Microsoft Archive

Developers get their hands on Mango

– July 1, 2011Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft, Tech

While Microsoft announced the first major update to its Windows Phone more than a month ago, the software giant is finally giving developers a chance to give the OS a drive with its second round of beta testing.
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Tags: WP7 dev, WP7 dev tools

Office 365 now available for all

acoleman

– June 30, 2011Posted in: Microsoft, Tech

After months of testing, Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity suite Office 365 is finally ready for the masses.
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Tags: Office 365, Office 365 Cloud

Microsoft’s time has come: Angry Birds now available on WP7

acoleman

– June 30, 2011Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft, Tech

Any Windows Phone doubters out there will soon be eating their words. With this latest development, Microsoft is, evidently, ready to tangle with the big boys.
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Tags: Angry Birds Windows Phone, WP7 Angry Birds

No Xbox handheld on the horizon

acoleman

– June 28, 2011Posted in: Gadgets, Gaming, Microsoft

While Nintendo and Sony may be hedging their bets on portable gaming taking off, Xbox-maker Microsoft does not seem interested in pursuing such a path.
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Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Handheld

Upcoming Nokia phones to feature Windows ‘Mango’

acoleman

– May 25, 2011Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft

The fruits of Microsoft and Nokia’s February-announced alliance may soon be realized, as the two technology giants prepare to launch their first set of smartphones stemming from the partnership.
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Tags: Nokia Mango, Nokia WP7, WP7 Mango

Microsoft posts big year in 2010

acoleman

– December 28, 2010Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft, Tech

Microsoft rarely lets its name leave the headlines and 2010 was no exception. According to the Seattle Times, the company released a wide variety of software this year – some successful, some not – even by its standards.

“From January through December, the software company pumped out a wave of new offerings, from the early success of Kinect to the flaming failure of Kin,” wrote Sharon Pian Chan for the Times.

Perhaps the biggest development for Microsoft was the release of Azure, the company’s cloud computing platform. Microsoft believes the platform might be responsible for half of its revenue within 10 years.

Microsoft also launched Office 2010, the latest version of the Office suite. According to the Times, Office generates $18.6 billion per year for the company. Microsoft also released Office Web Apps, its first web-based version of the software.

Additionally, Microsoft launched the beta version of the web browser Internet Explorer 9. The browser has been downloaded 15 million times.

If internet security reports are true, IE9 might have many more downloads in the future. According to NSS Labs, IE9 blocks significantly more malware threats than any other web browser.

Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft 2010

PC game uses Xbox 360 Kinect

acoleman

– December 23, 2010Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft, News, PC, Tech

Because Microsoft’s Kinect controller for the Xbox 360 uses a USB cable, several users have made modifications for their PCs. However, South Korean game developer GamePrix recently became the first company to create a PC-only Kinect game.

The game, titled Divine Soul, will be a massively multiplayer online RPG. According to the developer, it will feature a combat mode similar to that in Tekken.

“The game’s support of gamepads makes it resemble console games even more, and is scheduled to support Kinect, a new control system of Xbox 360,” said Jason Lim, a GamePrix official, according to IncGamers. “Kinect will soon be available as a new controller so it might be supported like joy pad mode in the future.”

Microsoft does not officially condone modifications to the Kinect. In an official statement, the company said it built several safeguards into the controller’s hardware and software to prevent tampering.

However, the company appears to have taken a different stance recently. In an interview with NPR, Alex Kipman, Microsoft’s director of incubation for the Xbox, said the company intentionally left Kinect modifiable and that doing so did not equate to hacking.

Tags: Divine Souls, Kinect, Kinect PC

Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 Sales Off to a Promising Start

acoleman

– December 21, 2010Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft, Tech

Although Microsoft has come into the smartphone OS game a little late, it seems to have not hampered their success. In a Q&A with Windows Phones vice president of business and marketing, Achim Berg stated that Windows Phone 7 sales “are in line with our expectations – especially when compared to other new platform introductions.”

According to Microsoft’s numbers, over 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices have been sold in the 6 weeks since its launch. While these numbers are not as impressive as those of Android OS, which currently hover around 300,000 activated daily, Berg believes Windows Phone 7 is building “customer momentum and retail presence.”

Despite the low figures in comparison to competitors, 2011 may be the better year for the Windows Phone 7 device. Microsoft will be releasing updates for Windows Phone 7 devices in coming months, as well as launching new devices for Sprint and Verizon.

Where Microsoft can gain some ground over its competitors in 2011 is with their app market place. With only 4,000 apps available on the Windows Phone 7 marketplace, Microsoft’s offerings may be somewhat meager at this point. Berg stated, however, that, “We have 18,000 developers who are developing for our marketplace.”

Tags: Microsoft, windows phone 7, Windows Phone 7 Sales

Microsoft unveils Xbox Live Rewards

acoleman

– December 14, 2010Posted in: Microsoft, Tech

Gamers addicted to racking up Microsoft Points on their Xbox 360 games will now have something more than their Gamerscore to show for their efforts. Microsoft recently launched its Xbox Live Rewards program in what it says is an effort to recognize users for their “time and dedication.”

When users join the program, they earn Microsoft Points, which they can use to purchase items on Xbox Live. Those who renew their Xbox Live Gold membership for one year earn 200 points. Using Netflix on Xbox Live earns then 100 points.

According to the company, users also receive points for purchasing select items on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Users can also earn points by playing games on Xbox Live, although they are limited to earning 15,000 points during a 12-month period.

According to the company, the points can be used to buy “content and cool gear” from the online marketplace.

Microsoft is not the only company to launch a rewards program for its users. Sony, makers of the rival PlayStation 3, recently launched a rewards program that allows users to win prizes by playing games and buying content on the PlayStation Network.

A Look at the 9 Windows Phone 7 Series Handsets

acoleman

– October 12, 2010Posted in: Gadgets, Microsoft

It was in Februruary that Microsoft first announced the Windows Phone 7 OS. On Monday, some eight months later, Microsoft at last revealed the handsets that will be carrying the highly anticipated OS. The variety of Windows 7 Series smartphones will launch in over 30 countries, some of which will be available in North America as early as this holiday season.

Here is the complete list of phones and specs.