why women usually live more than men

Rare is the country or society where the life expectancy of men is greater than that of women. To explain this phenomenon we can pull intuition that perhaps tells us that men have a greater affinity for the activities that put them at risk, from tobacco consumption to recklessness at the wheel. Although there is something really in this explanation, this is only part of the story. Genetics. Now, a team of researchers He has discovered A genetic mechanism that could be protecting women from cognitive deterioration associated with age. A mechanism that could also partly explain the greatest longevity of these in front of men. Chromosomes turned off. The human being (As a general rule) It has 23 pairs of chromosomes, of which one is linked to our sex. In cases where a person inherits an X chromosome and a chromosome and, the second predominates and the first is latent, the sex that develops is the masculine. In cases where two X chromosomes are inherited, one of them remains active and the other “sleep”, sex would be in this case the female. This is still a model and nature is capricious, sometimes it surprises us. The last surprise has been starred in some genes on this sleeping X chromosome: it turns out that the “dream” of these genes was not so deep. In the hippocampus. In EK new study, the responsible team detected that about twenty genes on the silent X chromosome were reactivated In hippocampus cells of the mice in which the study was conducted. This activation was given in the subsequent stages of life and, to occur in the hippocampus and by the genes involved, it could imply a greater capacity to maintain cognitive abilities in old age. “In typical aging, women have a brain that seems younger, with less cognitive deficits compared to men,” pointed in a press release Dena Dubal, co -author of the study. “These results show that the silent x females are later reactivated later in life, probably helping to slow down cognitive deterioration.” The team indicates that, among the 22 genes that “escaped” silence, one stood out: PLP1 (Proteolipid Protein 1). This gene contributes to the creation of Myelina protective substance that surrounds neuronal connections and whose deterioration is linked to the appearance of diseases such as sclerosis. Animal models. The team conducted its study in laboratory mice, combining two differentiated lineages from these to clearly differentiate the two X chromosomes and the two genes in each animal. By measuring gene expression in the animals hippocampus, they observed a reactivation that occurred in females at 20 months of life, something that would be equivalent to the 65 years of life in humans. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Science Advances. And in humans? Now, the team investigates whether this late activation is also given in older women. As explainedThere are reasons to think that it is the case. In some brain samples studied, it has been found that women had high levels of the PLP1 protein in the same regions as the study mice. In Xataka | The secret of longevity is not in genes but in environmental factors. The good news: change some of them is in our hand Image | Aris sfakianakis / Gadek et al. (2025)

tariffs, refinery closure and overproduction

Energy expert Javier Blas He has shown Through the social network X (old Twitter) as the price of Brent barrel, it has suffered one of its greatest falls in recent decades. In just two days, I know It has collapsed $ 10.4, Brent barrel at $ 65.14. This strong descent reminds other historical falls such as the Ukraine War in 2022, the Covid-19 Pandemia and the Price War in Saudi Arabia in 2020, the 2008 global financial crisis and the Gulf War in 1991. Short. According to has had access Reuterscrude oil has been driven by The announcement of tariffs by US President Donald Trump. These tariff measures, They have given much to talkThey have generated fears about global economic growth and energy demand. A blow after another. In the last years of fluctuations and political uncertainty, we must add the closure of refineries. As has advanced Oilpriceone in five global refineries faces closing risk, despite the fact that the demand for fuel is still increasing. This imbalance between supply and infrastructure is generating additional tensions in the market. In addition, operators seem to have lost confidence in a robust and sustained recovery of energy consumption, which has led to massive positions of positions in futures markets. OPEC+ continues on the same path. In recent statements They have decided Accelerate its production increase schedule, adding 441,000 barrels per day in May, as part of one to gradually add 2.2 million barrels per day to the market. This increase in crude could put even more down pressure on oil prices, also taking into account Kazakhstan that does not stop producing. From the New York Timessome analysts have interpreted this movement as a gesture towards Trump, who seeks to reduce fuel prices, while others see them as a way to prevent members from exceeding their production quotas. A downward trend? This whole situation may be maintained in the short term. On the one hand, tariffs and overproduction of the OPEC+ can make the price continue. On the other hand, the closure of some refineries could keep the prices of derived products, such as gasoline and diesel. Thus, although the price of crude is still low, the imbalances in supply and infrastructure could maintain tensions in the energy market. The coming months will be crucial to determine whether this fall is a temporary anomaly or a prolonged trend. Image | Unspash Xataka | The apparently irresoluble oil dilemma: OPEC+ wants to produce much more without sinking prices

