Microsoft was recently working on an Amazon, eBay competitor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCYVkVN9LSacVqDF-bJmFBXXV0GX3wIp43XkqaQw4BP6iohcpz9eZlnLXJ3NFFLTagCiTedCyW3gvw7MZr-pGSpadooZs7f1bSvI7kVdfrcy__CG25rUb8QgEm7B1Qoje-zilo8_L2mw/s1600/2014-06-20-image-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCYVkVN9LSacVqDF-bJmFBXXV0GX3wIp43XkqaQw4BP6iohcpz9eZlnLXJ3NFFLTagCiTedCyW3gvw7MZr-pGSpadooZs7f1bSvI7kVdfrcy__CG25rUb8QgEm7B1Qoje-zilo8_L2mw/s1600/2014-06-20-image-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> Microsoft recently toyed with the idea of building an e-commerce marketplace that would have competed with the likes of Amazon and eBay. People with knowledge of the plans said Redmond held talks with retailers as well as other tech companies about all sorts of ideas like a unified shopping cart and broad shipping options but ultimately, the plans fizzled.<br /><br />The incubation, as a Microsoft spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, was called Project Brazil – no doubt a reference to Amazon. Microsoft was even planning to subsidize the cost of goods using advertising dollars from Bing. We are told the service would have been integrated into future versions of Windows as well as on tablets and eventually, other devices like the Xbox One.<br /><br />It’s unclear exactly when or why Microsoft pulled the plug on Project Brazil. While it might have been a good idea for customers looking to save a few bucks, it probably wasn’t in Microsoft’s best interest to move forward with the project. Considering that Microsoft accounted for less than four percent of all search ad revenue in 2012, subsidizing the price of goods might not have worked out so well.

Microsoft Microsoft was recently working on an Amazon, eBay competitor

 Microsoft recently toyed with the idea of building an e-commerce marketplace that would have competed with the likes of Amazon and eBay. People with knowledge of the plans said Redmond held talks with retailers as well as other tech companies about …

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Help Microsoft find bugs in Windows 8.1 Preview and earn up to $100,000

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw3yzvoZSZFvpjPSwMjWbLhOXzO8Ow6psF7mApQNoJZtvEB_8kJEzCIdVQt23bv-wZhiEpHEbZm2qB8-1Bix4oIhmo0vKxB6aHoFt-OeJQgVlv8iBuD0ZXLfsVOq1KoLoTrpzMypaxM8/s1600/2014-06-19-image-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw3yzvoZSZFvpjPSwMjWbLhOXzO8Ow6psF7mApQNoJZtvEB_8kJEzCIdVQt23bv-wZhiEpHEbZm2qB8-1Bix4oIhmo0vKxB6aHoFt-OeJQgVlv8iBuD0ZXLfsVOq1KoLoTrpzMypaxM8/s1600/2014-06-19-image-18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />A new bounty program from Microsoft designed to help the company become aware of security vulnerabilities earlier is backed by some pretty deep pockets. Redmond will pay up to $100,000 as part of what they are calling a Mitigation Bypass Bounty dealing with Windows 8.1 Preview.<br /><br />The bounty notes they are looking for truly novel exploitation techniques against protections built into the upcoming software update. Microsoft said learning about new exploitation techniques earlier helps them improve security by leaps instead of simply handling them one at a time as they crop up after the fact.<br /><br />A separate program called BlueHat Bonus for Defense will award up to $50,000 for defensive ideas that accompany a qualifying Mitigation Bypass submission. Naturally this program will work in conjunction with the above mentioned bounty and could be a way for individuals to earn even more money from their work.<br /><br />Finally, Microsoft is offering up to $11,000 for critical vulnerabilities that affect Internet Explorer 11 Preview in Windows 8.1 Preview.<br /><br />All three bounties will launch on June 26, 2013, we’re told. The timeframe for the Mitigation Bypass Bounty and the BlueHat Bonus for Defense bounty is listed as ongoing while the Internet Explorer 11 bounty will only be active during the first 30 days of the beta period (from June 26 through July 26).

Microsoft Help Microsoft find bugs in Windows 8.1 Preview and earn up to $100,000

A new bounty program from Microsoft designed to help the company become aware of security vulnerabilities earlier is backed by some pretty deep pockets. Redmond will pay up to $100,000 as part of what they are calling a Mitigation Bypass Bounty deali…

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Microsoft backtracks: Drops daily check-ins, used games restrictions on Xbox One

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZTgxhbJbaGwsWvndtY8E_DNvtsK3jX2iwVztGNoT2qukRrbUtLOtGfNvn23pGzltTQB167x7RpoQS788WDdgNda-aIpUw-Jnt4hM7I6ddeQoV36cZutonHDLHdQ_HDlMgqlwhaf7nE0/s1600/2014-06-19-image-16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZTgxhbJbaGwsWvndtY8E_DNvtsK3jX2iwVztGNoT2qukRrbUtLOtGfNvn23pGzltTQB167x7RpoQS788WDdgNda-aIpUw-Jnt4hM7I6ddeQoV36cZutonHDLHdQ_HDlMgqlwhaf7nE0/s1600/2014-06-19-image-16.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />It appears that all the negative feedback directed at the Xbox One has forced Microsoft to reconsider its stance on several of the console’s requirements. In an updated Q&A page, the company just revealed that their next generation console will no longer need to check in with the company’s servers at least once every 24 hours in order to let you play games, and that there will be no limitations to using and sharing discs.<br /><br />The move comes amidst heavy criticism following E3, where Sony took a few jabs at Microsoft and essentially won the gaming crowd over by announcing all the things that the PlayStation 4 wouldn’t do.<br /><br />Microsoft says an online connection will be required during setup, but once that’s done you’ll be able to play games offline and take your Xbox One anywhere. Likewise, sharing will work as it does today on Xbox 360 -- that is, gamers will be able to trade or gift physical copies of games without paying any additional fees.<br /><br />Regional restrictions have been dropped too, and games downloaded from Xbox Live will be playable offline.<br /><br />Microsoft warns that some of these changes will impact some of the scenarios previously announced for Xbox One. For one thing, downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold, and though it’s unclear if games are still installed on the hard drive, playing disc based games will now require that the disc be in the tray.

Microsoft Microsoft backtracks: Drops daily check-ins, used games restrictions on Xbox One

It appears that all the negative feedback directed at the Xbox One has forced Microsoft to reconsider its stance on several of the console’s requirements. In an updated Q&A page, the company just revealed that their next generation console will no lo…

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Microsoft Surface RT drops to $199... for schools and colleges

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr-baeyFpfC1aQ7cFJ6c6oOaM9whjRCwmojt-_PTLmd6RsN36k3hmmuYt4qCuL1z7B6ubS2MNJT4on7IxoXBJ4qnDfmpiDcooygXV_BwmMdgexxLUflL9h2DDoV6QiCvYWMcg10e_V_c/s1600/2012-06-18-image-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr-baeyFpfC1aQ7cFJ6c6oOaM9whjRCwmojt-_PTLmd6RsN36k3hmmuYt4qCuL1z7B6ubS2MNJT4on7IxoXBJ4qnDfmpiDcooygXV_BwmMdgexxLUflL9h2DDoV6QiCvYWMcg10e_V_c/s1600/2012-06-18-image-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet hasn’t exactly been a smashing retail hit but the tablet is about to get a much needed shot in the arm thanks to a limited-time offer for schools and colleges. Under the program, which will run between June 24 and August 31, the ARM-based slate will be available starting at $199 (or $249 with a touch keyboard cover) to K12 and higher education institutions in a number of countries.<br /><br />That’s a significant reduction from the normal starting price of $499 for the base 32GB model -- or $599 with the touch keyboard cover. Microsoft also provides the option to get the type cover instead for $289 (ERP $629).<br /><br /> The offer is available directly from Microsoft in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China (via Digital China), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.<br /><br />Microsoft isn’t specifying an order minimum or limit for institutions but is recommending that they get their orders early “while supplies last.” The move comes less than a month since Microsoft announced it would be giving away 10,000 Surface RT units to teachers attending a recent education convention in San Antonio.

