Sleep When Idle

Microsoft focuses some of its investment on energy efficiency in the data center. Reducing power consumption during server idle periods is a research topic. Microsoft Research on efficient datacenters: "selectively putting idle servers into a low-power state ... " ...

... "As of today, turning servers off and on automatically is difficult to do, but with growing interest in environmental sustainability and a need to reduce rising energy costs, more people and businesses are motivated to find and develop solutions that work. " ...

Via Microsoft: Sustainable Computing

Value of Research

Microsoft SVP of Research, Rick Rashid, offers insights into the value of basic research, which is having the capability to confront and solve future challenges. ...

... "If you go back to the writings of Vannevar Bush that really were the basis of what became the U.S. investment in the National Science Foundation and the sort of research and development infrastructure that we have today, what he wrote about wasn't the technologies that would come out of research that you invested in, it was having a basic research infrastructure so that if something went seriously wrong, you had a new war or you have famine or you had a disease, that you would have the infrastructure of smart people and the wealth of technology you built up over the years that would let you address those issues, let you deal with them, let you survive. " ...

Via Microsoft's Rick Rashid: Day 3 Keynote at Professional Developers Conference

Microsoft Texas Data Center Builds on Lessons Learned

Microsoft opens new data center as it executes on its cloud-computing strategy, incorporating energy efficiency into the design and operation of the facility. ...

... "The San Antonio facility is the most power-efficient data center we’ve built to date. The facility will use 602,000 gallons of recycled waste water (from San Antonio’s waste water system) a day to cool the facility during peak cooling months or approximately 8 million gallons of water a month. " ...

Via Microsoft: Microsoft San Antonio data center

Google Web Browser Beta Tuesday

Google heats up the competitive kitchen with Microsoft as it is poised to launch its web browser beta starting tommorrow, Tuesday. The new web browser is billed as Google Chrome. ...

... "Under the hood, we were able to build the foundation of a browser that runs today's complex web applications much better. By keeping each tab in an isolated sandbox, we were able to prevent one tab from crashing another and provide improved protection from rogue sites. We improved speed and responsiveness across the board. We also built a more powerful JavaScript engine, V8, to power the next generation of web applications that aren't even possible in today's browsers. " ...

Via Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser

Microsoft Live Mesh

Microsoft's Ray Ozzie discusses the company's Live Mesh strategy that will integrate services in the cloud. ... Ozzie whitepaper, PDF. It looks like an interesting concept that could integrate our information services as we navigate the day from work to home and across various devices.

Microsoft Cloud Computing Predictions

In order to seecure a foothold into the future of computing beyond desktops and servers, Microsoft appears poised to make eye-popping investments in a cloud-computing infrastructure that rivals peer companies in the space. ...

... "Microsoft has the resources and, it appears, the will to invest many billions in the physical infrastructure necessary to secure a place ... " ...

Via Nicholas Carr Blog: Microsoft data-center investment likely

M+A Integration Requires Technology Marriage

Here's some perspective on the Microsoft / Yahoo marriage. The integration of their cultures will be daunting. However, blending their technologies is likely to generate the most contention. This could be interesting to watch, if acquisition is consummated. Can the best of both companies survive? ...

... "A smooth integration also will not be a matter of simply swapping one set of software or hardware for another - though that is a daunting part of the task. It may hinge on changing deep-seated mindsets. " ...

Via New York Times: Merger View:

Microsoft Olympic On-Line User Experience

Bill Gates shares his keynote at CES 2008, while Microsoft announces new media deals. The Olympics deal looks interesting as Microsoft strives to improve the user experience with access to all of the events via online video. ...

... "In the first long-tail Olympics, online viewers will have access to more than 3,000 hours of live and on-demand content so they can watch their favorite athlete or sport, regardless of whether the sport has seven fans or 7 million. " ...

Microsoft announces new entertainment partnerships with Disney-ABC Television Group, MGM and NBC Universal






Bill Gates @ CES 2008