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As the No. 3 executive at Microsoft, Paul Maritz presided over the company's Windows juggernaut, turned aside threats from Netscape and Sun Microsystems, and pressed the company to embrace the Internet. Now, the longtime software executive is looking down Microsoft's barrel from the other end, trying to help his new employer, VMware, triumph where past Microsoft competitors fell short.

It may not be one of the burning social issues of our time -- neither presidential candidate made it part of their stump speech -- but Internet retailer Amazon.com has announced that it is taking a stand on "wrap rage."

Amazon is launching "Frustration-Free Packaging" (FFP), an initiative to reduce the use of plastic "clamshell" packaging and plastic-coated wire ties that are often used to secure unopened toys and electronics.

After years of efforts by Google (GOOG) and Amazon.com (AMZN) to spin visions of a future where the Web supplants Windows, Microsoft (MSFT) struck back on Oct. 27. The software giant unveiled what one executive called the most important plan in 16 years aimed at keeping its Windows operating system franchise vital. "What we announced today was much broader than anything anyone has tried before," says Senior Vice-President Robert Muglia.

Internet Movie Database, the company behind the popular imdb.com site, wants to give visitors a free viewing of every movie and TV show on the Internet and filmmakers a chance to show the world their films.

The Amazon.com subsidiary, which was started by an international group of movie fans, said Monday that users can watch 6,000 feature films such as Fever Pitch and Fiddler on the Roof, TV episodes such as Big Brother and CSI, and old classics such as Star Trek and Charlie's Angels on its Web site.

Without the fanfare that typically accompanies such product announcements, Amazon.com on Tuesday launched two new online-payment options that target small businesses. That makes Amazon.com a direct competitor with both Google Checkout and eBay's PayPal.

The future of magazine publishing increasingly is appearing on a digital display -- not just a newsstand.

Advancements in software and hardware are making it easier for a growing faction of consumers -- including coveted younger readers called screen-agers -- to read their favorite publications on the Internet or download and read them later offline.

"It's not Jetsons. It's real," says Richard Maggiotto, CEO of Zinio, one of a dozen or so companies that specialize in creating digital editions of magazines and newspapers.