News


Partner Watch, August 16

Hosting.com offers users a chance to test out betas of Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005. Also, SyncCast develops a digital music kiosk with partner Mix & Burn.

Microsoft and Federated Identities: The Road to Single Sign-On

Confused by Microsoft's jumble of directory technologies for user-account management? ENT contributing editor Stuart Johnston sorts out the differences between Microsoft's existing Microsoft Identity Integration Server and its forthcoming Active Directory Federation Services, and explains where third-party tools from Quest/Vintela and Centrify fit into the puzzle.

IT Weekly Roundup, August 12

From the business wires this week:

New MCP Exam for Systems Management Experts

Systems Management Server 2003 exam being beta tested from Aug. 8 to Aug. 22. Will count toward MCSE and new Technology Specialist cert.

Opinion: Thanks, Mike Lynn -- Thanks for Nothing

Mike Lynn is being hailed in some quarters as a hero, but I don't buy it. I'm sure his heart was in the right place when he discussed a serious vulnerability in Cisco routers at the recent Black Hat USA conference, and his courage in quitting his job, rather than be censored by Cisco and his own employer, is admirable.

NuView to Ship MyView

Houston, Texas-based data management tool vendor NuView says in the next month it will ship a new Active Directory security product aimed at providing administrators with a centralized view of all users and the resources they have access to on an enterprise-wide basis.

Updated CRM App – RightNow

RightNow Technologies released RightNow CRM 7.5, the latest version of the company’s on demand CRM solution.

AMD Set To Unleash “Pacifica” Emulator

AMD says it will release later this month SimNow, a free AMD64 simulator that will let developers work with the company’s next-generation processor technologies, including AMD’s virtualization technology, codenamed “Pacifica,” today.

VMware Opens Up Virtualization

Software maker VMware announced this week it is working with a wide range of other technology companies to establish “open” virtualization standards based on its products and technologies.

Critical Security Patch for IE Pulled, Reposted

A problem in Microsoft's process for posting patches to the Microsoft Download Center during the August patch day on Tuesday caused users attempting to pull down a critical cumulative patch for Internet Explorer to receive a corrupted file.

Jet Blue Picks SOA for New Architecture

Earlier this week Santa Monica, Calif.-based SOA Software, provider of Web services management tools and a Microsoft Certified Gold ISV partner, announced that Jet Blue Airways has incorporated its Service Manager product into the company's Web services architecture.

Partner Watch, August 9

Three vendors offering custom software engineering to asset management solutions join the ranks of Microsoft Gold Certified partners.

Spammer to Pay Microsoft $7 Million to Settle Lawsuit

Accused spammer Scott Richter agreed to change his business practices and pay Microsoft $7 million to settle a lawsuit the software giant filed against him and his company, OptInRealBig.com LLC, Microsoft and Richter announced Tuesday.

Patch Tuesday Brings 6 Bulletins, 3 are Critical

Microsoft released six security bulletins on Patch Tuesday, including three bulletins rated "critical." All six bulletins involved Windows, and one of the bulletins also involved Internet Explorer.

Centrify to Ship Updated Active Directory Suite

Centrify will begin shipping on Monday version 2.0 of its flagship product DirectControl Suite 2.0 for integrating non-Microsoft systems into Active Directory.

Internet Explorer Gets First Look-and-Feel Overhaul in Years

Internet Explorer 7 got its first facelift in years when Microsoft delivered twin betas of the Web browser this summer -- one in the Windows Vista beta and a technical beta for Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Private Beta of Longhorn Server Focused on Fundamentals

Microsoft put out a private beta of Windows Longhorn Server at the same time as the Windows Vista Beta 1 release. But don't worry if you're not among the 5,000 hardware and software industry insiders graced with the server code. You're not missing much yet.

Windows Vista Beta 1 Delivers UI, Gives IT a Chance to Kick Tires

As a first beta, Windows Vista Beta 1 gives no indication of the size or performance of the operating system, and Microsoft remains quite cagey about what the final system requirements will be. What this beta does provide is the first tangible look at the user interface, end-user functionality and many of the IT-focused features of the follow-on to 2001's Windows XP.

Outsider to Fill Microsoft COO Post

Microsoft named a new chief operating officer this week. Kevin Turner comes to Redmond after 19 years with Wal-Mart where he most recently was president and CEO of Sam’s Club.

IT Weekly Roundup, Aug. 5

From the business wires this week: pre-configured Microsoft Exchange 2003 migration packages, a software deployment solution, an automated disk defragger and a search engine for Microsoft Exchange.