"The release of Microsoft’s Skype Translator, which translates multilingual conversations in real time, is an early success."
Is it just me who has seen loads on the updates to Google Translate but never heard about this?
If not, then that suggests that shifting media perception about Microsoft will be critical, and isn't there yet (this piece will help). Only when the media (bloggers and mainstream) filter Microsoft announcements through a context of 'they do innovative exciting things' will product and feature releases garner the publicity Microsoft needs to change the broader public perception.