Today was for the most part nothing but a write off for me hence the lack of posts but everything should be back to semi-normal tomorrow. In the meantime I did manage to grab some interesting stuff for the round-up.

Microsoft:

• Microsoft: We are focusing on eight core businesses – Mary Jo Foley
  At the kick-off of the company’s annual Financial Analyst Meeting (FAM) in Redmond on July 29, Microsoft execs attempted to clarify where the company is focusing its efforts currently and in the coming year.
• Microsoft to analysts: Here’s how we win business & the cloud - Seattle Times
  Microsoft has a four-point plan for winning business customers, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner told the 180 or so financial analysts in Redmond for the company’s annual analyst meeting.
• Microsoft FAM: Wii inspired Xbox Kinect, mission impossible – Brier Dudley
  Nintendo’s Wii gave Microsoft its initial inspiration to give the Xbox motion control capabilities that ultimately became the Kinect system.
• Another Major University Enrolls in Microsoft’s Cloud – ReadWriteWeb
  As part of its annual Financial Analyst Meeting today, Microsoft is touting its cloud momentum and announcing several new high-profile customers who’ve selected the company’s cloud computing services
• Ballmer says Win7 tablets and personal clouds coming - Seattle Times
  Steve Ballmer’s trying to set the record straight on Microsoft’s maligned consumer businesses.
• Microsoft Demos New Anti-Malware Tool at Black Hat – Sarah in Tampa
  At the Black Hat security conference, Microsoft demonstrated a new security tool called the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit or EMET, which would allows older programs (like IE6) to receive new vulnerability patches.

Bing & Internet Explorer:

• How to Scan Barcodes with Bing for iPhone – Sarah in Tampa
  Earlier, the Bing iPhone app was updated with a barcode scanning function, meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes. If you’re wondering how this works, the Bing blog has just provided a handy how-to.
• Bing Integration into Windows Live Messenger Beta – Bing Search Blog
  With the latest version of Messenger, you can now bring Bing into your conversations in a few exciting new ways.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 beta due in September – Mary Jo Foley
  Microsoft is readying a beta of its Internet Explorer (IE) 9 browser that it will roll out in September, according to Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner

Windows Phone 7:

• My Love For Windows Phone 7 Is Back! – WMPoweruser
  After watching over 3 hours of Windows Phone 7 demos from many different sites, it seems I am back in the Windows Phone 7 love clan.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft and Windows Round-up – 20.7.2010
2. Microsoft and Windows Round-up – 28.7.2010
3. Microsoft & Windows Round-up – 28.05.2010
4. Microsoft and Windows Round-up – 16.06.2010
5. Microsoft and Windows Round-up – 6.7.2010