<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="107096" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tesla">Tesla</keyword> CEO <keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword> took a swipe at <keyword id="45830" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bill-Gates">Bill Gates</keyword> and <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> <keyword id="460212" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Zune">Zune</keyword> with an edited political cartoon.</li><li>The cartoon depicted Gates using the COVID-19 pandemic to reintroduce the MP3 player.</li><li>"Soon u will feel strange desire for Zune ..." Musk wrote. He later deleted the tweet.</li></ul><p>Tesla CEO Elon Musk used an anti-vaccine political cartoon to take a swipe at Bill Gates and the Microsoft Zune. </p><p>Musk tweeted an edited cartoon, originally created by conservative artist Ben Garrison, depicting an illustrated version of the Microsoft cofounder.</p><p>Musk deleted the tweet about two hours later, after it had been shared more than 5,000 times. </p><p>The <a href="https://grrrgraphics.com/the-plannedemic/">original cartoon</a> carried the title "The Plannedemic." It appeared to show Gates leaning over a step-by-step plan for instilling fear via a pandemic and eventually launching a "Mandatory Vaccine Rollout."</p><div type="image" title="Elon Musk Zune Bill Gates Microsoft" height="776" width="491" msid="82004527" hostid="261"></div><p>In an edited version shared by Musk, the vaccine rollout had been moved forward on the list, and a new final step had been added: "Zune Relaunch." </p><p>"Soon u will feel strange desire for Zune ..." Musk wrote just after midnight on the West Coast. In a follow-up Tweet, which was also deleted, he said, "This is actually happening."</p><p>Garrison said on Saturday that he hadn't granted permission for his cartoon to be posted. </p><p>"Regarding the Musk post-I don't allow my work to be changed nor do I grant permission for vandalized cartoons to be posted," he told Insider via email. "Still, I'm the most trolled editorial cartoonist in the world so it happens."</p><p>Microsoft's Zune MP3 player, an iPod competitor, was launched in 2006. The company <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zune-2011-3">stopped production</a> on the Zune in 2011. </p><p>Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has long been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-melinda-gates-future-pandemics-similar-to-threat-of-war-2021-1">a vocal proponent of vaccines</a>, including those being used to fight COVID-19.</p><p>Some who oppose vaccines have spread conspiracy theories about the billionaire. One such theory <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-spurns-conspiracy-wants-vaccine-to-give-people-microchips-2020-7">claimed,</a> without evidence, that Gates was seeking to secretly implant microchips into the population via COVID-19 vaccines. Gates has shot down such theories.</p><p>It's unclear why Musk deleted the tweet or whether he intended to fuel fears about COVID-19 vaccines by sharing an anti-vaccine cartoon.</p><p>The edited version of the cartoon Musk shared moved the "Mandatory Vaccine Rollout" into the spot originally held by "Blame President Trump!" in Garrison's cartoon. It also cropped the illustration to remove Garrison's name. </p><p>Garrison, a conservative cartoonist who supported President Donald Trump, earlier this year was suspended from <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>, according to his website. </p><p>The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in 2017 that Garrison had published cartoons that were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-social-media-summit-who-is-going-2019-7#political-cartoonist-ben-garrison-was-invited-then-disinvited-by-the-white-house-4">"blatantly anti-Semitic."</a> Last July, Garrison sued the ADL and sought around $10 million in damages, according to a complaint filed in US District Court in Virginia. Garrison said Saturday that the suit had been settled amicably.</p><p>"I do not draw anti-Semitic cartoons, nor am I anti-Semitic. 'Blatant' or otherwise," he said. </p><p>On his website, Garrison published <a href="https://grrrgraphics.com/the-plannedemic/">a statement</a> to accompany the original "The Plannedemic" cartoon.</p><p>It reads in part: "Why did a former computer nerd and mogul become so interested in vaccination and disease? Possibly because he's worth over $100 billion and thinks he owns the world. He also wants to make an impact on humanity. Getting rid of excess humanity, that is." </p>

Elon Musk took a swipe at Bill Gates and Microsoft Zune with an edited version of an anti-vaccination cartoon

The last time Microsoft was more valuable than Apple, the Zune was still taking on the iPod

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56f1662752bcd05c658b7e10-774/ipad-ad-original.jpg" border="0" alt="ipad ad original" data-mce-source="Apple" /><p class="source"><span>Apple</span></p><p class="caption">What Apple's website looked like in 2010.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft">Microsoft</a> briefly surpassed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/apple">Apple</a> as the most valuable US company on Monday.</li><li>The last time Microsoft was worth more than Apple was in 2010.</li><li>The technology industry has changed a lot since then. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-dethrones-apple-as-the-most-valuable-us-company-2018-11">Microsoft dethroned Apple</a> as the most valuable US company during trading on Monday. </p><p>For the time being, Microsoft's market capitalization is about $812 billion. Apple's is slightly less. </p><p>The largely symbolic milestone came<span> less than two months after Apple's market cap reached a peak above $1.12 trillion, significantly above Microsoft's peak of $887 billion. Apple was even the </span><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/apple-stock-price-trillion-dollar-market-cap-us-company-2018-8-1027427055">first US company with a $1 trillion valuation</a><span>. </span><span>But since then, Apple's stock has gotten whacked based on fears of slowing iPhone demand, seemingly confirmed by the company when it said on November 1 that it would <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-will-no-longer-report-iphone-sales-unit-numbers-2018-11">no longer disclose iPhone unit sales.</a></span></p><p><span>The last time that Microsoft was more valuable than Apple was back in 2010 - eons ago in the fast-moving technology market. </span></p><p><span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-stock/apple-overtakes-microsoft-as-biggest-tech-company-idUSTRE64P5PE20100526">On the day that Apple overtook Microsoft back then</a>, Apple was worth only about $222 billion in terms of total market capitalization - compared to Microsoft's $219 billion. (Before <em>that</em>, the last time the two companies switched places was in 1989.)</span></p><p><span>In fact, just a quick recap of what products were on the market back then will make you realize it was an entirely different era:</span></p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Microsoft stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/MSFT-Quote"> here.</a></p>

