Latest on Microsoft: News, Features, Opinions and More  Microsoft, Samsung, HP join to stop Windows piracy
Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics will now ensure that their PCs in China are installed with licensed Windows and Office software as part of new agreements signed with Microsoft meant to fight piracy. Microsoft Dynamics ERP software now available on the Azure cloud
Microsoft is upping the stakes in the growing market for cloud-based ERP, with its Dynamics GP 2013 and NAV 2013 products now available for deployment on its Azure service. Tablet downsizing trend to quicken in second half of 2013
The shift toward smaller tablets will accelerate in the second half of the year when a slew of tablet makers, including Apple, introduce new models with screens 8-in. or smaller, said Richard Shim, an analyst with DisplaySearch. Microsoft slashes Surface RT prices by 60% for schools
Microsoft today confirmed that it has heavily discounted the Surface RT tablet to universities and K-12 schools, cutting the price of the entry-level model by 60%. The Microsoft breakup that never happened
Thomas P. Jackson, the former federal judge who in 2000 ruled that Microsoft should be split into two companies, died Saturday. What if his ruling, overturned before it could be implemented, had gone into effect? Office Mobile for the iPhone enters an already-crowded field
Microsoft released its first iOS version of Office on Friday, but a wide range of alternative iOS apps and suites already exist. Ryan Faas details some of the competition. Yahoo discloses user data requests from U.S. law enforcement agencies
Yahoo has received between 12,000 to 13,000 requests for user data from law enforcement agencies in the U.S. between Dec. 1 and May 31 this year, the company said Monday. Microsoft shows revenue hand with Office for iPhone
Last week's release of Office Mobile for the iPhone nailed down one of the mysteries pundits had pondered -- how Microsoft planned to generate Office revenue from Apple's iPhone and iPad. Apple plays defense, Microsoft goes on offense in battle for iPhone customers
Rivals Apple and Microsoft bookended the week by revealing productivity tools aimed at the same pool of customers: the millions who own Apple's iPhone. Facebook, Microsoft disclose little on national security requests
Facebook and Microsoft each fielded thousands of requests for user data as part of law enforcement investigations from U.S. authorities in the second half of last year, they said late Friday. Microsoft sticks it to the iPad with Windows-first Office strategy
Microsoft's surprise launch of Office Mobile for the iPhone today shows that the software giant continues to favor Windows' future over Office's fortune, analysts said today. How IBM Beat Up HP in Las Vegas
IBM and Hewlett-Packard recently held events in Las Vegas. IBM went first and demonstrated how its customers will use Watson to change the world. HP responded by bringing executives on stage to talk about new products. HP can't let its competition keep winning. Does encryption really shield you from government's prying eyes?
If you're thinking about encrypting email in light of revelations about U.S. government spying, you may be wasting your time. Best Buy gets the best of Microsoft in Windows Store deal
While Microsoft gained space in 600 Best Buy stores yesterday, the electronics retailer got the better end of the deal, an analyst said. Intel wants to be your new cable provider
Intel wants to create a virtual cable service that would bundle TV channels for subscribers. But cable providers are expected to put up a fight. Microsoft Office 365 for the iPhone is now available
Microsoft released a version of its office suite for iPhones in the U.S. that is only available for Office 365 subscribers. Google goes 'Reader' on Chrome Frame, kills plug-in for IE
Google Thursday announced the retirement of a 4-year-old plug-in designed to let users of older version of Internet Explorer run Chrome's browser engine, declaring mission accomplished. IT will have a love-hate relationship with iOS 7, OS X Mavericks and iCloud
Consumers and business users alike will find things to love about OS X Mavericks and iOS 7, says columnist Ryan Faas. But for enterprise IT pros, this week's announcements are a mixed bag. Decades-old bets in Myanmar's tech industry finally reap rewards
It may have taken almost two decades, but Tun Thura Thet's investment in one of Asia's poorest countries is finally paying off. Spy-proof enterprise encryption is possible, but daunting
Data encryption could help enterprises protect their sensitive information against mass surveillance by governments, as well as guard against unauthorized access by ill-intended third parties, but the correct implementation and use of data encryption technologies is not an easy task, according to security experts. Xbox One pricing paves way for Sony PS4 success
