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Tag: Windows 8

  • Sony Announces Three New Windows 8 Devices

    The big news out of IFA may be the new smart watches, but the traditional PC is still getting some love from the major players. In fact, Sony has announced three new Windows 8 devices to launch around the time that Windows 8.1 hits.

    The first announcement out of Sony is the new Vaio Fit that combines the functionality of a laptop with the convenience and portability of a tablet. As the name suggests, you’ll be able to flip the keyboard behind the display to convert the laptop into a tablet. Simply flip the keyboard to the front of the device to turn it into a laptop again.

    As for specs, the Vaio Fit comes equipped with an Intel Haswell CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB SSD and can be outfitted with an Nvidia GeForce 735M on the 15-inch model. The laptop will also come in 13 and 14-inch models.

    Alongside the Vaio Fit, Sony also announced the Vaio Tap 11 and the Vaio Tap 22. The Tap 11 is a Windows 8 tablet equipped with an Intel CPU. It comes with a wireless magnetic keyboard that doubles as a cover. As for the Tap 21, it’s a desktop all-in-one PC with a 21.5-inch 1080p display powered by an Intel i5 or i7 Haswell CPU.

    In other Sony news, the company announced its new flagship Android device – the Xperia Z1 – today. There’s still no Windows Phone device from Sony, and there might never be one.

    [Image: Sony]

  • Surface Pro Price Cut Is Now Permanent

    The Surface Pro is much too expensive. That’s at least what some consumers think as the tablet isn’t exactly flying off store shelves. In an attempt to remedy that, Microsoft introduced a temporary price cut, but it has apparently proved too popular to discontinue.

    Neowin reports that Microsoft has opted to keep the Surface Pro’s current price cut permanent after seeing the “exciting” customer response. The news puts the Surface Pro’s price permanently at $799 where it shall remain until Microsoft decides to lower the price again in an attempt to drum up more sales.

    The Surface Pro isn’t the only thing receiving a discount today. Microsoft also announced that both its Touch Cover and its Surface RT bundles will be having their prices reduced starting today. The Touch Cover will now retail for $79 and limited edition Touch Covers will retail for $89. The Surface RT bundle which includes a Touch Cover will retail for $399.

    Speaking of the Surface RT, the tablet still retails for $350 without the Touch Cover. If you’re in the market, you might as well splurge on the bundle to get the Touch Cover for only $50 more instead of the current $79 asking price.

    Unfortunately, the superior Type Cover will not be getting a discount. Those wanting actual keys to type on with their Surface cover will still have to fork over $129.

    All the announced Surface deals should be live on the Microsoft Store now. If you’re near one, you can also snag these deals at a physical Microsoft Store. While you’re there, check out some awesome 3D printer demos.

    [Image: Microsoft Store]

  • Foursquare Makes Its Way To Windows 8

    Windows 8 needs apps, and not just any apps either. It needs the big apps that every other platform has. It won’t be able to compete with iOS and Android until it does. It still has a ways to go, but it’s one step closer today.

    Microsoft announced today that Foursquare is now available on Windows 8 tablets and PCs. The app has been built specifically with large screen devices in mind, and provides a custom Windows 8 experience to users.

    Here are all the unique Windows 8 features that Foursquare users can expect:

  • Discovery: Through your friends’ check-ins, you can easily find all kinds of new places to visit – whether it’s a new restaurant or local attraction (such as a state park or museum).
  • Navigation: You can navigate to the right in the app and see places near you, grouped by what’s trending. Or navigate to the left and see the same places on an interactive map that can be filtered.
  • Search: In Foursquare, you can easily search for a specific place or type of place and get all the details you need – including address, website, Twitter info, phone number, ratings, hours and more.
  • App Commands: By bringing up app commands, you can then check-in, add photos, leave a tip or add the specific place to a current list or create a new one.