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55f9bf80bd86ef20008bacc6-2828-2136/zune-allard-gates.jpg" alt="zune allard gates" data-mce-source="AP" data-mce-caption="J Allard, who led Microsoft's hardware efforts, and Bill Gates, at the 2007 introduction of the Zune" /><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">J Allard, who led Microsoft's hardware efforts, and Bill Gates, at the 2007 introduction of the Zune</p></div><p></p></div></div>Microsoft has finally "retired" the Zune, its ill-fated attempt to beat Apple's iPod. </p><p>As of November 15, the few existing Zune devices still in use won't be able to download or stream any music from the Zune Music service, and existing copy-restricted downloads may not work if the licenses can't be renewed, the company<a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3096659"> announced today</a>. </p><p>Subscribers to the Zune Pass service will be transferred to the new Groove Music Pass, which also works on the Xbox and other devices.</p><p>Introduced in 2007, the first Zune had one interesting feature that was different from the other MP3 players on the market at the time - you could connect two Zunes over a Wi-Fi network to transfer songs between devices.</p><p>But unfortunately, the recording industry made Microsoft limit that feature so that songs could be played only three times, and expired after three days, making this feature essentially useless. It wasn't helped by the fact that almost nobody bought a Zune, so nobody was around to transfer songs with.</p><p>Also, Microsoft called this feature "squirting," which sounded kind of icky.</p><p>The company updated the Zune for several years, and the Zune HD which came out in 2009 was actually a pretty excellent competitor. But it was already too late - the iPhone had come out in 2008 and by then, the world was already moving on from standalone MP3 players to playing music on their phones.</p><p>Microsoft stopped making Zunes in 2011, but has continued to support them until now. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-ways-use-old-ipod-apple-music-2014-12">5 Brilliant Ways To Reuse Your Old iPod</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Q0b21hcjr6AJhjO6y3LNHPJMRFnEyNpy" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'Q0b21hcjr6AJhjO6y3LNHPJMRFnEyNpy',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Microsoft ends all support for the Zune, its once-upon-a-time answer to the iPod

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."</li><li>"GotG: Vol. 3" contains two extra scenes after the movie ends. The first teases a new character.</li></ul><p>Make sure to stick around if you head to theaters to see "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."</p><p>The James Gunn-directed sequel contains two extra scenes after the movie ends, one of which teases a new character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.</p><p>If you ventured out of the theater early before catching both end-credits scenes or weren't sure about the identity of a mystery girl, we have you covered.</p><h2><strong>What happens in the first end-credits scene: We meet the new Guardians of the Galaxy</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 new lineup" height="600" width="1200" msid="99998561" hostid="261" sizebytes="39878"></div><p>Some time has passed since the events of "Vol. 3." The scene opens with Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova), Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the alien creature Blurp, and a mystery girl who was first seen with the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji).</p><p>Rocket's leading the group on a mission, but, before they begin, they each reveal their favorite music to one another.</p><p>As the group lists off tracks, Rocket takes out Yondu's Zune and starts playing "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone. </p><p>Peter Quill first played the song on his Sony Walkman near the start of 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy" during his first appearance in the MCU.</p><p>As the group gets up to fight off some creatures and go to work, we learn that Rocket was leaning against Groot (Vin Diesel) the entire time. When the tree-like creature stands, he's more enormous in size than any version of Groot we've ever seen. </p><p>The scene ends with this new group of Guardians prepared to fight.</p><h2><strong>What you should take away: 'GotG Vol. 3' sneakily introduces a new character, Phyla-Vell</strong></h2><p>Rocket's new lineup of Guardians plucks from characters who have appeared in Marvel's more recent <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-59074-20&amp;h=e20d7276a4f73b161dab56722767134699a725d4dc55463c6bc3c710e0d3a0ac&amp;postID=64503d33aa849969bd39d7bf&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGuardians-Lanning-Complete-Collection-2008-2010-ebook%2Fdp%2FB09CFWDP5N%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fcrid%3D2KT96F7LF9N7N%26keywords%3Dguardians%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bgalaxy%2B2008%26qid%3D1683058167%26sprefix%3Dguardians%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bgalaxy%2B2008%252Caps%252C190%26sr%3D8-1">2008 run of "Guardians of the Galaxy" comics</a>.</p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Rocket (far left), Adam Warlock, Cosmo, and Phyla-Vell are all a part of the 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy lineup." height="737" width="800" msid="99998563" hostid="261" sizebytes="85414"></div><p>In addition to revealing the new group, headed up by Rocket Raccoon, the sequel teases a new character, Phyla-Vell. </p><p>First appearing in 2004's "Captain Marvel" comic series, Phyla-Vell is half-Eternal and half-Kree.</p><p>She's introduced as the daughter of Mar-Vell, a character whose gender was flipped in the MCU and played by Annette Bening. </p><div type="image" title="Phyla-Vell as seen in the 2008 run of &quot;Guardians of the Galaxy.&quot;" height="600" width="800" msid="99998564" hostid="261" sizebytes="32060"></div><p>In the comics, Phyla-Vell has assumed the role of Captain Marvel, but has also been known as the superhero Quasar, known for wearing a pair of Quantum bands.</p><p>The Phyla-Vell we meet at the end of "Vol. 3" may have been wearing a version of these bands as cosmic, quantum energy appeared to radiate from their wrists at the scene's end.</p><p>We may learn more about the character in <a href="https://www.insider.com/captain-marvel-2-details-information-what-we-know-brie-larson">November's "Captain Marvel" sequel</a>.</p><h2><strong>What happens in the second end-credits scene: We return to Earth with Peter Quill</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Jason Quill, Peter Quill Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" height="600" width="1200" msid="99998565" hostid="261" sizebytes="27270"></div><p>Peter and his grandfather, Jason Quill, are sitting around a small kitchen table. Peter eats cereal as his grandfather reads the news. </p><p>A headline on the front page reads: "Alien Abduction: Kevin Bacon Shares All."</p><p>Peter complains in a joking manner about how he, a 45-year-old man, has to mow a lawn as his capable grandfather watches him.</p><p>The scene ends.</p><p>The words "The legendary Star-Lord will return" appear on a white background as the sounds of Peter eating his cereal close out the movie.</p><h2><strong>What it means: 'Vol. 3' likely takes place in early 2026. We probably won't see Quill again for a while.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Chris Pratt in &quot;Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3&quot;" height="1716" width="4096" msid="99998566" hostid="261" sizebytes="190204"></div><p>This is a mostly humorous scene with fun banter between the Quill men. </p><p>The biggest reveal is that Peter states his age.</p><p>Since "Vol. 2" shared that Peter was born in 1980, we know "Vol. 3" takes place in at least 2025, two years after everyone returned from the Blip in "Avengers: Endgame."</p><p>However, 2022's "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" takes place during Christmas 2025. This is when Drax and Mantis kidnap Bacon. (According to Disney+'s MCU timeline, the holiday special occurs after "Ms. Marvel," <a href="https://bgr.com/entertainment/we-finally-know-how-ms-marvel-fits-in-the-mcu-timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which takes place in 2025</a>.)</p><p>The newspaper Jason reads places "Vol. 3" after the holiday special since it mentions Bacon's abduction. Peter's from Missouri and we bet his grandfather didn't relocate. Since the weather's relatively nice and not wintery, it's likely spring 2026.</p><p>But most surprisingly, the final scene says Star-Lord will eventually return to the MCU. We have a few guesses as to how Peter might decide to get back into the action.</p><p>Maybe he gets bored with life on Earth and his grandpa tells him it's OK to return to his space adventures.</p><p>Or maybe Peter's grandfather dies, and he uses traveling the galaxy as a coping mechanism. </p><p>It's also entirely plausible that someone Peter loves ends up in trouble and he's recruited to help.</p><p>Whatever happens, it's most likely we'll see Star-Lord in action again when the galaxy needs saving once more. That may not be until 2025's "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" or 2026's "Avengers: Secret Wars."</p>

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' has 2 end-credits scenes. Here's what they may mean for future Marvel movies.

