Business

There was much hope in Redmond, Washington on the morning of January 31, 2007. That day, Microsoft's Windows Vista launched into retail outlets, for the first time available -- in completion -- to home users. Unfortunately, Vista failed to match ... lofty expectations, struggling to remain parallel with XP's early support while remaining far, far behind the mega-popularity of Windows 95. One of the reasons for consumer boredom with Vista was simply the PC market; insiders believed no one was buying computers, and thus, no one really needed an operating system. According to some experts, that may ... (view more)

Microsoft Research India in Bangalore has developed new screen-splitting software. The software splits the screen into two halves, with each half having its own keyboard, mouse, desktop and applications. (Source: theinquirer.net ) "At the most basic ... level, we are allowing two users to work completely independently on the same machine, sharing both the processor and monitor," explained Assistant Researcher and Project Leader Udai Singh Pawar. (Source: discovery.com ) The working prototype operates on a standard 19-inch screen, but the software also works on 15 and 17-inch screens. Since the ... (view more)

A couple of months ago, Google explained its plan to anonymize its logs after retaining them for a period of 18 to 24 months. While some praised this announcement, others questioned why Google has to store this information at all, particularly since ... the logs include data which can potentially be used to identify individuals. Last Friday, Google's global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer posted an explanation on why the company does -- and should -- keep the data for a while. (Source: arstechnica.com ) Fleischer says that the policy evolves around three factors: improving service, preventing ... (view more)

At this rate, it wouldn't surprise any of us if Microsoft constructed its own golden arches outside its Redmond, Washington headquarters with a handy counter recording the number of Vista units sold. It seems as though the company is constantly ... touting the retail success of its recently released operating system (OS). The newest sales figure? According to big boss Bill Gates, 40 million Vistas sold. Another conference, another update, it seems. Chairman Gates announced the numbers at Microsoft's recent Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, a forum for the company to let slip its upcoming ... (view more)

Sound Off! Yesterday, we asked Infopackets Subscribers what they thought of Microsoft's latest fiasco : the claim that various Free Open Source Software (FOSS) developers have violated some 235 Microsoft patents -- and now Microsoft wants to collect ... royalties. So, is Free Open Source Software really doomed -- or is Microsoft simply grabbing straws in hopes of resurrecting lost Vista sales? Infopackets Reader C. Williams was the first to chime in: " Okay, I'll admit it. I've been using a PC since late 2001, and during that time, I have used Windows exclusively. However, my experiences with ... (view more)

In what's being labeled by some as an attempt to deflect questions surrounding their floundering Vista reception and sales, Microsoft is threatening law suits aimed at open source distributors and users, claiming that Free Open Source Software ... (FOSS) violates 235 of their patents ... and they want royalties from it. If they get their way, free software won't be free any more. According to Microsoft , the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, the Linux graphical user interface (GUI) violates 65 patents, the Open Office suite of programs violate 45 patents, Email programs violate 15 ... (view more)

... [continued from Part 1 ]. Others argue that Microsoft is at a turning point as they try to build a successful business around online services and advertising, waiting too long to adopt new business models similar to the ones that Google ... successfully launched. The Xbox 360 game console and the Zune digital media player have also proven to be unsuccessful. A January 26, 2007 memo issued by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) CIO Dave Bowen states he might permanently bypass upgrading the FAA's desktops to Windows Vista due to stringent hardware requirements and application ... (view more)

Here's a new one for the techie forums to debate: Who is more powerful online, Microsoft or Google? Surely, this is a tough answer -- with one boasting strength in crafting popular software, while the other dominates the future profits of thousands ... of websites. However, when it comes to searching the web, the big G has the market cornered. Too bad Yahoo, too bad MSN. That harsh reality may be behind rumors that Microsoft is pursuing a Yahoo takeover. First to the story is the NY Post, which reports to other media outlets that Microsoft recently approached Yahoo executives about a possible ... (view more)

Back in the earliest days of home gaming, Nintendo used to employ a little gold merit badge it called the "Nintendo Seal of Quality". It was a nice way for young and new gamers to navigate the enormous 1980s NES games library. Got the seal? It's ... probably decent. No seal? Avoid at all costs. Many companies have tried a similar campaign, with Microsoft's Vista logo now appearing on certain software programs deemed the most compatible with the company new operating system (OS). One industry insider recently blogged that when he found himself shopping for a TV tuner for his PC, there was a tough ... (view more)

A few weeks ago we talked about speculation surrounding the delay of the new Mac operating system (OS) from Apple, Leopard. In order to better accommodate Microsoft's own new OS, Windows Vista, some experts believed Apple pushed back their product ... until the fall, an action that disappointed many Mac maniacs. There may be more fist-shaking today, with news that Windows Vista likely sapped Macintosh hardware sales during its last period. Looking at the numbers, it seems fairly obvious that some sort of major release put the squeeze on Mac success during Apple's second fiscal quarter of 2007. ... (view more)