Microsoft reports $6.38 bn in profits, despite slow sales of Office

Microsoft has just announced its Q2 earnings for the 2013 financial year and though the company managed to rake in $21.5 billion, $6.38 billion of which is pure profit, the numbers seem to be less than previously expected. The dip in profits is being attributed to the impending launch of the next MS Office Suite, Office 2013.

While overall profit numbers look good, with each Redmond share closing at $0.76, one cent higher than the $0.75 analysts had predicted, the somewhat impressive sales numbers of Windows 8 were definitely offset by the slowing sales of the company’s current-generation productivity suite. While Microsoft Office 2013 has already been made available to the enterprise subscriber base, the consumer build of Office 2013 is slated for a January 2013 release, so it’s quite expected that the soon-to-be-outdated version of Office would not rack up impressive sales figures.

However, Office wasn’t the only department with disappointing numbers due to an impending launch. It is being reported that the Entertainment and Devices division also saw a dip in earnings, raking in $3.77 billion during a strong holiday season, but 7 percent lower than the figures from the same time last year. This is being attributed to many people holding off on purchasing an Xbox 360, given the rumours that Microsoft may be announcing the next-gen version of the console at E3 this year.

A dip in earnings prior to launch is an expected feature of fiscal quarters, and even though Microsoft may not have raked in the kind of money that was being projected, it still did manage to pocket a whopping $6.38 billion thanks to Windows 8 and its Server and Enterprise business.



Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-reports-638-bn-in-profits-despite_13201.html

Nokia readying a 10.1 inch iPad competitor?

If rumours are to be believed (which they should only be with a pinch of salt), it would seem that Nokia is preparing a 10.1 inch tablet for a February 2013 reveal. It would seem that Nokia has been in talks with Qualcomm for their Snapdragon S4 processor to power the tablet.

The rumour around the supply-chain sector is that Nokia was preparing for a Q1-20122 launch for their 10.1 inch tablet, but were dissuaded by Microsoft’s push into the segment with the Surface. The testing of the tablets was assigned to ODM Compal, but then was called off in light of Microsoft focusing on its own slate coupled up with the uncertainty that surrounded the fate of Windows 8.

It would seem that Nokia is now convinced just enough to start work on their own iPad competitor again, as insiders suggest that talks between Nokia, Microsoft, Qualcomm and ODM Compal have resumed with the aim of having a working prototype ready for a reveal at Mobile World Congress in February 2013.

Up until now (and possibly till the tablet is official), Nokia maintains that it will continue to carefully monitor the tablet segment, and that a tablet from Nokia will only enter the market if it’s “uniquely Nokia.” Given Microsoft’s strict guidelines about not making any alterations to the Windows 8 OS, Nokia would probably only be left with the option of playing around with the hardware, and we have seen that Nokia has done a great job on that front with the Lumia phones. Nokia could also get an advantage over the Surface if it packs in 3G/4G radios along with offering higher storage options than Microsoft’s own.

Whether the rumours of a Nokia tablet coming out next year are real or not, one cannot deny that the lack of a tablet in the Nokia portfolio has left a gap in the company’s offering.


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Tablets/Nokia-readying-a-101-inch-iPad-competitor_11833.html

Microsoft announces 40 million Windows 8 licences sold since launch

Microsoft claims that it has sold a whopping 40 million Windows 8 licences since its launch on October 26, 2012. Tami Reller, the Windows Chief Marketing and Financial Officer, revealed this information during a speech at Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference. Reller said, “The journey is just beginning, but I am pleased to announce today that we have sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses so far.”

Recently, Microsoft revealed that it had sold four million upgrade copies of Windows 8 in the first few days of the new OS going live.

This is quite a milestone for the company and it is really pushing the new OS to the point that all newly launched laptops and ultrabooks are powered by Windows 8 even though Windows 7 is still a very stable and well-supported OS. Microsoft sold 60 million Windows 7 licenses from its launch (October 2009) till December 2009.

The details of “licenses sold” seems to be in the grey area as it does not clarify whether these licenses are sold to consumers, organizations, distributers or manufacturers who are offering Windows 8 straight out of the box.

Notably, no details about the sales figures of Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet were revealed. Microsoft’s Surface Pro, the tablets running Windows 8 Pro will be available from January 2013.

It’s nice to see that Windows 8 has an app store but at launch there were only a few thousand apps and they didn't include big names such as Facebook and Twitter. Also the learning curve for the new OS is a bit high which may turn off the traditional Windows user. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that Microsoft has done a pretty good job with its new desktop/tablet hybrid OS.



Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-announces-40-million-Windows-8-licences_11533.html

Windows Store goes past 20,000 apps

The Windows Store in Windows 8 has gone past 20,000 apps after almost a month since its launch. The Windows 8 store added 7,000 apps in the last two weeks. Though it's not known when it hit the landmark, but Win App Update, which keeps tracks of the totals, claims the Windows Store hit the milestone on Tuesday this week.

According to Win App Update, about 17,958 of the apps (87 percent) are free. It's notable not all apps are available in all regions and languages. Almost 13,000 of those are available in the U.S., 14,000 in Canada and 11,000 in the U.K.

Earlier this month, the Windows 8 store had about 12,895 apps. This means the store went on to add about 7,715 apps in the last 17 days, averaging more than 453 apps per day. The milestone means the Windows store's growth has once again accelerated, as it initially averaged 500 apps additions daily and then dipped to 300 apps per day recently.

At this rate, the Windows 8 store is estimated to go past 30,000 mark by end of this year or may close in on 40,000 apps. The coming holiday season may see developers adding more apps to Windows 8. Developers would be looking to cash in on 'massive' sales of the Windows 8-ready devices around the world.

The Windows 8 store is likely to see 'new-style' apps, which are optimised for the Metro UI. Check out The 10 best new-style Windows 8 apps.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Windows-Store-goes-past-20000-apps_11481.html

Microsoft releases Windows Phone 8 Companion app

With Windows Phone 8 being under 24 hours away from being officially announced, Microsoft has released the long promised Companion app, which would allow the new devices to sync with any Windows 8 device (PC or RT Tablet). The app is supposed to allow syncing of music, photos other media seamlessly from the Windows 8 device onto the phone, much the same way it worked on the Zune desktop client.

Microsoft had long discontinued their Zune Music Player, but the desktop software for the same became the iTunes counterpart for syncing to Windows Phone 7 devices. However, for the newer Windows Phones 8 coming out, the desktop software has been made redundant. 

The Companion app should be able to do everything the Zune Desktop does, but without being a separate software as such. Unfortunately, just like the existing Windows Phone 7 devices won’t be upgraded to the Windows Phone 8 OS, the Companion app too is only compatible with the new phones and won’t work with Windows Phone 7 (or 7.5 or 7.8).

Microsoft has been garnering a lot of attention lately, with their new OS Windows 8 and Surface RT being officially launched. The next wave of products from the Redmond Company is the Windows Phone 8, which would complete the Windows 8 family of products. 

Phone makers like Nokia, HTC and Samsung have already announced their Windows Phone 8. While HTC and Samsung’s stake in the Windows Phone 8 devices isn’t that crucial, Nokia’s future entirely banks of the success of the new phones are an instant hit with the people. 

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Apps/Microsoft-releases-Windows-Phone-8-Companion-app_11175.html

Minecraft creator slams Windows 8

Microsoft's Windows 8 has prompted the ire of certain game makers, and Minecraft creator Markus Persson is the latest to voice his concern. He posted two Twitter messages on Thursday that panned Redmond's upcoming OS, as the BBC originally noted.

"Got an email from Microsoft, wanting to help 'certify' minecraft for win 8," the first message said. "I told them to stop trying to ruin the pc as an open platform."


Four minutes later, he wrote that he would "rather have minecraft not run on win 8 at all than to play along. Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to win 8 that way."

The PC building-block game became a viral sensation upon its launch, and surpassed 3 million Xbox 360 sales in less than three months. But it looks like Persson won't have the same success with Windows 8.

The certification requirement Persson referenced is a way for Microsoft to prove it has reviewed a program to confirm its code is "completely finished" and reliable to run on a Windows 8-powered PC – which excludes games rated PEGI 18 for ages 18 and up.

Valve co-founder Gabe Newell and Blizzard's executive vice president of game design, Rob Pardo, took shots at Windows 8 this summer.

"I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space," Newell said during a Seattle video game conference in July. "I think we'll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that's true, then it will be good to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality."

Meanwhile, Pardo also took to Twitter to mirror Newell's statements, adding that the OS is "not awesome for Blizzard either."


Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Minecraft-creator-slams-Windows-8_10922.html

Microsoft to replace Metro UI codename with Modern UI

Microsoft was recently in trouble for using “Metro UI” for its tablet and smartphone interface. The Metro UI name, that originally began as a codename, stuck on in the final version of Microsoft’s mobile OS, Windows Phone 7 and translated to their new desktop OS, Windows 8.

Recently, we reported that Microsoft would be changing the “Metro UI” name but the new and final name wasn't clear. For some time we thought it would be replaced with Windows 8, leading to Windows 8 UI, or Windows 8 apps, etc.

Lately, however, Microsoft representatives have started calling the new OS UI as the “Modern UI Style”.  As reported by The Verge, employees are calling referencing the new name in blog posts and training courses, with examples like - Modern UI design language and principles, Modern UI Style apps, and Modern UI Style UI (this last indicates it might be a rushed copy-paste job). Check out one blog post example, here.

