It created the <em>de facto</em> official operating system for all personal computers and made its powerful suite of business applications, Office, into the dominant tool for business computing worldwide. But the company once thought to be an unstoppable monopolist has failed to make a smooth transition to the Internet and has seen its market leadership challenged by Google. Even Apple, once all but waylaid by Microsoft, has come back to beat it in online music and video and consumer devices. Can the house of Gates recover&mdash;especially as Bill himself transitions to a supporting role?http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:47:34 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35411/microsofts-answer-to-apple-ads-seinfeld.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSo what's the deal with Microsoft ads? The company has enlisted Jerry Seinfeld to spearhead a new $300-million campaign, the Wall Street Journa l reports, to try to shake the negative buzz about Vista, and the nerdy, feckless image projected by John Hodgeman in Apple's popular "Mac vs PC" ads. The campaign, to start next month, will net the funnyman $10 million.http://www.newser.com/story/35411/microsofts-answer-to-apple-ads-seinfeld.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 0:25:48 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33192/bloomberg-gates-take-on-smoking.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMicrosoft founder Bill Gates and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are pooling their piles of money and pouring $375 million into a global effort to cut smoking. The two philanthropists—who have a combined worth of more than $70 billion—say the new effort will target developing countries where tobacco use is highest.http://www.newser.com/story/33192/bloomberg-gates-take-on-smoking.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 23 Jul 2008 13:05:24 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32316/yahoo-snubs-microsoft-icahn-takeover-bid.html?refid=rss_all_defaultYahoo has rejected another takeover push, this time from Microsoft and investor Carl Icahn, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bidders gave the Internet giant less than 24 hours to decide on an offer that would sell its search component to Microsoft and the rest of the company to Icahn in a move that would have required Yahoo to dump its current board.http://www.newser.com/story/32316/yahoo-snubs-microsoft-icahn-takeover-bid.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 13 Jul 2008 5:55:27 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32053/ftc-rejects-call-for-internet-privacy-law.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAn federal official testifying at a Senate hearing today shot down calls for a federal law to regulate websites that track users' data for advertising purposes. The FTC doesn't think it's necessary to place a rule on the books—one that could quickly become obsolete—and instead encouraged "meaningful, enforceable self regulation," reports the Wall Street Journal .http://www.newser.com/story/32053/ftc-rejects-call-for-internet-privacy-law.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 09 Jul 2008 16:38:22 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/31841/oil-drops-but-rally-fades.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe markets saw modest losses today after a rally spurred by a drop in crude prices sputtered over capital concerns at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, MarketWatch reports. The Dow fell 56.58 to 11,231.96, the Nasdaq dropped 2.06 to 2,243.32, and the S&P 500 fell 10.59 to 1,252.31.http://www.newser.com/story/31841/oil-drops-but-rally-fades.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 07 Jul 2008 15:37:13 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/31479/microsoft-will-sell-office-by-70-subscription.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMicrosoft will start selling its Office software package on a subscription model in mid-July, the AP reports. Instead of paying around $200 for Office, consumers can pay $70 a year, with no additional cost for new versions. In addition to the Office programs, the subscription bundle—named “Equipt”—will come with Microsoft’s OneCare security software.http://www.newser.com/story/31479/microsoft-will-sell-office-by-70-subscription.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 02 Jul 2008 13:10:27 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/31429/microsoft-preps-a-new-run-at-yahoo.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMicrosoft is back in pursuit of Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal reports, with the company in talks with both News Corp. and Time Warner as potential partners for a restructured deal to buy the search giant . Yahoo has been in Microsoft’s sights for nearly six months, but initial efforts to buy the entire company collapsed, and Microsoft has since been looking instead to acquire the search business and spin off the rest.http://www.newser.com/story/31429/microsoft-preps-a-new-run-at-yahoo.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 02 Jul 2008 8:16:59 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30940/reflective-gates-waxes-nostalgic.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPictures of Bill Gates the child in a football uniform and alongside Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in their high school computer room are among 15 shots in an exclusive Fortune photo essay. Gates himself narrates the slideshow chronicling Microsoft’s roots, through its founding and 1986 IPO. Other shots show the first Microsoft business card and Gates signing autographs for Harley-Davidson fans in 1991.http://www.newser.com/story/30940/reflective-gates-waxes-nostalgic.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 26 Jun 2008 20:51:16 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/30618/bogus-bill-gates-winds-down-career.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Washington man who made his living doing dead-on impressions of Bill Gates is following the billionaire into retirement. Steve Sires has been impersonating the Microsoft chairman for a decade, and charging $2,500 for an appearance. But as the 52-year old Gates is winding down his career, so is his look-a-like, reports Network World .http://www.newser.com/story/30618/bogus-bill-gates-winds-down-career.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 22 Jun 2008 7:41:01 CDT