microsoft

The best things in life are free; getting something for nothing is like music to my ears. And now, Microsoft has found a way to make that expression literal. The industry giant has teamed up with Control Room (the company behind last year's Live 8 ... benefit concerts) to bring free live musical shows to the MSN web portal. The deal spans multiple years and includes 36 exclusive concerts. The performances will air live on MSN's 42 global websites and then they'll be available on-demand for a limited period of time thereafter. So, how is Microsoft able to provide these shows free of charge? The ... (view more)

Who hasn't sued Microsoft? A quick Google search reveals lawsuits over music downloads, Xbox 360 defects, Xbox Live, Xbox internet, and Excel. And that's just the first page! And now, you can add an alleged name infringement to the list. At the ... heart of the situation is Microsoft's new line of Forefront security products (previously released under the MS "Client Protection" brand). Dexter + Chaney, a Seattle-based software company, is claiming the rights to the Forefront name. "Construction companies throughout the United States know and respect the 'Forefront' name," Dexter + Chaney vice ... (view more)

Which tech war is currently the most heated? Is it the fierce battle between Sony and Microsoft over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively? Or is it the violent clash between the two new DVD formats, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD? A new development ... threatens to fuse both issues together, turning two raging firestorms into one giant explosion. Just recently, Microsoft announced its plans to introduce an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360. This is obviously a direct response to Sony's PS3, which also doubles as a next-generation Blu-Ray DVD player, straight out of the box. Japan will get first crack at ... (view more)

In the tech world, conventional sentiment has always been that Mozilla's Firefox browser is safer and more secure than Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). Now, antivirus and security company Symantec (Norton) is strongly challenging that notion. A ... recent study by Symantec indicates that 25 confirmed security holes were discovered in Firefox during the first half of 2005 -- "the most of any browser studied," according to the authors of the research. Out of those 25 security defects, 18 were identified as high-risk. Internet Explorer, on the other hand, contained 8 high-level security risks out ... (view more)

After months of unhappy gamers reporting problems with their beloved Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft has finally acknowledged some defects and has taken a stride to remedy the situation. In a statement issued last Thursday, Microsoft is offering free ... repairs to anyone whose Xbox 360 was manufactured before January 1st, 2006 and will provide refunds to those who have already paid for repairs. Some reported problems include consoles that suddenly cease for no apparent reason, as well as systems that develop blank displays. (Source: mercurynews.com ) The following is an excerpt from Microsoft's ... (view more)

A Microsoft representative confirmed Friday that Windows Vista will be distributed on a single DVD disc. Vista is said to be released in January 2007. The single DVD will include the most basic version of the operating system, and will also include ... the version with all the bells and whistles, dubbed "Vista Ultimate." (Source: news.com ) Prices for Vista Come January, consumers can choose between the following versions (prices in US Dollars): Windows Vista Home Basic: $199 Windows Vista Home Premium: $239 Windows Vista Business: $299 Windows Vista Ultimate: $399 (Source: pcworld.com ) New ... (view more)

Although Microsoft has ownership of the globe's most used office suite, the company appears to be feeling threatened by competitors who are offering similar suite software -- for free -- to users. Microsoft released a report last month that ... identifies California-based ThinkFree, a company that offers "free, small, medium featured (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, address book, e-mail client, file manager), use online or offline." According to BusinessWeek Magazine , to regain its market share from companies such as ThinkFree, Microsoft is now considering an online version of MS ... (view more)

Microsoft reported late Monday that yet another former McAfee virus expert will join the company. He will fill the position of senior security researcher. Jimmy Kuo will join fellow former McAfee alumnus Vincent Gullotto as part of Microsoft's ... Security Research and Response team. Gullotto was hired last month as the general manager of the team. (Source: ZDNet.com ) The Security Research and Response team operates under Microsoft's Security Technology Unit, responsible for securing Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. (Source: news.com ) Kuo formerly worked in McAfee's ... (view more)

Although Canadians were briefly flashed a cost list last week, Microsoft has officially made public its pricing for the highly anticipated Vista, its operating system (OS) set to ship in late January, 2007. The announced prices coincide with the new ... availability of Release Candidate 1 (RC1), which is Microsoft's most recent Vista beta and the very closest to the much-hyped final product. While those living north of the 49th parallel might want to check out our archives for the recent mishap involving the early release of Canadian Vista prices, the exact American numbers have been in demand ... (view more)

Always wanted to give game developing a try? Afraid you're too green to go out and join the highly competitive silicon valley workforce? Do I sound like Saturday morning paid programming? Well, regardless, Microsoft is currently offering its XNA ... Game Studio Express for download, giving amateur designers the chance to fulfill their very nerdy dreams. Although the release is pretty cool, for now aspiring game creators should stay calm. At the moment Microsoft is only offering its Game Studio Express as a downloadable beta, meaning you'll only be able to build Windows binaries with the system ... (view more)