A series of blunders by Microsoft have paved the way for Sony's PlayStation 4 console to capture the top spot in year-end holiday sales. Microsoft seizes floor space in Best Buy for Windows mega mini-stores
Microsoft has struck a deal with Best Buy to create 600 stores-within-stores in the U.S. and Canada to sell customers on Windows 8, the Surface tablet line, and new PCs and devices from other OEMs. Nationwide makes SSDs standard on PCs, to employee applause
Nationwide Insurance is moving off Windows XP and the misery of an eight-minute boot-up time for some 40,000 users. Microsoft protects cloud with directory-integrated two-factor authentication
Microsoft is upping the security on Azure with Active Authentication, a new service now in preview which allows enterprises to secure access to hosted applications such as Office 365 with two-factor authentication. IT isn't going away, says Fox CIO
The next summer blockbuster out of 20th Century Fox might be called "The Incredible Shrinking Data Center." Best-guess $349 price for smaller Surface RT pits Microsoft against Apple for high-end Mini market
Microsoft will probably price its own 8-in. Surface tablet running Windows RT at $349, just 6% higher than Apple's iPad Mini but nowhere near the basement $199 of Android rivals, an analyst said this week. Is Microsoft's Office 365 bet starting to pay off in enterprise adoption?
Microsoft's subscription-desktop hybrid application updated from the cloud may trigger wider Office 365 adoption in the enterprise -- at least, that's what the software giant is banking on with its new Office 365 ProPlus offering. Apple sees chance to compete with Office on the Web
Almost as an afterthought, Apple on Monday announced it was working on browser-based versions of its iWork productivity applications, a move one analyst said challenged Microsoft's Office behemoth. Facebook, Twitter support Google's call for transparency in surveillance requests
Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft have joined Google in asking for greater transparency in surveillance requests, following widespread criticism of the U.S. government's surveillance programs and the role of the Internet companies. Google asks DOJ if it can release details on government data requests
Google has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and FBI director Robert Mueller seeking permission to disclose specific details about the information it is required to provide to the government in response to requests for user data from U.S. intelligence agencies. Microsoft patches critical IE vulnerabilities and actively exploited Office flaw
A new batch of security updates released by Microsoft on Tuesday address a total of 23 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows and Microsoft Office, including one that is actively exploited by attackers. The handling of digital certificates in Windows was also improved. Office 365 customers can now replace SharePoint newsfeed with Yammer
Microsoft has taken the first step in its integration roadmap for SharePoint and Yammer, allowing Office 365 customers to replace SharePoint Online's activity stream with Yammer's. Apple dumps big cat OS X nicknames, zips lips on price and release timetable
Apple on Monday trumpeted OS X 10.9, or Mavericks, but made a U-turn from past practice and declined to name a price for the upgrade or tap a ship date as anything more specific than the fall. 10 stars of 'cross-platformity'
At work or play, these 10 applications can be used across a variety of platforms. Lawsuit filed over NSA phone spying program
A former federal prosecutor and the parents of a Navy SEAL killed in action in Afghanistan have filed a lawsuit against President Barack Obama, Verizon, the National Security Agency and others over the NSA domestic spying operation. Usability, not 'flat' design, key to Monday's iOS refresh
Apple is expected to debut a revamped iOS on Monday, featuring a "flatter" design that, if not done properly, could be a step backward in usability, a pair of user interface (UI) experts said. Prism leaker steps forward, cites 'massive surveillance machine'
The person responsible for disclosing details on the growth of U.S. government surveillance programs has identified himself as 29-year-old Edward Snowden, a technology contractor working at the National Security Agency. How Microsoft could rule consumer electronics
Microsoft has everything it needs to beat Apple and Google and rule consumer electronics. What it lacks is the will to ship that technology to consumers and provide people with a compelling, breathtaking and wonderful vision of the future. TechEd crystalizes Microsoft's BYOD management strategy
Microsoft's TechEd North America conference, held this week in New Orleans, provided a first glimpse of the architecture that Microsoft shops should use to manage employee personal devices for work duties. Wall Street Beat: Tech stocks hold gains despite mixed reports
