05/13, 11:18am
Friends and rivals discussed family, history, future
An unaired portion of a 60 Minutes interview with Bill Gates saw the founder of Microsoft in an unusually reflective state when questioned by interviewer Charlie Rose on the topic of the late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, his friend and rival. Jobs met with Gates for an extended period very near the end of his life, an unusual concession to a colleague he had had a tumultuous relationship with over the decades. Gates said the two men had "grown up together," each building the computer industry in their own image.
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05/10, 5:31pm
Counter-offer allows shareholders to keep shares, pays significant dividend
Investor Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management have proposed a new offer to Dell shareholders, who are considering a proposal by founder Michael Dell's group of investors, including Microsoft, to purchase existing shares at $13.65 each in order to take the company private. In a letter to Dell's board of directors, Icahn and Southeastern are counter-proposing a deal to give all Dell shareholders the option to retain shares in the company, plus take an additional $12 a share in cash or stock.
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05/10, 12:22pm
Apple apparently reticent to add Metro support
"You shouldn't expect an iTunes [Metro] app on Windows 8 any time soon," Microsoft CFO Tami Reller tells CNN Money. "iTunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying." The quote may suggest that Microsoft has been talking with Apple about adding Metro support for iTunes, but without any progress.
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05/10, 6:18am
Prototypes said to have Kinect-style motion controls
Microsoft is looking to create a set-top box for media playback, according to one report. Continuing previous rumors, the software giant is working on a device that will allow users to sign onto Xbox Live and use its apps to view streaming video, effectively cloning the non-gaming aspects of the Xbox 360 game console into a relatively-cheap product.
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05/09, 9:08am
Microsoft said to be responsive to OEM feedback on Windows 8
Acer Chairman J.T. Wang has said that Microsoft is starting to listen more closely to its OEM partners following the troubled launch of Windows 8, reports the Wall Street Journal. Wang indicated that he thought that that Microsoft has had its head in the clouds until recently, “But now the go down to earth and they start to learn how people living on earth think.” Acer President Jim Wong also added that Microsoft is becoming more “considerate” to its partners and has been baking in their suggestions into Windows Blue, the first major update to Windows 8 due later this year.
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05/08, 10:43pm
Microsoft offer lower than current company value
Reports have surfaced that Microsoft is allegedly offering $1 billion to buy the digital assets of Nook Media, Barnes & Noble's venture into e-book publishing. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft would redeem preferred units in Nook Media, which would give control of the operation to Microsoft.
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05/08, 12:21pm
Switch to subscription-based software suites could take ten years
Microsoft has laid out the various changes the company will make to Office Web Apps in the future, with a focus on social features, partly confirming a previously leak. It has also revealed that, unlike Adobe's recent announcement of switching focus to providing subscription-based products, Microsoft will continue to release packaged versions of Office for the next few years.
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05/07, 4:10pm
Analyst increases Yahoo gross revenue estimate by $60M
Microsoft has extended its revenue guarantee with Yahoo, according to an SEC filing. The revenue-per-search guarantee, part of the ten-year deal the two companies struck in 2009, will be extended by one additional year, allowing Yahoo to earn more revenue than it otherwise would have if the guarantee fully elapsed.
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05/07, 6:46am
Windows 8 passes 100 million licenses, Windows Blue due by holidays
Microsoft Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller has revealed that Windows 8 licenses sold has now passed the 100 million mark, six months after its launch. This is said to include installations on new PCs and tablets, as well as upgrades to Windows 8. Reller didn’t reveal the breakdown of Windows 8 licenses, which includes Windows RT sales, but did say that there are now 2,400 devices certified to run its controversial new operating system.
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05/06, 11:34am
Facebook makes first appearance on list
Business magazine Fortune has released the 2013 edition of its list of the 500 biggest corporations in the US. One of the most significant shifts in the list is the ascendancy of Apple, which has jumped from 17th place to sixth, breaking into the top 10 for the first time. Fortune comments that while the company has "maintained more than disrupted" its product line, and even had to apologize for iOS 6 Maps and its Chinese warranty services, it "remains an innovation icon."
