Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft remains one of the giants of the computing world. Though many consumers will be familiar with Microsoft through its Windows and Office products, MS is currently in the process of transitioning into a "devices and services" company, following its acquisition of Nokia's hardware business in 2014. In the mobile space, the company competes with Android with Windows smartphones and tablets, including its own Lumia and Surface devices.
Microsoft reached the peak of its dominance in the PC market in the 1990s and 2000s with Windows and Office becoming synonymous with personal computing for many. The company later entered the games console market in the mid-2000s with the Xbox, a brand which has since expanded to cover broader entertainment content. The software giant was also an early player in the smartphone market in the pre-iPhone days, with its Windows Mobile platform.
Microsoft has had an antagonistic relationship with Google in recent years, attacking the company's Chromebook line through its "scroogled"advertising campaign. Microsoft has also successfully sought licensing fees from many Android phone makers, claiming that their devices infringe upon MS patents. Meanwhile Google has been reluctant to support Windows phones with its platform of mobile services.
The modern Microsoft operates under the mantra of "mobile first, cloud first," with a focus on its Azure cloud computing platform, as well as portable devices like smartphones and tablets. The company has recently entered the world of wearables with the Microsoft Band, and offers versions of its Office and Xbox Music apps for Android and iOS, as well as its own platforms.
For up-to-the-minute coverage of Microsoft and Windows, be sure to check out our sister site Windows Central.
Latest about Microsoft
Microsoft taps ex-Meta marketing boss to boost Copilot AI
Big tech switch-up A former Meta and Time Warner executive has snagged the role of global creative director for Microsoft AI.
Google's CEO blasts Microsoft's AI efforts, says 'they're using someone else's models'
Strong words Sundar Pichai is extremely confident in Google's AI models, and didn't hold back opinions about one of the company's biggest competitors.
Launcher 10 lets you turn an Android phone into a Windows Phone
Nostalgia A Youtuber discovered an app that can turn the Android software into the Windows Phone OS.
Microsoft ends Surface Duo 2 support with final security update
curtain call Microsoft is giving the Surface Duo 2 one final update before officially ending its support.
Phone Link is looking more like Windows' answer to Apple's AirDrop
AirDrop wannabe This new Phone Link feature is like AirDrop, but for Android and Windows.
News Weekly: Global Microsoft outage, first look at new Pixel 9 series, and more
News Weekly A round-up of the biggest Google/Android-related news that stood out this week.
That huge 'Microsoft outage' probably didn't affect you, but the next one might
Android & Chill Software outages are messy and expensive. They can also be a great learning opportunity.
Huge Microsoft Windows outage disrupts services globally
massive outage A CrowdStrike Falcon update is triggering BSODs on Windows PCs, resulting in widespread service disruptions across the world.
Microsoft nabs Google DeepMind co-founder to lead its AI mission
Microsoft announces that Google DeepMind's co-founder will now run its consumer AI division, including Copilot, Bing, and Edge.
Microsoft Copilot’s new update lets you tweak AI-generated images right in chat
unleash your inner artist Microsoft gives Copilot on the web and mobile a makeover, adding more tools for generating images.
Microsoft Copilot sneaks into the Play Store with GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 models
Expanding AI Microsoft has launched its Copilot AI assistant app on the Play Store for Android phones.
A year ago, OpenAI and ChatGPT changed the world, but it's too soon to tell if it's for the better
Beyond the Alphabet It's been a year since ChatGPT was introduced, turning AI into a "dirty word" while sparking innovation in the tech space. We still have a long way to go, and there's still a lot to learn.
Your Android phone might soon double as a webcam for your Windows laptop
Android's Continuity Camera Code found in the Link to Windows app hints that Microsoft might let you use your Android phone as a video stream for your laptop.
Microsoft's 'Windows App' lets you stream Windows from everything but Android and Chromebooks
Dashed hopes During Ignite 2023, Microsoft announced an all-new 'Windows App' which makes it easy to access cloud and remote PCs. Unfortunately, if you use Android or Chromebooks, you're out of luck.
The man who built Microsoft Surface could be heading to Amazon
New kindling It's been a long time since Amazon tried a new mobile device, but a veteran Microsoft Surface exec could rekindle Amazon's Fire business.
The original Surface Duo stops receiving software support
Cut loose Microsoft has discontinued support for the first-generation Surface Duo, and the device will no longer receive software updates.
How to use Microsoft Office on a Chromebook
You don't need to rely on Google Drive with a Chromebook to get work done.
Poll: Would you consider switching to Bing now that Microsoft is integrating ChatGPT AI?
Microsoft is challenging Google's search dominance by integrating ChatGPT AI technology into Bing. But is it enough to get you to switch?
