Insider Monkey is reporting that this story is false and that the story was “nothing more than a rumor.” Check it out:

Insider Monkey received word from a highly placed source inside Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) who said that the story was only a rumor, and that nothing imminent is happening in regards to Microsoft and its investment in the NOOK Media entity, or reports that it is buying out Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) from the operation.

“I literally just walked out of the meeting today discussing all this Microsoft/NOOK hoopla going on,” the anonymous Microsoft source emailed Insider Monkey.

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The documents also reveal that Nook Media plans to discontinue its Android-based tablet business by the end of its 2014 fiscal year as it transitions to a model where Nook content is distributed through apps on “third-party partner” devices. Speculation about the plan to discontinue the Nook surfaced in February. The documents we have are not clear on whether the third-party tablets would be Microsoft’s own Windows 8 devices, tablets made by others (including competing platforms) or both. Third-party tablets, according to the document, are due to get introduced in 2014. continued…

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Developers can earn up to $2,000 each. Here is more from the Microsoft blog: “Publish your app to the Windows Store and/or Windows Phone Store between March 8, 2013 through June 30, 2013. Submit up to 10 published apps per Store and get a $100 Virtual Visa for each one that qualifies.”

Microsoft could use the boost. According to this infographic, published last month, as of January the Microsoft Windows Store only had 40,000 apps, as compared to 700,000 in Google Play and 800,000 in iTunes.

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Microsoft purchased Skype in May 2011 for $8.5 billion, but failed to obtained China’s Skype services. The complex structure of joint ownership in China makes a complete Skype and Messenger merger impossible. However, Chinese companies will not see any layoffs as a result of the merger since it will not affect the mainland.

On 15th March 2013 we are retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together. Update to Skype and sign in using a Microsoft Account (same as your Messenger ID) and all your Messenger contacts will be at your fingertips. You’ll be able to instant message and video chat with them just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet.

The merger will undoubtedly increase Skype’s number of active users from its current 280 million. Users will still have to purchase Skype’s premium subscription to take advantage of the app’s group video chat features.  Further, older versions of Messenger will not automatically notify or update users of the change, so you’ll need to manually upgrade your service.

Via

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Andrew Sokolowski

Here’s an excerpt from the suit: “Microsoft continues to mislead consumers by representing that its Surface RT tablets are equipped with either 32 GB or 64 GB of storage space while concealing, omitting and failing to disclose that approximately 16 GB of that space is not available storage space that the purchaser can access and use to store his or her own files.”

Microsoft has not concealed the issue. They created a chart on their website showing how much space you can find on its new tablets.

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The Verge is reporting that they have multiple sources which have told them that Microsoft will be releasing Office for Android and iOS next year. They cannot offer a firm release date, but all signs point to a release in the first half of the year, with March as the most likely month for the release.

The iOS apps will come first, with the Android version of the apps reportedly coming in May.  The apps will be free to download, but if you want to do more than simply view Excel, Word, and other Office files you will need to buy a copy of Office 365.

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One Reddit user explored the Surface disk space section of Microsoft’s site, discovering that the 32 GB edition has half the space most users would expect. Check it out:

Surface with Windows RT comes with either 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage space (hard disk space). However, not all of this space is available for your music, photos, videos, and other content. How much storage space do I have? Here’s how much hard disk space you have available out of the box: The 32 GB version has approximately 16 GB free hard disk space. The 64 GB version has approximately 46 GB free hard disk space.

continued…

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Microsoft will open a pop-up holiday store in the Time Warner Center tomorrow. TVNewser managing editor Chris Ariens snapped a picture (embedded above) of the store.

Crain’s New York has more about the nationwide effort: “The company will temporarily lease space in Related Cos.’ prestigious Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. The store will be one of 30 such holiday shops throughout North America, in other malls in Nashville, Columbia, Maryland and Garden City’s Roosevelt Field … A real estate insider said that Microsoft still does not have plans yet for a long-term Manhattan store, though a site is expected to do well.”

Do you think a permanent Microsoft store survive in New York City? Follow this link for all our coverage of the Microsoft Surface launch.

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Most current laptops would survive a similar drop, and so would their hard disks. But those HD would survive because they would detect the fall and shut down before the laptop hit the ground. You likely would not be able to record the drop like MS did with the drop test above.

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continued…

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The new commercial focuses not on what you can do with the tablet, but on the cool snap on cover and keyboard. You know, the one which was copied from the iPad and then improved

(Microsoft “Jobsed” the iPad’s smartcover). This entire commercial is one long fancy dance routine. If getting a Surface tablet will enable me to dance like this then it is definitely worth the money. continued…

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Based on the several leaked videos which I posted last week, I am in no hurry to get Microsoft’s next operating system. But it looks like Walmart is eager to start selling it.

One budget minded gadget shopper was in Walmart the other day when he came across the display shown at right. Apparently at least one Walmart store has already received their initial order of copies of Windows 8 and didn’t see a reason to wait before putting them on display.

It’s not clear where this store is located, but I do know that they jumped the gun. Windows 8 isn’t supposed to be officially released until  the 25th of October. It’s only supposed to be up for pre-order.

via The Verge

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Microsoft is still being coy about specific details for their new operating system soIi was thrilled today when the above video was posted on YouTube.

This video was discovered by the Israeli tech blog TechIT.co.il, and it is one of four commercials which they have found. All attention seem to be focused on using Windows 8 on a tablet, and that is more than a little disappointing to this laptop owner. As much as I like tablets, I spend the majority of my computer time using a laptop. Tablets are still an accessory so if Windows 8 isn’t designed for use on a computer without a touch screen, I will not be getting it.

via TechIT.co.il

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Rich Adin, writing over at An American Editor, has uncovered another restriction in Windows RT which could possibly discourage some from using the OS. continued…

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.