Theresa over at Consumer Reports Ad Watch took a gander at the latest Kin ad and is kinda skeeved out. In the ad for Microsoft’s new social networking phone targeted at teens, protagonist “Rosa” goes out to confront in person “Matty Goldberb” who’s been hitting on her on Facebook, despite their never meeting before and not knowing each other besides some “mutual friends” (according to Facebook). [More]
microsoft
What Does "Hot Fried" Windows 7 Taste Like?
By 5.18.10
Just in case the legendary 7-layer Windows 7 Whopper wasn’t enough for you, Microsoft has introduced “Hot Fried 77,” the Windows 7 restaurant, featuring 7 Windows-themed dishes. And beer. However, if you’re looking to grab a quick bite of hot fried Windows, be prepared to travel fast: The restaurant is in Taiwan, and is only open going to be open for two months. [More]
Microsoft Won't Offer Upgrade Discount On Office 2010
By 5.12.10
The bad news: Confirming rumors that circulated earlier this year, Microsoft won’t offer existing Office owners a discount if they want to upgrade to the latest version, Office 2010. The even worse news: The new version hasn’t done away with the Ribbon. The good news: According to PC Magazine, There really isn’t any reason to upgrade if you’re happy with your current version of Office (or OpenOffice or Google Docs). [More]
VIDEO: MS Office Rigged With Alarm (Candid Camera Prank)
By 5.6.10
In this video, a copy of Microsoft Office is rigged with a touch-sensitive alarm and a secret camera that tapes what happens when people around town try to pick it up. Usually they become extremely shocked and lose control of their muscles, dropping the box, shuddering, and even losing their balance. I can’t blame them, that Clippy scares the crap out of me too. Whether it’s just a straight up prank or some kind of anti-software piracy viral video, one thing is for sure: I am amused. [More]
Microsoft Teaches Us All To Laugh Again
By 4.30.10
Having a sense of humor is important to survival. It helps you cope with the down times and to appreciate the good times. Just ask those yucksters at Microsoft, who have put together a very helpful guide on how to gauge your level of humor competency. [More]
These Are The Top 10 Brands In The Whole Wide World
By 4.28.10
For five years, the people at BrandZ (you know they’re in branding because of the “Z”) have been evaluating customer opinion and awareness of various global brands, and then putting a dollar value on that evaluation for their annual Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report. Here are the top 10 brands on the BrandZ list. [More]
Which Of These Is The Worst Business Decision Ever?
By 4.26.10
There have been a lot of boneheaded business decisions over the years, but the folks over at MSN seem to think they’ve distilled it down to an elite 8 of nearsighted, addle-brained, wrong-minded missteps. See if you agree. [More]
Star Of Microsoft Kin's Sexty Ads Has Sext Parody Video History
By 4.21.10
Last week, Microsoft pulled some ads for the new Kin social media device after our prurient pals over at Consumer Reports pointed out that they seemed to promote sexting (In one of the shots, a teenager puts the gadget under his shirt and takes a picture). “Microsoft takes the issue of sexting very seriously,” said a Microsoft spokesman regarding the yank. Well they certainly must, reports ANIMAL, because that’s exactly the kind of content where they seem to have found Rosa Salazar, the campaign’s main actress. For instance, her starring role in the parodic safe-sext-take on Salt n’ Peppa’s 1991 smash hit, “Let’s Talk About Sex.” [More]
Microsoft Takes Back Its Naughty Ad For The Kin
By 4.17.10
Perhaps in an effort to show that the iPhone isn’t the only super sexy young hip fun phone out there, Microsoft had a bit of a misstep recently with a commercial for the Kin that seemed to promote sexting, the act of sending graphic content via camera phones (aka the ultimate fear of teenagers’ parents everywhere). [More]
USB Storage Now Available For Xbox 360
By 4.6.10
Remember a couple weeks back when Microsoft announced that they would finally be allowing USB storage for the Xbox 360? Well, that day is finally here. [More]
Worst Company In America: Apple VS Microsoft
By 4.1.10
It’s time for these two foes to step into the Red Ring of Death. Will Microsoft’s trail of dead Xboxes and too-late knockoffs of iPods and iPhones be enough to get them past Apple, the company that charges you $499 for an oversized iPod Touch and then only lets you use software they approve and sell to you? [More]
Ford Partners With Microsoft For Recharging Electric Vehicles
By 3.31.10
Earlier today, Ford announced that it’s going to be the first car manufacturer to employ Microsoft’s Hohm energy management system when it begins rolling out its line of electric and hybrid electric vehicles over the next two years. [More]
Microsoft EECB Saves The Day When Zune Leaks Battery Acid
By 3.14.10
Tristan tells Consumerist that his Zune was about two years old and out of warranty when it began leaking battery acid on his hand. Appalled at the options that regular customer service offered, he used techniques from the Consumerist toolbox and empowered himself. He used our guide to crafting an Executive E-mail Carpet Bomb, and found contact information for Microsoft executives on the site as well. Getting his case in front of a person with actual authority earned Tristan a free repair of his obviously defective Zune. [More]
Microsoft Donates $8 Million In Pocket Change To Help Veterans Find Jobs
By 3.8.10
For U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re coming home to a depressed job market and double-digit unemployment. That’s why a little Washington-based software company called Microsoft is ponying up $2 million in cash and $6 million in software to help these new civilians find jobs. [More]
Michaelsoft Binbows Is Japanese For "Get A Cheap PC Here"
By 3.3.10
We have no idea who first posted this picture, but
just to set the record straight, the sign is using a bilingual pun
on the Japanese word è²§ä¹ (binbo) which can be translated as
“poor.” It’s apparently promoting a store that sells cheap PCs and
computer parts, though we do kind of like the sound of “binbows,”
and may just start using that around the office when we want to
refer to Michaelsoft’s flagship product. Or other products that are
deemed worthy of such an appellation.
Court Dismisses Vista Downgrade Suit Against Microsoft
By 3.1.10
Upstart software company Microsoft managed to eke out a rare legal victory, as a U.S. District Court has thrown out a lawsuit alleging that Microsoft was forcing computer manufacturers to ship computers with their Vista operating system, compelling owners who want to use the earlier XP operating system to pay for the downgrade. [More]
Yahoo And Twitter Announce Unholy Alliance Of Social Networking
By 2.24.10
Perhaps as a response to Google’s monumentally successful launch (at least in terms of irritating Gmail users) of Google Buzz, Yahoo announced on Tuesday that they have entered into a partnership of sorts with social networking biggie Twitter, apparently in an attempt to bring Yahoo up to speed with the rest of the Internet. [More]
