Download Beta VLC Player for Winodws - 8 & Windows 8 RT

VLC now available for Windows 8 one of the best multimedia players has finally come to Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT. A few hours ago that they have posted on the official blog announcing a beta version, but perfectly functional.

VLC for Windows 8 development has been paid thanks to a round of funding on Kickstarter that got nearly $80,000. The application is tailored to the interface ModernUI that characterized the new generation of Windows and can be downloaded directly from the app store.

The usual VLC in other systems notice less fluid than usual operation and some minor problems to work with subtitles, while taking into account that we are talking about a beta, developers work is more than notable. A year later, Windows 8 users can now enjoy great VLC. this is given in VLC's one of the blogpost

Today, the first Beta of VLC for WinRT is getting deployed on the store.

As many of you know, the road to come to this point has been long... Very long.

I've been driving or helping some ports of VLC on mobile, but this port has been the hardest, by an order of magnitude.

I'll speak a bit more about the lateness of this port, another time. Today, I'll introduce a bit to this application.

Features

This application, version 0.2.0, is a BETA stage of the port of libVLC on WinRT. WinRT is the runtime of Windows 8/8.1 Metro/ModernUI, Windows Phone 8 and Xbox 1.

As this is a beta, some features are still not perfectly stable, but we are working on that. We thought we should share it with the users, so that people could test and help us.

This application:

• works on Windows 8.0 and 8.1: too many people are still on 8.0, so we had to use that. This decreases the stability of the application, though...
• is compiled for Intel x86 CPUs: Windows RT version will follow as soon as we are able to compile it. ARM version will also apply to Windows Phone.
• plays all video and audio formats of VLC, including MKV, Ogg and Mov files or FLAC and MPC;
• supports the same codecs as the VLC application for desktop, from MPEG-1 to H.265, through WMV3 and VC-1;
• supports multiple-audio tracks selection;
• supports embedded subtitles;
• supports Background Audio playback;
• features a easy-to-navigate but complete UI, notably for audio browsing;
• supports Live Tiles!
• supports removable storage and DLNA servers.

However, there are a few limitations:

• This app is currently slow, and is slower than VLC for desktop for video decoding and has no hardware acceleration;
• Subtitles support is not very good yet, and notably it only supports embedded subtitles; this is our major point of focus for now.
• Audio does not seem to work in all configurations;
• Playlists and streams are not supported in the UI (they are present in the core)
• It's clearly not as stable as it should be.

We are working on all those points, but notably on subtitles and audio quality and stability. Since we now have a release, it will be easier to do releases quite often, as soon as we can.

We also have longer terms goal to work on, and we'll share them when we know more 

We hope you like this application, and if you don't, we'll fix that soon  

Download :

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Microsoft to employ Halo voice actress for Siri rival, and also to to bring Cortana voice-assistant with Windows Phone 8.1 in April .report says

Jen Taylor, who played the role of AI character Cortana in the Halo video game series, will reportedly be the voice for Microsoft's personal assistant, set for a beta release on Lumia devices in April.

Video game fans became giddy last fall upon hearing that Microsoft was developing a Siri competitor for Windows Phone code-named Cortana, after the AI companion of protagonist Master Chief in the Halo series. Now, it looks like Microsoft is going all in on that sci-fi vision for its personal assistant: Jen Taylor, the actress who played Cortana, is onboard to become the voice behind the information service, Microsoft blog MSFTnerd reported Thursday.

Little else has been dug up regarding the progress of the Cortana project or its arrival other than that it would likely come in one form or another with Windows Phone 8.1 sometime in early 2014. MSFTnerd is claiming as much, slating a Cortana beta launch on Lumia devices for this April, which coincides with Microsoft's annual Build conference in San Francisco.

MSFTnerd is also saying that Cortana will make its way to the Bing app for iPhone this fall and American Xbox One and Windows users in 2015 with the release of Windows Threshold, Microsoft's next-generation OS currently in the works.

With the rise of personal assistants like Siri and more ambitious plans to weave them into much more than our phones -- as Google is doing with Google Now -- it's no wonder Microsoft is trying to differentiate its service with a pop-culture staple and a commitment to making it as true-to-the-original as possible.

