Gregg Keizer

Microsoft's $300M Nook investment hasn't paid off -- yet

Microsoft has gotten next to nothing from its $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble, analysts said, but it may reap some rewards as it prepares to ship smaller tablets.

Dell replays Windows 8 blame card as PC sales slide

Dell last week again blamed Windows 8 for contributing to a decline in PC sales revenue during the quarter that ended May 3.

Windows 8 is an enterprise 'non-starter' because IT sees no value in changes

Windows 8 faces a number of hurdles in the enterprise, but the biggest reason it won't replace the current corporate champion, Windows 7, is simple: IT shops don't think it's worth the upgrade hassle.

Google steals march on Apple in music subscription

Google beat Apple to the music subscription service punch this week, perhaps the doing of record labels who wanted to put Apple in its place, an analyst said

Google issues YouTube ultimatum to Microsoft as Hatfield-McCoy feud heats up

Google yesterday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, demanding that its rival remove the YouTube app built for the Windows Phone platform.

Oracle renumbers Java patch updates, confuses users even more

Oracle has changed the numbering of its Java security updates, prompting one expert to say, "As if Java updates weren't confusing already."

Windows 8 isn't New Coke, says top Microsoft exec; it's Diet Coke

Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft's head of corporate communications, defended his company's Windows information disclosure strategy, denying that Microsoft has adopted Apple's "cone of silence" approach to imparting news.

Mozilla to Firefox: 'Browser, heal thyself'

Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 21, adding more social media connections, tweaking the Do Not Track privacy setting and rolling out a new tool that long term, aims to create a self-healing browser.

Microsoft votes for free Windows 8.1, collects kudos

Microsoft today announced that Windows 8.1, the update later this year for Windows 8, will be free to current users of the operating system, confirming analysts' expectations.

Windows 8 app store fails Top 10 test

Microsoft's Windows 8 app store failed a test touted by a former Microsoft manager and distinguished engineer as a way to determine an ecosystem's relevance.

Microsoft to squeeze more devs into BUILD

Microsoft today said it has increased the head count for its June developers conference, and will sell the extra tickets Wednesday.

Microsoft's counter-attack against Windows 8 coverage makes it 'look weak'

Microsoft on Friday called some media coverage of its plans to update Windows 8 sensationalist and an effort to drive website page views.

Why Microsoft won't charge for Windows 'Blue' ... this time

Sometime soon, Microsoft will tell Windows 8 users whether they will have to pay for the upgrade code-named "Blue," and if so, how much. Analysts don't expect it to charge anything for the update.

Microsoft sends gamblin' Pete Rose to the plate in swing at Google Docs

Microsoft today took another shot at rival Google, calling its rival's online application suite, Google Docs, "too big a gamble."

Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT

One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes.

Backlash begins against Adobe's subscription-only plan

A petition on Change.org demanding that Adobe back away from its subscription-only model for its creativity software, including Photoshop, has collected over 4,400 signatures by late Thursday.

Microsoft rushes IE8 zero-day fix into next week's Patch Tuesday

Microsoft today said it will issue 10 security updates next week, two rated "critical," to patch 33 vulnerabilities, including the zero-day bug that has been used by cyber criminals to poison "watering hole" websites in attacks aimed at U.S. government workers.

Best case, Mozilla's Firefox for Windows 8 will ship in October

Firefox for Windows 8's "Modern" user interface (UI) will likely wrap up development this fall, Mozilla said on its website in a best case-worst case schedule.

Estimates peg 59M Windows 8 devices in use

Microsoft this week said that it had sold 100 million licenses of Windows 8 in the operating system's first six months. But how many copies are being used?

Microsoft won't guarantee buy-not-rent Office for next decade

Microsoft yesterday took a swipe at long-time partner Adobe for the latter's wholesale shift to rent-not-buy software subscriptions, and along the way seemed to promise it would Office as old-school perpetual licenses for the next 10 years.