Microsoft's week: smartphone job cuts, Windows 10 update and price changes for Azure

There weren't many Microsoft-related events in the news this week, but the firm will probably be hoping to move swiftly on from those that did hit the headlines.

The biggest story was the news that the firm is restructuring its phone hardware business, shedding 7,800 jobs in the process, mostly from the Nokia phone business acquired in 2013.

Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced adjustments to the prices it charges for Azure cloud services, with costs going up rather than down in some regions. The company blamed this on changing currency rates, especially in the Eurozone.

Microsoft to reduce smartphone production after 7,800 job cuts

Microsoft will reduce the number of smartphones it produces in an acknowledgement that its past efforts to gain smartphone market share have failed.

The move comes after Microsoft confirmed on Wednesday that it will cut another 7,800 jobs from its phone hardware business, essentially the Nokia unit acquired in 2013.

Microsoft delivers refinements in Windows 10 Build 10166 as official launch looms

Microsoft has pushed out yet another last-minute update to the Windows 10 operating system as the clock ticks down to the official launch on 29 July.

Microsoft adjusts Azure prices, but UK customers can rest easy

Microsoft is revising the price of its Azure cloud computing services, apparently in response to fluctuating global exchange rates. The good news for UK customers is that they will not be affected.

Microsoft delivers Office 2016 for Mac

Microsoft has announced the availability of the latest release of Office for Apple Mac users, offering updated versions of the applications that bring the suite in line with the latest features found on the PC and Office iPad apps.

Microsoft comes clean on the user's field of view for HoloLens

Microsoft concedes that there are some limitations with the field of view for users of its HoloLens augmented reality headset that is based on Windows 10.

Microsoft becomes a Gold Level donor for the OpenBSD Foundation

Microsoft becomes a contributor to the non-profit OpenBSD Foundation in recognition of the organisation's help in adding Secure Shell protocol support into Windows.