And with films like Spike Jonze's "Her" popularizing the notion that our personal computing futures will be abound in human-like AI companions, a personal assistant with a distinct name, recognizable voice (at least to gamers), and well-developed personality thanks to multiple Halo releases has an undeniably cool factor. While it may not create an excess of Windows Phone converts, it will certainly influence the AI landscape if it does in fact arrive soon on desktops andtablets with Windows Threshold.

Earlier this month -- when Microsoft announced that the Xbox One had surpassed 3 million units in sales -- it omitted Halo when discussing upcoming Xbox One titles to celebrate. That caused many fans to bemoan the wait for what is presumably Halo 5, a flagship Xbox One title that currently has one ambiguous trailer, shown last May, to its name. A Microsoft PR spokesperson quickly confirmed that Halo would in fact be arriving by the end of the year.

As the Cortana personal assistant is built out, and most likely retains that moniker from code-named beta to full-fledged service, we can only assume that the Halo series and its iconic characters will become an even larger cornerstone of Microsoft's greater voice and AI efforts in 2014. Though for those privy to the Halo universe and the nature of Cortana's character, it will surely be interesting to see how Microsoft juggles the rollout of its service alongside this new Halo release and its potential plot points.

Additional information has reportedly been revealed about Microsoft's rumoured voice-assistant expected to act as Siri's counterpart in Windows Phones - Cortana.

According to MFSTNerd, the Twitter handle of a purported Microsoft source, the proposed voice-assistant is said to reach Nokia Lumia models by April this year and will be voiced by Halo's Jen Taylor, who is the voice behind the game's artificial intelligence (AI) character, Cortana.

Microsoft has been rumoured to be working on its voice-assistant feature since September, based on the character of the firm's own published gaming title.

The rumoured app made its first appearance back in September 2013, when screenshots of an early Windows  Phone build leaked online, listed as 'zCortana'. Reports by The Verge also showed some screenshots of Cortana which indicated that the service will offer weather information, notifications, and calendar, in addition to alarms and phone calls. The screenshots also indicated that the app will be location-aware, as well.

It has been also speculated that Cortana might arrive with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS for smartphones. Last month's report revealed that the Redmond-based company is gearing up to ship itsupcoming Windows  Phone 8.1 with two new features - a notification centre that can be accessed by swiping down from top of the screen, just like Android and iOS, apart from a voice-based assistant believed to be codenamed 'Cortana'.

It's worth pointing out that Windows  Phone already offers the TellMe voice-based assistant, although it's nowhere close to Apple's Siri or Google Now in terms of functionality and accuracy. It is yet to see what Cortana has in store for the Windows  Phone users.

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Download Microsoft Security essential antivirus [ 32 -bit / 64 bit ] 4.4.304 version free download with Vista,Windows-Xp,7,8 supported

Go to Down for Download buttons

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It's easy to tell if your PC is secure - when you're green, you're good. It's that simple.
Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want - without interruptions or long computer wait times.

As optimizing Microsoft Security Essentials without making too much noise (it is clear that any other strategy had put in check the great actors of the computer security market) Microsoft Security Essentials has become the favorite security solution for millions of users, who appreciate their effectiveness, performance non-intrusive and, of course, which is free.

No doubt us that a reasons for the success of the solution from Microsoft is a very content consumption of resources, an aspect that is still important for most veteran teams. Below we offer some simple tricks to further optimize its operation without losing one iota of security:

Opens MSE, configuration, change the date and time by default for analysis by other know that you will have the computer on (e.g. at lunchtime or before starting work).

Without leaving tab configuration, it limits the CPU usage value to a maximum of 10%. The analysis will take a little more to complete but you can continue using your usual applications without losing so much performance.

You can access the Windows Task Manager and locate process msseces.exe. By clicking with the right button you can assign a lower priority, leaving more resources for the rest of your system uses. We recommend to try it, and if you notice one improves evident, use programs such as Prio to make the change permanently (by default only applies for that session).

Make sure you have marked the option to start the exam scheduled only when my computer is turned on but not in use.

