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{{Short description|American freelance technology writer, author, podcaster, and editor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Mary Jo Foley
| name = Mary Jo Foley
| image = Mary Jo Foley seated 2008.jpg
| image = Mary Jo Foley seated 2008.jpg
| caption = Foley in 2008
| caption = Foley in 2008
| birth_date = November 15
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|November 15, 1961}}
| birth_place = [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], USA
| birth_place = [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| nationality = American (US)
| nationality = American (US)
| alma_mater = [[Simmons College]]
| residence = New York City
| occupation = technology writer, author, podcaster, editor
| occupation = *Technology writer,
* Author,
| known_for = Editor of "All About Microsoft" column on [[ZDNet]]
* [[Podcaster]], editor
| website = http:https://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/
| known_for = Editor of "All About Microsoft" column on [[ZDNet]]
| notable_works = * She edited the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for [[ZDNet]].
* Foley co-hosts a weekly [[podcast]] with [[Leo Laporte]] and Paul Thurrott, called "[[Windows Weekly]]"
| website = https:https://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/blog
}}
}}
'''Mary Jo Foley''' is an American freelance technology writer, author, [[podcaster]] and news editor. She regularly writes news, previews, and reviews for [[Microsoft]]'s strategy, products and technology. Foley has been covering news on [[Microsoft Windows]], and previously on [[Unix]]-related technology, since 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://redmondmag.com/articles/2009/12/01/is-microsoft-too-old-for-web-20.aspx|title=Is Microsoft Too Old for Web 2.0?|author=Mary Jo Foley|publisher=Redmond Magazine|date=1 December 2009|accessdate=26 July 2014}}</ref> for publications including ''[[ZDNet]]'', ''[[eWeek]]'', ''Baseline'',<ref name=pcfront>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,89894,00.asp|title=Microsoft: No Good News on the PC Front|publisher=[[PC Magazine]]|author=Mary Jo Foley|date=19 October 2001|accessdate=26 July 2014}}</ref> ''Redmond magazine'' and ''[[PC Magazine]]''.<ref name=pcfront/>
'''Mary Jo Foley''' is an American freelance technology writer, author, [[podcaster]] and news editor. She regularly writes news, previews, and reviews for [[Microsoft]]'s strategy, products and technology. Foley has been covering news on [[Microsoft Windows]], and previously on [[Unix]]-related technology, since 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://redmondmag.com/articles/2009/12/01/is-microsoft-too-old-for-web-20.aspx|title=Is Microsoft Too Old for Web 2.0?|author=Mary Jo Foley|publisher=Redmond Magazine|date=December 1, 2009|accessdate=July 26, 2014}}</ref> for publications including ''[[ZDNet]]'', ''[[eWeek]]'', ''Baseline'',<ref name=pcfront>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,89894,00.asp|title=Microsoft: No Good News on the PC Front|publisher=[[PC Magazine]]|author=Mary Jo Foley|date=October 19, 2001|accessdate=July 26, 2014}}</ref> ''Redmond magazine,'' ''[[PC Magazine]]'', and ''Directions on Microsoft''.<ref name=pcfront/>


==Career==
==Career==
Foley graduated from [[Simmons College]] in 1983 with a degree in technical journalism.<ref name=heroes>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HrqgGAkscnwC&pg=PA43|title=Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World's Top Bloggers|author=Michael A. Banks|chapter=Chapter 5: Mary Jo Foley - All About Microsoft|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|year=2007|page=43|isbn=978-0470197394}}</ref> In 1984 she interviewed the then head of Microsoft, [[Bill Gates]], for a cover story in ''Electronic Business'' magazine. The interview was held at the Microsoft booth of the annual [[COMDEX]] technology exhibition. During the interview, [[Apple Computer]] CEO [[Steve Jobs]], whom Foley did not know, walked up and began chatting with Gates. Eventually Foley grew impatient and told Jobs that she was trying to do an interview, and asked him to come back later. Jobs walked away, and Gates then explained to Foley that she had just sent away the head of Apple.<ref name=heroes/> In 1991 she was hired by the magazine ''[[PCWeek]]'', later renamed to ''eWeek'', and moved to San Francisco. In 1993 she was offered the newly vacant post of Microsoft reporter, and moved to [[Seattle, Washington]], near Microsoft's [[Redmond, Washington]] headquarters. In the late 1990s, she edited the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet,<ref name=aims>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=10867|title=Journalist Mary Jo Foley Aims for Microsoft, Again|author=Pat Kearney|newspaper=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]|date=30 May 2002|accessdate=26 July 2014}}</ref> and subsequently the "Microsoft Watch" blog for Ziff Davis.<ref name=aims/> She currently edits the "All About Microsoft" column on ZDNet.
Foley graduated from [[Simmons University|Simmons College]] in 1983 with a degree in technical journalism.<ref name=heroes>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HrqgGAkscnwC&pg=PA43|title=Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World's Top Bloggers|author=Michael A. Banks|chapter=Chapter 5: Mary Jo Foley All About Microsoft|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|year=2007|page=43|isbn=978-0470197394}}</ref> In 1984 she interviewed the then head of Microsoft, [[Bill Gates]], for a cover story in ''Electronic Business'' magazine. The interview was held at the Microsoft booth of the annual [[COMDEX]] technology exhibition. During the interview, [[Apple Computer]] CEO [[Steve Jobs]], whom Foley did not know, walked up and began chatting with Gates. Eventually Foley grew impatient and told Jobs that she was trying to do an interview, and asked him to come back later. Jobs walked away, and Gates then explained to Foley that she had just sent away the head of Apple.<ref name=heroes/> In 1991 she was hired by the magazine ''[[PCWeek]]'', later renamed to ''eWeek'', and moved to San Francisco. In 1993 she was offered the newly vacant post of Microsoft reporter, and moved to [[Seattle]], Washington, near Microsoft's [[Redmond, Washington]], headquarters. In the late 1990s, she edited the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet,<ref name=aims>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=10867|title=Journalist Mary Jo Foley Aims for Microsoft, Again|author=Pat Kearney|newspaper=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]|date=May 30, 2002|accessdate=July 26, 2014}}</ref> and subsequently the "Microsoft Watch" blog for Ziff Davis.<ref name=aims/> Until October 2022, she edited the "All About Microsoft" column on ZDNet.


