Winextra » Microsoft

Microsoft Research at it again – Blood sugar monitor contact lenses [Video]

Steven — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:28:01 +0000

The Functional Contact Lens Monitors Blood Sugar without Needles

Say what you want about Microsoft as a company but their Research department is always looking to try and do some pretty incredible things that go beyond just making the company money and look to make a difference in people’s lives.

Case in point is a project they are working on that will allow you to wear contact lenses that are able to monitor you blood glucose level and while that may not seem all that incredible tell that to someone with diabetes. To be able to know what your levels are without having to constantly prick yourself, which gets to be rather painful, would be a godsend.

At this point the research team has figured out how to build a glucose sensor into a contact lens, as well as contact lens with built-in radios and antennas to transmit data wirelessly. The trick now is to bring those two technologies together in one pair of contact lenses.

There is still a lot of work to do but I am sure that diabetics around the world are rooting for them to get the system working.

via Technabob

Microsoft Research at it again – Blood sugar monitor contact lenses [Video] is a post from: winextra
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Damn that Mr. Clippy, now he’s in the washroom

Steven — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:21:18 +0000

And here we thought he was dead and gone.

Didn't know RIP meant Rest In Poop

via IsViral

Damn that Mr. Clippy, now he’s in the washroom is a post from: winextra
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A great Microsoft image of the future, too bad it’s a video that will go nowhere [Video]

Steven — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:08:05 +0000

There’s a really awesome video that hit the web today which showcases a future of touch and holographic computing as envisioned by Microsoft. Granted it isn’t meant to be some magical template of what Microsoft wants to bring to market but rather interesting ideas for us to consider.

The problem is that I don’t believe we will ever see anything even remotely close to what is envisioned in the video, primarily because our technological future is being killed off by outdated; and abused, patent and copyright laws.

I also agree with John Gruber when he writes at Daring Fireball about this video

Imagine if they instead spent the effort that went into this movie on making something, you know, real, that you could actually go out and buy and use today.

Quit making videos about some imaginary future Microsoft and just bring it to us instead.

A great Microsoft image of the future, too bad it’s a video that will go nowhere [Video] is a post from: winextra
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Could Google be trying to bluff Microsoft into a bid for Yahoo?

Steven — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:51:48 +0000

There’s an interesting rumor post that just showed up on The Next Web written by Martin Bryant suggesting that Google might be putting together a bid with some private equity companies to buy Yahoo.

The story originated on The Wall Street Journal, much like the orginal rumor about Microsoft being in some sort of deal making mode with Silver Lake Partners and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to buy Yahoo.

Personally I don’t see how Google buying Yahoo would make any more sense than Microsoft taking a second stab at acquiring the troubled company it makes perfect sense for Google to “be interested” on a couple of levels.

First off, the Microsoft and Yahoo search deal has been helping Bing gain a nice bit of the search engine marketplace and anything Google could do to break that partnership up would be to their benefit; but I still don’t think that would be enough of a reason to buy Yahoo.

In the end I have a feeling that if there is anything to this whole Microsoft and Google rumor thing it is nothing more than a big game of seeing who can bluff who.

Could Google be trying to bluff Microsoft into a bid for Yahoo? is a post from: winextra
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Xbox and Zune Combining Account Preferences. More Unity To Come?

Holden — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:50:20 +0000

Have specific preferences for both your Zune and Xbox account? Not anymore, according to an email from Xbox marketing team. Your accounts preferences for both Zune and Xbox are combined, and all marketing will be under the Xbox brand.

Some virtual clerical work before the great collide?

While I always try hard to prevent reading too much into news such as this, I can’t help but shake the feeling that this will lead to more unity, and closure, of the Zune brand. After all, the Zune HD is now a dead device, and we all know that the music subs aren’t exactly stellar either.

This isn’t to say that Microsoft has given up on the idea of subscription music, but rather the current branding of it. Consolidation like this is not uncommon either. Recently, Windows Games was also branded under Xbox.

As Xbox console becomes more of a content consumption device, it makes sense to make music part of that consumption experience. After all, the brand resonates with millions of people around the world, but the same doesn’t go for Zune, which passionately cherished by the few.

That said, this could just be to cut down on some virtual paperwork. Which begs the question, have I jumped the shark? Let me know in the comments.

Xbox and Zune Combining Account Preferences. More Unity To Come? is a post from: winextra
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Microsoft to buy Yahoo? In your dreams maybe.

Steven — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:07:37 +0000

There is a rumor going around that Microsoft has once again decided to punch the dance card for Yahoo, and really it’s a pretty slim rumor at that.

Look we’ve been down this road before and I realize that it’s a bit of a slow news week but let’s get real here. Microsoft has already walked away from this dance once before and other than the purchase price going down a little nothing else has changed from the first time the two did the tango.

It didn’t make sense then and it makes even less sense now.

The fact is that Microsoft would have to be involved in any negotiations when it comes to Yahoo being bought due to their partnership in search and advertising, beyond that however I just don’t see where it would benefit Microsoft to go that extra mile and buy the troubled company – it has enough headaches of its own right now.

Mary Jo Foley does point out that there are parts of Yahoo that could be a benefit for Microsoft but I just don’t see things like Flickr and Yahoo Mail being worth the billions that Microsoft would have to spend, even if that amount would probably be a lot less than the $45 billion offered in their last go around.

In the end I have to go with Kara Swisher when she says

How can I put this delicately myself? How about: No.

Actually she puts it a lot more delicately than I would.

Microsoft to buy Yahoo? In your dreams maybe. is a post from: winextra
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