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05/03, 8:16am
Microsoft prepping high-res 7.5-inch Surface says NPD DisplaySearch
An analyst with NPD DisplaySearch has told CNET that Microsoft has settled on a 7.5-inch display for one of its second-generation Surface tablets, which would go on sale in Q1 2014. The display could have a resolution of 1,400x1050 pixels that would give it a pixel density of 233 pixels per inch. This would make it one of the highest resolution small display tablets available and would comfortably beat out the current iPad mini, which sports a 7.9-inch display with a pixel density of 132ppi.
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05/02, 7:48am
Microsoft Surface shipments for Q1 under 1 million, smaller devices coming
Microsoft Surface shipments for Q1 total just 900,000, according to the latest IDC report published yesterday. The underwhelming sales figures are said to be predominantly sales of its Surface Pro tablet, while the Surface RT had difficulty gaining any significant market traction. In total, since its launch late last year the company is thought to have shipped a total of just 1.5 million Surface devices, which pales in comparison to the 19.5 million iPadsApple sold in Q1 alone.
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04/30, 11:56am
Skype in Outlook.com accompanied by Windows client update
Microsoft has added the ability to make Skype calls within the Outlook.com e-mail service. The site, which left beta in February, will allow Outlook users in the United Kingdom to access their Skype contacts, make calls, and communicate using instant messages, all from within the browser instead of launching external applications.
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04/29, 10:12am
Microsoft update for Windows 8 Weather app includes ski resort data
Microsoft has updated its Weather app for Windows 8. The changes include new interactive and dynamically-moving weather maps for cities and regions, satellite images, temperature and precipitation levels, cloud cover, and radar pictures. The Bing blog also notes that weather details for ski resorts in 31 countries around the world are also provided in the update.
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04/25, 10:37pm
Ruling more in line with Microsoft claims, well short of $4 billion request
US District Court Judge James Robart of the Western District of Washington has issued a critical ruling in the Motorola Mobile versus Microsoft patent lawsuit. The judge has decreed that Motorola Mobility is entitled to nearly $1.8 million per year from Microsoft for use of its standards-essential H.264 video playback and 802.11 Wi-Fi patents, a far cry from the $4 billion annually Motorola and its parent company Google demanded at the beginning of the lawsuit.
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04/25, 4:12pm
Move similar to Apple's recently announced plan to access debt market
Microsoft has commenced selling debt in the US and European markets. According to the Wall Street Journal, the initial offering is a minimum of $500 million. The move is the software developer's fifth offering since 2009, and the company should be able to get the lowest yields of the year for a five-year corporate debt offering.
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04/24, 2:10pm
Next Microsoft game console expected to be revealed
Invitations sent to media for a product reveal at Microsoft's Xbox campus suggest that the company is close to unveiling its new game console. The invitation, headed with the Xbox logo, alluding to "A new generation revealed" and using the hashtag #XboxReveal, strongly hints that the event will show off the much-rumored successor to the Xbox 360.
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04/23, 5:28pm
Surface Pro to hit 24 more countries, RT to reach four more
Microsoft is increasing the number of countries where customers can buy the Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. The Surface Pro will be available in 24 more countries, while the Surface RT will be launching in Malaysia on April 25th, in Mexico by the end of may, and in Korea and Thailand in June. The expansion will see the Surface RT be available in 29 countries, and the Surface Pro in 27 in total.
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04/22, 1:54pm
Google Glass companion app includes 'Eye Gestures' functions
Google may allow for users of Glass to use their eyes to control the headset. A user by the name of fodawim on Reddit found eye options hidden in the code of the companion app for Android, specifically functions for winking. Of the five, two related to wink calibration, two turned the function on and off, and one last seems to allow a wink to trigger a photo from its 5-megapixel camera. Other eye-related controls have yet to be found, though the company has patented a number of different control systems that could potentially be used with Glass.
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04/18, 7:34pm
Devices coming soon, no pricing or specifications revealed
Outbound Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein revealed in today's financial conference call that Microsoft is working with partner companies to build a "new suite of small touch devices powered by Windows" at "competitive price points." The devices are expected in the "coming months" according to Klein. The executive declined to name partner companies, specific prices, or detail specifications.
