All Articles by Jason Ward

Aesthetically and acoustically pleasing

UrbanEars Pampas Bluetooh headphones deliver minimal design, maximum sound

UrbanEars may not resonate with the masses like Beats and other big names in audio accessories, but the company's Pampas Bluetooth Headphones pack quality sound, maximum comfort and all day battery life into an appealing minimalistic design. For a mid-range price of $149 consumers can grab a headset that sports better sound than some more affordable options, while beating the hefty...

Schooling the competition

Why Surface Go is better for students than iPad (and why it may not be)

Jason Ward 3 weeks ago 58

Microsoft's pitting Surface Go against Apple's newest iPad in the education sector. Here are some pros and cons.

Folding PCs of all shapes and sizes

Microsoft's smartphone failures may negatively impact its folding PCs

Jason Ward 3 weeks ago 77

Folding PCs are here and potentially offer a range of versatility as desktop, journaling, gaming, creative and tablet devices. Sadly, Microsoft's smartphone failures may have done irrefutable damage to the increasingly important touch-and-app centric foundations that are important to its success in the age of modern mobile computing. Will the impact of a failing in smartphones forever...

You should care about accessibility

Microsoft and Deque make accessibility easy for millions of developers

Jason Ward 1 month ago 7

Most people without disabilities ignore articles about accessibility because like a wheelchair ramp they're there but seem irrelevant to them. With one billion people living with disabilities and many disabilities being acquired through accidents, disease or aging, we'll all be touched by disabilities directly or by association. With the digital world becoming more integral to our lives...

You will be assimilated

Microsoft's #InsiderUp isn't just about being nice — here's the big picture

Jason Ward 2 months ago 1

Microsoft's ambitious #InsiderUp program's goal to make everyone, everywhere a programmer isn't just about being nice; it's part of Microsoft's master plan to make every company a "tech company" that uses its Azure cloud platform.

The many are becoming one

Microsoft’s Azure goals ominously echo its past Windows-everywhere strategy

Jason Ward 2 months ago 7

In a multi-cloud world Microsoft's determination to make Azure the de facto cloud service powering the world's computing is ominously similar to its fateful Windows-centric strategy of the past. As Microsoft had to adapt Windows as a cross-platform OS to co-operate with, not dominate, other OSes, it must do the same with Azure to work with other cloud services. After all - to users the...

Stop all that noise

These iTecknic Headphones are an affordable Surface Headphone alternative

Jason Ward 3 months ago 2

iTeknics $48 Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones may be the affordable alternative to Microsoft's $300 Surface Headphones.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day — here's what Microsoft is doing

Jason Ward 3 months ago 3

Today is the eighth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day where the focus is on the creators of our tech employing making sure its accessible to all. This is something Microsoft does 365 days a year.

Cloud is cool

What Microsoft's ambitious plans for Azure mean to YOU

Jason Ward 3 months ago 13

Many Microsoft and Windows phone enthusiasts see Microsoft's cloud focus as a profit-driven obsession with little direct relevance to them. But the cloud is cooler, and more personally relevant than you think.

Look a little deeper

Microsoft's moral stance on facial recognition isn't as noble as you think

Jason Ward 3 months ago 40

Microsoft is making a bold ethical stand for the responsible use of facial recognition tech - but it's not all about being the "good guy."

Missed it by that much

Samsung's Galaxy Fold woes validate Microsoft's Surface Andromeda caution

Jason Ward 3 months ago 146

Microsoft's placing its Surface Andromeda folding pocket PC on the back burner angered fans, but may have avoided folding displays inherent weaknesses and the accompanying PR nightmare Samsung and its Galaxy Fold are experiencing.

Cloud wars

How Google is beating Microsoft in the cross-platform cloud

Jason Ward 3 months ago 44

Microsoft and Amazon are the world's leading cloud providers. Google's cross-platform, open source, hybrid cloud solution may have something to say about that.

It's Autism Awareness Month

How Microsoft is helping other companies hire people with autism

Jason Ward 4 months ago 25

Microsoft's cross-platform cloud strategy and open source development strategy democratizes tech, while its Autism Hiring Program is democratizing empathy.