The Loop » Microsoft

Bungie.net to end Halo services in March

Peter Cohen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:06:09 +0000

GameInformer.com:

At the end of March, Bungie will no longer handle player data for Halo games. The studio issued a statement today saying the transition process between it and 343 Industries, Microsoft’s new internal Halo studio, will be completed March 31. After then, all live Halo data will be managed by 343.

Bungie’s been ready to move on from Halo for some time. The company went private again in 2008 after being part of Microsoft following its acquisition in

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Samsung ships Microsoft Surface 2.0 table

Peter Cohen — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:02:33 +0000

Engadget:

Samsung’s SUR40 has been a long time coming. The 40-inch next-gen Surface was unveiled at CES 2011, but it’s only just now starting to ship, following the 2012 edition of that gadget show.

If you’ve never had a chance to play with a Surface, don’t dismiss it out of hand. It’s a very cool concept, and Microsoft and vendors like Samsung deserve credit for continuing to develop and refine the experience.

At $8,400, the SUR40 isn’t going to pop up in

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And by ‘Google’ I actually mean ‘Microsoft’

Jim Dalrymple — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:52:21 +0000

MG Siegler:

Holy shit, over 70% of the Android phones sold in the U.S. are now contributing money to Microsoft’s pockets. Microsoft, not Google.

Amazing how much money Microsoft is making from Android.

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Microsoft and Nokia look at buying RIM

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:12:08 +0000

Networkworld:

The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Microsoft and Nokia have toyed with the idea of making a bid for RIM, whose stock has plummeted (from about $59 to start the year to about $14 in mid-December) and whose management team has been under fire from investors. The Journal reports that the status of any talks between Microsoft, Nokia and RIM are unclear. Other scuttlebutt is that RIM executives have hit up Samsung and HTC about possible licensing deals.

I may buy RIM with the spare change in my car.

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∞ Microsoft offers SkyDrive cloud storage for iOS

Peter Cohen — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:33:39 +0000

In addition to an Xbox Live application and its Kinectimals game, Microsoft also recently began offering another software app for iOS – SkyDrive for iOS. The free app provides access to Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud-based storage system.

SkyDrive

∞ Microsoft: A platform company

Matt Alexander — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:47:30 +0000

When Google released its iOS Gmail app, I argued that it was a woefully missed opportunity for the software giant. With Gmail for iOS, Google had a unique chance to impress iOS users with a well-designed app for a widely used service. Instead, as we all know, Google released a pathetic implementation reliant on UIWebView, and squandered a phenomenal Trojan Horse moment.

In stark contrast to Google’s well-publicized folly, Microsoft is doing everything it can to impress iOS users.

∞ Microsoft’s Kinectimals game comes to iOS

Peter Cohen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:02:22 +0000

Kinectimals was a launch title for Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing peripheral for the Xbox 360, involving playful virtual pets you could interact with. Now it’s come to iOS, and it’s available for $2.99.

Xbox Live app comes to iOS

Peter Cohen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:34 +0000

M.H. Williams, for IndustryGamers:

In an interesting move, Microsoft has released its My Xbox Live app on Apple’s App Store for iOS devices. The free app will allow players to access their Xbox Live profile on-the-go, much like the Xbox Live hub on Windows Phone 7.

Microsoft will be the first to tell you that their Xbox Live integration is much more complete if you’re using a Windows Phone 7 device, but it’s a nice gesture to see the app available for iOS as

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∞ Louis C.K.: 'The next Steve Jobs will totally be a chick'

Peter Cohen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:46:48 +0000

Louis C.K. offers his analysis of what Apple and women have in common.

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∞ Analyst predicts disappointing Windows Phone 7 sales for Nokia

Peter Cohen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:38:38 +0000

A prominent mobile analyst suggests that Nokia’s initial Windows Phone 7 sales have been vastly underwhelming.

