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Microsoft's Windows 7 sold well in its first few days of release, according to an analyst report, but declining revenues and suggestions of a slow-paced tech refresh suggest that Microsoft could face at least a few more quarters of stagnant revenues as it seeks to recover from the massive economic recession. This week saw Microsoft cut 800 more jobs from its payrolls, as it continues to consolidate and trim costs in an effort to streamline.
Microsoft Will Be Challenged By Google, Opera, Mozilla on EU Settlement
Microsoft and the European Commission may be close to a deal on packaging Internet Explorer 8 with Windows 7, with Redmond agreeing to offer users an automatic & ballot screen& from which they can choose a rival browser. Such an agreement would alleviate the Commission’s antitrust concerns, but Google, Opera and Mozilla plan on asking the regulatory body for as-yet-unannounced changes to the agreement.
Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Could Expand Beyond U.S., Says Ballmer
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told an audience in Tokyo that the Microsoft-Yahoo agreement over search-and-advertising could expand beyond the U.S. into worldwide markets. Although the deal is currently under evaluation by the U.S. Department of Justice, neither Microsoft nor Yahoo have publicly expressed concerns about whether it will successfully close in early 2010.
Microsoft Windows 7 Sales Exceeding Early Vista Sales, Says Report
A report from NPD Group indicates that sales of Windows 7 boxed software exceeded those of Windows Vista during the respective operating systems' first days of release, although the research company suggests that low-cost presales may have lowered Microsoft's gross revenue from Windows 7 immediately following the launch. A separate report from Net Applications indicates that Windows 7 is being rapidly adopted by the overall PC market, although its gross market share remains low.
Microsoft Cuts 800 More Jobs Worldwide, Exceeding Original 5,000
Microsoft confirms plans to cut another 800 employees from its worldwide payroll, as part of its longer-term plan to eliminate 5,000 positions. With its revenues hammered by the recent economic recession, Microsoft eliminated the employees as part of a larger program to streamline its operations. Added to the total number of layoffs occurring throughout 2009, the new job cuts likely exceed the originally predicted 5,000-employee job-cut total.
Microsoft MSN Homepage Revised for Bing, Social Networking
Microsoft rolls out a revamped MSN homepage incorporating social networking features such as Facebook and Twitter feeds, and putting its Bing search engine at the interface's front and center. Microsoft's revamp follows Yahoo's own homepage revision in September, as both companies seek to compete more heartily against Google in the search and advertising space.
10 Reasons Why Google Should Still Fear Microsoft
NEWS ANALYSIS: Although Google is enjoying some of the best performance it has ever had, the company can't succeed in a vacuum. It's still facing off against Microsoft. And the longer that battle rages, the more Google should be concerned.
Microsoft Slashes Prices for Business Cloud Services, Countering Google
Microsoft cuts the prices of its Business Productivity Suite and offers new features for its Dynamics CRM Online at no extra cost, as it seeks to block cloud-based competition from Google, Oracle and other companies. Although Microsoft has traditionally offered many business and consumer applications as on-premises software, it has been making aggressive moves into the cloud in order to match the moves of many of its longtime rivals.
Bing Mobile Site Optimized for Touch Screens, iPhones
Microsoft has touch-optimized its Bing mobile site, allowing owners of the iPhone, Zune HD, Verizon Imagio and other devices to navigate the search engine via their multitouch screens. Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5, the latest version of its smartphone operating system, also includes touch-screen functionality. The increased popularity of devices such as the iPhone has made touch screens a vital component to consider for developers of mobile software.
Windows 7 Gained Share in October, but Microsoft Doesn't Dent Apple
Microsoft's Windows 7 made slight gains in the overall PC market in its first 12 days of release, according to statistics firm Net Applications, while Apple managed to gain incremental market share in October. Although Windows 7 now owns just over 3 percent of the market, that number is expected to increase as Microsoft continues its massive marketing push for the new operating system. Windows 7 has earned mostly positive reviews, which may encourage Windows users to trade up from XP or Vista.
