Microsoft

Motorola has won a court ruling that bans the distribution of most major Microsoft products in Germany. However, it's not yet clear if the landmark ban will actually be enforced. A German court granted Motorola an injunction covering distribution of ... Windows 7, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, and the Xbox 360 video game console in that country. If the ban is ever enforced, it would prevent those software and hardware products from being sold in Germany -- presumably until the patent dispute between Microsoft and Motorola is finally settled. However, a U.S. court has issued a ruling ... (view more)

Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch an Xbox-branded, cross-platform music streaming service along with its new Windows 8 operating system. Current expectations point to an unveiling of the new service at this year's E3 (Electronic ... Entertainment Expo) convention set for June, in Los Angeles. Microsoft is calling its new service 'Woodstock' and promises to offer its customers many more features than the music service's predecessor, Zune Music Pass. Rival Device Compatibility While 'Woodstock' will have an Xbox branding, it will not be limited to the video game console. Rather, the music ... (view more)

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a web version of Skype that users could access directly through their browsers without needing to download and install software. According to Liveside.net, a number of new Microsoft job postings have popped up ... in recent weeks asking for job applications from developers with experience building HTML5-based apps for a project called "Skype for Browsers". (Source: webmonkey.com ) Because of its affiliation with Facebook, Skype (which was acquired by Microsoft last year) is already accessible through a browser, technically speaking. The Facebook version of ... (view more)

Microsoft has now revealed that most buyers will choose between just two versions of Windows 8. It's a big change from earlier Windows launches, in which choosing the right version could be a daunting and confusing experience. One version of Windows ... 8, known as simply 'Windows 8', is aimed at consumers and small businesses. The more expensive and expansive option will be called 'Windows 8 Pro'. As with previous "premium" or "business" editions of Windows, it will include features that are most useful in a corporate setting. These additional features include extra network controls, a remote ... (view more)

A leaked Microsoft production schedule, or "roadmap", has revealed to the public some approximate release dates for a number of the company's most anticipated new products. The roadmap appears to have been published late last year, and lays out when ... consumers can expect to see updated versions of Office, Internet Explorer, and Windows Phone software released. According to reports, the roadmap was leaked earlier this week through Microsoft's own publicly accessible Microsoft Partner Network. MeeTroo chief executive officer Maarten Visser is reported to have sent it out via Twitter, although it ... (view more)

Microsoft has announced it will finally stop supporting Windows XP in April of 2014. The decision leaves users of that operating system (OS) out in the cold, without security updates or support of any kind from the software giant. The company had ... already begun phasing out support for the original versions of XP and currently offers support only for copies containing the final batch of updates for the software, Service Pack 3 (SP3). Even Windows XP with SP3 has already reached the "extended support" phase. As a result, Microsoft issues free security updates, but offers tech support on a paid ... (view more)

Microsoft has announced it will issue six security updates next Tuesday. Together, the updates will patch 11 different bugs affecting Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, and other Microsoft programs. It's worth noting that Microsoft has ranked four ... of the 11 fixes "critical," the software giant's highest security warning. "Critical" Bulletin 4 Fixes Office, and More The security update currently receiving the most attention is Bulletin 4. It is designed to repair a serious security vulnerability in a number of different Microsoft programs. The list of software due for ... (view more)

It appears that Microsoft and its users may be experiencing a security problem potentially as dangerous and devastating as the 2010 debacle that hit Playstation owners. Back then, innocent purchasers of PlayStations were hit by one of the most ... stunning security invasions in recent memory. Millions saw their supposedly-secure account information leaked, including credit card data. The problem ran so deep that Sony felt compelled to offer substantial compensation packages. The current problem may prove just as significant, unless Microsoft changes how it stores sensitive customer information. ... (view more)

After several years of trending market share losses by Internet Explorer (IE), Microsoft's flagship browser appears to be winning back some customers. However, experts suggest the resurgence may not represent a permanent reversal of fortune. Web ... statistics firm Net Applications now reports that the proportion of web users worldwide who are running Internet Explorer has risen in each of the past three months, while Google Chrome has consistently dropped during the same period. The recent growth is a notable change in a long-term Internet Explorer trend of losing its dominance over Google's ... (view more)

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has become the victim of an online identity fraud attack. According to reports, a former United States Army soldier used a debit card linked to one of Allen's accounts to attempt several fraudulent transactions. ... Federal investigators have revealed that Brandon Lee Price, a 28-year-old U.S. Army deserter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was able to change the address on a bank account owned by Allen and have a new debit card sent to his home. (Source: suntimes.com ) Citibank Fooled by Classic Scam In order to acquire the card, Price simply phoned Citibank ... (view more)