<br /><br /><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/575ffa8852bcd05c658c8d5f-2400/rtscvjq.jpg"><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/archive/MICROSOFT-NADELLA--D1AESVNCCSAB.html">Beck Diefenbach/Reuters</a><br /><br />Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delivers the keynote address during the Microsoft Build 2016 Developer Conference<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Microsoft is discontinuing Groove Music Pass, its streaming music service, on December 31st. Later this week, Groove Music Pass users will have the option to import their custom playlists to Spotify. The news was announced in a <a href="https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/02/microsoft-to-bring-spotify-to-groove-music-pass-customers/#CL3hVUOXkCPEKI6z.97">blog post on Monday afternoon</a>. <br /><br />Groove Music Pass was never a tremendous hit - while Microsoft has never released specific user numbers or revenue for the service, it's generally understood that Groove Music lags well behind the<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spotify-vs-apple-music-subscribers-chart-2017-8"> market-leading Spotify's 60 million subscribers</a>, or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-music-subscribers-30-million-2017-9">Apple Music's 30 million</a>. <br /><br />Groove Music Pass was accessed via the Groove app in Windows 10. Microsoft promises that the Groove app will stick around for Windows 10 to play music purchased from the Windows Store. You'll just lose the option to use the Groove Music Pass streaming service at year's end.<br /><br />Windows users have no shortage of alternative music streaming options. Services like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spotify-now-available-in-microsoft-store-2017-6">Spotify</a>, Pandora, and Deezer are all available via the Windows 10 app store, with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-itunes-microsoft-windows-10-store-2017-5">Apple iTunes - and, thus, Apple Music - coming soon</a>.<br /><br />Groove Music Pass was the successor to Xbox Music Pass, a streaming service launched in 2012. And in 2006, before Spotify was even an idea, <a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/09/what-to-do-with-your-zune-rip-zune/">Microsoft had Zune Music Pass</a>, a subscription service that gave Zune owners unlimited music downloads every month.<br /><br />This means that Microsoft is without a music service of its own for the first time in over a decade. And dedicated Microsoft fans are disappointed by the retirement, and perhaps a sign that the company isn't focused on consumer services. <br /><br />Perhaps to ease the transition, Microsoft is offering some Groove Music Pass subscribers a 60-day free trial of the Spotify Premium paid music streaming service. <br /><br />Get the latest Microsoft stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/MSFT-Quote"> here.</a><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Consumer confidence is important. I've invested a lot in Microsoft digital stuff, is it safe? Probably not. <a href="https://t.co/7b8x5uHSQV">https://t.co/7b8x5uHSQV</a><br /><br />- Jez ☕  (@JezCorden) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/914932764826271744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">I'm not sure killing Groove moves people from "using Windows" to "loving Windows"<br /><br />- Michael Gillett  (@MichaelGillett) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/914934227375976449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Microsoft are hell bent on destroying what they have left customers base aren't they? Tis all about businesses and the cloud now.<br /><br />- Dan  (@xamldan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/914932724284166144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote><br />            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-bringing-original-xbox-backwards-compatibility-xbox-one-360-2017-6">Microsoft is making it possible to play original Xbox games on the Xbox One</a></h3>        <pre>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</pre>        <br />    </img>

Microsoft is killing its Spotify competitor, will partner up with Spotify instead