Microsoft Microsoft Surface RT drops to $199... for schools and colleges

 Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet hasn’t exactly been a smashing retail hit but the tablet is about to get a much needed shot in the arm thanks to a limited-time offer for schools and colleges. Under the program, which will run between June 24 and Augus…

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Microsoft liberates 2 million PCs from malicious Citadel botnets

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_EuULdwHKWp_vN_AD3aw_-2GIiQMuUzMcCpXs-4bLlo8CFvLnlD_vCg3UBQ3u5_b1vqCxvy7f5ixcZ5QQgfaFfq8GI3EJF1Zbe_oDAO2QhTJYLdcxz1pZbE5NnJHaM5-oHZmNpa5o74/s1600/2014-06-19-image-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_EuULdwHKWp_vN_AD3aw_-2GIiQMuUzMcCpXs-4bLlo8CFvLnlD_vCg3UBQ3u5_b1vqCxvy7f5ixcZ5QQgfaFfq8GI3EJF1Zbe_oDAO2QhTJYLdcxz1pZbE5NnJHaM5-oHZmNpa5o74/s1600/2014-06-19-image-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> Earlier this month, we were made aware that Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit successfully brought down over 1,000 of the estimated 1,400 malicious computer networks, commonly referred to as the Citadel botnets. However, a statement made by Richard Domingues Boscovich, the assistant general counsel of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, casts a new light on just how many machines have been freed by their efforts. He said, "We definitely have liberated at least 2 million PCs globally. That is a conservative estimate."<br /><br />The Citadel botnets, which are run by a ringleader known only by the alias Aquabox, have been used to steal upwards of $500 million from major financial institutions. Some of their victims include American Express, Citigroup, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Royal Bank of Canada, Wells Fargo, and PayPal.<br /><br />According to Reuters, computers that have been infected with the software can collect valuable financial information by tracking and saving the user’s keystrokes. Due to the program’s ability to disable pre-existing antivirus software, the PC owner is left essentially defenseless.<br /><br />It is currently unknown how many of the infected machines are still at large, but Boscovich believes that Microsoft's eradication program has surpassed any and all expectations. “We feel confident that we really got most of the ones that we are after,” he explained. “It was a very, very successful disruptive action.”<br /><br />Unfortunately, not everything related to the case has been resolved. Aquabox and several other Citadel operators have yet to be tracked down. Many analysts suspect that the culprits are residing in Eastern Europe, most likely in either Russia or Ukraine. The big clue is that the Citadel software is nowhere to be found in these two countries; a possible indication that the crime ring doesn’t want to attract any local attention. Although this is only a small tidbit of information, it is the first step in determining the true identities of the criminals.

Microsoft Microsoft liberates 2 million PCs from malicious Citadel botnets

 Earlier this month, we were made aware that Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit successfully brought down over 1,000 of the estimated 1,400 malicious computer networks, commonly referred to as the Citadel botnets. However, a statement made by Richard Do…

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Microsoft to open 600 Windows stores inside Best Buy this summer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nwDfisGsW8L45j3m0tZggsKr8LJRojk38TeHIzUT1Q7yVQ_xqsQLbxZFQYwc9dXSnzpcbbPu_avUF_9McKUMDzHqDeDXdOiOD8K1tPQxWUZkClQMe30RpaGXNLm2lF-M5_qeWjPmz5o/s1600/2014-06-13-image-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nwDfisGsW8L45j3m0tZggsKr8LJRojk38TeHIzUT1Q7yVQ_xqsQLbxZFQYwc9dXSnzpcbbPu_avUF_9McKUMDzHqDeDXdOiOD8K1tPQxWUZkClQMe30RpaGXNLm2lF-M5_qeWjPmz5o/s1600/2014-06-13-image-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /> Best Buy and Microsoft have come to an agreement that will see the retailer install mini Windows stores in more than 500 locations in the US and 100 across Canada starting this summer. Dubbed the Windows Store, the areas will fill existing space used to showcase computers and will range in size from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet, Microsoft said.<br /><br />Chief marketing officer and chief financial officer for Windows Tami Reller said it’s a big deal for Microsoft to make sure customers have a hands-on experience which is exactly what the store-within-a-store will offer.<br /><br />The retail chain plans to staff the Windows Store with more than 1,200 employees that will be trained specifically to sell Microsoft’s products.<br /><br />All sounding a bit familiar, you say? Well, you’d be correct as just Samsung partnered with Best Buy just two months ago to open 1,400 mini stores of their own. The Samsung Experience Shop, which are already set up in a number of locations, consume up to 460 square feet of floor space and are also staffed with employees that have been trained to sell Samsung’s latest and greatest.</div>

Microsoft Microsoft to open 600 Windows stores inside Best Buy this summer

 Best Buy and Microsoft have come to an agreement that will see the retailer install mini Windows stores in more than 500 locations in the US and 100 across Canada starting this summer. Dubbed the Windows Store, the areas will fill existing space use…

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Microsoft releases Office Mobile for iOS, available to 365 subscribers only

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Following many months of speculation and even a few leaked screens, Microsoft has finally launched a version of Office for iOS. The suite will be offered as a free download, though before you get too excited there are a couple of caveats: it’s optimized for the iPhone only and is limited to Office 365 subscribers.<br /><br />Although that certainly thins down the potential user base for the apps, those who have already bought into Microsoft's vision for Office in the cloud will certainly appreciate the addition. Much like the Office Mobile suite that Microsoft preloads on Windows Phone, the iOS version allows users to access, view and edit any file previously saved in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint while keeping all the content and formatting intact.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu1XQu3i_xJLLIdJtZdWQlKNN1P0uPwVTSGav_Najc-mgyBasg5MzSFgJBOv1hZABU0Zqrk_iD-DeO7eFdhwC-xL8qvPbaMmh3dKnyy07ST2ctCPF6ll6kfLNnJy5aaQSaB6gFDdHMBQ/s1600/13.06.14-Office_Mobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu1XQu3i_xJLLIdJtZdWQlKNN1P0uPwVTSGav_Najc-mgyBasg5MzSFgJBOv1hZABU0Zqrk_iD-DeO7eFdhwC-xL8qvPbaMmh3dKnyy07ST2ctCPF6ll6kfLNnJy5aaQSaB6gFDdHMBQ/s1600/13.06.14-Office_Mobile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Naturally, the mobile client is still a bit limited compared to its desktop counterpart, but it nevertheless supports rich media content such as charts, animations, SmartArt graphics and shapes. The app is tied to Microsoft’s cloud services so it pulls all of the users’ files from the cloud (SkyDrive, SkyDrive Pro or SharePoint) and any changes you make on mobile end up synced with your work on the desktop version of the software.<br /><br />Moreover, Office Mobile can be used on up to five iPhones, and just like the Windows Mobile counterpart these devices won't count against the five-device usage rights that come as part of an Office 365 subscription.<br /><br />Office Mobile comes in at 58MB on the App Store and is compatible with the iPhone 4 and up running iOS 6.1 or later. While it will work as a companion app for both Windows and Mac versions of the productivity suite, some newer features like recent documents and resume reading only work with Microsoft Office 2013 for PC.</div>

Microsoft Microsoft releases Office Mobile for iOS, available to 365 subscribers only

Following many months of speculation and even a few leaked screens, Microsoft has finally launched a version of Office for iOS. The suite will be offered as a free download, though before you get too excited there are a couple of caveats: it’s optimi…

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Most Profitable Launch Ever, One Million Devices in a Day: Microsoft Xbox One

