CNET details the death of Microsoft's Courier and Bill Gates' 'allergic reaction'

CNET details the death of Microsoft's Courier and Bill Gates' 'allergic reaction':

For those that follow the twists and turns of the technology news business, the Microsoft Courier has practically become the stuff of legend. First leaked on Gizmodo in the fall of 2009, the device was never even officially confirmed by Microsoft until it axed the project in April of last year. And while we wound up learning quite a bit about the dual-screen tablet despite that lack of official information, we never really got the full story of its rise and fall within the company. Now CNET's Jay Greene has published an extensive look at the device's short history, which he says was "pieced together through interviews with 18 current and former Microsoft executives, as well as contractors and partners who worked on the project." The story, as you might expect, is fascinating -- read on for some of the details.
Continue reading CNET details the death of Microsoft's Courier and Bill Gates' 'allergic reaction'

CNET details the death of Microsoft's Courier and Bill Gates' 'allergic reaction' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CMU Researchers Create Multitouch Surface Anywhere

CMU Researchers Create Multitouch Surface Anywhere: tekgoblin writes "In a joint effort between Microsoft and the Carnegie Mellon Human Computer Interaction Institute, a new interface has been born. The new interface is usable on any surface, including notebooks, tables, walls and body parts. The UI is completely multitouch and worn on the shoulder, which will turn any surface you are pointing at into a usable workspace by the combination of a projector and a 3D modeling device similar to the Kinect."



Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Mycestro is one wearable 3D ring mouse to rule them all (video)

Mycestro is one wearable 3D ring mouse to rule them all (video):

Sure, we've seen some wearable mice in the past (some more wearable than others), but this little one from Innovative Developments offers up some fairly diverse applications. The Mycestro's four buttons can be used for basic work functionality -- the wearer can also use gestures to perform these tasks, making an "M" in the air to open an email or a flicking motion to delete files. The mouse can manipulate 3D software as well, moving one's arm to zoom in and out. And heck, why not use it to navigate through in-car menus, rather than interacting with a touchscreen while driving? Controlling media content at home? Why yes, it does that too. There's not a lot of information available about the Mycestro, at the moment, but the company is offering up a few videos to show off it what the thing can do. You can check some of them out after the break.
Continue reading Mycestro is one wearable 3D ring mouse to rule them all (video)

Mycestro is one wearable 3D ring mouse to rule them all (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end

Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end:

Know who loves it when other OEMs call him big poppa? Ballmer, that's who. So much so that he's opened up the company's coffers to Nokia and Samsung for a holiday blitz of Mango marketing. Hold onto your hats though, it's no carte blanche access to Redmond's Gringotts. According to a report on Mobile Magazine, inside sources claim MS has set aside ₤28 million (about $44 million) for the endeavor, with about ₤20 million of that reserved for Nokia's first Windows Phone 7.5 handset. This joint marketing effort is reportedly a broader extension of the cooperative agreements all parties agreed to, ensuring future WP devices get the media saturation they deserve. So, keep your eyes peeled this upcoming winter. We have a feeling you won't be able to escape the commercial onslaught, anyway.

Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video)

Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video):

Well, it's finally happened -- Microsoft's acquisition of Skype has just been finalized, a little more than five months after it was first announced. Under the $8.5 billion deal, Skype CEO Tony Bates will be named president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft, and will have to report directly to Steve Ballmer. Many Skype employees, meanwhile, will stay onboard at offices around the globe, including at outposts in Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the UK, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. In a post on the Official Microsoft Blog today, Bates seemed unsurprisingly enthusiastic about the acquisition, describing it as a marriage of two "disruptive, innovative, software-oriented companies." The exec was less specific about the role his company would play within Redmond's new architecture, but assured that Skype would be at the forefront of future communications initiatives across a variety of platforms. "Microsoft is committed to the ubiquity of the Skype experience - communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus," Bates wrote. "And we've only scratched the surface." Head past the break for Microsoft's full PR, as well as the video address from Bates.