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b6ca82b64dce837008b4de1-2029/ap17311390462896.jpg" border="0" alt="Satya Nadella" data-mce-source="AP" /><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft">Microsoft</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/apple">Apple</a> are jockeying for position as the world's most valuable tech company. </strong></li><li><strong>It's easy to chalk this up to Apple's weakness - but don't sleep on the fact that it's also because of Microsoft's strength. </strong></li><li><strong>Where Apple has to deal with fickle consumers in a volatile market, Microsoft's focus on <keyword id="6356323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="enterprise">enterprise</keyword> software and services is less exciting, but could be more durable and stable. </strong></li><li><strong>Plus, Apple has to deal with the possibility that the iPhone will face tariffs from the Trump administration, whereas Microsoft does not. </strong></li><li><strong>Finally, while Microsoft and Apple do go head-to-head on laptops and other devices, Microsoft is far less reliant on its gadget business.</strong></li></ul><p>As you read this, Microsoft is jockeying for position with Apple for the title of world's most valuable tech company - something that hasn't happened since 2010, when the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-vs-microsoft-what-tech-was-like-in-2010-2018-11">Zune was still a thing</a>. The two are roughly neck-and-neck, with each worth about $850 billion, plus or minus a couple of billion dollars, and each overtaking the other at different points during trading this week. </p><p>It's easy to blame this turn of events on a slumping Apple, as the signs of weakening iPhone demand keep piling up, putting the hurt on the tech titan's stock. But as much as this reversal of fortunes can be attributed to Apple's stumbles, don't overlook the fact that it's also due in very large part to Microsoft's renewed strength. </p><p>In short, it's starting to look like Microsoft's slow-but-steady growth in "boring" software and services for businesses is looking more attractive to Wall Street than Apple's reliance on the sexy, huge-but-volatile consumer market. </p><p>When Satya Nadella took the CEO reins almost five years ago, it wasn't long before he called his shot: Microsoft would stop throwing good money after bad into dead ends like Windows on smartphones, and start focusing on fast-growing businesses like the Microsoft Azure cloud and the Office 365 subscription service. </p><p>And, frankly, the follow-through has been a little boring for anyone who hasn't gotten rich from the fact that Microsoft stock keeps reaching all-time highs. Analysts expect Microsoft to show strong growth in its cloud businesses - and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-fiscal-q1-2019-earnings-2018-10">quarter after quarter, Microsoft delivers</a>. All told, Microsoft posted $114 million in revenue for its 2018 fiscal year, up 14% from the year prior, with $23 billion of that from its various cloud businesses.</p><p>It's not as exciting as the launch of a new <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/iphone-sales">iPhone</a>; customers aren't literally lining up around the block to try new AI services for the Microsoft Azure cloud, or placing preorders for its super-secure version of Linux for connected gadgetry. </p><p>Still, it's in hot demand. Companies large and small are turning to cloud platforms like Azure to reduce their reliance on their own servers and data centers, which has the dual benefits of reducing costs while letting them modernize their business. These buyers are famously deep-pocketed, and willing to commit to long-term contracts that keep Microsoft in the black for the long haul. </p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more about Microsoft's race to top Apple's market value:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-stock-is-having-its-worst-month-since-2008-2018-11" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Microsoft just passed Apple to become the most valuable tech company - here's why Apple has been in such a slump</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-vs-microsoft-what-tech-was-like-in-2010-2018-11" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">The last time Microsoft was more valuable than Apple, the Zune was still taking on the iPod</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-nadella-is-product-visionary-apple-tim-cook-isnt-2018-11" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Microsoft's surprising comeback over Apple is the outcome of two new CEOs with radically different gameplans</a></li></ul><p>Furthermore, this model keeps Microsoft nice and insulated from several trends that have come to work against Apple. There's no seasonality to the cloud business; multinational corporations aren't much more likely to buy Office in the holiday quarter versus the summer. Plus, Apple is operating under <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-threatened-tariffs-on-iphone-laptops-china-2018-11">threats from the Trump administration to place a tariff as high as 10% on the iPhone</a>. Microsoft's core products, offered via the internet, aren't prone to the same.</p><p>Oh, sure, Microsoft still has a strong consumer brand, particularly with Windows operating system, Xbox video game systems, and its Surface hardware lineup. Some of those products, especially the Surface laptops, go right up against Apple. The difference, though, is that for Microsoft, these initiatives are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-more-personal-computing-segment-posts-big-growth-2018-4">often-lucrative and strategically-important side businesses</a>; for Apple, selling devices (and services like iCloud and Apple Music to go with them) is the whole ballgame. </p><p>Ultimately, though, the ongoing success of Microsoft under Nadella is a reflection of the motto of the famed Y Combinator startup program: Make something people want. It's just that in this case, the people who want it are the big spenders at large corporations, not the kinds of super-fans who buy a new phone on launch day every year. Besides, Microsoft isn't under the same kind of regulatory scrutiny as a Google or Facebook.</p><p>So while it's definitely possible that Apple recovers its footing, launches a blockbuster new iPhone, and gets back to being a $1 trillion company again, don't sleep on the fact that what Microsoft has accomplished is an extraordinary turnaround in its own right, with momentum that is very likely going to keep building. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but they're both very strong and not at all mutually exclusive.</p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Microsoft stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/MSFT-Quote"> here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-insight-mars-850-million-dollar-drill-2018-11">NASA sent an $850 million hammer to Mars and it could uncover clues to an outstanding mystery in our solar system</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/0aF865m5-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

There's a very simple reason why the resurgent Microsoft is threatening to overtake the slumping Apple

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5550d0f8dd0895021d8b45c7-4354-3266/apple-ceo-tim-cook-holding-an-apple-watch.jpg" alt="Apple CEO Tim Cook holding an Apple Watch" data-mce-source="Reuters" /><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Apple CEO Tim Cook.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning! Here's the technology news you need to know to start your day.</p><p><strong>1. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-watch-watchos-2-update-delayed-2015-9">Apple was forced to delay the release of the new operating system for the Apple Watch after it found a crucial bug.</a></strong> There's no update on when watchOS 2 will be released.</p><p><strong>2.<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/microsoft-sued-over-sex-discrimination-2015-9"> A former Microsoft employee is suing the company over alleged gender discrimination.</a></strong> Katie Moussouris claims that Microsoft systematically discriminates against the women technologists it employs.</p><p><strong>3. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/ios-9-release-date-download-2015-9">Apple has released iOS 9, the updated operating system for iPhones and iPads.</a></strong> The update focuses on security and stability, rather than new features.</p><p><strong>4.<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/jack-dorsey-telling-insiders-will-stay-square-ceo-2015-9"> Jack Dorsey has made it clear that he intends to stay CEO of payments company Square, even as he's in the running for permanent CEO.</a></strong> Twitter's board previously said that it wanted a full-time CEO.</p><p><strong>5. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/google-project-aura-revealed-2015-9">Google has hired engineers from Amazon to work on a new wearable tech initiative called "Project Aura."</a></strong> The project is focused on Google Glass, as well as other wearable devices.</p><p><strong>6. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/microsoft-zune-retired-2015-9">Microsoft has ended support for its Zune music service.</a></strong> Zune was launched in 2007 but never became the iPod-killer that Microsoft wanted it to be.</p><p><strong>7. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/google-non-core-alphabet-businesses-could-lose-up-4-billion-a-year-2015-9">Google's moonshots and non-internet-related businesses could be losing as much as $4 billion every year.</a></strong><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/google-non-core-alphabet-businesses-could-lose-up-4-billion-a-year-2015-9"> </a>Bank of America Merrill Lynch says the companies could have a negative value when spun out of Alphabet.</p><p><strong>8. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-sony-says-china-sales-of-playstation-4-challenged-by-censorship-2015-9">Sony says that China's strict censorship is hurting PlayStation sales in the country.</a></strong> The company says that working with the Chinese government is "time-consuming."</p><p><strong>9.<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/rockstar-on-the-gamechangers-bollocks-2015-9"> "Grand Theft Auto" developer Rockstar Games has called a BBC show about the company "random, made up b******s."</a></strong> Rockstar refused to co-operate with the BBC on the show.</p><p><strong>10.<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/ubers-main-competitor-in-china-is-losing-buckets-of-money-2015-9"> Leaked documents show that Didi Kuaidi, Uber's biggest rival in China, is making some huge losses.</a></strong> However, it did show that private car requests grew 16% every week.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-read-receipts-texting-etiquette-apple-2015-7">Stop making the biggest mistake when it comes to texting etiquette</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="U5eDFkdjp7f9evTl8u2fWmV19kBCwmNA" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'U5eDFkdjp7f9evTl8u2fWmV19kBCwmNA',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