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">One million devices have been sold out in just 24 hours since its launch, isn't it amazing news. Xbox One made a record of sell and captured the award of most profitable launched ever. Microsoft is now trying to support on stock as soon as possible to fulfill customer’s demand.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yctKT536eT0/UpC4_AyQH0I/AAAAAAAAAmA/86VcFOWa1Ac/s1600/ceb36ff4-b254-4eb5-a2cc-f05ca21df5b4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" Biggest Launch Ever, One Million in One Day: Xbox One from Microsoft" border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yctKT536eT0/UpC4_AyQH0I/AAAAAAAAAmA/86VcFOWa1Ac/s1600/ceb36ff4-b254-4eb5-a2cc-f05ca21df5b4.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Microsoft claims that Xbox One is most advanced gaming console ever and best entertainment console. Company also claim that Xbox One wakes up instantly in comparison of others. Xbox One include the following latest features:</div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Processor:</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;">A processor of 8-core x86 is used inside the device to provide a new gaming experience to user and make fast move between your gaming world and your entertainment apps.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HDMI Pass-Thru:</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;">With the help of this option you can set a connection with your cable or satellite to your Xbox One. Through HDMI pass you can switch your mode between TV and gaming zone.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Memory: </span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;">Xbox One have enough memory to store games, demos, movies, apps, music and more. Xbox one contains the memory of 500 GB on hard drive and 8 GB RAM.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Blu-ray & HD:</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;">Watch movies and play games in HD and Blu-ray video format and feel the real experience of HD.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yusuf Mehdi say thank you to all Xbox fans through the following lines “We are humbled and grateful for the excitement of Xbox fans around the world. Seeing thousands of excited fans lined up to get their Xbox One and their love for gaming was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team. We are working hard to create more Xbox One consoles and look forward to fulfilling holiday gift wishes this season.”  </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

Microsoft Xbox Xbox One Most Profitable Launch Ever, One Million Devices in a Day: Microsoft Xbox One

One million devices have been sold out in just 24 hours since its launch, isn't it amazing news. Xbox One made a record of sell and captured the award of most profitable launched ever. Microsoft is now trying to support on stock as soon as possible t…

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Start Menu may be Placed Again in Windows 8.2: Rumours

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">After one month of official launch of Windows 8.1, Microsoft is working on its updates. According to rumors, Microsoft will bring the start menu back in updated version i.e. "Windows 8.2". The updated version of Windows OS will be introduced in January 2014 for only Windows 8.1 users.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH4v_CtuGh0/UoyQfGCS6LI/AAAAAAAAAjY/BOllia4e4Ns/s1600/Windows-8-2-Windows-8-1-GDR-Update-Start-Menu-Comeback-Rumors-Flying-401493-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Start Menu will Make Entry Again in Windows 8.2: Rumours" border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH4v_CtuGh0/UoyQfGCS6LI/AAAAAAAAAjY/BOllia4e4Ns/s1600/Windows-8-2-Windows-8-1-GDR-Update-Start-Menu-Comeback-Rumors-Flying-401493-2.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many users have been reported about the Start button, one of the user's comment, <span style="font-family: inherit;">"The designers of the 'reintroduced' start button must have realized they weren't really giving us what we had asked for. I half suspect they purposefully left out a "hide start button" option so that when we inevitably ask for the option to go back to the windows 8 design, they can say "told you so"", one of the user write on the <a href="http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1_pr-desktop/how-do-i-turn-off-the-start-button/311f12c5-6932-4d92-9400-f037f677d40f?page=3&tm=1376573572656" target="_blank">forum</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">.</span><br /><br />Microsoft was replying continuously that they are working on it and they will release an update as soon as possible. Surely when windows 8.2 update will come, start button may be there, rumors says.<br /><br />The update will be available only for the Windows 8.1 users, Windows 8 users can't use the start menu until they upgrade their OS to Windows 8.1. Rumors have another information  that every user of  Windows 8.1 will get free access of Windows 8.2 and its update.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Start menu is the only feature of Windows, which made rumor in the market, none of other features make any leak through this way. Microsoft did not make any comment on the rumors. So all the information related to Windows 8.2 would be rumors until Microsoft will not make any statement on it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

Microsoft windows 8.1 windows 8.2 Start Menu may be Placed Again in Windows 8.2: Rumours

After one month of official launch of Windows 8.1, Microsoft is working on its updates. According to rumors, Microsoft will bring the start menu back in updated version i.e. "Windows 8.2". The updated version of Windows OS will be introduced in Janua…

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Next Competitor in the Market with Surface 2: Google LG Nexus 10 Tablet

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">LG will develop another device for Google, having approx. all the advanced features like Surface II. This time, LG manufacture a 10-inch tablet that may be much larger in the LG history. Second generation's Tablet Nexus 10 will become the next competitor of Microsoft’s latest tablet Surface 2. The competition may be start from 21st of November.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6cqAh6ZLLE/Uonx6A38EOI/AAAAAAAAAiU/QY9s7FEXy_s/s1600/Next-Gen-Nexus-10-Leaks-in-Press-Renders-Priced-at-300-360-485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Next Competitor in the Market with Surface 2: Google LG Nexus 10 Tablet" border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6cqAh6ZLLE/Uonx6A38EOI/AAAAAAAAAiU/QY9s7FEXy_s/s1600/Next-Gen-Nexus-10-Leaks-in-Press-Renders-Priced-at-300-360-485.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">LG Nexus 10 tablet comes with a 10.1-inch screen and 2560 X 1600 resolution. Device is powered by 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and will run on Android 4.4 Kitkat (Latest Android OS version). It supports 32 GB of internal storage and 3 GB of RAM. A tablet user need more power backup, so battery of 9500 mAh capacity is used for device. 10 MP camera is used as a rear camera and 4 MP camera is used as front camera. The price tag for LG Nexus 10 is $399 (for 16 GB) and $499 (for 32 GB).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tablet from LG and Google will definitely compete the Microsoft's <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.com/2013/09/microsoft-surface-2-taking-place-on.html" target="_blank">Surface 2</a>. Surface 2 comes with Window 8.1 RT, which is facing the lack of apps in comp-region of regular Window.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Key Specifications of LG Google Nexus 10:</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Display: 10.1-inch IPS display with 2560 X 1600 resolution</li><li>Processor: 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800</li><li>OS: Android 4.4 Kitkat</li><li>Space: 16 GB and 32 GB internal storate with 3 GB of RAM</li><li>Camera: 10 megapixel rear and 4 megapixel front facing camera</li><li>Battery: 9500 mAh</li><li>Price: 16 GB costs $399 and 32 GB costs $499</li><li>Availability: approx. 22  November</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Anil Swami</div></div>

google LG Microsoft surface 2 Next Competitor in the Market with Surface 2: Google LG Nexus 10 Tablet

LG will develop another device for Google, having approx. all the advanced features like Surface II. This time, LG manufacture a 10-inch tablet that may be much larger in the LG history. Second generation's Tablet Nexus 10 will become the next compet…

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10 –Inch Windows RT 8.1 Tablet Launch on November 22: Nokia Lumia 2520

