Microsoft

A former Microsoft privacy expert says he no longer trusts the Redmond, Washington-based tech firm. The problem: Microsoft has been too willing to work with the United States' government's highly controversial National Security Agency. Speaking at a ... conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, former Microsoft Chief Privacy Adviser Casper Bowden (who was with the firm from 2002 until 2011) said "I don't trust Microsoft now." Bowden, whose work at Microsoft involved devising privacy policy for forty different countries around the world, says that Microsoft's top executives never informed him that the ... (view more)

Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer isn't known for keeping his emotions in check. In fact, videos of Ballmer jumping about the stage at various press events can be found all over YouTube. But this most recent video appears to capture ... Ballmer in a particularly emotional state. In fact, much of the video features the Microsoft CEO fighting back tears. The video (which can be seen on YouTube by clicking here ) is a recording of Ballmer's recent speech before Microsoft employees. The Verge, which initially provided the video, says Ballmer made the speech last Thursday. Microsoft ... (view more)

Microsoft's Bill Gates has admitted that requiring users to enter Control-Alt-Delete in order to end a process was a mistake. Speaking before a crowd at a Harvard fundraising function, Gates subtly blamed IBM. Gates says the initial thinking behind ... Control-Alt-Delete was that it would allow users to bypass applications and immediately interact with the computer's operating system. However, he admitted that there was probably an easier way of achieving that. IBM Denies Single Button Option "We could have had a single button, but the guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn't want to give us ... (view more)

Ford Motor Company's chief executive officer is reportedly the new front-runner to replace outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. According to technology blog AllThingsD, Alan Mulally has "warmed" to the idea of taking over as CEO of the Redmond, ... Washington-based firm. Ballmer announced his retirement last month but doesn't plan to leave Microsoft for another eleven months or so. That means there's lots of time for the media to speculate about who might replace Ballmer as head of one of the world's largest and most influential tech companies. Sources Say Mulally "Amenable" to Idea of ... (view more)

Microsoft is planning to release boxed copies of Windows 8.1, thereby saving new buyers from having to download the first big update to the Windows 8 operating system (OS). However, the boxed version's pricing and installation process may make it ... both confusing and unattractive for many consumers. The boxed edition of Windows 8.1 is being aimed at people who don't already own Windows 8 or any previous version of Windows. If you do have Windows 8 installed, you'll be able to download the update free of charge from the online Windows Store on October 18, 2013. The boxed version is seen as a ... (view more)

Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer recently appeared before Wall Street investors to outline the four things his firm must do right if it wants to stay in business. Previously, Microsoft executives have outlined several key areas in ... which Microsoft needs to grow. Those areas include cloud storage, social media, mobile hardware and software, and "Big Data". But Ballmer went into greater detail during this most recent investors meeting. First, Ballmer says Microsoft must ensure that consumer cloud services like Office 365 -- the version of Office that is closely integrated with ... (view more)

Microsoft has issued an emergency software fix for a critical flaw in its Internet Explorer web browser. According to reports, hackers have already exploited the vulnerability. Microsoft released the "Fix It" software in an attempt to prevent what ... it calls "targeted attacks" on a vulnerability in its Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft is calling this a "zero day" vulnerability, meaning software developers were unaware of the issue before it was exploited by hackers. Hackers Launch Remote Code Execution Attacks Reports indicate that hackers have used the flaw to carry out remote code ... (view more)

Microsoft says it will pay you $200 for your used iPad. Clearly, the firm hopes you will put the money towards buying its own tablet computer, the Surface. The payment comes in the form of a gift card for Microsoft's retail locations, both online ... and off. Although Microsoft suggests you use the money to purchase a Surface, those who take the firm up on its offer could also spend the credit on Windows software or its forthcoming Xbox One video game console. While you can spend the gift card on Microsoft's online store, you'll have to take your old iPad to an actual Microsoft store to get the ... (view more)

A new report from CBS Money Watch questions the viability of Microsoft's recent acquisition of Nokia's phone business. The problem: both firms have fallen on tough times of late, meaning consumer confidence in their products is at an all-time low. ... At the same time, there just aren't enough apps available for Windows Phone devices. The devices division of 150-year-old Finnish communications firm Nokia was recently acquired by Microsoft for $7.2 billion. Many experts see the acquisition as an extension of an existing relationship between the two firms. It's a relationship that has involved ... (view more)

Another monthly Patch Tuesday security update has arrived and this time Microsoft is providing fixes for 'critical' flaws in its Internet Explorer web browser and its Outlook email manager. In total, Microsoft's Patch Tuesday offering includes 13 ... bulletins, four of which have been marked critical -- Microsoft's highest security rating. Many security experts are pointing to the critical bulletin affecting Outlook as the most important security issue this month. Code Execution Flaw Affects Outlook Wolfgang Kandek, chief technology officer at IT security firm Qualys, says it's imperative that ... (view more)