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Tagged: Microsoft

Halo Waypoint brings Halo: Reach to Android

By Cory Gunther
on 12 Dec, 2011

This weekend Microsoft released their new Halo Waypoint Android app that aims to bring Halo: Reach multiplayer stat tracking and more to our robot-powered devices. Also available for the other popular platforms Microsoft made sure to include Android in the fun. For Halo fans this app actually has tons of awesome features with all sorts of stat tracking and multiplayer overhead views to help with those intense gaming sessions.

Microsoft lets Android users try Windows Phone 7 — sort of

By Cory Gunther
on 29 Nov, 2011

I know many of you loyal readers and Android enthusiasts would never even dream of switching to Windows Phone 7, nor would I. Today we have learned that Microsoft thinks showing off their phone user interface for everyone to see and try themselves might help their chances. I must admit this is actually an awesome idea. Android phone users can now get a little taste of Windows Phone 7 right on their device -- in a matter of seconds. More details are available after my awesomely confusing image below.

QuickOffice Pro updates to version 5, includes Office 2010 support

By Michael Crider
on 22 Nov, 2011

One of the most popular office suites on Android is getting a major update today, with some considerable new features. QuickOffice Pro and its tablet version QuickOffice Pro HD get updated to version 5, with a slew of improvements we covered earlier. Among the most important is support for Microsoft's often frustrating Office 2010 standard.

Barnes & Noble reveals Microsoft’s Android patents in detail

By Michael Crider
on 14 Nov, 2011

Last week Barnes & Noble lobbied United States regulators to investigate Microsoft, on the basis that its lawsuits and licensing agreements with Android OEMs constituted monopolistic behavior. The first fruit of this effort is a detailed look at the patents that Microsoft has been using to pressure manufacturers into licensing deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Barnes & Noble seems determined to keep from paying Microsoft for its Nook line of e-readers and tablets.

Barnes & Noble fires back at Microsoft, calls for investigation

By Michael Crider
on 9 Nov, 2011

At least one manufacturer isn't kowtowing to Microsoft's Android licensing push: Barnes & Noble is actively fighting Microsoft's patent litigation in court. As an added bonus, the bookseller has urged US regulators to investigate Microsoft's patents and the claims therein. B&N asserts that Microsoft is trying to drive up the price of the Android devices it competes with, thereby making its own Windows Phone 7 more attractive to manufacturers and consumers.

Huawei is the latest target for Microsoft’s patent license fees

By Michael Crider
on 8 Nov, 2011

Let it be known, ambitious original equipment manufacturers: if you get too successful, expect a visit from Microsoft, asking for their latest round of protection money patent license fees. Huawei is the latest manufacturer to draw the watchful eye of Microsoft after a couple of successful product launches, including the new T-Mobile Springboard. According to the BBC, Huawei is already in negotiations to pay Microsoft. It looks like Huawei will quietly negotiate a licensing deal, as HTC, Samsung and others have already done.

Google lawyer says Microsoft sues because Windows Phone 7 is failing

By Michael Crider
on 7 Nov, 2011

The war of words between Google and Microsoft has reached into the media once again, as SFGate has interviewed Google's patent lawyer Tim Porter. Refuting the claims made by his Redmond counterpart in an earlier interview, Porter said that Microsoft is attacking Android because they feel their own product (Windows Phone 7) is marginalized and threatened. He said that while the meteoric rise of Android hasn't been halted by Microsoft's tactics, companies that have to worry about patent litigation can't focus on innovation.

Microsoft’s lawyer says “Android stands on our shoulders”

By Michael Crider
on 31 Oct, 2011

Microsoft has a keen interested in Android despite selling its own mobile operating system - an interest that's vetted to the tune of more than $400 million a year in kickbacks from 53% of Android devices sold. Now Microsoft's deputy patent troll intellectual property counsel says that Google has built its OS on the back of technology developed (and owned) by the Redmond software giant. Microsoft is only one of many companies gunning for Android manufacturers, but tellingly, not targeting Google itself.

53% of Android phones pay license fees to Microsoft

By Michael Crider
on 24 Oct, 2011

Apple's patent tyranny against every Android manufacturer they can find gets a lot of ink, but it appears that Microsoft is getting the bank. After securing yet another licensing deal with Taiwanese OEM Compal, Redmond announced that a full 53% of Android devices being made are done so with a licensing kick-back to Microsoft. Other major players which have settled with the software giant include HTC, Samsung, Acer and many more.

Ballmer says you need to be a computer scientist to use Android

By Shane McGlaun
on 19 Oct, 2011

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is at it again with wild comments about the competitors of Windows Phone reports Telegraph.co.uk. Ballmer was blasting Android at the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco recently claiming that the OS was difficult to use. Ballmer went so far as to say that you needed to be a computer scientist just to use Android.