Breaking: Microsoft's Steve Ballmer stepping down in 12 months

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is one of the most polarizing executives in technology today. Since he took over from Bill Gates in 2000, Ballmer has been the exuberant, often bombastic cheerleader for all things Microsoft and while a series of high-profile firings and resignations have resulted in Redmond losing some of its more promising executives in the past three years alone, Ballmer has remained the one constant. This will change a year from now when Steve Ballmer retires from Microsoft.

“There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” Ballmer said in the company’s release. In the meantime, Microsoft's board will have to find a suitable CEO to fill the position. Microsoft has seen a tumultous decade where it has lost momentum in key industries where it was once a leader because of the rise of Apple and Google for mobile as well as the sharp decline of PC sales. Steve Ballmer has managed to serve and steward the company throughout some of the more difficult periods for the company.

Hit jump for the full PR from Microsoft.

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avast! Mobile Premium secures your smartphone further

It’s all well and good that you can track lost phones and wipe data remotely, if needed. But what if you can sound an alarm or take photos and record sounds of the thieves as well? The new avast! Mobile Premium does just that. This paid version of the Android mobile security app has a Geofencing feature that lets users define the radius of a location they will be at for a certain time. When this is activated, the alarm will sound off if anyone tries to take the phone beyond the prescribed perimeter. It also has Password Check that locks the phone if the wrong password is entered three times in a row and an App Locking feature. Mobile Premium also easily backs up your personal information and files.

avast! Mobile Premium is up for download on the Google Play Store and costs $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year.

Logitech Touch Keyboard K400 goes white

If your devices all come in white and you like your accessories to match or just want a sleeker-looking keyboard, a white version of the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is expected to be released this September. 

This special edition keyboard will be equipped with the same features you expect from the K400, including a built-in touchpad, plug-and-play connectivity, and long range wireless. The suggested retail price for this white version is set at $39.99.

Nokia Lumia 820 takes to the skies with Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines aims to create a more streamlined method for on-board payments and passenger interaction by providing over 19,000 flight attendants with Nokia Lumia 820 devices. The Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone comes with an Avanade point of sale (POS) system that runs on the Microsoft Dynamics for Retail mobile point-of-sale platform and AT&T’s 4G LTE network. It allows flight attendants to handle almost real-time credit card processing for things like on-board purchases as well as seating upgrades. They can even email eReceipts to passengers. 

Aside from already offering a Fly Delta app for Nokia Lumia and other Windows Phone devices, Delta wants to develop the service with the ability to read coupons on customer’s smartphones and give the flight attendants essential customer-specific information through their Lumias to help create a more personalized service for each passenger.

Source: Conversations by Nokia