This post was written by Jeff Johnston

Microsoft Inc. has released the file format converters that allow Office 2004 for Mac to read the Open XML file formats that were introduced in Office 2007 for Windows. The converters were originally due to be available close to the launch of Office 2007, but have been delayed several times. The converters are now available for download, along with some other updates for both Office 2004 and Office 2008.
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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

Microsoft has released two security updates for Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008 and Office 2003 and later. The patch described in Bulletin MS08-069 closes three holes in Microsoft’s XML Core Services 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0. Microsoft has rated one of the errors as critical. The cause of vulnerability is a memory error that occurs when XML code is being parsed. It allows code to be injected and executed. This rating only applies to MSXML version 3.0, but in the other versions Microsoft still rates the threat as high.

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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

Software giant Microsoft Inc. is to stop selling its XP operating system to retailers and computer makers this week. The move, which will see retailers and computer makers having to buy the newer Windows Vista operating system for any new stock they order, comes despite protests from some PC users who prefer the older XP. Existing computer hardware stocks running XP will be unaffected, and smaller retail outlets will still be able to sell XP until January.
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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

On ChannelWeb, Joseph F. Kovar has quoted solution providers as saying that there is little chance that Microsoft Inc.’s imminent release of Hyper-V server virtualization technology will pose a challenge to VMware and other server virtualization vendors for the next couple of years. However, the solution providers said that customer acceptance of the new Microsoft technology combined with how Microsoft advances technology has the potential to impact VMware and others over time.
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Microsoft Corporation has reported that its own ActiveX browser plug-in technology has brought Windows Vista (the operating system which is lesser prone to infection) under threat. During the past six months, most of the browser attacks against Vista leveraged bugs in ActiveX controls of third-party companies. ActiveX is Microsoft’s technology to create add-ins for Internet Explorer. George Stathakopoulos, the general manager of Microsoft’s product security and security engineering group, has defended ActiveX but accepted that it was not possible to monitor its technology.
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Microsoft Inc. is intending to release this patch Tuesday, on July 8. It is made up of four important-rated fixes, two of which target Vista and XP/2000/2003 respectively, one the Microsoft SQL Server and one Microsoft Exchange Server. The most expected of the four patches is the one affecting Windows Vista and Windows Vista Service Pack 1, as well as Windows Server 2008. The code injection flaw it fixes enables remote code execution through a code injection flaw. The other Windows patch targets Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, and enables spoofing.
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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

Microsoft Corp. has introduced a subscription-based version of its Office software for U.S. consumers as competitors crowd its core desktop product suites. The new service, called Equipt, combines office tools such as its Microsoft Word word-processing program and the Excel spreadsheet application. A subscription, priced at about $70, lasts for one year and allows users to operate the software on three personal computers, Microsoft said.
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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

AT&T has announced that it has joined the Microsoft Partner Solutions Center (MPSC) as a vehicle to demonstrate its mobility expertise and technologies to Microsoft Inc. and other enterprise customers. By joining the MPSC, AT&T will be “able to develop and demonstrate its products in the MPSC briefing centers,” and will have “the ability to provide on-site customer briefings, design sessions, proof of concept engagements and training,” customized for specific customer needs. Involvement with the MPSC enables Microsoft’s multiple lines of businesses and customers to test out applications wirelessly enabled over the entire suite of Windows Mobile 6.0 and Windows Mobile 6.1 devices such as Mobile Device Manager, TeleNav Track, Wi-Fi and simultaneous voice and data using Windows Mobile 6 with tethering.
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This post was written by Jeff Johnston

Microsoft has unveiled plans to weave Live Search into the Facebook social networking site, widening the scope of the two companies’ nearly two-year-old advertising relationship. Set to be implemented in the fall, the agreement will enable users conduct Web searches from within Facebook and will also include Microsoft’s paid search advertising, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
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VMLogix Inc., a leading provider of virtual lab automation solutions, has launched VMLogix LabManager 3.6 to support Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. VMLogix LabManager is a hypervisor agnostic and with the introduction of Hyper-V, now supports all standard server virtualization platforms. This will enable users to leverage their existing infrastructure and effectively centralize lab management and operations. VMLogix’s CEO Sameer Dholakia said
“As adoption of virtualization platforms from vendors other than VMware grows, vendor-agnostic products like VMLogix LabManager will meet the market need by providing customers with choice, platform interoperability and superior performance.”
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