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Tag: Windows 8

  • Microsoft Will Pay You $100 To Upgrade Windows XP

    Microsoft wants you to finally stop using Windows XP. Microsoft announced this week that they will no longer be supporting Windows XP in any of their security updates, and are urging anyone left on the 12-year-old operating system to upgrade their device. To help offset costs, Microsoft is offering a $100 credit towards upgrading your system to one of their more current models. The credit applies to any new computer or laptop priced from $600 to $2300, and lasts until June 15th. The $100 Microsoft upgrade credit also comes with 90 days of free technical support, which serves as an incentive to encourage even the most stubborn, most un-tech savvy consumers to finally make the switch. The card is not redeemable for cash, or combinable with any other discounts or offers.

    Microsoft’s so-called “end-of-life” date for XP is slated for April 8th. After the 8th, XP users will be exposed to major security vulnerabilites and harmful viruses. CNN Money estimates that about 6% of companies’ PCs will still be using XP after the deadline. Microsoft claims that XP is five times more susceptible to cyber attacks than Windows 8, its latest operating system.

    “A year ago, 35% of machines for small businesses were still on XP,” said Sergio Galindo, a GFI Software manager who works to support small and mid-sized business. Sergio says XP will still work for these business, but it’s more like “expired milk”: “If you drink it one day after it expires, you’re OK. But after a month, the risk is exponentially greater. You can get a new PC that’s running Windows 8 for about the same price of repairs on a four year old PC.”

    Thomas Hansen, VP of Worldwide Small and Medium Business at Microsoft, adds that Windows 8 is simply “designed for how we work today. These new technologies provide people with a consistent and personalized experience enabling them to collaborate with colleagues and get business done efficiently.”

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Mozilla Ends Firefox Metro Development

    In March 2012, Mozilla announced that it was developing a version of Firefox for Windows 8’s Metro UI. The non-profit included Firefox for Metro in its Nightly distribution starting February of last year. If you became a fan of Mozilla’s touch friendly Firefox in that time, you’ll want to make your peace now.

    Mozilla announced this morning that development of the Metro version of Firefox has ceased. In fact, the non-profit says that to release a version 1.0 of Firefox Metro “would be a mistake.”

    So, why kill of the Metro version of Firefox? Two reasons – resources and adoption rates. The first is perhaps the most important as Mozilla notes that its resources are not infinite. It has to focus on what works to compete in a market against juggernauts like Google. That’s why it wants to refocus its teams on the versions of Firefox that can make the most difference.

    As for adoption rates, Mozilla notes that it’s been “pretty flat.” In a comparison, it says that pre-release versions of Firefox desktop is being tested by millions of users whereas Firefox Metro has “never seen more than 1,000 active daily users.” With so few users, any release would suffer from bugs that were never discovered during the alpha and beta. To avoid that, Mozilla would have to devote its own resources towards QA, and the non-profit doesn’t think it would be worth it.

    Despite all this, Mozilla will not erase Firefox Metro’s existence from the Web. It will keep the code alive for anybody who wants to poke around. Even Mozilla admits that Firefox Metro could one day take off and it will “scramble to catch back up” if that happens. It just feels that it’s safer to focus on other products for now instead of one that has never shown much promise.

    Image via paulrouget/imgur

  • Windows 8.1 Might Be Getting A Free Version [Report]

    Windows 8 wasn’t the renaissance Microsoft hoped it would be. Sure, the total number of Windows 8 users steadily increases every month, but it has no chance of toppling Windows 7 at this point. One reason for that is that consumers don’t want to pay $100 or more to upgrade. Microsoft might soon be remedying this.

    ZDNet reports that Microsoft is currently looking into a free version of Windows 8.1 called Windows 8.1 with Bing. It’s reportedly part of a grand experiment as Microsoft sees the writing on the wall – operating systems will one day be free. The company will have to adapt to this reality before it happens, and that’s where Windows 8.1 with Bing comes in.

    So, what is Windows 8.1 with Bing? Well, nobody is exactly sure at this point, but they have some ideas. One theory is that it’s an experiment into a free version of Windows 8 that would only come with Bing services. All the other applications you usually get with Windows, like Skype, OneDrive and Office, would all be available as paid-for add-ons. In other words, Windows 8 would be free while applications can be added on through separate purchases as needed.

