(FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 6/2/15)
Next Windows Version
Coming July 29
Microsoft Corp. said it will release the Windows 10 operating
system for tablets and personal computers on July 29.
Terry Myerson, Microsoft's head of operating systems, made
official various elements that have dribbled out in recent months
after the company said it was planning a summer launch for the next
version of its flagship OS. Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for
most machines running versions 7 or 8.1 (enterprise versions aren't
included), while Windows Phone owners will have to wait longer.
Anyone considering the upgrade should make sure their PC can
handle running the software smoothly. Testing and reviews will
provide the best answer, though Microsoft's initial specifications
signal that any PC cable of running Windows 7 or 8.1 should be able
to make the leap.
Mr. Myerson's blog post does double duty of hammering home the
size of the Windows user base-in the billions-with Microsoft's
vision of software that can work across all of its devices.
A spokeswoman for Microsoft said people who want to buy copies
of Windows 10 software -- an uncommon purchase -- will pay an
estimated $119 for a basic consumer version, and $199 for a
"professional" version.
-- Brian R. Fitzgerald and Shira Ovide
App Developer Faults
Google in Europe
An app developer complained to European regulators that Google
Inc. is abusing its position as maker of the world's leading
mobile-operating system, potentially adding to Europe's probe of
Android.
The complaint was filed by Disconnect Inc., which makes privacy
and security applications. Google pulled a Disconnect app from its
Play mobile app store last year, saying it violated a policy
prohibiting software that interferes with other apps.
In a complaint to the European Commission's Competition
Directorate, Disconnect said Google abused its dominant position in
Europe's mobile market to unfairly discriminate against Disconnect
and favor its own privacy and security software. The moves limited
Europeans' access to competing privacy and security software, while
letting Google and others track and collect Android users'
information for advertising, Disconnect said.
The app maker alleged Google pulled Disconnect because the
software disrupted Google's tracking and advertising efforts, the
source of most of the Internet company's revenue and profit. In an
email included in the complaint, a Play store employee said the app
was removed because it prevented other apps from delivering
ads.
Disconnect asked European antitrust regulators to require Google
to put its apps back in the Play store and treat the apps the same
way Google treats its own privacy and security software.
A Google spokesman called Disconnect's claims "baseless." Google
has allowed more than 200 other privacy apps in the Play store, but
blocks any apps that alter other apps' functionality or remove
their way of making money, he added, saying Google applies this
policy uniformly, with strong support from Android developers.
A memo the company sent to its employees in April said "Android
has lowered prices and increased choice for consumers." Google also
includes other types of apps from companies that compete
aggressively with it, including Baidu Inc., Yahoo Inc. and
Microsoft Corp.
-- Alistair Barr
Ellen Pao to Appeal
Kleiner Perkins Loss
Former venture capitalist Ellen Pao is appealing her March loss
to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in a much-watched Silicon
Valley gender-discrimination trial.
Ms. Pao's attorneys filed a notice of appeal Monday in San
Francisco Superior Court. A spokeswoman said Ms. Pao is appealing a
jury's verdict that she failed to show the venture-capital firm
discriminated against her and retaliated against her when she
complained. The notice did not specify grounds for the appeal. The
spokeswoman for Ms. Pao declined additional comment. Ms. Pao, who
is interim chief executive of social-media startup Reddit Inc., had
until June 8 to decide if she wished to appeal.
Ms. Pao, now 45, worked at Kleiner Perkins from 2005 to 2012.
She claimed the firm assigned her menial tasks, denied her
promotions, and then retaliated, after she complained. Kleiner
Perkins said Ms. Pao didn't advance because of her own
shortcomings, and misrepresented key incidents at the firm.
Christina Lee, a Kleiner Perkins spokeswoman, said, "a 12-member
jury found decisively in favor of KPCB on all four claims. We
remain committed to gender diversity in the workplace and believe
that women in technology would be best served by focusing on this
issue outside of continued litigation."
-- Jeff Elder
NetApp CEO to Depart
NetApp Inc. said Tom Georgens is stepping down as chairman and
chief executive, less than two weeks after the data storage company
said it would lay off 500 workers and issued a disappointing
forecast.
George Kurian was promoted to chief executive, NetApp said,
although the company also intends to conduct a CEO search. Mr.
Kurian, a former vice president at Cisco Systems Inc., joined
NetApp in 2011 and has been NetApp's executive vice president of
product operations. The company said Mike Nevens, who has served as
lead independent director, would become chairman.
Mr. Kurian, who is 48 years old, said he would work on improving
the efficiency of the company's operations rather than shift its
product-development plans.
-- Josh Beckerman and Don Clark
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