Consumer News

The Social Games start with this Olympics

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:52:00 GMT

As a boy growing up in rural British Columbia, I can remember sitting down with my family and watching some watershed moments unfold on television. Read more at the Vancouver Sun.

Global TV: Fakes and Forgeries exhibit

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:25:00 GMT

Watch some of these great fakes now on display at the ROM

Access the video at Global Toronto

CityTV: New ROM exhibit

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:20:00 GMT

Watch coverage of the unveiling of the new Fakes and Forgeries exhibit in Toronto.

Access the video at CityTV

Royal Ontario Museum displays its fakes

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:17:00 GMT

Exhibit includes displays devoted to counterfeiting of software, currency and modern objects, ranging from hockey jerseys to Goofy figures to toothpaste.

Tech giants step towards tablet revolution

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:05:00 GMT

At the Consumer Electronics Show here Wednesday, reports indicated that software giant Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Corp. will join forces to launch a touchscreen, tablet computer.

Ballmer kicks off CES with Microsoft keynote

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:03:00 GMT

Microsoft team introduces software, hardware partnerships, slate PCs and give sneak peaks at Halo Reach and Project Natal.

Microsoft unveils Office 2010 retail pricing

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:37:00 GMT

Microsoft on Tuesday revealed pricing for the four versions of Office 2010 it plans to sell in the U.S. and added a new SKU to the mix that's tailored to the needs of academia.

Read more at IT in Canada

Eight-year-old from Saskatoon Boys and Girls Club Wins Microsoft Canada's National Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:07:00 GMT

Eight-year-old from Saskatoon Boys and Girls Club Wins Microsoft Canada's National Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Mississauga, ON, December 9, 2009 - Roselle Castro, an eight-year-old girl from the Boys and Girls Club of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is this year's winner of Microsoft Canada's 13^thannual Holiday Greeting Card contest. To capture the essence of the holiday spirit, children from Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada were invited to design a holiday card based on the theme "This holiday season I promise to...." Roselle's card was selected from over 800 entries. Her artwork will appear on Microsoft Canada's corporate holiday greeting cards that will be distributed to thousands of Microsoft employees, customers and partners across the country.

"Microsoft believes that every child has creative potential; the greeting card contest encourages children to express their creativity through art." said Gavin Thompson, Director of Citizenship, Microsoft Canada. "Roselle's holiday card was very imaginative and her message "...let in peace" was true to this year's theme."

Microsoft Canada presented Roselle with a laptop computer loaded with Microsoft software, a printer and a laptop bag. Microsoft also awarded the Boys and Girls Club of Saskatoon with a $1,000 donation. Microsoft Canada works with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada across the country to provide programs designed to empower children and youth through technology. This is the 13^th year that Microsoft has partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada on this initiative.

"Being the contest winner is very exciting! I've been writing about the whole experience in my journal." said Roselle. "I'm very happy and excited to test out my brand new laptop!"

"We are all very proud of Roselle's artistic talents." said Karen McCullagh, Regional Director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Western Region. "We believe it's important to foster creative development among children and youth and Microsoft's greeting card contest is a fun activity that encourages all of our members to express their artistic skills and imaginations."

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a leading charitable organization providing programs that support the healthy physical, educational and social development of more than 200,000 children, youth and their families each year. In 700 community locations across Canada, clubs offer after-school programs in physical recreation, technology, the arts, personal growth and more. Many clubs also provide meals, emergency shelter, family support programs and other supports to children and youth at risk. Boys and Girls Clubs have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential, for over 100 years. To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.

About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.

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For more information please contact:

Sherline Joe

Media Profile

sherline.joe@mediaprofile.com

416-342-1852

Don’t underestimate the gift of gab this holiday season

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:39:00 GMT

8 out of 10 Canadians judge a person based on his or her "social currency," according to an MSN.ca and Harris/Decima survey

Toronto -November 18^th, 2009- With holiday parties and festive staff functions on the horizon, it may be more important than you thought to be up to date on your current events. In fact, a survey released today by MSN.ca and Harris/Decima revealed that 79 per cent of Canadians judge one another based on their knowledge of what's happening in the world around them.

Since the holidays are a time filled with various social gatherings, Mary-Ellen Anderson, Executive Director/Producer for MSN.ca, believes it's a crucial time to ensure you're up-to-date on the information you need for all your conversations. This is because 40 per cent of Canadians are deeply interested in collecting information and knowledge on various topics, while 37 per cent consider themselves "Connectors" - bringing people together and spreading information.

Unfortunately, not all Canadians have as much general knowledge as they would like. Almost half (47%) of Canadians have frequently or sometimes wished they knew more information on a particular topic so they could actively participate in a conversation happening around them.

"The holidays are a time of giving, but this survey reveals if there's one present you should give yourself it's the gift of information," said Mary-Ellen Anderson. "Whether you are on your way to see your family or heading to the office party, MSN.ca is Canada's one-stop shop for the latest news, politics, movies, music and celeb gossip. Not to mention what's the coolest gadget to buy that special someone."