In case they have not been rare enough in recent weeks, now a record storm is being formed in the middle of the Atlantic

While the next Nuria front already causes problems on the peninsula, meteorologists begin to focus on what comes next. And what comes next is, As González Alemán saysa great Atlantic storm. But a very rare: possibly the deepest ever registered on these dates. A very strange Atlantic. As we have been in a couple of years of rain, our conversations have focused on accumulated, overflows and reservoirs. However, we have paid little attention to the cause of all this: a circulation and an atmospheric dynamic in the Atlantic that are “really interesting and worthy of study.” Another rarity. In the next few days, According to the models“We will see the formation of a great very rare Atlantic storm, with its 969 hpa.” That is, a storm that could “be recorded (depth) for the time we are.” What does this mean? In the same way that an anticyclone is a high -pressing area, a storm is essentially a low pressures zone. That, for practical purposes, means that there is what is called “Convergence of air on the ground”; That is, the surrounding air goes to these areas to “fill” the hole and generate surface currents that, ultimately, are what gives that characteristic shaped shape. In weather jargon, more “depth”, less pressure. And “lower pressure”, more numerous and powerful currents. Do we have to worry? It is the key question because, as we know, Everything seems to indicate That as of April 11 the rain will be present in Spain yes or yes. That could square with the arrival of fronts linked to this storm. However, it is not so clear. In the first place, because the fact that it will rain more than normal during Holy Week does not tell us how to rain. We already know that, roughly, in Spain we have two types of storms: those caused by the Danas (which are not very useful) and cause them the deep storms (which, as has happened this March, are fantastic for the reservoirs). There is more, of course; But this scheme is worth understanding that we do not talk about the tables of the law. Will it rain? It seems that. But we don’t know how. And secondly? That the effect of storms on Europe depends on the rest of the pieces on the board. The best example is the map that heads this piece: according to the model, there is a dorsal that blocks its arrival to the peninsula. This does not mean anything, really. They can almost pass a dozen different scenarios. However, most likely right now is that storm becomes a curious fact without serious effects in the country. And as we are, it would not be bad. Image | Polarvx In Xataka | After the rains of March and with the reservoirs of Media Spain to overflow, another battle begins: who stays that water

China has responded to US tariffs attacking one of its weak points: rare earths

As expected, the Chinese government has not been left with a crossed arms before The tariffs prepared by the USA. Just 24 hours after Donald Trump releases the taxes to be applied to The importation of most products Coming from abroad, the administration led by Xi Jinping has responded. And he has done it with forcefulness. On April 10 China will impose a 34% tariff to all imports from the US. The choice of that day is not casual. And is that the tariffs approved by the Donald Trump administration will take effect on April 9. Just a day before. Presumably the Chinese government has chosen to keep a few days of margin in the hope of reaching an agreement with its American counterpart and relax a little tension. China has decided to press the US more than ever with rare earths China’s response to the US does not only go through new tariffs; He has also chosen to suspend the import licenses of the products belonging to six US companies, as well as imposing more controls on the export of some rare earths. This is not at all the first time that the Xi Jinping government decides to pressure the US and its allies establishing limitations to the export of these raw materials. In fact, on December 21, 2023 the Chinese administration decided to restrict export of some of its rare earth processing technologies, shaping a maneuver that pursues defend their strategic interests in full confrontation with the US and its allies. And at the beginning of December 2024 He chose to prohibit The export of critical minerals to the US. On December 21, 2023, the Chinese administration decided to restrict the export of some of its rare earth processing technologies Among them are three essential chemical elements for the semiconductor industry (Gallium, Germanio and Antimony), as well as some materials that are characterized by their extreme hardness, and which, therefore, can be used for military applications. An important note before moving forward: Rare earths are a real treasure. To this peculiar group of chemical elements belong some metals as elusive and with names as suggestive as neodymium, promised, gadolinium, ititrium or scandio, among others. Some of them are relatively scarce, and, in addition, they are not usually found purely in nature, but what makes them so special are their physicochemical properties. Its characteristics are beyond the reach of the other elements of the periodic table, which has caused that during the last decades they are consolidated as A very valuable resource In numerous industries, especially in those of semiconductors, electronics and renewable energies. This is the reason why rare earths They are so important to the US. We still do not know what reach the new export controls of the rare earths that the Ministry of Commerce of China has just approved, but as soon as we have more information we will include it in this article. The cards are on the table. The US and China still have five days ahead to reach an agreement before their new taxes enter into force. We will see if they are really willing to relax the tension. Even if it’s just a bit. Image | Lio voo More information | CN Wire In Xataka | The US will not be able to contain the technological development of China. Experts from the chips industry forecast it

