Microsoft

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Windows 7: Finally, an End to Vista Misery
 Windows 7: 
 Finally, an End 
 to Vista Misery 


PRODUCT REVIEW
Jan 22, 2009 9:53 AM CST

Windows 7: Finally, an End to Vista Misery

'New' Microsoft OS is major improvement, say critics

(Newser) - Microsoft is rolling out a successor to Vista, its universally reviled operating system, with Windows 7 now available in a relatively bug-free beta download. Early users report that the new edition is a marked improvement. David Pogue, in the New York Times, says Windows 7 ends “a big part...

Microsoft to Ax 5K Jobs
 Microsoft to Ax 5K Jobs 
Jan 22, 2009 9:20 AM CST

Microsoft to Ax 5K Jobs

(Newser) - Microsoft surprised the street today by releasing its earnings early, and they weren’t pretty. The software giant’s revenues inched up only 2%, below earlier guidance, and its net income dropped 11%. More alarming, the company said it was slashing 5,000 jobs, starting with 1,400 today, which...

Job, Housing Woes Sink Stocks
 Job, Housing Woes Sink Stocks 
MARKET Open
Jan 22, 2009 8:53 AM CST

Job, Housing Woes Sink Stocks

(Newser) - Stocks headed south this morning, following worse-than-expected housing and job data. Jobless claims rose by 62,000 last week, and housing starts slid 15.5%, to their slowest pace on record. The Dow sunk 144 points, accompanied by an 18-point decline in the S&P. A strong quarter from Apple...

Tricky Virus Hits 8.9M Computers Worldwide

'Conficker' travels via networks, USB sticks; situation 'getting worse'

(Newser) - A Windows worm that emerged in October is “skyrocketing” worldwide, with some 8.9 million computers now infected, says an antivirus firm. The program, known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido, can zoom through low-security networks, memory sticks, and any PC that hasn’t downloaded current security updates, the BBC...

Why This Recession Won't Be Another Dot-Com Bust

Despite layoffs, companies are better prepared

(Newser) - The tech industry is going through tough times, including widespread layoffs, but it's not going to be another dot-com bust, predicts the Economist, laying out the differences between 2001 and 2009. In 2000, technology companies grew nearly 16%, only to contract by 6% a year later. “The IT industry...

Years of Search and Destroy Get Microsoft Back to Yahoo

New Yahoo CEO opens door for search deal, another shot to catch Google

(Newser) - A new CEO at Yahoo has many speculating Microsoft will renew its bid for Yahoo’s Web-search unit, the Wall Street Journal reports. But Microsoft’s quest isn’t a mere attempt to better compete with Google in the $12.3 billion paid-search market; it’s the rectification of years...

Madoff Fund Made No Trades
 Madoff Fund Made No Trades 
Jan 16, 2009 2:35 AM CST

Madoff Fund Made No Trades

Records of trades don't match stock prices

(Newser) - The fund run by Wall Street swindler Bernie Madoff apparently did not execute a single trade the entire time it was raking in billions of dollars in investment cash from unsuspecting clients, reports Reuters. Monthly statements of trades from Madoff were pure fiction that kept up appearances in the $50...

Even Microsoft Is Weighing Layoffs

Need to trim costs in weak economy has software firm looking at rare cuts

(Newser) - Microsoft could be considering the first large-scale layoff in its history, as it looks for ways to trim costs, reports the Wall Street Journal. Up to 15,000 positions are rumored to be at risk—6% of its workforce—but insiders say the cuts, across all divisions, are likely to...

High Traffic Delays Windows 7 Beta Rollout

Company's site crumbles under demand

(Newser) - After promising the world Windows 7 Beta on Wednesday, Microsoft had to pull the plug on its download site due to cripplingly high traffic, CNET reports today. “We are adding some additional infrastructure support,” Microsoft said, “before we post the public beta.” Microsoft hopes to have...

Stocks Mixed on Retail News
 Stocks Mixed on Retail News 
MARKETS
Jan 8, 2009 3:32 PM CST

Stocks Mixed on Retail News

Wal-Mart falters, but Sears posts strong forecast

(Newser) - Stocks ended mixed today amid largely negative retail news and nervousness on unemployment, MarketWatch reports. Investors were shaken by poor December earnings and a reduced quarterly forecast posted by Wal-Mart, which managed to perform well through 2008. The Dow fell 27.24 to close at 8,742.46. The Nasdaq,...

