12 major moments in 2012
For Microsoft last year was quite prolific, and the company has something to please readers.
We will mention these and other achievements in more detail.
2012 began with the premiere of a game controller that was adapted to work with Microsoft's desktop operating system. This made it possible to use Kinect for Windows not only in gaming applications. With its help, they fight the consequences of a stroke, detect autism in children, and sell cars better. Moreover, Kinect was turned into a museum guide and taught to make virtual copies of real things. Microsoft's development turned out to be so successful that it is even launched into space to control satellites.
One of the most dangerous spy Trojans is an application known on the Internet as Zeus. Trojan programs of this family appeared in 2007, and due to the ease of configuration and ease of use for stealing web data, they became one of the most widely distributed and sold spyware programs on the Internet black market. In March, the Microsoft Digital Crime Unit, in partnership with financial organizations, shut down a network of computers infected with the Zeus Trojan. Experts believe that it caused damages and losses of about half a billion dollars.
The amount of available information in the world is constantly growing, and therefore new tools are needed to process it. For example, the average business currently uses less than 5% of the information available to it. The April release of SQL Server 2012 was intended to help businesses benefit from processing and managing information by helping them get to the heart of processes and make decisions.
The search engine of the Redmond corporation continues to develop: last year it received a fresher design and became faster. Bing has also become more social with a sidebar that helps you ask friends and experts for advice. And most importantly, the search engine now returns even more relevant results.
June of last year was marked by the announcement of the Microsoft Surface family of tablet computers. It became another milestone in the 30-year history of hardware development. After all, these tablets were developed exclusively by Microsoft employees. In general, the Surface family includes two editions: "Surface" and "Surface Pro". The first one runs under the new Windows RT OS and uses ARM processors. The second one runs Windows 8 Pro and uses an Intel Core i5 processor. Also, a special keyboard is added to the tablet, which turns the tablet into a functional analogue of a netbook. One of these keyboards even has a touchpad – unlike detachable tablet keyboards from third-party manufacturers.
6. Presentation of the new Office
July was remembered for the release of the next version of the office suite, which was optimized for touch control. However, it is also convenient to work with a traditional mouse and keyboard. The interface of the new Office is also made in the style of Windows 8 applications and is endowed with support for cloud and social services. And Microsoft's acquisition of Yammer in June added support for corporate social networks to the Office portfolio.
September also seemed busy due to the presentation of the world's most popular new server operating system from Microsoft. Windows Server 2012 provides new opportunities for data centers to improve performance and save money.
8. Achievements in the social sphere
Along with the development of new products, Microsoft also dedicates a portion of the money earned to the benefit of ordinary people. In 2012, the company reached a round figure of $1 billion, which it has collected as part of the annual Employee Giving Campaign since 1983. This fall, it was already the 30th such campaign, at the end of which the collected funds were transferred to approximately 31,000 non-profit and public organizations around the world.
At the same time particle Microsoft launched programa Youth Spark - own initiative to help get education and employment for more than 300 million young people around the world over the next three years.
9. Xbox has turned into an entertainment center
The Microsoft game console appears in unusual roles - now it can be used as a single device for leisure. The October release of the Xbox Music service and the SmartGlass application enabled all 70 million console users and 40 million Xbox LIVE subscribers to view multimedia files on TV, tablet and phone. A new sports hub and video service have also been added to Xbox.
October was marked by the release of the new Microsoft operating system. This is a completely new OS, which, nevertheless, has already gained popularity: just a month after the start of sales, it sold 40 million sold licenses.
Last year, Microsoft also released a new operating system for phones that has a lot in common with the desktop version. At least the Wall Street Journal review, which called it "pleasant to use", testifies to the fact that the new product was successful. Windows Phone 8 offers users a customizable start screen and "live" tiles, as well as more than 120,000 applications.
The latest series of the famous Microsoft franchise immediately after its release began to be called one of the best video games of 2012. And the players of the USA even call it the "triumphant return of the Master Chef" - its main character. To warm the emotions of consumers even more, Microsoft even brought the characters of the game into the real world. For example, everyone could chat with the developers, watch then-secret footage of the movie "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn" and take a photo with the Master Chief.
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