The software giant will expand its "software as a service" line, particularly for businesses, he said. The idea is that customers can choose to either purchase server software, such as mail or portal applications, from Microsoft or get it delivered as a service over the Internet.
Gates also reflected on software innovation and on the extent to which he feels his company is in competition with Web companies like Google. He doesn't see the search king as being in the same game when it comes to offering development capabilities.
Google has "this slogan that they are going to organize the world's information. Our slogan is that we are going to give people tools to let them organize the world's information," Gates said. "It's a slightly different approach, based on the platformization of all of our capabilities and not thinking of ourselves as the organizer."
Reader Nick Tomkin challenged that notion: "Not in the data collection business? What the hell do you call Passport," he said, speaking of Microsoft's authentication technology. "You, Mr. Gates are in any business so long as it's trailing a momentous invention. If digital pet rocks was the next 'blog' or 'IM,' Microsoft would be setting up 'petrock.msn.com' in 10 minutes."
In other big news at the PDC, Microsoft appears to be considering a product lineup with its newest version of Windows--Vista--that would include several new high-end editions of the operating system.
Microsoft has discussed plans for an edition for corporations and is also evaluating both a small-business version and an "ultimate" edition of the operating system that would combine the best of Microsoft's corporate and consumer features.
The company has not yet said how it will sell Vista, and an announcement is not expected for some months. However, buried within the test code handed out to developers at the PDC was a reference to six separate versions of Vista.
Microsoft had earlier announced plans for a community technology preview version of Vista that was also handed out to developers.
Also at the confab, Microsoft revealed initiatives that will help it muscle its way into two markets next year--work flow and enterprise content management--using its time-tested techniques of exploiting its desktop dominance and appealing to developers.
The company announced Windows Workflow Foundation, software plumbing that tracks the different steps in a wide range of work flow processes, such as handling the flow of one Web page to the next or passing electronic forms between two systems.
The software, which will be built into Windows Vista when the new operating system ships in the second half of next year, will be used extensively in Office 12 as well as in future versions of BizTalk and the company's Dynamics packaged applications, according to Microsoft executives.
Though company executives are cagey on packaging and pricing details, Microsoft also intends to provide enterprise content management capabilities with Office 12, which will be available in the second half of next year as well.
Both initiatives have the potential to shake up the competitive landscape in markets where there are several specialized vendors.
Back in the halls of justice, a Washington state judge ruled Tuesday that former Microsoft executive Kai-Fu Lee can continue to work for a Google development center in China--but with restrictions. The court barred Lee from working on technologies such as search or speech. It has also prohibited Lee from recruiting Microsoft employees or using any confidential information he gleaned from his work at the software giant.
But following the ruling, Microsoft proposed settling its lawsuit by asking Google to agree to limit the executive's duties until July 2006, when the noncompete agreement he signed with Microsoft expires. Click here for a roundup of this week's Google news.
feels his company is in competition with Web companies like Google. He doesn't see the search king as being in the same game when it comes to offering development capabilities.Google has "this slogan that they are going to organize the world's information. Our slogan is that we are going to give people tools to let them organize the world's information," Gates said. "It's a slightly different approach, based on the platformization of all of our capabilities and not thinking of ourselves as the organizer."
Reader Nick Tomkin challenged that notion: "Not in the data collection business? What the hell do you call Passport," he said, speaking of Microsoft's authentication technology. "You, Mr. Gates are in any business so long as it's trailing a momentous invention. If digital pet rocks was the next 'blog' or 'IM,' Microsoft would be setting up 'petrock.msn.com' in 10 minutes."
In other big news at the PDC, Microsoft appears to be considering a product lineup with its newest version of Windows--Vista--that would include several new high-end editions of the operating system.
Microsoft has discussed plans for an edition for corporations and is also evaluating both a small-business version and an "ultimate" edition of the operating system that would combine the best of Microsoft's corporate and consumer features.
The company has not yet said how it will sell Vista, and an announcement is not expected for some months. However, buried within the test code handed out to developers at the PDC was a reference to six separate versions of Vista.
Microsoft had earlier announced plans for a community technology preview version of Vista that was also handed out to developers.
Also at the confab, Microsoft revealed initiatives that will help it muscle its way into two markets next year--work flow and enterprise content management--using its time-tested techniques of exploiting its desktop dominance and appealing to developers.
The company announced Windows Workflow Foundation, software plumbing that tracks the different steps in a wide range of work flow processes, such as handling the flow of one Web page to the next or passing electronic forms between two systems.
The software, which will be built into Windows Vista when the new operating system ships in the second half of next year, will be used extensively in Office 12 as well as in future versions of BizTalk and the company's Dynamics packaged applications, according to Microsoft executives.
Though company executives are cagey on packaging and pricing details, Microsoft also intends to provide enterprise content management capabilities with Office 12, which will be available in the second half of next year as well.
Both initiatives have the potential to shake up the competitive landscape in markets where there are several specialized vendors.
Back in the halls of justice, a Washington state judge ruled Tuesday that former Microsoft executive Kai-Fu Lee can continue to work for a Google development center in China--but with restrictions. The court barred Lee from working on technologies such as search or speech. It has also prohibited Lee from recruiting Microsoft employees or using any confidential information he gleaned from his work at the software giant.
But following the ruling, Microsoft proposed settling its lawsuit by asking Google to agree to limit the executive's duties until July 2006, when the noncompete agreement he signed with Microsoft expires. Click here for a roundup of this week's Google news.
Firefox gets hairy
Security researchers claimed that they have found ways to exploit a serious bug in Firefox and Mozilla Web browsers, a sign that attacks could be on the way.
The issue, which could let attackers secretly run malicious software on PCs, was disclosed on Thursday by security researcher Tom Ferris. The Mozilla Foundation, which distributes and coordinates the development of the Firefox and Mozilla browsers, responded swiftly and released a temporary fix last Friday.
The problem also affects the latest Netscape Web browser, according to security experts. Netscape, a division of Time Warner's America Online subsidiary, is investigating the issue, a company representative said Tuesday.
Mozilla on Wednesday said it plans to "shortly" release new versions of its Firefox and Mozilla Web browsers to address the security bug as well as several additional flaws.
Also in security news, a Massachusetts teenager who admitted to accessing T-Mobile USA's internal systems and posting data from Paris Hilton's cell phone on the Web will serve 11 months in a juvenile facility.
The teenager pleaded guilty last week to a series of hacking incidents, the theft of personal information, and making bomb threats to high schools in Florida and Massachusetts, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney for the district of Massachusetts.
All crimes took place over a 15-month period, beginning in March 2004. Victims suffered a total of about $1 million in damages.
Also of note
Congress took another step toward overhauling a telecommunications law to reflect new technologies...Microsoft is on linking with AOL...Yahoo unveiled a beta version of its new Instant Search and Yahoo Mail...Microsoft revealed the launch dates for its much-anticipated Xbox 360 video game console...Google launched a blog search feature...Nintendo surprised the game industry with an unconventional one-handed controller for its next-generation console.