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Nokia’s first window based tablet is ready to launch and Microsoft declared its released date as 22nd November. The device will be available on the AT&T network for $399 with contract and if you want to buy the tablet without contract, you must pay $584.99. The tablet comes with 10.1-inch full HD screen, running on Windows 8.1 and have some exclusive apps. The tablets comes with the tag of “Nokia Lumia 2520”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tablet’s display is made from Corning Gorilla Glass 2 with 1080p display. Its full HD Display have peak brightness of 650 and comes with the 180 degree viewing angles. Lumia 2520 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The device have in-built high speed LTE connectivity. Tablet contained 32GB  of internal memory and have a micro SD card slot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxnWKZV_H38/UodYIZQPgpI/AAAAAAAAAho/ZoRc8cjORHY/s1600/lumia2520tablet_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="10 –Inch Windows RT 8.1 Tablet Launch on November 22: Nokia Lumia 2520" border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxnWKZV_H38/UodYIZQPgpI/AAAAAAAAAho/ZoRc8cjORHY/s1600/lumia2520tablet_1.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Device have a rear camera with the 6.7 MP and a front facing camera of 2 MP. Device comes with some pre-installed apps like Microsoft Office 2013 and outlook. Some exclusive apps like Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Video Director and Nokia Music with Mix Radio also installed inside the device. Here is also new and exclusive Maps for user.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Microsoft on an official blog post “The Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet will be available starting on November 22nd. You will be able to purchase the Lumia 2520 (in black) from AT&T for $399.99 with a two-year agreement, or for $199.99 with a two-year agreement when bundled with a Lumia 925, Lumia 1020, or Lumia 1520 Windows Phone”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Technical specifications:</span></h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">Display: 10.1-inch with 1080p</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Storage: 32GB in-built and expand up to 64GB through micro SD card</li><li style="text-align: justify;">RAM: 1GB</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Camera: 6.7 megapixel rear camera with ZEISS optics and 2 megapixel front facing</li><li style="text-align: justify;">OS: Window 8.1</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Price: $399 with contract and $548.99</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Availability: November 22nd</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

lumia Microsoft Nokia 10 –Inch Windows RT 8.1 Tablet Launch on November 22: Nokia Lumia 2520

Nokia’s first window based tablet is ready to launch and Microsoft declared its released date as 22nd November. The device will be available on the AT&T network for $399 with contract and if you want to buy the tablet without contract, you must pay $…

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Partners in Learning School Research Now Live on PILN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pil-network.com/sites/schoolresearch/index">Partners in Learning School Research</a> is now available on the <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">Partners in Learning Network</a>. A school in Canada started a survey and sent this feedback,<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“</i><i>I spent some time this morning setting up a survey. I also did a test survey myself. I can tell you honestly that the process was significantly less cumbersome than the last version. It was certainly easy to navigate. I am going to wait until tomorrow when I have this survey set to close to see what the results look like…In the meantime, kudos to Microsoft on an excellent revamp to an amazing resource.”</i><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What is Microsoft Partners in Learning School Research (PILSR)?</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u><u></u></span></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PILSR provides individual schools with an online research tool to measure their own innovative teaching practices that develop the skills students need for life and work today. Based on globally-recognized research, the PILSR research tool is international in scope, enables school-specific measurement of innovative teaching, and provides a common language to drive community dialogue and systemic change – all at no cost to schools. A sample report is attached.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Overview page<u></u></strong><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJQWVHHF8hvzpwZ5u-TQtglQaKgUimAc1UQnZVZ_lccLvfvKBY2Qne6_4tBcvjTaw2b2dXDLNPYoB99rl4O2uL2iXC0nSHBRod31_1xYA1kQvrRcNL2Hq-DyCQnjVCfIh9E97HLhwq-A/s1600-h/image%25255B15%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPE4zLqwlve-mukA2V_QsJCRPqmE0CP4_UU_bOVGmchRBr1Ew4y-JMyu2Lf84e9Qy2aJFkXtK8zb6NdWu9pyVi9rVTb8KwqYAaC0gInbCwzT217QkZNAuePZz0HikKpjoYs17UmuWYQ8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>What’s changed from the older version that was separate from PILN?</b><u></u><u></u></span></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. The survey has been updated<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Once the survey is set up it sits in the School Profile on PILN<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. To help you drive your registration goals, everyone involved in the survey must be a member of PILN<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. When a teacher is invited to take the survey and clicks a link to take it, they are automatically joined to a school profile<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. The PILSR badge will automatically be awarded when a survey is complete<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">What are the benefits of the online research tool?</span></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Partners in Learning School Research helps schools achieve a common understanding of innovative teaching practices, educational transformation, and how all parties can collectively move forward.  PILSR is:<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Credible</b>:  The research tool validates the role/importance of ICT and is based on globally-recognized research* that measures innovation in three key areas:<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Student-centered pedagogy (teaching/learning)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Extend learning beyond the classroom</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ICT** used for teaching and learning</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Complimentary:  </b>Available at no cost to primary and secondary schools worldwide.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Easy/Accessible:  </b>Available online and easy to administer<b>.</b> Set up, distribute surveys, and receive data easily and with minimal time commitment. <u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Measurable:</b>  School-specific measurement and a path to innovation.  Research data provides factual, school-specific information to empower leaders to make educated, data-driven decisions.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Personalized:</b>  Provides school-specific results based on<i> each individual school’s own environment</i>.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">How does the research tool work?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u></u></span></strong></span><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1.</b> <b><u>Schools sign up using a simple set up wizard</u>:  </b>Sign up for PILN. Identify a research leader. Invite teachers. Invite School leaders. Takes 15-20 minutes to set up. (Note: it is only available to <u>schools</u> on PILN, so if you try to set one up using your Microsoft company profile, you will be prompted to establish a school profile.)<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Set up wizard start page</i></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5chXrBe32fNVKnFZcSfyjypWsJ9yTnwmiqoc-DMGLc58k95VDO6Le8VUfaCMRD9ssO9O0KRnIY6n-KGX-KYfPS_7KjH_x15uJb1httTL5jrgAkHchM6cFaO6h2TnP3A7Z9PLOu7FpEw/s1600-h/image%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAbhSXHUx3zbQW_GtEzeHoIdfOR57G7MXySoKpCDeJmWJqnZ0WgtaZCZlpbqpNk_z3FzKqBwqIcfXHkl71YDSy8_6yL4dXdMtsjT3iLvj_hhGUBvZXYDlZokvfwdeHV46NDpOJxgUpHw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b> <b><u>Distribute Surveys & Reminders</u></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Easy Distribution:  </b>PILN sends emails that contains survey links, call-to-actions, and deadlines. PILN enables research leaders to see who has and has not taken the surveys and sends reminder emails to complete surveys.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Invitation to take the school survey</i></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqltXv5GdSBZEYSluTqBmlJO9kDNiOnSYrGN_KeCOuIINH2NN95kv1JI7bTa_d763KwbpNGasH4-ggbMNoAA9PkPxhkp7SyCQnKDDAZDR_gbhZBJzKjU9qh61LJZsicemvd5kYDAphzN4/s1600-h/image%25255B24%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLeGnX0oBQgsZ9JrKLvuec97CDqLFzYiks9fgdZPsaU21Nnme6M4CgRO5FScZ6Z8B9CQERpz9BR-k3R7r-lPZtVCgt6eEvNDs4mMASj6g0I0LHxJ6tbOoyxbo4BwS7AQE5mAgxhLWunI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="316" /></a> </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Monitor your school’s survey progress screen</b></i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRHFKrjUhyu23Qsx1gAvgyk3u1dxxopgmsB9drhQJD_pGheon5weJOJCPF3oYtDyyiCFXald6NpOdGdVkvecgh8QvsG4MBJ0gMJBlA4r6Q_BUbAAyGC1TXPiSVLmiQh3ZYNHDPy2WQ3o/s1600-h/image%25255B26%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3alMlrykfYLPtWuSau1ANwNi446GDQxqL6KZTDyBJ-dvbj_RCQDGP7QsXoIz_cKBTW0fok7NQiCZZ53QVhwGvRxJj_7Kk8w3Xu9-5YCydnW42e00u3aSh-NSK0HrFxllBug53DZdBA2o/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Reminder emails are sent to participants who haven’t completed their survey</i></b></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJJBvJ7WUpDpc00BuBl19zYgC29_U2lshOL22ZmKRp-DpfidEB3VgaIuDd4Hw_hgjA0PmEjj8NoIMAE5jgnwEnNeAVqtDRx1cyp3MuIDSEUZH3ESaOWXobiPb-ljJXbrVEq3DlKZO6q8/s1600-h/image%25255B28%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aC1YLD42VAWjqSmyt-jY0iM-hwlaW0Tu8wrIe6x0WXjN6giDl9HEV5EPWzC17yopGeFqz5QsVD_tIRQu_GuYGOP4-zi0koDA5O6SvtrdVgQyQWa3FOUoAaO5FBTKRPZXVSTyVFkQAss/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3.</b> <b><u>Use the Report</u></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Insightful Results:  </b>Once the survey window has closed, a report is generated and available to people who participated in the survey. The report measures<b> </b>elements of innovative teaching practices and compares<b> </b>educator and school leader responses.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below are a few examples of PILSR results. <u></u><u></u> </span><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Innovative Teaching Practices Index</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Student Centered Pedagogy</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ICT Used for Teaching and Learning by Educators</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ICT Used for Teaching and Learning by Students</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barriers to Technology Use</span></li><li><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Topics</u><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of Professional Development and Levels of Innovative Teaching Practices</span></li><li><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Types</u><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of Professional Development and Levels of Innovative Teaching Practices</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Collaboration among Educators</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incentives and Recognition for Innovative Teaching</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;">One page from the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;">sample report which is attached via this link</span></b></span><span style="text-indent: 48px;"><a href="https://app.box.com/s/dv4nnms3f6t0pgptmnqc" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Microsoft Partners in Learning School Research Report September 2013</span></a></span><br /><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><br /></div><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-670eQHvPozk1D9awM-fsZETEpBz_1JiJV_Yt3HXxz4-FivSF36S6OedaHIvQuizjQ0Ov7M4IV59DuRpf5eD5VSFRYujPmUYp4_2JYz41k-awItkv-EPpXatKcSWi32pimgOnNEt9Oww/s1600-h/image%25255B32%25255D.png" style="background-color: transparent; color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhki1iZgbquLsYNjvtI8nDsx5WQLHxW5H_H-KqGZ1Jg4nNOBo5UYHq1XRFFNBXb-c2K1DTnzzxDWcznR4Ba-bIhdv7neYo5ss_b8nGHrK7IJ-OCLQZI5PopaSSufAuC58dxM_ViXB-jKO4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>In what languages have the surveys, invitations and reports been localized?</b><u></u><u></u></span></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to English, PILSR surveys and their corresponding report have been localized in the following languages:<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Brazilian Portuguese<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Polish<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Finnish<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Greek<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Latvian<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Lithuanian<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Norwegian<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Portuguese<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Slovenian<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Spanish<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11. Russian<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12. Swedish<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Action Items:</span></b> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1. <u>Countries who localized the surveys</u>:</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a. Amplify in your social media channels, for example;<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Schools can now measure their innovative teaching practices with this tool <a href="http://bit.ly/1bwXk5C">http://bit.ly/1bwXk5C</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23msftpil">#msftpil</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New research tool supports schools to evolve teaching practices, provides tangible measures of innovation. <a href="http://bit.ly/1bwXk5C">http://bit.ly/1bwXk5C</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23msftpil">#msftpil</a></span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b. Let schools know the tool is ready<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c. Continue to include PILSR in Shape the Future deals and the sales motion as a value-added tool<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2. <u>Countries who did not localize</u>:</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a. If you are in a country where customers will be using PILSR with the Microsoft Translator, walk through the customer experience and suggest and approve better translations. Note that their reports can only be generated in English.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">FAQ</span></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1</b>. <b>What will happen to the old version of PILSR?</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old site is offline and the URL <a href="http://www.pilsr.com/">www.pilsr.com</a> will be redirected to <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">www.pil-network.com</a>.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b> <b>Will the old customer data be on PILN?</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, for several reasons including that there is no way to tie the customer accounts together between the two systems because the sites used different authentication methods.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3. What if I would like to localize PILSR into an additional language for my country/region?</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will look at the cost for each additional language and determine when the work could be done among other development efforts.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>4. Where are there likely to be customer support issues with PILSR?</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Schools often lock down their internet environments which prevents them from accessing many websites. If PILN is blocked, the invitations that are sent to take the survey may not be received. When this has happened in the past, schools simply email their IT departments who put </span><a href="http://www.pil-network.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.pil-network.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on the “white list” and invitations can be resent.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">School leaders can set up a survey in English and then translate the page using the Bing machine translator. However, the report they receive, will be in English. There is no way around this scenario, other than to localize the surveys and reports.</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>5. What happens if customers encounter issues with PILSR?</b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with any major, multi-lingual release, we expect to have to issues that we couldn’t foresee. Ask customers to email <a href="mailto:Contact-PILN@microsoft.com">Contact-PILN@microsoft.com</a>.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please let us know if you have questions.</span></div>

