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Microsoft chief defends controversial military HoloLens contract
Microsoft employees objecting to a US Army HoloLens contract aren't likely to get many concessions from their company's leadership. CEO Satya Nadella has defended the deal in a CNN interview, arguing that Microsoft made a "principled decision" not to deny technology to "institutions that we have elected in democracies to protect the freedoms we enjoy." The exec also asserted that Microsoft was "very transparent" when securing the contract and would "continue to have that dialogue" with staff.
Microsoft might surprise us with HoloLens 2 next month
Microsoft has hinted it could reveal the long-awaited HoloLens 2 next month. It sent out invites to a press event taking place on February 24th, which CEO Satya Nadella, CVP Julia White and technical fellow Alex Kipman will host. Given the names involved, it seems Microsoft has something significant up its sleeve. Kipman is the creator of HoloLens, so his presence suggests Microsoft will have at least some news on the latest version of its mixed reality headset.
White House to host innovation talk with tech CEOs
The White House is set to host a roundtable discussion next week that will include a number of tech CEOs, the Wall Street Journal reports. A White House email says those attending will discuss "bold, transformational ideas" that "can help ensure US leadership in industries of the future," and they'll do so December 6th. Among those reportedly participating are Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf, Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman and Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian.
Windows chief out as Microsoft reorganizes its business
Microsoft is reorganizing itself to be better-equipped for the future, according to an email sent to employees by CEO Satya Nadella. One casualty of the change is Terry Myerson, who has headed up the company's Windows business for the last five years. His team, the Windows and Devices Group, is essentially being cleaved in two, with hardware and software now handled by different teams.
Tech community stands by Dreamers after Trump ends protections
As expected, President Trump announced today via Jeff Sessions that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would be dissolved. In six months, the government will begin phasing out protections for undocumented immigrants that came to the US as children and many members of the tech community are voicing their dissent over the decision.
Watch Microsoft's Build 2017 opening keynote right here!
Microsoft's Build 2017 conference is kicking off today in Seattle, and the company's CEO Satya Nadella will be taking the stage during the opening keynote. We expect there will be lots of talk of Windows 10, Cortana and, who knows, maybe we'll get a few surprises along the way. It starts at 8AM PT/11AM ET, and you can watch it happen live in the video below. If you're interested in the full Build 2017 schedule, Microsoft made a page with all of those details just for you.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella joins Starbucks' board of directors
Starbucks has long had a fondness for technology in its coffee shops, and it's now reflecting that philosophy in its directors. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has just joined the Starbucks board, giving the restaurant chain a major voice from the technology industry. While it's not clear just what got Nadella on to the board (besides his clout in Seattle-area business), he doesn't mince words about his potential contribution -- he believes his "years of experience" in tech will play an important role.
Microsoft CEO says AI should help, not replace, workers
Artificial intelligence has gone from being something relegated to science fiction, to a buzzword every tech company is eager to slap onto their latest innovations. When it comes to the implementation of AI, though, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is urging for companies to take a considerate approach. "The fundamental need of every person is to be able to use their time more effectively, not to say, 'let us replace you'," he said at the DLD conference in Munich, according to Bloomberg.
Microsoft CEO says mixed reality is the 'ultimate computer'
Microsoft is set to unveil several new products at its fall event on Wednesday, but that hasn't stopped CEO Satya Nadella from dropping by Laguna Beach, California this Monday. During a WSJD Live interview with Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Gerard Baker, Nadella delved into topics that concern the company's future. Specifically: augmented reality.
Microsoft is laying off 2,850 more workers
Microsoft is cutting an additional 2,850 jobs on top of 1,850 announced in May 2016, meaning it has laid off over 10 percent of its workforce in the last two years. Most are ex-Nokia employees from its mobile hardware division, it said in its annual SEC filing. That means Microsoft has almost nothing left of its $7.2 billion Nokia acquisition, originally intended to make it a smartphone hardware player. The software giant has already notified 900 of the employees and will complete the remaining layoffs by mid-2017.
Microsoft and Google agree to work out regulatory disputes
Microsoft and Google have reached a worldwide ceasefire agreement in their ongoing regulatory disputes, Re/code reports today. In September, the two tech superpowers dropped the boatload of lawsuits they'd carried against each other for years. Today, the pair announced they will work together to settle any further disputes before going to court or involving any number of regulatory bodies around the globe.
Facebook and Microsoft confirm they have no gender pay gap
Tech companies may employ a smaller percentage of women than other US industries, but at least they pay them as well as men. Microsoft and Facebook marked "Equal Pay Day" (today) by confirming they had hit that milestone. "I'm proud to share that at Facebook, men and women earn the same," says Facebook VP Lori Matloff Goler. Microsoft VP Kathleen Hogan also declares that, "today, for every $1 earned by men, our female employees in the U.S. earn 99.8 cents at the same job title and level."