Buffeted by concerns about the economy and IT spending, tech stocks have gone on a roller coaster ride lately, but on the whole they've managed to hang on to gains they made earlier in the quarter. Privacy tradeoffs are inevitable to keep nation safe, Obama says
President Barack Obama today forcefully defended the government's data collection activities, calling them vital to protecting the nation against terrorist attacks. How Microsoft's Delayed Reorganization Is Fixing the Loyalty Gap
Word's out that Microsoft is poised to reorganize itself as a 'device and services' company. CEO Steve Ballmer has been trying to do this for a decade, but executives disloyal to him--or still loyal to Bill Gates--often got in Ballmer's way. But Redmond's successes, including Azure and Office 365, suggest this culture may finally be changing. Facebook aims to simplify advertising for marketers
Facebook is gearing up for a new project to simplify its advertising platform, making it easier for marketers to decide how to place ads across the site. Microsoft to tackle under-attack Office bug next week
Microsoft today said it will ship just five security updates next week, the fewest in any month so far this year, to patch 23 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows and Office. Launch of Outlook RT testifies to Microsoft's app troubles
Microsoft's announcement Wednesday that it will add Outlook to Office on Windows RT says as much about the company's app problem as it does about customers clamoring for a business-grade email client. Wintel under siege as mobile, Android ascend at Computex
Surging tablet sales and the muted response to Windows 8 have opened the door for Android at this year's Computex and exposed deeper cracks in the Wintel powerhouse of Windows software and Intel chips. BI software market growth rate slowed in 2012
The business intelligence software market cooled off a bit in 2012 after "a few historic banner years" of spending growth, due to difficult economic conditions and confusion over industry buzzwords such as "big data," according to analyst firm Gartner. Microsoft, US feds disrupt Citadel botnet network
Microsoft and the FBI have taken aim at a botnet network based on malware called Citadel that is held responsible for stealing personal online banking information and identities. Windows Server 2012 R2 bulks up on storage and networking
The pending launch of Windows Server 2012 release 2 focuses on offering a number of advanced capabilities in storage and networking, which used to require the purchase of additional software, or even a full-fledged storage system. Researchers use Wi-Fi and gestures to make a 'smart home'
Don't like the song playing on the stereo? Just wave it goodbye, literally. Microsoft marks down Windows, kicks in free Office to spark tablet sales
Microsoft today confirmed what many analysts suspected, that it has cut prices of Windows 8 and Windows RT licenses to hardware partners building smaller-sized tablets as a way to drop device prices and juice sales. Developers clamor for unified dev tools for Microsoft's 3 OSs
Merging the Windows Phone OS with the Windows and Windows RT OSs could give Microsoft a boost in attracting more developers and, ultimately, improving its market share for smartphones and tablets. Panelists decry lax security in medical devices
Security for medical equipment such as MRI machines to and pacemakers is woeful, even though these devices today connect to networks and sometimes face risks from malware or hacking, according to a panel of university researchers speaking at this week's Design Automation Conference. Microsoft to include Outlook app with update to Windows 8 RT
Microsoft is bringing its Outlook email program to Windows 8 RT in a bid to expand the availability of Windows tablets based on low-power ARM processors. SQL Server 2014 hastens transaction processing
The next version of Microsoft's relational database management system (RDMS) promises to bring immense performance gains to online transactional processing systems. Eight Windows 8 questions for Microsoft OEM chief Parker
Nick Parker has one of the more interesting jobs in the PC business right now. As corporate vice president for Microsoft's OEM division, he manages the company's relationships with PC manufacturers, including sales and licensing of Windows. AMD hopes to bridge gap between Xbox, PlayStation and PCs
Advanced Micro Devices has announced a new strategy that could lead to games that run in the future across PCs and games consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation. 'To-do' software makes comeback, welcomed by enterprise IT
Long considered old-school tools with no place in shiny corporate social collaboration suites, to-do software is making a comeback with a new air of cool about it and renewed appreciation from enterprise IT. The next corporate revolution will be power to the peons
