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Microsoft Corp launched Windows 7 on Thursday in its most important release for more than a decade, aiming to win back customers after the disappointing Vista and strengthen its grip on the PC market. The world’s largest software company, which powers more than 90% of personal computers, has received good reviews for the new operating system, which it hopes will grab back the impetus in new technology from rivals Apple Inc and Google Inc. The new and faster system is less cluttered and has new touch-screen features. It comes almost three years after the launch of Vista, whose complexity frustrated many home users and turned off business customers. The success of Windows, which accounts for more than half of Microsoft’s profit, is crucial for Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to revive the company’s image as the world’s most important software firm. “I have to say I’m chomping at the bit,” Ballmer told an audience of Microsoft customers and partners in Toronto on Wednesday, adding that he is ready to make sales calls himself on Windows 7. Sales won’t immediately impact the bottom line of Microsoft, which is expected to post a lower quarterly profit on Friday.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Google has forged a distribution alliance with Sony’s PC division and is in talks with other computer makers as it looks to promote its well-regarded but little-used Chrome browser. The renewed efforts to expand the reach of Chrome come a year after Google opened a new front in the browser wars with the surprise launch of the software. They highlight the difficulties the company has faced in using Chrome as a strategic weapon to counter Microsoft.The deal with Sony, which involves shipping Chrome on new Vaio PCs, is the first the Internet company has struck with a computer maker. Similar distribution alliances have become a key part of the Internet search wars as Microsoft and Google vie to be the default search service on new PCs. Read more

Popularity: unranked [?]

The successful completion of the current talks would mark an end to Microsoft’s 18-month pursuit of Yahoo, which began with an unsolicited full takeover bid that rocked the Internet world. Since last summer, the software giant has been pushing for a looser alliance that would combine the search technology and search advertising systems of the two companies and give them a better chance to catch up with Google. The talks picked up steam late last week after the two sides reached the outlines of a deal in which Yahoo would not receive any up-front payment, as Microsoft had initially offered in the middle of last year, but the two sides would divide future search advertising revenues. For Yahoo, the partnership would bring an influx of cash at a time of declining revenue in its search business. Carol Bartz, brought in as chief executive from outside the company after the debacle of last year’s public break-up of the Microsoft talks, has continued to pare staff since taking over in January.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is expected to unveil its new Internet search engine to the public this week, an attempt by the software heavyweight to grab back some of the Internet search market from behemoth Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG). The site of the coming-out party for the new Web search engine apparently will be a high-tech conference called “D: All Things Digital,” which is sponsored by The Wall Street Journal. The conference, slated for The Four Seasons Aviara in North San Diego, Calif., begins Tuesday and ends Thursday, and features as speakers some of the top executives in the media, entertainment and high-tech fields. Interestingly enough, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steven A. Ballmer is one of the scheduled speakers. According to a WSJ report, the new Microsoft search engine, code-named “Kumo, has been in private tests inside the company for months. This is the goal: 1) Decrease the amount of time they spend clicking their way across the Web in search of information. The technology is designed to cut down on the length of typical Web searches by grouping the results of a search for, say, a particular model of car into helpful categories like parts, used car listings, online discussion forums and videos showing the vehicle, and 2) Offer better ways of organizing search results. For instance, the search results for a special-interest car might be grouped into more-helpful categories such as sales listings of that type of car, parts distributors, car clubs and online discussion forums, and even videos of that model car.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Microsoft and Yahoo have restarted talks about forging an internet partnership, raising the possibility of a new alliance to counter Google’s growing influence over the online world. News of the discussions was confirmed by one person familiar with the discussions, though neither company would comment on the talks. Carol Bartz, Yahoo’s chief executive, and Steve Ballmer, her counterpart at Microsoft, have started the talks in recent days, though no formal proposals have been developed and the discussions are at a very early stage, this person said. The latest discussions have involved a wide range of possible outcomes that would lead to ways of combining or pooling some of the internet assets of the two companies, according to the person familiar with the discussions. They have yet to focus on any one preferred direction, the person said.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Let’s have a look at the Research In Motion the innovator that bought the world BlackBerry, the tool that keeps us connected, from a Technical POV (point of view). Research In Motion Limited, Waterloo, Canada (NASDAQ (GS): RIMM)

The overall analysis after Wednesdays market action is Bearish, in the near term it is Neutral, mid-term Neutral, and long term Very Bearish, this can change on any strong upside action with good volume.

Today RIMM closed minus 2.59 pts at 52.97 on volume approaching 28.7MM/shrs on the day (Nov. 05, 2008) putting it #10 on today’s NASDAQ most active list.

There are 5 Open Gaps Down on the chart dating back to June 26, 2008 (137.49) thru October 6, 2008, (59.59), the near term resistance is the 50 day moving average at 72.55.

This is Research in Motion: RIM moves with its customers. In the world of personal communications Research in Motion provides wireless hardware, software, and services to customers worldwide. Its signature BlackBerry smart phones handle voice, email, and text messaging, + Internet access. RIM also provides software development tools and makes radio-based modems that other manufacturers incorporate into portable devices. RIM sells to corporations, resellers, and wireless carriers. The ubiquitous BlackBerry devices are offered by service providers including AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

RIM’s competitors are primarily in the Handheld Computers & Accessories industry. It also competes in the Computer Networking Equipment, Wireless Software, and Wireless Telecommunications Equipment sectors. RIM competitive landscape includes: Apple, Microsoft, and Nokia.

RIM is ranked #107 on the Financial Times Global 500 list with sale of US$ 6+B and 8,400 employees.
Note: Demand for RIM and their competitor’s products is tied to consumer and business income. The profitability of individual computer companies depends on purchasing and production efficiencies, and on technological expertise. Large companies like RIM have economies of scale in purchasing and production. Small companies can compete successfully by specializing in certain products or by developing superior technology.

The industry is capital-intensive and highly automated: annual revenue per employee is about $500,000. The output of North American computer manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 3.9 percent between 2007 and 2012.

Popularity: 2% [?]