cloud computing Archives

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Microsoft turns 50: Tracking Bill Gates’ journey – from a dorm room to tech powerhouse

In 2025, Microsoft will celebrate its 50th anniversary, marking the beginning of its journey in 1975 when Bill Gates and Paul Allen aimed to make personal computers accessible to everyone. They created user-friendly software, starting with MS-DOS, which laid the foundation for the Windows operating system. Microsoft has since transformed work, learning, and communication with tools like MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while also creating millions of jobs and driving innovation. The company is currently focusing on integrating artificial intelligence with cloud computing and will host a special event in Redmond, Washington, to introduce new Copilot features.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Vole punts pricey plastic brick for cloudy PCs

Microsoft has introduced the Windows 365 Link, a compact device priced at £349, designed to connect users to Windows Cloud PCs hosted on Azure. Weighing 418 grams, it features HDMI, USB-C, three USB-A ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The device is only compatible with organizations using Windows 365 (Enterprise, Frontline, or Business), Intune, and Microsoft Entra ID, excluding government users. It promises high-performance video playback and conferencing, particularly with Teams, but functions primarily as a cloud dongle aimed at simplifying IT administration and enhancing security. The Link connects to Windows 365 in seconds and is available through select resellers like Ricoh UK and Insight Enterprises in the U.S.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

Microsoft at 50: how adaptability under Nadella is paying off

Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft fifty years ago to sell a version of the Basic computer language for the Altair. Microsoft has evolved from its initial focus on PC software to commanding a vast network of global data centers and recently investing in generative AI. The company faced challenges from the rise of the internet and smartphones, which shifted focus away from PCs, leading to stagnation in its stock price. Satya Nadella became CEO in 2014 and shifted Microsoft towards a cloud-first strategy, embracing open-source software and partnering with OpenAI for exclusive access to AI models. Under his leadership, Microsoft has adapted to changes in the tech landscape, although the impact of generative AI remains uncertain. Since Nadella's appointment, Microsoft's stock price has increased tenfold, raising its market value to nearly .8 trillion.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Microsoft turns 50. Here are 18 of its biggest moments

In October 2008, Microsoft introduced Azure, initially known as "Project Red Dog." It was officially launched in 2010 as Windows Azure and renamed Microsoft Azure in 2014. Azure has evolved to include advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for data analysis and machine learning, reflecting Microsoft's commitment to technological advancement.

Tech Optimizer

March 11, 2025

pgEdge, Inc. Secures Strategic Investments from Akamai and QRT, Strengthening the Future of Distributed PostgreSQL for High Availability and Edge Computing

pgEdge, Inc. has secured strategic investments from Akamai Technologies, Inc. and Qube Research & Technologies (QRT), along with participation from existing investors Rally Ventures and Sands Capital, totaling an impressive amount in seed stage funding. This funding aims to enhance pgEdge's innovation and expansion in distributed PostgreSQL solutions, focusing on high availability and low latency for mission-critical applications. pgEdge is recognized as the only fully distributed PostgreSQL database that is open-source and based on standard PostgreSQL. The company offers innovative multi-master replication technology designed for geographic regions and multi-cloud environments. pgEdge is headquartered in Northern Virginia and serves clients including Bertelsmann, Qube RT, Jobot, the European Parliament, and various U.S. government agencies.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

Four times Windows Server costs? Method in the Microsoft

Microsoft opposes regulatory intervention requests from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google regarding its software licensing practices, which the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has flagged as potentially harmful to competition in the cloud computing sector. Microsoft charges clients using its software in non-Azure environments significantly more—up to four times than those using Azure—leading AWS and Google to argue this pricing structure disadvantages them. The CMA has noted Microsoft's ability to limit access to its software for competitors, which Microsoft contests as an infringement on its intellectual property rights. Google has referred to Microsoft's additional costs as a "software tax," and research indicates that European customers have faced overcharges due to Microsoft's licensing policies. In 2023, AWS held nearly 50% of the UK's cloud market share, while Microsoft held between 30 to 40%, and Google Cloud remained a distant third. The CMA is evaluating whether to use its digital markets powers to address identified barriers, with a final decision expected later this year.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Microsoft just turned 50 — Here are the 5 most impactful products it’s ever made