Disables the sending of reports with MAPS marking the option do not wish to join MAPS. In certain scenarios it may cause application crashes or a running slower than expected when it is not possible to send the report.

It excludes some locations to accelerate the analysis, such as additional hard drives for backups or folders where you store multimedia content. It is important that you assume that those directories will not be scanned or will be protected with the detection engine in real time.

Occasionally some applications can create conflicts with the antivirus. Check the configuration of your P2P software and, of course, never install more than one antivirus on the same computer.

Security Essentials 4.4.304 Vista 64-bit  :- 

click here : 

Security Essentials 4.4.304 Vista :- 

click here : 

Security Essentials 4.4.304 XP :-

click here : 

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Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 launched: Brings improved rendering, speed

Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) for Windows 7 users, and it is available globally in 95 languages. Windows 7 customers will receive the update automatically in the coming weeks, starting with those already running the IE11 Developer and Release Previews. The new browser from Microsoft has been available to Windows 8.1 users since its launch last month.

Announcing the release on a blog post, the Redmond giant emphasises the speed improvements in IE11, and instead of quoting synthetic benchmark scores, calls it 30 percent faster than competing Windows 7 browsers for loading and rendering real world Web sites. On Windows 7, IE11 is 9 percent faster than IE10 according to Microsoft.

IE11 is also said to make common browsing activities faster, with improved algorithms for faster access to frequent sites, and enhanced in-form editing controls to preserve formatting from Office and other apps.

Microsoft claims IE11 has improved JavaScript performance, with the new Chakra JIT compiler, and more efficient garbage collection. The company also claims IE11 reduces CPU usage, thereby improving battery life on mobile PCs.

Improved support for HTML5 and other standards (such as ECMAScript 6 and Internationalization API (version 1.0)) according to gives IE11 users a better Web application experience, even without plug-ins (such as HTML5 video).

IE11 is said to also support the latest standards for closed captioning, bandwidth-optimized streaming, and rights management. According to Microsoft, IE11 brings support for over 25 new or improved Web standards, adding to what IE10 supported.

Microsoft is also emphasising IE11's improved hardware-accelerated 3D Web graphics, with better WebGL optimization. According to the company, IE11 scans for unsafe WebGL content, and uses a software renderer to complement the GPU. Graphics subsystem failures will supposedly now also not result in fatal occurrences, with WebGL continuing to run.
The company is also stressing on how IE11 is interoperable with existing sites, and how Compatibility View is still supported. 

New F12 developer tools have also been detailed by Microsoft, and will supposedly help in iterative, visual debugging and tuning of Web sites, apart from modern.IE-based cross-browser testing. More details can be found here. Do also check out the video, detailing the broad-level changes on the browser:

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How to use the Windows 8, Windows Defender anti-virus program and it's small info details

Tips, tricks and configuration to have safe equipment using the Windows 8, the version of Microsoft Security Essentials anti-malware program. How to create shortcuts and buttons for easy access to the program, update and revise files or folders.

In Windows 8, it is not necessary to install a virus on the computer.
It is the first version of Windows that includes an application antivirus and anti-malware, called Windows Defender, but truly it is Microsoft Security Essentials, an application that you can download free to install it on versions such as Windows 7 or XP.
Essentials or defend as opposed to many other antivirus is fast, lightweight, and efficient without detrimental performance or the performance of the system.
It is not perfect, but it is a good choice and prevents us from having to install additional software on your computer, however is our decision to use any other antivirus in addition.

As does Windows Defender?

Windows Defender runs in the background (background) without having need for any manual action.
Includes real-time protection or that the program constantly monitors all activity on the system.
To open a folder in the Explorer program reviews its content previously.
In the case of folders with many files, if we notice any delay is due to the antivirus that will not display it until not complete its review.
The program is also aware of the activity of programs and applications and displays notifications on any unusual activity by effectively blocking it.
It is possible to do a manual at any time review whether a test fast, full, or just a folder or directory.
It is also possible to schedule regular check-ups.
The program checks the compressed files.

Recommended configuration of Windows Defender

There are just a few the settings that we need to review to ensure we have our team with optimum protection.
You start the program and open the "Settings" tab.

