Meet Microsoft, the world's best kept R&D secret

• As far as 99.9 percent of the world population is concerned, Microsoft is a stodgy, old-guard technology company. Its bottom line is fully leveraged against PC operating systems and business software—hardly the building blocks of a future-thinking portfolio, right?

But scratch that cold, conservative, pedestrian surface, and you’ll find a Microsoft that’s a veritable hotbed of cutting-edge innovation. Indeed, the company doesn't just loosen its purse strings when it comes to research and development. No, it practically throws money at really big thinkers to build a more wondrous, fantastical future. In 2011 alone, Microsoft's R&D budget reached a record high of $9.6 billion (yes, with a "B"). That’s a lot of Benjamins, and they’re being spent on some decidedly awesome projects.

Let’s take at some of the more interesting examples.

Blending touch and touchscreens

CARNEGIE MELLON

OmniTouch let's your fingers do the dialing... practically on your own fingers.

Several Microsoft Research projects have revolved into transforming everyday objects into fully interactive computing surfaces. If these initiatives bear fruit, you may one day conduct your morning Facebook check on the back of a cereal box rather than on your phone.

First up is LightSpace, which uses a plethora of cameras and projectors to create interactive displays on everyday objects. The system needs to be calibrated to the room it’s installed in, but once it is, users can interact with projected menus and screens using their hands, or even move a projected display from one object to another. Don’t feel like trying to crowd your team around a projection on a small desk? Drag it over to the wall, instead. You can see a basic version of LightSpace in action in this intriguing demo video.

The Best Free Software, Mobile Apps, and Web Services, 2012 Edition

The Internet is like a fancy Hollywood party with lots of swag: You can get tons of stuff for free, but not all of it is good. Still, some of the Web services, apps, and downloads out there are great, and don’t require you to pay a cent. Our 17th annual roundup of free stuff includes dozens of no-cost services, apps, and programs that are worth your time. To help you find the most valuable freebies, we’ve categorized them based on which types of people they’ll help most. Enjoy the free life!

(To read the related story about each category of free stuff, click the appropriate heading below, or use the contents box to the right. You can also consult our alphabetical list of all of the downloads, apps, and Web services described in our Best Free Stuff package.)

Five important Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts

Regular readers know of my fondness for keyboard shortcuts, especially those that help me navigate in and around Windows more easily.

If ever I needed "more easily," it's for Windows 8. Microsoft's new OS has earned its share of critics (myself among them) for being unintuitive, with various popular functions (like, say, Shut Down) unusually hard to find.

Thankfully, Microsoft didn't forget to pack Windows 8 with helpful keyboard shortcuts. Here are five I think you'll want to learn pronto.

(Note: In case you're new to keyboard shortcuts, all of these involve holding down theWindows key (it's to the left of the space bar), then tapping the appropriate letter or function key.)

Windows-C Immediately brings up the Charms bar, for quick access to things like Search, Share, and Settings.