    If this turned out to be true, it could be a major turn around for Microsoft. There are PC users out there, especially PC gamers, who want the benefits of Windows 8, but don’t want to pay for it. This would allow them to get the operating system while being able to pick and choose which applications they want. It’s actually kind of brilliant and something that a lot of people could get behind.

    Still, it’s important to note that this is all preliminary and Microsoft is said to only be experimenting with the idea at the moment. It could come to the conclusion that a free version of Windows 8.1 isn’t worth its time. It would be unfortunate if it came to that conclusion, however, as Windows is currently on the defensive against a number of free alternatives, including Mac OS X, Chrome OS and Android.

    Image via Windows Blog

  • Here’s The Coffee Table Of The Future

    Here’s The Coffee Table Of The Future

    The coffee table is outdated. It’s just some wood sitting on top of more wood. In other words, it’s boring. Ideum and 3M have joined forces to make it less boring with technology. Why settle for a lifeless wooden surface when you can have a 46-inch multitouch glass panel that’s capable of playing Angry Birds and silly Internet videos?

    Ideum and 3M have announced that it will soon be releasing what it calls the Android Coffee Table. As the name implies, it’s a coffee table where the top is one giant multitouch screen. It’s very similar to Microsoft’s own Project Pixelsense, but far more affordable.

    The Android Coffee Table will be available in two sizes – 46 and 32 inches. Each table, however, will sport the same specs – a 1080p display, 60 touch points, Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. It comes equipped with Android 4.1, but Ideum would be smart to upgrade it to Android 4.4 as soon as possible to take advantage of the latest improvements in app performance.

    Here’s the table in action:

    The Android Coffee Table will be made available later this year at a starting price of $6,950. If you can’t wait, you can grab the current model at the same price which sports Windows 8. If you don’t mind waiting even longer, Ideum will also be releasing a dual-boot version of the table with Android and Windows 8.

    Image via multitouchexhibits/YouTube

  • Microsoft Is Making Its Own Reader App [Rumor]

    When it comes to reading eBooks on a Windows device, you really only have two options – Nook or Kindle. Now it looks like Microsoft wants to finally build a reader app to compete with those two options.

    Gizmodo reports that a new job listing on Microsoft’s site says the company is looking for an engineer to join its Music, Video and Reading team. The same team has already built products like Xbox Music and Xbox Video, and this job listing makes it appear that their next project may be Xbox Reader.

    Here’s the official description:

    As an SDE, you will be on the team building a groundbreaking interactive reading app on Windows, which incorporates books, magazines, and comics. In this position you will be expected to drive, design, and deliver the features that you work on. The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced and collaborative, cross-discipline team environment, and a passion for digital entertainment.

    While not a confirmation, it certainly looks like Microsoft is working on its own Reader app. It’s a little strange too considering how much money Microsoft previously pumped into Barnes & Noble. In 2012, Microsoft was pushing the Nook app on Windows 8 as part of their investment. Perhaps Microsoft doesn’t see a future for Nook and is working on a replacement in case Barnes & Noble kills Nook. It could also just be the result of Microsoft wanting its users to stick with its products and services on Windows with the trifecta of Xbox Video, Xbox Music and Xbox Reader.

    Whatever the cause – it’s probably safe to say that we’ll be seeing an Xbox Reader app this year. It only makes sense for Microsoft to have its own reading app. After all, both Google and Apple have offered a reading app on their platforms for years now. Microsoft needs to catch up.

    Image via imgur

  • Microsoft Celebrates Tech In Its Super Bowl Ad

    Ever since Apple’s infamous 1984 Super Bowl ad, we’ve never really had a good tech-related ad during the game. Microsoft may have finally done it with its latest.

    On Sunday night, Microsoft aired a Super Bowl ad called “Empowering.” It stars former NFL player Steve Gleason who now suffers from ALS. Instead of letting it get him down, however, he uses a Surface and eye-tracking technology to communicate with those around him. It’s the kind of feel good ad that you might expect during the Super Bowl to help fans calm down after screaming at their televisions for 10 minutes straight.

    Microsoft’s ad is more than just selling the Surface though. In fact, it barely features the company’s technology at all. It mostly focuses on the role technology plays in our lives today making the lives of those afflicted with various disabilities much easier. Microsoft may have played a role in the creation of some of these technologies, but it’s nice to see a focus on how technological advancements are making lives better regardless of their origin.