Microsoft is celebrating 50 years of innovation in the technology sector this April. MS-DOS, acquired by Microsoft in 1981, was the precursor to modern graphical operating systems. Windows 95, released in 1995, introduced features like the Start menu and taskbar, requiring a minimum of an Intel 386DS CPU, 4 MB of RAM, and over 50 MB of hard drive space. Microsoft Office 95, launched in 1995, bundled Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, becoming a cornerstone of productivity software. DirectX, launched in 1995, became integral to gaming development, with Doom 95 being the first DirectX game. Microsoft Azure, launched in 2008, has grown to over 600 services and commands a 20% share of the cloud market as of the third quarter of 2024.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Tencent

Tencent has begun beta testing a new search function in Weixin, China's largest messaging app, powered by DeepSeek. Users can select an "AI Search" option in the search bar, utilizing both DeepSeek and Tencent's Hunyuan foundational model. This feature is exclusive to Weixin and not available on WeChat. The DeepSeek-R1 model, launched on January 20, offers advanced reasoning capabilities at lower training costs compared to AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Approximately 1.3 billion active Weixin users will benefit from this integration for various functions. Users can observe the reasoning process during queries, and DeepSeek-R1 has also been integrated into Tencent's AI chatbot application, Yuanbao. Chinese telecom operators have started using DeepSeek's models, and smartphone manufacturers like Huawei, Oppo, Honor, and Vivo are adopting the DeepSeek-R1 model in their devices.

Winsage

December 24, 2024

Windows Central Tech Awards 2024 — Ranking the top PCs, tools, accessories, and software innovations of the year

This year has seen significant advancements in consumer technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, highlighted by Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative in collaboration with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor, introducing fanless, battery-efficient laptops to the Windows ecosystem. AI companies like OpenAI have expanded their offerings, prompting competitors such as Google, xAI, and Facebook to enhance their products. New brands like XREAL have emerged, while established companies like ASUS have innovated with dual-screen laptops. Accessory manufacturers have also improved their products. The Windows Central Tech Awards for 2024 recognize standout devices and features across various categories, including Tech Innovator of the Year, Best Processor, Best Overall Laptop, Best Keyboard, Best Pre-Built Gaming PC, Best Mini PC, Best Gaming Laptop, Best Gaming Headset, Best Tech Accessory, Best Monitor, Best Gaming Input, Best Gaming Hardware, Best Desktop All-in-One, Best Budget Laptop, Best Business Laptop, Best Mobile App for Windows Users, Best Windows Feature, Best Mouse, and Best Windows PC App. Looking ahead to 2025, advancements in AI, robotics, cloud computing, and potential breakthroughs in 6G and quantum computing are anticipated, with Microsoft focusing on AI server technology acquisitions and developments in PC gaming handhelds and new Xbox hardware.

Tech Optimizer

December 24, 2024

PostgreSQL vs. the Cloud for GenAI? 4 Things To Consider

Generative AI (GenAI) is expected to transform industries by improving productivity and revenue. A Deloitte report states that 80% of enterprises with advanced AI capabilities plan to increase AI investments. Companies must modernize legacy systems and tackle data challenges to implement GenAI, but many still use outdated technology, leading to costly transitions and downtime. Nearly half of US generative AI decision-makers expect returns on their investments within three years, which may underestimate the complexities of AI implementation. While cloud computing offers scalability, managing costs can be difficult, prompting many enterprises to adopt financial operations frameworks (FinOps). Concerns about third-party cloud services are leading businesses to consider on-premises and hybrid solutions, with predictions that by 2025, half of enterprises will use on-premises models for AI development. Choosing the right database is crucial for GenAI development, with PostgreSQL being a strong option due to its extensibility, seamless integration, open-source benefits, and deployment flexibility. Successful GenAI strategies focus on rapid development, cost-effective failures, and effective scaling, with Percona offering support to help organizations achieve these goals.