Microsoft drops bid for Yahoo

Microsoft dropped its bid for Yahoo just after increasing its offer to per share.

Don't count out Microsoft. Indeed, third time may be the charm for Microsoft if Yahoo's stock tanks.

ConceptDraw MINDMAP v7 can export and import Microsoft Project files

PRESS RELEASE

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 24, 2011  ConceptDraw MINDMAP v7 can export and import Microsoft Project files from either Macintosh or PC computers. ConceptDraw MINDMAP v7 is a powerful mind mapping product that starts projects right. Effective brainstorming and requirements gathering from the project team is critical to getting things off of the ground. ConceptDraw MINDMAP on Macintosh or Windows can export to Microsoft Project data from a mind map; it can also import a project file from Microsoft Project giving team members a working visual map of a planned project.


The mind map format makes it easy to restructure project files and quickly discover status of phases, tasks and milestones using the report plug-ins available for ConceptDraw MINDMAP. ConceptDraw MINDMAP has many report plug-ins available to keep everyone up to date.



A mind map of project requirements visually represents the projects structure and can be quickly modified with a couple clicks in ConceptDraw PROJECT or exported to Microsoft Project. Using a mind map to start up projects is a quick and efficient way to get projects off of the ground. Mind maps when incorporated as part of the project planning methodology improve project outcomes, by simplifying planning and adding important contingency strategies.



ConceptDraw MINDMAP is a powerful planning tool that is closely integrated with ConceptDraw PROJECT; using ConceptDraw INGYRE2 technology, to rapidly move teams from planning to implementation. With the added ability of both ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT of working with Microsoft Project .xml file format, the flexibility in usage scenarios has increased by an order of magnitude.



ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT are powerful professional project management tools that increase productivity by improving team communication and providing timely project status.



Olin Reams, General Manager at CS Odessa comments, a Project Managers and their teams can now mix PCs and Macintoshes with impunity, the amount of flexibility that this can bring to a project team is incredible. There are no barriers to how you can share project data. Couple the file flexibility of ConceptDraw MINDMAP with the many project solutions available in ConceptDraw Solution Park, and you can see the tremendous value that is in our products.



Pricing and Completive Upgrades Available



Availability of ConceptDraw MINDMAP v7 is immediate. ConceptDraw MINDMAP retails for 9 USD, competitive upgrades from other paid mind mapping products are available for 9 USD, contact CS Odessa sales for details on completive up grades of any quantity.



ConceptDraw Solution Park

ConceptDraw Solution Park is an online collection of visual solutions for knowledge workers designed to provide productivity increasing solutions for all ConceptDraw products. ConceptDraw Solution Park contains many subject areas for professional applications. It delivers solutions for Project Management, Business Productivity, Universal Diagramming and Collaboration. To address personal goal setting CS Odessa has added the popular Crystal Mapping SaaS and desktop applications bringing you a powerful personal development tool to augment you and your team's work.

Microsoft Introduces "Tabletop" PC

As computing devices get smaller and smaller, Microsoft is bucking the trend with its Microsoft Surface "tabletop" PC, code-named "Milan." The device, about the size of a small desk, allows the user to draw and write on the surface with a brush or fingers. Instead of using a mouse or keyboard, the user manipulates digital elements on the surface with his or her hands.

The first of the Milan devices will be shipped to corporate customers to be used as kiosks... providing Milan with crucial exposure while allowing Microsoft to work out any kinks before offering surface computing to home and office users. At any rate, the average consumer will be forgiven for not pouncing on the first available units, which cost approximately ,000 each.

Source: ZDNet

Microsoft to save Nokia or is it the other way around?

Well, I've seen so many people comment on how Nokia is sinking because of the deal with Microsoft. That's just bogus. Why? Because first of all, Nokia had a healthy Microsoft money infusion even before it started developing the first WP7 phone.



As you could see from the SeaRay preview Elop showed to the press, Nokia is there way sooner than anyone ever thought.

WP7 in my opinion offers a very strong user experience, and has a brilliant future if backed properly. What WP7 did not have, but now does, is a manufacturer that is full-time behind it. And that manufacturer is Nokia.

I have to say that dropping MeeGo would be a grave mistake for Nokia, but WP7 is not something to be overlooked. I did not hear one person, one person in one year to be disappointed with their WP7 handsets. And I know a lot of people who own WP7 devices.

Every manufacturer has waited for others to start promoting WP7 before they took a chance with it. Everyone was waiting for Samsung to be the first to blow the horn, which did not happen. Then silently, WP7 devices dropped their prices to nearly half the launch price.

Everyone showed off their Android devices but no one bothered with WP7 devices. Everybody knows that you get Google Maps navigation with Android, or Angry Birds, or whatever attracts the customers more. There are alternatives for WP7 too, but no one is putting any significant effort behind promoting them. And that's why many people who are looking to buy a smartphone never heard of WP7.

With Nokia being the primary WP7 manufacturer, things are going to change. There are a few things that Nokia does better than anyone else on the planet.

1) Build the best hardware, no doubt
2) Market their products like no one does. They have contests, they offer trials(trough WOMWorld) and many more such ways.

So the question is who's saving who here? My guess is Nokia is saving Microsoft's WP7 with it's existing network of advertising, manufacturing, and most important selling.