A 54%tariff, an iPhone of $ 2,300 and no easy output for Apple

Trump has announced A tariff pack He has shaken the markets and put Apple in the spotlight. The company, which manufactures most of its devices in Asia, faces 54% tariffs for products from China, 46% for Vietnam, and 26-27% for India. Just the countries where it has concentrated its production. Apple opted for diversify its manufacture After Trump’s first presidency, but this strategy It has been counterproductivesince the new tariffs affect precisely all their production centers. There is no escape. It is the same that has happened To another company closely linked to Apple: Nike. Why is it important. The Impact for Apple is double: financial and industrial. The company depends on its devices to generate 75% of its almost 400,000 million dollars in annual income – the rest comes from services. This tariff imposition could increase its annual costs by about 8,500 million dollars, reducing its benefits in approximately 7%. Its action – like those of many other technological ones, although Apple’s even more – has noticed, with a 9% drop and another 5% in the Premarket Friday. And now what. Apple’s options are limited and none is ideal: Absorbing tariff costs, which would erode their profit margins, which are so baggy (around 25%) as sacred for directive and investors. Move consumers cost through important price increases. And Apple has a much less elastic demand than the rest of the brands, but also average prices closer to the limit that the client can assume. Combine both strategies, distributing the impact and waiting for the result to be as favorable as possible to your interests. Another option is to get a tariff exemption such as the one already obtained in Trump’s first legislature. In figures. The analysis of Rosenblatt Securities project that Apple would need to increase the price of its devices to 43% if you wanted to keep your current margins. This would mean: A iPhone 16 base would go from $ 799 to $ 1,142. A iPhone 16 Pro Max With 1 TB of storage could reach $ 2,300 (from 1,599). Even the iPhone 16Elaunched in February to $ 599, it would rise to $ 856. The context. Apple has cultivated a relationship with Trump for years that allowed him to avoid tariffs during his first administration. Tim Cook attended Trump’s inauguration and promised large investments in the United States. And has received Trump’s presidency With much better predisposition than in 2017. In February, Apple announced an investment plan of 500,000 million dollars In the United States, including a plant in Texas and 20,000 jobs in research and development. However, he has not achieved the exemption he obtained in 2018. The background. Cook has commented several times Apple’s difficulty to produce in his own country, referring among other reasons to the scarcity of the type of qualified personnel in something so specific. Apple, despite its enviable position in inertia of income, margins and stock capitalization, was already coming from some previous turbulence. For example, iPhone sales without expected growth or His difficulties with the implementation of his AI. Now, a tariff crisis. In summary. The clash between the Trump administration and companies such as Apple (but not only Apple) is a clash between two opposite ways to see the economy: the national protectionism of the first and the optimized globalization of the second. Looking ahead to the consumer, the message is clear: we can prepare for some more expensive iPhone. In the face of Apple, less margin to innovate for the reduction of its benefits. In any case, it will depend on what the company’s response is, if you get an exemption or if there is negotiation in extremis before April 9. In Xataka | China has taken less than a day to respond to tariffs: 34% for all US products Outstanding image | Xataka

How to activate chatgpt in Siri to ask artificial intelligence things through the wizard

