Microsoft has quietly released pre-beta code to two forthcoming Windows service packs to testers in the past week, but the company continues to remain vague about when the final code for Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista SP1 will make it to end-users.

Microsoft confirmed Tuesday that it released preview code for both XP SP3 but still would not say directly when the updates to each OS will be released in their final versions.

The first major deployment of Microsoft’s Silverlight technology went live Tuesday, with the Web site for Major League Baseball using version 1.0 of the browser for interactive video content.

MLB.com currently is using the technology to show video highlights of baseball games, integrating the Silverlight player with news stories and other content on the site. For example, a news story about New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez hitting his 500th home run includes a mini-Silverlight player users can click on to view a replay. Users also can e-mail the video clips directly to friends from within the Silverlight player.

Microsoft is to cut the US price of its main Xbox 360 game console by 13% in a bid to boost summer holiday sales. The Premium model console will go on sale for $350, down from the earlier price of $400, from August 8.

The move comes after rival Sony made its PlayStation 3 17% cheaper in the US, with a price tag of $500. Microsoft is also making its Xbox 360 Core, which has no hard drive, and its 120-gigabyte Elite model, cheaper in a bid to target a wider audience.

A US district court has overturned a decision ordering Microsoft to pay phone firm Alcatel-Lucent $1.52B for infringing music patents.

The federal judge in San Diego reversed a jury’s decision which had ruled that Microsoft’s Media Player software infringed on two Alcatel patents. Both patents regarded how audio was converted into MP3 files.

A congressional panel voted against the Bush administration’s wishes, to shield journalists including advertising-supported bloggers from having to reveal their confidential sources in many situations.

By a voice vote only after politicians spent nearly two hours airing various misgivings, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved an amended version of the Free Flow of Information Act. Chiefly sponsored by Reps. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.), it proposes protection for a wider set of people than previous years’ versions.

Microsoft has succeeded in fracturing the Linux and open-source community with the patent indemnity agreements it has entered into with several prominent vendors, Ubuntu leader and Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth told eWEEK.

The strategy behind that was to drive a wedge into the open-source community and unsettle the marketplace, Shuttleworth said. He also took issue with the Redmond, Wash., software maker for not disclosing the 235 of its patents it claims are being violated by Linux and other open-source software.

Kaspersky Lab, provider of Internet security software solutions that protect against viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, crimeware, rootkits, phishing, hacker attacks and spam, has launched version 7.0 of Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Kaspersky Internet Security. Offering Triple Protection in a single box, these products deliver the highest detection rates, fastest response to new threats and proactive protection against known and unknown threats. Providing enhanced protection against Internet fraud and online identity theft, Kaspersky Internet Security’s added features now help keep children safe online, as well as providing personal data protection.

The anonymous writer of a prominent blog which lampoons Apple boss Steve Jobs has been unmasked. "The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs," in which the writer pretended to be the Apple chief executive, has become a must-read for technology watchers.

After months of speculation, the New York Times reported that the writer was Daniel Lyons, a senior editor at business magazine Forbes. Despite the unmasking, the diary will continue but on the Forbes Web site.

PeopleCube, provider of on-demand calendaring, resource and event management solutions, announced the latest version of Resource Scheduler, the popular room, resource and office hoteling management solution for organizations of all sizes. This new release, available on-demand or on-premise, includes several usability enhancements to improve reservation workflow and the overall end user experience. Among the highlighted features included in this release is an updated user interface, conflict resolution for recurring meetings, kiosk support for office hoteling and hot desking, lobby display support, and additional enhancements to the Resource Scheduler for Outlook/Exchange module.

Further, this new release supports the new Resource Scheduler API (Application Programming Interface). This new API enables partners, system integrators and other organizations to easily integrate Resource Scheduler functionality into display devices, reservation kiosks, and other third-party applications such as SalesForce.com, facility management systems, and others.

Every workplace has its share of good guys and bad, solo artists and team players. To get ahead–or even just survive–you need to know them all: the good eggs who can become your allies, and the bad apples to avoid (or occasionally placate). Here’s a handy guide to the 10 most common types of office politicians, with tips on how to manage them.