a Microsoft corporate vice president who currently leads the Security, Access and Solutions Division, will take
on Flessner's day-to-day and management responsibilities.
Microsoft officially launched the sixth generation of its flagship device software platform Nov. 1. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 boasts kernel architecture enhancements, new software stacks targeting three high-volume device categories, enhanced development tools and, for the first time, 100 percent availability of Windows CE's kernel source code.
Underlining the significance of Windows CE to Microsoft's overall business plans, Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie delivered the keynote address at the CE 6.0 launch event, which was streamed over the Web from Microsoft's Web site and attended by some 60 media representatives.
Microsoft's Office Live service is set to go out of beta on November 15, and will eventually offer small businesses a chance to buy ads from rival Google and others, according to a Microsoft executive.
Office Live is Microsoft's Web-based service aimed at giving small businesses a Web site as well as providing basic management, worker collaboration, accounting, and customer relationship management capabilities. The service also will be available in beta versions in France, Germany, Japan and the UK on November 15.
Companies with Software Assurance agreements that expire at the end of November will be able to upgrade to Office 2007, Gartner said Tuesday, because Microsoft has added the new suite to its corporate price lists.
Although the new bundle, the first upgrade in three years, has not yet been released to manufacturing, its appearance on the November Open and Select price lists means that some businesses can relax.
"Organizations whose contracts expire at the end of November can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they will have rights to the software whether they renew their SA Software Assurance or not," said Gartner analyst Michael Silver in a research note posted online.