Microsoft Future Watch Logo

Syntagma Media’s newest blog, Microsoft Future Watch, has been launched today, without fanfare, as is our way.

It will cover all aspects of that wonderfully ripe tech niche, the battle between desktop software and Web 2.0 services. Microsoft is now in the front line of this “war” after declaring its determination to pursue Web services supported by advertising, even if it deflects revenue from its cash cows, Windows and the Office suite. The full text of Bill Gates’s leaked memo on this new policy appears on Microsoft Future Watch (MFW).

MFW opens with a juicy story from Feedster founder, Scott Johnson, urging the Redmond brigade to poach Open Source developers as a means of protecting its proprietary software. A bit dodgy, one might think, especially as he believes Open Source to be lagging way behind on the desktop. Still, a bit of controversy never hurt a blog, particularly on its first day blinking into a new world.