Microsoft boasts patent licenses with over half of Android market

Microsoft announced on Sunday that a new patent license agreement with original design manufacturer Compal means that companies accounting for more than half of all Google Android-based devices now have agreements with the software giant.

Josh Ong 14 years ago 46

Android, Windows Phone bosses downplay Apple's Siri threat

Google Android boss Andy Rubin and Microsoft's Windows Phone head Andy Lees have both publicly criticized Apple's new Siri voice assistant and questioned its usefulness.

Josh Ong 14 years ago 223

Apple may add customized digital avatars to iOS Game Center

Apple has shown interest in allowing users of its Game Center social network for iOS to create custom, cartoon-style avatars to represent themselves in the digital world.

Neil Hughes 14 years ago 15

Apple rivals, partners & press pay tribute to Steve Jobs

For the first time in at least 30 years, Time magazine stopped its presses when news of Steve Jobs's death broke. The publication's latest issue with Jobs on the cover will hit newsstands Friday, and will join numerous other tributes to the late Apple co-founder.

Neil Hughes 14 years ago 35

Apple, Google gain in US smartphone share as RIM, Microsoft continue slide

Apple's iPhone continues to gain market share in the U.S., now representing 27.3 percent of handsets, while competitors RIM, Microsoft and Nokia continue to slip.

Sam Oliver 14 years ago 52

Microsoft changes its story, concedes death of Zune hardware

Less than a day after Microsoft denied that its Zune lineup of portable media players was being discontinued, the company has decided to confirm that its Zune players have in fact received the ax.

Sam Oliver 14 years ago 62

Microsoft Board criticizes CEO Steve Ballmer for weakened smartphones, Windows

After conducting an annual performance review of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the software giant's Board of Directors took him to task for poor sales of its Windows Phone 7 operating system, dampened Windows revenue and the "need for further progress" with new form factors, awarding him just half of his maximum yearly bonus.

Josh Ong 14 years ago 54

Microsoft removes, then re-adds Zune HD to its website [u]

Microsoft temporarily removed references to all Zune hardware from the official Zune website Monday, an apparent error that was initially viewed as the final nail in the coffin for the media player that failed to gain traction against Apple's iPod lineup [update].

Sam Oliver 14 years ago 60

Microsoft to receive royalties for Samsung's Android smartphones, tablets

Microsoft on Wednesday announced it has entered a cross-licensing agreement with Samsung, in which Microsoft will receive royalties for smartphones and tablets sold by Samsung running the Google Android mobile operating system.

Katie Marsal 14 years ago 33

Gartner projects Apple's iPad to maintain 50% market share through 2014

Apple's iPad will continue to dominate the tablet market, maintaining more than 50 percent market share through 2014, according to a new analysis.

Josh Ong 14 years ago 18

Disney bets on iOS App Store games to return interactive unit to profitability

After losing millions of dollars trying to produce console games for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, Disney is betting on Apple's low cost app market to become profitable and create new characters capable of driving sales of movies and merchandise.

Daniel Eran Dilger 14 years ago 22

Windows Phone 7 introduces app version issues in Mango update

In its first significant update, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform is introducing a new layer of app version complexity for developers and users that offers a glimpse of how both it and Windows 8 will differ from Apple's existing iOS and Mac App Stores.

Daniel Eran Dilger 14 years ago 100

Microsoft faces iPad, iWorks without articulated plan for Windows 8 Office

While eager to demonstrate next year's Windows 8, Microsoft has been reticent to make any promises about a tablet friendly new version of Office sporting the new Metro look, a clear departure from Apple's strategy of presenting the original iPad with a suite of new iWork apps, but only after both were finished and ready to sell.

Daniel Eran Dilger 14 years ago 127

Microsoft to take 30% cut of Metro apps under Windows 8

New Metro-style apps designed to run on Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 for tablets will copy Apple's App Store business model of charging a 30 percent fee from developers, allowing the potential for Microsoft to regain control over software in segments it has lost to Apple's iTunes and Google search.

Daniel Eran Dilger 14 years ago 97

Patent suit targets Apple, Microsoft over data encryption

Both Apple and its rival Microsoft have been hit with a new lawsuit accusing them and others of violating patents related to digital file encryption and security.

Katie Marsal 14 years ago 10

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