10 things in tech you need to know today

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Frank Masi/HBO" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555c888869bedd211c79801e-960/sv205120514fm251.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/555c888869bedd211c79801e-1200-924/sv205120514fm251.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="SV205_120514_FM251" width="800" /></a><p class="source"><span>Frank Masi/HBO</span></p></div><p></p></div>The HBO series Silicon Valley pokes fun at a lot of tech industry stereotypes - and, in some cases, the show parodies real people and events.</p><p>In the most recent episode, which aired on Sunday, May 17, the writers behind the series may have cleverly snuck in one such reference.</p><p><strong>WARNING: There may be spoilers beyond this point.</strong> </p><p>There's a scene in which Hooli, the Google-like company that rivals Pied Piper, the company started by the show's main characters, gathers a focus group to test out a phone it's developing. The feedback from the focus group was pretty brutal -the team<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> complained that the phone is slow and difficult to use. </span></p><p>It's unclear if this was meant to be an intentional reference, but the scene was <em>very</em> reminiscent of what happened when Microsoft tested its ill-fated Kin smartphone among focus group testers, as one of our readers, <a href="https://twitter.com/advenix">Justin Khoo</a>, pointed out.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Gizmodo" title_caption="The Microsoft Kin" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/4be166ce7f8b9a6777500300-960/21-500x_kinphotos_039.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/4be166ce7f8b9a6777500300-500-357/21-500x_kinphotos_039.jpg" border="0" alt="microsoft kin" width="800" /></a><p class="source"><span><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5531082/microsoft-kin-review-the-best-cellphones-youll-never-buy">Gizmodo</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Microsoft Kin</p></div><p></p></div>In late 2012, after Microsoft killed the phone, <a href="http://www.wired.com/2012/11/unreleased-internal-microsoft-videos-show-why-kin-crashed-and-burned/">Wired posted three internal Microsoft videos</a> that show how badly the focus group reacted to the Kin and Kin Two.</p><p>"There's a lag. That lag will make me make mistakes," one focus group member says in the video.</p><p>"It's frustrating, I could imagine my daughter would give this back very quickly," another said.</p><p>In the latest episode of Silicon Valley, the people in Hooli's focus group react similarly to the Hooli phone:</p><p>"It's just stupid," one person says. "It's slow, and the apps keep quitting on me....When I'm typing, there's a delay."</p><p>Again, it's unclear if this is meant to be a specific reference, but there are definitely some similarities. The episode, titled "Homicide," was filled with tiny references to tech products that massively flopped. In another scene, Gavin Belson, the CEO of Hooli played by actor Matt Ross on the show, asks his assistant to tell him the truth about how bad the phone truly is.</p><p>"Don't tell me this is Zune bad," he says to the assistant, referring to Microsoft's failed music player.</p><p>"I'm sorry Gavin, it's Apple Maps bad," she replies, referring to Apple's Google Maps competitor that was riddled with bugs when it launched. </p><p>You can check out the full episode on <a href="http://www.hbogo.com/?camp=GoG829#series/">HBO GO here</a> and the videos from Wired <a href="http://www.wired.com/2012/11/unreleased-internal-microsoft-videos-show-why-kin-crashed-and-burned/">here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-power-user-hacks-2015-4">5 clever iPhone tricks only power users know about</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="huN2Zzczr6N8qz_gUrYzZxcxaCD8z5Sv" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'huN2Zzczr6N8qz_gUrYzZxcxaCD8z5Sv',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

There's a subtle jab at a flopped Microsoft product hidden in the most recent episode of Silicon Valley 

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56335f65dd0895977a8b4569-2137-1603/screen shot 2015-10-30 at 8.08.29 am.png" alt="microsoft band 2" data-mce-source="YouTube" /><p class="source"><span>YouTube</span></p><p class="caption">This is Microsoft Band 2.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Microsoft earlier this month debuted the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-is-making-a-big-bet-with-their-latest-lineup-of-devices-2015-10">second-generation of its smart wrist wearable</a>, called Microsoft Band 2.</p><p>Unfortunately for Microsoft, it doesn't look like critics are warming up to the new device just yet.</p><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/29/9631634/new-microsoft-band-2-review-fitness-tracker">Lauren Goode from The Verge</a> says the Microsoft Band 2 "sort of baffles me." It's $50 more expensive than last year's model, and even though it's been redesigned, Goode says it isn't worth the $250 price point.</p><p>"It's still unbending and uncomfortable to wear, especially to bed (it tracks sleep as well as exercise). Its battery life is two days at best… I felt like I was always charging the thing. And it requires a proprietary charger. Also? You can't store music on it and use it with Bluetooth headphones. Given that it's designed to work well without a phone, that's an odd feature to leave out."</p><p>As an activity tracker, Goode notes that "Microsoft took the trouble to add a golf mode but not a yoga or weightlifting mode."</p><p>In his review, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/29/microsoft-band-2-review/">Chris Velazco from Engadget</a> says the Band 2 is an improvement over its predecessor, but still suffers from flaws - like a less-than-intuitive interface.</p><p>"It's the little things really," Velazco said. "Let's say you want to fiddle with the screen's brightness - just pop into the Settings tile, right? Almost! Brightness controls (along with vibration level, reading speed and more) live in a Settings window inside of that first Settings window, presumably because Microsoft didn't want us scrolling through a too-long list of options. I also spent a good 15 minutes wondering why I couldn't change my color preferences from the Band before realizing - oops - you can only do it from the app. I appreciate the sentiment at play here, but some of the layout logic seems a little suspect."</p><p><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2998800/wearables/microsoft-band-2-review-microsofts-designed-a-zune-smartwatch.html">Mark Hachman, senior editor of PCWorld</a>, called the Microsoft Band 2 "the Microsoft Zune of wearables: a proudly specialized device that hasn't yet realized it's on the wrong side of history."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56335f65dd0895977a8b456a-2140-1605/screen shot 2015-10-30 at 8.08.17 am.png" alt="microsoft band 2" data-mce-source="YouTube" /><p class="source"><span>YouTube</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Hachman explained three major facets that hold back the Band 2: "Along with the lack of apps, there's a slightly awkward form factor, and a user interface that lacks the graphical appeal of its competition." He added that Microsoft Band 2 is really more of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, since its productivity apps don't work so well on the small display.</p><p>"Don't expect to be able to read your email on the Band; the Mail app will give you little more than subject lines or a quick cascade of single words that fill the entire display. Don't expect to be able to see photos that a friend posted to a Facebook feed; the Band is primarily text-only."</p><p>Of course, other publications like <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/the-new-microsoft-band-has-all-the-workouts-you-could-ever-dream-of/">Ars Technica</a> have praised the Band 2 as a fitness tracker, thanks to its 11 different sensors to measure all sorts of activities - but even that review notes it is "far from perfect; you could barely use those features because of the Band's awful, uncomfortable design."</p><p>Microsoft will almost certainly improve the Band for next year, but it will be interesting to see if the company addresses the uncomfortable form factor in any way. After all, the same design didn't seem to work well for Samsung. Tech Insider looks forward to breaking down the Microsoft Band 2 for a full review.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hands-on-microsoft-surface-book-2015-10">We got a hands-on look at the Surface Book - Microsoft's first-ever laptop everyone's freaking out about</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="ZoYjgyeDoCotQa-XLKFQxMbt5S5Gq4J_" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'ZoYjgyeDoCotQa-XLKFQxMbt5S5Gq4J_',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Microsoft's new wrist wearable is getting slammed by critics

