Microsoft

Microsoft will greatly improve its speech recognition technology inside the next Xbox, The Verge has learned. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s Xbox plans have revealed that Durango, the codename for the next Xbox, will support wake on voice, natural language controls, and speech-to-text. The improved capabilities mean that Xbox users will be able to walk into Continue Reading →

Now this is a watershed moment — Microsoft is looking at offering a Linux version of Office in 2014. According to ExtremeTech, Microsoft is taking a “meaningful look” at releasing a full Linux port of Office in 2014. That would be quite something and it makes perfect sense. It’s apparent that Office, as proprietary software, Continue Reading →

Microsoft’s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform. A new iteration of Xbox Live will be an integral part of Microsoft’s next console, while improved Kinect hardware will also ship alongside the unit. Sources with first-hand experience of Microsoft’s next generation console Continue Reading →

Dell has indeed made the decision to go private, according to reports on Tuesday from The AP and other sources. The deal reportedly involves a leveraged buyout worth $24.4 billion by company founder Michael Dell and partners. Talks about Dell going private have been growing this year, with reports last week saying that Michael Dell Continue Reading →

The specter of a privately held Dell is starting to gel into reality, according to several press reports. Citing unnamed sources, the Wall Street Journal reported that talks over the deal — at a price of about $13 or $14 per share  – continued into Sunday night. The Journal reiterated earlier reports that the buyout, Continue Reading →

The iPad-killing Windows 8 tablet-laptop has arrived. Problem is, most aren’t ready to dispatch the iPad — or the MacBook Air for that matter — yet. So far, reviewers of shape-shifting Windows 8 tablets have not been kind. Otherwise known as “detachables,” the devices can take the form of a standalone tablet or attach to Continue Reading →

It’s Microsoft’s turn to have a bad day at the office. On Friday morning, Microsoft Office 365 users reported the cloud-based service is down in part or as a whole over the past few hours, according to the Office 365 community forum. The timing may be due to the broad launch of  Office 2013 and Continue Reading →

Microsoft’s search brand Bing released five applications as part of a new Bing Apps for Office set of productivity add-ons for the Office 365 and Office 2013, all available for free in the Office Store. The five applications are as follows: Bing News Search for Word, Bing Dictionary for Excel and Word, Bing Finance for Continue Reading →

When you think of things you regularly pay a yearly subscription for, office software probably isn’t high on that list. Microsoft wants to change that. With the launch of Office 2013, Microsoft is introducing a new way for you to buy its software. No need to go to the store for a shrink-wrapped boxed version, Continue Reading →

Microsoft has finally done it. On Wednesday, the company announced the release of Skulls of the Shogun, the first game specifically designed to be played across a Windows Phone, Windows 8 PCs, Surface, and Xbox 360. In fact, you can download it right now: Windows Phone Store, Windows Store, and Xbox Live Marketplace. For a Continue Reading →