Sony Ericsson says Microsoft Phone Launch on Track

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HELSINKI (Reuters) - Struggling Sony Ericsson ditched on Monday rumors that its first cellphone powered by Microsoft's operating system would miss the key Christmas sales period.
Sony Ericsson introduced the Xperia 1 model in February, saying it would start to sell the phone in the second half of 2008 in selected markets.
On Monday, and over the weekend, several technology blogs and Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reported of delays in product roll out, quoting rumors and unnamed sources at Sony Ericsson.
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Posted on Mon, 1 Sep 2008 17:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft to slash Xbox 360 price in Japan

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will slash the price of its Xbox 360 game console in Japan by about 30 percent, below Nintendo Co's Wii and Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 in a bid to boost market share, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.
Microsoft has been struggling to stir up demand for its Xbox 360 in Japan.
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Posted on Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:58:56 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Skymarket App Store for Mobile Phones in the Works

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Every ringtone and game download site for mobile phones are no doubt totally pissed these days because of the hype surrounding app stores for mobile phones. With the iTunes App Store for the iPhone, Apple makes it appear that there has never been a download store for mobile phones in existence before.
Last week Google unveiled the App Market for Android, and now over the weekend rumors about Microsoft working on an App Store dubbed Skymarket for Windows Smartphones is in the air. Read more

Posted on Mon, 1 Sep 2008 01:23:15 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft and Nikon enter into Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement

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Microsoft and Nikon have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each company’s current and future product lines.
The agreement covers digital cameras made by Nikon as wells as a broad range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells.

Microsoft and Nikon have a long history of collaborating to bring high quality and cutting edge consumer products to the market, including wireless camera and RAW processing technologies. The companies believe that this patent cross license agreement will have substantial benefits for consumers and customers of consumer products including digital cameras. Both parties will be able to innovate openly with each others’ technologies, enabling new features and products to come to market. Read more

Posted on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:29:52 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft releases beta 2 of Internet Explorer 8

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 SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp released on Wednesday a second test version of Internet Explorer 8, delivering a feature-complete upgrade to the world's most widely used Web browser.
The world's largest software maker said the latest version -- beta 2 -- of Internet Explorer, which has a market share of about 75 percent, comes with new features to enhance privacy, ease-of-use, and security.
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Posted on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:32:52 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

10 fun Reasons why Seinfeld will fail to sell Microsoft Vista

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As reported Microsoft signed comedian Jerry Seinfeld to star in advertising campaigns promoting Vista and fight these popular Apple ads that make fun of Vista.
ComputerWorld posted ten funny reasons why Seinfeld is a bad choice for Microsoft.
Reason number 1: "There are eight seasons of Seinfeld out there with a Macintosh sitting on the corner of his desk. It will be hard to convince people he's switched to Windows Vista with all of that legacy Mac cred - especially now that Macs are gaining ground on Windows." Read more

Posted on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Seinfeld to sell Vista for Microsoft

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The WSJ reports that Microsoft spent a part of their $300 million advertising campaign to sell Vista to comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Apparently Seinfeld will do skits with Bill Gates in TV spots starting September 4th.
I am totally looking forward to these commercials as the most likely will be very entertaining. Seinfeld is known world-wide for his legendary Seinfeld TV series that still gets tons of re-runs. Read more

Posted on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:53:58 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Live Labs Introduces Photosynth

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Microsoft has announced a new service from its Live Labs called Photosynth that it claims will change the way you view, experience, and share photos. The application can transform digital photos into a three-dimensional, 360-degree experience allowing anyone viewing your Photosynth to be in your shoes as you explore the location in the photos.

Photosynth allows the viewer to look up and down as well as the pan from left to right. Viewers can also zoom in and out to reveal a full sense of the location in the photos. The application provides close-up detail of a place and is a collaboration between National Geographic and Microsoft. Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:12:03 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Announces New SideWinder X6 Keyboard

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A few weeks ago, some pictures of a new Microsoft SideWinder gaming keyboard surfaced online without any official announcement from Microsoft, leading many to think the pictures were fake. Today Microsoft has officially announced the new SideWinder X6 gaming keyboard. The biggest feature the keyboard is a number keypad that can be moved to either side of keyboard.

The ability to switch the keypad to the left side is impressive because gamers can move it can access the keys without removing a hand from the mouse. Microsoft says that the keyboard can store up to 90 macros per game and features backlighting. Other features include new Cruise Control and the ability to record macros in game. Read more

Posted on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:45:07 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Surface books the Lobby at the Sheraton

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Today Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corp. announced that Microsoft Surface would be featured in the lobbies of select Sheraton hotels in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Sheraton will be the first hotel to offer Microsoft Surface, creating a new Sheraton brand experience that will bring interaction, connectivity and a social setting to the lobby, providing guests with a new way to explore local tourist highlights and enhance their hotel stay.