1. Ensure that the box is checked: "Enable real-time protection".
2. In advanced is recommended to check the following:
✓ Examine archive (compressed) files
✓ Consider removable drives (memory and USB devices)
✓ Create a restore point

Notifications of Windows Defender

Windows Defender does not have any icon in the notifications area, notices or messages are displayed in the center of actions (flag icon) icon.
If you had a cross in his circle indicates that something is wrong, just click to read the messages.
Update Windows Defender

Windows Defender is updated automatically when it detects that there is a connection to the network and that this outdated database.
It is also possible to update it manually using the Refresh button of the application.
It is possible to download a package with the entire database of Microsoft, where we use the antivirus on a computer that does not have internet access.
It is also possible to copy files from a computer to another.

How to check files, folders and USB devices with Windows Defender?

Although Windows Defender runs automatically and always displays notifications to detect any problem, any file, folder or device connected to the computer by hand, can be reviewed manually to be convinced that there is no danger.
For that in the main window of the program mark the checkbox "Custom" in exam options and press the button "Review now".
Navigate to the location of the object to check.

How to open the window of Windows Defender?

There are several ways to open the antivirus window, the main is to use the Windows Defender icon in the control Panel, which can be opened using the Windows key + I + Enter.
Also if gonna it do often can create a shortcut in the home, on the desktop screen or have it in the right mouse menu.

Create a shortcut on the screen to Windows Defender

Use the keys Windows + Q, writes to defend.
A right click on the application icon and in the bottom bar select: "Anchor to home".
Create a shortcut on the desktop to Windows Defender

A click on the desktop and choose new shortcut->
The route enters: "%programfiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui. exe"

Windows Defender in the right mouse menu

Windows Defender in Windows 8 unlike other antivirus programs, does not add any extensions to the Shell, i.e. it is not possible to give a right click with the mouse on a file and have the option to review it with the antivirus.
Any operation that we need to do with the antivirus either review a file, do a test on the computer, the application update or revise history, must inevitably open control Panel previously.
Although you can create a shortcut on the desktop or in the start screen the ideal is to add the main program options to the context menu.
It is accomplished by running a script which adds the required values.
After running it by giving a right click on the desktop, the following options will be available:

• Open - Opens the window of the anti-virus.
• Configuration - Directly opens the settings window
• Update - Starts the manual update of database from Microsoft
• Update quick review - It starts the update process and at the end made a quick test
• ExamenRapido - Starts a quick review of the equipment
• ExamenCompleto - Starts a full examination of the equipment

Download the script to your computer, unzip the file that you download (right click-> Extract here).
Inside you will find two files:

• WindowsDefenderEntradas.reg – It gives two clicks to create entries in the right-click menu.
• WindowsDefenderEntradasEliminar.reg – It gives two clicks to delete the created entries.


http://uploaded.net/file/8dtrbogo  [ if this download Link break's notify me i will help you to update it ]

How to avoid that Windows Defender to remove files?

Windows Defender to scan regularly team can delete dangerous files, but also others that is considered illegal in the Microsoft database.
Among them are the keys, key and crack used to activate Windows and other programs or applications.
If you have some of them stored it is necessary to compress them with WinRar or 7z and assign a password to the file created.
Know the files deleted and reviewed by Windows Defender

Notifications showing sometimes program antivirus, may go unnoticed if we are performing some task.
If you need to check the files reviewed by the program and deleted, we can use the history window to know exactly that he has done in a period of time.
That way we can know the threats blocked and deleted files from our team. 

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Microsoft introduces the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets

Microsoft has just introduced the second generation of electronic tablets marketed under its own brand, with two models on sale according to architecture, 2 Surface and Surface Pro 2, accompanied by a good number of new accessories to complement in New York.

I was singing and the event programmed by Microsoft was intended for the presentation of its new electronic Tablet Surface 2, improved in various aspects of hardware and software updated with the 'Blue' treatment or what is the same, with the update Windows 8.1 RT and Pro versions respectively.

