Microsoft Offers Freebie 'Ribbon' UI License To ISVs

If you're an ISV with a product that does not compete with Microsoft Office, you too can incorporate the new Office 2007 "ribbon" UI into your wares for free. Details on this royalty-free license are posted here. And, here's the channel 9 link as well.

Given that very few Office competitors remain standing, I guess this is good news for ISVs building vertical or other apps that ride Microsoft's infrastructure

I would bet that many PC users are Luddites (ahem) and will likely turn off (or minimize) the ribbon in favor of the more familiar Office UI, it's unclear how big a seller this will be. Control F-1, people. But choice is good--right?

As if you could forget, the big Office 2007/Vista launch is on for next Thursday in New York.

Meanwhile, in truly GREAT NEWS from the Big M, MSN is offering free video of Arrested Development, a cult favorite (at least in this household) that Fox cancelled last year. If you missed it on Fox, don't miss it now. Here's that link.

One goal is to show off MSN's new video player.