Let’s explain How to activate chatgpt in Siriso that you can use the Openai assistant in the iOS assistant. Siri has won some new powers with Apple Intelligence, although there are still several that are yet to come. However, one of its most interesting options is to be able to use Chatgpt. This way, You can ask chatgpt things directly through Siri and without needing to have the official app. You will even be able to link your OpenAI account in the event that you have a payment version of your AI. Doing it is quite easy, although the first time you will have to activate it. These Apple Intelligence functions are available to iPhone from 15 Pro and 16 that have iOS 18.4 and higher versions. Also for iPads with M1 chip onwards or A17 with ipados 18.4 or higher, as well as mac with M1 or superiors with macOS 15.4 or higher. Activa Chatgpt in Siri The first time you want to use chatgpt, you have to Ask Siri to tell Chatgpt somethinga command with which you ask that it invokes Openai’s AI. For example, tell him to draw. When you ask for this, Siri will tell you that you have to activate chatgpt, and then you must click on the button Start using. This will make a necessary data download that can last a few minutes. It will also start a configuration process in which you are informed of the functions, and where you have to click on the button Following On a couple of screens. Now, you have to enter the section Apple Intelligence and Siri of the adjustments of iOS, and click on the chatgpt option within the section Extensions. Here you will have a section where you can link your Chatgpt account. I recommend you deactivate Confirm Petitions to ChatgPTbecause if you have this option activated, every time you ask Siri for something for OpenAi’s AI, you will ask you to confirm the action by clicking a button. Everything will be faster if you have it disabled. Now you can use chatgpt whenever you want in Siri. You just have to Tell him a voice command mentioning that you want to do it chatgpt. In addition to this, if you ask that you look for something that Siri cannot find, such as information or performing some actions, it will also refer Chatgpt without saying anything. In Xataka Basics | 18 style ideas to edit your photos with chatgpt

The new US tariffs are their last lunge

Nike’s shares have fallen by 14% after the announcement of the New Trump tariffs And they were already coming from a lousy years inertia. Since the historical maximums in the late 2021, Nike’s action has fallen almost 70%. This has only been the last episode … and perhaps the most difficult to correct in the short term. Why is it important. Nike had been strategically moving away from China … but it has ended up falling into an even greater tariff trap. Decades have been building a production network in Asia to benefit from low labor costs and government incentives. Now this business model is in existential danger. Stifel analysts They calculate That tariffs, without considering rises of prices or changes in countries of origin, could reduce the benefits per action of Nike this year by $ 1.69. It rains on a wet for a company that until the early post-pandemic years was exemplary. In figures. The tariff coup to Nike’s supply chain is devastating: 46% of Vietnam tariff (produces 50% of Nike footwear). 32% of Indonesia tariff (produces 27% of footwear). 54% of total tariff to China (the previous 20% + 34% new). These three countries represent 95% of Nike’s footwear production, leaving the company without viable alternatives to avoid new costs. UBS estimates That to counteract only the impact of tariffs on Vietnam, Nike would need to increase their prices between 10% and 12%. What has happened. Investors have punished Nike and other companies in the sector that depend on Asian manufacturing. In a single day, Nike’s actions fell by 14%, while their competitors suffered similar falls: adidas (-11%), Puma (-10%), Lululemon (-13%), Skechers (-20%), ON HOLDING (-15%). Nike is not only suffering from tariffs. The company It had already been dragging competitiveness problems In front of emerging brands such as those of the previous paragraph other such as Hoka, and had announced a restructuring plan with cuts of 2,000 million dollars. The context. This crisis is not only accentuated by the rise of its rivals in general, but there is a particular code name: Adidas, which has a strategic advantage by having a strong productive presence in Europe (up to 30%), which allows you to export from Germany and reduce your tariff exposure. Nike, on the contrary, depends almost exclusively on Asia, as we have seen before. And now what. Nike has few options to mitigate the immediate impact of tariffs. Increase prices: a couple of Air Jordan 1 high could rise from 180 to 198 dollars. Negotiate with suppliers to share the additional cost load. Accelerate automation and reduce its dependence on intensive labor. Pressure to obtain exemptions or modifications of tariff policy. Thus and all, the strong fall of Nike contextualizes the fear of investors to even the correct application of these measures is sufficient and the brand ends up losing competitiveness if it transfers the costs to the customer. Deepen. Nike is trapped in a perfect storm: Extreme Dependency of Asia (95%) for manufacturing. Impossibility of rapid relocation. Relocating manufacturing has not been for years. Margins already pressured. Permission fighting the loss of market share and going down prices. Double competitive punishment. If you absorb tariffs, you lose margin. If you upload prices, you lose customers. No viable alternative countries. At least in the short term. Nike built his empire under the ‘Just Do’ mantra, but now faces a harsh reality: he can’t do much before an overented tariff policy. In Xataka | The Spanish car will not suffer with 25% of the United States tariffs but with its consequences: a poorest Europe Outstanding image | Xataka