Few news can tell you because almost all the forecasts that we spoke of this morning have been met. There will be Mini Surface (for now) and if two models with different ARM architecture and x 86 which come to renew the current Surface RT and Surface Pro and that you list your main specifications: (Surface 2)

Display: Multi-touch IPS 10.6 inches - resolution 1920 x 1080 pixelsProcessor: SoC Tegra 4 1.7 GHz NVIDIARAM: 2 GBStorage: 32/64 GBConnectivity: Wi-Fi, BT 4.0, USB 3.0, MicroSDXC, GPSCameras: Front 3.5 MP and rear 5 MP with 1080 p video recordingSensors: Accelerometer, gyroscopeAutonomy: 10 hours of video playbackOS: Windows 8.1 RT

Surface 2 hit the market on October 22 in two versions with 32 and 64 Gbytes of storage capacity for 499 to 599 dollars respectively. Their availability will cover 22 selected countries (including Spain) and through the store online Microsoft Store and also in the retail channel. Surface 2 will include a copy of Microsoft Office 2013 RT with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. 
(Surface Pro 2)

Display: Multi-touch IPS 10.6 inches - resolution 1920 x 1080 pixelsProcessor: Intel Haswell Core i5-4200U -RAM: 4 or 8 GBStorage: 64/128/256/512 GBConnectivity: Wi-Fi, BT 4.0, USB 3.0, MicroSDXC, GPSCameras: front and rear 720 pSensors: Accelerometer, gyroscopeAutonomy: 10 hours of video playbackOS: Windows 8.1 Pro

Surface Pro 2 will reach the market on 22 October in versions with 64, 128, 256 and 512 Gbytes of storage capacity and respective prices of 899, 999, 1299 and $1799. Their availability will cover 22 selected countries (including Spain) and through the store online Microsoft Store and also in the retail channel. Surface Pro 2 included in the price a stylus with 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as free calls with Skype and storage space in SkyDrive.



As you can see, the forecasts are met and Microsoft maintain screen sizes, improves the resolution of the RT, the base of both hardware and updated systems. In terms of prices, the new models are somewhat more expensive than the current but cheaper than at its launch a year ago. 


Another point of interest of the Surface have been new accessories that have been presented for the tablets, from docking stations, covers, connectors keyboards in good number.

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Microsoft hasReleased Preview of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 SP1 and higher

Microsoft has made available the Release Preview of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7, the next iteration of its web browser which is also part of Windows 8.1, the company's upcoming update to its Windows 8 operating system.

LINK :- [ MICROSOFT ] --» http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie-11-release-preview


It's worth pointing out that the final version of the browser will be available later this year.

According to Microsoft, the Release Preview of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 includes performance improvements making it 30 percent faster than other browsers, and includes updates to support the latest Web standards, and developer tools improvements in response to feedback on the Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7, which was made available in July.

The reimagined web

Explore amazing new websites built in collaboration with Internet Explorer. From the slopes of Mount Everest to the stunning world of Contre Jour, experience the beauty of the web in Internet Explorer.

At the time of unveiling the Developer Preview version of IE11 for Windows 7, Microsoft had said that the browser offers the same improved performance, faster page load times, new standards support for next generation sites, and completely revised F12 developer tools, that the browser's Windows 8.1 version offers.

According to Microsoft, IE11 is the first browser to natively decode JPG images in realtime via the GPU (Graphics processor), allowing web pages to load faster and use less memory, whilst reducing power consumption and improving battery life of devices. IE11 also boasts of being the first browser to render text on the GPU.

Microsoft also claims that the updated version of Internet Explorer is the first browser to implement the W3C Resource Priorities standard allowing developers to specify which parts of the page are important and need to be loaded first. It also supports HTML5 link prefetching and pre-rendering, letting developers guide the browser anticipate where users are expected to go next and get those pages ready.

The browser brings some under the hood changes including support for hardware accelerated 3D web graphics with support for WebGL. It also supports plug-in free HTML5 video and the latest standards for closed captioning, adaptive streaming, wherein the quality of the video is adjusted depending on the available bandwidth, and rights management.

Microsoft has also made improvements to its JavaScript engine, Chakra, with Internet Explorer 11.

The Redmond giant claims that on Windows 7, Internet Explorer 11 Release Preview is 9 percent faster than Internet Explorer 10, which is a 5 percent improvement from the Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview.