    Of course, the cynic will say that this is still a Microsoft ad and it has a job of selling products. That’s certainly true and a point that can’t be argued with. It’s equally important, however, to sometimes disregard cynicism and corporate brand loyalty for just a few seconds to appreciate the fact that we live in an amazing time where people with afflictions that would have meant death only 50 years ago can now live happy and fulfilling lives.

    Image via Microsoft/YouTube

  • Windows 8.1 Update May Make Boot To Desktop The Default Option

    Windows 8 was a mess, but Windows 8.1 pretty much fixed all of the problems that people had with the radically different OS. One of those fixes was adding in an option that allowed users to boot to desktop therefore bypassing the tiled “metro” interface entirely. Now it appears that Microsoft may be making this option the default setting.

    Wzor reports (as translated by The Verge) that the latest update to hit Windows 8.1 will make the OS boot to desktop by default. Unless it was changed by the user, Windows 8.1 would previously boot to the tiled Start menu interface by default. This latest change would be another instance of Microsoft backtracking in the face of consumer preference.

    According to the report, many of the changes being included with the spring update to Windows 8.1 are in direct response to telemetry data and concerns from businesses upgrading Windows XP machines to Windows 8. First, the telemetry data told Microsoft that most Windows 8 users are still using a mouse and keyboard and desktop applications. This basically tells them that most desktop Windows 8 users aren’t even using the Start menu or its apps.

    As for businesses, many are scrambling to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows XP when support for the decade old OS ends this April. In response to this, Microsoft may be adding features that make Windows 8.1 more familiar to those who were still using XP until a few months ago.

    Before you start praising Windows 8, you should know that all of this has yet to be set in stone. Microsoft is still in the testing process as they see which features should make it into the spring update for Windows 8.1. Only a few features could make it in, or they could revamp everything. It’s hard to say at this point, but we should start hearing more about the latest update to Windows 8.1 in the near future.

    Image via Windows Blog

  • Microsoft Envisions The Future Of Retail, Thinks Everybody Will Have Windows Devices

    Microsoft Envisions The Future Of Retail, Thinks Everybody Will Have Windows Devices

    What’s been the most innovative technology in retail over the past few years? If you immediately thought of Square, you win. The POS hardware/software combo has made it easier than ever for small businesses to accept and process credit card payments at any time and anywhere. Now Microsoft wants a piece of the pie.

    In a new video from Microsoft, the company envisions a world where everybody – retailers and consumers – own Windows devices. In this fantasy world, retail associates can use NFC to sync a consumer’s Windows Phone with their Windows tablet to find which products they most desire. Windows devices are also seen being used as POS stands so customers can check out in more places.

    While this Windows device fantasy land is obviously something Microsoft wants to happen, it’s not reality. The above video does, however, convey the very real transformation of retail thanks to technology. A number of mobile devices, ranging from Android and iOS to even Windows Phone, are transforming how retailers sell and how consumers buy.

    It’s obvious that Microsoft is ahead of the curve when it comes to transforming retail, but will it really just rely on trying to sell Windows devices to do so? If anything, Microsoft should work on some software solutions for all devices to take on Square and others. For all we know, that’s probably in the works, but it certainly isn’t going to stop trying to sell Windows devices to businesses anytime soon.

    Image via Windows/YouTube

  • Apathy May One Day Be The Death Of Microsoft

    When was the last time you really cared about Microsoft or its products? It was probably when you first bought a Windows XP desktop or laptop during the PC revolution of the late 90s/early 2000s. At that time, you were the coolest if you had a PC. Oh, how the times have changed though, and Paul Thurrot thinks that change may be the biggest problem facing Microsoft today.

    Thurrot, Windows blogger and all around Microsoft expert, penned an article on Tuesday that examined the biggest threat facing Windows going into 2014. While many have already said Windows demise will come at the hands of mobile platforms, Thurrot says it will come from a more surprising source – consumer apathy.

    He argues that Windows is in trouble because people just don’t care anymore. Here’s the gist of his argument:

    Windows is in trouble because people simply don’t care about it anymore. It’s not outright hostility; there’s far less of that than the anti-Microsoft crowd would like to believe. It’s ambivalence. It’s ambivalence driven by the nature of “good enough” mobile and web apps. It’s ambivalence driven by the allure of anytime/anywhere computing on tiny devices that are more cool to use and even cooler to be seen using.