Three days before the public launch on February 17, 2000 of the full version of [[Microsoft Windows 2000]], which Microsoft advertised as "a standard in reliability," a leaked memo from Microsoft reported on by Foley revealed that Windows 2000 had "over 63,000 potential known defects."<ref>{{cite news|url=http:https://www.zdnet.com/article/bugfest-win2000-has-63000-defects/|title=Bugfest! Win2000 has 63,000 'defects'|author=Mary Jo Foley|date=14 February 2000|publisher=[[ZDNet]]|accessdate=26 July 2014}}</ref> After Foley's article was published, she claimed that Microsoft [[blacklist]]ed her for a considerable time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2006/09/20/Mary-Jo-Foley-Exit-Interview.aspx |title=Mary Jo Foley: The Exit Interview |author=Robert McLaws |publisher=WindowsNow |date=20 September 2006 |accessdate=26 July 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113004913/https://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2006/09/20/Mary-Jo-Foley-Exit-Interview.aspx |archivedate=13 January 2015 |df= }}</ref>
Three days before the public launch on February 17, 2000, of the full version of [[Microsoft Windows 2000]], which Microsoft advertised as "a standard in reliability," a leaked memo from Microsoft reported on by Foley revealed that Windows 2000 had "over 63,000 potential known defects."<ref>{{cite news|url=https:https://www.zdnet.com/article/bugfest-win2000-has-63000-defects/|title=Bugfest! Win2000 has 63,000 'defects'|author=Mary Jo Foley|date=February 14, 2000|publisher=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref> After Foley's article was published, she claimed that Microsoft [[blacklist]]ed her for a considerable time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2006/09/20/Mary-Jo-Foley-Exit-Interview.aspx |title=Mary Jo Foley: The Exit Interview |author=Robert McLaws |publisher=WindowsNow |date=September 20, 2006 |accessdate=July 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113004913/https://windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2006/09/20/Mary-Jo-Foley-Exit-Interview.aspx |archivedate=January 13, 2015 }}</ref>


Foley co-hosts a weekly [[podcast]] with [[Leo Laporte]] and [[Paul Thurrott]], called [[Windows Weekly]], covering news on Microsoft, its products and services, and other computing-related topics, where Foley covers enterprise computing. Foley has interviewed prominent figures in information technology, including [[Bill Gates]], [[Steve Jobs]], [[Steve Ballmer]] and [[Satya Nadella]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Exclusive: CEO Nadella talks Microsoft's mobile ambitions, Windows 10 strategy, HoloLens and more {{!}} ZDNet|url = http:https://www.zdnet.com/article/ceo-nadella-talks-microsofts-mobile-ambitions-windows-10-strategy-hololens-and-more/?tag=nl.e552&s_cid=e552&ttag=e552&ftag=TRE3e6936e|website = ZDNet|accessdate = 2015-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twit.tv/show/windows-weekly/340|title=Can I Call You Steve?|author=Mary Jo Foley, [[Paul Thurrott]] and [[Leo Laporte]]|publisher=[[TWiT.tv]]|date=12 December 2013|accessdate=25 July 2014}}</ref>
From July 7, 2007, to October 26, 2022, Foley co-hosted a weekly [[podcast]] with [[Leo Laporte]] and Paul Thurrott, called "''[[Windows Weekly]]''", covering news on Microsoft, its products and services, and other computing-related topics. Foley mainly focused on Microsoft's enterprise business. On October 26, 2022, she announced that she was leaving the show, as well as ZDNet to become editor-in-chief at ''Directions on Microsoft''.
Foley has interviewed prominent figures in information technology, including [[Bill Gates]], [[Steve Jobs]], [[Steve Ballmer]] and [[Satya Nadella]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Exclusive: CEO Nadella talks Microsoft's mobile ambitions, Windows 10 strategy, HoloLens and more|url = https:https://www.zdnet.com/article/ceo-nadella-talks-microsofts-mobile-ambitions-windows-10-strategy-hololens-and-more/?tag=nl.e552&s_cid=e552&ttag=e552&ftag=TRE3e6936e|website = ZDNet|access-date = July 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twit.tv/show/windows-weekly/340|title=Can I Call You Steve?|author=Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott and [[Leo Laporte]]|publisher=[[TWiT.tv]]|date=December 12, 2013|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref>


