Summary: Microsoft's failings with Xbox 360, lobbying in China, former employees who enter the government, and the dangerous attempts to conquer public records

"XBOX 360" is a failure and in China -- one of Microsoft's few international allies -- this console is banned too (maybe for safety reasons, but not the RRoDs).

As we already know from search, Microsoft relies on the suppressive regime in China to give Bong [sic] a boost [1, 2]. It's the same with Windows and apparently with Xbox 360. Microsoft wants preferential treatment.

The decision to allow the legal sale of Microsoft's games console will involve acquiring approval from "several government bureaus".

Although it is still unclear why consoles are banned, a Niko Partners researcher recently said that the government felt that this action would prevent the youth from wasting their mind.

Microsoft also wants the US government to give its data to Microsoft datacentres, despite the known dangers (the monopolist is using the Fog computing hype, for which there is a lot of empty PR and advertising these days, sometimes from Microsoft blogs). Microsoft's fan press, the Seattle Times, also writes about government these days. It is playing 'lobbyist' for Microsoft staff to run the political system more than it already does (e.g. for avoiding tax):

DIFFICULT times call for more than a capable caretaker of a political seat. The 8th Congressional District needs a representative with vision, a sharp grasp of the issues and the ability to lead. The task is considerable.

[...]

DelBene has not held public office and has a spotty voting record, but her résumé is a narrative of leadership and vision. She was vice president for mobile communications at Microsoft and played key roles in leading two technology companies, drugstore.com and Nimble Technology. Most recently, DelBene worked with a nonprofit group that supports microfinance in Latin America.

Dillon has held senior management positions at Expedia and Microsoft. Differences mark the two candidates. Dillon would extend tax cuts made by the Bush administration set to expire later this year. DelBene would let them expire.

Watch the latest step (among many involving lobbyists that Microsoft hired from the government) taken by Microsoft to take over US healthcare:

Adding to Microsoft's growing presence in the clinical trial business, contract researcher PPD says it's working with the software giant on a solution for managing REMS programs. The partners have agreed on a joint implementation based on Microsoft's data aggregation platform--the Amalga Unified Intelligence System--and HealthVault, a personal health application platform.

It is not "a personal health application platform"; it is exactly the opposite. It's about shifting power from the person to Microsoft applications. ⬆