Ballmer Opens Up Windows 7 Beta

Beta version of Vista successor available to the public starting tomorrow

(Newser) - Windows 7 Beta will be launched to the public tomorrow, Steve Ballmer told the Consumer Electronics Show yesterday. The Microsoft chief, filling the keynote slot held by Bill Gates in the previous 11 years, told the audience that the operating system would be a return to the "special sauce"...

Leap-Year Bug Zapped Zunes
Leap-Year Bug Zapped Zunes
Jan 1, 2009 6:21 AM CST

Leap-Year Bug Zapped Zunes

Microsoft advises Zune30 owners to drain batteries, then recharge

(Newser) - All 2006 model Zune30s froze up at midnight last night because of a problem handling the last day of leap years, according to Microsoft. The company advises owners to wait until 4pm PST today, drain the device's batteries, and then recharge, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Microsoft apologized for the inconvenience,...

All the World's Zune 30s Mysteriously Freeze Up

Bizarre bug struck mp3 players just after midnight last night

(Newser) - Microsoft’s Zune has a bizarre bug: Hundreds, if not thousands of the 30G models froze up simultaneously at 12am PST, CNET reports. The MP3 players all displayed a startup status bar frozen at 100%; the timing has prompted some Zune owners to call the problem “Z2K,” after...

Chinese Court Sentences Microsoft Pirates

11 jailed for counterfeit software ring with 'unprecedented' scope

(Newser) - A Chinese court has convicted 11 people of violating copyright laws and sentenced them to as much as 6 1/2  years of prison for working with a counterfeiting ring that sold fake Microsoft products around the world. Microsoft hailed the crackdown on the pirates, whose organization may have made $2...

Yahoo Will Keep Searchers' Info Only 3 Months
Yahoo Will Keep Searchers' Info Only 3 Months
ANALYSIS
Dec 17, 2008 3:38 PM CST

Yahoo Will Keep Searchers' Info Only 3 Months

Search firm now holds information for less time than Google, Microsoft

(Newser) - Yahoo will shorten the amount of time it will keep users’ personal data, Stacey Higginbotham reports for GigaOm. The firm will scrub page views, ad views, and search data after 90 days, though it will keep data flagged as suspicious for twice as long. Google and Microsoft recently proposed changes...

Hackers Trigger Security Panic for Internet Explorer

Experts suggest switching browsers until Microsoft issues emergency patch

(Newser) - A security flaw in Internet Explorer has so alarmed web experts that they are advising people to switch browsers until the problem is fixed, reports the BBC. Microsoft is preparing an emergency software patch to fix the flaw, which has allowed hackers to seize control of individual computers and steal...

Spellchecker Gaffes Add Sparkle to Serious Stories

(Newser) - The so-called Cupertino effect has been creeping into major US newspapers and government reports, at times adding unintended humor to serious stories, BoingBoing reports. The effect—named after Microsoft Word 97's habit of replacing "co-operation" with "Cupertino" in its spellchecker—has slipped spell-checker-related gaffes into Reuters...

Google Seeks Special Online 'Fast Lane'

Dumps 'Net neutrality' support; wants preferred treatment

(Newser) - Google is quietly negotiating for preferential treatment from Internet providers in an about-face from its staunch support of equal network access for all content providers. The move could spark an industry-wide race for Internet "fast lanes" that would discriminate against less-funded sites and potentially curb users' online choices, reports...

Humble Mouse Turns 40
 Humble Mouse 
 Turns 40 
Dec 9, 2008 2:39 PM CST

Humble Mouse Turns 40

A look at milestones in the life of that crucial computer accessory

(Newser) - It’s been 40 years since the computer mouse made its public debut, and though innovations have been legion, the basic concept is still the same. Macworld takes a look back at some key moments in the device’s evolution.
  • 1963: The first recognizable mouse prototype is built. It only
...

Google Cuts Spending, New Projects

Company plans cuts in contract workforce, tightens perks as it refocuses

(Newser) - Times are tough even at Google, forcing the company to refocus on its core business, the search advertising that generates 97% of its revenue, reports the Wall Street Journal. CEO Eric Schmidt says the company has begun to trim not only some of its legendary employee perks, but unprofitable products...

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