2014

The disturbing disappearance of the Surface Mini

On Tuesday, Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 3, available now for pre order, and shipping beginning June 20th. There are plenty of reasons to either be excited for, or nervous about, the fate of the third generation of …

Microsoft quietly pushes Cortana China specific features to users

Today I noticed some changes to Cortana on Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft has quietly pushed China specific features and contents to Chinese users, though Cortana is still only available when the phone is set to US(region, speech and language).

Chinese …

Surface Pro 3: Can Microsoft Think Different about hardware?

Today in New York City, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Pro 3, a 12″ 3:2 ratio tablet/laptop hybrid that refines the Surface line and comes across as a showcase device for what a Surface and One Microsoft can do together. …

The Satya Nadella Mythology

Tomorrow, new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to unveil the next generation of Surface devices, and mark his 112th day on the job, by our count. It’s a good mark for the beginning of Nadella’s transition from his …

Microsoft Careers job teases Cortana on Windows

Since Microsoft announced Cortana along with Windows Phone 8.1 at Build 2014, “Will Cortana come to more platforms” seems to be one of the top questions. Cortana herself has said she’s a fan of PCs – a hint that Cortana …

Microsoft announced new WP OEMs K-Touch and Blu

Today, two new phone makers K-Touch and Blu join Windows Phone OEMs camp. Microsoft announced these two OEM partners at the Qualcomm Reference Design and Wireless Innovation Summit in China.…

Outlook.com adds new features, boasts “the most sophisticated rules in webmail”

In a blog post on the Outlook.com blog today, Microsoft announced the upcoming release of Advanced Rules, which allow you to create “multi-condition” and “multi-action” sets of rules, and you can combine and customize your existing rules and use a …

Surface Mini: On the way, but at what price?

Yesterday Microsoft sent out invitations to “a small event” in New York City on May 20th, and word on the street is that the company will finally be announcing a smaller version of the Surface. From what we’re …

Does “One Microsoft” include Nokia, Xbox apps?

Last Friday, Microsoft and Nokia made it official, and now the Nokia devices and services businesses (apart from HERE Maps and location services) are now part of Microsoft. This morning, in a live blog session on the Nokia Conversations

That thing about acquisitions

Yesterday Apple released its 2nd quarter earnings, and in the earnings call Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple has acquired some 24 companies in the last 18 months, and plans to keep looking for opportunities. Seemingly every …