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04/18, 5:25pm
Company replacing CFO, successor to be named later
Microsoft today announced quarterly revenue of $20.49 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Operating income came in at $7.61 billion, net income rose to $6.06 billion, with diluted earnings per share hitting $0.72 per share, beating Wall Street estimates in every regard. Additionally, Microsoft is replacing its Chief Financial Officer at the end of the current fiscal year -- no replacement has been named.
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04/17, 3:22pm
Microsoft enables two-step verification to Microsoft Accounts
Microsoft has enabled two-factor authentication for Microsoft Accounts. Leaked earlier this month, users will see the option to add the extra security measure through the account management menu over the next few days, and can download an authenticator app from the Windows Phone store or use third-party apps on other platforms, according to a company blog post. Apps and devices that will not work with the new security measure directly can have application-specific passwords created in order to function.
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04/16, 11:35pm
Hon Hai parent company of manufacturer Foxconn
Microsoft and Foxconn parent company Hon Hai have signed a worldwide patent licensing agreement that places the manufacturer underneath Microsoft's patent portfolio umbrella for devices running the Android and Chrome OS. The agreement covers patent usage in smartphones, tablets, and televisions. While specifics of the agreement are not available, Microsoft will reportedly receive royalties from Hon Hai under the agreement.
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04/16, 9:56am
Would likely be different experience from Android phones
Facebook Home or some of its concepts could make their way to iOS and Windows Phone, Bloomberg reports. In an interview with the publication, Facebook product director Adam Mosseri says that negotiations are underway with Apple and Microsoft. "We’ve shown them what we’ve built and we’re just in an ongoing conversation," he states.
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04/15, 6:46am
Microsoft pondering return to 'boot to desktop' in Windows 8.1
Code uncovered in Windows 8.1 hints that Microsoft may allow users to boot directly into the desktop mode. Currently, when users boot into Windows 8, users are taken to Microsoft’s controversial, but touch friendly, Modern UI Startscreen. Users who traditionally work in the desktop mode must view this screen first and then select the desktop mode, which has raised many complaints from long-time Windows users.
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04/15, 2:41am
Search engine gets tie-in with popular sharing service
Users of Microsoft's Bing will now have access features integrating the search engine with popular image-sharing service Pinterest. Microsoft tipped the new feature in a post to the Bing Search Blog last week, noting that the ability to share to Pinterest flowed out of previous meetings the company had had with lifestyle and design bloggers at Bing headquarters last fall.
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04/15, 1:48am
Software giant's move into hardware may continue
Microsoft is the latest tech giant said to be working on designs for a smartwatch. Sources tell The Wall Street Journal that the Redmond-based company has been working with suppliers in Asia to acquire components for a wearable computing device, though the likelihood of such a device's release is uncertain. Should a Microsoft smartwatch emerge, it might find competition from similarly rumored devices from Apple and Google, as well as a confirmed device from Samsung.
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04/12, 4:22pm
Microsoft has identified problem, posted an OS repair procedure
Microsoft declared that it has revised the "patch Tuesday" package from April 9, removing a fix that was causing some PCs to fail to blue screen, and not boot thereafter. The problem is being blamed on incompatibility with some third-party security software, and Microsoft is recommending that affected users uninstall the patch. All editions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 are affected.
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04/12, 9:13am
Microsoft, HP shares suffer due to weak PC sales, troubled mobile strategy
Following reports published by Gartner and IDC showing the worst declines in PC sales on record, both Microsoft and HP shares have taken a beating, reports the Wall Street Journal. At the end of trading on Thursday, Microsoft shares shed 4.44 percent down to 28.94, while HP shares fared worse down 6.5 percent to $20.88 after it was revealed its PC shipments fell 24 percent. With the decline in PC sales directly attributed to the rise of the iPad and other tablet devices, the relatively weak performance of Microsoft and HP in the mobile devices segments has negatively affected investor sentiment in both companies.
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04/11, 5:55am
Microsoft set to address popularity of sub 8-inch devices with own tablet
Microsoft is developing a 7-inch Windows 8 tablet, reports the Wall Street Journal. Citing “people familiar with the company’s plans,” the Journal contends that it will be launched as part of a second-generation range of Surface tablets later this year. Microsoft’s current Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets center on a 10.6-inch display, however data from IDC shows that half of all tablets sold last quarter were under 8-inches.