Microsoft Promoting Speech as the Next Touch
Although Microsoft integrated touch-screen capabilities into Windows 7, at least one Microsoft executive suggests that the next stage in user interaction is speech-recognition technology as applied to various everyday applications. Although Microsoft is busily developing uses for voice IT, it likely faces future competition from the likes of Google and Apple, both of which have developed their own voice-activated features, primarily for smartphones.
Apple Could See Short-Term Risk from Windows 7 Launch
Apple could see its valuation threatened in the short term by Microsoft's Oct. 22 release of Windows 7, according to an analyst report that also suggests that Apple's Mac market share will remain strong in the future. Although Apple Macs have gained share in recent years, the launch of Windows 7 will lead to a flood of inexpensive PCs from Microsoft's manufacturing partners, potentially affecting the composition of the marketplace.
Microsoft's Web Apps Give Older Office Versions Some Difficulty
Microsoft's Office Web Apps allow access to browser-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. However, testing of the platform’s technical preview by eWEEK found that documents from older versions of Office, once uploaded to Web Apps, could not be edited online. This could present issues for users wanting to access the technical preview on machines with aging software.
Microsoft Says No to Windows 7 Upgrade 'Hack'
Microsoft posts a response to information drifting around the Internet that Windows 7, its new operating system, can be installed using an upgrade disk on a blank hard drive. Such an installation would violate Microsoft's End User License Agreement, and Microsoft insists that this is illegal. The large number of full Windows licenses already in circulation may prevent this so-called hack from becoming a huge issue.
Microsoft Issues Platform Updates for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008
Microsoft introduced platform updates for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, with more runtime libraries for supporting new technologies. Despite Microsoft’s full-court press to get users to adopt Windows 7, it will likely need to continue to service Vista until extended support for the older operating system ends in 2017.
Microsoft Windows 7 Student Edition Experiencing Downloading Issues
Microsoft and partner Digital River are working to solve the problem of users experiencing download and install errors with the Windows 7 student edition. Recent messages on the Microsoft Answers forum seem to indicate that many of those users attempted to download and install a 64-bit version of Windows 7 onto machines running 32-bit versions of Windows operating systems.
Microsoft Bottomed Out in June, but Windows 7 Should Spark Comeback
Microsoft reached its financial bottom over the summer, according to an analyst with Jefferies Co., but could be positioned to take advantage of improving economic conditions in both the PC market and at large. The Oct. 22 release of Windows 7, generally viewed as successful, provides some hope for Microsoft that business and consumers will purchase its new operating system along with new PCs, boosting revenues for both Redmond and its manufacturing partners.
Microsoft Demos Digital Camera, Laptop, Netbook Ecosystem at Windows 7 Launch
On Oct. 22, Microsoft launched Windows 7 with much fanfare. One of the highlights of the launch was watching Steve Ballmer show off many of the new devices sporting the upgraded Windows operating system. Microsoft touted the diversity of Windows 7 devices on display, from all-in-one PCs to digital cameras to a myriad of laptops in different shapes and colors as well as a variety of new netbooks. Many of the new Windows 7 notebooks are small and lightweight, and a few are available for under $500. Here is an offering of some of the new Windows 7-compatible devices Microsoft had on hand for the launch.
Microsoft's Big Week: All Windows 7, All the Time
Microsoft finally released its long-in-development Windows 7 operating system in a high-profile launch in New York City on Oct. 22. Although Microsoft became a giant by focusing on the desktop, new functionalities for Windows 7 suggests that Redmond recognizes that many applications and platforms are gravitating increasingly toward the cloud. The big questions are how fast businesses running Windows XP may leap to using Windows 7, and what Microsoft’s competition will do in response.
Microsoft Offers Windows 7 on USB Drives for Netbooks
Microsoft is allowing netbook users to download Windows 7, its new operating system, onto a bootable USB or burn it onto a DVD, in yet another move by Redmond to disseminate the operating system to as many users as possible. Although Microsoft reported yet another quarter of declining revenues, executives remain hopeful that Windows 7, rising PC sales and a sunnier economic outlook will translate into a more profitable 2010.