It is 0.5% of 1% of the Milmillonaria elite

At the end of 2023, it was estimated that around 1.1% of humanity controls 45.8% of all the wealth. At present, both percentages are likely to be short since the number of millmillonarians have passed 2,640 in 2023, to 3,028 ultra -ups in 2025with a heritage of more than 1,000 million dollars, According to data of Forbes. Among them, they accumulate a fortune of joint of 16.1 billion (Europeans) of dollars. However, even within that small group of Milmillonarios, there is also an elite that belongs to a select club: the 100,000 million club of dollars. The rise of the centimillonarians Just eight years ago, someone’s simple idea with a fortune of more than 100,000 million dollars was practically science fiction thing. At the end of the 80s, the planet’s largest fortunes barely exceeded 10,000 million dollars, and we had to wait until the Puntocom outbreakon the threshold of the 2000, so that someone will approach the 12 figures: Bill Gates. Today, on the other hand, the world has changed dramatically. In 2025 several milestones have been overcome, such as the fact of a person overcomes The threshold of 400,000 million of heritage. But in relation to this select club, the milestones have been that the number of members has promoted 15 people, and that One of them is a woman. According to data of Forbesthis select club formed by only 15 people, controls 15% of the total wealth in the hands of the Millionaires. That implies that the members of this select club control a sum of 2.4 billion dollars. That is, 400,000 million more than the joint assets that added the 14 members that formed it last year. Between 2018 and 2020, only Jeff Bezos exceeded 100,000 million dollars of heritage. In 2021, they joined this select Club Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault and Bill Gates. In 2022, they joined the Warren Buffett club, the founders of Google Larry Page and Serguéi Brin, and Larry Ellison. It was already a club formed by eight members. However, the greatest increase occurred in 2024, when the members had to clench a little to accommodate the 14 millionaires whose fortunes exceeded 12 figures. These are all club members in 2025: Elon Musk (342,000 million dollars) Mark Zuckerberg (216,000 million dollars) Jeff Bezos (215,000 million dollars) Larry Ellison (192,000 million dollars) Bernard Arnault (178,000 million dollars) Warren Buffett (154,000 million dollars) Larry Page (144,000 million dollars) Serguéi Brin (138,000 million dollars) Amancio Ortega (124,000 million dollars) Steve Ballmer (118,000 million dollars) Rob Walton and Family (110,000 million dollars) Jim Walton and Family (109,000 million dollars) Bill Gates (108,000 million dollars) Michael Bloomberg (105,000 million dollars) Alice Walton (101 billion dollars) The first woman in the club For the first time in history, a woman has managed to break the 100,000 million barrier and join this exclusive club. It has been Alice Walton, heiress of the fortune of Walmart, who took the witness of Françoise Bettencourt Meyersfrom L’Oreal, which in 2024 He stayed at the doors With a fortune that fleeting the 100,200 million fleetingly, but it was not consolidated above that figure. With an estimated assets of 101,000 million dollars, Walton is not only recognized for its vast wealth, but also for its philanthropy. It has donated approximately 1.7 billion dollars for 2024, including the donation of 249 million dollars to build the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, hometown of the Walton family. His brothers Jim and Rob Walton are also part of this exclusive Millionaire club, with a fortunes of valued at 109,000 and 110,000 million dollars respectively. A Spanish and a French among Americans Among this elite of magnates, only two millmillonarians do not have American nationality: THE SPANISH AMANCIO ORTEGAfounder of Inditex; and the Frenchman Bernard Arnault, head of the LVMH luxury conglomerate. Amancio Ortega has consolidated his fortune above 100,000 million thanks to the good financial results of Inditex and the growth rate of its Real Empire Pontegadea. At present, Ortega occupies the Ninth position of the Millionaire List of Forbes, with a heritage valued at 124,000 million. Something more agitated It has been Bernard Arnault’s stay in this club during the last year, which went from taking first place on the Forbes list, to fall to fifth place due to the Sales collapse in China of its luxury products. In Xataka | The list of the richest people in Spain in 2025: many changes in the figures, but not in the protagonists Image | Wikimedia Commons (Esteban Ironside), Flickr (India government), Gtres

