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Microsoft and Yahoo discuss takeover: Will it happen

It is well known that Microsoft wish to purchase Yahoo, however the first stab at buying Yahoo did not go well for Microsoft. Since then both companies have met again over the possibility of a Microsoft takeover. As I mentioned above, Microsoft tried to make an unsolicited offer for the sum of $42 billion, one that Yahoo rejected.

The meeting between Microsoft and Yahoo, the second and third biggest search engine companies did not sit down to discuss money. Instead they wanted to meet so that they could discuss what Microsoft wanted to do with Yahoo if they did accept an offer.

Nothing else is known about the outcome of the meeting. Do you think that this takeover will ever happen?

Source - Reuters

Microsoft has built a Surface PC with a Spherical Display

The Microsoft Surface tabletop computer is very impressive with its cool technology, but how about a Surface PC with a Spherical Display. This is what’s rumored to be in development from Microsoft according to ZDNet.

We are hearing that Microsoft’s Surface multi-touch technology will be adapted to be included in walls, kitchen counters, desks, cellphones, of next-generation PCs and other gadgets over the next five to ten years.

New Microsoft Mouse with No Laser

It looks as though the days of the Laser Mouse are up as Microsoft is to launch a new type of Mouse next month.

Microsoft is to unveil their latest product line-up on September 9, hold on isn’t that the same date as Apple’s new product line-up. Read more

Will Microsoft Ever Make Yahoo! Takeover Happen

I have heard the term “Microsoft Has a Blank Cheque” used many times about how much money Microsoft has and that they can buy almost anything or company they want.

Bill Gates and Microsoft did underestimate how big Search was going to be; now Microsoft is a late player in the search engine market and looks to regain much of this loss of market share.

They have been developing Microsoft Live for sometime now in the form of many different products and services all around search and the finding of information, but maybe they are not winning the battle on becoming King.

So what we found very interesting this month (May 2007) is the fact that Microsoft tried or is trying to buy Yahoo! Read more

Should Microsoft pay more for Yahoo: top investor thinks so

Microsoft’s $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo a week ago was a good offer at a 60 percent premium, but a giant investment company that owns 11.4 percent of Yahoo wants the deal sweetened. Capital Research and Management wants to know how far Microsoft will go to buy Yahoo Read more

Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500 and LifeCam Show out October

Looks like Microsoft are releasing quite a few products of late, like the Microsoft Wireless Media Desktop 1000 & Laser Desktop 6000 we talked about earlier (See Here), well now Microsoft has introduced the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500 and LifeCam Show.

The Microsoft LifeCam Show which will retail at $100 is a cool 2MP cam that will take 8MP still photos, it features built-in microphone with echo-noise-cancellation, the Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500 (Pictured above) retails at $60 and features VGA video and 1.3 megapixel stills plus has interchangeable faceplates.

Both models come with one-touch Windows LiveCall button and software that allows you too share photos during calls, send video messages and even initiate calls with a Vista gadget. Both models will be out in October, for more information please visit http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

Read full press release

Microsoft Xbox 360 Recall: should it happen

Many believe that Microsoft should be forthcoming about the flaws in the Xbox 360, and many say that Microsoft should initiate a Recall.
Microsoft has done such a good job with the Xbox 360, and has turned around their Read more

Microsoft Mediaroom: new name for Microsoft IPTV

Many of you may have heard of the Microsoft IPTV software platform, which Microsoft has announced an update and new name (now Microsoft Mediaroom).

I love the name a lot more as Mediaroom describes what it’s all about, but it’s not just a good name as the new software features several new capabilities including digital terrestrial television support, dynamic picture-in-picture capabilities, in-home personal music and photo sharing Read more

Microsoft to start their own App Store

We know how popular Apple’s App Stores is, although it is not the first of its kind, it has to be one of the best. Well it seems that Microsoft wants to get in on the action and is all set to launch their own App Store.

There is a job posting in the Redmond area, this suggest that Microsoft wants their own version for their Windows Mobile platform.

It looks as if Microsoft is having to play catch-up to Apple as well as Google yet again. Recently Google looked all set to launch a similar system for their Google Android platform.

