Is Microsoft / Yahoo Search Deal Still On?
In an SEC filing on October 29th, Yahoo and Microsoft asked for an extension to close their deal to cooperate in the Internet search space and compete together against Google.
“Given the complex nature of the transaction, there remain some details to be finalized,” the SEC filing states. “The parties are working diligently on finalizing the agreements, have made good progress to date, and have agreed to execute the agreements as expeditiously as possible.”
The parties insist that the deal will be completed in early 2010. However, Mobile search advertising is a large part of the deal. Reports are that Yahoo wants the freedom to use its own or other options outside of Microsoft AdCenter and this is causing issues in its negotiations with the Redmond, WA based software giant.
Windows 7 Self Healing?
We came across an interesting article today over at Information Week.
They suggest that Windows 7 has the ability to heal itself through a feature called the “Windows Action Center”.
I’ve been using Win 7 for over 4 months now and have found that the software will often install the correct, updated drivers over the internet without requiring the manufacturer’s drivers disk. However, if the customer manually installs an incorrect driver for speakers or a printer, “the Windows Action Center can alert you, diagnose the problem and point you to the correct fix , of fix the problem itself,” said Brownwell.”These troubleshooters can diagnose and solve the most common problems reported by Windows users, including set-up and compatibility issues, hardware defects, and the like” said Microsof’ts Lori Brownwell, in a blog post.
Microsoft formally launched Windows 7 last week. The full version of Windows 7 Professional is $299, with upgrades going for $199. Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $319, with the upgrade version at $219. The full version of Windows 7 Home Premium is priced at $199, with an upgrade from Vista or XP costing $119.
Smartphone Manufacturer HTC Dragged Down by Windows Mobile?
We here at Observer Publishing won’t hide the fact that we’re Windows Mobile fanboys. While the iPhone is a pretty little thing, we’d rather endure some of the clunkiness of Windows Mobile and get features such as multi-tasking, slide out keyboards and the ability to use our phones as computer models (tethering).
A couple weeks ago, Microsoft officially released its Windows Mobile 6.5 (now Windows Phone) with AT&T and other carriers featuring the HTC Touch Pro as their ‘hero’ device. For those unaware, Taiwan based HTC is the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.
However, all does not seem to be happy in the HTC / Microsoft relationship. As mentioned in this Business Week article, HTC’s profits are slowing and the company, as with much of the industry sees the Google Android operating system for smartphones as a strong route to profitability. Press leaks suggest that a copy of Windows Mobile is between 15 and 25 of the cost of a smartphone. The elimination of those costs by switching to Android is a big incentive to either increase profits or fuel a pricewar among manufacturers. Add that the new Android 2.0 operating system has much of the glitz seen in the iPhone OS, and Microsoft has a big challenge on its hands to keep Windows Mobile relevant.
Microsoft Opening-up Outlook (.PST) Format
If you’ve ever been an Outlook / Microsoft Exchange user, you’ve valued many of the features of the .PST file format. Microsoft has had a winning combination for years with these products which allows everything from easy back-up and restore of your mail files as well as access to your e-mail via a variety of devices in a common experience.
Now, Microsoft has announced that it is making the .PST format available to third-party developers.
“This documentation is still in its early stages and work is ongoing. We are engaging directly with industry experts and interested customers to gather feedback on the quality of the technical documentation to ensure that it is clear and useful,” Paul Lorimer, group manager of Microsoft Office Interoperability wrote in a blog post. “When it is complete, it will be released under our Open Specification Promise, which will allow anyone to implement the .pst file format on any platform and in any tool, without concerns about patents, and without the need to contact Microsoft in any way.”
I personally rent my own exchange server for $8/month in order to avoid using yahoo, google or the other webmail services. While Google has gotten good at aggregating multiple e-mail accounts (one reason why I went this way), it doesn’t provide an easy to implement way to work with outlook and to leave the mail on the server but still have a working backup. Wouldn’t surprise me if either Google itself, or a 3rd party developed some applications using the format to allow for this!
Microsoft Pulls Out of Family Guy Special
Fox has lost Microsoft as the exclusive sponsor of its upcoming “Family Guy” variety special after the software company’s executives watched the show’s taping.
Earlier this month, the companies announced they were teaming for an unprecedented collaboration on “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show,” a special set to air November 8 during Fox’s popular Sunday animated block. Instead of traditional commercials, the special was to feature creative promotion of Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, woven into the show’s content.
Then executives watched the animated show in a live taping before a studio audience. Here’s a statement from Microsoft:
“We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of ‘Family Guy,’ but after reviewing an early version of the variety show it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand. We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, (series creator and writer) Seth MacFarlane and (co-star and writer) Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent.”
The special reportedly contained jokes about deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest. In other words, it was just like a regular “Family Guy” episode.
A 30-second ad during “Family Guy” costs about $214,750. Buying an entire half-hour special during sweeps doubtless put the Microsoft deal into the millions.
Fox plans to move forward with another integrated sponsor, though it’s unclear how this will work since the network’s live taping included Windows 7-related humor.
Microsoft Stock Up 5% As Profits Beat Estimates
Microsoft’s recent cost cutting moves pleased investors today and the company was rewarded with a 5% rise in its stock price as of 3pm today (October 23rd, 2009).
First-quarter net income fell to $3.57 billion, or 40 cents a share, beating the 32-cent average estimate of analysts. Highights from their earning annoucement include:
- The company said it will spend as much as $26.5 billion on operating costs in the year ending June 30, down from a previous forecast for as much as $26.9 billion.
- Microsoft sold more copies of Windows last quarter than in any previous period because of Windows 7 orders and high demand for the older Windows XP used on cheap laptops called netbooks, General Manager Bill Koefoed said in an interview.
- Microsoft’s search engine Bing, released in June, has taken more than a percentage point of market share, according to research firm ComScore Inc. in Reston, Virginia. Microsoft had 9.4 percent of the U.S. search market in September, compared with 64.9 percent for Google Inc. and 18.8 percent for Yahoo! Inc.ComScore said.