Continue reading Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video)

Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Says IE9 Blocks More Malware Than Chrome

Microsoft Says IE9 Blocks More Malware Than Chrome: CSHARP123 writes "In a move that's sure to raise some eyebrows, Microsoft today debuted a new web site designed to raise awareness of security issues in web browsers. When you visit the site, called Your Browser Matters, it allows you to see a score for the browser you're using. Only IE, Chrome, or Firefox are included — other browsers are excluded. Not surprisingly, Microsoft's latest release, Internet Explorer 9, gets a perfect 4 out of 4. Chrome or Firefox do not even come close to the score of 4. Even though the web site makes it easy for users to upgrade to the latest version of their choice of browser, Roger Capriotti hopes people will choose IE9, as it blocks more malware compared to Chrome or Firefox."

Of note in the Windows Team post is that the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report discovered that 0-day exploits account for a mere tenth of a percent of all intrusions. Holes in outdated software and social engineering account for the majority of successful attacks.



Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Microsoft responds to disgruntled users, unveils changes to Windows 8 UI

Microsoft responds to disgruntled users, unveils changes to Windows 8 UI:

You can unpack your suitcase and drop that custody suit, because Microsoft has heard your Windows 8 complaints, and it's willing to change its ways. Yesterday, in a lengthy post on its Building Windows 8 blog, the company acknowledged that it's received plenty of feedback since unleashing a developer preview of the OS last month, and pledged to respond with a number changes. For starters, apps displayed within the Windows 8 App Screen can now be organized into groups, rather than alphabetical arrangements (see image above). Apps will also be displayed at a higher density, thereby cramming more content within the same space. Enterprise users, meanwhile, will be able to customize their companies' Start screens and unify them across networks, though there's still no word on whether administrators will be able to opt out of the software's tiled interface in favor of the more Windows 7-esque Desktop app -- one of the most highly requested features. These are just two of many, relatively granular changes that Microsoft is implementing to help users maximize the efficiency of its new Start screen, and they likely won't be the last. To dig into the nitty gritty, check out the full post, at the source link below.

Microsoft responds to disgruntled users, unveils changes to Windows 8 UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft and Quanta ink patent licensing agreement, Android continues to print money for its rival

Microsoft and Quanta ink patent licensing agreement, Android continues to print money for its rival:

Microsoft's crossed yet another name off its patent licensing hit list, and this time the big red target lands squarely on Quanta. Under the undisclosed terms of the agreement, Android and Chrome-based devices manufactured by the Taiwanese OEM will be protected by Redmond's vast patent portfolio. Of course, this means MS'll receive royalties for granting access to its treasure trove of related IPs -- of which it has no dearth of at the moment. In other news, Google continues to hope it's all just a case of "opposite day." Official PR in all its vagueness after the break.
Continue reading Microsoft and Quanta ink patent licensing agreement, Android continues to print money for its rival

Microsoft and Quanta ink patent licensing agreement, Android continues to print money for its rival originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MobiUS smartphone ultrasound hits the market two years too late for relevancy

MobiUS smartphone ultrasound hits the market two years too late for relevancy:

Mobisante's MobiUS smartphone ultrasound system scored FDA approval back in February, a big step towards getting the product out the door. Now the brainchild of former Microsoft bigwig Dr. Sailesh Chutani is finally available to order, the only problem is that it's based around two-year-old tech. At the heart of the MobiUS system is a Toshiba TG01 (it of Windows Mobile 6.5 stock) a now hopelessly outdated handset. Still, the probe and phone together cost $7,495, just a tiny fraction of what traditional ultrasound systems cost. We're sure there are small clinics, especially in poor and remote parts of the world, that are already eyeing Dr. Chutani's solution and, if his company scores enough orders, he hopes to cut the price in half. Maybe they can put some of that money towards developing a system that works with smartphone platforms people actually use -- like Android and iOS. Check out the demo video after the break.
Continue reading MobiUS smartphone ultrasound hits the market two years too late for relevancy

MobiUS smartphone ultrasound hits the market two years too late for relevancy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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