Microsoft's Surface revenue surges by 39 per cent in the quarter

Microsoft which recently became the most valuable company reported  $32 billion in revenues and a net income of $8.4 billion for the quarter. While Microsoft's continued success rides on it's extensive cloud services offerings, the company's Surface division is proving to be an impressive earner for the Redmond giant.

Surface revenues grew by 39 per cent in the quarter, proving that Microsoft was right to continue refining and expanding its hardware portfolio. The recent release of the Surface Pro 6 as well as the lower-priced Surface Go, there really is a Surface device for every type of user in both enterprise and consumer markets. There's also indication that Microsoft's Surface team is working on new products, possibly even the long rumoured 'Andromeda' foldable. It will be interesting to see what's next from Microsoft not just in terms of services and productivity but also in terms of hardware.

Microsoft investing more than $1 million to help Quebec startups thrive

Microsoft Canada and LE CAMP Incubator & Accelerator in Quebec City announced a partnership that will see Microsoft invest more than a $1M in cash, product and business services to help grow the innovative startup ecosystem in Quebec.

"It is with great pride that I celebrate this partnership between Microsoft and LE CAMP today; it will fuel innovation and the creation of new businesses in Quebec City,” said Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume. “The mentorship provided will offer a solid foundation for the entrepreneurial startups at CAMP. It is not surprising that Microsoft chose Québec City for this partnership. Our city has an abundance of highly skilled tech talent and a critical mass of businesses in this sector."

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Microsoft's new ad dismisses iPads, tells grandmas to get Surface Go for Christmas instead

The ad is sweet but burns deeply. A 10-year-old girl implores her grandmother not to buy the iPad because while that was okay when she was 6, it's not anymore because she is 10 and needs a 'real computer.' The girl continues singing praises for all the world-changing things a Surface can do. This shows how competitive the 2-in-1 tablet market has become in the consumer space. As tablets continue to attempt to replace laptops, we will continue to see more of this type of advertising. Microsoft's latest ad seems to be a response to Apple's "What's a Computer," iPad Pro ad from more than a year ago. 

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen passes away at 65

Paul Allen, founder of Microsoft and technology innovator, philantrophist and sports team owner passed away today at age 65 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates and is credited for having named the company. Hel later left Microsoft because of serious illness but recovered. Allen went on to become a billionaire investor, famously owning teams like the Portland Trailblazers, the Seatle Seahawks, The Seattle Sounders FC. He also made significant cultural investments and founded the Museum of Pop Culture. Allen has granted over $2 billion to philantrophic causes.

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