• Microsoft launches local region for Azure cloud

  Microsoft is in the process of rolling out a new Australian region for its Windows Azure family of cloud services.

• Senate report: Apple claims subsidiaries with no taxing jurisdiction

  Apple has set up three foreign subsidiaries that the company claims are not resident in any nation for taxing purposes, in an effort to avoid paying tens of billions of dollars in taxes to the U.S. and other countries, according to a new report from a U.S. Senate subcommittee.

• How VMware will try to shake up the Cloud market this week

  There have been rumors and speculation. There have been whispers and rumblings. But this week VMware is expected to release details about its plans to launch a public Ccloud offering, the central part of its new hybrid Cloud strategy.

• Smartphones take center stage in two-factor authentication schemes

  We all know that relying on a simple user ID and password combination is fraught with peril. One alternative is to use one of the single sign-on solutions we reviewed last year, but there are less expensive options that could also be easier to install.

• Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are secret backers behind European Privacy Association

  Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have been confirmed as the secret backers behind the European Privacy Association (EPA) which was accused of a lack of transparency by an independent watchdog on Thursday.

• 5 excellent uses of Windows 8 Hyper-V

  Windows 8's bare-metal virtualization layer is a great way to create an app sandbox, run a test machine, launch a VHD appliance, and more

• Internet Explorer 9: A getting started guide

  Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9 officially launched late Monday and is ready for download here.

• How to clean up your online reputation

  If you own a small or medium business, a good reputation--online and offline--is clearly key to your success.

• Record patch Tuesday: What you need to know

  Today is the final Microsoft Patch Tuesday for 2010. It has been a busy year for Microsoft when it comes to security bulletins, and December is no exception as Microsoft closes out the year with a record 17 security bulletins. With only a week or so until many IT admins plan to kiss 2010 goodbye and break for the holidays, it is important to understand and prioritize the latest patches for quick implementation.

• Windows 7: 10 Cool Keyboard Shortcuts

  Keyboard shortcuts are wonderful time-savers but many of us are either too accustomed to the mouse or too lazy to get beyond Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.

• Chinese hackers master art of lying low

  China's remarkable success in infiltrating U.S. government, military and corporate networks in recent years shouldn't be seen as a sign that the country is gaining on the U.S. lead in cybertechnology, security experts say. They're just very persistent and very good at remaining undetected for long periods of time.

• Microsoft's counter-attack against Windows 8 coverage makes it 'look weak'

  Microsoft on Friday called some media coverage of its plans to update Windows 8 sensationalist and an effort to drive website page views.

• Why Microsoft won't charge for Windows Blue - this time

  Sometime soon, Microsoft will tell Windows 8 users whether they will have to pay for the upgrade code-named "Blue," and if so, how much. Analysts don't expect it to charge anything for the update.

• Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT

  One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes.

• Microsoft's drip-drip-drip Windows communications strategy dubbed a washout

  Microsoft's Tami Reller, the CFO and head of marketing for the Windows division, went on a mini publicity spree. But she didn't say very much.

Whitepapers about Microsoft

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  Reference Architectures for Virtualisation

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  Top 3 reasons why customers deploy VMware on EMC VNX

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  Top 10 reasons why customers deploy virtualised Microsoft Applications on EMC VNX