It turns out there is another similarity. Internally, Apple employees have been calling the new design “Modern UI,” according to people familiar with the nomenclature. That happens to be what people at Microsoft and developers call the company’s tiled Windows 8 interface. (It has also been referred to as “Metro.”)

We built Windows 8 to bring a modern computing experience to businesses and to help professionals stay connected to their colleagues and clients from anywhere, anytime. Windows 8.1 advances this vision and introduces new manageability, mobility, security, user experience and networking capabilities that will be available later this year – with the goal of offering customers the best business tablets and versatile modern business PCs driven by the most powerful operating system designed for today’s modern businesses.

In no way am I attempting to purposefully continue the dogpile on to Microsoft in the wake of their struggles Monday at E3 when by all accounts, they were thumped by Sony ‘s PS4 announcement. But everyone did wonder how Microsoft was going to spin things once the dust settled, and attempt to explain how the higher priced, online check-in requiring Xbox One is a worthwhile alternative that gamers and non-gamers alike should aspire to own over the PlayStation 4. It appears we have our first answer, and it isn’t pretty. Microsoft’s new official position appears to be that if you must have a console that can play games completely offline, hold onto your Xbox 360.

Nokia's latest premium smartphone, the Lumia 925, is now shipping in the UK. And staff at the mobe-maker told reporters they will be working more closely with Microsoft, which is responsible for the handset's Windows Phone 8 OS, with most of the cooperation focusing on joint-marketing campaigns. The new Lumia 925 puts the guts of last year's massive Lumia 920 - a 185g monster - into a much slimmer and lighter aluminium case. The result weighs almost exactly as much as a Samsung Galaxy S4, but it feels more expensive.

When Apple officials announced in passing this week that Siri will use Bing instead of Google as its default Web search engine with iOS7, I saw more than a few skeptics wondering aloud about how the Bing results would compare, quality-wise. I don't have any inside information as to how/why this collaboration came to pass, but it does seem Apple is intent on finding ways to reduce its dependence on Google, even if it requires teaming with another "enemy." Did comparative quality of search results have any bearing on the decision at all? Again, I have no idea, but I'm doubtful.

“We have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity,” explained Xbox chief Don Mattrick. “It’s called Xbox 360.” With those snarky words, Microsoft lost E3. That much was clear as soon as Sony’s press conference started. And it’s not because the Xbox One is a bad system. If we ignore Microsoft’s terrible marketing and judge the Xbox One objectively, it’s a fine system – a home entertainment system built for the future that should provide an unparalleled user experience. But damn it, Microsoft: stop being a jerk.

Microsoft and Twitter have joined calls by Google and Facebook to be able to publish more detail about how many secret requests they receive to hand over user data under the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). "Permitting greater transparency on the aggregate volume and scope of national security requests, including Fisa orders, would help the community understand and debate these important issues," Microsoft said in an emailed statement to the Reuters news agency.

It's the day after the E3 2013 press conferences, and Microsoft's Phil Harrison is looking remarkably relaxed. The upcoming Xbox One console has been caught in a swirl of controversy over the restriction of pre-owned sales, as well as a requirement for your console to connect to the internet at least once every 24 hours. Microsoft's main competitor, Sony, took advantage of the controversy by declaring they would not be imposing such policies for the PlayStation 4. The raucous reaction suggested Sony had dealt an early hammer blow to Microsoft in this next-generation console war. Surely, in the face of such staunch opposition and positive press for its competitor, Microsoft would have to reconsider their policies?

The Xbox One console will release this November in 21 markets for $499 in the U.S, 499€ in Europe and £429 in the U.K. The Xbox One was revealed last month at a Microsoft press conference in Redmond, Wash. and boasted a slew of television support features, a new Kinect and the ability to multitask seamlessly between television, gaming, music and the Internet Explorer applications.

An updated Xbox 360 console is available from today, Microsoft announced at its E3 2013 press conference today. Beginning July 1, Xbox Live Gold members are going to receive two free game downloads. Developing...