According to Debra Fine, conversation expert and American best-selling author, being that 'go to' person for current events and reliable information can really raise your status or 'social currency' among co-workers. This is also important in social circles - people will respect you more if you are 'socially current' and knowledgeable on a variety of topics.

Debra suggests the following tips and tricks for impressing colleagues and friends with your socially current knowledge:

- Get More Information For Your Conversations: Since 79 per cent of Canadians are apt to judge one another on their 'social currency' and 90 per cent feel it's important to be up to date on what's happening in the world, a great trick is to skim all the latest headlines for each genre of news i.e. - news, autos, entertainment, finance, etc. You'd be surprised how knowing a little bit about each topic will make you look like the star of the holiday party.

- Find Common Ground: Almost nine-in-ten (86%) Canadians consider themselves to be 'in the know' on a variety of subjects. This is great news because chances are you'll be able to find conversation topics that interest both you and your friend/cousin/colleague etc. For instance, if you know your boss is a car fanatic, check out the Autos Channel on MSN.ca to truly connect with him/her.

- Get Addicted: For almost two-in-five Canadians (38%), a day without their news source is like a day without their morning caffeine fix -they function much better with it. Become a News Junkie and get high on information. You will crave "being in the know" and being the one everyone comes to for socially current conversations this holiday season.

MSN.ca conducted this survey in support of its recent Talk MSN Campaign. The site recently launched its own independently run MSN.ca and is currently the #1 most visited portal in Canada (according to Experian Hitwise, Most Popular Websites in Computers and Internet, Portal Front Pages, ranked by Visits for the week ending November 7th). The site boasts exclusive columnists, trusted experts and amazing content partners.

About MSN and Windows Live

MSN attracts more than 440 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Some Windows Live services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx

About Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit news.microsoft.ca.

About the Survey

Harris/Decima surveyed 1,013 Canadians from October 8^th to 11^th, 2009 through teleVox, Harris/Decima's telephone omnibus. Results for a sample of this size are considered accurate +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

For more details regarding the survey results or to speak to Debra Fine please contact:

Elisa Wegenast
High Road Communications
ewegenast@highroad.com
416-644-2261

Meghan Neufeld
High Road Communications
mneufeld@highroad.com
416-644-2278

Come Join The Largest Social Network on Your TV; Facebook and More Arrive on Xbox 360

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Xbox 360 Delivers Unparalleled Games and Entertainment Experiences

What: Unlock a world of friends, entertainment and games from the comfort of your couch, displayed on the best screen in the house, using Xbox 360® and Xbox LIVE®. Tomorrow, members of Xbox LIVE around the world will have their Xbox 360 consoles transformed and plugged into great value in home entertainment, with access to Facebook, Twitter and Zune® video with instant on HD, all right in your living room.

- Facebook*- Update your status to share what movie, game or entertainment you're enjoying, connect with friends and view their Facebook stream, status updates and photos on the big screen - all seamlessly integrated and custom-built for Xbox 360. You can even compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on Xbox LIVE.

- Zune - Zune video on Xbox LIVE offers a full fidelity experience with on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen - it puts a whole new spin on "movie night."

- Twitter*- Stay in the know by discovering, posting and replying to Tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who's tweeting about your favorite game.

- TV on Your Xbox 360 - Canadians will now have access to more entertainment content than ever before, including the purchase of full-length TV shows from Xbox Live that can be streamed on-demand at any time. The network line-up includes original content from CBC Television, Nickelodeon, MTV, NBC Universal, Comedy Network and more.

Don't have an Xbox 360? Now, more than ever, Xbox gives you great ways to stay connected, share fun and entertainment, starting at $199 (CDN ERP; reseller pricing may vary).

Why: We're continuing to evolve Xbox LIVE to bring more games, more entertainment and more social experiences all from a single device. As a Gold member on Xbox LIVE, you get access to Facebook, Zune Video and Twitter - providing you with a pipeline of content that is always being updated and refreshed. For just under $5 per month, Xbox LIVE Gold membership is great value in home entertainment.

When: Launching on November 17

* Xbox LIVE Gold adult account required to access these features. Xbox LIVE Gold memberships are just under $5 (CDN) per month

For more information, please contact:
Pam Stillman, High Road Communications pstillman@highroad.com
416-644-2280

For more information, media only: http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/live/features/zune.htm

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Dream cars at your fingertips

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:18:00 GMT

If you're 30 and under, and have even a small interest in playing driving video games, chances are you've heard of Forza Motorsport, Microsoft's major-league offering on its XBOX 360 console.

Review: Forza Motorsport 3 gets your motor running

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:17:00 GMT

With more than 400 real-world cars, everyone will be able to find authentic rides that they have either driven or wish they had.

Microsoft Simplifies the PC with Windows 7

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:32:00 GMT

New PC Operating System Available Worldwide Today

MISSISSAUGA - Oct. 22, 2009 - Today Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of its new Windows® 7 operating system. Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC. The new operating system offers a streamlined user interface and significant new features that make everyday tasks easier and allow people to get the most out of computers of all styles and sizes.

"Today is a great day to be a PC," said Owen Sagness, Vice President and General Manager, Consumer and Online, Microsoft Canada Co. "Thanks to the input of millions of users of Windows all over the world, Windows 7 delivers more of what customers are looking for, faster and easier than ever before."