Zuckerberg is the most known, liked and disliked tech CEO
A new survey from Morning Consult shows that Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg are, if nothing else, the best-known tech CEOs out there. It also shows the power of statistics to confuse -- at first glance, the survey appears to show that the pair are reasonably well-liked by the public, with 48 and 39 percent favored ratings, respectively. However, Zuck is also the least-favored CEO, while Cook is in third place in that category. So what's the deal? Well, most of the 1,935 voters polled hadn't even heard of the other CEOs in the study, including Jeff Bezos, Satya Nadella, Elon Musk and Travis Kalanick.
Microsoft unveils new Windows 10 devices on October 6th
Microsoft will host an event featuring new Windows 10 devices plus remarks from CEO Satya Nadella on October 6th in New York City. The briefing (fittingly) begins and 10AM ET. Microsoft is light on specifics, but it promises Windows 10 hardware, so we might get a closer look at things like the Surface Hub, a product we recently learned will start shipping to customers on January 1st, 2016. That one is priced between $7,000 and $20,000. Plus, there's always the Surface tablet, Lumia smartphones, Xbox One and PC devices, too. And we can't forget about HoloLens, Microsoft's augmented reality headset.
Facebook lets users 'celebrate pride' with rainbow filter
If you're a fan of the Supreme Court's ruling today that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, Facebook has your profile-pride needs on lock. While logged into Facebook, head to facebook.com/celebratepride to superimpose a rainbow banner over your profile picture. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and plenty of other tech executives are celebrating the legalization of gay marriage today on social media: Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted, "Today marks a victory for equality, perseverance and love," and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella similarly wrote on Twitter, "A historic moment and step forward for equality in America. #LoveWins." In a speech this morning, President Barack Obama characterized the Supreme Court decision as "justice that arrives like a thunderbolt."
Microsoft's CEO rallies the troops with a new mission statement
It was only a matter of time until Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella updated the company's mission statement with his own twist. Today, a week after a major executive shakeup, he revealed it in a "State of the Union" message to Microsoft employees. "Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more," Nadella wrote in an email message, which was published by Geekwire. If you've been paying attention, you'd notice that it's pretty much the same goal former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was aiming for in his 2013 mission statement update, except it's much clearer and easier to understand. It's also a fitting vision for Nadella, who's been focused on making Microsoft more streamlined and nimble, rather than the lumbering giant that's too slow to innovate.
Recommended Reading: The life of a professional dumpster diver
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The Pro Dumpster Diver Who's Making Thousands Off America's Biggest Retailers Randall Sullivan, Wired Dumpster diving sounds pretty gross, right? Well, what if I told you there are thousands of dollars to be made rummaging through trash? That's exactly what Matt Malone is doing, and if he did it full-time, he claims he could rake in around $250,000 from his exploits.
Watch Microsoft's Windows 10 keynote right here!
Can't make it to Washington for Microsoft's big Windows 10 event today? No worries! Between our liveblog and the stream embedded below, it'll be like you're sitting front-row center when Satya Nadella dishes the details on Redmond's new desktop operating system. You aren't tied to any one specific browser to peep the broadcast, either, and you could even Chromecast the stream to your flatscreen in the living room if you so desired. When's it all start? We're glad you asked: 12 pm Eastern / 9 am Pacific. But, you know, you can get in on the positively chill pre-show music right this instant; it is Wednesday after all, and your ears deserve a treat. [Image credit: Associated Press]
Microsoft is doing great, and so are Surface Pro 3 and Office 365
The cloud has been a solid source of income for Microsoft in recent times, and while the company is still in the middle of a huge transition, the future is looking bright under recently appointed CEO Satya Nadella. Today, Microsoft released its earnings report for the first fiscal 2015 quarter, with the main takeaway being the growth of its Devices and Consumer revenue by 47 percent, to $10.96 billion, bringing the total to $23.20 billion in overall revenue, a 25 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In other words, business is superb over in Redmond.
Ballmer steps down from Microsoft board to focus on basketball, teaching
He was Microsoft's 30th employee, its first business manager and CEO for over a decade. Now, after 34 years with the company, Steve Ballmer is leaving Microsoft behind. In a letter to Satya Nadella, Microsoft's new CEO, Ballmer explained that he's leaving the company's board of directors effective immediately. "I have become very busy," he explains. "I see a combination of Clippers, civic contribution, teaching and study taking up a lot of time." It's not a surprising development -- owning an NBA franchise is a pretty big responsibility, after all -- but it marks the end of Ballmer's decades-long influence over the company. Despite his departure, the former-CEO is still invested in the company's success, and spent most of the letter encouraging Nadella and giving advice.
