1. UPDATE: XP SP3 Available Via Windows Update
Users of Windows XP can now gain access to Service Pack 3 through Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center, according to an announcement issued by Microsoft today.
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2. Exec Describes Microsoft's 'Social Networking' Vision
A Microsoft executive involved with the company's Windows Live efforts outlined some of the company's ideas about cloud-based computing and social networking technologies today.
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3. Discovery of Crimeware Server Exposes Breadth of Data Theft
Last month researchers at online security company Finjan uncovered a 1.4 gigabyte cache of stolen data from North America, Europe, the Middle East and India on a Malaysian server that provided command and control functions for malware attacks in addition to being a drop site for data harvested from compromised computers.
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4. Report: Microsoft Meeting with Time Warner Regarding AOL
Just two days after walking away from its $49.6 billion bid for Yahoo, the Times Online U.K. is reporting that Microsoft is meeting with Time Warner executives regarding a possible bid for America Online -- the very company Yahoo turned to in a possible attempt to stave off the takeover bid from Redmond.
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5. Microsoft Scraps Yahoo Acquisition Plans
Citing a hefty price tag and other concerns, Microsoft this weekend officially scrapped its plans to acquire Yahoo.
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6. Study: SaaS Most Important Enterprise Software Trend
According to a recent survey of 850 "enterprise software customers," Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) continues to be the most important enterprise software trend.
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7. Microsoft Hiring Program Managers for SQL
Anyone interested in working for Microsoft on the next and future editions of SQL Server might want to check out this blog post from Lead Program Manager Debra Dove.
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8. Yahoo Stock Falls on Failed Microsoft Bid
The plunge of Yahoo's stock happened as expected after Microsoft withdrew its takeover bid for the Web app company on Saturday.
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9. Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo Actively Negotiating Merger Deal
Shares of Microsoft closed just shy of 7 percent higher on Friday May 2 based on new speculation that Microsoft and Yahoo are now actively negotiating to seal a deal.
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10. Microsoft Confirms Windows XP SP3
The second service pack (SP 2) for Windows XP was a watershed release. Dropped in August 2004, it addressed a number of issues on the security side: turning Windows Firewall on, rather than off, by default, and including a pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer were two of the major changes. Those upgrades made a big difference in the public perception of XP, and sales, which had been steady, took off.
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