SEATTLE (Reuters) – Boeing Co handed over the first passenger version of its upgraded and extended 747 to a secret VIP customer, who sent the gleaming, all-white plane along to a modification center to transform it into the “jewel of the sky.”

The delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental – Boeing’s largest and most recognizable commercial airplane – caps a development delay of more than a year.

Feb 28 (Reuters) – Boeing Co on Tuesday handed
over the first passenger version of its upgraded 747 to a secret
VIP customer, who sent the plane along to a modification center
to transform it into the “jewel of the sky.”

The delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental – Boeing’s
largest and most recognizable commercial airplane – caps a
development delay of more than a year.

SEATTLE, Feb 28 (Reuters) – For Steven Sinofsky, the
stern but creative engineering manager who runs Microsoft Corp’s
flagship Windows division, Feb. 29 is showtime.

On that day, in Barcelona, Sinofsky will preside over the
public test release of the Windows 8 operating system, the most
important new version of Microsoft’s cornerstone product in a
decade. Optimized for touch computing and low-power
microprocessors, Windows 8 will run on tablets as well as
desktops and laptops – and maybe even on phones in the future.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp’s fiscal second-quarter profit fell very slightly as lagging computer sales to cash-strapped consumers in the United States and Europe hurt its core Windows business.

Companies and emerging markets are still hungry for new PCs, according to the latest data, but customers in mature markets are ditching their Windows-powered netbooks in favor of Apple Inc’s iPad, Amazon.com Inc’s Kindle or postponing a PC purchase until the economy improves.

SEATTLE, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on
Thursday fiscal second-quarter profit fell very slightly, as
lower computer sales hurt its core Windows business.

The world’s largest software company reported net profit of
$6.624 billion, or 78 cents per share, compared with $6.634
billion, or 77 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp is starting the new year much as it did the one just ended – grappling with weak computer sales tearing a hole in its core Windows business, while it gropes its way slowly into the faster-growing mobile phone and tablet markets.

Shares of the world’s largest software company are pretty much where they were a year ago too, and few expect much to change after the latest results are announced on Thursday.

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – This year’s Consumer Electronics Show turned out to be the largest on record, despite a slow economy and what many industry pundits agree is a dearth of genuine scene-stealers.

But as with most years, avid – and hardy – attendees can always find a few gems that stand out from the inevitable tidal wave of headphones, Internet-enabled home appliances and gadget casings.

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – This year’s Consumer Electronics Show turned out to be the largest on record, despite a slow economy and what many industry pundits agree is a dearth of genuine scene-stealers.

But as with most years, avid – and hardy – attendees can always find a few gems that stand out from the inevitable tidal wave of headphones, Internet-enabled home appliances and gadget casings.

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – This year’s Consumer Electronics Show turned out to be the largest on record, despite a slow economy and what many industry pundits agree is a dearth of genuine scene-stealers.

But as with most years, avid – and hardy – attendees can always find a few gems that stand out from the inevitable tidal wave of headphones, Internet-enabled home appliances and gadget casings.