This story is so complicated that it's difficult to explain in a simple blog post. But we're going try. Yesterday Immersion
Corp. said that it will settle a lawsuit with Microsoft by paying Microsoft $20.75 million. Interestingly, it was Immersion
that originally sued Microsoft in 2002, claiming that the Xbox "rumble" feature infringed on its touch technology patent.
(The Xbox controller shakes in response to events onscreen.) Microsoft agreed to pay Immersion $26 million to settle the suit.
BUT because Immersion was also suing Sony over violating its patent with PlayStation, the Microsoft agreement contained a
biting little clause. If Immersion won its suit with Sony, Microsoft wanted a cut -- it wanted Immersion to pay to Microsoft
a portion of its settlement winnings with Sony. READ MORE.
If your company depends on online advertising in any way -- either to produce revenue or to market
products/services, beware of ad-blocking technologies in next-generation browsers. Firefox 3 offers its AdBlock Plus extension that doesn't just kill off annoying pop-ups, but strips out all ads on a page. (Hmph! Users of AdBlock Plus don't want to pay for their content themselves and want to disallow the ads that do pay for it.) However, Don Marti on LinuxWorld has noted that the Microsoft IE8 team is working on a feature that aims to improve privacy, but also hurts Web advertisers.
Microsoft's SQL Server and Oracle's flagship database software both gained market share since 2007, 
according to Gartner as reported by Reuters.
In a recent (and completely unscientific) poll of Network World readers, a surprising 64% respondents said that Microsoft Security is getting better. To be fair, only 37% of the 124 total respondents said that Microsoft Security is outright better. Another 27% were more begrudging, saying that while they grant some improvement, it's still just plain awful. Another 23% said that Microsoft Security isn't even a little better. And 12% weren't sure if Microsoft Security was better or not -- because security is harder in every way.
Oops! Microsoft sends out flawed security patch08/25/08Earlier today we reported on a poll conducted last week that indicated people seem to think Microsoft Security
is improving. But this bit of news may make people change their minds. For the third time in the past two months, Microsoft has had to re-issue a patch because the of a snafu with the original, InfoWorld reports. Yesterday, Microsoft re-released MS08-051 to Office 2003 via Windows Server Update Services. The story reports:
If software vendors such as Microsoft are looking toward cloud computing as the future of the industry, they are setting themselves up 
for pain, concludes Gregory Ness on the Seeking Alpha blog. He whines about a whole list of factors that make cloud computing an impractical option today and maybe forever. His reasons begin with the fact that DNS has been proven to be vulnerable to attack and difficult to patch. That must mean, he argues, that if you shift your applications into the cloud, you'll also be handing hackers the means to own you, if not through these flaws then through your run-of-the-mill storm clouds.
Microsoft's November ship date for Small Business Server 2008 is good news. It is a bargain for companies looking for an affordable version of Windows, particularly for SQL, readers have said. On the other hand, Network World recently ran a rather lukewarm review of Small Business Server 2008. Might want to check that out at http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2008/072108-test-microsoft-sbs-2008.html.
WS2008 now available as a cloud service from a third-party08/22/08Server hosting company ServePath has added Windows Server 2008 servers to its cloud GoGrid service.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting 
that Jerry Seinfeld scored a $10 million deal to become Microsoft's new advertising spokesperson. Seinfeld is hilarious. But he's also an icon from the 1990's, which hardly helps Microsoft build a young, trendy image. (There are probably high school and college students who doen't even know who Seinfeld is.) It is so ironic. By hiring him Microsoft is almost proving the Mac guy's point. "Windows and Zune: Technology for the older crowd." I'm sure Don Rickles was available, too. Why not hire some young, up-and-coming YouTube favorite, like Bo Burnham?
Microsoft news from Network World
5 rules for guaranteed failure at SaaS, without even tryingWe're all too familiar with outages in Google's Gmail, Salesforce.com and the RIM BlackBerry network. Recent failures by Apple MobileMe, Jott and Cuil online-delivered software demonstrate that software-as-a-service -- or Software+Services, ...Read more
Mitchell Ashley is a serial entrepreneur who is currently CEO and Chief Strategist of his fourth company, Converging Network, LLC.
Things are changingIn case you have noticed, I haven't been blogging that much lately. No, I'm dropping off... instead there is a really good reason. Changes are in the works, and I've ...Read more
Tyson Kopczynski is a specialist in Active Directory, Group Policy, Windows scripting, Windows Rights Management Services, PKI, and IT security practices and the author of Windows PowerShell Unleashed.
Podcast: Bandwidth management with Ron BarrettSometimes the best tools to help create “A Better Windows World” are the ones that help keep the underlying infrastructure running well. In this podcast I provide tips for bandwidth-management ...Read more
Ron Barrett is president of RARE-TECH, an IT training and consulting company. He is a co-author of The Administrator's Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers, How to Cheat at Administering Office Communications Server 2007, and a contributor to many other titles.
Studying for the exam, what group do you fall into?Taking certification exams is simply part of the fun of being a Microsoft technical instructor, but it doesn’t mean that it has in any way became an enjoyable process. As ...Read more
Chip Wenz is an instructor for New Horizons and holds is a MCSE, MCSA+M, MCDBA, MCAD, MCSD, MCTS, MCPD and MCT. New Horizons offers a monthly giveaway for free training. See right column for details.
The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLS) is an interesting certification. It is not one that directly involves taking a test and earning an MCT: MCLC or MCITP – in ...Read more
Randy Muller, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCDST, is currently an instructor with Global Knowledge. Global Knowledge sponsors a monthly giveaway on Microsoft Subnet (see details, page right: Giveaways and Contests ... HINT: June trivia answer is "beta test").
