Microsoft

Microsoft plans to release a heavy Patch Tuesday, with 16 security updates addressing a total of 34 different vulnerabilities in Windows, the Internet Explorer web browser, Office software, SQL Server and various other products. The patches will ... begin to roll out starting June 14, 2011 via Windows Updates. Andrew Storms, nCircle Security director of security operations, says he isn't surprised by the weight of this month's Patch Tuesday. "It's the usual mishmash for an even-numbered month," Storms said. "But to some degree, we expected a big month. And they stayed true to form." (Source: ... (view more)

It's rumored Microsoft may soon launch its own iPad-style tablet device. The gadget would run Windows 8 and be specifically marketed as a Microsoft machine. Such a measure would be a major change in Microsoft's business strategy. In the past it has ... steered clear of producing its own computers, the polar opposite of Apple's strategy of having a monopoly on its hardware and software. According to Digitimes, a Taiwan-based technology newspaper, the device would be made in association with Texas Instruments and hardware manufacturers based in Taiwan. Their report is based on sources from the " ... (view more)

It's rumored that Microsoft will unveil a subscription-based TV service for its Xbox 360 video game console at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at Los Angeles' Convention Center. Word of the possible unveiling comes from Winrumors, ... which suggests that Microsoft is currently in last-minute discussions to secure critical agreements giving the TV service its go-ahead. It's believed the subscription service would be called Xbox LIVE Diamond and would act like a "virtual cable operator." (Source: pcworld.com ) Diamond Offers Remain Unclear It's unclear precisely what that means, but ... (view more)

Some third-party developers have expressed concern with what they see as a lack of direction on the part of Microsoft in designing Windows 8. Many feel it's not clear how applications will be developed for the upcoming operating system. Current ... Windows software developers are most concerned with a new web standards-based development platform Microsoft says it will deploy for Windows 8. Rumors suggest that the main focus will be on HTML 5 and JavaScript because these languages are platform independent, meaning that it can run on virtually any hardware or operating system. "The new [ ... (view more)

Microsoft sources have confirmed that the online edition of Microsoft Office, dubbed "Office 365," will officially launch June 28, 2011. The software package is designed to rival online services such as Google Apps. The cost of using the service is ... rumored to be $72 per year for basic access, with a more featured business package at a currently unconfirmed higher price. (Source: thetechherald.com ) Cheaper Microsoft Office, Automatic Updates To put that into context, the most basic version of Office (Home and Student) currently retails for $149.99 while a Home and Business Package ( ... (view more)

Android smartphone sales are considerably stronger than those for Windows Phone 7 -- but does it spell disaster for Microsoft? Perhaps not. A new report shows that the skyrocketing Android sales are a blessing in disguise for Microsoft, with ... projected figures indicating that the Redmond-based software giant is actually making more money off Android than they are with Windows Phone 7. Microsoft Gets $5 for Every HTC Android Sold Citi analyst Walter Pritchard revealed that Microsoft gets five times more money from Android than it does from Windows Phone 7 due to an intellectual property (IP) ... (view more)

On Thursday, Microsoft gave its first major public demonstration of Windows 8, and showed how it would be used to bridge the gap between PCs and mobile devices. To the surprise of many guests attending the event, Microsoft says that the new ... operating system's hardware requirements will actually be less than the requirements to run Windows 7. Windows 8 Optimized for Varying Screen Sizes and Processors Microsoft recently confirmed that Windows 8 would run on the ARM processor : a low-powered CPU (central processing unit) commonly used on mobile devices such as tablets, and mobile phones. In ... (view more)

David Einhorn's scathing criticism of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made headlines in recent days when it was suggested that Ballmer was responsible for driving Microsoft stock into the ground. Now, another sign that Microsoft's CEO may be in trouble ... has emerged: it seems his own employees are losing confidence in him. The findings come to us from Glassdoor.com, a business analysis site that tracks vital statistics on big-name U.S. companies, including Intel, IBM and Boeing. In 2008, Glassdoor.com began asking employees from many of these major firms to anonymously rate their CEOs. It seems ... (view more)

A recent poll conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that public satisfaction with Microsoft software continues to rise, large due to the success of the Windows 7 operating system (OS). Microsoft scored a record high 79 ... points in the latest poll figures, marking the culmination of steady increases in each of the last three years. The three-point increase (representing a 7 per cent gain) helped Microsoft attain its highest level since ACSI first began asking Americans for feedback concerning the quality of their computer software nearly five years ago. (Source: idg. ... (view more)

David Einhorn, President of hedge fund Greenlight Capital, has publicly encouraged Microsoft to fire CEO Steve Ballmer, going so far as to criticize the big-name exec for what Einhorn believes has been a "Charlie Brown" management style. The ... comments were made about Microsoft's Steve Ballmer at this month's Ira Sohn Research Conference, held to raise money towards combating childhood diseases. Einhorn has made headlines of late for offering $200 million for a minority stake in baseball's New York Mets. Although the setting wasn't quite where one might expect to hear a tirade about Microsoft ... (view more)