Apple famously lost an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar, sparking a hunt for the individuals involved in the loss and sale of the handset. Microsoft has also lost a phone, one running a future Windows Phone 'Blue' version of its mobile software. A Reddit user posted screenshots and information obtained from the device over the weekend, generating interest in unannounced features for Windows Phone which included an early prototype of a notification center. The Verge reached out to the Reddit user in question, and this is the story of the lost secret Windows Phone.

Some interesting information regarding the Microsoft’s next generation of Surface tablets is buzzing. According to TechRadar, some job Microsoft job ads suggest the company’s working on a tablet to surpass its Core i5 Surface Pro. It’s possible that recent interest in the Surface Pro (including sold out pre-orders of the 128GB version in some countries) internationally caused Microsoft to consider creating a sequel to its flagship tablet. But how exactly does the company plan to keep interest in its device, and can it create something that is capable of fending off major competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Acer?

Security researchers are complaining about collateral damage from the latest botnet take-down efforts by Microsoft and its partners. The Windows 8 giant worked with financial service organisations, other technology firms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disrupt more than a thousand botnets. The botnets in question were using Citadel malware to run cybercrime scams blamed for more than $500m in fraud. The action, authorised by a federal court ruling and carried out last week, involved raids at server-hosting facilities in the US to seize evidence related to the malware.

With the public preview builds of Windows 8.1 due out later this month, a number of users are wondering how Microsoft plans to handle the upgrade. At TechEd North America, officials shared some details on that topic in a session entitled "Windows RT in the Enterprise." Microsoft officials have said previously that the company plans to deliver the public preview of Windows 8.1, codenamed "Blue," via the Windows Store on June 26.

Is Respawn Entertainment carrying around lightning in a bottle? The studio launched by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare creators Jason West and Vince Zampella has a lot of pressure on its hands after a bitter split with Activision. Now, it looks like we’re seeing the first major console release, a launch exclusive to the Xbox One and PC. A different studio is doing a matching version on the Xbox 360.

Microsoft's strategy for its Xbox One console might rely on help from broadcasters, according to a new report. Microsoft has been in talks with satellite TV broadcaster Sky in the U.K. to bring its Xbox One to the company's customers, MCVUK reported on Thursday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the deal. It's possible that the Xbox One will be a companion set-top box that sits atop Sky's service, those sources said. The Xbox One could be sold at a heavily reduced cost, according to the site's sources.

The cold callers claim to be from Microsoft IT support and warn homeowners that they have a problem with their PC, but then install viruses and steal data once they've been given permission to log on. Victims are also charged for the service, as the fake Microsoft representatives tell homeowners to buy an annual support contract or protection plan to help prevent system crashes. The investigation by consumer watchdog Which? found that 18 per cent of those targeted had their credit cards used fraudulently and more than half of victims had problems with their computer after following instructions from the cold callers.

Microsoft today launched its Bing Translator app for Windows (including Windows RT). We don’t usually write all that much about Windows apps, and translation apps aren’t exactly new, either, but it’s nice to see that Microsoft has finally brought virtually all of the features of its mobile translator app for Windows Phone, including camera-based translations for seven input languages, to the desktop. Bing Translator, which is only available in Windows’ Modern UI/Metro mode, supports a total of 40 languages and also allows you to download language packs for offline use.

An Microsoft initiative to train unemployed young people in IT has been given funding to expand in South Africa. The Development Bank of South Africa (BDSA) has awarded Microsoft South Africa a R145m ($15m) grant to invest in its Student2Business training scheme, which the software company will match with a similar investment from its 4Afrika program. The company claims that the total R290m funding will get 3,000 unemployed youngsters into work over the next three years.

Microsoft Corp and the FBI, aided by authorities in more than 80 countries, have launched a major assault on one of the world's biggest cybercrime rings, believed to have stolen more than $500m (£323m) from bank accounts over the past 18 months. Microsoft said its digital crimes unit had successfully taken down at least 1,000 of an estimated 1,400 malicious computer networks known as the Citadel botnets. Citadel infected as many as 5m PCs around the world and, according to Microsoft, was used to steal from dozens of financial institutions, including American Express, Bank of America, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, PayPal, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo.