BYOD is only the beginning of a shift away from traditional corporate bureaucracy, as companies begin to realize they have a deep creative asset -- their employee base -- just waiting to be tapped. IE11 on Windows 7? Mum's the word from Microsoft
Microsoft will ship Internet Explorer 11 with Windows 8.1 later this year, but isn't saying whether the browser would also be available to Windows 7 users Microsoft tackles agile backlash with Team Foundation update
The next release of the Microsoft Team Foundation Server (TFS), an application for managing software development, has been designed to bring agile development practices to larger, multi-team projects. Twitter says error in 'routine change' caused brief outage
Twitter was back in working order on Monday afternoon after experiencing multiple technical issues earlier in the day that caused some users' tweet streams to not update, among other problems. Microsoft and its OEMs stick to an outdated tablet strategy
When it comes to tablets, Microsoft and its OEMs don't know where they're going, an analyst said today. At TechEd, Microsoft focuses IT pros on the 'Cloud OS'
For the kickoff of Microsoft's annual North American TechEd conference, the company is urging administrators and IT professionals to think of it as the provider of the "Cloud OS." TechEd: Microsoft preps system software for cloud usage
Microsoft is updating a number of its IT infrastructure and development tools to work more seamlessly with its Azure hosted cloud services, including Windows Server, System Center, Visual Studio and SQL Server. Update: Microsoft CIO Tony Scott has left the company
Microsoft CIO Tony Scott has left the company after five years. Dell scapegoats Windows 8 -- again
Dell says Windows 8 contributed to a decline in its PC-related revenue during the quarter that ended May 3. Preston Gralla: Microsoft's mobile corpse stirs with signs of life
The numbers Microsoft is posting in mobile aren't at the level it is accustomed to in areas like desktop operating systems and productivity suites. But they're on the rise. It's the end of the road for the Camino browser for Macs
After 10 years, developers of Camino, a Mac-only browser built atop Mozilla's Gecko engine, called it quits yesterday. Logitech impresses with its wireless, business-focused headset
The scoop: Logitech Wireless Headset Dual H820e, by Logitech, about $200 (mono version costs about $180). Wall Street Beat: Tech stocks rise despite dire PC, server outlook
Despite dismal forecasts for PCs and servers, tech stocks have been doing well on optimism about cloud technology and mobile devices. Windows 8 earns a second chance in enterprise after changes
Microsoft will get another shot at tempting businesses to try Windows 8 after it rolls out the "Blue" update later this year, analysts said Thursday. Ubuntu's Bug #1 report closed after nearly nine years
The 2004 bug report complained that Microsoft had more market share than Ubuntu. Mark Shuttleworth closed the report Thursday. Start menu isn't back in Win 8.1, but some key features are
Microsoft customers clamoring for the incorporation of the Start button and menu into Windows 8 will get their wish partially fulfilled in the upcoming update of the OS. Former Windows chief defends Windows 8, trumpets sales
Former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky today defended Windows 8's performance in the market, saying, "It's hard for me to look at selling 100 million of something and not feeling great about it." Hey, Microsoft: It's the apps, stupid
Microsoft today revealed some of the changes in Windows 8 due to reach customers in a month, but didn't address what analysts called the biggest barrier to the OS's success. Google wants software vendors to respond to vulnerabilities within 7 days
Google wants vendors to fix or offer mitigation advice for previously unknown and actively exploited software vulnerabilities within seven days of their discovery. Office on Surface Pro suggests a shift in Microsoft's sales strategy
Microsoft yesterday announced that Surface Pro tablets it will start selling in Japan on June 7 will come with a fully-functional copy of Office, a bundle one analyst said hints at a change in Microsoft's sales strategy for its homegrown hardware. Microsoft looks to boost China sales with Chongqing services center
Microsoft is expanding its enterprise services in China with a new Global Service Delivery Center in the country, the second of its kind in the world, the company said Wednesday. When Google and Microsoft feud, customers pay the price
The long-running war between Google and Microsoft may never have a winner, an analyst said today, but it definitely has a loser: customers. Lync-Skype integration is live worldwide
Microsoft has completed the first phase of the integration between its enterprise unified communications Lync server and its Skype consumer IM and IP telephony network. Review: VMware's vCenter Operations Manager lightens the load