IE11 also features a completely overhauled suite of in-browser F12 developer tools. These tools help Web developers diagnose and optimize their apps quickly and efficiently, as per Microsoft.

The browser's Windows 8.1 avatar offers additional features optimised for touchscreens including  swipe gestures for going forward and back and supports Windows 8.1's side by side mode allowing users to browse two websites on different instances of the browser on one screen. It also includes a sync tab feature that lets users continue browsing the same websites on different devices using their Microsoft credentials. This feature is not available on the browser's Windows 7 version. 

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Microsoft swallows Nokia's handset business for $7.2 billion with all purchases of the main assets of Nokia including mobile business

Two years after hitching its fate to Microsoft's Windows Phone software, Nokia collapsed into the arms of the U.S. software giant on Tuesday, agreeing to sell its main handset business for 5.44 billion euros.

Nokia, once the world's dominant handset maker, has failed to close a yawning lead opened up by Apple and Samsung in the highly competitive market for smartphones and will now concentrate on its networking equipment unit, navigation business and technology patents.

Nokia's Canadian boss Stephen Elop, who ran Microsoft's business software division before jumping to Nokia in 2010, will return to the U.S. firm as head of its mobile devices business - a Trojan horse, according to disgruntled Finnish media.

He is being discussed as a possible replacement for Microsoft's retiring CEO Steve Ballmer, who is trying to remake the U.S. firm into a gadget and services company like Apple before he departs, though it has fallen short so far in its attempts to compete in mobile devices.

"It's very clear to me that rationally this is the right step going forward," Elop told reporters, though he added he also felt "a great deal of sadness" over the outcome.

"I feel sadness because inevitably we are changing Nokia and what it stands for," he said.

In three years under Elop, Nokia saw its market share collapse and its share price shrivel.

In 2011, after writing a memo that said Nokia lacked the in-house technology and needed to jump off a "burning platform", Elop made the controversial decision to use Microsoft's Windows Phone for smartphones, rather than Nokia's own software or Google's ubiquitous Android operating system.

Nokia, which had 40 percent of the handset market in 2007, now has just 15 percent, and only 3 percent in smartphones.

Shares in Nokia surged around 35 percent to 4.01 euros by late Tuesday. While up from their decade-low of 1.33 euros hit last year, they are still only a fraction of their 2000 peak of 65 euros.

After today's gains the whole company is worth about 15 billion euros, a far cry from its glory days when it reached over 200 billion euros.

Tuesday's deal includes an agreement to license Nokia's patent portfolio for 10 years. Without it, Nokia's devices and services business would have been worth about 3.7 billion euros, the companies said.

Microsoft shares fell 6 percent to $31.40 in early U.S. trade.

GRAPHIC - Nokia's numbers: http://link.reuters.com/sus72v

Interactive look at Nokia : http://link.reuters.com/guz42t

GRAPHIC: Microsoft's share price foundered under Ballmer http://link.reuters.com/cyd62v

SOLD FOR "PEANUTS"

While some investors have credited Elop for bringing urgency to Nokia, which has stepped up its pace of product development in recent months and is due to announce a "phablet"-type large-screen handset this month, his legacy will be a bitter one for Finland. The company, which began life as a paper mill and has sold an eclectic range from television sets to rubber boots in its 148-year history, was a national champion in its heyday, accounting for 16 percent of all exports.

Hired by former chairman Jorma Ollila, Elop was the first foreigner to lead it.

For many Finns, the fact that a former Microsoft executive had come to Nokia, bet the firm's future on an alliance with Microsoft, laid off about 40,000 worldwide and then delivered it into Microsoft's hands, was a galling snub to national pride.

"Jorma Ollila brought a Trojan horse to Nokia," a column in widely read tabloid Ilta-Sanoma said.

"As a Finnish person, I cannot like this deal. It ends one chapter in this Nokia story," said Juha Varis, Danske Capital's senior portfolio manager, whose fund owns Nokia shares. "On the other hand, it was maybe the last opportunity to sell it."

