Microsoft

It was just a year ago (June 27 was the actual date) that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates relinquished his day-to-day responsibilities at Microsoft. Has much changed as a result?

Microsoft has essentially said it's betting the farm on Internet search and Bing. But it may be that it's real target isn't Google, but instead Yahoo.

The idea that Microsoft could catch Google in search is a pipe dream, even if Microsoft has said that it's willing to spend up to $11 billion on search in the next five years. Google has too much of a head start, as well as the ability and willingness to spend as much money as possible to make sure it stays on top.

Microsoft recently announced retail pricing for Windows 7 that was at or below comparable Windows Vista prices, while also offering a chance for people to preorder the software at a substantial discount.

From Friday through July 11, consumers in the U.S. will be able to buy an upgrade copy of Windows 7 Home premium for $49 or Windows 7 Professional for $99.

Microsoft’s decision to change the rendering engine in its Outlook mail client from HTML to the Word rendering engine back in 2007 wasn’t one of its most popular moves. In fact, there are still more than a few Outlook users who are hoping against hope that an online campaign might result in Microsoft backtracking with Outlook 2010 and going back to HTML rendering.

If you’re one of those Windows 7 testers still running the Beta — and not the Release Candidate — of Microsoft’s next-generation client, it’s time to get the lead out.

Bi-hourly shutdowns of the Windows 7 Beta (which Microsoft released officially in January of this year) are set to begin next week, on July 1. On August 1, the Windows 7 Beta will be marked as “non-Genuine” software, with those running it becoming subject t the punishments that Microsoft has earmarked for pirates.

Microsoft will limit the number of downloads for the beta of Windows Security Essentials, its new free antivirus software, when it posts the program later today.

Downloads will be capped at 75,000, a Microsoft spokeswoman said late Monday.

Microsoft's new Bing 'decision engine' gained a lot of attention and publicity when it was first released not long ago, but now that the excitement has died down, how will the Redmond company work to improve it and make it more accessible? Well, according to Long Zheng's I Started Something blog, they'll be bringing in mobile applications for it, and some concepts have been revealed.

A month ago, Microsoft officials acknowledged the name and one feature of the company’s forthcoming Office 2010 Pro Plus SKU. Thanks to a new slide from an alleged Microsoft presentation, now we know a bit more about what’s likely to debut in that version.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spoke at The Executive’s Club of Chicago today, discussing “the role of innovation in changing economic times.” TG Daily covered the event live from the Hilton Chicago. During his speech he addressed many economic issues, and touched on the importance of innovation. However, it was his Xbox announcement which has our publication excited.

Microsoft has finally lifted the lid on its free consumer security program called Microsoft Security Essentials, previously known by the codename Morro.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a replacement to Live OneCare, which was a commercial (that is, paid for) product. Unlike Onecare, folks wanting protection from malware won’t need to get the credit card out once Microsoft Security Essentials is out. It won’t be the first free antivirus solution, but it will be made available to anyone running a genuine copy of Windows, and you can be sure that Microsoft will be pushing it hard.