Once upon a time Microsoft

Microsoft is it still the major player in the computer world? Apple threatens it by replacing PCs with smartphones, Google wants to move applications from the desktop to the cloud, then it must defend its flagship Windows and give it a future.

"The only problem with Microsoft is that they have no taste. They don't bring a lot of innovations, they don't push culture into their products. They make really third products that have no spirit in them."
Steve Jobs, biography.

Brief history

This is a Basic interpreter that is at the origin of Microsoft, in fact, Micro-Soft at the time, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen to market it.
The Basic language from Microsoft equips first computers, TRS-80, Commodore and under the name Applesoft, Apple II.

But the success really begins in 1980 when IBM, tired of the requirements of Digital Reseach in the provision of the operating system CP/M on its future PC, asks Bill Gates to create another. It will be MS-DOS, a QDOS derivative, that will power the IBM PC in 1981 and all compatible computer then. (We find CP/M on Amstrad some years later).

In 1980 Steve Ballmer became an employee of the company as a manager. He will become its CEO in 2000 to replace Bill Gates.

After some tests thwarted by threats of lawsuits from Apple, Microsoft launched Windows 3.0 in 1990, first interface with windows and mouse. Unconvincing, we had to wait for Windows 95 to see computers really usable by all.

In 1991, Basic has a graphical development interface and becomes Visual Basic. Visual Basic. NET took over in 2003.

In 1995 the firm showed its ability to adapt by focusing its efforts on the Internet, completely missing its concerns previously.

Gradually the Word software takes over from Word Perfect, a worldwide success, because it uses the GUI as opposed to its competitor. Other office software, Excel, Powerpoint will do the same against their competitors through marketing methods of the firm and the renown of the operating system. Desktop software is still its main source of income.

In 1997, Microsoft saved Apple from bankruptcy by investing $ 150 million into the ailing firm. Steve Jobs become then the CEO. In 2011, Apple's revenues surpassed those of  Microsoft and it became the main competitor against its savior.

In August 2001, XP takes over from Windows 98 and Me, it was founded based on the NT server system and the interface of 98, and is suitable both to business and personal use. It is still widely used in 2011.

In 2001 Microsoft also addresses the console market with the XBox. It will be years before it becomes profitable. The XBox 360 in 2005 is a great success.

Windows Vista was released in 2006. Microsoft will recognize later that it was poorly designed when it is replaced by Seven in 2009.

Kinect interface by gestures completes the XBox in 2010, later Windows, and is an immense success.

In 2010, Windows 7 Phone provides all the functionality to run a modern smartphone. The agreement with Nokia in 2011 announces a great future success.

Evolution in 2011

In March 2011, Internet Explorer 9 is available and it is a radical change: it suppports the main web standards: HTML 5, CSS 3 and induces withdrawal of proprietary technologies such as Silverlight.
Microsoft also presented Windows 8, bringing an innovative concept of interface for the first time since Windows 95. It must also run on tablet PCs.
It joins forces with Nokia to equip it with Windows Mobile Phone 7.
It presents a new ecosystem that is no longer based on the desktop but also includes tablets and even mobile and XBox. The same applications will run on all devices.
As it always was able to do, the firm adapts to the changing world.

Earnings

The first quarter of 2012 shows a revenue of 17 billion (+7%).

War against Google

Until 2010, Microsoft was the empire that faced anarchy of multiple competitors, such as various versions of Linux. Then appeared in front of it another empire which has even greater expansionist views: Google.

microsoft vs google

The common enemy of all players in the Web is Google, which has led Microsoft, Apple and RIM to build a consortium for the purchase of mobile patents of Nortel that Google wanted to buy.

Microsoft is waging a war against Google on several fronts:

Note that Microsoft is on the defensive in front of the engine that develops in all areas of IT and it must renew itself to ensure its future.

Microsoft against Barnes & Noble

The strange tactics of Microsoft on mobile OS market make it at least one determined opponent. For months it signed all the mobile manufacturers one after the other, contracts for the right to use its patents, and we will see what are these inventions.

Not only is the book publisher, who, like Adobe, goes to electronic books market and sell its own tablets, refuses to pay for what it considers a racket, but it even asks the Department Of Justice to investigate a campaign launched in an obvious purpose to counter the use of a free OS.

But what are these patents? Microsoft first asked B & N signing a nondisclosure agreement, since it is a trade secret, it claims. What the other denied.
Finally facing DOJ lawyers, Microsoft unveiled the famous secret.

According to B & N, some of these patents relate to things that are not even implemented used on their tablet.

Social network?

Google has its own, Microsoft did it have a project? It seems to be the case and that the homepage was accidentally posted on socl.com before being removed.
The code name is Tulalip. But perhaps is it a search engine based on Facebook, a firm in which Microsoft has shares.

Open source

Microsoft's position with respect to open source has changed since 2008. The reason is the cloud and the move of activity towards services. Microsoft sells its services on Azure and with Office365. In the first case it uses two open source software, Node.js and Hadoop and since it makes money that way, and that enterprise no longer buy software but use this platform, open source is acceptable for the firm.
It even certified for Windows in 2010  a CMS written in PHP, SilverStripe. It contributed to the Joomla CMS, for use on Windows server which is still in the same direction. Its own open source CMS for  .NET, Oxite, created in 2008  is fallen in oblivion and replaced by Orchard.

Microsoft's sites