Microsoft

In a pair of recent surveys on brand power and popularity in Britain and the United States, Microsoft dominated and dropped out of the top ten in each, respectively. In a public survey by consultant agency Superbrands and research group YouGov, ... Microsoft launched into first in the hearts of British voters. The poll, conducted by a group considered "industry experts", asked 2,373 members of the public what brand they felt was the most reliable, distinct, and routinely showed the best quality. In the provided list of some 500 companies, Microsoft, to the astonishment of many UK tech insiders, ... (view more)

In a quarter that proved disastrous for the makers of the processing chips that power its software, Microsoft has reported strong earnings for the second financial period of 2006. So strong, in fact, that the Redmond-based company has pledged to buy ... back $40 billion of its own stock, with at least half of that within the next month. Normally, it takes years for a company to buy back just portions of its stock. In the past, much of Microsoft's pledge in doing so has been no different. It pledged three years ago to buy back $30 billion, and has only recently completed this purchase. The second ... (view more)

In a bid to win back the hearts of tech junkies dismayed by European antitrust fines and deceptive anti-piracy programs ( Windows Genuine Advantage ), Microsoft is defending the average surfer by waging a new war against "spam". As spam -- the ... advertising granddaddy of Spyware most typically found in emails -- spreads to bulletin boards, Microsoft is integrating a program that roots out such false and annoying offers. As mentioned, spam has traditionally been associated with email. Culturally linked to the Monty Python viking sketch, "spam" was first used to describe annoying online messages ... (view more)

After nearly a year of delays, Microsoft and Yahoo are finally ready to release a combined Instant Messenger (IM) service. As of July 13th, 2006, the two companies have begun to offer a limited beta test to the general public. The new IM service ... connects Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger (the newest version of MSN Messenger) with Yahoo Messenger, using a single user ID. The service is merely an added capability to the Microsoft and Yahoo messengers; all that is needed is to download the latest beta update to either messenger to begin using the new service. The merge will spawn a worldwide ... (view more)

In a rather strange -- perhaps even insecure -- move, Bill Gates himself recently stated that there is just a 20% possibility that Vista will miss its newly etched January 2007 release date. The statement was anything but confident, however, as ... Gates reportedly informed software partners in South Africa that a legitimate chance for further delay exists -- especially if beta testers uncover further issues with Vista. (Source: news.com ) Reminder: What is Windows Vista? Known originally for its codename "Longhorn", Vista is the upcoming and highly anticipated operating system from Microsoft. It ... (view more)

Let's face it: Microsoft has been facing an incredible amount of bad press as a result of Spyware lawsuits (Windows Genuine Advantage) and criticisms of its security programs (OneCare Live). However, the impending release of Internet Explorer 7 ... (IE7) might just reverse public opinion of the software giant. Internet Explorer 7 has been in extensive beta testing since July of 2005. Over the course of that year, IE7 has progressed beyond a basic browser framework, showcasing a buggy interface and sluggish performance. Recent beta tests have shown IE7 to be a nearly complete build and with a host ... (view more)

With criticism of its recent security software (OneCare Live) and anti-piracy program (Windows Genuine Advantage) taking its toll, Microsoft is showing fatigue. Recently, industry insiders are reporting that the Redmond-based company will not only ... be laying off 214 employees from U.S. sales, but it may also miss shipping Office 2007 on time. Although this is hardly the first time Microsoft has cut staff, it is remarkable for a company that has routinely increased its manpower by thousands each year. Reports from inside the company suggest that of the 214 jobs cut, most are corporate account ... (view more)

With major executives leaving at a time when the company is desperately trying to market an amalgam of new programs and hardware, Microsoft is now trying to repair its public image by announcing a forum-based website where it will share code with ... outside developers. The new measures are in an effort to greater connect programmers and Microsoft, with each side sharing technical information and software know-how. Not All About Love and Roses The website itself, called CodePlex, has been in beta testing for some time. Its ultimate intention is not as interested in the kindness of sharing as it ... (view more)

Just a few weeks after the major release of its new security system (OneCare Live) and hours after the launch of Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft has lost two of its most recognizable executives: corporate vice president Martin Taylor and original ... Xbox team member Ted Hase. Hase was a co-creator of Microsoft Media Center, and a major reason for its connectivity with the Xbox 360. After sixteen years with Microsoft, Hase may have been tempted by greener pastures. Although there is no clear reason given for his resignation, he admitted, "It's only recently become known that I was leaving ... (view more)

The Windows Live initiative is a fascinating adventure which I've written about previously and includes many different products: mostly online tools. See: Windows Lives beyond Your Computer in 'Web 2.0' Windows Live: Is it Worth It? Windows Live: Is ... it Worth It?, Part 2 In coming months, we will be seeing familiar things taking on this new name and offer additional features. Spaces at MSN (an entity in the blogging industry) is due to morph into "Live Spaces", and the beloved MSN Messenger will be transforming to "Live Messenger." In this article, I want to overview ... (view more)