Microsoft, clearly a bit jealous of the gratuitous geeky kudos being mopped up by Google X, has set up its own secretive Special Projects group. The group is being headed up by Norman Whitaker, previously a deputy director at DARPA. Not much is known about the Special Projects group, but a job listing says it will be tasked with "working on disruptive technologies that could benefit the company and society." So far, Microsoft has declined to officially comment on this new group -- presumably it's waiting for a big New York Times expose, just like Google X.