We’ve seen precious little from Microsoft in terms of sales and market share figures for its Windows Phone platform lately, and so when the company speaks, we listen. A recent report in the Dutch publication Emerce contains a fact, attributed to Microsoft that surprised us: Windows Phone has snagged some 7% of the Chinese market. Microsoft’s Michel van der Bel, its COO of in the region, characterized the company’s progress in the following way: “We’ve only just begun. Our Continue Reading

In December 2011, Microsoft launched a new social networking service it called So.cl (pronounced "Social') as a kind of research project targeting educational institutes such as the University of Washington, Syracuse University, and New York University. .So.cl (pronounced "social") is an experimental research project, developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs, focused on exploring the possibilities of social search for the purpose of learning. So.cl combines social networking Continue Reading

If you think Microsoft’s Bing wasn’t impacting the search engine market, then you are wrong. According to Compete, Google increased its share for the first time since December 2011 to 65.9% of the US core web search market.  Yahoo! had been experiencing small increases in share steadily since December 2011, but saw a decline of 0.7ppt’s from March to April.  Bing continues to gain monthly share since October 2011, and experienced a gain of 0.3ppt’s in April to represent 18.3% Continue Reading

The Windows 8 Release Preview is due in June. Today The Verge discovered links to the web version of the Windows Store for several built-in Windows 8 Metro-style apps, including Mail, Calendar, People and Messaging,Photos, Music, and Reader. All app entries revealed that the apps were updated on May 15 for the upcoming Release Preview, however details of exactly what was changed is unknown. But the new photo App entry was updated with many changes. These are as below:   The new home screen Continue Reading

  Last week at the Search Summit in San Francisco, Microsoft showcased a brand new way to search that is designed to help you interact with friends and take action without compromising the core search experience. Starting today, people in the United States can give it a try at www.bing.com/new.   As discussed last week, Bing now integrates search and people in our social networks through a dedicated social “sidebar.” With sidebar, Bing brings together the best of the web, with Continue Reading

  The cloud is no longer just a buzz word, it's a part of our daily lives. Powerful enterprise software that was only available to the biggest companies is now available to the smallest. It's the perfect storm of advancements in mobility, flexibility, productivity and affordability. And it's setting up the small and medium size market with a massive growth opportunity, making it clear that this is the place to be. Microsoft has shared its vision and thinking of what the cloud is. Checkout Continue Reading

Do you use Microsoft Office on a Mac or a PC and need to work across devices or share with other people? And now Microsoft appears very concentrated on winning, and to that end is launching overtures directed at Mac users to either persuade them to leave Apple’s iCloud behind, or to use it in concert with its SkyDrive product. The company even launched a page for Mac users. See why SkyDrive is the best cloud for your files.     Access files and Office docs, anywhere With Continue Reading

Microsoft’s Kinect has been making the noise since late 2010 based on its powerful motion-tracking game technology found in American living rooms and now has a shot at making its way into U.S. military helicopters. The Army envisions Microsoft’s Kinect system as a low-cost solution for smarter cockpits that track what pilots see or do, thus allowing automated combat missions. The Microsoft Kinect for Xbox can already recognize gestures, faces and voices under almost any ambient light conditions Continue Reading

Gartner came out with its predictions for the tablet market through 2016 yesterday. If they're right, Microsoft's tablet ambitions will fail, placing the entire company in jeopardy. According to Gartner's stats, Microsoft will have only 8% of the tablet market in 2013, the first year after Windows 8's assumed release date, and only 12% by 2016. The iPad will dominate, with Android coming close behind. Here's the chart from Gartner, via TechCrunch:     Left unsaid: some -- if not most Continue Reading

SkyDrive for Windows is the easiest way to access your SkyDrive from your PC. When you install SkyDrive, a SkyDrive folder is created on your PC. Everything you put in this folder is automatically kept in sync between your computers (PC or Mac) and SkyDrive.com, so you can get to your latest files from virtually anywhere. Whenever you add, change, or delete files in one location, all the other locations will be updated.   Over the last year Microsoft is hard at work building SkyDrive Continue Reading

    Here's a new spin on the resignation email or blog post: a resignation video. Karen X Cheng was a program manager on Excel. She just quit to take a new job as a designer at Justin Kan's new startup, Exec, which is similar to TaskRabbit -- a way for busy people to outsource tasks like moving a couch.   Cheng is also a singer, so she recorded this farewell video, dedicated to her old team. No bombshells, just a heartfelt goodbye. (Cheng also posted the video on her personal Continue Reading

  The Anti-Piracy team at Microsoft launched a global campaign this week to inform small businesses about the risk of counterfeit software creeping into their business when acquiring or downloading software from the Internet. Most business buyers know to avoid questionable street-corner vendors when purchasing software for their business, yet they may not think twice about ordering software from an unfamiliar but professional looking website that offers steep discounts.   Hidden in Continue Reading

    Today Microsoft announced the editions that will be available for "Windows 8" when it is released to market. Microsoft has talked about Windows 8 as Windows reimagined, from the chipset to the user experience. Windows 8 has the flexibility you need - whether you’re on an x86/64 or a WOA PC.   You can use a touch screen or a keyboard and mouse – and switch anytime. It’s beautiful, fast, and fluid design is perfect for a wide range of hardware. And you’ll Continue Reading

  Microsoft office has been one of the biggest cash cows for Microsoft over 20 years. One of the most used software's of the world, Microsoft is now releasing the beta of Office 15, which has been slowly surfacing over the past few weeks which has revealed new features coming to the platform. Today, a new video has been posted that is titled “Welcome to Office 15” on WithinWindows.com that shows a small glimpse in to the next iteration of Office. The video highlights working on documents Continue Reading

  Want to help Microsoft improve Windows? You can opt-in (apply) to be invited into the Windows Feedback Program today! The Windows Feedback Program was created to enlist the help of customers who want to be more actively involved providing direct feedback for windows 8. The program is invite-only and only available for customers in the US. Microsoft is actively seeking volunteers who are using Windows 7 or the Windows 8 Consumer Preview to participate. The program is not a way to submit Continue Reading