In order to advance the search for Bing Microsoft has launched a campaign Holiday Song Giveaway. Every user who participates in it, can download one free song from the service Bing Music. Unusually, for such a proposal the company took advantage of Amazon MP3, but not its Zune Marketplace.

Free distribution of tracks is limited to the cost of the latter: you can download just one track not more than $ 1.29. Another necessary condition: an account on Amazon. To download songs you like the company sends the user code, which he could exploit. This code must be activated before 24 January.

Issue Kinect makes Xbox 360 a direct competitor to Apple TV, Google TV. So says a senior director of marketing for Xbox Live at Microsoft Craig Davison (Craig Davison). In an interview AllThingsD He explained that due to Kinect console started to buy people, especially far from the games.

However, he explained that the process of expanding the audience Xbox began long before the advent of Kinect, namely in 2008, when the console started to support Netflix. Later appeared Zune Video Marketplace, it became possible to watch TV channels, including live TV. Because of this, for many Xbox became a kind of media center to access various Internet content, and then game console. 42% of Xbox Live Gold subscribers every day watching TV through the console hour or more. Now with Kinect can manage even watching videos.

However, at a price of Xbox has not rival Apple TV , which costs $ 99. Xbox 360 Arcade with no Kinect costs in the U.S. about twice as much. And it's not talking about Google TV, which is significantly more expensive than from Apple.

With the release of drivers for the visual controller Kinect it started to adapt to a variety of needs, not always play. Adult entertainment industry too quickly recognized the potential hit from Microsoft.

Studio ThriXXX Software tailor it for specific sexual manipulation of a virtual girlfriend. She responds to them: publishing the groans, changes posture, etc. If you already have 18 years of age, you can see an example on YouTube. The developers promise to release a game based on the PC next year.

Microsoft in the near future plans, not just one but two set of updates for its mobile platform, Windows Phone. The first will be presented at the January show CES, talk about it personally, Steve Ballmer, the second will come later, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

The first package to which the left has less than a month, will include, inter alia, the copy-paste. It has been known for almost 100% because some developers have already tested this feature. Later, in the MWC, will feature an automatic software updates via the API, improved multitasking and more advanced capabilities and settings of the phone. This writes the blog WinRumors.

On Windows Phone 7 may also appear Silverlight. When this happens, it is unknown but almost certainly happen, because the topic casually touched a Senior Technical Evangelist Microsoft, Brian Keller (Brian Keller). "We defer (Silverlight on WP 7) until some other event – he said. – Maybe this will be a major event in Barcelona, or some other. "

Xbox 360 is the sixth consecutive month, tops the list of sales consoles, ahead of main rivals the Wii and PS3. The main reason, according to the unanimous opinion of experts, is the module Kinect. Although his sales began just last month, about him, it was announced in June, because of what buyers lined up for the Xbox.

According to NPD, in November, the U.S. has sold 1.37 million copies of the Xbox, which is 68% more than during the same period last year. Nintendo sold 1.2 million of its Wii. Sony has not disclosed sales statistics PlayStation 3. Thus, the Xbox has more than 40% of video game consoles.

"Of course, Kinect contributed to accelerate sales – says David Dennis (David Dennis) of subdivision Xbox. – We have to understand the issue that we have in the hands of a hit and great to see that consumers have confirmed it. "

With regard to statistics proper Kinect , about a month ago, Microsoft reported a 2.5 million units sold for all time with sales on November 4.

In the NPD pointed out that this is the best November result for Microsoft, and for the entire gaming market. Its volume in November was $ 2.76 billion, up 8% better than last year.

Microsoft's senior director of corporate strategy and acquisitions Fritz Lanman (Fritz Lanman), speaking at a conference LeWeb, confirmed that the corporation tried to buy Facebook , but to no avail. Previously reported in the book «The Facebook Effect» David Kirkpatrick (David Kirkpatrick), published in June this year, but Microsoft has not confirmed this information.

"Yes, we tried to buy Facebook, from Facebook a lot to do with Microsoft ", – said Lanman.

Kirkpatrick, in his book wrote that Steve Ballmer personally flew to Palo Alto for talks with Mark Zuckerberg, twice. He offered his young colleague, $ 15 billion, but he rejected the offer.

Windows 7 accounts for 25% market share of desktop operating systems. Meanwhile, the share of Windows XP was reduced to 50%. This was reported by an analytical service Statscounter.

Analysts believe that by the end of the year the number of sold licenses Windows 7 to reach 300 million in October, that number was 240 million

It is also reported that Windows 7 is installed on 93% of all new computers.

U.S. National Committee on Labour in its report accusing Microsoft of using low-skilled labor and low-paid Chinese adolescents. More precisely, using them is not itself Microsoft, but Chinese contractors, are available for Microsoft computer mouse. In particular, the report mentions the factory KYE, which operates thousands of students aged 16-17 years who work there during the summer holidays. Sometimes attract and adolescents 14-15 years. According to the report, this is equivalent to the use of child labor.

In this company, even staff members – mostly girls under 25 years. Both full-time and seasonal workers are working very long and for low wages. A typical employee spends at the factory 15 hours a day, seven days a week, often he is forced to work overtime. Workers live in dormitories have the right to leave only for a fixed time. Payment for this spartan work is about 65 cents an hour. Food employees shall not be granted.

KYE very strongly rejected these accusations, Microsoft took a more balanced position – stated that it would hold its own investigation.

KYE – factory known, it delivers the goods for giants such as Acer, Asustek, BestBuy, Foxconn, HP, Logitech and Samsung. These companies have not yet commented on the report of the committee.

The problem of child and adolescent labor in Chinese factories IT is not the first time pops up on the front pages. Officially, the Chinese laws prohibit such conditions, as described above, but the execution of these laws almost do not follow that it is not surprising: Many thanks to low wages and minimal social obligations of the Chinese products so successfully compete in the global market.

Via Electronista

On the Internet a interesting video demonstrating the power of the new touch interface from Microsoft – Manual Deskterity. In fact, it is the same Surface, only with the possibility of simultaneous input stylus and fingers.

The video shows all the possibilities of new technology, such as the various image editing functions on the go. Manual Deskterity especially enjoy the children – to draw on it a pleasure.

It is possible that these technologies will be used in currently being developed Flatbed Courier . If you believe the early concept video mysterious tablet from its main rival – iPad – «Courier favorably with just an advanced system of handwriting.

Below – videos of how this functionality is implemented with the current touchscreen iPad . Frankly, not inspiring. Manual Deskterity, in contrast to the iPad, eliminates false positives from the palm of the hand that holds a stylus pen.

Via Electronista

In March, the market share of Windows 7 for the first time exceeded the mark of 10%. In Microsoft said that in 2009 sold 60 million licenses, and in the new year this figure had increased at least half.

In March, the total percentage of all Windows-based decreased slightly – by 0.54% (from 92.12% to 91.58%). It passed the position of all versions, except 7, which is quite expected. Share Windows XP fell by 1.03% (65.49% and 64,46%), Vista – by 0,5% (with 16.51% and 16,01%). Share Windows 7 has increased by 1,31% (from 8.92% to 10.23%).

Via ArsTechnica