Look out, ex-Windows chief Sinofsky is blogging again

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He couldn’t stay away from the keyboard for long. Steven Sinofsky, the former Microsoft Windows president, launched his own blog today called “Learning by Shipping” — promising to share “thoughts and perspectives on product development, management, and the process of bringing new products to market.” Sinofsky was legendary inside Microsoft for his lengthy posts, for both internal… Read More…

GeekWire’s Top 50 Posts of 2012: Milestones, stunts and more craziness from the year in tech

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It’s that time when journalists take a moment to reflect on the past year. We’re doing that here on GeekWire too, with a series of stories that look back at 2012. Today, we’re listing the 50 most popular stories on GeekWire. As you’ll see in the list below, sometimes it is the offbeat and oddball… Read More…

New Windows chief: ‘Not a whole lot’ changes with new Windows leadership

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What will change about Microsoft’s Windows leadership following the departure of Steven Sinofsky as Windows president? “Not a whole lot,” says new Windows leader Julie Larson-Green in an interview with MIT Technology Review. “We think a lot the same about what the role of Windows is in society, what computing looks like, and getting people… Read More…

Ballmer, Sinofsky and the struggle for the soul of Microsoft

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This was the rap on former Microsoft Windows president Steven Sinofsky following his sudden exit last month: He was unwilling to play along with the rest of the company — making him a poor fit as Microsoft looks to integrate its products more deeply and compete more effectively in the fast-paced world of consumer technology…. Read More…

Sinofsky Shocker: Windows President is Leaving Microsoft

sinofskys

So much for all that talk about Steven Sinofsky being the next CEO of Microsoft. In a surprise move this evening, Microsoft announced that the Windows president is leaving the company, effective immediately, less than three weeks after the release of Windows 8. “It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my… Read More…

Here comes Windows 8: What’s at stake for Microsoft

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Later this morning, at a launch event in New York City, Microsoft will introduce Windows 8 to the world. Tomorrow, Windows 8 will debut in stores. This is the biggest change in Microsoft operating systems since the move from MS-DOS to Windows more than 25 years ago, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the… Read More…

Skating on Surface, Rapping with Too Short: How Windows execs are blowing off steam

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The debut of Windows 8 next week will represent one of the biggest moments in the careers of Microsoft’s Windows team — a high-stakes and high-profile launch that will put years of their work and decision-making to the test. But the pressure isn’t keeping the executive team from having a little fun, apparently. First, the… Read More…

Shipped! Windows 8 is done, set for October release

product_win8-startscreen_Web

Microsoft this morning announced RTM for Windows 8, which stands for Released to Manufacturing, which is the technical phrase for, “Woohoo, we’re done!” — to whatever extent software can be considered “done” in this modern era of regular online updates. Computer makers will now be able to build Windows 8 PCs in advance of the… Read More…

Windows 8 Release Preview debuts, Microsoft confirms $15 upgrade promotion

product_win8-startscreen_Web

Microsoft just posted the Windows 8 Release Preview for public download, the last major milestone before the final release of the operating system, which will be the biggest change for the widely used software since the landmark Windows 95 release. The company also confirmed that it will roll out a Windows Upgrade Offer starting June… Read More…

Windows 8 ‘release preview’ coming first week in June

Steven Sinofsky making the announcement in Japan. (Microsoft photo.)

Microsoft will distribute a “release preview” of Windows 8 during the first week of June, getting closer to finishing one of the biggest overhauls in the history of the company’s PC operating system. Steven Sinofsky, the Windows president, announced the plan during a Windows developer event in Japan tonight, and Microsoft spread the news via… Read More…

Analyst: Microsoft wrestling with ARM as Windows 8 nears

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Veteran Wall Street analyst Rick Sherlund of Nomura Research has issued a report following a series of investor meetings last week with Windows marketing chief Tami Reller, providing a glimpse into the status of Microsoft’s Windows 8 as the company gears up for its launch, expected later this year. One of the more interesting tidbits… Read More…

Details on Windows 8 for ARM, plus a peek at Office 15

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Microsoft today gave more details about its plans for Windows 8 on ARM processors — a key initiative designed to expand the reach of the operating system beyond traditional PCs to the architecture common in mobile devices and tablet computers. Windows President Steven Sinofsky writes in a blog post that the goal is for hardware… Read More…

Windows chief: Think of the classic Windows desktop as ‘just another app’

The new 'Windows 8' start screen (Credit: Microsoft)

As Microsoft has been previewing new elements of the Windows 8 desktop experience over the past week — including smarter file copying and a Windows Explorer ribbon — one head-scratcher has been the departure from the look and feel of the new Windows 8 Start screen that Microsoft showed in June. That new approach, inspired by the… Read More…

Windows 8, the first real glimpse: Tiles on a tablet

The new 'Windows 8' start screen (Credit: Microsoft)

[Updated below] Microsoft’s Windows 8 will offer new start screen optimized for tablet/slate computers that uses a tile interface reminiscent of the company’s Windows Phone interface. Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky is on stage right now giving a sneak peak of the interface, talking with Walt Mossberg at the D9 conference down in California. The operating… Read More…

Microsoft loosening the lid on Windows 8?

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[Updated below with Microsoft's statement on Ballmer's comments] Two separate developments today suggest that Microsoft may be gearing up to share more information about Windows 8, or whatever the company ends up calling the next version of its PC operating system. First, as noted by Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said… Read More…