Tips for Exchange 2007Rui Silva posted an article, part 1 of 2, on "12 Tips to Optimize an Exchange 2007 Infrastructure". Reading through them they may seem like common sense but they're a good ...Read more
When not writing Microsoft-related books, Alex is a senior IT consultant and involved in many early adopter and TAP programs, working with new technology often 2-3 years before public release.
Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 – a pleasant surprise!In my previous post, I was a bit critical of the latest version of the Upgrade Advisor. Well, after going through that painful process, I proceeded onto my upgrade from ...Read more
Brian D. Egler, MCITP-DBA/MCSE/MCT, is currently an instructor with Global Knowledge, teaching various Microsoft training courses. Enter the free monthly giveaway sponsored by Global Knowledge. Details are on the right of this page.
Has a company ever done something to totally delight you, their customer? Here’s what the Omni did for me …Two weeks ago, exactly two days before my birthday, I checked in to the Omni Severin hotel in Indianapolis, one of two hotels I frequently use during my weekly business ...Read more
When not co-authoring books such as Essential SharePoint 2007, Sue Hanley is an information architect.
Hyper-V Manager on Vista – final thoughtsLast time, I was working to get the Hyper-V Manager on Vista SP1 talking to a Server 2008 Hyper-V system. A couple of clarifications are in order - and a ...Read more
Glenn Weadock is an instructor with Global Knowledge, teaching the MCSA, MCSE, Server 2008 and Vista tracks. WIN a free 'Cool Stuff' gift from Global Knowledge. See details to the right of this page.
USING HIGH-AVAILABILITY OPTIONS IN EXCHANGE 2007Email is typically one of the most mission-critical applications for a company. So it makes sense that your customers are striving for high availability within their messaging infrastructure. To get ...Read more
Ross Mistry is the author of SQL Server 2008 Management and Administrationand other SQL Server titles. When not writing books, he designs SQL Server, Active Directory and Exchange solutions for Fortune 500 companies.
Me and my frustrating Windows Mobile DeviceI still get a chuckle out of the name Windows Mobile Device – isn’t the acronym for that WMD? Sometimes I think my mobile device is closely related to a ...Read more
Kerrie Meyler's current book, System Center Operations Manager 2007 Unleashed is now available. Check out out this free chapter.
20 most useful Microsoft sites and moreMicrosoft Subnet is dedicated to make your job easier and your day more fun. Here are a few of our biggest hits:
20 great Windows open source projects you should get to know
6 free security tools you shouldn't live without
20 most useful Microsoft web sites
10 funniest Microsoft YouTube videos
9 worst Microsoft products
Library of free chapters from best-selling Microsoft books Read More
Imagine Cup 2008 Final Competition Paris
iTunes Achilles' Heel In iPhone 3G Launch
Microsoft Analyzers Tools - Free help that's worth trying
Windows Server 2008 High Availability Alternatives - Failover Clusering & Network Load Balancing
My response to “my Vista 64-bit runs just fine"
The next class for our newest IT members
Converging on Microsoft podcast series 08/20/08, Network World
Mitchell Ashley talks with interesting people about topics in the world of Microsoft.
Latest episode: Tom Simmons, Citrix vice president, on powering off and saving the world (08/20/08) (22:46)
Listen:
Blogs we watch 04/22/08, Microsoft Subnet
Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog
The Road to Know Where
The Converging Network
istartedsomething
Groklaw
Scobleizer
ScottGu's Blog
CyberNet
Microsoft TechNet Edge
Eileen Brown's WebLog
Dmitry's PowerBlog: PowerShell and beyond
footnoted.org
All about Microsoft
Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition
Network World's blogs
August Patch Tuesday the largest in 18 months
Microsoft during August Patch Tuesday released its largest security alert in 18 months to patch 26 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office, IE, Windows Messenger and other software. At least two of the vulnerabilities have already been exploited in the wild, Microsoft acknowledged. Those two, plus another pair, said one security researcher, should be considered "zero-day" bugs since technical details about the flaws had been circulating prior to August Patch Tuesday. Microsoft left one expected fix off the table: a patch one or more critical flaws in Windows Media Player 11.
READ MORE
A MICROSOFT TRAINING COURSE WORTH UP TO $2,500 FROM NEW HORIZONS
New Horizons Computer Learning Centers is sponsoring a monthly contest on Microsoft Subnet. One lucky reader will win a free Microsoft training course worth up
to $2,500. Next deadline is August 31. Check out the New Horizons' catalog and start dreaming of your free class. Entry details available here. (Hint: answer is "flash cards" and can be found here.)
WIN FREE BOOKS FROM PEARSON EDUCATION
Win one of 15 copies of the book Microsoft Dynamics 4.0 Unleashed, published by Sams (a $59.99 value). Plus, READ a chapter excerpt.Entry details available here. (Hint: answer is "Add attachment" and can be found here.)
In response to the recent onslaught of SQL injection attacks against Web sites using ASP, Microsoft has developed a new static code analysis tool for finding SQL Injection vulnerabilities. Web developers can run the tool on their ASP source code to identify the root cause of the attack. The tool will also scan ASP source code and generate warnings related to first order and second order SQL Injection vulnerabilities.
PRODUCTCheck out Microsoft Research's WorldWide Telescope. Download this and turn your computer into a virtual telescope, based on imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world.
BLOGThe Microsoft Exchange Team Blog is offering step-by-step instructions to Exchange admins who are seeing iPhones being linked up to Exchange. This post includes advice for implementing policies and more.
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