All about Microsoft

Microsoft Big Brains: John Shewchuk

Mary Jo Foley — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:58:35 +0000

There are lots of moving parts to Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform. One of the less-flashy but much needed pieces of plumbing is .Net Services, codenamed "Zurich." If there's a "Mr. Zurich" at Microsoft, that person would be Technical Fellow John Shewchuk.

Microsoft hires away key search VP from Yahoo

Mary Jo Foley — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:07:11 +0000

The rumors were true: Microsoft has hired away from Yahoo Sean Suchter, Vice President of Yahoo's Search Technology. Microsoft confirmed Suchter will start with the Redmondians on December 22.

It’s official: No IE 8 until 2009

Mary Jo Foley — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:09:42 +0000

After one more public test build early next year, Microsoft plans to release the final version of Internet Explorer 8 in calendar 2009. Microsoft officials shared the updated timetable via a November 19 post on the IE Blog.

Microsoft-hosted Online security-service for business users due in 2010

Mary Jo Foley — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:35:56 +0000

Microsoft's just-announced free anti-virus/anti-malware service, codenamed Morro, isn't the only new Microsoft security service in the works. There's a Microsoft-hosted security service for businesses in the pipeline, too, and it's due in 2010, according to a new Microsoft blog posting.

Microsoft kills Windows Live OneCare and Equipt subscription services

Mary Jo Foley — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:49:35 +0000

Microsoft is discontinuing its paid Windows Live OneCare subscription security service. Microsoft is touting a new, free security service, codenamed "Morro," and due in the second half of 2009, as OneCare's successor. The Microsoft press release and statements on Morro offer some other interesting tidbits.

Two more Microsoft Labs deliverables debut

Mary Jo Foley — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:39:26 +0000

Seadragon Ajax and Sticky Sorter are the latest two deliverables to debut from Microsoft's Live Labs and Microsoft's Office Labs hybrid research units.

Microsoft and Novell at two: Was the patent pact worth it?

Mary Jo Foley — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:18:16 +0000

Two years ago this month, in November 2006, Microsoft inked its controversial cross-licensing pact with Novell. Since the agreement was forged, a lot has happened.

Ding, dong: Yang is gone. Now what?

Mary Jo Foley — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:45:56 +0000

Poll: What do you think? Will Microsoft close the Yahoo deal it first sought two years ago before December 31, 2008 (or shortly thereafter)?

What does ‘SharePoint in the cloud’ really mean?

Mary Jo Foley — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:26:07 +0000

Microsoft began shipping, starting November 17, the final version of its Exchange Online and SharePoint Online Microsoft-hosted services. Are these products full versions of Microsoft's enterprise software running in "in the cloud"? The short answer: No.

Will Microsoft apply ‘Vista-Capable’ lessons to Win 7 netbooks?

Mary Jo Foley — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:37:56 +0000

As the e-mail trail in the “Vista-capable” class-action suit continues to unfold, I can’t help but wonder whether Microsoft will apply some of the lessons it (hopefully) learned about working with OEMs to Windows 7 — especially in the netbook space. The original suit, filed in March 2007, claimed Microsoft “engaged in bait and switch — [...]