Microsoft Partners in Learning School Research Now Live on PILN

Partners in Learning School Research is now available on the Partners in Learning Network. A school in Canada started a survey and sent this feedback, “I spent some time this morning setting up a survey. I also did a test survey myself. I can tell y…

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Apply to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert–closing date 30 September 2013

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-TQWqbOznS_0Sohm7aArYeXGBVwsXjrdRAqkscEEQeqJqFAOOoJGbcFV4ixKh7AikMbn0OZT43aJ6Wclw0WdCKfMl4wLm30Y8vDUpBQh-lhitaRwL0LUo-qNtKCygOV35HpYbAz3PIY/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HIm9l2nEynWrva_ZvE1riElzAD81KwbyRH-DtkL5ltErL5y7yz_uDnqqbP0OIvxrlODNiWiOsk5jVWie5617u7fQII_7IGfa3V6N0g6dc-joJVmk4iYBa5nxjdFUYqg5_auASCoprIU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert (MIE-E) you are required to upload a Learning Activity to the Partners in Learning Network and to complete the online MIE-E form. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Step by step instructions</strong></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is a link to the step by step instructions for uploading your Learning Activity along with some tips and notes about the different information you are expected to provide. It is a good idea to read through all of these instructions BEFORE you start uploading your Learning Activity so that you will know what information and files you will need before you start. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld" title="https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld">https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget to upload your learning activity to the Partners in Learning Network (<a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">http://www.pil-network.com</a>) by 30th September 2013. </span></div>

Microsoft Apply to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert–closing date 30 September 2013

To apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert (MIE-E) you are required to upload a Learning Activity to the Partners in Learning Network and to complete the online MIE-E form. Step by step instructions Below is a link to the step by step in…

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7 days left to complete your Microsoft Expert Educator Application! (Closing date 30/09/2013)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are almost there! The deadline for the Microsoft Innovative Educator – Expert application is looming and don’t want you to miss out. Submit your application before the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 30th, 2013 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">deadline (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you have 7 days!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) to be considered for this exclusive programme.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Completing and submitting your application means you’ll have an opportunity to join the Expert Educator Program and an all-expense paid trip to the Partners in Learning Global Forum 2014 in Barcelona–Spain. The Forum is where the worlds’ most innovative educators will gather March 11–14, 2014 to learn together and to be inspired.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2D1eRvimRX7ODb-fbu4TqL8hyphenhyphengiPpm1QyzLebksooH_uOXTT_JVgAJRfBU1G0dpSCn8teQ_z7azYjL2YC0r5QYphSiZvNt9pX8s5SiEopXBoKDiE-P_NXt5nrI_b7SFKBY64mqJSwSQ/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCc1ud47xuwne5Xpg37TcFHTIvqtz9Ivgw6tioZYNpcwLcoURciWGvNP3bK05yBE642fpwyY1jPDU-M5ZkfsAklYOe8aDID5U77N-ycUW8q4RdjemMG-E8xyHVzZ0k0wFtbX8Kf8XAvs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To work on your application, please go to:</span></b><b><a href="http://www.pil-network.com/expert">www.pil-network.com/expert</a></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Microsoft Expert Educator program is an exclusive, one-year program that recognizes educator visionaries around the world who use technology to create better learning and student outcomes. As an Expert Educator, you will be a global advocate, sharing your knowledge with other educators and education leaders. You will exchange best practices and learn alongside some of the most innovative educators in the world.<u></u><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When you become a Microsoft Expert, you will receive:</span></b><u></u><u></u> </span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A trip to join 250 other Expert Educators at the Partners in Learning Global Forum in Barcelona, Spain</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free Microsoft Surface RT for your school</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotion of your good work through publicity and marketing</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Professional and career development</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look forward to receiving your application. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>