    It’s definitely a compelling argument as it’s the same reason many people never upgraded to Windows 7 from XP. The applications consumers and businesses need to use on Windows PCs are good enough on XP. They don’t see any need to upgrade to the latest and greatest operating system for that very reason. Microsoft just hasn’t given them a reason to care enough yet.

    Alongside consumer apathy, Thurrot says that Microsoft may have done itself in years ago with Windows Vista. Vista was part of a larger project called Longhorn that Thurrot says “addressed the wrong problem for the era.” He says this led to developers fleeing Windows en masse to the mobile devices that were just starting to hit the market. After mobile exploded, those same developers never returned to Windows which Thurrot says led to a stagnation of the Windows desktop that it hasn’t yet recovered from.

    So, where does this leave Microsoft? Thurrot says the company will focus more on its devices and services business in 2014, which means we may just see more Windows software appear on competing operating systems, like iOS and Android. That doesn’t mean Microsoft will be giving up on Windows 8 though. The company is in it for the long haul. If it’s as Thurrot says though, Microsoft will have to work extra hard to make sure consumers, developers and businesses all give a damn about Windows in 2014.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Windows 7 May Have Left Retail, But It’s Still Alive In PCs

    Windows 7 May Have Left Retail, But It’s Still Alive In PCs

    Are you looking for a new Windows PC, but don’t want to get into Windows 8? Well, you’re out of luck if you were hoping to find a copy of Windows 7 through retail as Microsoft stopped selling individual copies of the operating system back in October. Now your only choice is to buy a PC that comes with the OS.

    ZDNet reminds us today that Windows 7 is still alive and well in PCs sold by OEMs and retailers. In other words, one of the only ways to get your hands on a copy of Windows 7 these days is to buy an entirely new PC that has the OS pre-installed.

    While Microsoft may have stopped selling Windows 7 discs at its own retail locations and in stores, you can still find copies of it at online specialty stores, like Newegg. If you’re in the market for a new PC, you might just want to go with that as copies of Windows 7 are still exorbitantly expensive.

    If you do manage to get your hands on Windows 7, you’ll be happy to know that it has years of official support from Microsoft left in it. According to the Windows lifecycle Web site, Microsoft will continue mainstream support of Windows 7 through January 13, 2015. After that, security fixes will still come to Windows 7 through extended support until January 14, 2020.

    Speaking of extended support, those who are still rockin’ Windows XP will want to upgrade soon as extended support for the decade old operating system is set to end on April 8, 2014. It’s already been pushed back a few times now, but it looks like Microsoft is finally ready to sever its ties with XP. You’ll want to upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8 before that happens.

    [Image: Christian Zibreg/YouTube]

  • Finance App Mint Comes To Windows 8

    Finance App Mint Comes To Windows 8

    For those of who are too lazy to keep track of our finances, Mint was a godsend when it hit iOS and Android. Now Windows 8 users can finally keep track of their finances the easy way as well.

    Mint announced today that its personal finance app is now available on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 starting today. Much like the apps on iOS and Android, you’ll be able to connect Mint with your bank account to keep track of all your purchases. It’s also handy at chastising you for spending more money on video games than on food.

    “More than 13 million users rely on Mint to help them save toward their financial goals and guide them to a better financial future,” said Vince Maniago, group product manager for Mint. “By expanding our mobile personal finance offerings, we’re providing Windows and Windows Phone users with a custom-built Mint experience that helps them take control and manage their money anywhere, anytime.”

    Here’s what the app on Windows 8 looks like:

    Finance App Mint Finally Available On Windows 8

    Aside from the basic app functionality that you will find in any version of Mint, the app on Windows 8 supports unique Windows functionality, like LiveTiles. That means you’ll be able to see select financial information from the app on your homescreen without ever having to open said app.

    You can grab Mint from the Windows store and Windows Phone store today.

    [Image: Windows Store]

  • Here’s How Multitasking Works On The Xbox One

    With Windows 8, Microsoft introduced a new way to multitask called Snap. In short, you could have two apps running simultaneously at once while you could choose which app got to take up more of the screen. Since the Xbox One’s OS is based heavily on Windows 8, the same functionality is present on the console as well. That’s all well and good, but how does it work on a game console?