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51e9aaf8eab8eaf861000016-1200-924/steve-ballmer-microsoft-57.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Steve Ballmer Microsoft" width="480" /><p class="source">AP</p></div></div><keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword>'s announcement that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-takes-a-900-million-charge-for-the-surface-2013-7">it's taking a $900 million charge on the Surface RT</a>, its lightweight tablet, is a big embarrassment.</p>
<p>It reinforces a bad historical pattern of Microsoft struggling with hardware products. The Xbox took a long time to be profitable. The Zune was a failure. The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-only-sold-503-kin-phones-before-pulling-the-plug-a-well-placed-little-birdie-told-daring-fireballs-joh-2010-7">Kin phones were a disaster</a>.</p>
<p>Yet, despite the bad history with hardware<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, Microsoft's decision to make the Surface was absolutely the right decision. </span></p>
<p>Microsoft needed the Surface because the iPad was (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gartner-pc-sales-2013-7">and still is</a>) quickly taking over the personal computing world.</p>
<p>Its hardware partners <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-microsoft-had-to-build-the-surface-tablet-2012-8">showed no inclination to produce a high quality piece of hardware</a> running Windows software that would compete with the iPad. </p>
<p>Microsoft wanted to halt the rise of the the iPad with Windows 8, which is supposed to be a combo of tablet and traditional PC software. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">To showcase Windows 8, Microsoft needed one good piece of hardware with a solid brand. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. were not building good Windows branded devices. They weren't putting their resources into good hardware the was on Apple's level. And they could not be trusted to create good new products for Windows 8.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Therefore, Microsoft had to make the Surface. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Reviews of the hardware were largely positive. </span></p>
<p>"I like it," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/walt-mossberg-review-of-the-surface-tablet-2012-10">said Walt Mossberg in his review of the Surface RT</a>. "It’s a unique tablet, made of a type of magnesium with a feeling of quality and care."</p>
<p>David Pogue at the New York Times <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pogue-microsofts-surface-tablet-is-spectacularly-designed-but-the-software-is-terrible-2012-10">raved about the "spectacular" hardware design</a> of the Surface RT. </p>
<p>Where Microsoft's Surface failed was in the software department.</p>
<p>Windows 8 isn't good. It's the wrong path for tablet computing. </p>
<p>Microsoft tried to cram a full-blown PC on a tablet. The result was a half-baked experience that didn't make anyone happy. <span>As Matt Rosoff of CITE World said, "</span><a href="http://www.citeworld.com/tablets/22142/microsoft-was-wrong-myerson-pichai-federighi">Microsoft was wrong: tablets aren't PCs.</a><span>"</span></p>
<p><span>Microsoft has other issues, too. Its Windows Phone line has failed to catch on. The transition from iPhone to iPad has been natural, Microsoft would have benefited from something like it. Microsoft's marketing for the Surface was bad with goofy dancing ads. And its brand with consumers isn't strong. </span></p>
<p><span>Add it all up, and the result is</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Microsoft slashing the price of the Surface RT and taking a $900 million charge. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The charge is due to Microsoft <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-slashes-the-price-of-the-surface-2013-7">cutting the price of the Surface to $350</a>, down from $500. It has to account for the new price of the Surface inventory, plus other Surface related products and prices. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Microsoft says it remains committed to the Surface. It should release an updated version of the Surface this fall with new Intel chips that make it thinner with better battery life. </span></p>
<p>It's not giving up on the Surface, because it's the right idea. It needs a good piece of hardware for Windows 8. It needs to fix Windows 8, though, if it wants the Surface to sell. </p>

Microsoft's $900 Million Charge For The Surface RT Is Embarrassing, But It Was Still The Right Decision For The Company

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Flickr/Szymon Kochanski" title_caption="Samsung in lead, negotiating the turn." class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5310ab526da8112f3a6e5f2d-960/samsung-driving-in-dark-1.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5310ab526da8112f3a6e5f2d-1200-924/samsung-driving-in-dark-1.jpg" border="0" alt="samsung driving in dark" /></a><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mywayaround/4338996374/sizes/o/">Flickr/Szymon Kochanski</a></span></p><p class="caption">Samsung in lead, negotiating the turn.</p></div><p></p></div></div>It's been four long years since Apple introduced the iPad, its last major innovation in a product category. </p>
<p>If we're being honest, in the four years since, no other company has released a category-defining consumer electronics hardware product. You could argue that Nest, with its Internet-connected thermostat, comes close, but the Nest isn't a widespread mainstream consumer product like the iPhone or iPad. </p>
<p>Without Apple leading the way, it feels like the rest of the consumer hardware industry is a lost, trying to figure what comes next after the tablet. </p>
<p>This was quite apparent at Mobile World Congress, the massive mobile industry trade show in Barcelona. The major companies were all making smart watches and fitness tracking devices, but none of them felt quite right. </p>
<p>Here's how it works in the computing industry (and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/andreessen-heres-the-difference-between-steve-jobs-and-tim-cook-2012-12">we're paraphrasing Marc Andreessen</a>): Apple invents a new product category and has 100% of the market, then everyone starts copying. Apple loses market share until it kills the product. </p>
<p>Think about the iPod getting copied by the Zune, then Apple eventually killing the iPod with the iPhone. Or, even earlier, inventing the Mac, getting copied by Microsoft and IBM, then (sort of) killing the Mac with the iPad. The iPhone hasn't been killed, and probably never will be killed, but it has been copied. </p>
<p>Without Apple releasing an iWatch to copy, the companies with smart watches are lost. </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">All of the fitness tracking devices felt like they were being made just for the sake of being made. They felt like gadgets that were being tossed out because these companies are trying to figure out what's next. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Nowhere is this more apparent than with Samsung. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Samsung launched the Gear 2, and the Gear Neo, which were quick follow ups to the Galaxy Gear, which was a massive flop with reviewers. It launched the Galaxy S5, which this year comes in gold and has a fingerprint scanner just like the iPhone 5S. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It also released <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-gear-fit-2014-2">the Gear Fit</a>, which looked like a pretty decent fitness tracker. </span></p>
<p>As good as the Gear Fit looks, it's still not quite right. And importantly, Samsung didn't really answer the "why" question. Why do we need the Fit? What does it offer that our smartphones don't already offer? </p>
<p>At MWC, we were chatting with Benedict Evans, an analyst with Andreessen Horowitz about this phenomenon. He didn't disagree with our assertion that all of these big mobile technology companies were just missing that <em>something</em> with their new products.</p>
<p>He gave us an extended metaphor to describe Samsung. </p>
<p>Imagine there were a bunch of race cars driving in the dark on a winding mountain road without headlights, and without street lights. Each of the cars represent a different consumer technology company. For the longest time, Samsung was able to focus on the car in front of the pack, which knew where it was going. Over time, the other cars chasing the leader slipped and crashed off the mountain in the dark. Samsung stayed on the road.</p>
<p>Finally, Samsung passed the last car that was in front of it, Nokia, which slid off the road. It expected there was one more car in front, Apple, that it could follow so it could stay on the road. But once Samsung got to the front of the pack, it doesn't see Apple. It suddenly realized that Apple was on another road altogether. And now Samsung has to navigate a dark and winding road entirely on its own. </p>
<p>That's how we end up with the Gear, a sloppy product that exists for the sake of existing and doesn't really work. </p>
<p>For Samsung, this a big problem. It became an industry leader by selling a lot of high-end smartphones. But, the high-end is slowing down. The low-end is growing, but Samsung can't compete with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-clones-2014-2">an army of Chinese smartphone makers</a> that sell smartphones for $100. </p>
<p>As a result, Samsung is somewhat pinched. It's racing in the dark, and it's doing its best not to crash off the mountain. </p>

