Allthough Steve Ballmer says that Microsoft has no other choice but to embrace the web app revolution, the company intends to do that while keeping both feet firmly on the Windows desktop.
On Thursday, in the meeting with financial analysts, the Microsoft CEO together with his fellow executives revealed details about the company’s plans to offer web-based components for its desktop software applications. This long-term plan would see a major restructuring of the way Microsoft delivers software to its customers, but it is only a half-hearted move away from the desktop that illustrates how much the company has to work in order to catch up to its fully web-minded competitors.
Microsoft is planning to roll out a multi-tiered client-server platform for its Office and consumer applications. Over the next several years it's going to use its data centers and network infrastructure already in place to offer hosted applications on its Windows Live service, as well as continue to offer desktop applications that can connect to this services platform for collaboration and data sharing. The Microsoft execs call it "software plus services," an overly obfuscated term that chief software architect Ray Ozzie attempted to fully explain at yesterday's event.
While a shift to a hybrid "web-enabled desktop" sounds positive, Microsoft is already at least a year behind the curve. This shift from the desktop as the platform to the web as the platform was recognized many months ago by Google, Salesforce and others, and they have already convinced their own dedicated user bases that the future of applications is in the browser. Key elements to the success of these apps can be considered the lack of dependence on a specific operating system and the universal access to data.
Yesterday, Microsoft's president of its platforms and services division Kevin Johnson announced that a downloadable set of applications and components meant to enhance Microsoft Windows Live, the personal information and communication service, will be available later this summer.
2.4 percent is how low Microsoft stock dropped after in the room on Thursday financial analysts had mixed reactions to Redmond’s overall plan for the future.

PdfMachine v11.05.6 is new software that besides the common features of classic software that processes PDF documents, comes also with the ability to join PDF documents together, and in the same time can be used to send any computer document from any software by e-mail. When they reach recipient, all fonts, images, and format settings stay exactly as they are in original. Features include MS Office menu integration, standard MAPI client, 40 and 128 bit encryption, document format up to DIN A0, up to 1,400 dpi resolution, and virtual letterhead. Software also adds, deletes, and moves pages.

It is true that creating, saving and sending PDF documents from any software application has never been so easy! PdfMachine v11.05.6 seems to be user-friendly and cost-effective! The user has to call up the PC document that wants to be converted on PC, select the pdfMachine printer and enter the e-mail address of the recipient, and leave pdfMachine to do the rest.
The features listing:

o Prints from Windows applications
o MS Office menu integration
o PDF as eMail attachment once printed
o Uses your standard MAPI client (e.g. Lotus Notes, MS Outlook etc.)
o 40 und 128 bit safe encryption
o Document format up to DIN A0
o Joins PDF documents together
o Converts websites complete with hyperlinks
o Resolution up to 1,400 dpi
o Virtual letterhead (First and following pages can be separately selected)
o Adds, deletes and moves pages
o Control from external applications (e.g. automatic transfer of eMail address)
o Terminal server compliant
o Several virtual pdfMachine printers can be set up (e.g. with or without official letterhead)

Regarding pricing and availability, it can be said that pdfMachine v11.05.6 runs under Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT 3.x, WinNT 4.x, Windows2000, WinXP, Windows2003, Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Home Basic x64,Windows Vista Home Premium x64,Windows Vista Business x64,Windows Vista Enterprise x64,Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and costs $72 (US). Licensed users are entitled to the fully-functional copy of the software.

Further information on the product, as well as its free evaluation copy is available from http://www.pdf-office.com. The program comes with an installer and uninstaller for easy usage, while the user interface is available in different languages (English, German).

Red Wing Software, Inc. released on July 16, 2007, version 3.0 of CenterPoint Payroll software that ensures compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista, improves system performance, enhances report writing, and provides additional methods to pay employees.

The new software allows users to view, choose, and install updates by individual module and add-ons and its Quick Filter enables filters to be added or changed through available reports screen. The new Employee Payroll Totals Report allows view of payroll totals by employee. Software also includes Aatrix Tax Forms Registration Report and calculates now option for Pay Employees function.

CenterPoint Payroll Software offers customers the ability to remain up-to-date with current technology. This idea is sustained by version 3.0’s improved system performance within posting, payroll processing, list processing, and report selection, creating a system that works more efficiently. As a plus, the online update process has been improved so that customers can view, choose, and install updates by individual module and add-ons, providing small download sizes and faster installation.

One of the two new reports added is New Employee Payroll Totals Report, which allows users to easily view payroll totals by employee. Aatrix Tax Forms Registration Report, simplifies the process of registering and keeps up-to-date with Aatrix Tax Forms via the internet.

Within the Pay Employees function, two new features have been added, including a new 'Calculate Now' option and improved navigation, both speeding up the pay entry process, and improving ease of use.

Red Wing Software’s vision is to create the best management software experience through personal support and attention to customers' business goals.
Red Wing Software, Inc. develops, integrates and supports the accounting and financial management needs of small- to mid-sized businesses, agribusinesses and producers across North America.
For viewing a self-running demonstration or for ordering the latest version of CenterPoint Payroll, visit www.redwingsoftware.com .

According to Kevin Rose, Digg’s founder, Microsoft patched a three year deal with Digg. Microsoft will provide display and contextual advertising on Digg. The company who used to do this work for Digg was Federal Media and from no on they will focus on sponsorship and custom programs.
This move was taken because Microsoft is a partner with a larger organization and more scalable platform. Digg will grow faster and the team will focus more on the new future development.
The focus will be the uncluttered design and the advertise on the site will be made on the social network Facebook.
Many Digg users, who are known for their volatility, protested the deal, nothing in their comments on the site that may mean the end of the content about Linux and Apple Inc. Some of them even said that “Today is the day Digg died”.
However, some Digg users understood that Digg needs money to survive and that is the content on the site should not be affected to keep the users.
In the end maybe the revenue share was too tempting to turn down and maybe if on the future Microsoft will keep announcing some big deals like this, even is they are not so profitable for them, other networks will notice and come knocking.

Secunia warns of DoS attacks, security bypass and manipulation of data. A raft of 'highly critical' flaws have been found in several of Oracle's software products.

According to Secunia the vulnerabilities could allow a remote user to bypass a system's security, manipulate data or cause a denial of service.

Oracle has already issued a patch to fix the flaws in its software and has advised users to apply it immediately.
This Critical Patch Update contains 45 new security fixes across all products.

The problems were discovered in a range of applications, including Oracle Application Express, Application Server, Collaboration Suite, Oracle Database, E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM and Oracle Secure Enterprise Search.