Microsoft looks to buy your tablet or smartphone for up to $250

Updated on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 3:21PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Looking to buy a new Microsoft device or a Surface 2, specifically? The Redmond, Washington-based technology company is offering to buy your tablet or smartphone for up to $250. But that amount will only be usable at the Microsoft Store. The offer is valid until March 2, 2014 or “while supplies last.” You can also only avail the promo at select Microsoft retail stores in Canada and the US (including Puerto Rico). If you want to find a store near you, here’s a link to check out.

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Paper app CEO urges Facebook to rename story-telling app

On more Facebook-related news, Facebook is being asked by a mobile app developer FiftyThree to rename its recently launched Paper app in the US only. The company’s CEO Georg Petschnigg wrote on FiftyThree’s blog to ask Facebook to “stop using our brand name.” The developer launched a pretty popular app in the App Store called Paper back in 2012.

While Facebook apologized for the confusion, Petschnigg still believes the social network should change its new iOS app’s name. “We think Facebook can apply the same degree of thought they put into the app into building a brand name of their own. An app about stories shouldn’t start with someone else’s story.”

Facebook reminisces with you on 10th anniversary

Facebook will be marking its 10^th anniversary tomorrow, February 4, and the social network hopes to share the milestone with you. The company is introducing “A Look Back” feature that will go live tomorrow. It shows you a personalized collection of photos or clips of the biggest moments you’ve had since you joined the site.

At the moment, there are over 1.2 billion monthly active users on the site with 19 million users from Canadians monthly and 14 million daily. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement that he the community continues to grow and develop in the coming years: “It's been amazing to see how people have used Facebook to build a real community and help each other in so many ways. In the next decade, we have the opportunity and responsibility to connect everyone and to keep serving the community as best we can.”

Microsoft’s new Super Bowl ad sets out to touch hearts

Microsoft isn’t particularly known for releasing touching advertisements that try marry technology with humanity. That seems to be more Apple’s territory. But their new ad for the Super Bowl seems to have hit a good spot. The new ad features the voice of former NFL safety Steve Gleason, who is suffering from ALS. (He has a longer video from Microsoft here.) Microsoft has set out to explain how technology helps different kinds of people get through life and experience the world around them.

Source: CNET