Paul Thurrott

Under increasing political pressure because of its controversial policy of automatically encrypting new iPhones and other devices, Apple has gone on the offensive. But it may already be too late.

Because I’m always jolly, this week’s other news includes Microsoft’s over-insistent efforts to get customers upgraded to Windows 10, a rumored HP Windows phone, Blackberry attacks Apple, the FCC investigates zero rating, and you’re never going to believe how easy it is to hack Linux.

Microsoft has announced a joint venture that will sell and service Windows 10 in China’s governmental agencies and certain state owned enterprises.

Microsoft this week announced plans to expand its corporate philanthropy globally, and to the people who really need it. It will create a new Microsoft Philanthropies organization to focus on these efforts.

Samsung on Monday took the final legal step it can take before being forced to pay Apple almost $550 million in damages for patent infringement: It appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Because it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, this week’s other news includes the source of Surface Book shortages, Microsoft’s mistakes were made moment, Windows phone compete, Xbox One falls short, and Google shots for the moon.

Microsoft is a company that “gets” productivity … and not much else. And it should stop pretending, or even aspiring, to do anymore more than just dominating productivity.

Antitrust regulators from the EU’s European Commission (EC) have formally charged U.S.-based mobile chipset maker Qualcomm with two sets of antitrust charges.

Because every day without snow this winter is to be celebrated, this week’s other news includes a major Windows Server 2016 licensing change, “record” Xbox One sales over Black Friday, Samsung will finally pay Apple its blood money, activist investors circle Yahoo like sharks, and appeals panel will rule on net neutrality.

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was always plain-spoken and honest, and that apparently hasn’t changed a bit since his departure from the company. This week, Microsoft’s biggest shareholder offered his opinion of the firm. And Ballmer offered some overt criticisms that Microsoft should take very seriously.

The Yahoo board of directors will meet this week to determine the fate of the flailing company. And one of the options on the table is for Yahoo to sell off its core assets—online services like Yahoo.com and Yahoo Mail—and effectively end the 20-year-run of the one-time Internet powerhouse.

Microsoft on Monday announced a major update to the commercial versions of Office 365 that will enable Skype for Business to replace traditional business phone systems.