News


SQL Server 2012 Licensing To Result in Price Hikes

SQL Server 2012 is expected to become generally available on April 1, but licensing price details for the product are just beginning to take shape.

First Windows Phone Goes on Sale in China

Microsoft marked its entrance into the Chinese smartphone market this week by unveiling a new device from HTC running Windows Phone 7.5 "Tango."

Report: Windows 8 To RTM in Summer, Hit Stores in October

Devices running Windows 8 will become available in October, with a partner-focused event taking place in early April, according to a Bloomberg report published Tuesday.

Gartner: 'Personal Cloud' To Supplant PCs by 2014

The PC will no longer be the primary digital device for most users by 2014, according to a new report from research firm Gartner.

Microsoft Appoints New Windows Phone Marketing Chief

Microsoft on Monday named Thom Gruhler as the new corporate vice president of Windows Phone Marketing.

Yahoo Loses Noted Chief Scientist to Microsoft

Former Yahoo chief scientist Raghu Ramakrishnan has joined Microsoft as a Technical Fellow within the Server and Tools Business (STB), Redmond announced this week.

Microsoft Security Partner May Have Leaked Windows Exploit Code

Portions of an exploit code that appeared in the wild last Thursday may have been leaked by a Microsoft security partner, Microsoft said recently.

Microsoft Cuts Office 365 Prices by 20 Percent

Microsoft is slashing the prices of many of its Office 365 plans by about 20 percent effective immediately, the company said this week.

Reactions to 'Metro'-Style IE 10 for Windows 8 Are Mixed

Microsoft revealed more details about Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 this week, but much of the reaction has been skeptical.

Gartner: Windows 8 May Boost Weak PC Market in 2013

Market research firm Gartner projects weak growth in worldwide PC shipments in 2012, but predicts a stronger showing in 2013 due to rising interest in "ultrabooks" and Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.

Firefox, Chrome To Get 'Metro' Treatment for Windows 8

Browser makers face an unfamiliar hurdle with Windows 8, but both Mozilla and Google said they are building browsers that will work with the new operating system.

System Center 2012 CTPs for Windows Server 8 Released

Two components of Microsoft's System Center 2012 suite, Virtual Machine Manager and Data Protection Manager, were released late last week as community technology previews (CTPs) that are specifically designed to work with the new Windows Server 8 beta.

Microsoft-Backed Group Cleared To Make Money from Nortel Patents

A consortium of companies that includes Microsoft and Apple has been cleared to start receiving royalties from the assets it purchased last year from the former Nortel Networks Corp.

Microsoft Adds Online Backup to Windows Server 8 Beta (UPDATED)

Microsoft rolled out an online backup service for the Windows Server 8 beta late last month, though not everyone can try it out.

Microsoft Shuttering Windows Mobile Marketplace in May

Windows Mobile Marketplace, the online app store for Microsoft's aging Windows Mobile smartphone OS, will be shut down in two months.

Windows Embedded Standard 8 CTP Released

Microsoft this week launched a community test preview (CTP) of Windows Embedded Standard 8, which is based on the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.

Apple Unveils 4G iPad, Updates Apple TV

Apple took the wraps off its third-generation iPad during a debut event on Wednesday.

SQL Server 2012 Hits RTM, Set for General Release in April

SQL Server 2012, Microsoft's newest relational database management system, hit the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) milestone on Tuesday and is available for download and testing as an evaluation version.

IBM Woos Former Enemies with Managed Services Play

For years, computing behemoth IBM viewed managed services providers (MSP) as competitors, but that's a thing of the past.

Report: Windows 7's Market Share Closes Gap on XP

Windows 7 is gaining on the aging Windows XP operating system, according to the latest market share estimates from Net Applications.