Building Windows 7 has been a collaborative process from the beginning, with Microsoft's engineers and designers working with customers and partners to build an operating system that delivers on the vision of the PC, simplified. Hardware, software and retail partners were engaged early in the process, to ensure that today, the ecosystem is ready to deliver the - Windows 7 operating system to customers everywhere.

"With the amazing choices and options available from many partners, customers will find more PC options in more suggested price points then ever before," said Sagness. "Windows-based PCs have never been such a great value."

On Sale Worldwide Today

The global availability of Windows 7 is joined by an unprecedented array of new PCs and software programs. Finding a PC that fits your personality, style and needs has never been easier. Working with Canadian retailers and technology partners, Microsoft Canada is bringing together great deals on Windows 7-based PCs, devices, and software. Starting today through to December, consumers can visit http://www.windows.ca/offers to browse the great offers available.

To show how Windows 7 simplifies the PC, today Microsoft is launching the next wave of its global "I'm a PC" campaign. Executions from the global ad campaign will run in Canada, along with local initiatives to support Windows 7, including:

--Windows 7 Discovery Tour: Over the next six weeks, Microsoft Canada will be taking Windows 7 on tour, via interactive displays in top retail shopping destinations. Onsite staff will provide demos and answer consumer questions about key features. The first stop of the tour will be Yorkdale Mall, Toronto ON and the Richmond Centre, Richmond BC.

--Canadian Windows Guru program: Specially-trained Gurus will be working alongside store staff in select Future Shop and Best Buy locations across Canada. As Microsoft resources at the retail level, the Gurus will help match customers with the best Windows technology to fit their needs. There will be 17 full-time Gurus supporting stores in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Simplifying the PC

Over the past 18 months, feedback from more than a billion opt-in customer sessions and eight million beta testers validated Microsoft's research on how to simplify everyday tasks. Here are a few of the many ways you'll experience a more simplified PC with Windows 7:

Simplifies everyday tasks

--Taskbar: The go-to spot for launching programs and switching windows, the taskbar has been completely redesigned to help you work smarter, cut clutter, and get more done, with features like thumbnail previews of webpages, documents-even running video.

--HomeGroup: Easily share your files and printers with other Windows 7-based PCs in your home.

--DeviceStage: Shows you the status of all your connected devices such as cameras and mobile phones and makes it easier to synchronize and manage them.

--Photos and Videos: Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Movie Maker offer customers great, free options to edit photos and videos and easily share with loved ones.

--Snap: Drag an open window to your screen's border to automatically re-size it. Snap two different windows to the left and right borders for a perfect comparison.

--Shake: Click a window pane and shake your mouse to minimize all other open windows. Shake the pane again to restore the windows to their original sizes.

--Internet Explorer 8: The fastest, easiest, and safest Microsoft browser ever. Smart new features like Instant Search, Accelerators, and Web Slices help you get more out of the Web.

Works the way you want

--Faster On, Faster Off: Every user of Windows 7 will benefit from the focus on underlying performance, faster startup, resuming and shut down time, and enhanced power management.

--Mobile Made Easier: All your mobile computing settings are in one place with the Windows Mobility Center.

--Protecting your PC: Safeguarding the data on your PC is easier with advanced backup capabilities and the free Microsoft Security Essentials download to help protect you against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Makes new things possible

--Windows Touch: Interact with your PC with a touch-screen monitor, using your fingers and multi-touch gestures.

--PlayTo: Stream your digital music, videos, and photos to other PCs or devices such as your Xbox 360 connected to your TV.

--Rich Gaming and Graphics: Windows 7 includes performance enhancements that take power gaming and entertainment to a new level, with 64-bit support and DirectX11 graphics.

--Location-Aware Printing - your documents are sent to the right printer whether it's at home or at the office. And with Offline Files you can work offline and automatically synchronize between a PC and documents on your office network.

Partners Rally Around Windows 7

Along with increased customer involvement, Microsoft partners had a closer, more involved role in the product vision and planning process with Windows 7. The collaborative approach to engaging partners to inform development efforts has resulted in improved performance for PCs as well as compatibility with a broad range of software and hardware across the Windows ecosystem. More than 16,000 software and hardware companies are building solutions on Windows 7 and over 44,000 developers are enrolled in the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program. Together, these partners are developing hardware, software and services capable of reaching more than a billion PCs around the world.

About Microsoft Canada Co.

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit http://www.microsoft.ca.

For more information, press only:

High Road Communications on behalf of Microsoft Canada
Michelle Lewis
416 644 2269 | mlewis@highroad.com

Michael Sznajdruk
613-688-1189 | msznajdruk@highroad.com

WebMania: Gamers prep for Christmas blitz

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:29:00 GMT

While 2009 will be remembered as a year of recession, retailers hope that game systems will lift business this holiday season.

Watch more at CTV

Microsoft launches new phone software

Microsoft Canada News Centre — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:52:00 GMT

The new phones can play music, open Word and Excel documents, and be synchronized over the Internet.

Read more at The National Post and Globetechnology.com