Microsoft looks to buy your tablet or smartphone for up to $250

Updated on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 3:21PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Looking to buy a new Microsoft device or a Surface 2, specifically? The Redmond, Washington-based technology company is offering to buy your tablet or smartphone for up to $250. But that amount will only be usable at the Microsoft Store. The offer is valid until March 2, 2014 or “while supplies last.” You can also only avail the promo at select Microsoft retail stores in Canada and the US (including Puerto Rico). If you want to find a store near you, here’s a link to check out.

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Microsoft’s new Super Bowl ad sets out to touch hearts

Microsoft isn’t particularly known for releasing touching advertisements that try marry technology with humanity. That seems to be more Apple’s territory. But their new ad for the Super Bowl seems to have hit a good spot. The new ad features the voice of former NFL safety Steve Gleason, who is suffering from ALS. (He has a longer video from Microsoft here.) Microsoft has set out to explain how technology helps different kinds of people get through life and experience the world around them.

Source: CNET

Future's in the Cloud: Microsoft's next CEO likely to be Satya Nadela

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Microsoft seems to be moving closer to (finally!) choosing the successor to Steve Ballmer, who leaves later this year. The front runner is an insider and the head of Microsoft’s cloud and data center software group,  Satya Nadella. 

A profile on Bloomberg Businessweek says of Nadela, "he’s a sharp, persuasive individual who has spent more than 20 years working at the company. Crucially, he’s more or less Microsoft’s cloud master and has a firm handle on what it takes to run Bing, Office365, Skype, and Xbox Live. Nadella is also well-liked and respected throughout the industry."

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Nokia Lumia sales drop from 8.8 million to 8.2 million Q4 2013

Nokia closes its last year as a full-fledged handset manufacturer on a sad note. Ubergizmo reports the Finnish company reported a $270 million loss for fourth quarter of 2013 and sales of both smartphone and feature phones have declined in the last quarter of the year. The sale of Lumia smartphones dipped by 600,000 units from third quarter of 2013 as Nokia sold 8.2 million units in Q4 of 2013. Nokia will not disclose how many Asha feature phones they have sold in the past quarter.

 Nokia agreed to sell its device unit to Microsoft with the deal expected to close by the end of this quarter.