Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Microsoft today announces the list of winners of its internal ‘Microsoft Next' innovation program. From developing an online platform through Azure that helps ease the devastation caused by floods in Australia, to performing medical operations using Kinect, to developing the next generation of teachers in the Middle East, people are doing amazing things with Microsoft technology. Read here to find out more about the program and how these innovations are helping people and communities around the world.

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:30:00 GMT

Microsoft and Toyota this week announced that they have forged a strategic partnership and plan to build a global platform for Toyota's next-generation telematics services using the Windows Azure platform. Telematics is the fusing of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles; it can encompass GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies. Read here the full press release.

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:00:00 GMT

This week Microsoft announced its Vergence single sign-on and context management solution has been selected by Luton and Dunstable (L&D) Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to further its strategic approach to patient care, efficiency and improve the productivity of clinicians. The solution allows L&D Hospital to improve standards by decreasing the amount of patient systems that have to be accessed; and the strong authentication safety protocols of Vergence improves patient safety and reduces the number of help desk calls. Read here the full press release.

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:30:00 GMT

Milton Keynes Hospital is expanding the deployment of Microsoft Amalga Unified Intelligence System (UIS) across the organisation after receiving excellent user feedback. Amalga UIS, Microsoft's enterprise data aggregation platform for healthcare, will assist Milton Keynes Hospital in improving patient care, meeting government targets for quality and innovation, and reducing costs.

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:30:00 GMT

Microsoft Research's TechFest 2011 sees the annual gathering of hundreds of research scientists from far and wide, assembled in Redmond to exchange concepts, display their latest projects, and point the way toward an even more bountiful future for computer users. Check back throughout the day for further details about the event, press materials and demos.

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:30:00 GMT

Steve Clayton discusses the announcements made at TechForum. Today Microsoft announced plans to release a non-commercial Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit, or SDK, this spring. The Kinect for Windows SDK is being developed and released by Microsoft Research (MSR) in collaboration with IEB. It will be available as a free download, and will give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to key pieces of the Kinect system—such as the audio technology, system application programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself.

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at Microsoft, is interviewed by Dominique Deckmyn in the Dutch paper, Die Standaard. In the article he discusses the shift towards natural user interface (NUI) technology and the success of Microsoft Kinect, Microsoft's launch into the smartphone market with Windows Phone 7 and his view on the future of computing. (Original article in Dutch – translate it at www.microsofttranslator.com)

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:30:00 GMT

For 20 years, Microsoft has worked hard to create a vast and diverse network of partners across Africa, helping to place technology at the heart of sustainable development. Microsoft partner Virtual City was recently awarded an Outstanding Regional Achievement Award at this year's World Summit Award Mobile 2010 for its product Virtual City AgriManagr. The Outstanding Regional Achievement award celebrates creativity and innovation. Virtual City works hard to innovate and create software technologies that improve the way Africa grows. This innovation has transformed life and opportunity for many people in Africa. Read Louis Otieno's, General Manager, Microsoft East and Southern Africa, blog post about the win here.

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Flagship for the desktop and mobile web Bing Maps AJAX Control 7.0, lets developers build mapping applications that render multiple points nearly three times faster than AJAX Control 6.3 – enabling them to display more data, in less time – than ever before. Bing Maps AJAX 7.0 also delivers the new Bird's eye: a 45-degree perspective, viewable from all four compass directions with seamless, smooth zooming, life-like building models in urban centres and 3-D-like terrain features.

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Blaise Vignon, Emerging Business Team Lead at Microsoft France, discusses the recent Windows Phone 7 competition for developers which saw over 250 developers, mostly small companies with big ideas, compete to create ready mobile applications, and how France is supporting start-ups in their challenging early years. Read here Blaise Vignon's blogpost.