Microsoft

Microsoft invites press to September 23 Surface 2 unveiling in New York City

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Taking another crack at tablets, Windows giant Microsoft on Monday sent out invites asking select members of the press to attend its media event on Monday, September 23, in New York City. Unfazed by slow sales of its own Surface RT and Surface Pro tablet lineup after taking the $900 million charge over unsold inventory, the company is adamant to launch a second-generation Surface tablet, the Surface 2.

The high-profile press conference will take place in New York City's Chelsea, where Microsoft is expected to formally announce the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets as refreshed versions of its existing Surface RT and Surface Pro models...

Microsoft’s Xbox Music app now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Music fans can now add another streaming music service to their list of options on iOS. Microsoft quietly released an official app for its Xbox Music platform this weekend, which allows users to stream music to their iPhone or iPod.

The app features ad-free streaming from Microsoft’s stout catalog of over 10 million songs, with the ability to create custom stations and playlists. And of course, you can then sync those playlists with other Xbox Music-capable devices...

Microsoft OneNote for iOS update untethers iPad app from PC

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Good news today for users of Microsoft's popular OneNote application; the company just posted a major update for the iOS client. Now, the update itself isn't huge, but it features some significant improvements that will change how you use the tablet app.

Up until now, you couldn’t create new notebooks from the iPad, so you always had to defer to the desktop or web version of it at some point. But with today’s update, Microsoft has added this and other features, essentially making it standalone software...

Microsoft to acquire Nokia’s devices and services business for $7.2 billion

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

Early Tuesday morning, Microsoft announced that it would be purchasing Nokia’s devices and services business. The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors for both companies, and is expected to close in Q1 of next year, pending regulatory approval.

As for the terms of the deal, Microsoft is paying EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s cell phone business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license the company's patents, for a total price of EUR 5.44 billion (or roughly $7.2 billion in US dollars) in cash...

CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within 12 months, Microsoft confirms

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

I bet you haven't seen this coming. Microsoft's controversial and enthusiastic chief executive officer Steve Ballmer will retire within the next twelve months, the company said in a media release.

The company cunningly chose Friday to break the unexpected news so investors have the time to chew on the development over the weekend.

The Windows giant said Ballmer will retire as CEO upon the completion of a process to choose his successor. In the meantime, Ballmer will continue as CEO and will lead Microsoft "through the next steps of its transformation to a devices and services company that empowers people for the activities they value most"...

New Microsoft ad touts Lumia 1020 camera, mocks iPhone users

Cody Lee ∙ August 22, 2013

My how the tables have turned. Five years ago Apple was running its 'I'm a Mac' ads, attacking the perceived weaknesses of PCs running Microsoft's Windows software. And now we have Microsoft making ads that attack Apple products.

The Redmond company's latest in a series of Cupertino-bashing commercials pits the 41MP camera of Nokia's Lumia 1020 against that on the iPhone 5. And as you can imagine, the spot paints iPhone users in a not-so-favorable light...

Specs of Nokia’s alleged Windows RT tablet tipped

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

The struggling cell phone giant Nokia has been notably absent from the tablet market despite talk of a Nokia-branded tablet being in the works. It appears the elusive product may be nearing completion, according to both leaked specs and a Nokia patent filing which outlines a tablet-like device sporting the familiar-looking detachable kickstand and keyboard combo reminiscent of the Touch/Type covers for Microsoft’s own Surface tablet.

As Nokia switched to Windows Phone for its smartphones, little wonder that the upcoming tablet is said to run Microsoft's Windows RT 8.1 operating system built for the power-efficient ARM architecture. The biggest drawback: Windows RT does not run any of the legacy Windows apps written for Intel chips...

Skype iOS apps now support HD quality video calls via iPad 4 and iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 12, 2013

Microsoft-owned Skype has been giving their iOS apps some much-needed love lately. For example, following June's announcement of Skype Video Messages, the company has updated mobile and desktop apps with the ability to record and send short videos to your contacts, even when offline. The feature was previously available with a 20-message limit and imposed a three-minute ceiling on the length of individual video messages.

Today, the iPhone and iPad Skype app has been updated with various call quality improvements and general fixes, including the ability to make HD quality 720p video calls from the latest and fastest iOS devices, such a the fourth-generation iPad and the iPhone 5...

Microsoft now takes swipes at iPad mini

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 8, 2013

Wow, there's just no stopping Microsoft's marketing people in their anti-iPad crusade. As it’s done several times this summer, the Windows giant yesterday posted a Surface commercial which predictably takes swipes at Apple's full-size iPad, criticizing its $499 asking price, lack of SD card slot and limited Office compatibility (go figure).

You'd have think Microsoft's ad agency would not release another iPad bashing commercial until next week. Much to our surprise, however, a mere 24 hours later a new commercial has surfaced on YouTube, this time on Microsoft's WindowsVideos channel.

And for the first time, the software giant is targeting the iPad mini by pitting Acer's 8.1-inch Iconia W3 tablet against Apple's popular 7.9-inch $329 device. I've included the ad for your viewing pleasure right after the break...

Microsoft lures iCloud users with 15GB free SkyDrive storage upgrade

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 7, 2013

Oh Microsoft, you're so cunning. Taking advantage of the impending iCloud storage downgrade, the Windows maker has tweeted out a tempting offer meant to promote its SkyDrive cloud storage service whilst luring customers away from Apple's iCloud.

If you are a former MobileMe member and have received an email from Apple announcing your complimentary iCloud storage is expiring soon, just forward it to HelpMeSkyDrive@outlook.com to claim your fifteen gigabytes of SkyDrive storage, free for a year.

You should take advantage of the promo because Microsoft otherwise sells an additional twenty gigabytes of SkyDrive storage for ten bucks a year so that's nearly ten bucks saved right off the bat...

Despite slumping Surface sales, Microsoft continues to attack iPad in new ad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

You would think that with an ongoing Surface sales slump that even multiple fire sales can't fix, Microsoft would try to switch up its tactics. But nope. As it's done several times this summer, the Redmond company posted a new tablet ad today attacking the iPad.

The new spot is called 'Surface RT vs. iPad.' And like Microsoft's previous commercials, it pits the Surface against Apple's popular tablet, highlighting their differences. This time around, the iPad is knocked for having a smaller screen, lacking a kickstand and more...

Microsoft shaves $100 off Surface Pro through August 29

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 5, 2013

In another sign that Microsoft's Surface tablets are failing to hit the ground running, the Windows giant has slashed the Surface Pro lineup by $100 through August 29. The Microsoft-branded tablet family was unveiled last October so it's only logical the company now wants to get rid of unsold inventory as it gears up to announce a second-generation Surface later this year. Both the 64GB and 128GB flavors of the Surface Pro are now a $799 and $899 value, respectively...