Varis was one of many investors critical of Elop's decision to bet Nokia's future in smartphones on Microsoft's Windows Phone software, which was praised by tech reviewers but hasn't found the momentum to challenge the market leaders.

"So this is the outcome: the whole business for 5 billion euros. That's peanuts compared to its history," he said.

Alexander Stubb, Finland's Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, said on his Twitter account: "For a lot of us Finns, including myself, Nokia phones are part of what we grew up with. Many first reactions to the deal will be emotional."

Nokia's new interim CEO Risto Siilasmaa painted a picture of just how grudgingly the call to sell had been arrived at, describing how the board had met almost 50 times after the approach by Microsoft around February.

Ballmer, at a news conference in the Finnish capital, sought to assuage fears the deal would hit jobs in the Nordic country and said Microsoft would build on the recent growth of Nokia's flagship Lumia smartphones.

Nokia said it expected around 32,000 people of its roughly 90,000 worldwide staff would transfer to Microsoft, including about 4,700 who will transfer in Finland.

PIVOTAL FOR MICROSOFT

It is also a pivotal moment for Microsoft, which still has huge revenues from its Windows computer operating system, Office suite of business software and the X-Box game console, but has failed so far to set up a profitable mobile device business.

Microsoft's own mobile gadget, the Surface tablet, has sold tepidly since it was launched last year.

"It's a bold step into the future - a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies," Ballmer said. "Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft's share and profits in phones and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services."

The move leaves the Finnish company with Nokia Solutions and Networks, which competes with the likes of Ericsson and Huawei in telecoms equipment, as well as a navigation business and a broad portfolio of patents.

The Nokia deal thrusts Microsoft deeper into the hotly contested mobile phone market, despite some investors urging it to stick to its core strengths of business software and services.

Elop will return to Microsoft as its board ponders a successor to Ballmer, who will depart in the next 12 months.

Activist fund manager ValueAct Capital Management, which has been offered a board seat, is among those concerned with Ballmer's leadership and his attempts to plough headlong into the lower-margin, highly competitive mobile devices arena.

Others applauded Ballmer's aggressive gambit.

"Microsoft cannot walk away from smartphones, and the hope that other vendors will support Windows Phone is fading fast. So buying Nokia comes at the right time," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner.

"In today's market it is clear that a vertical integration is the way forward for a company to succeed. How else could Microsoft achieve this?"

As part of Microsoft, Elop will head an expanded Devices unit. Julie Larson-Green, who in July was promoted to head a new Devices and Studios business in Ballmer's reorganisation, will report to Elop when the deal is closed.

FIRE SALE

Analyst Tero Kuittinen at consultancy Alekstra said the sale price of Nokia's phone business, about a quarter of its sales last year, represented a "fire sale level", though others were less clear about what a shrunken Nokia was worth.

The price agreed for the devices and services business gives it an enterprise value of about 0.33 times sales for a loss-making business, about half what Google paid for Motorola's handset business in 2012.

"What should be paid for a declining business, where market share has been constantly lost and profitability has been poor?" said Hannu Rauhala, analyst at Pohjola Bank. "It is difficult to say if it's cheap or expensive."

Nokia is still the world's No. 2 mobile phone maker behind Samsung, but it is not in the top five in the more lucrative and faster-growing smartphone market.

Sales of Nokia's Lumia series have helped the market share of Windows Phones in the global smartphone market climb to 3.3 percent, according to consultancy Gartner, overtaking ailing BlackBerry Ltd for the first time this year. Still, Google Inc's Android and Apple's iOS system make up 90 percent of the market.

Credit default swap spreads on Nokia tightened by more than 30 basis points to around 200 basis points after the news, meaning it now costs $200,000 to insure $10 million worth of Nokia debt, which is rated junk due to worries about its shrinking cash position and market share.

Nokia said in a statement it expected that, apart from Elop, senior executives Jo Harlow, Juha Putkiranta, Timo Toikkanen, and Chris Weber would transfer to Microsoft when the deal is concluded, probably in the first quarter of 2014.

Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to Microsoft, while JP Morgan advised Nokia, according to people close to the deal. Law firm Simpson Thacher represented Microsoft, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom represented Nokia, they said.

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