Not that the two are related, but it does make me wonder. Let me recap what’s happened: First, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announces he will step down when a suitable replacement is found…sometime within a one year time frame.
Next, Microsoft buys most, but not all of Finnish phone maker Nokia for over $7 billion. I guess they are serious about making Windows Phone 8 a bigger success. They currently own 3% of the smartphone market…way, way, way behind Apple and Android. The good news is that they have surpassed Blackberry in market share.
Then, the Redmond boys announce that the new Windows 8.1 will be out in mid-October…but developers cannot have a copy of it until then. What? For a company that has only a few good apps for Metro, this seems like an exceedingly dumb idea. Later they backtrack and put it up on TechNet. So it is now available to everyone, except consumers. Brilliant! The good news is that it can now be reviewed by tech journalists and we have included a review here.
They did a few other dumb things along the way, but I won’t waste anymore space on them. You can read about them below. As for Ballmer’s resignation, I think it is a good thing and hopefully the company can rethink and retool under new leadership. But I am not holding my breath.
Luckily I have included some other interesting articles besides those about Microsoft. I hope you will find them useful. Onward and upward! -JRC
Interview with Microsoft's Steve Ballmer
Mary Jo Foley had 15 minutes today to ask Microsoft's outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer a few questions. He talked about his biggest regrets, his thinking on what's next and more. Here's Part 1. (Part 2 link is included)
After Ballmer, Microsoft can at last reboot
Apple gadgets and Google online services have run rings around Redmond, but bringing in a new leader will make it easier for the bold changes Microsoft needs.
The Microsoft-Nokia Deal
On September 2, 2013, Microsoft announced that it was buying out Nokia’s devices business for $7.2 billion. Here are a collection of stories covering virtually every angle and from perspectives across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Touring through the final Windows 8.1
If you are using Windows 8 now, you will want to upgrade. If you’re still using Windows 7 and you’re on the fence about migrating to Windows 8, nothing in Win8.1 will sway your decision to upgrade.
Surface 2 branding, specs, and pricing: Wrong, wrong, and wrong
Microsoft could've hit several home runs; instead, Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are largely marginal improvements to the originals.
Microsoft kicks off iPad buyback deal in latest effort to juice Surface sales
Microsoft wants customers to give up their iPads and switch to Surface; will offer minimum of $200 per tablet.
Your perilous future on Windows XP
You've been getting warned for ages about the impending end of support for XP. Things are even worse than you've heard (especially if you run Internet Explorer). Expect a flood of new vulnerabilities and no help for them.
Keeping Your Laptop Plugged in All the Time Will Kill Its Battery Faster
But if you’re like most people, you probably keep your laptop plugged in when you’re at work or home. Stop doing that.
It's time to give Bing the respect it deserves
Microsoft reveals new redesign, improved features to Bing search. We may finally have a worthy rival to Google
The Best Free Google Chrome Extensions 2013
Picking the best from so many great browser add-ons was hard, but we did it. These are some of the greatest extensions you can and should add to your Google browser.
New Chrome Apps take the Web out of the browser
Five years after it shook up the Web with its unexpected debut, Chrome gambles again as it takes the Web offline with its new "packaged apps.
FAA to lift mobile shut-down rule
The unpopular requirement that passengers shut electronics down during take-off and landing will soon be lifted, as long as communications capabilities are disabled.
5 free tools to organize your thoughts
You’re full of good ideas, but putting them in writing is easier said than done. Maybe you like to start from the end. Maybe you work from jumbled notes, gradually polishing them into a cohesive piece. No matter what your workflow, a good outliner can help.
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