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∞ Six-story Windows Phone in NY

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:55:59 +0000

Engadget: Microsoft has constructed a monstrous six-story “Windows Phone” just a few feet away from the world’s largest Macy’s store, right in the middle of one of the city’s more popular outdoor picnic areas. Nothing says success like a giant … Continued

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∞ Microsoft accuses Google of having no vision or roadmap

Jim Dalrymple — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:59:37 +0000

Microsoft’s Tom Rizzo:

In cancelling this group of social media-like services, it is clear that Google is not in tune with the market needs and does not have a product roadmap and clear vision for productivity for their business customers. The Microsoft Office team does. Our vision demonstrates a clear focus on what business customers are looking for, such as intuitive interfaces across a wide range of devices.

Google releases experimental products and tracks adoption to determine whether to continue providing them. Its products are like spaghetti, Google throws them up against the wall to see if they stick.

Michael Gartenberg’s take on Twitter is classic. “pot to kettle, you’re black.”

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∞ Futuristic concept videos

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:57:00 +0000

John Gruber responding to criticism about how Microsoft wasted time publishing concept videos:

Putting this “Future Visions” video in public squanders attention that Microsoft could otherwise have focused on its current and imminent new products — like Windows Phone. Take a new iPhone 4S and a Windows Phone 7.5 device back in time 20 years and they might seem equally impressive to a pair of 1991 eyes. But one of them sold more in a weekend than the other does in an entire

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∞ EU okays Microsoft Skype buyout

Jim Dalrymple — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:14:27 +0000

Reuters: Microsoft secured EU approval on Friday to purchase internet voice and video service Skype for $8.5 billion, its biggest ever acquisition. The commission noted that Microsoft and Skype overlap, but doesn’t think there are concerns about monopoly since other … Continued

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∞ Microsoft considering Yahoo bid

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:07:19 +0000

Reuters:

Microsoft Corp is considering a bid for Yahoo Inc, resurfacing as a potential buyer after a bitter and unsuccessful fight to take over the Internet company in 2008, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.

Microsoft is the latest name to be thrown in the hat for a possible Yahoo acquisition. Other companies include Alibaba, DST Global and Providence Equity

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∞ Facebook founder Zuckerberg worth $17.5 billion

Jim Dalrymple — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:59:24 +0000

Forbes’ “Richest People in America” list is out and it contains a lot of familiar names including Bill Gates ($59 billion) and Steve Jobs ($7 billion). One of the surprises this year is Mark Zuckerberg who is now worth $17.5 … Continued

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∞ ∞ Apple bloggers 'flustered' by Windows 8?

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:22:19 +0000

Boy Genius Report has a glowing piece on Windows 8 that they say ushers in the “post-post-PC era.”

In the story, “Sorry Apple, Windows 8 ushers in the post-post-PC era,” BGR makes some pretty amazing claims. As you can guess, I don’t agree with the assertions.

The reception, as you’ve likely read by now, has been overwhelmingly positive.

Joanna Stern from This is my

∞ ∞ Google says Apple, Microsoft trying to 'strangle' Android

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:26:04 +0000

David Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer:

But Android’s success has yielded something else: a hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents.

They’re doing this by banding together to acquire Novell’s old patents (the “CPTN” group including Microsoft and Apple) and Nortel’s old patents (the

∞ ∞ Microsoft releases OneNote Mobile for iPhone 1.2

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:23:11 +0000

Microsoft on Tuesday updated its OneNote Mobile app for iPhone, adding new features and expanding the number of countries where the app is available.

∞ ∞ Eight Skype execs leave after Microsoft purchase

Jim Dalrymple — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:08:57 +0000

Skype, Microsoft or the employees themselves have decided to make some changes to the management structure of Skype. While Skype has confirmed the departures, a spokesperson would not say whether they had been laid off or if they resigned.

The departures included David Gurle, vice president and general manager for Skype for Business; Don Albert, vice president and general manager for the Americas and Advertising; Doug Bewsher, chief marketing officer; Christopher Dean, head of