Two tech giants and Apple competitors revealed their earnings for the past quarter today, with Google missing estimates despite solid revenues and improved profit, while one of Microsoft's first in-house tablet attempt was shown to be a certifiable failure.
Microsoft on Tuesday launched its official Outlook Web App mail applications on the iOS App Store, with separate downloads optimized for both Apple's iPhone and iPad.
As reports claim Apple is gearing up to launch a so-called "iWatch," another rumor claims that Microsoft is late enough in the development stage of its own smart watch that testing of the device has moved over to the company's Surface hardware development team.
Having failed to gain traction in the tablet market, Microsoft has cut the price of its Surface RT tablet so low that the 10.6-inch device now costs nearly the same amount as Apple's entry-level iPad mini.
The two year old Windows Phone partnership between Nokia and Microsoft, once lampooned by Google Vic Gundotra in a tweet that "two turkeys do not make an eagle," is facing new problems on both the hardware and software fronts.
Microsoft on Thursday unveiled a sweeping company-wide restructuring plan that Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said will enable the company to "innovate with greater speed, efficiency and capability."
Still looking to carve out a space for itself in the new wave of mobile computing, Microsoft is once again taking shots at Apple's iPad, this time pointing out Windows 8 devices' ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
Market watchers believe Microsoft could swoop in to buy Barnes & Noble's Nook tablet business after the struggling bookseller has parted ways with its CEO and signaled plans to restructure.
Coming off of a relatively strong month, Microsoft's Windows 8 has surpassed the much-maligned — and six-year-old — Windows Vista inWeb usage, though slow uptake of the new system means that it still lags behind the total install base of Apple's OS X.
Microsoft hopes to take a dominant role in the living room this fall with the launch of the Xbox One, but Don Mattrick, the executive who recently introduced the new game console and media center to the world, has reportedly left the company ahead of that launch for a position at Zynga.
A trio of popular iOS apps were updated on Thursday with major new features, as Mailbox has added a landscape mode on iPhone, Google Hangouts now includes support for tapping on links and inviting friends to chat via text message, and Skype now offers free video messaging.
Microsoft on Wednesday launched its latest effort to reverse the fortunes of its Windows platform, showing off a line of new devices and unveiling Windows 8.1, a new build designed to boost interest in the company's underperforming Windows 8.
Microsoft is planning to bring a number of its PC gaming titles to Apple's iOS and Google's Android mobile platforms, with "Age of Empires" already confirmed to be the first of a possible series of ports.
As it struggles to adjust to the new mobile computing paradigm, software giant Microsoft is said to be mulling a shift in its organizational structure that may leave it better prepared to take on the likes of the iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.
Looking to gain ground on Apple's iPhone and devices running Android, Microsoft was reportedly close to purchasing Finnish phone maker Nokia's device business, with discussions going on as recently as this month.
Attempting to carve out a niche for its low-selling Surface RT, Microsoft took a step into Apple's territory this week, offering the device to schools and universities for as low as $199.
Skype on Monday rolled out its new video messaging functionality for a number of platforms, including Apple's iOS and Mac, allowing users the ability to send up to three minutes of prerecorded video for free.
In yet another ad meant to sway new tablet buyers away from Apple, and toward the brave new world of Windows 8, Microsoft has once again enlisted Siri to pitch their product, this time for Dell's XPS 10 tablet.
Microsoft on Friday released its Office Mobile 365 app for Apple's iPhone, allowing users with subscriptions to the productivity suite to access Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on the go.
Much as the Redmond giant attempted to do with its own dedicated retail locations, Microsoft will now follow Apple's lead in opening mini-stores in Best Buy retail locations across North America.
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Kevin Bostic
AppleInsider Staff
Sam Oliver
Daniel Eran Dilger
Neil Hughes
Michael Harper
Mikey Campbell
