The East Valley will host one of the first two Microsoft stores when the computing giant enters the retailing world this fall.

Microsoft Corp. opened its first retail store on Thursday to hundreds of people who waited for as long as 12 hours to get freebies and to see if the place is as cool as it was hyped to be.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released a business version of software that aims to help people more quickly find documents, e-mail and other data stored on Windows-based computers.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. launched a Web site Thursday for managing personal health and medical information, but privacy advocates worry that neither the technology nor U.S. law will protect patients’ most confidential details.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday that it will significantly ramp up the availability of its Xbox 360 video-game consoles, following production problems that have made the popular game systems difficult to find on store shelves.

HANOVER, Germany - After months of cryptic Web marketing and word-of-mouth hype over Microsoft Corp.'s Project Origami, the company finally showed off the product: an ultracompact computer running Windows XP with a touchscreen and wireless connectivity.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. is considering discounts or other promotions during the holidays to entice consumers to upgrade their PCs with Windows Vista, even though the new operating system isn't due to hit store shelves until January at the earliest.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Union regulators said Monday they were again investigating software giant Microsoft Corp. this time on suspicion of abusing its market position by squeezing out competing Internet browsers and software rivals dependent on Microsoft programs.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union on Thursday threatened to fine Microsoft Corp. up to 2 million euros ($2.37 million) a day for failing to obey its 2004 antitrust ruling, saying the company was being intransigent about sharing information regarding its software blueprints with competitors.

February 7, 2005

With Web sites like Yahoo! and MapQuest giving away maps and driving directions it seems like a waste of money to buy a standalone program that basically does the same thing. To survive, software publishers need to offer a lot more than the online freebies.

November 21, 2004

Microsoft is making the claim that you can’t trust Google anymore because they only show search results for those that are willing to pay. Is this true?

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. is once again on the defensive against hackers after the launch of a new program that gives average PC users tools to unlock copy-protected digital music and movies.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Retailers across the country stayed open through the wee hours of Tuesday morning to sell the long-awaited Windows Vista operating system, even though most knew customers wouldn't be lining up out the door for the midnight launch of Microsoft Corp.'s latest product.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. is unveiling a Web component for its desktop-based Office programs that lets computer users store, share and comment on documents, but the software maker did not go so far as to let people create new files from scratch online.

NEW YORK - Microsoft Corp. and its hardware partners are trying to bridge the divide between home computers and TV sets this holiday season with the release of several "media extenders."

April 25, 2005

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is preparing to roll out a portable digital music player later this year, an apparent bid to capture a slice of the market now dominated by the iPod, music industry executives said Thursday.