They have the Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 out now. I cant keep up with so many versions. Why do I even bother. Still, this release is quite cool as you can drag and drop the tabs for your browsing purpose. Its nice to rearrange your tabs once a while.

Microsoft launches Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 source

Microsoft is planning a big push into unified communications, describing a grand vision covering VoIP, instant messaging, audioconferencing, videoconferencing, and e-mail. Built primarily on new versions of current products, the combination of new and renamed products is intended to appeal to enterprise CEOs who want to bring all of their company’s communications under a single umbrella. Hopefully the convergence will result in lower cost - TCO.

“Unified communications will drive the next major advancement in individual, team and organizational productivity in today’s 24×7, always-connected and increasingly mobile work environment,” Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikes said. “We believe that through software, we can transform business communications (bringing down both its cost and complexity) by now integrating voice communications with the familiar and powerful communications and collaboration experiences provided by Microsoft.”

Unified Communications Plans from Microsoft source

Don’t hold your breath.. Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 and Vista might only come out in 2007. So that gives you plenty of time to save on a Vista Premium PC and Windows CE handheld device.

Microsoft will officially launch its Windows CE 6.0 OS for embedded and mobile devices in the first half of its fiscal year 2007 (July 2006-June 2007), a move which is likely to bring Windows CE 6.0-powered handheld devices to the market early next year, according to Eddie Wu, Microsoft’s senior director of device solutions sales, Asia and worldwide ODM ecosystems.

Wu made the remark yesterday in Taipei as the software giant launched a beta version of its Windows CE 6.0 in the Taiwan market.

According to Wu, Microsoft’s Windows CE embedded system currently accounted for 30% of the world’s handheld device market, with the percentage points climbing to 50% in the PDA segment. Overall, about 10 million handheld devices (excluding GPS devices) used globally are powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, Wu added.

Microsoft Windows CE 6.0 only in 2007 source

OK. News of the century !! This is going to blow your head off. Bill Gates, master mascot for Microsoft is slowing things down because he wants to devote more time to his Charity organisation. Good stuff. That’s what I will do someday too when I have a few billion dollars in my pocket.

The man that made computers what they are today will step down from his daily work in 2008. He’ll stop working on hardware development and other technologies, but remain on the Microsoft board. Most of his time will be spent contributing to the Gates Foundation, which he and his wife Melinda set up to reduce the inequalities in America and around the world. The organisation has donated more than US$10.5 billion dollars to charity since its inception in 2000.

source