    In a new video released today, Yusuf Mehdi from the Xbox team shows off Snap for the Xbox One. While playing games, you can use Kinect to say “Xbox Snap” and then say the name of the app you want to launch. The game will pause and a side window will open with the app you requested. From there, you can go back to the game with the side window still open. The example below shows Mehdi playing Forza Motorsport 5 while watching ESPN in the Snap window.

    With Snap, Microsoft may have a really unique feature on its hands that helps the Xbox One to differentiate itself from the PS4. I can’t imagine playing a game while watching TV at the same time, but using Internet Explorer in a Snap window to look up a game guide while playing a game could prove useful.

    So, what about the PS4? While it doesn’t feature multitasking on the same level as the Xbox One, it does have its own enhancements. According to Engadget, you can pause your game, open up another app and then go back to the game by simply double-tapping the PS Home button. Doing so will immediately take you back to the last open app. This can be used to jump between any two active applications. It’s not as nice as Snap, but PlayStation fans will certainly appreciate it after years of dealing with the PS3’s utter lack of multitasking capabilities.

    [Image: xbox/YouTube]

  • Internet Explorer 11 Now Hits Window 7 Officially

    Internet Explorer 11 has now been launched for Window 7 users too. Earlier, Microsoft had promised that the new Explorer will arrive on Windows 7, so this isn’t a big surprise. IE11 is the default browser of Windows 8.1. Starting Thursday, users of Window 7 who decided to remain behind in the launch of Windows 8 (later 8.1) will now enjoy the features of IE11 as well.

    Although there isn’t much difference between IE11 from its previous versions, IE11 is a worthy upgrade for anyone using Windows 7. However, Microsoft says that the javascript engine of IE11 is almost 10% faster than IE10 and 30% faster than browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

    The new Explorer also supports most of the newest apps and plugins like HTML5 video without plugins as well as the latest version of WebGL. There are other subtle upgrades to IE11 that will create the feeling of faster browsing. Improvements include its prefetching capabilities as well as updates to F12 developer tools for Microsoft. One drawback, however, is that IE11 doesn’t support Google’s SPDY protocol.

    Another interesting feature of IE11 is its enhanced security features that are capable of blocking socially engineered malware. According to the NSS Labs study, Internet Explorer can block about 99 % of malware while Firefox blocks only 4% and Chrome blocks only 70% of the socially engineered malware. Similar percentages apply in terms of blocking phishing attacks. In short, IE11 offers advanced JavaScript performance, better security and ensures greater compatibility and interoperability.

    According to Internet Explorer group program managers Rob Mauceri and Sandeep Singhal, Microsoft will begin automatically  updating Windows 7 customers to IE11 in the weeks ahead, starting today (Thursday) with customers running the IE11 Developer and Release Previews,” Users can download the new Internet Explorer 11 from Microsoft’s website.

    (image from Microsoft.com)

  • Early Windows 8.1 Tablet Sales Fall Short

    Early Windows 8.1 Tablet Sales Fall Short

    Though Microsoft is seeing some encouraging growth for its Windows Phone 8 smartphones in the mobile market, it does not appear that its tablets are faring as well.

    DigiTimes today reported that retailers saw sales of Windows 8.1 tablets in October that are well below what was expected – 20% to 30% lower than estimates, even. The report’s unnamed “sources from channel retailers” blamed the slow sales, unsurprisingly, on the popularity of Android tablets and even on the declining PC market.

    The report also warns that slow sales of Windows tablets could lead to “inventory issues” next year. The cryptic phrase more “inventory issues” no doubt refers to the $900 million worth of Surface tablets that Microsoft had to write-off at the end of its second quarter this year.

    DigiTimes’ sources point to falling prices of PCs and Android tablets as major obstacles for Windows tablets. The report predicts that Windows 8.1 tablets will start to drop drastically in price starting in December, with some devices getting discounts as large as 20%.

    These figures also might not bode well for Windows 8.1 as a platform. Last year’s release of Windows 8 was largely a failure, with the OS now running on less than 10% of PCs. Windows 8.1 is meant to correct the errors of Windows 8, improving design and bringing back the platform’s famed Start button. Anticipation was also building for businesses still using the soon-to-expire XP to upgrade their PC infrastructures this fall. However, if not even tablet users are embracing Windows 8’s tile-based user interface designed specifically with touchscreens in mind, it seems far-fetched that businesses would want their employees using the new OS.

