From Market Leader to Obsolete. – How Microsoft Handled Skype’s Demise.
In May 2011, Microsoft announced its acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion. Just two years prior, Skype had been sold for $2.75 billion, making the sudden surge in valuation appear questionable, especially considering the 2008 recession. However, Microsoft’s aggressive pursuit of Skype was largely influenced by competition from other tech giants like Facebook and Google. Winning the bidding war was one thing; making this overpriced investment worthwhile was another.
Support for Windows 10 Extends. – At a Price.
As Windows 10 approaches its official End of Life (EOL) in October 2025, Microsoft has announced a new option to extend support for the Operating System, catering to both businesses and for the first time, individual end-users.
Windows Users Overwhelmed by CrowdStrike Update. – What Went Wrong?
Recently, many Windows users encountered a Recovery Screen, preventing access to their desktops. This bug impacted numerous machines, including those with sensitive data, businesses, and government agencies. Initially thought to be a cyberattack, it was later attributed to a bug from CrowdStrike’s Falcon software, affecting approximately half of the world’s Fortune 500 companies and leading to widespread outages.
“Oompa Loompa.” – The Story of The Very First Piece of Malware For The Mac!
During the rise of computers in the early 2000s, a prevailing belief held that Mac computers were impervious to viruses. This notion, popularized by Apple’s marketing, attracted many to Apple stores, convinced that “Macs don’t get viruses.” For a while, this was true. Developers had nothing to gain from creating malicious code for macOS X’s much more obscure platform. Mac users had nothing to worry about until they received a private message in February of 2006.
The Story of The iMac. – Transforming The Tech Industry.
The late ’90s was one of many turning points in the tech industry. With the release of Windows 95 bringing computers to households, people were becoming more familiar with them than they had ever been before. They were aware of the advantages, the disadvantages, and the customs that were to be expected with a computer. With the trajectory of the tech industry and Y2K, it was due for a change, which Apple would deliver.
Windows 8.1. – From Backlash to Reconciliation.
To start the year off, I wrote an article about Windows 8’s release which to nobody’s surprise became one of Microsoft’s most hated products to date. Considering everything that went wrong with Windows 8, it would have been safe to assume Microsoft would have discontinued the development. However, there’s more to the story. There is a lot to unpack with Windows 8.
The History of Windows 98’s Development. – A Retrospective Look into Microsoft During The Late ’90s.
As a developer, one of the disadvantages of releasing such an incredible piece of software is that it can often be difficult to live up to those expectations again. End-users’ standards are now high, and if you want to continue to succeed, those expectations will increase going forward. You could very well say that this was a problem upon the launch of Windows 98. However, the OS received praise from the public. Not only did Windows 98 introduce features we still take for granted in Windows today, but it was built around facilitating the use of the Internet which was rapidly becoming popular.
The Story of “ILOVEYOU”. – Known As The Most Damaging Computer Virus.
On May 5th, 2000, nearly every new OS installation would be damaged beyond repair. Over 13,000 pieces of malware were detected in just one workplace environment. Within hours, over $20 billion took place across the world.
Microsoft Clippy. – The Legacy of Virtual Assistants.
If you are old enough to remember, you may recall Microsoft’s first attempts at making a virtual assistant. His name was Microsoft Clippit, commonly known as “Clippy.” He was seen as the answer to all of Microsoft’s problems at the time of its creation in 1997. Many people were still getting used to the idea of computers, viewing them as complicated, intimidating machines rather than convenient user-friendly tools. Microsoft attempted to change people’s perceptions with an adorable assistant. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the change Microsoft was hoping for.
The History of Computer Viruses. – Why Aren’t They Seen as Often?
In the early days of computing, many end-users would have a common fear of receiving a virus on their PC. Some would go to great lengths to protect their computers, paying for antivirus software such as McAfee, Norton, and Avast in order to keep their desktop clear of a Trojan Virus. However, regardless of what lengths people went to in order to avoid a virus, getting a virus was inevitable.