Microsoft 7 days left to complete your Microsoft Expert Educator Application! (Closing date 30/09/2013)

We are almost there! The deadline for the Microsoft Innovative Educator – Expert application is looming and don’t want you to miss out. Submit your application before the September 30th, 2013 deadline (you have 7 days!) to be considered for this excl…

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Applications for Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts close on 30 September 2013

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpDPp4ZSw6aUNhJsa_ecea7GuSIAqVj08A8s1PhqZnNzzTEbyWve8zu_f1cFEiWkqsE_CH9DJmfmo_ya_vTY5x_nPwT6wsJn5HKHwuds4tddP6OAFLZNy00DXqBGfjQlbOybQhADRzH8/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXvBUpL3eVlWfla47xwUFh8aP0SJ3oHTxL6hJhfM8thFioWd15PyR8FJTif8mTokF0YPPsmeLPzFibMmhm9Gf03VuJu-6q25CQGKGKxyLA4S7jjl3KhEqqdFon4kaQCrLR6xopbiz-UI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="218" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><i>Submitted by Megan Rademeyer</i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have not yet uploaded your learning activity to the <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">Partners in Learning Network</a> and applied to be a <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Educators/expert">Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert</a> you have until 30 September to do so. From the entries that are received from South Africa and Lesotho, teachers will be selected to attend the Global Partners in Learning Forum taking place in Barcelona, Spain in April 2014. This year we are looking for teachers who have produced a creative and engaging learning activity AND who have the willingness and passion to share their skills with others. If you think you have what it takes to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert visit the <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Educators/expert">Partners in Learning Network</a> for more information. </span></div>

Microsoft Applications for Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts close on 30 September 2013

Submitted by Megan RademeyerIf you have not yet uploaded your learning activity to the Partners in Learning Network and applied to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert you have until 30 September to do so. From the entries that are received from…

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Microsoft Surface 2: Taking Place on September 23

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">According to rumours Microsoft is going to launch the second version of Surface with the tag of Surface 2. The event of Microsoft will take place on 23rd of September. This event will organise to unveil the Surface 2 tablet.<br /><br />The event will held in New York. According to rumours Surface 2 tablet’s features and specifications will compete iPads and Android based device. Surface 2 comes with matching keyboard, said by rumours.<br />Surface RT was launched at end of October 2012 with Window 8 and company made $900 million in the against fourth quarter earnings, that is closed at the end of June. The earnings report are better than the target of $853 million.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qlux4MLe6OM/Ui7Ceng5umI/AAAAAAAAAUM/lQI638y9Zhw/s1600/microsoft-surface-demostration-635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="microsoft surface 2" border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qlux4MLe6OM/Ui7Ceng5umI/AAAAAAAAAUM/lQI638y9Zhw/s1600/microsoft-surface-demostration-635.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndtvgadgets</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The starting price of Surface RT was $499 and it was recently cut down. Now Surface RT comes the price tag of $399.<br /><br />The CEO of Microsoft will get retirement in next year. The charge taken by Steven Ballmer in 2000, after Bill Gates. The experience was not so good for Steven Ballmer because when he took over from Bill Gates, Microsoft was largest company according to market value. But scenario is change now and company struggling for consumer which are shifting towards desktop, laptops and mobile device. The only achievement of Ballmer is that he plays a major role to acquire the Nokia Mobiles.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

Microsoft suface2 surface RT Microsoft Surface 2: Taking Place on September 23

According to rumours Microsoft is going to launch the second version of Surface with the tag of Surface 2. The event of Microsoft will take place on 23rd of September. This event will organise to unveil the Surface 2 tablet.The event will held in New…

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Elkanah Superstars return from the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Competition held in Washington

