News


Microsoft Launches Online Patent-Tracking Tool

Information about Microsoft patents is now available in a searchable form as part of a transparency pledge, Microsoft announced Thursday.

First Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update Due in April

A cumulative update designed to support Exchange 2013 coexistence with Exchange 2010 is set for an April 2 release, Microsoft announced this week.

Microsoft-Google Sync Fight Leaving Windows Users Confused

Some users have reported encountering synchronization problems with various Google Apps while updating their Mail, Calendar and People apps on Windows 8 and Windows RT systems.

Microsoft Scores Three Higher-Education Office 365 Contracts

Three universities recently inked Microsoft Office 365 contracts -- Sacramento State University, University of Miami and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Microsoft Officially Confirms 'Blue' Code Name for First Time

"Blue" is the code name for "a set of plans" that will set the pace for Microsoft products in the near future, Microsoft has now confirmed.

Judge Favors Microsoft over Google in Xbox Patent Infringement Case

Microsoft's imports of its Xbox gaming consoles do not infringe a patent held by Google, according to a ruling by an administrative law judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Friday.

U.S. Patent Office Switches to 'First To File' System this Month

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has implemented a change in the patent system, enabling the first inventor to file a patent application to get precedence in the granting of patent rights.

Microsoft Publishes Report on Government Requests for User Data

Microsoft on Thursday released its first report on requests from law enforcement agencies to access information on users of Microsoft's online services.

Windows Embedded 8 Hits General Availability; Licensing Options Coming July

Two of Microsoft's Windows Embedded 8 operating system products were released on Wednesday, with a third expected to become generally available in April.

Analysis: The Search for the Perfect Note-Taking App

WEB EXCLUSIVE: In comparing Microsoft OneNote, EverNote and MindManager, Howard finds that there is currently no One Note-Taking App To Rule Them All. The perfect app would be the one that combines the best of the three.

Microsoft Details Plans To Integrate Yammer with Office 365, SharePoint

Microsoft's plans for enterprise social networking will increasingly revolve around Yammer, with improvements rolling out this year, according to a Microsoft executive.

Convergence: Microsoft Outlines Dynamics Roadmap, Announces Netbreeze Buy

Microsoft detailed its Dynamics vision on Tuesday during the opening keynote of its Dynamics Convergence conference, taking place in New Orleans this week.

Windows Phone 8 Support Ending July 2014

Mainstream support for Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 smartphone platform, including security updates, will end on July 8, 2014.

Microsoft To Begin Windows 7 SP1 Automatic Rollout This Week

Microsoft customers still using the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 will begin automatically receiving Service Pack 1 (SP1) via Windows Update on Tuesday.

BizTalk Server 2013 May Arrive April with New Licensing Model

A Microsoft partner is reporting that BizTalk Server 2013 will be released next month with a new per-core licensing model.

Gartner to Orgs: Skip SharePoint, Go with Yammer for Enterprise Social

Organizations that are "Microsoft shops" and trying to decide between Yammer or SharePoint for social networking should choose Yammer, research firm Gartner advised in a webinar Thursday.

Google's Android Chief Steps Down

Google's Android mobile operating system team has undergone an executive shuffle, the company announced on Wednesday.

Microsoft Opens Door to Flash on Windows 8, Internet Explorer 10

After a one-day advance notice on Monday, Microsoft this week enabled the Adobe Flash Player "to run by default" in Internet Explorer 10.

Windows Tablet Market Share To Stay in Single Digits Through 2017

Despite market share gains throughout the next five years, Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets will remain a distant third behind Android- and iOS-based devices, according to research firm IDC.

Slow Windows 8 Adoption Prompts Microsoft To Cut OEM Costs

Microsoft has lowered the cost of licensing Windows 8 for its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners in response to less-than-robust uptake of devices running the new operating system.