Source

Other Microsoft News

In-Depth: Microsoft Surface with Diagram and Video

The amazing Microsoft Surface tabletop computer is a new revolutionary piece of equipment and following on from our earlier post about Microsoft Surface; we now have some information for you on an in-depth look at this future technology from Microsoft Read more

Microsoft Windows Home Server RC1: Over $50,000 in prizes

If you’re a coder then your going to love the new banana Microsoft just gave you in the form of the first publicly available download of Windows Home Server operating system Read more

Microsoft Zune Wi-Fi-compatible MP3 Player

You got to love rumours as they spread so fast and sometimes they become nothing more than a fad, but the rumours of Microsoft’s new MP3 players just seem to have more bite and truth to them…which is good news.
Any gadget fan needs to keep there eyes open for the new Microsoft line of MP3 players which could be out to buy in October 2006.
Many believe that these MP3 players from Microsoft will slash into iPods profit in a big way (but this has been said about many others before and iPod is still king).
One cool feature of the Microsoft Zune MP3 player is that Read more

Another class-action suit for Microsoft over scratched Xbox 360 discs

With all the hassle that Microsoft have been having of late with their Red Ring of Death, they now have another headache that has come back to Read more

Microsoft IE8 Beta 2: twice the RAM as Firefox

With the news about Microsoft IE8 Beta 2, there have been so many tests now with the new browser and you will be amazed at some of the results. One of the shocking discoveries was the fact that Internet Explore 8 Beta 2 uses about twice as much ram as Firefox.

It seems that the new IE needs double the system memory as the Mozilla equivalent; this will get the Firefox fans talking.

Computer World have also noted that the new IE uses twice as much RAM as its predecessor, IE7. IE8 also uses almost three times as many threads. We just hope that Microsoft are able to fix this problem, it they do not then there is no chance of Microsoft taking people away from Firefox.

Microsoft looks at Powerset after Yahoo setback

Microsoft are not a company that spends to long licking its wounds, not long after the whole Yahoo saga, the software giant is now looking towards a new deal to buy semantic search engine Powerset. Microsoft are doing all they can to try and close the gap between themselves and Google. It looks as though Microsoft will stop at nothing to become the biggest search engine.

Microsoft has said that by purchasing Powerset, they will be able to deliver a smarter way of searching the web. Powerset is a totally different search engine to one that Microsoft use, they use “semantic Web” technology which brings up results that is based on an understanding of a words meaning, as well as the context of its use. This is a totally different concept to most other search engines like Google and Yahoo; they work by primarily matching words in queries to those on a web page.

Microsoft announced the news of this new deal on July 1 and has said that they share the same vision as Powerset. Early reports say that Microsoft has offered more than $100 million in order to acquire the company; however there is no official news on how much Microsoft will end up paying for Powerset.

If the deal does go through then this could be just what Microsoft need to try and close the gap on rivals Google, in some areas search engines like Powerset outperform the likes of Google. Microsoft is in a good position as Google will find it very hard to replicate the same results as Powerset. However; Microsoft has to make sure that they do not take any shortcuts; they will have to build everything from scratch.

Google has already hired some semantic search experts, in the hope of developing this technology for themselves, looks as though Microsoft is about to get the jump on them.

Microsoft Zune delays UK launch: not coming to 2009

Bad news if you guys who live in the UK and was waiting for the release of the new Microsoft Zune. It seems as if these MP3 players will not be launched until sometime in 2009. Many in the industry assumed that the Zune would be with us this year, maybe it has something to do with the bad start to the year that Microsoft is having.

The second generation of the Zune player was launched both in the U.S. and Canada back in November 2007. Microsoft have not gave an answer as to why they have delayed the release of the new Zune, so you will have to make do with something better for now, an iPod.

Source - Reg Hardware

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 Unveiled: keyboard and mouse

Microsoft has their new unveiled wireless laser desktop combo called the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000, and comes complete with a rechargeable mouse. The design of the keyboard is thin and has a smoked translucent border.

There are also floating keys which you can assign for your personal use. The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 also has a rechargeable laser tracking mouse. The mouse also features a button to give you quick access to the Flip 3D function on Windows Vista.

The Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 7000 will be available from April, and will cost $130.

Source - Slippery Brick

Hotmail Outage: Microsoft e-mail users having trouble gaining access

The Hotmail email service from Microsoft seems to be suffering from an outage; many users have complained that they can’t get into their e-mail accounts. According to Global and Mail Microsoft Corp. have said that they Read more

Microsoft Boss Bill Gates says no to iPhone rival

It seems as if Microsoft boss Bill Gates has decided that the company is not to launch a phone that will compete with the iPhone, it seems as if they are not interested in competing with rival Read more

Microsoft Office Live Workspace goes online

Microsoft has now announced that their new service Microsoft Office Live Workspace has gone online, this is part of a new range of services from the software giant. This new service helps to weave both Read more