Microsoft announced the multi-touch table dubbed Surface over a year ago. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:05:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft's Zune Player seeking Hollywood Stardom

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 By Andrew Wallenstein

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Microsoft's Zune is looking to Hollywood to gain an edge on Apple's iPod.

Microsoft executives have been making the rounds at talent agencies and production companies in recent months in hopes of licensing exclusive original video programming for the portable media player, which has struggled to gain traction in the marketplace.
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Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:27:45 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

SQL Server 2008 announced by Microsoft

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Microsoft today announced the release to manufacturing of Microsoft SQL Server 2008. This version of SQL Server provides new capabilities such as support for policy-based management, auditing, large-scale data warehousing, geospatial data, and advanced reporting and analysis services. SQL Server 2008 provides the trusted, productive and intelligent platform necessary for business-critical applications.
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Posted on Wed, 6 Aug 2008 15:36:26 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft announces Security Information-Sharing Programs at Black Hat 2008

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At the Black Hat USA 2008 conference today, Microsoft Corp. introduced security-related programs that share early information with partners to help them protect customers quickly and effectively. The new programs also provide additional information and guidance to help customers evaluate risks and prioritize the deployment of Microsoft security updates.
Along with the predictability of Microsoft’s monthly security update process is the emergence of an undesirable cycle — the release of exploit code, related to those updates, sometimes within hours of release. Understanding this changing threat environment, Microsoft will offer the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP), which gives security software providers advance information about vulnerabilities addressed by Microsoft security updates. This will allow security software providers to offer protections to customers quickly and effectively. Read more

Posted on Tue, 5 Aug 2008 09:48:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Midori discussed as Microsoft Windows Killer

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Microsoft Research is working on the next OS that will eventually replace Windows as we know it. A leaked white paper that is the source of an article on SD Times triggered lots of coverage about Midori.

Midori is a stripped down and modular OS that centers around the net. I am not sure if Midori is the new name of MinWin that made a brief appearance last year.
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Posted on Mon, 4 Aug 2008 11:00:41 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade Price-Cut to $199 imminent

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Another Xbox 360 price-cut is rumored to hit in September and bring down the XBox 360 console price to the magic $199 price-point.
Arstechnica published the new price-cut rumor a couple days ago. According to Ars, Microsoft would offer the Xbox 360 Arcade for $199, the Xbox 360 Pro (60GB) for $299 and the Xbox 360 Elite (120GB) for $399. Read more

Posted on Mon, 4 Aug 2008 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft launches Mojave Vista Experiment Site

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Last week we reported about the Mojave Vista experiment Microsoft pulled on unsuspecting Windows XP users. Today Microsoft launched a site called The Mojave Experiment, where they show a collection of videos from the focus group.

The first part shows the selected users go on about how bad Vista is. The 2nd part shows them being impressed with Mojave. In the 3rd part they got confronted with the truth - Mojave is actually Windows Vista. Read more

Posted on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:38:28 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Sphere is really cool

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Microsoft Research let the Seattlepi take a look at the Microsoft Sphere prototype.

Microsoft Sphere takes the Microsoft Surface and wraps it around a sphere. The result is something you have only seen in Sci-Fi movies so far. The Sphere uses internal 360 degree projection and is touch sensitive on the surface. Read more

Posted on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft tricks Users with Mojave Vista Alter Ego

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CNET reports about an interesting test Microsoft organized in San Francisco with a group of Windows XP users. Microsoft showed the focus group a new OS named Mojave and the reaction of the group was overly positive.

Then Microsoft revealed to the group that Mojave is indeed Windows Vista how it is available today.
The focus group got video taped and we might see some footage as part of Microsoft's huge Windows Vista campaign that is about to roll out in full force. Read more

Posted on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:58:03 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft to acquire DATAllegro

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Microsoft today announced that it intends to acquire DATAllegro Inc., a provider of data warehouse appliances.

The acquisition will extend the capabilities of Microsoft’s mission-critical data platform, making it easier and more cost-effective for customers of all sizes to manage and glean insight from the ever-expanding amount of data generated by and for businesses, employees and consumers. Read more

Posted on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:39:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft to expand Facebook Ad Pact: Source

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 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will announce plans to expand its relationship with online social network Facebook to provide web search and search advertising, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
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Posted on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Exec who led Yahoo Bid leaving Company

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By Daisuke Wakabayashi

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday that Kevin Johnson, who as president of Microsoft's largest business division spearheaded the company's pursuit of Yahoo Inc , is leaving the software maker.

Microsoft will undergo a reorganization, splitting the division that Johnson runs -- platforms and services -- into two groups, one focusing on the Windows operating system and the other on search and other online services.

Johnson's departure is the latest hurdle to a possible transaction between Yahoo and Microsoft, a few days after the Web company and investor Carl Icahn settled a looming proxy fight to force Yahoo to strike a deal with Microsoft.
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Posted on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:18:47 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr