Entry Archive
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 5:02 PM/EST
Microsoft used its YouTube channel to launch a handful of videos attacking Google Apps and other competitors in the productivity space, as it prepares to ship the final desktop- and cloud-based versions of Office 2010. The move may indicate that Microsoft is concerned about Google Apps taking additional market share in the productivity space after racking up a number of government bodies and businesses as clients.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:19 PM/EST
Microsoft unveiled its Windows Phone 7 Series during a Feb. 15 press conference at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Offering a radically revamped user interface and a Zune-like consumer sheen, the operating system represents Microsoft's hope for reclaiming some mobile market share. However, some questions about its functions remain, as well as whether Dell will produce a device running Phone 7.
Friday, February 12, 2010 4:52 PM/EST
Windows Mobile 7, Microsoft's newest entrant in the smartphone operating system arena, will reportedly make its debut at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 15. If the software truly does make an appearance, though, that raises two questions: Will the mobile apps currently available in Microsoft's online marketplace be capable of running on it? And if Mobile 7 can only run on new hardware, what does that mean for users of Windows Mobile 6.x?
Thursday, February 11, 2010 2:21 PM/EST
Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates supposedly made comments about the iPad in a recent interview, citing devices with a combination of pen, physical keyboard and voice functionality as being more likely to succeed in the mainstream marketplace. However, Microsoft has already partnered with manufacturers to create tablets that share many attributes with the iPad. If customers don't flock to tablet PCs, then Apple, Microsoft and those manufacturers could all be negatively affected.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 11:41 AM/EST
Microsoft's Bing search engine gained U.S. market-share in January, according to statistics firm comScore, while Yahoo and Google saw incremental decreases. While that's good news for Bing, the erosion in Yahoo's market share could have negative repercussions on the Microsoft-Yahoo search-and-advertising deal signed last summer, which will see Bing powering search on Yahoo's sites.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 4:42 PM/EST
Microsoft and some retailers slashed prices for the Zune HD, a move that some online pundits and bloggers thought signified a possible tech refresh. A Microsoft spokesperson said the price cuts were actually for a limited time, and that the retail price for the Zune HD has not been permanently lowered. Microsoft is expected to make a large announcement about its mobile strategy on Feb. 15, but there's reason to believe that a Zune-branded smartphone will not be unveiled at that time.
Monday, February 08, 2010 1:38 PM/EST
The Zune HD 16GB and 32GB, Microsoft's competitors in the portable media player space, have been lowered in price, possibly in advance of new device versions hitting the market. Recent rumors about a "Zune Phone" or smartphone with Zune software being announced by Microsoft on Feb. 15 raise the possibility that the new device could indeed be a mobile device, although issues with Zune branding may also prevent this from occurring. The Zune HD price dip could also be a promotional effort.
Friday, February 05, 2010 4:17 PM/EST
Former Microsoft executive Dick Brass asserted in a New York Times op-ed piece that Microsoft is "failing" due to internal infighting and an inability to innovate. Microsoft responded by saying that the company is succeeding at its goal to push its technology to a broad base of consumers.
Thursday, February 04, 2010 5:26 PM/EST
Microsoft claims to be investigating complaints from users that Windows 7, if installed on a laptop that previously ran Windows XP or Windows Vista, drains battery power at an unacceptable rate. Commenters on the Microsoft TechNet discussion forum have been sharing their own stories about seemingly Windows 7-related battery problems, and occasionally offering solutions.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 5:09 PM/EST
Microsoft executive Mike Nash, currently the corporate vice president for Windows Platform Strategy, will leave the company within the next couple of weeks. Nash spent 19 years at Microsoft, and his departure is not the first among Windows executives in 2010 -- perhaps indicative of a coming brain-drain for the operating systems division.
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