John Paczkowski

Recent Posts by John Paczkowski

Microsoft Will Recomply With EU Antitrust Mandate on Browser Ballot

Microsoft has taken to heart the European Union’s recent threats about its failure to comply with all of the terms of its 2009 antitrust settlement.

According to EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, the software giant is scrambling to reimplement in Windows the Browser Choice Screen that it accidentally removed with a February 2011 update to Windows 7. That screen was a requirement under Microsoft’s 2009 antitrust settlement with the European Commission, and it was intended to present Windows users with a ballot screen offering them an opportunity to swap out Internet Explorer for one of 11 other browsers from rivals like Mozilla, Apple, Opera and Google.

In the face of Almunia’s public threat of severe penalties for the misstep, Microsoft has reportedly claimed it is working hard to address the EU’s antitrust concerns. Said Almunia, “In my personal talks with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, he has given me assurances that they will comply immediately regardless of the conclusion of the antitrust probe.”

Twitter’s Tanking

December 30, 2013 at 6:49 am PT

2013 Was a Good Year for Chromebooks

December 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm PT

BlackBerry Pulls Latest Twitter for BB10 Update

December 29, 2013 at 5:58 am PT

Apple CEO Tim Cook Made $4.25 Million This Year

December 28, 2013 at 12:05 pm PT

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Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life is too short to be of any use.

— From the fact sheet for a fake product entitled Useless Plasticbox 1.2 (an actual empty plastic box) placed in L.A.-area Best Buy stores by an artist called Plastic Jesus