Microsoft Research head Craig Mundie to retire in 2014

Microsoft Research head Craig Mundie to retire in 2014

Microsoft Research boss Craig Mundie will step down in 2014, after working over 20 years in both Microsoft’s security and R&D departments. The research arm has been run by Mundie since 2008, where he’s been responsible for some pretty interesting projects, from early glimpses of Redmond’s future to real-time multilingual translation. The day-to-day running of the department will be transferred to former chief technical strategy officer Eric Rudder, while Mundie will continue to advise CEO Steve Ballmer. According to the Seattle Times, the move is line with Microsoft’s plans to focus on mobile and web-based developments, while the new role might give the veteran Mundie a little more time to work on his Japanese.

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Source: BBC, Seattle Times

Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 ‘still small’, but will ‘really ramp quickly’

Ballmer Windows Phone 8 'still small', expects it will 'really ramp quickly'

Following its launch event in San Francisco and the appearance of its first devices last week, the folks behind Windows Phone 8 is hoping for big things in the future. Microsoft’s chief exec Steve Ballmer said that its work with Nokia, HTC and Samsung offered them the chance to create a “really strong third participant in the smartphone market.” He admitted that they weren’t there quite yet and told the audience at a Windows 8 launch event in Israel that Microsoft’s mobile OS was “still relatively small”, but that he expects “the volumes on Windows Phone to really ramp quickly.” The company will be lavishing more on marketing and advertising around Windows 8, Window Phone 8 and Surface than it has on anything previous — which sounds good, as its new mobile OS might need the help.

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Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 ‘still small’, but will ‘really ramp quickly’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft puts a price on Surface RT: starts at $499, or $599 with Touch Cover

Microsoft reveals Surface pricing $499 for 32GB $599 with Touch Cover $699 for 64GB

With a stamp from the FCC on its passport, and some fancy new TV ads, the smell of Microsoft’s Surface tablet is thick in the air. Until now, however, price has been a mystery. Microsoft has just revealed, via its own store, that if you want a slice for yourself, you can do so starting from $499. That price will get you the 32GB version, without the touch cover, with pre-orders available now, penciled in for a 26th of October delivery date. If you must have that cover, it’ll set you back another $100, and the same amount again if you want to hop up to 64GB of memory. With the current status of the larger-memory version showing as out of stock though, those with a thirst for storage still might have to wait a little longer.

Update: It looks like Microsoft might have pulled the listing for now. Perhaps the pages weren’t meant for prime-time just yet.

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Microsoft puts a price on Surface RT: starts at $499, or $599 with Touch Cover originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 8 now available to try at Best Buy

DNP Windows 8 now available to try at Best Buy

Microsoft’s already opened up the floodgates with Windows 8 pre-orders, and it looks as if those still on the fence now have a sandbox to goof off in. Pictured above is a trio of Windows 8 notebooks from a Best Buy located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and we actually called around to confirm with several other stores that a similar setup had been erected in their locales. Nah, we can’t make October 26th get here any faster, but at least you know where to head if you’re looking for a sample.

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Windows 8 now available to try at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 8 packaging and pricing revealed: standard OEM $99, Pro Pack $139, pre-order from today

Windows 8 packaging and pricing revealed by Newegg, Windows

We’re almost there. Just a few more days until the big reveal. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still a few final Windows 8 secrets to be disclosed. Two of those are the price and the packaging, which online retailer Newegg has just let slip. There are four packages listed: Windows 8 Professional Upgrade ($69), Windows 8 Pro Pack ($69, product key card only), Windows 8 OEM ($99) and Windows 8 Professional ($139), with the latter two being available in both 32- and 64-bit versions (for the same price). If you go into the product page, however, we can see that the original price for the upgrade and product key card only versions is listed as “$199” suggesting that this might either be a launch offer, or subject to change. Don’t forget though, there’s still the chance to upgrade for an even lower price, for those who qualify. You can officially reserve your copy of Pro from today for $69.99 at all the main retailers, but if you can hold back on that impulse purchase for just a little longer, you’ll be able to upgrade to Pro online for $39 (until January 31st). Follow the source for details.

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Windows 8 packaging and pricing revealed: standard OEM $99, Pro Pack $139, pre-order from today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach

European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach

The European Commission is planning to fine Microsoft for its failure to adhere to a 2009 ruling that required the software giant to offer customers a choice of default web browser. The EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almuni, advised the press that a formal proceeding into the breach — which Microsoft itself acknowledges — has begun. Reuters reports that should Microsoft be found on the wrong side of the law, that the resulting fine could be as much as 10 percent of its global turnover. Whether the end sum would be as high as this remains to be seen, but given recent events, you can expected some hurried shuffling of paper in Redmond’s accounts department.

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European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November

Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and TMobile in November

We just had a chance to see and handle the colorful Windows Phone 8X by HTC, but where will we find it in the US? On stage, the company told us that the new device will be heading to three major carriers: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. All three operators should be pushing the device out sometime in November, though we’re still waiting to hear specifics on pricing — and we also haven’t been told details on the availability of the lower-end Windows Phone 8S.

Note: We’re hearing whispers that the 8X will be $199 on AT&T and T-Mobile, but both carriers have responded to our request for more information, stating that no pricing has been released yet. The press releases can be found below.

Check out our liveblog coverage of HTC’s Windows Phone 8 launch event!

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Windows Phone 8X coming to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in November originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint to begin offering Microsoft Office 365 for enterprise clientele

Sprint to begin offering Microsoft Office 365 for enterprise clientele

Suit-and-tie types looking for that virtual office on-the-go experience might want to hitch a ride on Sprint’s cloud. Starting today, the wireless operator’s introducing an add-on package designed for small to medium enterprise clients that bundles Microsoft’s Office 365 with other unnamed “value-added services.” The move, which gives power users access to MS’ web-based apps, video conferencing and shared calendars from anywhere, is part of the Hesse-led company’s Software-as-a-Service portfolio that culls together a suite of remote solutions tailored to the button-down set. According to the carrier’s site, plans kick off at $6 per month, but you needn’t worry about being nickel-and-dimed, your corporate overlord should be footing this bill. Head past the break for the official presser.

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Sprint to begin offering Microsoft Office 365 for enterprise clientele originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer

Microsoft has already expressed its fondness for Perceptive Pixel’s gigantic capacitive touchscreens, which became apparent during a live demo at the company’s Windows 8 presentation at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but now that friendship has become a bit more official. During Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference keynote in Toronto this morning, Steve Ballmer announced that Perceptive Pixel would be coming in-house, with Microsoft acquiring the display maker. The move seems to be in line with the company’s recent shift to hardware manufacturing, beginning with last month’s Surface introduction and its reinforced commitment to the recently renamed PixelSense smart table solution — MS has just seized an opportunity to get a bit more hands-on. Full (limited) details are in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer

Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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