A Nintendo Switch pack with a lot of content, a very cheap Samsung Watch and more. Hunting bargains

Today is Friday of hunting bargains, so once again we have gathered the best offers we have found during the week. And much eye because there are some more interesting even than those we get to find during the spring offers party: a pack from the first Nintendo Switch, a Samsung watch, a sony headphones and more. We leave you with the five best offers of the week. Nintendo Switch Oled (Pack) by 349.95 eurosfor practically what the console alone costs (a few more euros) we have this pack with several video games, a cover, a lamp and more. Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic by 229 eurosa very interesting price for such a complete watch in its Classic version. Google Pixel 8a by 449 eurosthe mobile in its 256 GB configuration has dropped price with a good discount. Sony Ult Wear by 149 eurossome top headphones for the price they have. The breath of the gods by 26.50 eurosa book by Brandon Sanderson that is ideal to start the cosmere. Nintendo Switch Oled (Pack) If you have not convinced you what has been shown from the Nintendo Switch 2especially in relation to prices, one of the best ways to enter the current generation is with the Pack that has launched XTralife of the Nintendo Switchin this case in its OLED version. Much eye because it costs 349.95 eurosalmost the same as the console with nothing, but includes a lot of content. The Nintendo Switch Oled pack comes with Two video games‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe‘ and ‘Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope‘, A protective case, a 12 -month subscription to Nintendo Switch online and a Pixel Art de Super Mario design lamp. Nintendo Switch Oled (Pack) * Some price may have changed from the last review Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic These last two weeks we have seen very good prices in several of Samsung’s wearables. This time it has touched the turn of Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classica beautiful smart watch that comes with the classic mechanical bezelis available in its 47 mm configuration and its operating system is Wearos. It also has many sensors to monitor physical activity. All this for 229 euros. Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic (4g LTE, 47 mm) * Some price may have changed from the last review Google Pixel 8a The same has happened with the Google Pixel 8a. For a few weeks we have it in several stores at a very good price, and although its configuration of 128 GB we can find it for 399 eurosthat of 256 GB It has a better value for money, since its price is 449 euros (With this we are not so limited with respect to its storage capacity). Google’s mobile highlights, above all, for its design, for the software – and all the updates you will receive during the next few years– And for his camera. * Some price may have changed from the last review Sony Ult Wear If you are looking for good Bluetooth headphones, much eye because Sony Ult Wear They have fallen again in Mediamarkt. As for design, they approach (saving the distances) to what is seen in the WH-1000XM5. They have a very good construction, they offer a Excellent noise cancellation and its battery offers an approximate autonomy of up to 30 hours. We can find them in the store for 149 euros. * Some price may have changed from the last review The breath of the gods I always like to leave a recommendation at the end of hunting bargains. This time it is about ‘The breath of the gods‘, a book by Brandon Sanderson much less known than the saga born of the mist (Mistborn), but that I liked for his particular premise. 26.50 euros This is what the Nova edition costs and the novel tells us the story of a struggle of powers between several nations; One with a reigning God and another with the old royal family, who had to flee after a war. The curious thing is how it addresses Sanderson the issue of powers: each person has a breath that can transfer to another person. If you accumulate them, depending on the figure, You can wake up or improve certain attributesas a sensory capacity. In addition, you can transfer powers to inanimate objects that come from living beings. A curious power at least, but also quite useful. ‘The breath of the gods’ It is one of the best ways to start reading the cosmere next to ‘Elantris‘ and ‘Batter of the Bruma‘. If we just want to read the novel, there is no problem: it is a self -conscious book. * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Image | Nintendo, Samsung, Google, Sony, Nova In Xataka | The best mobiles (2025), we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | The best smartwatch (2025): their analysis and videos are here

