Microsoft

While the prospect of Microsoft manufacturing its own tablet computer will bring about a number of firsts for the software giant, one in particular will present an unusual dilemma: this will be the first time Microsoft competes against its very own ... hardware partners. Here's the issue: Microsoft will be trying to sell its Windows 8 operating system (OS) to hardware makers at the same time it will be trying to convince consumers to buy its Surface tablet computer, instead of PCs and slate devices made by those same hardware partners. As shown in a recent product unveiling, Surface will come in ... (view more)

A new Microsoft want ad indicates that the Redmond, Washington-based software giant is planning to bring Windows 8 and Kinect hands-free technology to the automotive market. In a recent job notice placed on Microsoft's web site, the company notes ... that "for the next generation of the Connected Car Platform, we plan to leverage the full power of the Microsoft ecosystem including Kinect, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Windows Live, Bing, Azure, and Tellme." (Source: cnet.com ) Systems Keep Drivers in Touch Behind the Wheel According to the job listing, Microsoft hopes to bring many of the features ... (view more)

Microsoft's much-hyped rival to the iPad, the Surface, may not be as attractive to consumers as it once appeared. Reports from reputable sources indicate the new device may have only WiFi capabilities, and not the ability to use cellphone networks ... to access the Internet. The Surface, officially unveiled last week , is similar in size and shape to the iPad. However, rather than forcing users to rely on a touchscreen, its case houses a built-in physical keyboard. Microsoft's new tablet computer also runs Windows 8, the company's newest operating system (set to launch this fall). Microsoft's ... (view more)

For months, PC makers Asus, Acer, and Dell have talked at length about their plans to build a tablet computer running Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system (OS). But while they talked, Microsoft acted. Now the software giant has unveiled its very ... own slate computer, which may pose the greatest threat yet to Apple's dominance of the lucrative tablet market. In a presentation on Monday, Microsoft formally unveiled what it calls "Surface". It's a tablet computer based on a special "RT" version of the company's upcoming Windows 8 OS. Surface is the first tablet computer directly designed and ... (view more)

An Australian retailer claims it will charge Internet visitors an extra 6.8 per cent tax if they buy from the vendor while browsing its site with Internet Explorer 7 (IE7). Not surprisingly, it appears users may not actually have to pay this fee. ... Visitors to Kogan.com who are using Internet Explorer 7 will see a special pop-up screen reading: "It appears you or your system administrator has been in a coma for over 5 years and you are still using IE7. To help make the Internet a better place, you will be charged a 6.8 percent tax on your purchase from Kogan.com. This is necessary due to ... (view more)

Microsoft has invited the media to an ultra-secret affair in Los Angeles for Monday, June 18, 2012. Insiders are fairly certain that the gala marks the official unveiling of a Microsoft-endorsed tablet computer, thus signifying the software giant ... feels ready to take on Apple's iPad. Officially, the company gave no hints as to what it planned for the occasion. The only information given out in advance to invitees simply mentioned a secretive event being held on that date in Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m. In fact, those invited were told they'd be kept in the dark as to the event's location until the ... (view more)

Microsoft is warning its customers that a newly discovered flaw in its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser could allow hackers to execute malicious code and take control of an unsuspecting user's computer. That would give a cyber-criminal the ability ... to use the computer and all its resources for unknown, possibly illegal, purposes. Microsoft has indicated that users of every recent version of the Windows operating system (OS), including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, are vulnerable to such an attack. Beware Email Links from Suspicious Sources The Redmond, Washington-based software ... (view more)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's personal email account has reportedly been hacked. According to some observers, security weaknesses in Microsoft's Hotmail email service allowed the hack to occur. In reality, however, slip-ups by both ... Romney and Microsoft facilitated the hack. The incident occurred after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) obtained and printed several emails sent to and from Romney during his time as governor of Massachusetts. The newspaper did not hack the account to obtain the emails, but rather made a legal request for Romney's office to hand them over. The WSJ ... (view more)

Microsoft now says its Windows Defender program, which includes the free Security Essentials antivirus software, will ship as part of the standard Windows 8 package when the new operating system launches during the fall of 2012. However, the ... software giant cautions that the protection afforded by the Security Essentials antivirus software will be activated only in situations where no other antivirus software is installed on a PC. Windows 8, which reached its Release Preview stage just under two weeks ago, has long been anticipated to be delivered with the Windows Defender system included. ... (view more)

Microsoft has apologized for one of its software presentations that went beyond tongue-in-cheek all the way to borderline obscene. The show, which included adult-oriented song lyrics and dancing girls, was presented at the Norwegian Developers ... Conference in Oslo. The presentation was supposed to be about promoting cutting-edge advances in Microsoft's Azure cloud computing system. Before the show got into the technical mumbo-jumbo, however, its organizers attempted to grab the audience's attention with some risque dancing and house music. Lewd Song Fails to Impress Audience The song chosen for ... (view more)