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Microsoft

Microsoft, founded in 1975, is a multinational tech corporation based in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft is best known for launching the Windows operating system in 1990. The company played a huge role in molding and enhancing the Internet over the last two decades, under the leadership of Bill Gates.

Microsoft specializes in products, software and game development. The company excels in technological innovations. In 2009, Microsoft launched Bing -- a new "decision engine" to compete with Google. Bing is now one of the biggest search engines on the web and powers Yahoo.

The current CEO of Microsoft is Steven Ballmer. Bill Gates stands as the corporation's chairman. Microsoft's long list of businesses and company divisions include Xbox 360, Zune Music and Video, Office, Exchange, MSN portals, Skype, So.Cl and much more.

Microsoft Releases Q2 Earnings and Other News You Need to Know

Welcome to this morning's edition of "First To Know," a series in which we keep you updated on what's happening in the digital world. Microsoft’s Q2 earnings are in, and the company brought in a massive $24.52 billion in revenue. Microsoft says it sold 7.4 million Xbox consoles — 3.9 million Xbox Ones and 3.5 million Xbox 360s. Facebook is criticizing a recent Princeton study that claims the social network would lose 80% of its users by somewhere between 2015 and 2017.

Believe It: Microsoft Surface Is Turning Out to Be a Moneymaker

Those reports of Microsoft's Surface 2 being in short supply during the holiday season weren't apocryphal. The Surface sold well in the calendar fourth-quarter, racking up $893 million in revenues, according to Microsoft. The sales, which were reported in Microsoft's fiscal second quarter, compare to revenues of $400 million in the previous quarter. The figure almost makes up for the $900 million charge the company took on Surface RT in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended June 30, 2013.

Verizon to Buy Intel's TV Business and Other News You Need to Know

Welcome to this morning's edition of "First To Know," a series in which we keep you updated on what's happening in the digital world. Microsoft went guerrilla in its latest advertising tactics. The company partnered with gaming and streaming website Machinima to promote the Xbox One on YouTube. Verizon announced it will scoop up Intel’s Internet media project. In a press release about the deal, Verizon describes Intel’s project as Cloud TV products and services.

Google Spends More on Acquisitions Than Top 5 Rivals Combined

With its $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest this week, Google has spent a total of $17 billion buying other companies over the last two years, which is more than the company's top five rivals combined, according to Bloomberg. Crunching the numbers, Bloomberg found Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon and Yahoo spent a combined $13 billion acquiring companies during the same period.

Report: Microsoft to Release a Windows Overhaul Next Year

The next version of Windows is slated to arrive by April 2015. The new iteration, Windows 9, is currently codenamed "Threshold," according to a report from blogger Paul Thurrott. Thurrott claims Microsoft will release more details about its Windows-related plans at its Build developer conference in April 2014. See also: The Year in Microsoft: 10 Defining Milestones Those plans might include an update to Windows 8.1 as well as Windows Phone 8.1, both of which should ship in April 2014.

Syrian Electronic Army Hacks Microsoft's Twitter Accounts and Blog

The Syrian Electronic Army struck again Saturday, hacking a Twitter account that belongs to Microsoft. The Microsoft News (@MSFTnews) account posted the following tweet just after 2:30 p.m. ET, before it was quickly removed. See also: What Is the Syrian Electronic Army? The SEA also tweeted the following screenshot of other tweets and retweets it allegedly posted to the Microsoft News account.

10 Vintage Tech We Can't Believe Debuted at CES

Curved screens and wearable tech may be the stars of CES 2014, but once upon a time a bulky little number called the VCR was the toast of the tech world. As we plunge deeper into our coverage of this year's most noteworthy gizmos and gadgets, let's take a look back at some of the classic tech that owes its ubiquity to the Consumer Electronics Show. See also: Mashable's Best Tech of CES 2014 Some, like the VCR, would see a meteoric rise only to be promptly eclipsed by something newer and shinier.

Ford CEO Won't Replace Ballmer; Microsoft's Search Continues

Microsoft is inching closer to naming a new CEO to replace Steve Ballmer, but one top candidate has removed himself from consideration. After months of speculation, Ford CEO Alan Mulally told the Associated Press Tuesday that he would not be leaving his position to join Microsoft. "I would like to end the Microsoft speculation because I have no other plans to do anything other than serve Ford," he told the publication.

10% of Desktop Computers Now Run Windows 8 and 8.1

Microsoft's bold attempt to redefine the PC as a touch-enabled, cloud connected machine -- otherwise known as Windows 8 -- is slowly but steadily spreading to more of the world's PCs. However, its predecessor, Windows 7, is still the version of choice for most Windows users. PCs running Windows 8 and 8.1 now compose 10.49% of the personal-computer market, according to data from Net Applications. The two versions of Windows gained a combined 1.19% in December 2013.

Microsoft in 2014: Reboot or Game Over?

For Microsoft, 2013 was a disaster. The company's ambitious Windows 8 operating system didn't gain much traction, its foray into tablets was a non-starter and it continued to struggle for phone sales. The discontent prompted CEO Steve Ballmer to announce he would retire within 12 months. Despite all this, Microsoft's stock was upvo about 38%. See also: How to Install Windows 8 Without Ditching Windows 7 The stock performance illustrates the gap between reality and perception surrounding Microsoft.

What to Do With Your New Xbox One

If an Xbox One was on your wish list this year, and you were very good (or have generous friends), you'll want to rip into that bad boy as soon as you can. But before you pop in Dead Rising 3 for some zombie mayhem, take this opportunity to introduce yourself to your new console and all its features. You'll be spending a lot of time together, after all.