50 years later the amazing thing is not that Microsoft continues to exist. The hallucinating thing is that it remains (Tan) relevant

Does 50 years Two young people called Bill Gates and Paul Allen They created the one that has become the largest software empire in history. That April 4, 1975 was born Micro-Soft. The name occurred to Allen, what years later I didn’t remember why he used the script and that capital. The detail has remained in anecdote. One of the thousands which are already part of the history of a company that has managed to be relevant and toe for half a century. There are not many in the world of technology that can boast something like that. How did you do it? Windows 10: 9 very useful and little known tricks Reinventing himself. Microsoft has been lifted after each fall. And there have been many. And very important. But it was not so at the beginning. Microsoft, like all the big ones, was loved long before being (deeply) hate. Gates and Allen were in the right place and moment, but they also knew how to take advantage of their opportunities. The first arrived in 1980, when they reached an agreement with IBM to provide the operating system for its PCs. It is curious how history is repeated again and again, because that is just what would happen to that operating system that would end up calling themselves. Gates and Allen did not create that operating system: they bought the original, QDOS/86-dos, for $ 50,000, and modified it so that it could be used on the IBM PCs. Apple did the same with Nextstep (based on FreeBSD) When he bought Next and ended up turning that operating system in Mac OS X. years later Google would buy a small startup called Android Inc. to take advantage of an operating mobile system that he had created. That said. The story ended up. But those are other stories. That agreement with IBM was a turning point, but above all it was for its terms. Microsoft received $ 430,000 for that product – very less than Ibm hoped to have to pay – but Microsoft maintained the ability to sell its operating system to other companies. From that moment Microsoft was a rocket. One controlled by a Gates implacable and fierce. With their lights and their (many) shadows, Gates and his company would soon begin to achieve the goal that They had marked and that a priori seemed impossible: put a computer in each home. It did not matter others doing things in a different or better way: Microsoft always managed to impose itself. He did it with MS-DOS and of course he did it with his long and erratic Light of Windows operating systems or with its office suite, Office, today maximum expression of the intention of how everything can (but should not) become a service in the cloud. For 25 years, Microsoft was no one to cough him, but then the earthquakes began to arrive. First, Internet, browsers, search engines and social networks. Then the smartphone. Redmond’s company lost all those wars. Always late and bad, and he was convicted of that Innovative dilemma in which David wins the game to Goliath. But there is the really amazing. Microsoft fell and lost those wars, but he got up again and reinvented. Even those that had won – like that of the browsers, With Internet Explorer– He ended up losing them, but we insisted: it didn’t matter. There we saw the true strength of Microsoft. It didn’t matter if the general public hated her: they did not give up and tried one, and another, and again. They failed with bing in search engines, they had to spend 26.2 billion dollars to “compete” on social networks and also shipwrecked (Too bad) With Windows Phone. And once again, it didn’t matter. Faced with these failures, new successes. Not only that: definitive reinvention. After the arrival of new contendliere NadellaMicrosoft changed the image and of strategy. Of being hated and almost ignored it was relevant and even loved. He got it shyly In the mobile segment, but where he has achieved an exceptional triumph has been in the cloud, where Azure marks the pattern with his great rival, AWS. And since then and along the way, many more stories, many smaller and large failures and also many small and large hits. It is impossible to put them all here, but it is also inevitable not to mention legendary products. Among them the Xbox, pillar of a very forty bet But not especially fortunate For the video game segment. Or also the successes that the company also achieved with the devices of the Surface family. The Hololens were Another failureYes, but one that at least showed that the company always tried to reinvent himself. In those is precisely now Microsoft, but this time not to lose what may be the most important train in history: The artificial intelligence. His reaction thus has been faster and more ambitious than on other occasions, but still the unknowns about the result of that bet are enormous. Whatever happens, it will probably give the same. And it will give the same because Microsoft will end up doing what you have always done. Reinvent yourself. Happy 50, Microsoft. In Xataka | Bill Gates has told how he made Microsoft into the giant that is now: “I focused my life only on a single job”

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