Microsoft

Microsoft has announced that its Kinect Xbox 360 add-on has surpassed the 10 million unit sales mark. According to Guinness World Records, that makes it officially the fastest-selling electronics device in history. Microsoft's Kinect is a hands-free ... gaming device that attaches to the company's Xbox 360 video game console. It sells for $150 independently, or $399.99 bundled with the Xbox 360 Elite. The console is required for it to work. Kinect Officially the "Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device" The considerable cost involved in purchasing a Kinect bundle apparently hasn't ... (view more)

In a break from the ordinary, this month's Microsoft Patch Tuesday features relatively few fixes for the software giant's many products. There are just three security bulletins for the month of March, covering about four distinct security flaws in ... various software. The lull is somewhat unexpected after several months of record-breaking patch releases by Microsoft. By comparison, February had a total of twelve security bulletins , three of which were marked "critical", the company's highest threat warning. One 'Critical' Security Bulletin Issued for March This month, just one of the three ... (view more)

A Microsoft executive is raising a few eyebrows after making the controversial claim that everyone in the computer industry should own an Apple notebook. The statement came via a Twitter.com post in which Rahul Sood suggested that "Every executive ... in the PC industry should use an Apple notebook. Apple doesn't just design products, they designed their business and process (as well)." (Source: engadget.com ) While it's most certainly a bold statement to make for a Microsoft employee, the situation is further bewildering considering the fact that Sood has only held the title of Microsoft's ... (view more)

Using Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) to browse the Internet is one of the worst decisions someone can make. It's the browser equivalent of Swiss cheese, used by hackers and malware goons time and time again to circumvent its extremely weak ... security controls and infect users with malicious software. Thus, it's no surprise that Microsoft has announced a deathwatch for the decade-old Internet Explorer 6, which surprisingly still maintains a 12 per cent share of global usage (with half of that number coming from China). Microsoft says it wants to drive down IE6's share of the browser pie ... (view more)

In an effort to capitalize on the rising popularity of smartphone apps, Microsoft is now allowing their employees to moonlight as self-directed entrepreneurs to help improve the image of the company in the mobile market. To make smartphones that ... house their Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system more marketable in an industry dominated by iPhone and Android-based devices , Microsoft is planning to offer their prospective customers more apps than any other smartphone on the market. App Rules Relaxed in Light of Development While an admirable endeavor, putting the plan into practice still ... (view more)

For the most part, Microsoft has kept a tight lid on its plans for Windows 8. It's not surprising, since the Redmond-based firm remains committed to its current operating system (OS), Windows 7. But recent rumors suggest that could change in June, ... when Microsoft will reportedly unveil a special Windows 8 tablet OS. The report comes from Business Insider, which says its evidence is based on a source within Microsoft. According to Business Insider, "Microsoft is taking a more Apple-like approach to interface design this time around, and will also be using concepts from the 'Metro' interface ... (view more)

As of February 22nd, 2011, Microsoft is officially in the process of rolling out Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to all Windows 7 users via the Windows Update (automatic) feature, as well as through Microsoft's website. Why a Windows Service Pack is ... Imperative In general, a Windows Service Pack is a method of bringing together multiple changes to the operating system. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 ("SP1") is a single download (also available on DVD) that includes all major and minor security and bug fixes since the original release of Windows 7, up to the last software update made available ... (view more)

Despite only a having a marginal impact on the data storage market in the past, Microsoft has revealed their desire to help improve flash memory. Current plans call for the creation of software that uses solid-state storage (such as a solid state ... drive, or "SSD") in conjunction with RAM and hard disk, while eliminating random writes and other wasteful operations. Calling the program "FlashStore," Microsoft will be able to use flash storage as a bridge between RAM (primary storage) and hard drives (secondary storage). The current software would essentially fit between a hard drive ... (view more)

Back in late November 2010, Dell released a dual tablet/netbook computer called the Inspiron Duo. Netbook Similar to Apple iPad, but Runs Windows 7 The Inspiron Duo features a vertically rotating screen that switches between two independent modes: ... one that runs Windows 7 and the other a proprietary tablet mode which operates Dell software. At the time of release, the device raised lots of eyebrows -- but its $550 asking price was a bit steep for many. That is, perhaps, until Microsoft recently slashed that cost dramatically on its Microsoft Store website. Inspiron Duo Features Dual Core ... (view more)

Last week US President Barack Obama met with several big tech names, including Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, at a much-talked about dinner party in Silicon Valley. The ... point of the get-together was to discuss current technological innovations and how can they could improve the sliding United States economy. (Source: com.au ) One would think that a dinner meeting of such big names in the tech field would also include Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, but it did not. Ballmer Not the Only Odd-Man-Out The ... (view more)