danger

Microsoft examines threats posed by Google, Apple

Microsoft filed its quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, and in addition to financial revelations about its recent acquisitions, the tech titan also gave a more formal glimpse at how it views and plans to deal with the growing threat posed by Google and Apple, as well as longtime nemesis open source. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touched on many of these issues last week at the start of the company's financial analysts meeting.

In a section titled "Challenges to our business model may reduce our revenues and operating margins," Microsoft reiterated … Read more

Zune phone rumors persist

A quick follow-up to my earlier post about the lack of Zune mentions in Microsoft's presentations to financial analysts today. Mobile market follower James Kendrick blogs that Microsoft is holding its first serious internal meetings to coordinate the development of a Zune phone.

I don't have any inside knowledge about these meetings, but I don't doubt it for a second. Kendrick's posting, which is based on an unsourced rumor, suggests that any such phone will be based on Windows Mobile 7, will have a touch screen, and will feature connections to Windows Live services.

My guess: … Read more

New T-Mobile Sidekick set for July 30 debut

T-Mobile's latest Sidekick, code-named Gekko, will launch July 30 according to cell phone enthusiast blog The Boy Genius.

The blog said the new device will be an entry-level Sidekick "that won't break the bank." The new phone will supposedly sport a 2-megapixel camera, video recorder, stereo Bluetooth, and other standard Sidekick features, according to the blog. The Boy Genius has also posted some pictures it claims were leaked from T-Mobile.

It looks like the creative geniuses in Microsoft's product marketing team may have helped name the new device that will simply be called "Sidekick … Read more

Microsoft closes Danger deal

Microsoft has wrapped up its acquisition of smartphone maker Danger, setting the stage for a boost to its consumer mobile business.

Danger will be housed within Microsoft's newly created Premium Mobile Experiences team, which is part of the software giant's Entertainment and Devices Division's Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft said Tuesday.

"Combining Danger and Microsoft talents together in the Premium Mobile Experiences team is how we're going to deliver cool, new, fun mobile experiences to consumers," Roz Ho, corporate vice president of the Premium Mobile Experiences team, said in a statement.

Microsoft says it plans … Read more

Gadgettes 85: The things that glow episode

Glowing things can be somewhat morbid. They can be somewhat toolie. But sometimes, if you're lucky, they can be totally and completely PRETTTTTY. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 85

The Hanged Man Lamp: Ever so slightly morbid? http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/the_hanged_man.html

Mood Clock + USB Hub = Twice as much fun http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/usb_moody_clock.html

Glowing flower pot for the trippy garden owner http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/glowing_flower.html

Enjoy nighttime bocce ball with LED Bocce http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/enjoy_nighttime.php

Light-up tweezers enable precision plucking … Read more

What Ballmer plans to keep from Yahoo, Danger

LAS VEGAS--With the acquisition of Danger and the proposed bid for Yahoo, Microsoft is looking at taking on a whole lot of non-Windows technology.

Danger's Sidekick device uses a Java operating system, while Yahoo is known for its extensive use of open-source software to power its services.

Speaking at the Mix '08 conference, Ballmer said that Microsoft would likely take on some of the open-source PHP applications that Yahoo relies on for its services, again assuming Yahoo ever starts returning Microsoft's phone calls.

"We should not have two of everything," Ballmer said. "We'll have … Read more

Microsoft + Danger = iPhone competitor

How long have we been reading these Zune Phone rumors? Microsoft still hasn't officially announced any plans to build an iPhone, but yesterday's corporate reorganization clearly points that way.

Microsoft has reason to be worried. After about five years of plugging away with Windows Mobile, Microsoft's managed to create a reasonable competitor to Research in Motion for e-mail-enabled phones. But that's about it. In contrast, Apple launched the iPhone in June 2007 in the U.S. and by Q4, it was already the number-two provider of smart phone (or "converged device") OSs in the … Read more

Danger's price tag: Reportedly $500 million

Microsoft didn't say how much it was paying for Danger when it announced the deal on Monday. However, according to Om Malik, the price tag for the company was $500 million.

That's more than $1 million per employee for the company, which has 294 workers. However, the price tag makes some sense when you consider the company has taken in $225 million from investors and had been pondering an IPO.

Microsoft to buy phone maker Danger

Updated at 11 a.m. PST with Microsoft comments and more background on Danger.

Microsoft apparently is serious about the consumer cell phone business.

The software giant said Monday that it's acquiring Danger, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based maker of the T-Mobile Sidekick for an undisclosed amount.

"The addition of Danger serves as a perfect complement to our existing software and services, and also strengthens our dedication to improving mobile experiences centered around individuals and what they like," Microsoft entertainment unit President Robbie Bach said in a statement.

Danger's Sidekick brings many of the same abilities … Read more