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04/10, 3:44pm
Also lays out timetable for Mac, Windows, Windows RT Office releases
Promised iOS and Android versions of Office won't launch until the fall of 2014, according to a leaked roadmap obtained by CNet. The document describes a project called "Gemini," said to be Microsoft's plan to incorporate the Metro user interface into Office. The first "wave" in Gemini is expected to be an October 2013 update of the core apps -- Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote -- that will run on mobile versions of Windows 8 and Windows RT. The software will allegedly supplement the desktop Windows suite, instead of replacing it.
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04/09, 7:40pm
Wi-Fi issues fixed on Surface RT, driver fixes made on Pro
A pair of patches are rolling out for Microsoft's Surface tablet line -- one for the RT version, and one for the Surface Pro. The April Surface RT update is a Wi-Fi centric patch, attempting to fix reports of spotty connectivity. The Surface Pro update seems to be mainly focused on improved drivers, in addition to some screen touch navigation fixes.
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04/09, 10:31am
Microsoft accounts can be linked to Authenticator Windows Phone app
Microsoft is preparing to add a two-factor system for account authentication, according to a report. The new system, aimed at improving account security overall by adding a number-based token to the Microsoft Account log-in system, has reached a point where the company is close to turning it on for all users, though it is not clear when this will be.
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04/08, 11:12am
Sale will allow Microsoft to concentrate on Xbox TV efforts
Microsoft has sold its IPTV business to Ericsson for an undisclosed amount. The sale of Mediaroom, previously reported to have been discussed in private, will in theory allow Microsoft to pour more of its resources into providing consumer-side TV services through the soon-to-be announced next Xbox games console.
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04/08, 9:11am
Always-on console rumor claimed true by Microsoft analyst
Microsoft will reveal its follow-up to the Xbox 360 on May 21st, according to multiple reports. The console, codenamed Durango, is apparently scheduled to launch in "early November" and in theory has a high $500 price-point, though this could be lowered to $300 when combined with a subscription similar to that of the $99 subsidized Xbox 360 Kinect bundle.
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04/04, 4:57pm
Update downloads to remain live until 19th
Microsoft will end support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9, according to an official blog post. After that deadline, the company will no longer release any new updates for the software. People will, however, be able to download existing updates until April 19. It's unknown if Microsoft will post one final patch before the 9th.
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04/03, 3:02pm
No signs of resolution in app content
A v3.0 update of Microsoft's SkyDrive app for iOS has arrived on the App Store. The release appears to mark the end of a dispute between Apple and Microsoft; Apple was reportedly rejecting earlier updates over Microsoft's introduction of the ability to buy extra storage space. The issue is that Apple was demanding a 30 percent cut of subscriptions initiated on the iOS app in perpetuity, even though a person can continue to use SkyDrive even if they stop using the app.
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04/03, 7:31am
Microsoft slashes prices on several Windows 8 hybrids
Microsoft has taken the knife to the price of several Windows 8 hybrid devices available through its Microsoft Store. While it is hard to pinpoint the reason for the price cuts, it is could reflect the reluctance of mainstream consumers to buy into Microsoft’s new dual UI, PC paradigm. Devices that have received a substantial price reductions include the Toshiba Satellite Convertible Ultrabook (down to $799 from $1,149), the HP Envy x2 (down to $599 from $849) and the Samsung ATIV Smart PC (down to $999 from $1199).
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04/02, 4:05pm
Windows Blue to be renamed Windows 8.1 for release
Microsoft may name its upcoming operating system refresh Windows 8.1, if a leaked image is proven correct. A screenshot posted on WinForum.eu and confirmed by sources of ZDNet shows the leaked Windows Blue build adding a suffix to the Windows 8 name instead of using Windows 9. The RT edition will be known as Windows RT 8.1. Though unlikely, it is still possible for Microsoft to give the OS update a different name, as a firm release date has yet to be set.
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04/02, 7:59am
Kindel joins book retailer amid Amazon phone rumors
The former General Manager of Windows Phone at Microsoft has joined Amazon. Charlie Kindel, after leaving Microsoft in 2011 in order to concentrate on his own projects, has updated his LinkedIn profile to read "now at Amazon working on something wonderful," with his new project likely to be mobile-related in some way.
