Direct from their site… “January 21, 2009, Interwoven entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Autonomy, the clear leader in enterprise search and the front runner in Meaning-Based Computing. The combined company will have more than 2,000 employees and 20,000 customers. Following the close, Interwoven will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Autonomy. This acquisition brings together two quality, high-performing software companies who share a vision to fundamentally change the way organizations discover, analyze and manage information. ”

Good News? I think so. Interwoven clients can be assured they will be around for awhile and their investment is safe.

In order to improve UAC’s image while still providing this type of security, Microsoft has modified UAC in Windows 7 Beta to give more control to the user when deciding how UAC works.

A nice article by Greg Shultz takes a closer look at the new UAC features shown in Windows 7 Beta.

OK… its been how long since Microsoft Office 2007 as been released? Two years?

It really irks me that there are vendors for our clients who STILL do not have Microsoft Office 2007 ready versions. What? Yea its a different environment with many of the old rules rewritten, but give me break! Just do it!

…And installs

I heard from several clients that some desktop applications NEED a “guided” install from the vendor. Guided as in “we’ll walk you through it” or “we’ll do it for you.” I guess that may be fine for one or two desktops… in the 20th century! But we now have MSI, stellar installation applications and WIX for the 21st century. Many things are difficult enough in this economic and technological turbulent time… lets make this easier for our clients.

We are at the threshold of a new generation of applications and development tools. With the introduction of Vista , Microsoft Office 2007, OpenXML, and when you couple this with the fact Microsoft was brave enough to burn the old “Office”, we now have a Microsoft Office that makes it easier for firms to add applications and develop solutions that enhance a firm’s desktop environment.

Specially, Microsoft Word 2007 includes enhanced features and tools that work better for law firms in regards to document production than previous versions of Microsoft Office. For example, the compare documents feature is more robust and accurate, and I believe firms will start to use the features native to Microsoft Word rather than purchasing expensive applications that operate outside of Word to solve the same business problems.

Having said that, firms will still purchase add-on applications, such as style and numbering solutions for legal specific needs, but the type of applications that will be desirable will work within the Microsoft Word environment… enhancing what is already there.

Firms should be looking for and demanding applications that work within and enhance the native product not products that are trying to reinvent the wheel outside the environment (Enhanced Native Architecture™). By adding products that work with Microsoft Words native tools firm’s will reduce the overall cost of ownership by reducing training, purchasing, implementation costs. These products will also be streamlined with just the features firms are looking… less bells and whistles.

If a firm takes this approach only short training classes would be required when new applications and features are added to their Microsoft Office environment. By keeping all document creation and production processes within Microsoft Word a firm enhances workflow, saving valuable time users would have previously spent running documents through outside applications for numbering, styles and document comparison. By adding on streamlined products that enhance Words native environment a firm also reduces support and troubleshooting issues.

May you live in interesting times, is often referred to euphemistically as a Chinese curse. It is presumed to be the first of three curses of increasing severity, the other two being:

2. May you come to the attention of those in authority

3. May you find what you are looking for

Please! Can we just limit it to the first curse?

We’ve just concluded our business plan for 2009. What struck me the most were our numbers (forecast, pipeline, etc) and how positive they look… and that’s viewing them through pessimistically dark colored glasses. But in these “interesting times” anything is possible and we have to plan for different scenarios as well.

What I do know:

· Most firms are planning on reducing operating expenses and deferring capital expenditures.

· Cash flow is KING and firms are going to do everything to maximize it.

· New investments in bleeding edge technologies have been put on hold.

· Investments in new software must produce an immediate and tangible return.

· Renewable software subscriptions will be considered thoroughly and only those that are absolutely needed will be renewed.

· “Staff reductions” is an understatement. It’s more like “staff amputations”

What does this mean for Esquire Innovations? We are in the unique position of being a provider of Microsoft Office integrated practice management software services and applications. Our software is pretty much on all users’ desktops and is a part of the workflow work product. Is that good enough for us? HELL NO!

These times call for us, as a vendor to the law firm community, to do and be more, not less. In 2009 we have to go beyond Software and provide astonishing client support. Yes astonishing! Astonishing support. Astonishing value. Astonishing prices. Astonishing empathy.