  • Windows 8.1 Is Now Available On The Windows Store

    Windows 8.1 Is Now Available On The Windows Store

    It’s been almost a year since Windows 8 hit the scene, and what a year it’s been. After getting off to a super slow start, Windows 8 finally managed to overtake the dead-in-the-water Windows Vista. Sure, it’s not much, but baby steps count for something, right? Besides, Microsoft is just getting started with Windows 8, and is launching phase two of its plan today.

    Microsoft announced that Windows 8.1 is now available in the Windows Store to all Windows 8 owners out there. This free upgrade brings a number of refinements and new features to the Windows 8 experience that Microsoft hopes will address many of the problems users had with the original release of Windows 8.

    If you already own a Windows 8 device, there’s no point in not upgrading to Windows 8.1. It’s free and it may just make your time with Windows 8 a lot better. What about those who have held off though? Does Windows 8.1 bring anything new to the table? Should you upgrade from Windows 7?

    Two common complaints from Windows 7 users regarding Windows 8 both have to do with the tiled Smart screen that Microsoft continually pushes in every Windows 8 ad. It’s great for a touch device, but it’s not so great for a traditional mouse and keyboard setup. Microsoft has tried to address those concerns in Windows 8.1, but it’s obsession with the Start screen may still turn some users off.

    Let’s start with the good news first. Users can now choose to either boot into the Start screen or the traditional desktop. That’s great news for those who hated having to see the Start screen every time they booted up Windows 8, but it’s not like the Start screen is suddenly an optional thing. Microsoft still wants you to use it hence the bad news.

    The new Start button in Windows 8.1 is a lie. Sure, there’s a Start button and it looks just like the Start button that we all grew to love on almost every past version of Windows. The only difference is that the Start button in Windows 8.1 doesn’t open a list of programs and applications. Instead, it takes you to the Start screen. You can right click the Start button to bring a list of options, like Shut Down and Control Center, but the list of services and applications that you would normally associate with the Start button are still nowhere to be seen.

    Now, those two additions may make or break your Windows 8.1 upgrade decision, but those aren’t the only changes that were made in Windows 8.1. For starters, Microsoft made multitasking much better with an option to have four apps running side-by-side on the same screen. You can also adjust the size of each app so that your email and search app take up most of the display while having a small sliver reserved for the Weather app and Xbox Music.

    Search has also been overhauled in Windows 8.1 with Bing Smart Search. Not only does Bing scour the Web for all your Mesopotamia, Ohio needs, but it can also search for apps, locally stored files and files you have saved on SkyDrive.

    To learn more, check out our previous coverage of all the new features coming to Windows 8.1 for consumers and enterprise users.

    If you already own Windows 8, you can grab the Windows 8.1 update at the Windows Store. In fact, you should receive a notification today on the Start screen telling you to upgrade. For everybody else, you can get Windows 8.1 for $119 and Windows 8.1 Pro for $199.

    [Image: Windows Blog]

  • Google Chrome To Support Windows XP Until 2015

    Are you still using Windows XP? If so, you should probably upgrade already. Microsoft will be taking if off of life support soon, and Google isn’t giving it much longer.

    Google announced today that it intends to support Chrome for Windows XP up through April 2015. That means Google will continue to provide security updates to the Windows XP version of Chrome up through that date. After that, you’re on your own.

    Funny enough, Google will continue to support the Windows XP version of Chrome for a year after Microsoft drops support for the operating system. Microsoft said back in April of this year that it would drop extended support for the 12-year-old operating system in April 2014. While having Google support Chrome for one more year is certainly nice, it still won’t protect you from the massive amounts of malware that security researchers expect will hit Windows XP next April.

    So, why is Google supporting Chrome even when Windows XP itself will become a hive of malware and exploits? It’s all about taking care of Chrome users, especially those in enterprise, during the transition period to newer versions of Windows:

    We recognize that hundreds of millions of users, including a good chunk of current Chrome users, still rely on XP. Moreover, many organizations still run dozens or even hundreds of applications on XP and may have trouble migrating. Our goal is to support Chrome for XP users during this transition process. Most importantly, Chrome on XP will still be automatically updated with the latest security fixes to protect against malware and phishing attacks.