Monitoring virtual servers for availability, performance, health, and workload capacity has never been easy, but Operations Manager goes a long way toward that goal Smacking SharePoint into shape
More than half of all SharePoint shops have had to add functionality to the core software, which came as a surprise to a number of them. Here's what they're doing. Australia mulls requiring OpenDocument Format compatibility
Australia's government may mandate that its agencies use software compatible with OpenDocument Format (ODF), an international file standard. Gloomier PC forecast means more trouble for Windows
IDC today drastically lowered its forecast for PC shipments in 2013, a prediction that if accurate means more bad news for Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system. Western Australia police silent on charges for 17-year-old hacker
Western Australian police have charged a Perth teenager with several computer-related offenses but are not releasing the details. Microsoft knuckles under, yanks YouTube app for Windows Phone
Microsoft has bowed to pressure from Google and pulled the YouTube app from its Windows Phone Store that earlier this month triggered a cease-and-desist letter from the search giant. U.S. ITC won't ban Microsoft's Xbox as Google requests
The U.S. International Trade Commission has turned down a request for a ban on Microsoft's Xbox after finding that the gaming device did not infringe a patent owned by Google's Motorola Mobility unit. Microsoft brushes off claim Xbox Live accounts were compromised
Microsoft brushed off a dubious hacker's claim on Thursday that he stole 47 million account credentials for Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming service. New Kinect for Windows to improve human interaction with computers
Human interaction with computers could improve with the new Kinect for Windows sensor, which will be better at recognizing gestures, motion and voice. Windows 8 users snub 'Modern' apps, stick to desktop
A majority of consumer and small business Windows 8 PC users launch fewer than one "Modern" app a day, signaling that they're spending most of their time on the classic Windows 7-style desktop, according to data released Wednesday. Can commodity cloud services handle 'crown jewel' enterprise apps?
Application-tuning capabilities coupled with today's commodity cloud offerings are more than many users need. Just like broadband Internet, though, it's only a matter of time before these 'overserved' users turn to the commodity cloud to meet 'unserved' needs. Will this leave enterprise cloud deployments in the cold? Microsoft boosts Japan Azure offering, adds data centers
Microsoft will boost its Azure cloud offering in Japan, adding two domestic data centers to speed response times and improve reliability in the face of natural disasters. Google engineer bashes Microsoft's handling of security researchers, discloses Windows zero-day
A Google security engineer accused Microsoft of treating outside researchers with "great hostility" days before posting details of an unpatched vulnerability in Windows that could be used to crash PCs or gain additional access rights. Citrix links cloud-based storage to Microsoft SharePoint and Azure
Citrix Systems is making its cloud-based storage service ShareFile more Microsoft-friendly with SharePoint integration and the ability to store data on Azure. Microsoft makes a play for the living room with Xbox One
Microsoft is making a big play for the living room with a new Xbox console that marries games with live TV, Internet browsing, music and Skype. The whole enchilada: Integrated compute platforms steamroll across IT
Vendors are rebuilding the mainframe with converged infrastructure, collapsed kit or integrated compute platforms -- whatever you want to call it. And customers are loving it. Microsoft software satisfaction slumps
Customer satisfaction with Microsoft's software, primarily Windows, dropped slightly in the last year, likely part of the fallout over Windows 8, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Senate report: Apple claims subsidiaries with no taxing jurisdiction
Apple has set up three foreign subsidiaries that the company claims are not resident in any nation for taxing purposes, in an effort to avoid paying tens of billions of dollars in taxes to the U.S. and other countries, according to a new report from a U.S. Senate subcommittee. How to Prepare for Windows 8 Even Though It's Not Coming to Enterprises
Windows 8 won't be adopted as a standard at your business anytime soon, according to a new Forrester report. But that doesn't mean IT shouldn't prepare for it to sneak through the BYOD side door. Here are five ways to be ready for Windows 8.
| Our bloggers on Microsoft With 4 million unsold Surface tablets, Microsoft slashes prices for schools
The RT-based Surface tablet has been a bust, with an estimated 4 million unsold units, so Microsoft has a way to possibly unload some: Sell them at steep discounts to schools. But even at more than half-off, will schools buy?
