Still in early stages of development, Longhorn is expected to debut circa 2006, with these key technologies integrated into the operating system:
Search: One of Longhorn's most heavily touted features, in development for years, is its ability to help people find and retrieve information more quickly. The software underlying that feature, code-named WinFS, will allow customers to search the Web, e-mail and desktop applications such as Microsoft Word. More importantly, Microsoft is investing more than $500m in building an online search service that could be easily link to Longhorn's desktop search technology. Such a one-two punch could allow the software giant to capitalize on the dominance of Windows, challenging Google and Yahoo.
Storage: Because WinFS includes at least some technology borrowed from Microsoft's SQL Server database, analysts said the move could be interpreted as a bundling of database software with Windows. Given the EU decision, that could be enough for competitors to claim that the move is anticompetitive.
Audio and video: Microsoft is working on technology that goes beyond simply playing music and videos. New software that Microsoft has already demonstrated will make it easier to store, catalog and retrieve audio and video clips through a more flexible, 3D application that builds on Longhorn's storage capability. Combined with Media Player -- either packaged with Longhorn or offered separately -- the software could give Microsoft a decisive edge over RealNetworks, Apple and other competitors.
Online music: In addition to competing with rivals over media player software, Microsoft has already announced plans to launch an online music store in the second half of this year. That service could at some point be bundled with Windows. Microsoft has not commented on its plans.
Application development: The server version of Longhorn will go beyond today's Windows Server 2003 software to include a full application server -- including transaction management, better integration support and a new release of Microsoft's .Net architecture -- built into the operating system. That strategy targets rivals that make stand-alone application servers and integration software, such as IBM, Sun Microsystems and BEA Systems.
Speech recognition: Microsoft plans to embed speech recognition software into Longhorn. The software will let people vocally control some features of Windows, such as navigating menus and opening documents. Some smaller companies offer speech recognition software for Windows at present.
Security: While most customers will welcome additional security tools in Windows, Microsoft rivals likely will not. Longhorn will introduce Microsoft's Next Generation Secure Computing Base, formerly known as Palladium. The software, among other features, will automatically monitor system and network security threats and take evasive action. That action could duplicate some of the functions contained in antivirus software from Symantec and other security technology companies.
Mobile: Microsoft has already begun offering new software to link the company's MapPoint mapping software to cellular phone networks, in order to provide location-based services. Longhorn will accelerate that plan by improving ties to mobile devices through new software, code-named Indigo, that's being built into the new operating system.
Messaging: Longhorn builds on Microsoft's thrust into the real-time communications market, which it kicked off last year with a product called Office Real Time Communications Server 2003. Indigo will include real-time messaging services that could give Microsoft an advantage over IBM, Sun and other companies that make corporate instant-messaging software.
Before the ruling, Rosoff said the key for Microsoft will be in the precise wording of the EU's decision. If the ruling is fairly narrow, restricting Microsoft's bundling options in one or two specific areas, he said, it won't dramatically affect future products. Conversely, a broad decision could conceivably be applied to virtually any area of Microsoft's business.
"The devil is in the details," Rosoff said. "The EU has to find a way to regulate the company that will not totally stymie all development for Microsoft."
Talkback
I feel sorry for Microsoft, let people put realplayer on if they want or need to.
This is all getting a bit silly now!
I don't feel at all sorry for Microsoft.
If you feel sorry for Microsoft, you really need to read the history - it will change your mind.
I feel sorry for Netscape. I also feel sorry for the consumers who blindly use Internet Explorer, despite Mozilla being far superior (in my opinion - I'm never going back), because it's there. This is exactly the question this trial is raising.
People say "Let them keep Media Player in, if people want other things, they'll download them". Well the only people who will download other things are those that are technical enough to know about them. Everyone else will use Media Player, just because it's there already. Why should anyone go away and get a different media player if they've already got one?
The problem here is that anyone loading up MS Media Player gets taken to MS's internet media page. Someone loading up RealPlayer gets taken to Real's internet media page, where the companies can make money by selling advertising, selling their encoders, whatever else. When MS has 90% of the market, because everyone uses their media player, where's the income for anyone else?
Would you consider this fair if MS had gained this market share, not because people chose to use their media player rather than anything else, but just because they didn't realise there was a choice, or didn't take the time to find out about it?