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03/29, 6:21am
MS clears the way for the introduction of smaller Windows 8 tablets
Microsoft has altered the specification requirements for Windows 8 tablets clearing a path for OEMs to launch smaller 7- and 8-inch form factor devices, reports ZDNet. Until now, Windows 8-certified devices were required to have a minimum resolution of 1366x768, while the new minimum has been reduced to 1024x768. HTC is among those rumored to be prepping devices on the new form factor, with reports that its 7-inch Windows RT device would also be able to make phone calls.
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03/27, 10:29am
Service behind AT&T U-Verse could be sold within weeks
Microsoft is allegedly talking to Ericsson to sell its IPTV business. The sale, which would include the same MediaRoom unit that powers the U-Verse IPTV service from AT&T among others, could be announced by the companies in the next few weeks, and could be a way for Microsoft to streamline its Entertainment and Devices division.
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03/27, 5:51am
Microsoft receives Touch Cover patent, patent for magnetic latch
Microsoft has won patents for the ornamental design of its Touch Cover for the Surface hybrid as well as for the cover’s magnetic latching mechanism. The patent for the ornamental design of the Touch Cover is very similar to Apple’s controversial ornamental design patents invoked in lawsuits most notably against Samsung. However, the patent for the magnetic latching mechanism is for its functional design.
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03/26, 6:14am
Microsoft starts rolling out much needed Win 8 core app improvements
Microsoft has started rolling out promised updates to core ‘modern’ apps in Windows 8 and Windows RT. In line for an update are the maligned Mail and Calendar apps as well as the People and Messaging apps. However, in addition to bringing long-awaited functionality, Microsoft has also disabled sync support via Google’s Exchange ActiveSync.
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03/24, 12:03pm
Build 9364 of Windows Blue said leaked through French partner
A leaked copy of what is claimed to be Windows Blue has appeared on file sharing sites, ahead of the updates public preview. The downloadable ISO file, weighing in at 2.63GB, is said to have come from a Microsoft partner based in France, and shows a number of adjustments to the operating system, including a choice of smaller and larger Live Tiles for the Start screen.
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03/22, 9:35pm
One patent remains to be heard by ITC in this battery of complaints
A change of heart by an administrative law judge with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has resulted in a ruling that Microsoft has not violated a patent owned by Google's Motorola Mobility when it created the Xbox 360 video gaming console. The ruling by Judge David Shaw is a reversal of his own previous decision in April 2012, where he declared that Microsoft had infringed four patents and did not infringe a fifth. The ruling follows the unusual return of the matter by the ITC to the judge in June of 2012.
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03/21, 9:12pm
Apple Australia blames record labels, movie and TV studios for prices
Apple has responded to an Australian government IT pricing inquiry, where it, along with other companies including Microsoft and Adobe, have been accused of price gouging Australian consumers. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Apple Australia boss Tony King blamed the high prices Australians pay for music, movies and TV shows on the publishers. Apple, he said, charged Australians prices inline with other content providers in the country, whether online or in stores.
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03/21, 1:58pm
United States, United Kingdom performs most requests
Microsoft has published its first Law Enforcement Requests Report, showing how many requests for customer data it received from various security agencies around the world. The effort by Microsoft for transparency, part of its Global Human Rights Statement, mirrors a similar effort by Google and its Transparency Report, with both attempting to demonstrate which governments want to affect the Internet and its users the most.
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03/21, 9:07am
New Fresh Paint to include watercolors, image importing
More details relating to Microsoft's plans for Windows Blue have leaked, in the form of a video from an internal event. The demonstration from Microsoft Research at TechFest shows a new version of Fresh Paint made for Windows Blue, as well as company officials confirming the Windows Blue codename.
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03/21, 6:17am
Team behind intrusion claimed behind Swatting of reporter
Microsoft has confirmed that a number of Xbox Live accounts owned by current and previous "high-profile" employees have been accessed by hackers. The same group of hackers, known as Team Hype, are also said to be behind denial of service attacks as well as a case of "Swatting," convincing local police to send a SWAT team to a victim's house to conduct a raid, against a security reporter.
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