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Latest by Geoff Duncan

ISO Fails to Fast-Track Microsoft’s OOXML

Microsoft's Office Open XML document format didn't get fast-tracked as an international standard, but the company still believes the format will gain widespread acceptance.

Microsoft Offers Racing Wheel Retrofit

Microsoft is offering a "precautionary and voluntary" retrofit to its Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel because the units may overheat and start emitting smoke.

Microsoft Debuts SideWinder Gaming Mouse

Microsoft's new SideWinder gaming mouse sports its own LCD, adjustable weight try, switchable DPI settings, and programmable macros.

EA’s John Shappert to Helm MS Live Services

In another EA-related executive move, Microsoft tapped Electronic Arts veteran John Shappert to head up Microsoft's Live software and services.

Microsoft Lowers Xbox 360 Price by $50

Responding to pressure from Sony and the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft is lowering the price of Xbox 360 systems by $50 effective August 8, 2007.

Microsoft’s HD Photo Proposed for JPEG XR

Microsoft's HD Photo image format has been proposed as the basis for JPEG XR, an international open image standard designed for the next generation of digital cameras.

Windows To Reach 1 Billion Machines by 2008

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that a total more than 1 billion machines worldwide will be running Windows within the next year.

Microsoft Drops Xbox HD DVD Drive Price

Microsoft has lowered the price on its Xbox HD DVD Player from $199 to $179 - and will include five free movies with players purchased between August 1 and September 30.

Microsoft Annual Revenue Eclipses $50 Bln

Microsoft has released financial numbers for its fiscal year ended on June 30, 2007: surprise, the company pulled in more than $50 billion.

Xbox 360 Gains Controllers, Halo Edition

Microsoft has announced three new controllers for its Xbox 360 - and a themed 20 GB Halo 3 edition for folks looking to devote their lives to Master Chief.

Microsoft Ships Robotics Studio 1.5

For folks inspired by the Transformers movie - or looking to take over the world - Microsoft has updated its robotics platform to support Windows CE and Windows Mobile 6.

Xbox 360 Warranty Extended to Three Years

High failure rates amongst Xbox 360 video game consoles has led Microsoft to extend its warranty on the systems to three years.

Microsoft Taking Xbox 360 Elite to Japan

Microsoft says it plans to launch its Xbox 360 Elite gaming console in Japan October 11.

Amazon To Offer Indie Films on HD DVD

Amazon and Microsoft are partnering to being 1,000 independent film titles to Amazon's CustomFlix DVD on Demand service in HD DVD format.

Microsoft to Sell PCs in India

Microsoft is launching a test program to sell AMD-powered personal computers in India, marking the company's first venture in PC sales.

Windows Live Gets Into Storage, Photos

Microsoft has announced beta versions of Windows Live Folders and Windows Live Photos, enabling users to store and back up documents and publish their photos.

Microsoft Holds Vista Virtualization Line

Microsoft looked like it might change its tune, but no: the company will not be changing its licensing to permit use of Vista Home editions under virtualization.

Microsoft Starts Rumble with Immersion

Microsoft has filed suit against haptics developer Immersion, claiming it's due money from the company's deal with Sony to bring rumble to the PS3.

Jerry Yang Takes Over as Yahoo CEO

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has been named Chief Executive Office of Yahoo, with former CEO Terry Semel taking the role of non-executive chairman of Yahoo's board.

Supreme Court Sides with Microsoft

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a decision in favor of AT&T which held Microsoft liable for patent infringement on copies of Windows sold overseas.

Microsoft To Retire Windows XP in 2008

Microsoft is sticking to its plans to stop selling Windows XP to OEMs in January 2008, despite continuing issues with Windows Vista.

Microsoft Sued Over Vista-Capable Claims

Microsoft is facing a lawsuit over stickers which proclaimed PCs would be "Vista Capable" when they can only handle the most basic version of the operating system.

Microsoft Rushing Animated Cursor Patch

Microsoft is moving quickly to patch a security problem which lets Windows PCs be hijacked using animated cursors.

Xbox Live Expands Video Roster

Microsoft has adding new content from Paramount, Warner Bros., A&E, ADV Films, National Geographic, and TotalVid to Xbox Live, including high-def content.

Microsoft Taking Games for Windows Live

Microsoft has formalized plans to extend its Xbox Live gaming network to Windows Vista PCs, beginning May 8th with Halo 2.

Microsoft Takes on JPEG with HD Photo

Microsoft has formally announced HD PHoto, a new image format promising higher quality and better compression - but will the industry embrace a proprietary format?

Microsoft Lambasts Google Over Copyrights

Microsoft's general counsel warns publishers Google's "cavalier" stance towards copyright protection is bad for content creators.

Microsoft Bundles Up LifeCams

Microsoft hopes new "LifeCam Packs" will encourage people to tap into online video communication, whether at home or on the road.

Microsoft Grows Xbox Memory Unit To 512 MB

Microsoft has announced a new 512 MB Memory Unit for the Xbox 360, and tripled the size cap on games available via its Xbox Live Arcade.

Microsoft Ordered to Pay $1.52 Billion

A federal jury has ordered Microsoft to pay $1.52 billion in damages to Alcatel-Lucent for violating two patents related to digital music.

Ballmer: Vista Forecasts Overly Aggressive

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is excited about Vista, but says some sales forecasts for Microsoft's latest operating system may be "overly aggressive."

Microsoft Sued Over VPN Technology

California software company VirnetX has sued against Microsoft, alleging the software giant's VPN technology infringes on two patents.

Microsoft Settles Iowa Antitrust Suit

Microsoft has settled a long-running Iowa class-action antitrust lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.

Microsoft Announces New PlayReady DRM

Does the world need another digital rights management technology? Microsoft thinks so, announcing PlayReady, a new DRM system aimed at mobile media.

Microsoft Tops Corporate Reputation Survey

Who'd have thought that after years of viruses, worms, and blue screens - and the Zune - Microsoft would come out tops in a survey measuring corporate reputations?

Microsoft’s J. Allard Takes Over Zune

Microsoft's Xbox golden boy J. Allard will be taking over business aspects managing the Zune brand as longtime Microsoft exec Bryan Lee steps aside.

For PC Makers, It’s Vista Day

Microsoft is now selling Windows Vista to consumers...but pretty much every computer maker wants you to know they're now selling new computers with Vista pre-installed.

Windows Home Server to Offer Backups, Media

Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Home Server will let customers centralize and remotely access their digital media...and backup and restore their Windows PCs.