Microsoft showed advanced 3-D and streaming media capabilities of the Longhorn GUI and "superfetch" technology that offers better handling of virtual memory. It also demonstrated a new File Transfer Wizard and a smart USB cable that can rapidly enable the migration of all files from one PC to another using a single monitor. As another plus for OEMs, Microsoft will integrate into Longhorn an image-based setup and Windows Pre-Installation Environment (PE), executives said.
Microsoft also gave an updated roadmap of its Windows client and server technologies. For example, Microsoft is working on Windows Smart Network Key Wizard wireless security and Bluetooth support in Windows XP SP2. The company also remains committed to shipping Windows Server 2003 service pack 1 with advanced security technologies during the second half of 2004. Also for this year, Microsoft plans to deliver Windows XP 64-bit Virtual Server 2005 as well as a service pack for Small Business Server 2003.
Next year, Microsoft will update both Windows server 2003 and Windows Small Business server 2003, and release a new Windows Storage Server code-named "Storm," Allchin said.
On the consumer front, Microsoft said this year it will release Windows CE 5.0, Tablet PC 2005 Edition, Windows Media Center 2004, a Portable Media Center and Windows Media Center Extended technology, which enables consumers to move digital images, photos, music and documents from their PC into Windows Media Center and digital televisions.
Together with Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft demonstrated a prototype home PC, dubbed Windows Home Concept, that incorporates Windows Media Center with integrated telephone, voice recognition, voice over IP and personal audio/video and media libraries on future home systems.
To realize the benefits of cloud-native software, an application must actually be cloud-native—designed to run in the cloud, interacting with disaggregated cloud services, fully manageable as code—to deliver the expected benefits.
By combining resources and expertise, the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium will offer a blueprint for how industries can adapt to an AI-dominated future.
IT leaders should heed the guidance of cybersecurity insurance providers who think businesses should prioritize security education, incident preparedness, regular internal audits, and ongoing vulnerability scanning and patching.
