Gates left MicroSoft
Bill Gates, founder of the software giant MicroSoft left the company last Friday. He’s retiring from the company to dedicate more time to his charitable foundation,Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation a $37 billion foundation created by Bill and his wife a decade ago. Gates will remain Microsoft’s chairman on a part-time basis. Gates began programming computers when he was 13 and a student living in the northwestern US state of Washington. He founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975.
He made a comic video “Bill’s Last Day at Work”. Watch it here:
Bill Gates Last Day Of Work - Watch more free videos
Microsoft buys television ad Firm Navic
Navic developed a technology to deliver interactive ads on Television. Their ads are interactive overlays targeted by zip code to each cable subscriber. Microsoft Corp says it has purchased Navic Networks. Navic will join Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions (APS) Group, which is responsible for its digital media advertising platform. Google has already got into TV ads market through it AdWords program.
Microsoft’s ‘Telescope’
The WorldWide Telescope (WWT), Microsoft’s response to Google Sky is a Web 2.0 visualization software environment that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope—bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe. The service, which opened to the public on May 13, lets people explore the cosmos through any computer with an Internet connection. It combines about 12 terabytes of data, including 50 surveys and 1,000 high-resolution studies, with links to astronomy research on sites around the Web. Google Sky leverages Google Maps. In addition to a 3D looks at stars and galaxies, Google Sky offers infrared, microwave, and historical views of the sky.
Microsoft Withdraws Yahoo bid
Microsoft announced today that it has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc. In a final meeting occurred today at Microsoft headquarters, Yahoo said the lowest price they could accept was $37/share. Microsoft said that the economics demanded by Yahoo! do not make sense for them. Microsoft made a public offer to buy Yahoo on Jan. 31 this year. Both Microsoft and Yahoo have struggled to compete with Google for the billions of online advertising dollars.
No more Hotmail Access via Outlook Express
Microsoft announced last week that it will turn off access to its Web-based hotmail service from the desktop e-mail software Outlook Express at the end of June. Users will still be able to use Outlook, to read their Hotmail messages offline. Outlook Express users who want to continue to access their Hotmail accounts offline after June 30 can download Microsoft’s free Windows Live Mail software.
Google ads on Yahoo
Google and Yahoo announced a two week experiment to show Google ads on Yahoo searches in US. By partnering with Google, Yahoo is trying to signal it has other options besides succumbing to Microsoft. Yahoo also has discussed deals with MySpace.com and AOL. Yahoo insists it’s worth more than the initial bid of $44.6 billion, or $31 per share, that Microsoft made more than two months ago.
Windows 7,next year
Windows 7, Microsoft’s New version of Windows operating system will be released next year, according to Bill Gates. He said new versions of Windows would help revolutionize mobile phones and run the desk of the future.
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Microsoft threatens Yahoo
Microsoft Corp. sent a letter to the Yahoo Board of Directors setting a three-week deadline for moving forward on its more than $40 billion buyout offer, other wise Microsoft will take its case directly to Yahoo shareholders and work to elect a new slate of directors. The letter was signed by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The bid to buy Yahoo was made in January and announced Feb. 1 for $44.6 billion
Microsoft’s brand is slipping in mindshare
According to a study by CoreBrand, Microsoft dropped from number 12 in the ranking of the most powerful U.S. company brands in 2004 to number 59 last year. Microsoft’s brand power has been in sharp decline over the past four years, an indication the company is losing credibility and mind share with U.S. business users. Microsoft ranked number 1 in brand power in 1996 among 1200 companies.
India rejects OpenXML
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has rejected MicroSoft’s Open XML file format as a standard. BIS is a founder member of ISO, and represents India at the ISO. Microsoft received a positive nod from Wipro, TCS, Nasscom and Infosys
Google is the goal - MicroSoft
Steve Ballmer Microsoft’s chief executive officer has pledged the company would gain share against Google Inc in online advertising and web searching, even if it’s his “last breath” at the company. “So it may be my last breath at Microsoft, but we’re going to be there, working away, building share,” said Mr Ballmer during an interview with Guy Kawasaki. Globally Google dominates search market with 70% market share,while Yahoo and MSN controls 16% and 8% respectively.
Microsoft to acquire Danger
Microsoft Corp has announced that it would acquire popular software and mobile services company Danger Inc. Danger offers software and services powering many popular consumer handsets. Danger offers a platform for handsets to install applications such as HTML Web browsing, instant messaging, games, multimedia, social networking, Web e-mail and personal information management applications
