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Steven Sinofsky

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Episode 21: Unboxing Google's Nexus 4 phone and Nexus 10 tablet

It's an unboxing extravaganza: Molly Wood unwraps the new Google Nexus devices, Microsoft's hottest smartphones, plus Jeff Cannata tortures -- and we mean tortures -- the Microsoft Surface tablet by riding it like a skateboard.

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Torture testing the Microsoft Surface tablet

Jeff Cannata puts the new Microsoft Surface tablet through a series of crazy torture tests, from cooking an egg on it, to using it as a skateboard. See if it can survive!

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<p>Welcome to CNET's 2012 Tech Turkeys, from a hyped startup that’s gone nowhere fast to a national intellectual property system that's crushing American innovation. We start you with the guys who brought us Napster so many years ago: <p><b>10. Sean Parker's AirTime</b></p> <p>We promised ourselves we wouldn't start this with a "You know what’s cool?" joke about Sean Parker's dismally disappointing AirTime. But we admit to that being painfully difficult. AirTime, in case you forgot, and let's face it, most people already have, was Parker and Shawn Fanning's PG-rated answer to Chatroulette, the chat service.</p> <p>AirTime opened in June with a <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57447602-93/sean-parkers-airtime-not-ready-for-prime-time/" >celebrity-infused, but buggy, press conference</a> demonstration, with big names such as Jim Carrey and Alicia Keys. It was a classic, how-these-things-work-these-days moment for tech: lots of sizzle but not a whole lot of steak. (Insert your own metaphor: more smoke than fire, more bark than bite, all hat and no cattle, etc.).</p> <p>And then very few people used AirTime. Parker said at the D conference in October that his site had just 10,000 active users. Fanning no longer has a day-to-day role in the company, and Parker is terribly busy serving on six different boards. Still, he assured his audience that Airtime will be "transforming communications."</p> <p>We're looking forward to that.</p>

CNET’s Tech Turkeys of 2012 (pictures)

As CNET gives thanks this year, we look back at some of the stories we'd rather forget -- the Tech Turkeys of 2012, a memorable list of gobblers, gaffes, and fibs.

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Microsoft shakes up Windows leadership (week in review)

Software giant loses longtime Windows boss Steven Sinofsky, while Apple loses a patent foe. Also: Embarrassing e-mail goes to Washington.

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Sinofsky: I never tried to take over Windows Phone division

The former Microsoft Windows boss responded to charges that he tried to make over the company's Windows Phone division, as well as its developer business.

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LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman poses questions to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Ballmer praises Sinofsky, promises aggressive innovation

During a Churchill Club discussion, Microsoft's CEO offers observations on his former lieutenant and on Windows 8, as well as Apple and Google.

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Reid Hoffman and Steve Ballmer in conversation, Nov. 14, 2012 (Credit: Charles Cooper/CNET)

Ballmer praises Sinofsky's 'amazing contributions,' sheds no light on exit

"Steven has made one of most amazing contributions anybody will ever make to any company in terms of guiding key activities and engineering systems," Ballmer said.

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Microsoft's Andy Lees is now the company's head of corporate development and strategy.

Microsoft's mobile guru Andy Lees nabs a promotion

One of the software giant's head honchos changes gears, going from working with Windows Phone and Windows 8 to becoming the company's head of corporate development and strategy.

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Keeping score at Microsoft (graphic)

Windows chief Steve Sinofsky is out and the rumor mill's buzzing with speculation about what's next for CEO Steve Ballmer and Microsoft. Here's a handy cheat sheet to help you stay on top of the story.

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Steven Sinofsky talks up Microsoft's Surface tablet at the company's unveiling event at Chelsea Piers in New York.

Ballmer decided Windows chief Sinofsky was too divisive

Details of what led to to the abrupt departure of the man who delivered Windows 8 are still trickling out. But sources say Microsoft's CEO knew he had to make a change.

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Microsoft, Apple, and the demise of the take-no-prisoners exec

commentary Windows chief Steven Sinofksy and iOS software chief Scott Forstall are being replaced by more collaborative executives. But don't discount the contributions of the hard case.

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Microsoft shares down 3 percent in early trading

The company's shareholders are getting their first chance to respond to the news of Windows boss Steven Sinofsky's departure.

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