Track Santa's Christmas Route With Google, Microsoft

Tech companies are going all out this year to help those celebrating Christmas to track Santa's whereabouts. Google launched its online Santa tracking tool early Tuesday, which shows Santa's exact location as well as the number of gifts delivered, distance traveled and some amusing status updates. See also: How to Track Santa Online The search giant has also launched a Santa Tracker app for Android devices and a Chrome extension.

Technology in 2014: What to Expect

It has been quite the year for technology in 2013. Wearable tech became a regular topic of conversation after Google released its beta version of Glass. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled the iPhone 5S and 5C, as well as the iPad Air, but didn't launch any new product categories. And Amazon may have sparked one of the biggest conversations of the holiday season after CEO Jeff Bezos announced Amazon Prime Air, a delivery system using drones.

President Obama Regrets Asking Microsoft to Fix Healthcare.gov

The White House is fixing the buggy mess that was Healthcare.gov, and they've finally announced who will be responsible for working on it -- Microsoft. It's a...peculiar choice, to say the least, considering some of Microsoft's questionable product releases. (Anyone remember the mess that was Windows 8 Tiles?) But President Obama must have had some rationale behind choosing the tech company over others.

Snowden’s Leaks Finally Forced Companies to Enhance Security

Last week, Google, Microsoft and five other leading Web companies formally requested that the U.S. government rein in its use of dragnet surveillance. These companies don’t have to wait for the government to act, though. Encryption technology can protect the privacy of innocent users from indiscriminate surveillance, but only if tech companies deploy it. In the wake of the Snowden disclosures, they are starting to do so.

Which Tablet Do You Want This Holiday Season?

2013 was a rich year for tablets. Google, Samsung, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft all released new entries into their existing lines, while Nokia entered the market with its first tablet, a Windows alternative to Microsoft's Surface. Only Barnes & Noble, a contender last year, seems to have fallen off, though you can still get a Nook this holiday season.

Microsoft Expects to Name New CEO in Early 2014

Anyone hoping for Microsoft to name a new CEO this year will have to wait a little longer. The company's board of directors announced Tuesday that it has talked with "several dozen" candidates and expects to name a new CEO in early 2014. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's current CEO, announced in August that he would retire within the next 12 months depending on when a replacement was found.

Microsoft Exec Will Lead Healthcare.gov's Fix-it Team

The White House has named Microsoft's Kurt DelBene the point man in the government's quest to fix the much maligned healthcare.gov, according to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. DelBene is the president of Microsoft Office Division. Problems with President Obama's bug-ridden online insurance marketplace have dominated headlines concerning the Affordable Care Act, his administration's signature law, since the site went live on Oct.

Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 Sold Out at Many Locations

With just a week and a half to go before Christmas, shoppers are in full-on spending mode, but those looking to score the new Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 may be disappointed. As of this writing, Microsoft’s online store shows both models and all configurations of the new tablet as “sold out.” A check for either version of the device on Walmart’s online store also showed the device as “out of stock.” A number of customers are also reporting that the device is sold out at Best Buy.

Microsoft Lures Gmail Users With Outlook.com Import Tool

For those who want to switch email providers -- we're looking at you, Yahoo Mail users affected by this week's massive outage -- there hasn't been a seamless way to do so. Now, as a part of an effort to lure more users to its platform, Microsoft introduced a tool that easily imports your Gmail account to Outlook.com, previously known as Hotmail.

Microsoft Sets Dates for Build 2014 Developer Conference

Microsoft officially announced the dates for its three-day Build 2014 developer conference. It will take place from April 2 to 4 at San Francisco's Moscone Center. This will be the second consecutive Build held in San Francisco, a move the company made last year in a bid to cultivate more developer interest in Windows 8. Build conferences in 2012 and previous years were held in Microsoft's home territory of Redmond, Wash.

With a 7-Day Head Start, PS4 Beats Xbox One Sales in November

The PlayStation 4 topped sales of Microsoft's Xbox One system in November, marking the highest first-month sales of a game console ever. According to the NPD Group, Sony's next-generation video gaming system sold the most consoles last month. But those winning numbers also had a one-week lead on the Xbox One, which hit stores seven days later on Nov. 22. The PlayStation 4 is also $100 cheaper than the $499 competing system.

Report: Qualcomm's New CEO Was Considered for Microsoft CEO

Steve Mollenkopf was named CEO oof Qualcomm after a report surfaced that he was on the shortlist of candidates for the next Microsoft's CEO. Mollenkopf was formerly COO of Qualcomm, but Friday morning the company announced he would become president and CEO. The move came shortly after a Bloomberg report cited "people familiar with the matter" who said the 44-year-old was possibly in line to become Microsoft's next CEO, replacing Steve Ballmer.

Xbox One Sells 2 Million Consoles in 18 Days

The Xbox One sold 2 million units in 13 countries over an 18-day period, according to a blog post from Microsoft on Wednesday. The Xbox Wire post provides more details, reporting that consumers purchased an average of 111,111 consoles per day. It added that Xbox One consoles have been used to watch TV, play games and open apps for 83 million hours since its Nov. 22 launch.

Warning: 'Backwards Compatibility' Hoax Will Brick Your Xbox One

A six-step guide on online forum 4chan promises to unlock backward compatibility on the Xbox One, but Microsoft warns it's a hoax that will break the new gaming console. The graphic, which closely resembles Microsoft's marketing materials, surfaced over the weekend and instructed gamers on how to turn their consoles into developer mode, which would allow Xbox One owners to play Xbox 360 games.
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