Microsoft blocks Pirate Bay links
Microsoft has begun blocking links to The Pirate Bay’s website on its Windows Live Messenger platform.
Microsoft
iPlayer debuts on Xbox with Kinect voice and gesture features
The BBC has launched the iPlayer on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console free of charge, with plans for a launch on Sky’s Anytime platform now in the works.
Top 5 UK search engines: Google continues to rise
There were 2.2 billion visits to search engines in January 2012 in the UK, with Google accounting for 9 in 10 searches, according to new data.
Google and Apple probed by US completion watchdog
Antitrust regulators investigating Google have asked Apple how it incorporates Google search on its iPad and iPhone, according to a news report.
‘Why I left Google’: Ex-employee blasts firm’s ‘obsession with beating Facebook’
Recently departed Google employee James Whittaker has criticised his former company, claiming the firm has sacrificed its focus on innovation to morph into an “advertising company with a single corporate-mandated focus”, and that focus is Google+.
Leap year bug crashes UK Govt. cloud service
Microsoft’s Azure cloud service went down this week, taking out the UK government’s CloudStore and disrupting many businesses in the process. The failure “appears” to have been triggered by extra day in the leap year, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft tests tablet-friendly Windows 8 (with free Office software)
Microsoft has launched a public trial of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system, which will run on tablets as well as PCs.
Microsoft accuses Google of bypassing user security settings
Microsoft and Google have becoming locked on a war of words, with Google accused of tricking Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser into tracking users via cookies, even if the user has disabled them.
Hackers steal Microsoft India user data
Microsoft’s online store in India was taken down this week after it was allegedly hacked by a Chinese group calling itself Evil Shadow Team.
AOL beats expectations: Online display ad sales rise
AOL posted higher than expected final quarter finacial results for 2011, with display ad revenue up to $363.8 million, up 10% from $331.6 million a year ago.