Business

Microsoft has confirmed that the first official version of Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 will be released next month (July, 2010). It doesn't appear the pack will bring any major updates, but it could still drive up business sales. A service pack is ... a collection of all updates released for the software since its original launch. At one stage service packs were a way to get updates (via disc) to people on dial-up modems who didn't want to use the automatic update download service; today they are used more among people who prefer to carry out major updates in a single batch. Another benefit of ... (view more)

Microsoft has decided to remove its "Bing cashback" feature after a lack of interest among retailers. The scheme allowed users to search for products and then get a rebate for buying from a selected seller. The scheme originally launched as part of ... Microsoft's Live search engine, before being rebranded when Live merged with MSN to produce the new Bing site. The launch of Bing arguably made the cashback tool more useful for both Microsoft and customers, as Bing is based around providing results in a variety of categories depending on the subject of a search. For example, people ... (view more)

Yesterday Apple CEO Steve Jobs told a techie audience that Windows was doomed. A day later, Microsoft's head honcho has retorted that he sees PC sales growing as technology adapts to consumer demands. Speaking at the D: All Things Digital Conference ... on Tuesday night, Apple CEO Steve Jobs predicted a steady decline for Microsoft's Windows operating system as more people move towards alternative platforms for their web needs. Rather than power up Windows-based PCs, Jobs said, more and more people will start using smartphones, tablet computers, and more portable options. Microsoft CEO Says PCs ... (view more)

Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs says he's predicted the steady decline of rival Microsoft's Windows operating system (OS). That swipe at Microsoft comes only a day after Google says it's phasing out MS Windows as it ramps up internal ... testing of its Chrome OS. Jobs made the comments Tuesday night in an onstage interview at the D: All Things Digital conference. Jobs said he believes computers running Windows would begin a decline in popularity as people move to new platforms for their web needs: devices like the iPad, other tablet computers, or smartphones. Apple CEO Compares PCs to ... (view more)

A recent report says that Google, which is working hard to complete its upcoming Chrome operating system (OS), has started phasing out its own internal use of the Microsoft Windows. The report on Google's OS use emerged Tuesday when the Financial ... Times said search engine leader Google had decided to cut back its employment of Windows, citing for reasons of security concerns. (Source: computerworld.com ) Google Testing Chrome OS Internally It's likely the move to phase out Windows is primarily the result of Google's continuing work on its own operating system, Chrome OS. Google is currently " ... (view more)

New research suggests that a number of major corporations are unwilling to update their web browsers to Internet Explorer 8, instead deciding to continue the use of the ever-aging and ever-dangerous Internet Explorer 6 (IE6). The reason for the ... resistance is not a question of cost; rather, companies are willing to stick it out with IE6 not only because of compatibility reasons for use with their own internal applications -- but also because Internet Explorer 6 lacks social networking features. "Companies are happy to stay with Internet Explorer 6 because a lot of the social networking sites ... (view more)

Less than two weeks after Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced it would not be using Windows 7 on its upcoming Slate tablet PC, hardware producer Asus says they're willing to step up to the plate and offer their Eee Pad (tablet PC) hosting Windows 7. HP ... announced early last week that it would not use Windows 7 due to underwhelming touchscreen capabilities. HP says it will instead go with the webOS (operating system) when Slate ships this October. Asus Eee Pad Boasts 12" Screen, 10-Hour Battery, Win7 Stepping in to defend Windows 7's compatibility with tablet computers is Asus, who recently ... (view more)

Microsoft's Project Natal , which features motion-feedback gameplay similar to the Nintendo Wii and and connects directly to the Xbox 360 console, appears to be shipping October 26, 2010. That's if you believe a recent report, which also says the ... add-on will cost about $150 USD. The ship date and the price have both been suggested by UK gaming magazine, Edge. The $150 price tag actually conflicts with older reports that Microsoft might try to get the device down to around 50 UK pounds, or $72 USD. The new price isn't going to provide the "impulse buy" sensation those earlier ... (view more)

This week marked a historic, albeit merely symbolic moment in technology history. For the first time, Apple is worth more than Microsoft. The statistic in question is the market capitalization of the two companies, namely the current stock price ... multiplied by the number of shares. In theory it's the price you'd have to pay to take over the company -- though in reality, either the sellers or buyers controlling the deal would ultimately affect the takeover price. As of the end of trading on Wednesday, Apple's value was $222 billion, overtaking Microsoft's $219 billion. As well as taking the top ... (view more)

Microsoft has reorganized its entertainment section after word that division president Robbie Bach will retire this fall. Combined with news that another very public entertainment figure, J Allard, is leaving the company, Microsoft has been forced ... to do some major tinkering with the division. Robbie Bach has been a part of Microsoft for over two decades. The 48-year-old became a prominent part of the company after he helped establish the first Xbox game console, released in 2001, as an industry heavyweight. Unfortunately, other Microsoft devices have not proven so popular under Bach's watch, ... (view more)