The Microsoft Corporation (, ) is a multinational computer technology corporation with 2005 global annual sales of States dollar|US$" target="_blank" >^*39.79 billion and 63,564 employees in 102 countries and regions. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its most popular products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, each of which has achieved near-ubiquity in the desktop computer market. Microsoft possesses footholds in other markets, with assets such as the MSNBC cable television network, the MSN Internet portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia. The company also markets both computer hardware products such as the Microsoft mouse as well as home entertainment products such as the Xbox, Xbox 360 and MSN TV. Microsoft's name, originally bi-capitalized as MicroSoft or with hyphenation as Micro-Soft, is a blend of "microcomputer software" and is often abbreviated informally as MS. The company was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 4 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. After the market saw a flood of IBM PC clones in the mid-1980s, Microsoft used its new position, which it gained in part due to a contract from IBM, to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS. The company later released an initial public offering (IPO) in the stock market, which netted several of its employees millions of dollars due to the ensuing rise of the stock price. The price of the stock continued its rise steadily into the early 2000s. In Microsoft Windows, originally an add-on for MS-DOS, the company was selling what would become the most widely used operating system in the world; Microsoft continued to push into multiple markets, such as computer hardware and television. In addition, Microsoft has historically given customer support over Usenet newsgroups and the World Wide Web, and awards Microsoft MVP status to volunteers who are deemed helpful in assisting the company's customers.Multiple:

With what is generally described as a developer-centric business culture, Microsoft has become widely known for some of its internal codes of conduct for its employees.Multiple:

• One example is the "eat your own dog food" mantra, which describes the practice of using pre-release products inside the company to test them in an environment geared towards the real world. Microsoft has been convicted of monopolistic business practices—the U.S. Justice Department, among others, has sued Microsoft for antitrust violations and software bundling. homepage at the United States Department of Justice The slogan "embrace, extend, and extinguish" is often used to describe Microsoft's strategy for entering product categories involving widely-used standards, extending those standards with proprietary capabilities, and then using those differences to disadvantage its competitors. In addition, Microsoft has been criticized for the insecurity of its software. However, Microsoft has won several awards, such as the "1993 Most Innovative Company Operating in the U.S." by Fortune magazine, as well as maintaining a place on the Fortune 500 list of companies as of 2006.

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L.A. Times - Technology News

Searching online for a home: Many websites, varying insights
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Maps, data, detailed listings come with some sites. But 'most visited' doesn't necessarily mean 'most helpful.' First of two parts.
The Batsuit gets a makeover
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The 'Dark Knight' hero has tossed the sweaty rubber and molded-plastic costumes of yesteryear and sports a cooler, motocross-style flexi-suit this time around. WHEN "THE Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming considered how they would retool Christian Bale's Batman armor for the new movie, one question leaped to mind immediately: "Why, in 2008, would a superhero put on a rubber suit?" Hemming asks. "Why would he wear something that made him less active and unbelievably, unpleasantly hot? He wouldn't. He'd use all the technology available to be as comfortable as possible."
Google, Microsoft take a hit on Wall Street
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Nervous investors penalize two of the planet's most powerful technology companies for showing some financial strain from the faltering economy. Nervous investors on Thursday penalized two of the planet's most powerful technology companies, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., for showing some financial strain from the faltering economy.
Business Briefing
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
THE ECONOMY Mortgage rates fall across board
AMD chief is out after latest loss
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Hector Ruiz is being replaced as CEO by Dirk Meyer, the struggling chip maker's chief operating officer. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Chief Executive Hector Ruiz, the tech industry's most prominent Latino CEO, was forced out Thursday after the chip maker posted a loss for the seventh consecutive quarter.
House panelists seek opt-in rule for Web tracking
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A key House lawmaker said Thursday that Internet service providers should be prohibited from tracking customers' Web activities to deliver targeted ads without those users' clear approval.

Googling Google

Android losing its mojo fast
Garett Rogers Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:31:37 -0000
Android started off being a great idea, from a great company, with lots of support from carriers and manufacturers, and an awesome $10million contest to get developers drooling. With some stiff competition from Apple, and loss of developer morale, I’m afraid of what the future might hold for this platform. The new Apple iPhone 3G [...]
New version of Gmail iGoogle gadget
Garett Rogers Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:41:20 -0000
Google just released a new version of the Gmail iGoogle gadget that, for the most part, is a fully functioning interface for your Gmail. You can do everything from read, delete, mark as spam, and compose messages right from your homepage. It’s remarkably good, and a lot faster than opening Gmail itself. The new [...]
Google to protect user identities, but not employees’
Garett Rogers Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:35:16 -0000
Viacom and Google came to an agreement over what data Google will be handing over after a judge’s ruling last week. Orignally, it was believed that Google would be forced to hand over personally identifiable information about the viewing habits of all YouTube users. Thankfully, the two companies came to a partial agreement [...]
Gears for Google Calendar may be getting close, again
Garett Rogers Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:30:26 -0000
It’s been reported that Google Gears for Calendar is “close to launching” before — in fact, several times before. This time may be another false alarm, but one of my readers sent me a screenshot that looks promising. I cannot confirm this screenshot is real, but to me it looks legit. You can see [...]
Google’s iPhone app is really good
Garett Rogers Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:52:55 -0000
Google has created a brand new mobile app for the iPhone/iPod Touch that is currently available in the US App Store — apparently it will be available in other countries very soon. The app is more than a way to search the internet though, it lets a user search for everything a mobile user [...]
Google’s secret project turns out to be Second Life
Garett Rogers Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:19:41 -0000
Niniane Wang, the person behind Google’s new service called Lively, has been working on this “confidential” project since November 2005 according to her resume. There have been hints throughout the years that this might be coming, but it turns out that the rumors were true — Google made Second Life. 11/2005 - present, Engineering Manager, [...]

Computer Companies - Google News

Apple must win its case against Psystar -- or else - CNET News
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:10:34 -0000
ZDNetApple must win its case against Psystar -- or elseCNET News, CA - Jul 16, 2008In fact, I would venture to say that the vast majority of small computer companies are looking to jump on that bandwagon at any second and have waited this ...Apple sues Mac clone-maker New Zealand HeraldApple sues Mac-clone maker Psystar ZDNet UKPsystar’s Thermopylae won’t end Apple’s clone nightmare ZDNetSlashdot - Wall Street Journalall 159 news articles
Indian IT services groups caution over sales outlook - Financial Times
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:00:05 -0000
Peninsula On-lineIndian IT services groups caution over sales outlookFinancial Times, UK - 16 hours agoBy Amy Kazmin in New Delhi Wipro yesterday said it had become the latest computer service company to feel the pinch from cuts in information technology ...Software giants cautious despite excellent results Gulf Daily NewsIndian IT Firms: Mixed Results, Uncertain Future ForbesSatyam Net Income Climbs on New Orders, Weaker Rupee (Update1) BloombergDaily Times - Bloombergall 104 news articles
Deals pioneer gets a second wind - Financial Times
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:46:14 -0000
Deals pioneer gets a second windFinancial Times, UK - 52 minutes agoOver the years, he has backed such companies as Apple Computer, America Online and NTL, among others. Those bets helped Apax Partners, the firm he founded ...

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