One of the (few) complaints I continually hear about Windows 7 is the lack of the Quick Launch toolbar for the taskbar. Sure, the icon-friendly new taskbar makes it easier to store multiple shortcuts but you still can’t store that many.

Enter 7Stacks and Jumplist Launcher. Both apps enable you to add shortcuts to folders/applications anywhere on your system… shortcuts that will be accessible via a right-click on the app icon in your taskbar. It’s something that I wish was built into Win7 natively but a 3rd-party app will do just nicely.

[Source: FreewareGenius.com]

Microsoft updated their line of LifeCam-series webcams last week with the introduction of the 720p Hi-Def LifeCam Cinema. Available for pre-order tomorrow (8/24) on Amazon.com with a suggested retail price of $74.95, the Cinema is the latest in the long line of the high-quality LifeCam-branded webcams – a quality to which I can attest. In addition, Microsoft also announced the introduction of the LifeChat LX-1000, a “headset with high-quality audio and a noise-canceling microphone.”

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The creators of the ever-popular </sarcasm> Zune music service & devices (that’s Microsoft for those of you who haven’t been paying attention) just announced an expansion of the existing Zune marketplace by extending “its video service to XBOX Live internationally this fall.”

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There at the very end of March, Microsoft decided to release it’s FrontPage-esque (shudder) tool designed for creating and managing SharePoint pages and content, SharePoint Designer 2007, all for the low cost of $0.00.

Here’s just a few of the benefits to the software listed on the official SP Designer site:

• Automate business processes such as document approval, custom event notification, and other collaboration tasks with the Workflow Designer.
• Create reporting and tracking applications using data views and forms to easily gather and aggregate data from outside your site and from SharePoint lists and document libraries on the Web site.
• Get started fast with pre-built Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Application Templates, which are fully customizable and extensible using Office SharePoint Designer 2007.
• Extend your solutions by building advanced interactive Microsoft ASP.NET pages. Insert and edit controls with the same powerful activity menus and control property grid previously found only in development tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.

Check out the SharePoint Designer 2007 download page to grab your copy. (You need to register first. No biggie.) Of course, you can also still purchase it for $259 if you’d like. It’ll, um, help the economy.

Google, earlier on Monday, announced Google Sync: a platform designed to keep your mobile devices constantly in sync with your Google Account-based calendar, contacts and email.

So, what exactly is Microsoft taking credit for? The element that enables Windows Mobile-based devices to be a part of Google Sync: ActiveSync. In the official press release, entitled "Google Takes Patent License to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync," Microsoft explains, in an almost embarassing thunder-stealing moment, that it’s only because of them that owners of WinMo-based phones will be able to use this new technology release from the Goog.

The full text of the release is pretty short so I’ll go ahead and post it below:

"Earlier today Google announced Google Sync, which is made possible by a patent license they obtained from Microsoft covering Google’s implementation of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol on Google servers.

Of note, Microsoft recently announced an expansion of its Exchange ActiveSync Licensing Program, and licensees currently include partners and competitors Apple, Nokia, Palm, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson, among others.

Horacio Gutierrez, Deputy General Counsel and VP, Intellectual Property & Licensing, Microsoft:

‘Google’s licensing of these Microsoft patents relating to the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol is a clear acknowledgment of the innovation taking place at Microsoft.  This agreement is also a great example of Microsoft’ s openness to generally license our patents under fair and reasonable terms so long as licensees respect Microsoft intellectual property. This open approach has been part of Microsoft’s IP licensing policy since 2003 and has resulted in over 500 licensing agreements of the last five years.’"

Yes, thank you Microsoft. I am forever in your debt, oh wise one.

All-in-all, I suppose I can see the need for a statement like this (when it comes to a board of directors as stuffy as Microsoft’s) but you very rarely see an official press release from current industry leaders like… well, Google.