Microsoft tests news summary reader

Commuting and don’t want to be staring at a screen but you still want to catch up on the latest news? Microsoft is testing out an app that reads new summaries to you. Called NewsCast, the app takes articles from around the web and begins reading news summaries to you in a playlist. You can choose to save an article for actual reading later or read it right from the app with its built-in browser.

The app is supposed to be a proof-of-concept product from the Bing News and Speech teams that they’re currently testing internally at Microsoft. The app used to have a publicly-accessible website but now it looks like that has been taken down.  The app seems to have been iOS-only. Hopefully though they bring this to the public in the future and open it to more ecosystems.

Source: PCWorld

First Windows 10 advertisement says the future starts now

Microsoft's first advertisement for Windows 10 is a bit unorthodox since it doesn't really show the new OS or what it will offer once it ships on July 29. Instead, we get a narrative of just how transcendent the new technology could be for future users. 

Microsoft readying to lay off 7,800 workers from mobile phone unit

The reign of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been punctuated by massive change in management and massive layoffs - Photo from Microsoft

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

More change is afoot at Microsoft which has seen various departures in management due to recent restructuring, the ripple effect of these changes and compressions is the loss of jobs. Microsoft announced today that it will lay off 7,800 workers, majority of these coming from the declining smartphone unit, which it acquired from an already weakend Nokia just last year for US $7.2 billion. Microsoft is the third largest player in mobile behind Apple and Google, but it holds a tiny 2.5 per cent market share, with no indication of moving up.

These layoffs are separate and in addition to the expected 18,000 employees that Microsoft announced would be laid off a year ago as part of the larger restructuring plan. It must be remembered that Microsoft inherited 25,000 employees as a result of the Nokia acquistion last year. This latest development questions what the future of Windows on Mobile Phone will be. Microsoft also relayed it is writing off $7.6 billion related to its acquisition of Nokia and resulting restructuring costs which comes off as a loss for the company.

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SourceCode: Stephen Elop out of Microsoft as devices take a back seat

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Stephen Elop, the man largely responsible for making Nokia a suitable acquisition for Microsoft as part of its devices initiative, has left the building. A memo to Microsoft employees by CEO Satya Nadella announced the compression of various divisions within Microsoft, most notably the Windows and Devices Group (WDG) which merges Windows OS and mobile devices. Elop previously headed Devices but has now 'reitired' from Microsoft as Terry Myerson takes stewardship of the compounded division.

 “Stephen and I have agreed that now is the right time for him to retire from Microsoft,” Nadella explained in his memo. “I regret the loss of leadership that this represents, and look forward to seeing where his next destination will be.”

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