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>This is a guest post from one of our SchoolNet members,  Linda Foulkes, from Elkanah House High in Cape Town. Two of her students were chosen out of 8 Semi-Finalists to compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Championship in Washington for the World Title in July 2013. Jenny Cole, CEO of Netlearn sponsored the event and Linda </em><i>attended as the trainer and chaperone. This post can be read in full with all the photos and videos on Linda's blog <a href="http://goo.gl/aJPxKV" target="_blank">Foulkes@Work</a></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Linda write</b>s:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I had an absolutely awesome trip to Washington, DC with my two Microsoft Office Specialist Champions who represented South Africa for Word 2010 [Shaun Nothard], and for PowerPoint 2010 [Tshimologo Molefe]. Shaun and Tshimo were chosen out of 8 Semi-Finalists [all eight from Elkanah House and the only Semi-Finalists in South Africa]. Both were sponsored a trip to Washington, DC to compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Championship for the World Title. Jenny Cole, CEO of Netlearn Update cc sponsored the event and I got to go as the trainer and chaperone. After a huge amount of preparation in the weeks leading up to our trip, we left SA on the 29th July.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWukHmrDQHTwtrG42o1i4vEsQG1h86ZmmDDzgMig5lPkSgYeifBx8C6ObFzW0D8g0nXqyH9dL9Uq3wf_n9evW4pVQ2DNb_P0TkX1cv2rRUH6yyYapknzvVarXguf9KevHFzcCCnMCjViY/s400/Linda1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Linda with her two champion students</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We met our sponsor, Jenny Cole, at OR Tambo as she flew in from Durban. After a two hour wait the four of us boarded the flight to Washington, DC. Eighteen hours later we arrived in Washington at 06h35 on the 30th July.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Transport was arranged from Dulles Airport to the Gaylord National Resort in a black “pimp my ride” style SUV with a chauffeur.  The hotel was so huge, beautiful and very posh.  The boys shared a room and Jenny Cole and I the other.  The afternoon was spent literally touring around the hotel as it was so huge! Walked down to the waterfront area and found the American shop where some shopping occurred! Had the most amazing doughnut I have ever tasted!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening we were treated to supper on the waterfront after which we collapsed into slumber land.  On the Wednesday morning the boys and I could not wait to get down to the 4 course breakfast! OMW – to explain just would not suffice!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Visit NetLearn Update cc – <a href="http://www.netlearn.co.za/">http://www.netlearn.co.za</a> – to find out more information about the business as well as the <a href="http://www.netlearn.co.za/Newsflash%2013.html">News Flash</a> on the MOS Competition. If you are interested in Microsoft Office Courseware, then visit <a href="http://www.netlearn.co.za/Books13.html">t</a><a href="http://www.netlearn.co.za/Books13.html">his</a> page to see my published courseware.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A newspaper article was written on the event [published in the Northglen News] and about NetLearn Update cc </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5U7dzAtNvibX72x41OOIn4iTIqPTnX_ZmIMXw8CHDaPCy42BblllHdME6TOJhFZPuoA51XbOVYriSzdFE76CLD0E3hyphenhyphenaHE-LD6F2pziofYq6xJtDqSDiEwc-OHth3OTRifmNMm46PBU/s400/Linda2.JPG" width="400" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"To tell you a little about the Microsoft office Specialist  [MOS] 2013 event…</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmq2wviQtEvHEvtIkEQ2G1GhWViVlevusBhbRnLWCQUj4DnCijiMNkz0ZnpvT07PYkooLfA8jmMWfLRcgzK-irA_hVaUjSSyGW-tsTAxmWKmbkuJjMWnI56qgbWUJ5xnJ-pBq7C_0gZo/?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmq2wviQtEvHEvtIkEQ2G1GhWViVlevusBhbRnLWCQUj4DnCijiMNkz0ZnpvT07PYkooLfA8jmMWfLRcgzK-irA_hVaUjSSyGW-tsTAxmWKmbkuJjMWnI56qgbWUJ5xnJ-pBq7C_0gZo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certiport (<a href="http://www.certiport.com/">http://www.certiport.com</a>), a Pearson VUE business, is the leading test delivery solution provider for the global workforce and academic markets. Certiport hosted the event at the hotel. From the moment we met the staff we felt such a friendly, supportive and enthusiastic vibe. Everything was professional and organized so impeccably. They surrounded us with an awesome experience of competition, and incorporated history throughout our stay.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKdBHDCZtco5IM8olzXyRlzqABHOzpfIC3EhPEzR-ZVK9iOpEKLFZktk69miGl6T-nqBU9PZWty4xKYF-ROLgwhEGDJWLidKjV8oe9EXDyjLxMFGbJltCDQMAai21zJG9yenzPPukBU0/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Theme for the event</b><br />"The theme for the entire event was “<i>Making History</i>”.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Participants</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Making History” participatns included:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">129 students from 40 countries<br />102 Certiport partners from 38 countries<br />72 chaperones<br />10 event ambassadors speaking: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese,  Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Countries Represented:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="bottom" width="177"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Australia<br />Brazil<br />Brunei Darussalam<br />Bulgaria<br />Canada<br />Chile<br />China<br />Colombia<br />Costa Rica<br />Czech Republic</span></td> <td valign="bottom" width="141"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denmark<br />Ecuador<br />El Salvador<br />Greece<br />Guatemala<br />Honduras<br />Hong Kong<br />India<br />Japan<br />Korea</span></td> <td valign="bottom" width="141"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Macao<br />Mexico<br />Morocco<br />Nepal<br />New Zealand<br />Nigeria<br />Panama<br />Peru<br />Poland<br />Singapore</span></td> <td valign="bottom" width="199"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South Africa<br />South Korea<br />Sweden<br />Taipei<br />Taiwan<br />Thailand<br />Uganda<br />United Kingdom<br />USA<br />Vietnam</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The MOS Competition registration took place on Wednesday 1 August. Students collected their Certiport MOS backpacks and a few other goodies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The EXAM!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"On Thursday morning the candidates congregated in the student lounge to view their exam slots for each version of Office as well as for the Adobe Competition. Throughout the day, testing took place at the various conference venues. This portion of our experience was certainly extremely beneficial to us in order to plan for the coming years. The buzz, excitement and camaraderie outside the test venues were an involvement on its own worth travelling for. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learnt so much from other candidates and trainers on the trip. Our children did wonderfully considering the time frame in which we had to prepare against other countries who have been in the know how for many years. We represented South Africa – AND were the ONLY candidates from South Africa to compete at the MOS 2013 Competition! The experience is a win in itself! Congratulations to my two students, Shaun Nothard and Tshimologo Molefe. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a teacher and trainer I have benefited from a wealth of knowledge from other candidates and chaperons as well as from my two students [which could never happen in a classroom once a week!] We also learnt that we need to start working the moment we land for the 2014 competition and are very eager to explore and enter for the Adobe Competition. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Address from MICROSOFT</b> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The address from Microsoft at the Awards Ceremony to the children was outstanding. Please take a listen below: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tgNsbm5IR1E" width="420"></iframe> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Exploring Washington DC</b> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Candidates were all bussed to the mall around 09h00 am on Friday morning, after breakfast. All candidates and chaperons congregated for a group photo on the lawn before the Washington Mall group treasure hunt.  Mall maps were handed out, a $25 gift card for lunch or souvenirs as well as a MOS Championship T-shirt for everyone. The meeting point was at 19h00 at the Air and Space Museum. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJPFHff6KnA2t5Dvnj6P5w7Gq902ZiAmjt1VGIn08dKFj5WJULn_xl4ahQ3weflKxQbFGDvnvCXZYS-DwNI_tRGF2FzcPbpTCRdIw2HzHWTDt17jHAc4ogy9pVPDtxVxKHAPyMTp34QM/s1600-h/image%25255B6%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwX9P-TLpPUgR0VH1b5D8GKtXDpuVNgQQLSHKYn5Mt3BXu4SjCExIrKqPESsmsy9XJDEkLCY59NPpdt-239CnLo91-5SXeao7uaMooJSb6q9n5DSX1aze6ZUcFmekRrowMhchw3cBp3qU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Certiport booked out the entire Smithsonian Air and Space Museum for exploration and dinner on the Friday evening. To end off the evening, we were treated to an IMAX movie. That afternoon, we spent 10 hours walking the Washington Mall! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The AWARDS</b> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Video footage was taken of our two superstars! It was an honour for our two champions to be include in the 2014 Video Announcement for the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Competition! Check out our <a href="http://www.elkanah.co.za/">Elkanah House</a> superstars in the promotional video for the MOS Worldwide Competition 2014 in <strong>Disneyland</strong>! Cannot wait for next year having the privilege of experiences under our belt! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3TxnfGbbI28" width="420"></iframe> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gSCgzghrybc" width="420"></iframe> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If you have read this post and wish to know more about the MOS competition / ADOBE Competition and what it entails, please contact me via blog comment or Twitter. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till next time </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linda</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SchoolNet says</b>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CONGRATULATIONS to you and your Elkanah House team, Linda. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great achievement and a wonderful opportunity for your students. </span></div>

Microsoft news Elkanah Superstars return from the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Competition held in Washington

This is a guest post from one of our SchoolNet members,  Linda Foulkes, from Elkanah House High in Cape Town. Two of her students were chosen out of 8 Semi-Finalists to compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist Worldwide Championship in Washington f…

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Can the Nokia deal save Microsoft?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4973891917352186"; /* hotnewsof_main_Blog1_ */ google_ad_slot = "6959597717"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">From <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/">http://www.cbsnews.com</a><br /><br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YGXYJCQOGaQ?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4973891917352186"; /* hotnewsof_sidebar-right-1_AdSense1_ */ google_ad_slot = "8436330913"; google_ad_width = 160; google_ad_height = 600; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(CBS News) LOS ANGELES -- One day after Verizon and Vodafone announced their break-up,<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500395_162-57601028/microsoft-buying-nokias-devices-services-unit-for-$7.2b/" style="border: 0px; color: #931f1f; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Microsoft said it's buying Nokia's line of mobile phones</a> in a deal worth more than $7 billion.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are now more than 1 billion smartphones in the world, but just a fraction of them are made by Microsoft and Nokia -- once the world's largest cell phone maker.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="cnet-image-div image-CBSNEWS_GRANDE float-left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 10px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 244px;"><img alt="Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer describes his hopes for his company's acquisition of Nokia's phone business at a press conference in Espoo, Finland." class="cnet-image" height="183" src="http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/09/03/20130903_Steve_Ballmer_Msft_CEO_244x183.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="244" /><br /><div class="image-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 2px 0px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer describes his hopes for his company's acquisition of Nokia's phone business at a press conference in Espoo, Finland.</div> <span class="greySplitter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">/</span><span class="image-credit" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Today's announcement is a bold step into the future," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57599851/ballmer-to-retire-can-microsoft-change/" style="border: 0px; color: #931f1f; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ballmer to retire: Can Microsoft change?</a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Microsoft is buying Nokia's <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57601043/microsoft-rolls-big-buys-nokias-phone-biz/" style="border: 0px; color: #931f1f; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">entire line of phones and its patents</a>. The plan is to help Microsoft attempt to catch up with its smartphone rivals.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Windows phone has grown over 78 percent in the last year and is now clearly the number three offering in the marketplace," Ballmer said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But it is a very distant third in a market dominated by Apple and Android devices.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Android phones now make up 51 percent of U.S. smartphone sales. The iPhone makes up 43.4 percent of sales. Microsoft's Windows-based phone: just 3.5 percent, according to a July 2013 report by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="cnet-image-div image-CBSNEWS_GRANDE float-left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 10px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 244px;"><img alt="Brian Cooley of CNET" class="cnet-image" height="183" src="http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/09/03/brian-cooley_244x183.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="244" /><br /><div class="image-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 2px 0px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brian Cooley of CNET</div> <span class="greySplitter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">/</span> <span class="image-credit" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CBS News</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Microsoft had to get more serious about mobiles," said Brian Cooley, editor-at-large for technology website CNET. "They can't check out and say we're just not going to compete in that business fully. That's not an option anymore."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"We are right now in a place in the mobile electronics world where we are questioning: Are there two chairs at the table, or three?" he added. "There may not be a third. Microsoft needs to make the chair, and then sit in it. It's twice the work."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Microsoft's fortune was built on its desktop software. But desktop computer sales have dropped 16 percent since the end of last year, in large part due to the explosion of smartphones and tablet computers.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last summer, the company launched a tablet called Surface. It hasn't clicked with consumers, selling about 1.7 million units in the same time Apple sold 57 million iPads.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The deal between Microsoft and Nokia shows how far and fast Nokia has fallen. In 2007, Nokia had 48 percent of the cell phone market and was worth $10 billion more than Apple. Just five years later, Nokia's market share had dropped to about 3.5 percent.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="cnet-image-div image-LARGE2 float-none" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="cnet-image" height="458" src="http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/09/03/163123084_610x458.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="610" /><br /><div class="image-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 2px 0px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">A stand host holds up a Nokia Lumia 920 Windows enabled smartphone at the Microsoft stand at the 2013 CeBIT technology trade fair on March 5, 2013 in Hanover, Germany.</div> <span class="greySplitter" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">/</span> <span class="image-credit" style="border: 0px; color: #717171; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sean Gallup/Getty Images</span></div></div></div><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4973891917352186"; /* hotnewsof_main_Blog1_300x250_as */ google_ad_slot = "9913064110"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>