Samsung Is Like A Race Car Driver In The Dark On Winding Mountain, Hoping It Doesn't Crash

<p>Apple just killed Spotify's business on iOS.</p><p>Spotify may keep its current 20 million users around, and it'll have room to grow on Android, but on the iPhone? Forget it.</p><p>Here's the first reason why.</p><p>If you have an iPhone or iPad, and you update it to the latest version of iOS, you will see this new icon in place of the old orange and white music icon:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55942d2eecad044d3dd8d3ce-732-549/img1530png-1.png" border="0" alt="IMG_1530.PNG"><p class="source"><span>Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>When you click on it, you will be presented with this option:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55941f866da811631d51e624-749-562/img1532png.png" border="0" alt="IMG_1532.PNG"><p class="source"><span>Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Assuming you've bought anything from Apple recently - an app, a song, a TV show, whatever - you will be able to sign up for the trial without entering your name, a credit card, or any other information. All you need is your Apple ID and password. That's it. </p><p>Spotify and other services are easy to start using. But they still require you to download the app and enter information about yourself. If you were ever the least bit hesitant about paying $10 a month for music, that process gives you lots of time to reconsider it and think about how else you might like to spend that money.</p><p>Of course, once Apple gets you, they have to keep you past the three-month trial period.</p><p>But I've been using Apple Music since yesterday, and I think this will be easy.</p><h2><strong>Why Apple Music is great</strong></h2><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Before we go any farther, I have a confession. If you're not all that into music, you can probably stop reading this post here and just take my word for it that Apple Music is great. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Because I'm way beyond a music nut. I'm a music bore.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55942deeecad044740d8d3ce-434-326/boxes-of-vinyl-1.jpg" border="0" alt="boxes of vinyl" width="600" style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.5px;"><p class="source"><span>Matt Rosoff</span></p><p class="caption">Boxes of records from the last time I moved in 2010.</p></img></div><p></p></div></p><p>I was a DJ in college. I played in bands for years. I have about 700 records (which is actually small in collectors' circles). I took 40 CDs and a Discman with me on a six-month backpacking trip in 1999. A couple weeks ago, a colleague and I discovered we had similar tastes, and a quick hallway conversation turned into an half-hour discourse on Led Zeppelin setlists from the 1970s.</p><p>More to the point, I covered digital music from 2004 through 2010. I tried every music service that was out there, including Spotify when it was confined to Europe (there was a VPN-based log-in for US reviewers), and the ill-fated Microsoft Zune Pass, which was actually a great service but only worked with a device nobody bought. </p><p>None of them stuck. I buy records all the time. My music collection is already pretty huge. It just seemed wasteful to spend another $10 a month just so I could occasionally scratch an itch to hear some song that was stuck in my head. If I really wanted the song, I'd just pay $1 and buy it.</p><p>So I was fully prepared to dismiss Apple Music, especially after reading reviews that complained it was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-music-early-review-2015-6">kind of complicated </a>and hard to use. There seemed to be way too much emphasis on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-employees-arent-listening-to-its-new-radio-station-2015-7">Beats 1 radio station</a>, which I figured would play a bunch of British electronically tinged hipster music that I wasn't going to like.</p><p>I was totally wrong. Because Apple Music's approach of curated songlists is amazing. </p><p>It starts by asking you what types of music and which artists you like:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55942f79ecad04dd46d8d3ce-800-741/apple-music-choices-cropped.png" border="0" alt="apple music choices cropped.PNG"><p class="source"><span>screenshot</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>And then it starts offering you choices. The choices are way too accurate to be defined just by that first music selection process - I suspect Apple is also looking at my personal collection and ratings and making some good guesses based on that. Like this playlist of Modest Mouse influences:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55942f28eab8eacf76d8d3ce-800-531/apple-music-modest-mouse-cropped.png" border="0" alt="apple music modest mouse cropped.PNG"><p class="source"><span>screenshot</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Like Lisa Eadicicco wrote yesterday, it felt like Apple Music <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-music-app-first-impressions-2015-6">really knew me</a> after only a couple hours. </p><p>But here's what really got me. This morning I drove, as I always do, over the hill from my house to the train station. Normally, I don't bother plugging my phone into the stereo because the drive is only about 5 minutes long and I've already heard all my songs so many times that I can't imagine which one I'd want to listen to again.</p><p>But today, I figured I'd give Apple Music a chance to play me a great song by one of my favorite old bands, the Kinks.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55942ec56da811717551e626-800-434/apple-music-kinks-cropped.png" border="0" alt="apple music kinks cropped.PNG"><p class="source"><span>screenshot</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The song it picked? "Victoria."</p><p>Which happens to be my favorite Kinks song that I don't own. ("Waterloo Sunset" is a close second, and probably a better song, but "Victoria" is an earworm and gets stuck in my head a lot for some reason.)</p><p>It was exactly the right song for my five-minute drive. </p><p>I have no idea if Spotify has something like this because I've never taken the trouble to set up a Spotify account on my phone, and haven't tried the web version since about 2012, when it was free on Facebook for a while. But Apple Music got me in and then it hooked me.</p><p>More important - and this is probably why Apple spent so much effort getting Apple Music right - I'm excited to listen to music on my phone for the first time in years. I'm looking forward to getting my car the next time so I can see what new music outside my collection Apple Music picks for me.</p><p>That's worth $10 a month.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-music-turn-off-iphone-auto-charge-2015-6">Apple Music will charge you after 3 months if you don't do this</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="R5MDN5dTopn99x0jRBH_1idLJ4ZOYlzB" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'R5MDN5dTopn99x0jRBH_1idLJ4ZOYlzB',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Apple Music will make Spotify totally irrelevant within a year - here's why