There's lots of stuff going on at TechEd New Orleans this year and all of it without me, unfortunately. One of the more exciting announcements coming out of that conference is Microsoft's expanded Azure services portfolio that are all cloud related. Microsoft has spent the past few years gearing up for its new cloud offerings, including services such as Office365, Outlook.com, and its new flagship operating system Windows 2012 touted as part of its overall "Cloud OS vision."

Microsoft has cancelled its #E3 post-press conference roundtable with the media. According to Steve Tilley, he received an e-mail from the Microsoft press team stating that the roundtable will no longer take place.

Mild gains came from Amazon.com Inc. Wednesday, but the overall tech sector remained in the red as Deustche Bank cut its view on Microsoft Corp. and several other software companies. Amazon shares rose 2%, to $270.70 following reports that the online retailing giant will expand its grocery delivery service, AmazonFresh, to Los Angeles. Amazon currently delivers only in Seattle. Mark Mahaney, of RBC Capital Markets, said in research note that the expansion of grocery delivery “makes strategic sense as part of AMZN’s long standing efforts to expand into more consumer offerings and to take advantage of its low cost infrastructure advantage and expanded U.S. fulfillment center footprint.”

Nick Parker has one of the more interesting jobs in the PC business right now. As corporate vice president for Microsoft’s OEM division, he manages the company’s relationships with PC manufacturers, including sales and licensing of Windows. It’s not always an easy job. Microsoft ruffled a few feathers last year when it started selling its own Surface tablets, effectively competing with its hardware partners. And Windows 8 has taken some of the blame for the slump in the PC business, although the popularity of tablets hasn’t helped.

Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer has personally toured a series of Hollywood executives to present Xbox One and call on studios to create new and exclusive TV content for the platform. He was escorted by Microsoft's entertainment guru Nancy Tellem, last seen on stage at the Xbox One reveal event explaining how "Xbox is about to become the next watercooler".

An update to Microsoft's tablet OS Windows RT will finally add email client Outlook to fondleslabs. The news was announced by Windows chief financial and marketing officer Tami Reller during the Computex keynote in Taipei - along with more details of Windows 8.1. Windows RT is said to be a straight-up ARM-compatible processor port of Windows 8, which means they will get updates simultaneously this year, but it's the addition of Outlook that will please slab fondlers most. The free upgrade, dubbed Windows 8.1, which will include the email client for RT, is due sometime in 2013, according to Redmond.

Computex 2013 Microsoft today demonstrated Windows 8.1 for the first time in public and showed off at least 60 compatible devices - including Haswell-powered gadgets. Windows vice-president Antoine Leblond took the Computex crowd through a whistlestop tour of all the major new functionality in the OS formerly known as Windows Blue. Key among these, first unveiled last week, are the return of the Start icon; improvements to the touchscreen keyboard; optimisation for cheaper tablets smaller than the 10 and 11-inchers Windows 8 was architected for; and the ability to view multiple apps on the same screen to create a “rich productivity experience”.

Outlook, Microsoft’s popular email management programme, has long been available as a standalone programme only as part of the expensive Office suite of applications. In a bid to give a further boost to the ailing Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft is now to give away the software with lower priced Windows tablets running Windows RT. These include Microsoft’s own flagship Surface. Writing on the Windows Blog, the company said “Today at Computex 2013, Tami Reller, CFO and CMO of Microsoft's Windows Division, announced that Outlook 2013 RT will be available on Windows RT tablets as part of the free Windows 8.1 update coming later this year. This means that if you have a Microsoft Surface or a Windows RT tablet made by one of our hardware partners, or you are planning to buy one, you'll soon have access to the familiar tools in Outlook that help you communicate with others, manage your contacts and appointments, and find information fast.”

Forza 5, Gears of War, Halo, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Splinter Cell, Battlefield 4, Fifa 14 and Madden will all get an airing E3 2013 after the Xbox One announcement. So far so non-shocker, with Xbox Live, Xbox One and the Xbox 360 all getting shout outs in Microsoft's new teaser video, suggesting that the ageing console won't be entirely neglected when Microsoft touches down at the gaming mecca.