Paul Thurrott

Because I’m tired of the FUD, this edition of Short Takes focuses on a coming firmware fix for Surface Book and Pro 4, Google finally respects someone’s privacy, more Xbox lemonade, an Apple class-action lawsuit, and Pandora hears the music.

Microsoft signed a partnership with Acer that will see Office and other apps preinstalled on the device maker’s phones and tablets. In doing so, Acer joins a lengthy and growing list of device makers that have aligned with Microsoft.

Following in the august footsteps of China, Russia is the latest totalitarian state that is publicly seeking to “ban” Microsoft Windows and replace it with less U.S.-centric technologies.

Because it was Brad’s fault, this edition of Short Takes focuses on John Roberts sells Microsoft short, gamers embrace Windows 10, even Blackberry doesn’t want Windows phone, Apple loses a patent case, and Amazon to open retail book stores.

Microsoft announced last night that it has acquired SwiftKey, makers of the most popular software keyboard for devices. The software giant will integrate SwiftKey’s technologies with its own WordFlow efforts and presumably push the combination across all device types.

Google umbrella Alphabet announced its first-ever consolidated earnings report, with the firm beating expectations. But investors were perhaps most excited by a post-earnings stock price bump that propelled Alphabet ahead of Apple as the most successful company on earth

Sales of tablets fell 10 percent in 2015, and almost 15 percent in the fourth quarter,according to the market researchers at IDC. But sales of so-called “detachable tablets” hit a record high in the year, with Microsoft Surface falling behind Apple’s iPad Pro.

Microsoft is underwater. Literally. The software giant is testing a prototype data center that can operate hundreds of feet below the surface of the ocean, in a bid to eliminate air conditioning costs.

Because Microsoft just announced its quarterly earnings, this edition of (not so) Short Takes focuses on how well its various business segments are doing: Cloud, Windows 10, Surface, Phone, Xbox, Office 365 and Office, and more.

Apple delivered a knockout punch in its quarterly earnings as always, but warnings about slowing iPhone sales growth did not go far enough: The business was essentially flat when measured against the same quarter a year ago, the first time ever that iPhone sales haven’t grown.

Microsoft’s Surface tablet was repeatedly called out as the culprit of a technical glitch during the nationally-televised AFC championship football game yesterday. And while Surface was in fact not to blame, Microsoft will have a hard time living this one down.

This week’s other news includes a key remaining question about Microsoft’s new Windows support policy for new hardware, Google paid $1 billion to be iPhone search provider, Android revenues, the iPad Pro is not faster than a PC, and Yahoo continues to navel-gaze.