Single critical update fixes all versions of Internet Explorer
There is a lot going on with Patch Tuesday updates this month, even though with just five updates we have fewer than the usual monthly average of eight. Of the June updates, we see one marked as “Critical,” and four rated as “Important.” The first (and, ahem, worst) of Microsoft’s June Patch Tuesday updates relates to Internet Explorer and covers all versions (6 right up to 10) and all platforms (32, 64-bit and the new RT platforms). Over the past month, I have been keeping an eye on some of the issues tracking IE on the Windows Update (WSUS) and security forums, and we have seen a number of issues and problems.
No, Microsoft, a rape joke is not a good way to sell the Xbox One
When it comes to tech and gaming, boys will be boys...and apparently some people at Microsoft appear to think a joke about rape is a good way to drum up interest in the Xbox One. A demo hyping the Xbox One at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) seems to have included a joke about rape, and Microsoft is now backing away from it.
Apple's Tim Cook tells Microsoft: Ours is bigger than yours.
In his keynote address at WWDC, Tim Cook couldn't resist dissing Microsoft, at several points badmouthing the paltry growth of PCs and Windows 8, and contrasting them with Apple's much bigger growth numbers. Size certainly does matter...but are Cook's claims really accurate?
Doubts about Citadel botnet takedown: PR over-spun?
Operation b54 is GO! Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and international police forces have disrupted more than a thousand botnets, created by the Citadel malware toolkit. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers have their doubts.
Microsoft's weird plan for boosting tablet sales is born to fail
Microsoft's two-pronged plan to boost sales of Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets includes cutting costs and including free versions of Office. But it's an oddly conceived strategy. Here's why it's bound to fail.
Can price cuts and going small save Windows RT?
Microsoft is in the midst of an all-out blitz to save Windows RT, using price cuts and promoting smaller-sized devices. Will that be enough to revive the floundering Windows 8 offshoot, or will Windows RT go the way of Microsoft Bob?
Microsoft CIO out: Tony Scott's dogfood days done
[You're fired -Ed.] Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) CIO, Tony Scott, has left the company, after five years in the job. Microsofties "Thank him and wish him well." In IT Blogwatch, bloggers ask if he jumped or was pushed.
Here's why Office for the iPad is a long way off...if ever
Some analysts believe that Microsoft could reap billions by releasing Office for the iPad, but there's increasing evidence that such a release is likely a very long way off, if it ever happens.
First look at Windows 8.1 -- can it fix a troubled operating system?
Windows 8.1 will do a fine job of smoothing out some of Windows 8's roughest edges, and add some new features that should have been in the operating system in the first place. But can it fix the worst problems of the troubled operating system?
VICTORY! The Start Button is back in Windows Blue/8.1 (confirmed)
You win: Ballmer's gang gives in. The leaked Windows Blue (8.1) Milestone Preview build shows that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has relented. The Start Button is back, along with other UI tweaks that will have experienced Windows users rejoicing. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers reposition their coagulated dairy products.
Is the Xbox One Microsoft's future, or a Windows 8-level failure?
The do-everything Xbox One is Microsoft's bet that it can take over the living room and be the center of your entertainment universe. But will it be that, or just a re-run of the Windows 8 fiasco?
Is it time for Microsoft to dump Xbox and Bing?
Microsoft just unveiled its next generation of Xbox, but there's a call from a prominent analyst for Microsoft to sell it off, along with the Bing search engine. Has the analyst been smoking something funny, or is his call the right move?
Does Lenovo's high earnings show there's gold in Windows 8?
Even though the PC market has seen record declines, high-flying Lenovo just reported record revenue and a 90 percent increase in profits compared to a year ago. Has the Chinese-based company figured out how to turn Windows 8 into gold?
Users tell Microsoft, keep your Windows 8 Metro apps, we don't want them
Microsoft's new-style "Metro" Windows 8 apps were supposed to draw people to the operating system in droves, but the exact opposite is happening. Just-published research shows that 60% of users don't bother to launch even a single Metro app a day.
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