Paul Thurrott

Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith testified ahead of a U.S. Congressional hearing this week that conflicting and outdated international laws are hampering the tech industry’s ability to protect personal privacy and keep the public safe.

Despite a later and half-hearted expression of disappointment, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has indeed taken the side of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in its standoff with Apple.

has only a minimal presence at Mobile World Congress this week and will not make any formal announcements. Instead, it will let its Windows device partners do the talking this year.

Because I’m of an encrypted mind, this edition of Short Takes focuses on this week’s big tech controversy: A US governmental demand that Apple decrypt a terrorist’s iPhone.

Windows 10 has received its most notable endorsement yet, with the U.S. Department of Defense committing to upgrade 4 million seats to Microsoft’s latest OS. Even more impressive: the DOD will complete the migration with one year, an unprecedented speed for a government rollout.

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.