For years, tech influencers and bloggers have been accused of being blindly in love with Apple. These men and women live to gush about Apple products and bash Microsoft and others in the process. So it was remarkable to observe the tech influencers this week in their near unanimous approval of Microsoft’s new operating system. This headline on msnbc.com stopped me cold: Windows 8 Does What Apple Doesn’t. new interface that Microsoft says embodies simplicity and gives you control. It states that this age group is leading the growth of social on mobile. MORE >>

Contrary to popular perception, Microsoft is one of the most revolutionary software-makers out there, yet it has been eclipsed by Apple , Google and others. Its social search feature is good, but needs improvement and I love its Twitter map, when it works. Google is also moving incredibly quickly on social search, aided by wins with Google Plus and +1s and I can see the beginnings of change to my search behaviour as a result. Microsoft is on the right track, but it needs to show users exactly what to do with its product. Not so with Microsoft. Yahoo! MORE >>

Did you hear that Google launched a social network called Google+? In the past, Google took a stab at social by purchasing Orkut. Kinda seems like Google is the Elizabeth Taylor of the social world, doesn’t it? Given those four trips down the social aisle, and the fact that employee bonuses are tied to getting social right this year, it’s pretty clear Google is borderline obsessed about social. When we use Google+, we are creating data, all of which is within the Google network. That’s why it is so critical that Google get social right. MORE >>

For some, it's easy to write off Facebook as the online social network du jour. This article article pits Apple , Google , Amazon and Facebook against one another. Beyond a world where Microsoft doesn't even make it to the final four, it may appear (on the surface) that Facebook just snuck into this list against those behemoths. and huge mitigating factor in making purchasing decisions revolves around our social circles. apple. microsoft. online social network. social circle. This would be a mistake. Why Facebook Will Win. MORE >>

Fifteen years ago, America’s most-admired brands were those with the biggest marketing budgets: GE, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Microsoft. Today, the brands everyone wants to emulate are Apple, BMW, Southwest Airlines and Harley-Davidson. advertising communities influence Social Media social networks business 2.0 Scott Wright is the general manager of the Wyndham Wingate Hotel in Erlanger, KY, and in a 15-minute ride to the airport yesterday morning he taught me something about the future of business. Customer service is number two. MORE >>