Microsoft is making a splash at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote on Wednesday night welcomed attendees to the show.  Steve kicked off the keynote with updates about the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming system and the new Kinect.  Originally forecasted to sell five million units within the first 60 days, Kinect surpassed that number by selling more than eight million units in that period! CES attendees also enjoyed a demo of the next generation of Microsoft Surface, allowing people to share, collaborate and explore together using a large, thin display that recognizes fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen.  Check out the video of the keynote to be part of the CES action:

Today, Microsoft unveiled a 10-city, nationwide survey that explores how businesses are using cloud-based technologies. Although cloud computing is a term that is widely used in both professional and personal settings, many people are not aware of how often they use these technologies.

Through this "Cloud as an Engine of Growth Survey," commissioned by Microsoft, the company offers insight into how IT decision-makers use cloud-based technology solutions to grow revenue, launch new lines of business, hire staff and innovate.

Los Angeles was one of the ten cities that participated in the survey. The others were New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Detroit. Some key trends were apparent from Los Angeles and Orange County area respondents:

• Vendors offer the key to cloud innovation in Los Angeles
  • Nearly a third (32 percent) of LA & Orange Co IT decision makers say they would be more likely to purchase a cloud solution if they could work with a certified vendor.
• Los Angeles sees business innovation in the cloud
  • Forty-four percent of enterprise IT decision makers in Los Angeles believe that the cloud is an engine of innovation
  • For those Los Angeles and Orange County IT decision makers who already work in the cloud almost half (44 percent) say they did so because of the low cost of ownership. Flexible/use on a per need basis (42 percent) is also mentioned as a reason to buy cloud services.
• Top six things cloud computing enable Los Angeles and Orange County decision makers to do:
  • Reduce their IT workload
  • Improve bottom line and cost savings
  • Provide increased security
  • Scale technology as the business grows and develop
  • Enable collaboration with colleagues, clients and partners on site or remotely
  • Deploy new function or applications faster

We look forward to seeing Los Angeles continue to turn to the cloud, as businesses and consequently the local economy, further innovate and grow. Check out Microsoft's cloud website for more information on how to use the cloud to power your own business.

Last week, Microsoft announced that a new Microsoft retail store will be coming soon to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa joins Mission Viejo as Orange County's second Microsoft Store and one of only eight stores in the world.

Microsoft opened its first-ever retail store on Oct. 22, 2009, in Scottsdale, Ariz., to give shoppers a chance to experience the best of Microsoft and its partners, engage more directly with customers and improve the experience of purchasing and using technology. The Mission Viejo store opened its doors on Oct. 29, 2009.

Additional Microsoft Store locations include San Diego, Calif.; Oak Brook, Ill.; Lone Tree, Colo.; and Bloomington, Minn. and Bellevue, Wash.

Microsoft Stores offer hundreds of products, including PCs running Windows 7, computing accessories, Xbox consoles and accessories, Windows Phones, Zunes and first-and third-party software titles. Customers also can learn new technology skills in the store's theater space and work with employees for personalized PC setup and training. For more information, visit www.MicrosoftStore.com. You can visit the Microsoft Store Facebook page or Microsoft Store Twitter page for the latest Microsoft Store updates.

With today's emphasis on technology, finding a job without having any computer skills is nearly impossible.  But here in LA and all across America, underserved populations-especially young and female workers-have not received the training necessary to participate in our largely digital economy. 

That's why Microsoft has just announced that it will award more than $5 million in cash and up to $10 million in software over the next two years to 12 nonprofits that furnish technology-skills training and job placement services to local communities throughout the country.  These Elevate America grants from Microsoft focus on women and young workers, because they confront greater barriers to employment and re-employment than the population at large.  In Southern California, a Microsoft grant is going to the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade.  Other Microsoft donations are destined for community organizations in Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco, as well as in Spokane; Minneapolis; Nashville; Chicago; Boston; New York City; Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Venice, Florida.

Through these grants Microsoft expects to reach more than 16,000 people, providing them the skills they need to help boost their futures through technology. In addition, each of the 300 organizations that applied for Elevate America grants will receive software donations from Microsoft.  If you'd like to learn more about the Elevate America community initiative, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/ElevateAmerica.

Today is international Safer Internet Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting responsible use of the Internet and mobile technology, particularly among children and youth.

For the eighth straight year, Microsoft is supporting this day through a global campaign championing a healthy Internet for all and will be hosting events across the U.S to promote this initiative. Organized by Insafe and co-founded by the European Union, Safer Internet Day encourages more responsible use of online technologies and devices. This year's theme, "Our Virtual Lives," and slogan, "It's more than a game; it's your life," helps organizations highlight online safety messages and drive local activities.

On February 15, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel will host Safer Internet Day in Los Angeles. Approximately 200 children and parents from the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles are being invited to the event to learn about safety in online gaming, parental controls and guidance when using the Internet. Local government and celebrity spokespeople also will be in attendance to spread the message.

Microsoft hopes that the Safer Internet Day events around the country will help to raise awareness and provide guidance to parents and children.

Parents can learn more through such online resources as the Microsoft Safety & Security Center, which provides age-based guidance for Internet use; the European Commission Safer Internet Programme; and IKeepSafe, a coalition working with the community for the health and safety of youth online.

Share the message of online safety with your own family, and be sure to check back here for a recap of the Safer Internet Day event.