The more I read about Steve Ballmer’s approach to things Microsoft doesn’t have a chance with, the more I believe he’s treading water. Take the fact that he once thought the idea of the iPhone was a joke. Clearly, he was wrong in so many directions it’s almost sad. Today, he’s clueless about the iPad.

Ars is reporting that Ballmer and Microsoft as a whole, live in a world without reality of what people will want. This is likely why Microsoft is constantly late to the game with any real innovation I suppose. Worse is the idea of using a desktop based OS for a tablet. Seriously, if Microsoft launches a tablet with this in play, they might as well give up on anything but desktop computers as it will prove they are beyond clueless about how a tablet computer works with fingers, not a stylus.

Ever get the feeling that Microsoft has drank so much of their own Kool-aid, even they don’t know when to quit? This appears to be the case with their efforts in the mobile area. They had a good run, time to call it quits?

Business Week reports that Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to “catch up” with Apple and Google in the mobile arena. Realizing they need to pull a miracle out of a hat to even remain relevant in the mobile world at this point, Microsoft is reported to be looking into paying developers to create content for their Windows Phone 7 platform. And yes, I am completely serious. Microsoft is this desperate, apparently.

Google’s popular email client, Gmail, received a face lift earlier today specifically for the iPad. Before, the Web version of Gmail had a two-column view which displayed your inbox and the compose window by splitting the display in two. Now, the iPad will depict a dedicated view for the compose window, making it easier to write emails. Google also said this change in Gmail reflects the power of creating mobile-friendly, browser-only Web apps as it allows companies to make changes instantly without the need to download updates.

Microsoft has had a history, of release multiple options for most platforms they support. Whether it be the desktop, server or the mobile space, they have a way of providing a multitude of options.

Well this certainly appears to be the case in the Microsoft mobile space, according to ZDNet. The article explains that in the Microsoft mobile offerings alone, there are no less than six different options to choose from. Fairly extreme, considering Ballmer’s blasting against Google Android offering too many choices.

Microsoft’s Project Natal, or Kinect, will go on sale starting November 4 with 15 game titles. They are all basic titles – from a cute animal game to a fitness title – but they lay the groundwork for more advanced and immersive games in the future. There’s no word on pricing yet but availability is confirmed. Microsoft may be waiting for Sony and others to release their motion-sensing consoles with confirmed price points before releasing that information, Engadget presumes.

Google and Yahoo were already on the iPhone as the preferred search options, Apple has now added Bing as a third viable choice for consumers. Some may argue that it’s Apple subtle way of taking a jab at Google with more choices on its platform; however, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said it’s the company’s way of giving more choices, since “Microsoft has done a great job on this.” Well, if choices were what Apple was about, perhaps it could add Flash as an option on its mobile devices. No?

We might not be great fans of Microsoft’s Kin One and Kin Two social networking phones, but when we see a good deal, it’s worth mentioning. Best Buy has dropped the price on Kin One and Kin Two by $50 in an effort to boost sales, we presume. The Kin One will now be available for free, while Kin Two will set you back $50 with a 2-year agreement. There are no mail-in-rebates to deal with; it’s all after instant discounts. We can’t say this has us impressed, but it’s a step in the right direction.  

Click here to check out the latest prices on Microsoft Windows 7 from Dell

NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang is ready to unite behind Google’s Android mobile OS and leave Microsoft Windows Mobile behind, he said in an interview to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan.

Huang:

Windows is too big and it’s too full featured for smartbooks and tablets. The good news is that we finally have an operating system to unite behind. Android is an operating system that has gained a tremendous amount of momentum all over the world. Android has become the fastest growing mobile operating system in the world and, in fact, it has surpassed the iPhone in terms of growth and in terms of users.

That says it all for NVIDIA and where the company stands in mobile wars. Here’s to Google for winning over another partner.

Click here to check the latest prices on the HTC HD2 Windows Mobile phone at Best Buy.

A few minutes ago, we reported how Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was expected to be at Apple’s WWDC event on June 7 to showcase the company’s Visual Studio 2010 based on a report from Trip Chowdhry, Analyst, Global Equities Research. Theory debunked. Microsoft just tweeted that Ballmer will not be making an appearance at the conference. We didn’t think so either. Steve Jobs hasn’t gone crazy yet. He may be distracted with Google, but that doesn’t mean he has forgotten about Microsoft.

Also in the story, we reported another Microsoft executive, possibly Bob Muglia, who runs Microsoft’s server and tools business, may deliver the demo. There’s still a possibility of that happening.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer may show up at Apple’s WWDC 2010 to showcase Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2010 that will give app developers the chance to natively work on apps for iPhone-iPod touch-iPad combo and Mac OS, Trip Chowdhry, Analyst, Global Equities Research, believes.

In his report, Chowdhry said Apple has reserved 7 minutes of the conference to have Microsoft give a presentation to the Apple audience. That presentation may be given by none other than Ballmer himself, or Bob Muglia, who runs Microsoft’s server and tools business, Barron’s writes.