It is still unclear whether this will be the final name, or if Modern UI is another placeholder till Microsoft decides on another one. The change in name from Metro UI started when Microsoft started facing copyright infringement issues.

During the development of the Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft used a variety of names like immersive, modern, fast, and fluid to describe its new desktop operating system. But the most common name that the company used and the one which stuck was the “Metro-style”.

The launch of the new OS is just around the corner and we are wondering whether this is the final name of the OS or will we see some more tweaks and changes as far as the naming game is concerned.

Windows 8 is expected to launch on October 26. You can read everything about Windows 8 here.

What do you think? Is the change in the name of the UI, apps and interface really that big a deal? Let us know in the comment section below.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-to-replace-Metro-UI-codename-with_10458.html

To fight Apple-flight, Microsoft must hang tough on Surface

I just pray that Microsoft doesn't cave to pressure from partners to punt on Surface.

The first public plea came this week from Acer, which, in effect, begged Microsoft to drop Surface.

If that happens, Microsoft will lose the consumer to Apple for good. Probably sooner rather than later.

And if Acer is that worried about Surface, then it should out-design Microsoft or look elsewhere. Right now I don't see anything from Acer that would make me chuck my MacBook and iPad.

But Surface could. And it gets even more interesting when I see that Redmond is already working on Surface 2.

(Of course, if Microsoft isn't able to follow through with a stable, reliable finished product that lives up to the hype, all bets are off. In other words, it needs to be as good as Apple at executing.)

But whatever happens, Hewlett-Packard or Dell or Acer would never have conceived of a Windows 8 Pro Surface. It's not in their design DNA and Microsoft knows this better than anyone.

So, MS came up with a 10.6-inch, 903-gram device packing a 1,920x1,080 display (that's some pretty serious pixel density), Mini DislayPort (means I can hook it up to my Apple Cinema display), Core i5 processor (let's hope it's a very power-frugal variety), and a 128GB solid-state drive.

And of course that 5mm-thick physical keyboard. 

 

To counter Surface, PC makers will engage in a lot of Windows 8 puffery about their ultracool convertible or touch-screen ultrabook. I don't know about you, but I need more than that to give Windows 8 equal time on my desktop.

OK, so Mac users aren't going anywhere and Windows 8 means diddly-squat (or worse) to them. But that's not Microsoft's objective. It simply needs to staunch the flow of defections to OS X and iOS.

Thus the June 15 Windows-8-plus-Surface pre-announcement. A soup-to-nuts hardware and software platform that is unmistakably Apple-like. And proposes to trump Apple and make Tim Cook eat his refrigerator-toaster analogy in the process.

The only remotely valid reason for Microsoft to abandon Surface is if it suddenly spurred HP, Asus, Acer, et al to design consumer devices that are cooler than Surface and go head-to-head with Apple.

Anyone out there think that's possible?

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57491412-92/to-fight-apple-flight-microsoft-must-hang-tough-on-surface/

Microsoft dropping 'Metro' name in Windows 8

Since Microsoft first showed off Windows 8 last year, the company has consistently referenced the operating system's dual interfaces - the standard, Windows desktop with which we're all familiar and the more mobile-friendly Metro-style option that replaces icons with apps.

Now it appears that we will bid adieu to the phrase "Metro style" before Windows 8 makes its official debut in October.

"We have used Metro style as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines. As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names," a Microsoft spokeswoman said in a statement today.

News of the switch was first reported yesterday by The Verge, which said Microsoft was notifying its developers not to use the word "Metro" within their apps and swap that term for "New User Interface."

Despite the insistence from Redmond that Metro is simply a code name that it always planned to phase out, there are reports that the move was prompted by a trademark challenge from Germany-based Metro AG.

Metro AG did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Verge later pointed to an internal memo from Microsoft to its employees, which said that "discussions with an important European partner" prompted it to ditch the Metro moniker.

At the Windows 8 Consumer Preview launch in Barcelona earlier this year, Microsoft handed out a product guide that included a brief section on Metro style app principles.

"More than just an app platform, Metro style is a design philosophy that helps you build attractive, easy-to-use apps that will delight your customers with their intuitive and common interaction model," the guide said.

Common principles associated with Metro-type apps, according to Microsoft, include: fast and fluid; support for multiple states; support for the right contracts; live tiles; and settings and data that roam through the cloud.

The news comes several days after Microsoft released Windows 8 to manufacturers. It will roll out to several other groups in the coming weeks before its general availability on Oct. 26.

Source: http://www.thinkdigit.com/Software/Microsoft-dropping-Metro-name-in-Windows-8_10363.html