    Google is right when it says that organizations will have trouble migrating to Windows 7 and Windows 8. That’s why Microsoft recently announced that it was teaming up with HP to help businesses make the move. The two will not only offer new hardware, but they’ll also offer consultation services and planning staff to help make the move as painless as possible.

    Even if it takes a year to finally make the transition to Windows 7 or 8, you can at least rest easy knowing that you have a friend in Google. You’re just not going to find a friend anywhere else until you upgrade.

    [Image: Savas/YouTube]

  • Businesses Avoiding Windows 8, Says Toshiba

    PC shipment estimates for the third quarter are out today, and show that the PC market has declined yet again – for the sixth straight quarter. Though shipments saw a slight pick-up due to the back-to-school season, the worldwide PC market is still expected to decline through 2014.

    The hope going into last year’s holiday season was that Windows 8 would help drive upgrade sales of PCs. That did not happen, and now PC makers are relying on Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 operating system to pick up the slack. In fact, the plan by Microsoft and its partners is that the coming shutdown of support for Windows XP will force businesses to upgrade their infrastructure in the coming months. The problem for Microsoft, though, seems to be that no one wants Windows 8 (though it did recently become more popular than Vista).

    ZDNet this week reported that nearly all of PC manufacturer Toshiba’s sales to business customers include Windows 7 software, rather than Windows 8. Toshiba’s business-to-business product marketing manager is quoted in the report as saying that, “Windows 7 is clearly the enterprise operating system at this time.” She goes on to say that “99 percent” of Toshiba’s business sales are Windows 7 with “few exceptions in corporate America.”

    This news comes as a blow to Microsoft, which has seen slow growth of its latest operating system. Toshiba is one of the PC manufacturers that significantly increased its year-over-year PC shipment numbers in the U.S. (up 13.5% to 1.1 million units), much of it from an increase in enterprise sales. If the transition of business from Windows XP lands them on Windows 7, it could be years before those businesses upgrade once again. This, in turn, could make Windows 8 a lost cause that is soon replaced with something more enterprise-friendly from Microsoft.

    (Image courtesy Toshiba)

  • Microsoft Brings SkiFree Back For Internet Explorer 11 Promo

    Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it was bringing back Windows 95 pack-in game Hover as an HTML5-powered Web-based game to show off the capabilities of Internet Explorer 11. That’s all well and good, but I think many of us would have preferred it if Microsoft brought back another one of its more beloved pack in games – SkiFree.

    In a twist of luck, Microsoft has started up a campaign called #NewAndImproved to hammer home the idea that Internet Explorer 11 is the best thing ever. While that may not be the case, the ads that accompany it certainly are. For instance, here’s what Microsoft envisions a new and improved version of SkiFree would look like:

    I personally enjoyed the actual skiing aspects of SkiFree, but I can’t deny it – a game starring the infamous yeti could be the best game ever made. Unfortunately, it’s not real and probably won’t be unless some SkiFree superfan approaches Microsoft about making a sequel. I’d be all for it, but I don’t know if we could deal with a new generation of children growing up in fear of yetis.

    As an added bonus, Microsoft also came up with a way to make brushing your teeth more fun. Can’t say I’m a fan, but some toothbrush manufacturer is probably now kicking his/herself over not coming up with something like it sooner:

    [Image: internetexplorer/YouTube]

  • Windows Updates: Microsoft To Merge To One App Store

    Windows is looking at a major update to its systems. Microsoft is reportedly planning to make it simpler for its users by creating a single app store that would encompass all of the company’s various devices including PCs, tablets and phones. With all of the success that the new iPhone is having,

    Microsoft certainly needs to do something in order to appeal to their consumers. Technology seems to be what makes the world go round in the consumer culture of today’s society, and this is the latest news in that trend, as Microsoft tries to keep up with Apple’s success.

    Combining the two stores that are currently separated into the Windows and Windows Phone app stores into a single unit could help lead to more apps and would also make it easier for people, since they will no longer have to shop in two different places. It has not been determined when the two stores will merge, but it sounds like the date may be closer than previously imagined. The Verge mentions that Terry Myerson, head of the operating systems group, has committed to the next releases of Windows and Windows Phone, which will likely be Windows Phone 8.1 and a special update that they have planned for Windows 8.1. These are both due to be released in the spring of 2014.

