TTL - The Tech Link Blog

Microsoft

Microsoft kept it’s title as the world’s software leader by posting optimistic results for the 3rd quarter that closed on September 30.

Revenues were up by 9% on one year at $15.06 billion. Profits were up by 1.8% at $4.37 billion ($0.48 per share).

Although Microsoft posted fairly positive results in the 3rd quarterd comparted to the same period last year, the company has revised their year-end forecast from between $67.3 to $68.1 billion to something between $64.9 and $66.4 billion. This announcement was made because of the slowdown in U.S. and global economy.

The Globe and Mail

Xbox 360 HDD

Microsoft will be unveiling the new “Xbox Experience” next month. With it comes a 128MB update that users will have to download and install on their Xbox’s hard drive.

So what happens if you have an Xbox 360 without a hard drive?

Microsoft has thought of you and is now offering low priced memory upgrades for Xbox 360 owners that bought the console with no hard drive. Users will be able to get their hands on a refurbished 20GB HDD for only $19.99. We even have seen reports of a free 512MB memory card option!

Xbox 360 Special Offer
techAU

Zoho

It’s no secret that Microsoft Office is the most used desktop office application suite in the business world. What is surprising, is that more and more businesses are switching from desktop office applications to online suites.

Zoho and Google Apps are the most popular ones. Zoho has now over 400,000 users and Google Apps has over 500,000 users. Big names like GE, L’Oréal and now Washington DC are going this way for various reasons. Read it all..

Playstation 3

As Microsoft and Nintendo are aggressively pricing their gaming consoles for Christmas, one would expect the same for Sony’s Playstation 3… No this year folks.

From I4U News: “Sony’s CEO, Kazuo Hirai, told the Financial Times that the current PS3 pricing is the one that Sony will go into the Holiday shopping season. Sony is arguing that the Sony PS3 is a better value than rivals half its price.”

I4U News

Bill Gates

According to Forbes Magazine, Warren Buffett has now taken the first position as the richest man on the planet. Bill Gates is now number two after being number one for 15 years.

Bill Gates’ fortune dropped from $57 billion in August to $55.5 billion in October. Warren Buffett’s wealth is estimated at $58 billion by the business magazine.

Third place this month is taken by Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corp.

Redmond Developer News

Xbox 360

Microsoft officially responded to rumors around a Blu-Ray disc player for the Xbox 360.

They “do not plan on having Blu-Ray support anytime soon” confirmed Major Nelson on his official Xbox 360 blog. This probably has to do with very slow adoption of the “new” Blu-Ray media, and also because of the failure of the original HD-DVD external drive that Microsoft tried to push when HD-DVD was still alive.

I guess they just don’t want to repeat the same mistake again…

TG Daily

BlackBerry

Before you get too excited, this is still at the “rumor” status.

Microsoft apparently has a “standing offer” that has been set to buy major shares in RIM at the price of $50 per share. Now that RIM’s shares are in the $53-$58 range, it would not be surprising to see an official offer from Microsoft.

RIM has been said to be “opened” to friendly offers.

Electronista

Xbox 360

What’s going to happen on November 19th? The new Xbox experience that is! Well, what is it?

Judging from Microsoft’s Press Release, we can tell that it is going to include new Xbox 360 bundles, and that we should expect “a transformation in home entertainment”.

Here are the new Xbox 360 holiday bundles:

• Xbox 360 Arcade - $199.99 - Includes Sega Superstar Tennis and 5 Xbox 360 Arcade games
• Xbox 360 - $299.99 - Includes LEGO Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda
• Xbox 360 Elite - $399.99 - Includes LEGO Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda

The new Xbox experience will be centered around everything that is social of the Xbox 360 meaning that it will probably be an enhanced version of the existing Xbox Live service. Don’t expect anything really spectacular, think more like an update or upgrade to an already existing product.

CDRinfo

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Xbox 360 owners will be treated with two exclusive Tomb Raider releases just in time for the Christmas season.

The releases will be available on Xbox Live and will come as “chapters” (or extensions) to the Tomb Raider: Underworld game. The first will be available for Christmas and the second one should follow shortly after. There will even be a new playable character included!

The Register Hardware UK

Zune

In an almost official statement, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer indicated that a Windows Mobile version of the Zune software and Zune Store would be in the works.

We don’t know when and how but we know it’s coming. Next version of the Windows Mobile platform should come pre-loaded with Zune we hope.

Neowin.net

Xbox 360

Total game console sales between the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 were 196,166 units.

Nintendo overtook Microsoft and Sony yet again with 109,548 Wii sold between September 1st and 28th, then came Microsoft’s Xbox 360 with 53,547 units, and Sony with 33,071 of it’s Playstation 3 systems.

Japan’s console market shares for September 2008:

• Nintendo Wii - 56%
• Xbox 360 - 27%
• Sony PS3 - 17%

Mainly due to major price cuts by Microsoft, this is the first time where the Xbox 360 beats the PS3 in the Japanese market.

CDRinfo

Xbox 360

Rumors have started to spread about Microsoft’s possible announcement of a new slimline Xbox 360 towards December of this year.

Rahul Datta, Microsoft India’s Retail Services Manager, told the gaming website Split Screen that an announcement regarding a slimline Xbox 360 could be expected.

This would actually make sense as Microsoft is slashing the prices of their consoles around the world to, possibly, liquidate all the current Xbox 360s they have in stock.

The Register Hardware UK via WinBeta.org

Windows Mobile

Microsoft officially announced their upcoming Internet Explorer 6 browser for Windows Mobile.

This is a much anticipated release as the version on current Windows Mobile devices is outdated and based on a very old version of IE4. Lets hope Microsoft will offer this as an easy upgrade for all WinMo users!

the::unwired

Xbox 360

Xbox 360s that have been manufactured after the 6th of August 2008 and have a lot number of 8031 or above have the new Jasper chipset which saves on power and generates less heat.

This in turn will save on energy and make your Xbox 360 last longer and be more reliable.

engadget

Windows Live

Microsoft is promising faster performance of their existing Live Hotmail service as they will be making some changes to the service that will boost the speed on both broadband and standard Internet connections.

Neowin.net