==Books==
==Books==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/ All About Microsoft], on [[ZDNet]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100507185530/https://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft All About Microsoft], on [[ZDNet]]
* [https://twit.tv/people/mary-jo-foley Mary Jo Foley], on [[TWiT.tv]]
* [https://twit.tv/people/mary-jo-foley Mary Jo Foley], on [[TWiT.tv]]
* {{Twitter}}


{{TWiT podcasts}}
{{TWiT podcasts}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Mary Jo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Mary Jo}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American podcasters]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:American women podcasters]]
[[Category:American bloggers]]
[[Category:American bloggers]]
[[Category:American magazine writers]]
[[Category:American magazine writers]]
[[Category:Simmons College (Massachusetts) alumni]]
[[Category:Simmons University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Framingham, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Framingham, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Women technology writers]]
[[Category:Women technology writers]]
[[Category:TWiT people]]
[[Category:TWiT.tv people]]
[[Category:American women bloggers]]
[[Category:American women bloggers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]

Latest revision as of 19:36, 6 September 2024

Mary Jo Foley
Foley in 2008
BornNovember 15, 1961 (1961-11-15) (age 63)
NationalityAmerican (US)
Alma materSimmons College
Occupations
Known forEditor of "All About Microsoft" column on ZDNet
Notable work
Websitehttps://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/blog

Mary Jo Foley is an American freelance technology writer, author, podcaster and news editor. She regularly writes news, previews, and reviews for Microsoft's strategy, products and technology. Foley has been covering news on Microsoft Windows, and previously on Unix-related technology, since 1983,[1] for publications including ZDNet, eWeek, Baseline,[2] Redmond magazine, PC Magazine, and Directions on Microsoft.[2]

Career

[edit]

Foley graduated from Simmons College in 1983 with a degree in technical journalism.[3] In 1984 she interviewed the then head of Microsoft, Bill Gates, for a cover story in Electronic Business magazine. The interview was held at the Microsoft booth of the annual COMDEX technology exhibition. During the interview, Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs, whom Foley did not know, walked up and began chatting with Gates. Eventually Foley grew impatient and told Jobs that she was trying to do an interview, and asked him to come back later. Jobs walked away, and Gates then explained to Foley that she had just sent away the head of Apple.[3] In 1991 she was hired by the magazine PCWeek, later renamed to eWeek, and moved to San Francisco. In 1993 she was offered the newly vacant post of Microsoft reporter, and moved to Seattle, Washington, near Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters. In the late 1990s, she edited the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet,[4] and subsequently the "Microsoft Watch" blog for Ziff Davis.[4] Until October 2022, she edited the "All About Microsoft" column on ZDNet.

Three days before the public launch on February 17, 2000, of the full version of Microsoft Windows 2000, which Microsoft advertised as "a standard in reliability," a leaked memo from Microsoft reported on by Foley revealed that Windows 2000 had "over 63,000 potential known defects."[5] After Foley's article was published, she claimed that Microsoft blacklisted her for a considerable time.[6]

From July 7, 2007, to October 26, 2022, Foley co-hosted a weekly podcast with Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, called "Windows Weekly", covering news on Microsoft, its products and services, and other computing-related topics. Foley mainly focused on Microsoft's enterprise business. On October 26, 2022, she announced that she was leaving the show, as well as ZDNet to become editor-in-chief at Directions on Microsoft.

Foley has interviewed prominent figures in information technology, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella.[7][8]

Books

[edit]
  • Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era, Wiley & Sons, May 2008. ISBN 978-0470191385

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mary Jo Foley (December 1, 2009). "Is Microsoft Too Old for Web 2.0?". Redmond Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Mary Jo Foley (October 19, 2001). "Microsoft: No Good News on the PC Front". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Michael A. Banks (2007). "Chapter 5: Mary Jo Foley – All About Microsoft". Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World's Top Bloggers. John Wiley & Sons. p. 43. ISBN 978-0470197394.
  4. ^ a b Pat Kearney (May 30, 2002). "Journalist Mary Jo Foley Aims for Microsoft, Again". The Stranger. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Mary Jo Foley (February 14, 2000). "Bugfest! Win2000 has 63,000 'defects'". ZDNet. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Robert McLaws (September 20, 2006). "Mary Jo Foley: The Exit Interview". WindowsNow. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: CEO Nadella talks Microsoft's mobile ambitions, Windows 10 strategy, HoloLens and more". ZDNet. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte (December 12, 2013). "Can I Call You Steve?". TWiT.tv. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
[edit]