P-I reporter Todd Bishop covers Microsoft and the high-tech world. He also writes a weekly notebook about Microsoft and maintains a Blog that monitors the goings-on in Redmond. You can contact him by e-mail or phone (206-448-8221).

Microsoft appealing EU's $1.39 billion antitrust fine
Microsoft Corp. said Friday that it has appealed a $1.39 billion fine imposed in February by the European Commission for the company's failure to comply with a 2004 antitrust order.

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
Was that last offer for Yahoo for real?
Just how serious was Microsoft Corp. about raising its bid to $47.5 billion for slumping Internet pioneer Yahoo Inc.? The answer is taking on greater importance as more outraged Yahoo shareholders threaten to sue the company's board.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008
Shareholders may mutiny against Yahoo
SAN FRANCISCO -- After fending off months of threats by Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc.'s directors still will have to fight for their jobs as the company's own irate shareholders plot a mutiny.

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008
Yahoo feels wrath of Wall Street
Wall Street punished Yahoo Inc. on Monday for Microsoft Corp.'s withdrawal of its acquisition bid as each company began to move toward an uncertain future, independent of the other.

Zune to start offering TV shows -- 2 years after iTunes
Microsoft says it will start selling downloadable TV shows for its Zune device -- including selected programs from NBC, the network that split from market leader Apple.

Microsoft strikes deal with Hyundai-Kia
Microsoft Corp. said late Monday that it has struck a deal with Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group to develop new automotive "infotainment" systems.

MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008
For Microsoft, it's on to Plan B to catch Google
Foiled in its blockbuster Yahoo bid, Microsoft Corp. will be forced to cobble together smaller deals -- or rely on its own technological gumption -- to achieve the scale needed to rival Google in online search and advertising.

Competitive zeal of Ballmer key element in Yahoo chase
REDMOND -- As Yahoo continued to resist Microsoft's $42 billion takeover offer, a key question was just how far Microsoft's excitable CEO, Steve Ballmer, was willing to go in hopes of defeating online advertising and search leader Google.

How the Microsoft-Yahoo deal came apart
Here's a timeline of what happened behind the scenes, based on information from a person with knowledge of how things unfolded.

Pressure's on for Yahoo CEO after Microsoft walks away
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang is under intense pressure now that Microsoft Corp. has withdrawn its mega merger proposal for the Sunnyvale, Calif., Web portal.

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008
Microsoft abandons Yahoo bid over share price disagreement
SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp. has withdrawn its $42.3 billion bid to buy Yahoo Inc., scrapping an attempt to snap up the tarnished Internet icon in hopes of toppling online search and advertising leader Google Inc.

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Bid for Yahoo still vague
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer told employees Thursday that he knows what Yahoo is worth to him and "won't go a dime above" that amount in his pursuit of the deal. Ballmer didn't announce Microsoft's next steps.

Microsoft leases 26-story building in downtown Bellevue
Microsoft Corp. has leased another big office tower in Bellevue, cementing its future position as the city's largest employer.

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
Microsoft's Photosynth stars in 'CSI' episode
Microsoft Corp. says it didn't pay for the use of its Photosynth image-browsing software on Wednesday night's episode of "CSI: New York." But it would be difficult to imagine a more valuable plug for the technology.

Yahoo bid options weighed
With Microsoft Corp.'s Yahoo acquisition bid stuck in an apparent stalemate, the Redmond company's board met Wednesday to weigh its options but didn't reach a final decision, the Wall Street Journal reported.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008
Microsoft deadline to Yahoo passes, still no deal
Yahoo Inc. let a Saturday deadline set by Microsoft Corp. to accept a merger pass in silence, setting the stage for the next chapter in the three-month standoff of technology titans.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008
Gates looks back, ahead
Bill Gates alluded to Yahoo only barely, if at all, but discussed just about everything else during a University of Washington event Friday that served as a combination homecoming and farewell for the Microsoft chairman.

Microsoft shares fall more than 6 percent
Microsoft Corp. shares fell more than 6 percent Friday, after mixed quarterly results, as a key deadline loomed in the company's Yahoo bid.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008
Mixed results for Microsoft: Profits better, PC losses worse than forecast
Microsoft Corp. beat Wall Street's profit expectations and gave an upbeat outlook for next year -- but signs of weakness in its Windows business rattled investors already caught up in the uncertainty over its Yahoo bid.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008
Microsoft bid for control of Yahoo board may start this weekend
Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said he doesn't plan to raise his $44.6 billion offer for Yahoo Inc., setting the stage for a fight to control the board that may start this weekend.

Technology Briefing
Paccar joins list of users of Microsoft Surface computers ... Bill Monk co-founder takes job with San Francisco's Foxmarks ... Apple's profit jumps, but expected earnings reduced.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
Lawyer: Xbox violated patent
Microsoft Corp. violated a patent to produce its Xbox video game player, a lawyer for Alcatel-Lucent SA told a federal jury.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008
Microsoft, Yahoo earnings will be closely scrutinized
An extra dose of drama will accompany earnings reports from Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. this week, with implications for the future of both companies.

MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008
Microsoft, Novell stressing China's Linux market
Novell Inc. and Microsoft Corp., trying to expand the reach of their unusual alliance, say they plan to put a bigger emphasis on the Chinese market.

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