With no warning whatsoever, Microsoft on Tuesday released a major update to its Zune 2 platform, providing new versions of its PC-based software, device-based firmware, online music and video store, and social networking service. The update addresses a few of the major issues with the digital media platform and adds a feature iPod and iTunes users have enjoyed for years: The ability to purchase TV shows.
The addition of a very limited selection of TV shows to the Zune--less than 40 series, compared to several hundred on iTunes--is somewhat a coup for Microsoft, as one of the networks involved, NBC, is boycotting Apple's service over pricing issues.
When it comes to data mining and predictive analytics, Microsoft might not be the first company that comes to mind.
That could change, however, especially if Donald Farmer, Redmond's principal program manager for SQL Server Data Mining, has his way.
Microsoft has come a long way in the data mining and predictive analytics segment, Farmer says, and with a game-changing Excel 2007 release under its belt -- and a promising SQL Server 2008 revision in the pipeline -- Redmond hopes to challenge established powers SAS Institute Inc. and SPSS Inc. for data mining and predictive analytic bragging rights.
Parallels Desktop for Mac will be made available as part of the Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription.
The move means Mac users will be able to use Microsoft's Expression Studio to design desktop and Web-based graphical interfaces.
The partnership strengthens the Parallels/Microsoft partnership by providing even deeper support for Microsoft Windows and
Microsoft applications running in Parallels virtual machines.
Parallels Desktop for Mac enables users to run Windows on any Intel Mac. In excess of 1 million copies of the software have
been sold so far.
A Microsoft executive involved with the company's Windows Live efforts outlined some of the company's ideas about cloud-based computing and social networking technologies today. The talk was presented by Brian Hall, general manager of the Windows Live Business Group, at the 2008 Merrill Lynch Technology Conference on May 6.
Hall predicted that applications will be moving to a world that combines the "best of the PC" with "the best of the Web."
He depicted a software past in which social networking was once typically enabled by just a few "siloed applications," such as e-mail and instant messaging. Microsoft entered this space early on with its Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger offerings.
Wall Street punished Yahoo on Monday for Microsoft's withdrawal of its acquisition bid, as each company began to move toward an uncertain future, independent of the other.
On the first business day since Microsoft's surprise move, Yahoo's shares fell more than 15 percent, giving back a big chunk of the value they gained after the Jan. 31 bid. Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang sought to address shareholder criticism and dispel the notion that the company was to blame for Microsoft's decision to walk away.
The Windows Live Mail team recently announced the phase-out of the legacy DAV protocol would draw to a close on June 30. That date, however, has now been postponed.
Like the extension of XP's lifespan, Microsoft says the extended date to the Outlook Express DAV Deprecation has been the result of customer feedback. The transition away from the protocol would end Outlook Express' access to a user's Hotmail inbox, and customers were originally encouraged to switch to Windows Live Mail. Instead of using the Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol, Live Mail uses Deltasynch, which is ultimately more efficient.
Microsoft said late Monday that it has struck a deal with Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group to develop new automotive "infotainment" systems. The company said the first product to result from the partnership will be introduced in North America in 2010, focusing on voice control of mobile devices inside the car. The companies say they also plan to expand into Asian and European markets, adding support for multimedia and navigation devices.Microsoft already has an arrangement with Ford Motor Co. to offer its Microsoft Auto system in North America under the Sync brand name. Fiat Auto Group also uses Microsoft's technology in Europe and South America.
Microsoft continues to eat its own dog food to promote the adoption of its Silverlight technology.
The company is beta-testing a new version of its Microsoft Download Center Web site using the technology, a browser plug-in
and development runtime for adding multimedia and high-definition video to Web-based applications.
A visit to the Microsoft Download Center on Tuesday opened a page inviting users to test the new site, which Microsoft said is being enhanced by Silverlight.
Microsoft says it will start selling downloadable television shows for its Zune portable media device -- including selected programs from NBC, the network that split from market leader Apple Inc.
The move comes more than two years after Apple introduced television shows and movies for its dominant iTunes store and iPod -- reflecting Zune's latecomer status. Microsoft introduced the device in late 2006, after devices from its hardware partners struggled to gain any significant traction against Apple's iPod.
Just two days after walking away from its $49.6 billion bid for Yahoo, the Times Online U.K. is reporting that Microsoft is meeting with Time Warner executives regarding a possible bid for America Online -- the very company Yahoo turned to in a possible attempt to stave off the takeover bid from Redmond.
According to the article published Monday, the talks started before the Yahoo-Microsoft negotiations fell apart -- possibly initiated back when "Microsoft was seeking to stymie discussions between Time Warner and Yahoo," as Times reporter Suzy Jagger wrote -- but, according to unnamed, sources have continued.