    We have still yet to find out how the single Windows Store would work, and whether Windows Phone apps will run on Windows in the new model. As it currently stands, users must download apps for their Windows and Windows Phone devices through separate stores, and apps can’t currently run across both systems, according to PC Pro. This creates confusion for people and also prevents them from using apps that they download from one device from operating on the other. For example, PC World states that the game Halo: Spartan Assault, is available on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, and while the game does allow people to carry over saved progress, they are forced to pay for it on both platforms because the purchases made on the different devices do not carry over.

    Some people have voiced their opinions on the dislike of the current store.

    There are still several unanswered questions that exist with this new information, but there often is with any new type of technology. Windows customers will anxiously await the answers to questions such as how these cross-platform apps would function and what would happen to the apps that people already have downloaded.

    Image via Youtube

  • The New Surface Is Full Of Potential

    The New Surface Is Full Of Potential

    Earlier today, Microsoft announced two new Surface tablets – the Surface Pro 2 and the Surface 2. Both will go on sale starting next month, and come with Windows 8.1 preinstalled on them.

    Alongside the new hardware announcements, Microsoft shared a number of videos that show off what its new Surface tablets are capable of. As you might expect, the first few were your typical promo videos.

    Now this is where things start to get interesting. Microsoft will be releasing an accessory for the Surface called the Surface Music Kit. It’s takes the design of Type Cover, but replaces the keys with a mixing table. Here’s a video of Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn playing around with the Surface Music Kit to quickly create a track:

    In another video, Microsoft worked with students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California to come up with new accessories for the Surface. The Surface Music Kit makes another appearance, but the focus is on the creativity exhibited by these students. They come up with a number of potential new accessories, including tools for doctors, government officials and more, that may or may not show up in future designs.

    [Image: Microsoft}

  • Microsoft Announces The Surface Pro 2, Still Costs $899

    Earlier this year, Microsoft launched the Surface Pro – a Windows 8 Pro-powered PC shrunk into the body of a tablet. It did well enough for the company, and now it wants to improve upon it even more.

    At a Surface event this morning, Microsoft unveiled the all new Surface Pro 2. As you would expect, this is mostly an internal hardware upgrade as it sports a new processor, more powerful graphics and a better display.

    So, what’s new in the Surface Pro 2? You may recall that the original Surface Pro was powered by an Intel i5 Ivy Bridge CPU. The Surface Pro 2 will be powered by the next generation Intel Haswell CPU which promises more power with less power consumption. In fact, Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro 2 has a 75 percent longer battery life than its predecessor.

    Beyond the new CPU, Microsoft showed off a new display that it claims has 50 percent more color accuracy than its predecessor. It’s still a 1920×1080 display, though, so you won’t be seeing any ridiculous retina display-like resolutions from the Surface Pro 2.

    Interestingly enough, however, Microsoft showed off a new PC dock accessory for the Surface Pro 2 that allows the tablet to output to a monitor for those wanting to work in a more professional environment. In this mode, the Surface Pro 2 can output at resolutions up to 4K, or 3840×2160. To showcase this, Microsoft showed off the Surface Pro 2 editing 4K video footage.

    With all that 4K video footage, the Surface Pro 2 will have received quite a hefty upgrade in its memory, right? Users will definitely have that option as Microsoft will offer customizable levels of RAM and storage memory. Users who want to go all out can get a Surface Pro 2 with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Doing so will raise the price from the entry level price of $899 to $1,799 though.

    Beyond the Surface Pro 2, Microsoft also announced some new type covers for its latest tablet. The original touch and type covers are now thinner, and even backlit to help out in darkened environments. Microsoft also announced the Power Type Cover – a type cover with a built-in battery that promises to double the Surface Pro 2’s battery life.

    With all these upgrades, the Surface Pro 2, just like its predecessor, is a really nice piece of hardware. It’s a shame then that it’s price will continue to get in the way. A starting price of $899 is not bad for a PC, and Microsoft has made it clear that the Surface Pro 2 is a PC. Unfortunately for Microsoft, consumers still see it as a tablet and expect tablet pricing.

    If you can look beyond the price, the Surface Pro 2 will launch next month on October 22. As expected, the device will launch with Windows 8.1 already installed.

    [Image: Microsoft]
    [h/t: CNET]