Editors Note: Related Tickers: Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Microsoft Adds Support For Google Cloud Messaging, Git And Custom APIs To Azure Mobile Services (TechCrunch)
Microsoft Corporation today announced a number of updates to its Azure Mobile Services that include support for Git source control, custom APIs and Android push notifications through Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Cloud Messaging to its mobile backend service. Azure users now also get a free 20MB SQL database for mobile services and web sites for 12 months. The highlight of today’s update is clearly support for Android push notifications in Azure Mobile Service’s Notification Hubs. The Notifications Hubs, which Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) launched earlier this year, previously allowed developers to send push notifications to their apps on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and iOS, but with the help of MS Open Tech, the platform now also supports broadcasting notifications to Android devices via Google Cloud Messaging.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is paying developers up to $100,000 to get their applications over to the Windows Phone 8 platform, according to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek. This is in addition to a promotion the company is running where it will pay any developer to get their app into the Windows Store ASAP in an effort to catch up to the iOS and Android app stores. Microsoft first instated the broad $100 Visa card reward in March, offering the bounty to any developer or studio that managed to get its app in by June 30. The rewards were capped at $2,000 per developer. But Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has even more money to throw at the problem of an underpopulated app store. Sources speaking to Bloomberg said that Microsoft has “been offering $100,000 or more” to companies for building Windows phone apps.
PS4 Outpaces Xbox One in Pre-order Numbers (Christian Post)
For every two Xbox One consoles that are pre-ordered, three PlayStation 4 consoles are reserved, according to new data from U.S. retailers. The data used to find this information was compiled between Monday June 10 and Wednesday June 12. This is a small window to make a true judgment on the future sales of each console; however, it does indicate that PS4 resonated a bit louder with gamers at this year’s E3. IGN also took a survey during E3 asking those in attendance who they thought was winning at this year’s event. Out of 280,000 people, 81 percent voted that Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) was the winner. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) came in second with a disappointing 12 percent and Nintendo was dead last with 7 percent.
Microsoft brings Office to iPhones but limits its use (CNET)
Microsoft inched a bit closer today to bringing the one app to the iPhone that’s long been missing: Office. The software giant on Friday released Office Mobile for iPhone in the iTunes Store. But don’t get too excited, Office fans. While it’s a free download, Office Mobile for iPhone will only work for subscribers to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Office 365 Home Premium and ProPlus service. And it’s optimized for the iPhone, not Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s larger iPads. “We don’t view this as a standalone app,” said Chris Schneider, a marketing manager in Microsoft’s Office division. Indeed, while rumors of Office coming to iOS have heated up over the last few years, this release will have particularly limited appeal for the more than 350 million users of iPhones worldwide.
Microsoft details Xbox One requirements; Xbox Live, HD TV, and more (Examiner.com)
If you are planning to buy an Xbox One this Nov. you must first familiarize yourself with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s lengthy, though detailed, list of Xbox One requirements. The company released…
