Google, Apple And Facebook Are At War On 'Latent' Search

Everyone knows Google controls search engine. It usually has roughly 70% market share of all search activity on the net. Microsoft's Bing comes a far second. But Google is facing a series of challenges that could upset that dominance. The challenge comes with a new type of search, called latent, abstract, or conversational search. 

If you wanted to search for something on the web, you typed in keywords. Google has trained us all to type in those words in order of importance, not the order in which they make sense. In the future that may change. Google, Facebook, and Apple are all developing tools that will allow us to search the way we speak naturally. Though searching is for the kinds of non-specific, abstract, or latent thoughts we use in real life. Generally produces useless search results.

Read More : Yahoo

Microsoft Offers $200 Token For Used iPads

Microsoft has launched a US marketing offer for people to exchange "gently used" iPads for Microsoft products such as Surface tablets.

The company is offering at least a $200 token to go towards products such as the Surface RT and the Surface Pro. 

Microsoft is far behind Apple in terms of global tablet sales and market share. 

One US-based analyst expressed doubts that many people would swap their iPad for a Microsoft product.

READ MORE : BBC NEWS

Microsoft Says XBOX ONE 180 to Welcome INDIE Games Producers

Microsoft is to permit independent games developers to self-publish on its Xbox One games console. That’s an U-turn of its earlier policy. Indies will be capable to make their individual games. Microsoft Publish to the Xbox when they like, and set their pricing, the computer giant has confirmed.

In a huge shift, it turns out the Xbox One actually will support self-publishing, a welcome benefit to indie developers. Previously Microsoft confirmed that releasing a game on Xbox One would require a publishing partner, creating a huge fence for indies.

Finally Microsoft Annonced The Xbox One Controller Costs $60 the Headset is $25.

Microsoft finally got down to officially telling everyone the official price of an extra Xbox One controller, and it's $59.99. The Xbox One's headset—which isn't included in the box—is $24.99.

This is important because existing Xbox 360 controllers and compatible headsets won't work with the Xbox One (Microsoft reasons that Kinect, included with every Xbox One, can already handle voice chat for you. Microsoft has also said it plans to make adapters that "allow consumers to connect many brands of wired gaming headsets to the Wireless Controller for gaming and chat audio.")

You'll get one controller in the Xbox One's box. If you want an extra recharging pack, that will run $24.99.

s0urce from -- http://kotaku.com/