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Microsoft cranks up '7' hype
By Martin J Young

HUA HIN, Thailand - News of the release of a new Microsoft operating system has never failed to generate excitement among both geeks and end-users alike. Since Windows 95 revolutionized (at least for Microsoft customers) the operating system and "desktop" experience, each new iteration of the world's most-popular platform has sparked more fervor for information and technical specifications prior to its release.

Microsoft has had its ups and downs with each of its operating system versions, starting with Windows 98, then with ME, 2000, XP and now Vista, which seems to have generated the most complaints. There may be light at the end of the tech tunnel for disappointed Vista users, but the tunnel is long and the light mayjust be another oncoming train.

Microsoft has made further announcements this week about Windows 7, the highly anticipated replacement for its problematic Vista operating system. According to a statement on Monday, the server version of Windows 7 will not be a major release and will take on the name Windows Server 2008 R2. Usually, the R2 moniker is adopted when a product has been given an overhaul and it is not used for a completely new operating system, which is what everyone is expecting from Windows 7. So this leads us on a train of thought that ends at a station called Vista SE (second edition), along the lines of Windows 98.

At the same time, Microsoft has made not made it a secret that it is developing a Vista replacement and the company has admitted to having more than 2,000 people working on Windows 7.

Expect an enhanced version of Vista with a few funky features thrown in, such as touch-screen technology or "pervasive multi-touch" as the gurus like to call it. A new blog called Engineering Windows 7 is being written by Jon DeVaan and Steven Sinofsky, the top two developers on the project, to showcase its features and increase public awareness.

The features being touted, aside from smudged screens, include greater support and connectivity with the Windows Live environment, which is a move towards cloud computing, where everything is stored on centralized servers accessible via the Internet, rather than on customers' computers; 64-bit versions of Windows will be more common, to take advantage of multi-core processors, and more than 4 gigabytes of RAM (the current limit on 32-bit operating systems). Virtualization, former chairman and founder Bill Gates' favorite buzzword, will make it easier for businesses to deploy and upgrade to the new operating system, something most major organizations have struggled with in the past.

The Professional Developers Conference and the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in October will offer the first look at the technology behind the new operating system, which has been slated for release in January 2010. Microsoft cannot really afford to make any mistakes this time around. Vista has not been popular and neither has the decision to stop selling Windows XP, as we found out this week.

An example of the current wave of discontent comes from Taiwan, whose Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into whether Microsoft is abusing its monopoly to coerce consumers into buying Vista by halting sales of XP, its more popular operating system.

The investigation follows an accusation by the Consumers Foundation that Microsoft violated Taiwan's fair trade act by ending XP sales. Government officials have stated, "We are just beginning to probe Microsoft's conduct, looking at whether it uses the monopoly advantage in the market to sell Vista. We want to ensure fair market competition will be maintained."

Microsoft consumers across the globe generally still prefer XP to Vista, which has yet to hit the spot following compatibility and security problems and despite some of these being resolved by its first service pack. Hopes are now pinned on what could be lucky number seven for Microsoft, although we will face a long wait before seeing if it causes another round of Windows woes.

Telecoms
Google's all new singing and dancing Android-software driven phone has been making headlines this week following the long-awaited approval from the US Federal Communications Commission. Carrier T-Mobile can now launch the product, which should be in stores before the end-of-year holiday shopping season. One of the largest mobile device makers in the world, Taiwanese company HTC is also preparing for the launch of the new smart-phone, named "Dream".

The unit boasts a touch screen, Wifi, a full web browser and Google applications such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube. Google has released version 0.9 beta of the platform to its developer community and the final version is set for a September or October release to coincide with the Dream. Android software is finally in the game but devices using it have a long way to go before they catch up with the iPhone.

Another publicity campaign was launched this week by Google called "FreeTheAirwaves". The movement will request that the Federal Communications Commission reserve unused airwaves, called white spaces, for free public broadband use.

Television broadcasters and wireless providers are against the idea for fear of interference issues between signals. The FCC is expected to vote on whether the airwaves should be shared by the end of the year. If Google's campaign is successful it will open up more wireless broadband options in the US.

Martin J Young is an Asia Times Online correspondent based in Thailand.