:: LNR Journalism ::

Bing Maps high-resolution imagery project now complete in the US

The Verge :: Microsoft has been collecting detailed maps of the United States over the past two years and the project is reaching its conclusion this week. The Global Ortho Project kicked off in the Spring of 2010 with an ambitious promise to map every square inch of the Continental United States and Western Europe at 30cm resolution. Microsoft is announcing today that the US side of the project is complete, providing high-resolution imagery across Bing Maps.

A report by Tom Warren, www.theverge.com

Bing: the Ortho Global Project

Visit the Bing Maps World Tour (slideshow available)

Barnes & Noble is back in the danger zone

Bloomberg :: Just months after the Microsoft investment, the euphoria has evaporated as it becomes clear that even with Microsoft’s considerable resources and push into tablets and mobile computing, a rapidly changing competitive environment means the largest U.S. bookstore chain will still struggle to avoid the fate of the music and movie stores.

A report by Matt Townsend, www.bloomberg.com

HT: Business Insider (reprint of above article)

U.S. video viewing statistics: Facebook second largest video site in July

comScore :: Google Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top online video content property in July with 157 million unique viewers, followed by Facebook.com with 53 million, Yahoo! Sites with 48.7 million, VEVO with 44.8 million and Microsoft Sites with 42.7 million.

A report by www.comscore.com

NYPD, Microsoft launch surveillance system 'DAS': 30pc profit share for sold copies

FastCompany :: The New York Police Department is embracing online surveillance in a wide-eyed way. Representatives from Microsoft and the NYPD announced the launch of their new Domain Awareness System (DAS) at a lower Manhattan press conference today. Using DAS, police are able to monitor thousands of CCTV cameras around the five boroughs, scan license plates, find out the kind of radiation cars are emitting, and extrapolate info on criminal and terrorism suspects from dozens of criminal databases ... all in near-real time.

Details - A report by Neal Ungerleider, www.fastcompany.com

Jack Shafer, here:

RT @antderosa: New York is now in the surveillance business with Microsoft bit.ly/RAYYIcvia @renesugar

— Jack Shafer (@jackshafer) August 9, 2012

There’s no ‘F’ in Foursquare, tweets have a capital ‘T’: Brand rules

The Next Web :: You may not be aware, but most well-known brands have strict rules about exactly how they want to be represented by people they work with. Technology companies are no different, and perusing brand guideline documents uncovers exactly how some of the best-known names in tech want to be treated when it comes to their logos and trademarks. Here we take a look at some of the most interesting – and sometimes odd – brand protection rules out there in the tech world.

An overview by Martin Bryant, thenextweb.com

As the Yahoo-Microsoft search alliance falls short: Could a Yahoo-Google deal emerge?

Searchengineland.com :: Once again, Yahoo is earning so little under its search deal with Microsoft that Microsoft is having to make up the difference due to a revenue guarantee. If the performance doesn’t improve, Yahoo might go looking for a new partner, which could include Google.

A report by Danny Sullivan, searchengineland.com

Bye MSNBC! Welcome to NBCNews.com

On MSNBC | NBCNews.com :: Today we’re taking on a new name — NBCNews.com. While our name is changing, our commitment is not. In fact, in the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be bringing you more of what you love today, and NBCNews.com will stay true to its mandate of delivering the news you need with the innovative spirit you’ve come to expect across all of our digital platforms.

Continue to read Jennifer Sizemore, msnbc.msn.com

NBC, Microsoft getting online divorce

The Daily Beast :: NBC and Microsoft plan to announce a deal to finally part company, with the network buying back the remainder of their hugely popular MSNBC website from the software giant, say people familiar with the matter. Under the plan, officials will rebrand MSNBC.com.

Continue to read Howard Kurtz, www.thedailybeast.com

Microsoft’s downfall: Inside the cannibalistic culture that felled a tech giant

Vanity Fair :: Analyzing one of American corporate history’s greatest mysteries—the lost decade of Microsoft—two-time George Polk Award winner (and V.F.’s newest contributing editor) Kurt Eichenwald traces the “astonishingly foolish management decisions” at the company that “could serve as a business-school case study on the pitfalls of success.” Relying on dozens of interviews and internal corporate records—including e-mails between executives at the company’s highest ranks—Eichenwald offers an unprecedented view of life inside Microsoft during the reign of its current chief executive, Steve Ballmer, in the August issue.

Continue to read Vanity Fair, www.vanityfair.com

Microsoft to acquire Yammer for $1.2b in cash

Yahoo Finance :: Microsoft Corp. and Yammer Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Yammer, a leading provider of enterprise social networks, for $1.2 billion in cash. Yammer will join the Microsoft Office Division, led by division President Kurt DelBene, and the team will continue to report to current CEO David Sacks.

Continue to read press release, finance.yahoo.com

Microsoft explains why - Owen Thomas, businessinsider.com