Microsoft Delays Windows Server 2008
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft won't be releasing the next version of Windows Server to manufacturing as soon as it had previously hoped, the software giant revealed last week. While details concerning the cause of the delay were not forthcoming, Microsoft did state that the delay is not expected to affect the a big launch event slated for the end of February, when it plans to launch Windows Server 2008 and new versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio. READ MORE >

Microsoft Preps Windows Vista SP1
by Alex Woodie

Testing has begun on Windows Vista service pack 1 (SP1), a new release of the client operating system that will pack together a range of updates and application compatibility and device driver improvements, Microsoft said last week. The first beta, which won't bring any new features, is expected to ship in the next few weeks, and will be available to the public. READ MORE >

ISO Rejects Microsoft's Open XML as Standard
by Alex Woodie

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) rejected Microsoft's Open XML format as a new standard in a vote of its members this week. Microsoft, which had been seeking to fast-track the standardization of its new file format for Office 2007, raised the ire of some members of the international IT community, who accused the software giant of trying to influence the outcome of the vote by encouraging its business partners to participate in the ballot. Despite the setback, Microsoft expects Open XML to be ratified next year. READ MORE >

The Data Quality Inflection Point
by Alex Woodie

Got data quality issues? If you're like many businesses that have struggled with the exponential growth of data over the last few years, you have a fair share of bad data hiding across your servers. But that shouldn't relegate you to living in the gray world of questionable data, argues Arvind Parthasarathi, a senior director of solutions at data management tool vendor Informatica. In fact, we find ourselves currently at an inflection point that allows us to take control and turn the data quality problem around, Parthasarathi explains in this Q&A. READ MORE >