Tag: Microsoft

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Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella

Microsoft has named Satya Nadella as their new CEO, the successor to outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer.

From Microsoft Press Release:

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 4, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Satya Nadella as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors effective immediately. Nadella previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

In addition to having a new CEO, Microsoft also announces:

Microsoft also announced that Bill Gates, previously Chairman of the Board of Directors, will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction. John Thompson, lead independent director for the Board of Directors, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors and remain an independent director on the Board.

Congratulations are in order along with good luck wishes.

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The Right Person as Microsoft CEO

Recent chatters within the Tech Press suggest that Microsoft is close to name the successor to Steve Balmer as Microsoft CEO.

Kara Swisher from Re/code wrote:

And, at this moment, those who have watched the process think that insider Satya Nadella, who is currently leading its enterprise effort, is the likeliest internal candidate to prevail.

That’s due to a number of reasons, including his familiarity with the company, where he has spent much of his career, as well as a strong technical background and a varied work history at Microsoft.

Considering that Nadella was heavily involved with loss-leader division within Microsoft, namely Bing, not sure if Nadella is the right candidate.

The-hunt-for-next-Microsoft-CEO

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Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 is now available for download. It is free for computers running Windows 8. Windows 8.1 is also available as a stand alone purchase for new install or upgrade from Windows 7.

You can get Windows 8.1 DVD from Microsoft Store.

You can also get Windows 8.1 DVD from Amazon.com:

Amazon.com sells Windows 8.1 – Full Version for $119.00.

Windows-8.1-Upgrade-at-Microsoft-Store

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Microsoft Office 2011 14.3.8 Update

Microsoft has released Office 2011 14.3.8 Update for OS X.

This update fixes critical issues and also helps to improve security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code. For more information about this update, please visit the Microsoft Web site.

Office 2011 14.3.8 Update Installer

For some reasons Microsoft AutoUpdate keeps prompting me to install this update, even after I finished installing the update.

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Microsoft to Acquire Nokia Devices and Services Business, Finally.

OK, who won the pool? If you chose September, 2013 then claim your winnings. If you chose September 2 or September 3, 2013 then you won the jackpot.

Many saw it coming since Stephen Elop was appointed as Nokia CEO back on September 10, 2010. Microsoft is set to acquire Nokia’s devices & services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping services. (Microsoft | Nokia)

Microsoft to Acquire Nokia

The timing is a little peculiar though, just about ten days after Steve Ballmer announced his planned retirement from being Microsoft CEO.

From the Press Release:

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay EUR 3.79 billion to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, and EUR 1.65 billion to license Nokia’s patents, for a total transaction price of EUR 5.44 billion in cash. Microsoft will draw upon its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by Nokia’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

EUR 5.44 billion equals that’s USD 7.14 billion on September 2, 2013.And that’s in cash!

For comparison, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for USD 12.5 billion in cash.

Who else would sell Windows Phone after the acquisition is completed?

Microsoft-Nokia

p.s. Nokia loses $151 million in Q2 2013 while increasing sales of its Lumia lines.

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Steve Ballmer to Retire as Microsoft CEO

The news broke in the morning of Friday August 23, 2013 that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has decided to retire within the next 12 months.

From Ballmer’s internal email:

I am writing to let you know that I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.

It is also clear that Microsoft at this point does not have a succesion plan.

From Microsoft Press Release:

The Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process. This committee is chaired by John Thompson, the board’s lead independent director, and includes Chairman of the Board Bill Gates, Chairman of the Audit Committee Chuck Noski and Chairman of the Compensation Committee Steve Luczo. The special committee is working with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a leading executive recruiting firm, and will consider both external and internal candidates.

So, who would be the next Microsoft CEO? Let’s the speculation begin!

Under Ballmer’s helm, Microsoft has been a generally profitable company with some notable exceptions such as the first few years of XBox project and Surface RT. Notably, Microsoft is actually making profit off Android.

In addition to that, Ballmer had failed to see the competitive threat from Apple.

Steve Ballmer to Retire ftom being Microsoft CEO

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Office 2011 14.3.6 Update

Microsoft releases Office 2011 14.3.6 Update on Tuesday July 16, 2013.

This update provides the latest improvements in Office for Mac 2011. These include the following:

  • Message sending in Microsoft Outlook for Mac
    This update fixes an issue in which Outlook repeatedly tried to send messages that exceeded certain server-side size limits from the Outbox. Now, messages that exceed these size limits are put in the local Drafts folder after three unsuccessful attempts to send the messages.
  • Syncing a folder from which lots of messages were deleted in Outlook for Mac
    This update fixes an issue in which syncing a folder from which many messages were deleted on another client frequently caused Microsoft Outlook for Mac to freeze.
  • Saving files to a Server Message Block (SMB) share in Microsoft Word for Mac
    This update fixes an issue that causes Word to be unable to save files to an SMB share.

Office 2011 14.3.6 Update

For some reasons I didn’t get the update until today.