Business

Less than two months after retiring the Bing Cashback Rewards program on July 30th, 2010, Microsoft has reappeared on the radar with revamped offering. Dubbed "Bing Search Rewards", the scheme uses credits (instead of the previously-used cash ... rebates), as an incentive for those who conduct their online searches with their search engine, Microsoft Bing. Use Bing Search and Get Credits The idea of a rewards-based programs was always near and dear to the heart of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who often spoke on the idea of giving people a reason to use a particular search engine. The ... (view more)

Thus far, hardware makers have been a little slow in bringing out Windows 7-based tablet computers to rival Apple's very popular iPad. But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that's about to change, and that several new devices should be on the market ... in time for the holiday season. "You'll see new slates with Windows on them," Ballmer told an audience at the London School of Economics on Tuesday. "You'll see them this Christmas." (Source: informationweek.com ) Big Box Retailer 'Target' to Carry iPad The iPad hit stores way back in April, and within two months Apple had sold approximately three ... (view more)

Update 2010/11/29: NOTE: Low stock is being reported on the Amazon website (approx 50 40 units are available). We expect this offer to end this weekend (Black Friday / Cyber Monday), so don't wait! The Windows 7 Discount Link is further down the ... page in a box similar to this one. You may continue reading the article to find out more about this offer, or click here to access the Windows 7 discount though Amazon.com now . Microsoft has officially re-introduced its Windows 7 Family Pack, a limited-time offer that drastically reduces the price of licenses for the new operating system (OS). For ... (view more)

It used to be that throwing the word 'free' in front of 'antivirus program' resulted in faces twisted with skepticism. But if you throw the name 'Microsoft' in there, too, apparently 30 million people will jump on board in just one year. Of course, ... we're talking about Microsoft Security Essentials, a surprisingly robust no-charge antivirus program. In 2009, Microsoft Security Essentials replaced the mildly popular "One Care" suite, which received mostly tepid reviews in comparison to more established security rivals from Kaspersky or AVG. Microsoft Security Essentials: 1 Year Later ... (view more)

According to Microsoft's annual board of directors review, company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Ballmer received a near six per cent salary increase over the fiscal year concluding June 30, 2010. The board's statement also revealed what they ... felt Ballmer had done well (and not so well) as Microsoft's top man. According to Microsoft's annual proxy statement revealed late last week, Ballmer made about $1.34 million over the course of the 2009 / 2010 fiscal year. That represents an increase of about 5.8 per cent from the previous period. For those not wowed by the numbers, keep in mind ... (view more)

In a surprisingly frank admission, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said the company's Kin phones were a mistake. Ballmer's comments were not so much about the handsets themselves, but rather the way they distracted the company's attention from the ... upcoming Windows Phone 7 system. Microsoft Kin Phone Fails to Catch On The company released two handsets, the Kin One and Kin Two, earlier this year after several years of development. Although the phones received positive reviews, they failed to catch on. The major problem: while they appeared to be aimed at teenagers and young adults, the Kins ... (view more)

Earlier this week we reported that the upcoming Internet Explorer 9 web browser would require Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Since that post, it appears that Microsoft's website regarding this issue has been changed. For those who have already ... installed the Internet Explorer 9 Beta Edition, the installation process requires a Windows Update, followed by a restart of the operating system (OS). According to Microsoft's updated FAQ, the single most important reason for announcing the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 requirement was to prevent Internet Explorer 9 installations from requiring a system ... (view more)

Thinking about upgrading your Windows XP netbook to Windows 7? Recently, a ZDNet contributor did just that with his Samsung N150 Plus single-core CPU netbook. The results, however, were disappointing. Since many netbooks now ship with Windows 7 ... Starter Edition and Home Premium -- and because Microsoft is making the push away from XP , the upgrade seemed to make sense. Windows 7 Starter Edition: For Netbooks Only Windows 7 Starter edition is exclusively for netbook computers. You cannot use Windows 7 Starter Edition for standard PC (nor would you want it, in most cases, as many features have ... (view more)

Microsoft has taken considerable flak from critics and end users in its decision to not allow Windows XP to run Internet Explorer 9. The only operating systems currently supported are Windows Vista and Windows 7. But the requirement doesn't stop ... there. In fact, those interested in using Internet Explorer 9 will need to upgrade their copies of Windows Vista to Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows 7 to Service Pack 1 (SP1). News of the requirement comes courtesy of a frequently asked question (FAQ) posted on Microsoft's website. "Organizations must plan, pilot and deploy Internet Explorer 9 as part ... (view more)

A recent survey by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has found that Microsoft's newest operating system (OS), Windows 7, has brought the company near all-time high approval ratings. It's an ideal outcome for a firm whose satisfaction ... ratings plummeted after the release of its last OS, Windows Vista. Commenting on the findings, ACSI's founder Claes Fornell said: "Windows-based PC brands appear to have recovered from the problems associated with the Windows Vista software," said ACSI founder Claes Fornell. "Barely a year into the release of Windows 7, satisfaction with ... (view more)