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5335abf469bedd8b3f75daa2-1200-2000/ap13040413841.jpg" border="0" alt="Mark Zuckerberg" /><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Mark Zuckerberg has made two shocking acquisitions this year. </p>
<p>He <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-buying-whatsapp-2014-2">paid $19 billion for WhatsApp</a>, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-to-buy-oculus-rift-for-2-billion-2014-3">$2 billion for Oculus VR</a>. Prior to buying these companies, the biggest Facebook acquisition was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-buys-instagram-2012-4">Instagram for $1 billion</a>. </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He also reportedly <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-facebook-was-willing-to-pay-3-billion-for-snapchat-2013-11">failed to buy Snapchat for $3 billion</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In addition to buying companies, Zuckerberg is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zuckerberg-wants-to-fill-the-sky-with-drones-satellites-and-lasers-to-deliver-the-internet-to-everyone-2014-3">talking about using drones, satellites, and lasers to connect the world to the Internet</a>. </span></p>
<p>With these moves, Facebook is evolving from a single-purpose social network to a corporate conglomerate.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The logic for Facebook's expansion is fairly simple. Smartphones have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-news-feed-benedict-evans-2013-12">disrupted Facebook's control of social networking</a>. Therefore it's buying potential rivals like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat are smart defensive moves. </span></p>
<p>Oculus is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-mark-zuckerberg-bought-oculus-for-2-billion-2014-3">a giant bet on the future</a>. Since the majority of Oculus acquisition is funded through stock, it's not the end of the world financially for Facebook if it's a bad bet. </p>
<p>These acquisitions demonstrate a major evolution Zuckerberg's thinking about Facebook. They also reflect a shift in technology trends. </p>
<p>In 2011, Zuckerberg and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg were asked by Charlie Rose if he would ever make video games. They responded by saying no. </p>
<p>Rose said, ok, you say that now, but what about in the future? After all, there was a time when people thought Steve Jobs would never do retail, but then he did. </p>
<p>Zuckerberg's answer: "<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">No, I'm pretty sure we're not going to build any games. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">I'll tell you why. Because building games is <span class="l6">really hard."</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="l6">This is particularly ironic now that Facebook owns Oculus VR, a company that makes video games. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="l6">But there's more from Zuckerberg:</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="l6"><span class="a">"And we're doing - what <span class="l6">we're doing is really hard. <span class="w"></span>And we think that we're <span class="l6">better off </span></span></span><span class="a">focusing on <span class="l6">this piece. <span class="w"></span>I think <span class="l7">that building <span class="l7">a great g<span class="l6">ame service is <span class="l7">really hard. <span class="w"></span>Building </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="a">a great music <span class="l7">service is really <span class="l6">hard. <span class="w"></span>Building a great <span class="l7">movie service is r<span class="l6">eally hard. <span class="w"></span>And </span></span></span></span></span><span class="a">we just believe that an independent entrepreneur will always beat a division of a big </span><span class="a">company which is why we think that the strategy of these other companies trying to do</span><span class="a">everything themselves will inevitably be less successful than an ecosystem where you</span><span class="a">have someone like Facebook trying to build the core product to help people connect and</span><span class="a">then independent great companies that are only focused on one or two things doing those</span><span class="a">things really well."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="l6"><span class="a">Sheryl Sandberg chimed in by saying: "</span></span></span><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">And those companies can't - don't have the di<span class="l6">scipline to do it, right. <span class="w"></span>They get big, and </span></span><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">everyone wants to do <span class="l7">everything, and they <span class="l6">just say yes. <span class="w"></span>And then they <span class="l6">don't do </span></span></span></span><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">everything well."</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">Zuckerberg was correct about small companies beating a big company. Snapchat beat Facebook's "Poke" app. WhatsApp beat Facebook's Messenger app. Instagram beat Facebook's Camera app. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">But the success of those applications forced Zuckerberg to diversify his company, risking that he will lose the focus he spoke about with Rose.</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the narrowest sense, Zuckerberg hasn't abandoned his ideology. He's letting Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus operate as independent companies, as opposed to integrated divisions of Facebook.</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">At the same time, though, he's trying to connect the world, which is not a core strength for Facebook. Zuckerberg is also leading a political action group, FWD.us.</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">So, in a broader sense, Zuckerberg is taking on a bunch of new companies, and new ideas, which will spread him thinner as he manages a portfolio of properties.</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">It's a fascinating evolution of not just Zuckerberg, but technology broadly. In 2011, the iPhone was still the hottest product in the world. The iPad had just launched. Steve Jobs and Apple were the Kings of technology. Jobs' whole mantra was "focus."</span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">Other tech companies started to follow suit. Google shut down a bunch of products, reorganized the company, and generally became more disciplined in its approach. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">But today, Apple is the only major company that remains committed to focus. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">Google bought Motorola, then shut it down. Then it bought Nest. It's doing self-driving cars, Google Glass, Chromebooks, Internet balloons, and all sorts of projects. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">Amazon, which is primarily an e-commerce website, is exploring drones, making TV shows, selling tablets, and may release its own phone. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">For the most part, investors have rewarded this behavior, so few people are questioning this strategy. </span></p>
<p><span class="a" style="line-height: 1.5em;">But, there is a risk. These companies could turn into Microsoft, which went from being a dominant monopoly to a company trying everything but not really excelling at any thing. (Look at its early tablets, the Zune, or Bing.)</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's the Zuckerberg video. He starts talking about all of this at 28:23. <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/71968804/Mark-Zuckerberg-Sheryl-Sandberg-on-Charlie-Rose">A transcript of his comments is here</a>.  </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<p><object width="800" height="600"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/eqxNtEc4rzc?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/eqxNtEc4rzc?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="800" height="600" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" /></object></p>
<p>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/fimoculous/status/449246880133038080">Fimoculous</a>)<object width="800" height="600"></object></p>

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