In this issue:
Microsoft Confirms "Windows Cloud" OS
by Arie Slob
Hello Windows users,
 At its Professional Developers Conference (PDC) event later this month, Microsoft will publicly unveil its "Windows Cloud" Internet-based OS, the company confirmed.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the plans at a Software plus Services partner event in London last Wednesday. "We need a new operating system designed for the cloud and we will introduce one in about four weeks, we'll even have a name to give you by then. But let's just call it for the purposes of today "Windows Cloud". Just like Windows Server looked a lot like Windows but with new properties, new characteristics and new features, so will Windows Cloud look a lot like Windows Server."
A Microsoft representative did not directly confirm the reports. When asked for clarification, however, he said, "I can confirm the statement I provided echoes what Steve said."
"As we've discussed publicly, Microsoft is investing heavily in its Software + Services vision, particularly as it relates to the services platform to deliver a set of solutions that address our customer's needs," the spokesman said. "In addition to our current, widely adopted service-based applications, such as Microsoft Online Services and Office Live Workspaces, we are working with many of our customers, partners and our broad developer community to understand their needs for extensible, scalable services platforms. We have publicly discussed a roadmap of commitments for our services strategy, most notably from Ray Ozzie at MIX 08 and the Financial Analyst Meeting."
"We are excited to talk more about our progress and opportunities for customers and partners at the Professional Developers Conference in a few weeks, but we don't have any further details to share at this time," the Microsoft spokesman said. "You can go to the PDC website for more information."
Cloud computing might be considered as the back end of Web 2.0 applications, or as software as a service. The term cloud computing comes from the use of a cloud image to represent the Internet or some large networked environment as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure behind it. In cloud computing IT-related capabilities are provided "as a service," allowing users to access those services from the Internet ("the cloud") without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports those services. In essence this is distributed computing.
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Microsoft & Washington State Sue Scareware Vendors
Microsoft and the attorney-general of Washington State Rob McKenna last Monday announced that they are teaming up to curb the spread of so-called scareware tactics & advertisements. Using pop-up advertising, often using windows that are styled to look like system alerts that are part of the operating system, consumers are warned that their PCs are at risk. When fooled by such scams, consumers often pay for tools that fix largely imaginary problems on their PCs.
"The Attorney General's Office along with Microsoft has yanked the fear factor dial out of the hands of businesses that use scareware as a marketing tool and have spun it toward them," McKenna said.
"We won't tolerate the use of alarmist warnings or deceptive 'free scans' to trick consumers into buying software to fix a problem that doesn't even exist," McKenna continued. "We've repeatedly proven that Internet companies that prey on consumers' anxieties are within our reach."
The Attorney General's Office along with Microsoft announced the filing of new cases under Washington's recently improved Computer Spyware Act during a joint press conference in Seattle.
"Microsoft is honored to assist Washington Attorney General McKenna in helping to protect consumers from online threats," said Richard Boscovich, Senior Attorney for Microsoft's Internet Safety Enforcement Team. "Cybercrime continues to evolve, but with public/private collaboration such as this, we can work to champion tougher laws, greater public awareness and, ultimately, stronger protections for online consumers."
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