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Microsoft has reported about their record revenue for the past quarter, which reached $17.41 billion in the past quarter. Unfortunately, the profits slipped 2.4% in the same period a year earlier, decreasing from $5.23 billion to $5.11 billion. Microsoft’s strategy for tablet market seemed to remain as a dream until fall, when Windows tablet are expected to come alongside their new operating system, Windows 8.

Microsoft also saw a decreasing sale of Xbox with revenues dropping 16%, as they’re blaming the lowering game console market. However, the company still put some hopes on the Xbox platform as it is still the current market leader for more than a year. Microsoft’s CFO Peter Klein said, “We’ve really staked out a unique value proposition. We see Xbox live as a long term revenue stream.”

The good news is that the company’s business oriented stuffs like Office 365, Sharepoint, and Lync reached double-digit revenue in the areas. Microsoft can be proud with the enterprise market and the unique offering, especially with cloud services.

Microsoft also informed that they will bring their mobile platform Windows Phone to more people, especially with the recent high-profile launch of Nokia Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II.

Instagram has taken everyone’s attention in recent weeks. After entering the Android Market, they’re now acquired by Facebook. Some are concern with the progress, some others just looking for another type of photography.

Now, InstaDerby challenges Instagram users to compete with a weekly theme on their site.

Jack Prince, InstaDerby’s founder and president said, “I had just become addicted to Instagram and felt there was something missing that I wanted to explore.” It seems that he’s talking about something more social thing with competitive element.

If you want to join the competition, you will need to submit your photos with the appropriate hashtag, and then gather as many votes as possible by share it with your friends and family.

Each week, the leader of the competition will win an Instagram-themed prize such as credit to other sites like CanvasPop or StickyGram. “InstaDerby is unique because it opens up Instagram in a way that no other app has done by showing how people from other places interpret the same theme,” said Prince. “It’s a great way to make new connections with the platform by discovering new photographers to follow and having new followers.

A rumor said that Verizon will release an update someday to bring Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first LTE-supported smartphone. The phone is currently published on the official list of phones getting ICS. However until now, no one knows when the update will come. According to a new leaked RUU, Thunderbolt will get at least one more maintenance update before coming to ICS.

At this moment, there is still no sign from Verizon about the update build 2.11.605.19. Usually, a release note for the update published about a week before the eventual release. However until now, there are still no docs yet from Verizon’s support page about Thunderbolt.

Most changes on the update are about fixing bugs. They fix some glitches with Facebook, correcting pop-up issue when reading Yahoo! mail, and keep your mobile hotspot from disconnecting devices. Other fixes were made for specific bugs and some general system stability improvement. There’s a report that the update will include a new radio image on Thunderbolt.

Microsoft has revealed what they’re going to call the next version of Windows. The official name will be Windows 8, which reflects how many versions of Windows 8 will come. There will be three main editions for Windows 8. Microsoft claims that it includes everything you will need for a typical PC.

Windows 8 will come in both 32 and 64-bit. It has almost everything we have today from Metro apps like Internet Explorer and Xbox live hub, up to the picture password trick which Microsoft really proud of. They also improve multi-monitor support with more variety to background images that extend to multiple displays.

Here is the list of versions we currently know in Windows 8:

1. Windows 8 for most consumers

2. Windows 8 Pro, aimed to enthusiasts and businesses

3. Media Pack, Add on for Windows 8 Pro which will turn your PC into a Media Center

4. Windows RT will give you what the Windows tablet has.

5. Windows 8 Enterprise for Pfizer

6. Windows 8 local-language if you live in China and other selected countries.

According to Microsoft, any PC running Windows 7 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 or the Pro version depending on the edition. Unfortunately, there’s no pricing detail yet.

The people from Cambridge University are using robotics from LEGO Mindstorms robot to create samples of the synthetic bone tissue. The team is using hydroxyapatite-gelatin composites to make synthetic bone, which is a low energy cost and improve the similarity to the tissues they want to replace. Synthetic bone will be available for various applications from medical implants up to building construction.

Daniel Strange, one of the PhD who work for the research commented that the great thing about robots is that once you tell them what to do, they will do it very precisely over and over again. “So a day later I can come back and see fully made sample,” he said.

LEGO Mindstorms robotic kit includes the sensors, motors, and microprocessors which is able to be programmed to do basic tasks repeatedly. The team use it to build cranes to dip the sample into a beaker of protein and calcium, rinse it to water and then dip it into another beaker of protein and phosphate. It did it repeatedly to build the bone compound.

Google’s Department of Engineering has made a video about the Cambridge team to promote its International Science Fair competition to encourage teenagers to engage with science.