Microsoft

Microsoft threatens to make more hardware

Written by

Steve Ballmer talking to BBC News:

“Is it fair to say we’re going to do more hardware? Obviously we are… Where we see important opportunities to set a new standard, yeah we’ll dive in.”

Great, just what we need.

Microsoft’s new approach to mimic Apple

Written by

“There will be times when we build specific devices for specific purposes, as we have chosen to do with Xbox and the recently announced Microsoft Surface,” wrote Ballmer.The new approach mimics Apple Inc, whose massively successful iPhone and iPad demonstrated tight integration of high-quality software and hardware and made Windows devices feel clunky in comparison.

Who’s laughing now Ballmer?

Ballmer’s bonus cut back

Written by

Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer got a lower bonus than last year’s, partly for flat sales of Windows and his failure to ensure that the company provided a choice of browser to some European customers.

I wonder what they’ll do to him when Windows 8 flops and the Surface sucks balls.

Google passes Microsoft in market value

Written by

Google rose 1 percent to $761.78 at the close in New York, gaining a market capitalization of about $249.9 billion. Microsoft, the world’s biggest software maker, fell less than 1 percent to $29.49, for a valuation of $247.2 billion.

I bet Microsoft never thought this would happen.

Import ban on Motorola Android devices

Written by

An import ban on Motorola Android devices ordered by the US International Trade Commission is scheduled to take effect tomorrow. Motorola Mobility says it has a plan to make sure its Android phones and tablets remain available to US consumers—but the company isn’t revealing just what that plan is.

I wonder what they have up their sleeve?

Ballmer: ‘Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy!’

Written by

Here’s what he told an engineer who left for Google in 2004, after hurling a chair:“Fucking Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy!” Ballmer yelled, according to the court document. “I’m going to fucking bury that guy! I have done it before and I will do it again. I’m going to fucking kill Google.”

Court bans Microsoft’s Xbox, Windows 7 from Germany

Written by

Reuters:

A court in Mannheim ruled on Wednesday that Microsoft infringed Motorola Mobility’s patents and ordered Microsoft to remove its popular Xbox 360 gaming consoles and Windows 7 operating system software from the German market.

This is getting ugly.

Bungie.net to end Halo services in March

Written by

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 … Continued

Samsung ships Microsoft Surface 2.0 table

Written by

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 … Continued

Microsoft and Nokia look at buying RIM

Written by

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.

Microsoft offers SkyDrive cloud storage for iOS

Written by

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 requires you to … Continued

Microsoft: A platform company

Written by

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

Written by

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. Released as a universal app that runs natively … Continued

Xbox Live app comes to iOS

Written by

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 … Continued

∞ Six-story Windows Phone in NY

Written by

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

∞ Microsoft accuses Google of having no vision or roadmap

Written by

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.”

∞ Futuristic concept videos

Written by

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 … Continued

∞ EU okays Microsoft Skype buyout

Written by

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

∞ Microsoft considering Yahoo bid

Written by

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 … Continued