Blind Gates

Microsoft is announcing that the next major version of Windows, codenamed Longhorn, will be released in 2006 -- but without WinFS. WinFS was supposed to be a brand-new filesystem that would make it easier to find things on your hard drive. Alas, the technology is not developing quickly enough for Microsoft, and they cannot commit to a 2006 date without cutting it from Longhorn.

Well, to soften the blow, and to try to make Microsoft seem like even less of a disappointment, Gates tells a fib:

WinFS, I'd be the first to say, is very ambitious. Nobody has ever brought together the world of documents, media and structured information in giving you one simple set of verbs that lets you richly find, move around and replicate those things.

Uh, Bill? Over here? Apple is committed to releasing Spotlight as part of Tiger in the first half of 2005. And remember, Microsoft has many more resources available than Apple does.

For a snarkier look at this announcement, head over to the Fishbowl.