Microsoft Nokia Can the Nokia deal save Microsoft?

From http://www.cbsnews.com(CBS News) LOS ANGELES -- One day after Verizon and Vodafone announced their break-up,Microsoft said it's buying Nokia's line of mobile phones in a deal worth more than $7 billion.There are now more than 1 billion smartphon…

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Apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7g56hiXC6QzhF82MF6XuC0N0tJIMaYBpM7DgPmfRmWdiYHSyki5QLtuqBTp-ntL4ACTeOZsqCvFVwHfGgKGMSTw8Tb53ecetVpDlxNyugzl9mdeg2PkJ4eb1fdKIJRdFdXjXcbqDpFY/s1600-h/image%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLbOfUfa6t3LqLzCWwGN3F1bZnAHY5Wwz-obRke3a3EunAP81sj1Uu6Cy5f5DzUAdjG56TgwUtuMC8o9KDfEnZX0kJWgZzxuVeMgYSjljjuzdTmuE1Jh4FP_z4edlkgiq0g_UWpgoXus/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="144" /></a><br /><em>Submitted by Megan Rademeyer</em><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to win a trip to Barcelona, Spain to participate in the Global Microsoft Partners in Learning Forum you have until 30 September 2013 to apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert  (<a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Educators/expert">http://www.pil-network.com/Educators/expert</a>). If you are passionate about using technology to enhance education and motivating others you could be selected to join this exclusive global community by applying to be an Educator Expert and sharing your Learning Activity on the Partners in Learning Network (<a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">http://www.pil-network.com</a>). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see some of the Learning Activities that were presented by teachers at the SchoolNet SA ICT in the Classroom conference, have a look at the 2013 South Africa and Lesotho Partners in Learning Discussion on the Partners in Learning Network (<a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Discussion/488ae828-fa68-4ef5-83a0-faa249c866c4">http://www.pil-network.com/Discussion/488ae828-fa68-4ef5-83a0-faa249c866c4</a>). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDB2LBf-_P3mjMjJA7QAP2vma2IJKmTZgaYezuEt-R4Sl7-SGWMS6cPWQdclvAcUcl6aD9Zn2833RLZQBjvNjjzeOdMCNaNr-LHWil-VVBJa3CzTkUUCMHVpIIGCHkzpdnNPgUwBzmZo/s1600-h/WP_20130702_002%252520%2525281%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WP_20130702_002 (1)" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnY4b69YE4mwRgayntwCKGXKc5lBdpC8S3nKZvh-4lsxxt3SNBZkNlIf28pJu2_FCRzXyc5AvipJ0Npvl3i3sH5HdLQnKZzbLk_2HfU4aAEIfCas4BVN-ynIxqSh6VhZMX22QroEHDy8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="WP_20130702_002 (1)" width="403" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the teachers <span style="text-align: left;">who presented their Learning Activities at the SchoolNet Conference in July 2013</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of these teachers will be selected to go to the Global Partners in Learning Forum – but there is still time for others to enter by 30 September 2013 to be part of the team that will represent South Africa and Lesotho in Barcelona, Spain. You have nothing to lose by applying and sharing your Learning Activity – so show the world what you can do and stand a chance of winning the professional development experience of a lifetime!</span><br /><br /><br /></div>

Microsoft Apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert

Submitted by Megan RademeyerIf you would like to win a trip to Barcelona, Spain to participate in the Global Microsoft Partners in Learning Forum you have until 30 September 2013 to apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert  (http://www.pil-…

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Now Turn Anything To Touchscreen.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Microsoft & Ubi is going to introduce a software that can turn anything in touchscreen doesn't matter it is a wall, a screen or a desk. <span style="text-align: left;">Before this, it was only seen in Hollywood films but now it will in truth. Microsoft is working on this project with Ubi interactive and also selling software with same company. Ubi’s software can support touchscreen of two sizes one is 45 inch and other is 100 inch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDn1y86yk2Y/Ug4Gyl7_hqI/AAAAAAAAAKw/a7PhjgrONqo/s1600/screenshot-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDn1y86yk2Y/Ug4Gyl7_hqI/AAAAAAAAAKw/a7PhjgrONqo/s1600/screenshot-2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ubi-interactive.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Ubi was one of 11 startups selected to build up apps and software that can work with the Kinect, under the “Kinect Accelerator” program from Microsoft. According to Ubi technology touchscreen are useful but very costly especially large screen that are used in conference or in store displays. Kinect can help them to reduce the coast of touchscreen. This is also work with already set up projector and television. The price is also friendly,  for 45 inch screen’s software it is only $150 and for 100 inch screen you will pay $379.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A finger touch can be sense by the Kinect combo software, it allowing the user to execute all usual functions of a touch screen like click, scroll, drag and drop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Anup Chathoth, Ubi CEO said “By making it possible to turn any surface into a touchscreen, we ... reduce the cost and extend the possibilities of enabling interactive displays in places where they were not previously feasible -- such as on walls in public spaces,".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Microsoft is also working on a project of a wearable projector technology, which will also usable for smartphone user to project and control the screen of their device on their hands.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXjnP_Z7ZiM/Ug4HNYew4CI/AAAAAAAAAK4/EwRDoITpfFY/s1600/setup-450.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXjnP_Z7ZiM/Ug4HNYew4CI/AAAAAAAAAK4/EwRDoITpfFY/s1600/setup-450.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ubi-interactive.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Setup for Kinect combo software: It  is not a difficult one , follow the three step written below and you will setup successfully.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Connect projector and Kinect to Windows 8 PC .</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Start Ubi software.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now Ubi automatically regulate your atmosphere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

Microsoft projector touch screen Ubi Now Turn Anything To Touchscreen.

Microsoft & Ubi is going to introduce a software that can turn anything in touchscreen doesn't matter it is a wall, a screen or a desk. Before this, it was only seen in Hollywood films but now it will in truth. Microsoft is working on this project wi…

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