    • One of the reasons Windows 8 isn’t getting as many apps as iOS or Android is that developers have to design an entirely new app for Microsoft’s platform. It’s usually worth it in the end, however, when you see how pretty the final product is when compared to the same app on competing devices. It doesn’t hurt that the Windows 8 app is the first Foursquare app built specifically for tablets either.

    You can grab the Foursquare app from the Windows Store now. It’s supported on both Windows 8 and Windows RT.

    [Image: Windows Store]

  • Windows 8.1 Goes Out To OEMs Today, Developers Won’t Get It Early

    Today’s the day – Windows 8.1 RTM is now being shipped out to OEMs so they can have the latest incarnation of Windows 8 on their devices ahead of its October 18 launch date. Unfortunately, everybody else, including developers, will have to wait.

    Writing for the Windows 8 blog, Antoine Leblond reminds us that it’s only been 10 months since the launch of Windows 8, and that Windows 8.1 represents a new strategy at Microsoft:

    In the past, the release to manufacturing (RTM) milestone traditionally meant that the software was ready for broader customer use. However, it’s clear that times have changed, with shifts to greater mobility and touch as well as the blurring of work and personal lives. As such, we’ve had to evolve the way we develop and the time in which we deliver to meet customers with the experience they need, want and expect. We’ve had to work closer to our hardware partners than ever before. Reaching this milestone is about optimizing the overall experience for our customers. Our hardware partners are in a position to prepare the wide array of innovative devices our customers can expect later this fall – just in time for the holidays. Over the next several months we’ll see beautiful, powerful devices, from the smallest tablets to the most lightweight notebooks to versatile 2-in-1s, as well as industry devicesdesigned for business.

    Leblond goes on to say that Microsoft isn’t quite ready to push Windows 8.1 out to everybody yet, even if the RTM version is now complete. It will instead work with its hardware partners to perfect the updated operating system ahead of its launch. That’s why MSDN and TechNet subscribers will have to wait alongside consumers to get their hands on Windows 8.1.

    As you can imagine, developers and those within the Windows community are not too happy about this. Windows expert Paul Thurrot summed up exactly what Windows developers are feeling right now:

    Tom Warren of The Verge defended the move, however, saying that Microsoft still has to iron out some bugs:

    Finally, Peter Bright of Ars Technica points out the major flaw in Microsoft keeping Windows 8.1 out of the hands of developers:

    No matter how you feel about it, Microsoft is at least trying something different this time around. Its developers may not appreciate it now, but it may be worth it if Microsoft is able to deliver a relatively bug-free product to both developers and consumers.

    [Image: WindowsVideos/YouTube]

  • There Is A Reason Behind Ballmer’s Sudden Retirement [Report]

    On Friday, Steve Ballmer announced that he would be retiring as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months. The stock market had a field day with the news, but the rest of us were were wondering why the longtime CEO was suddenly leaving right after announcing his intention to restructure Microsoft into a devices and services company.

    According to sources speaking to All Things D, Ballmer’s sudden retirement wasn’t planned. In fact, the man himself referenced this in his internal letter sent to all Microsoft employees on Friday. In the letter, he said that his “original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company.” So, what changed? Those close to the company report that Ballmer and the board both agreed that it was time for him to leave.

    Of course, people will tell you that Ballmer should have been out years ago. Last year, analysts were saying that Ballmer would be out of a job if Windows 8 failed. It’s a little unfair to call Windows 8 a complete failure, but it has failed to capture the kind of growth that both Windows 7 and Windows XP experienced. It doesn’t help that the company is sitting on $900 million worth of unsold Windows RT tablets. When you look at everything, it’s easy to see why the board would want to ditch Ballmer.

    The interesting part about all of this, however, is how Bill Gates fits into all of this. For years, Ballmer and Gates were seen as the best of buds. They frequently appeared in Microsoft ads together, and Gates would stand behind the decisions Ballmer made. On Friday, that camaraderie wasn’t as apparent as Gates only said that he would be working with the board to find a replacement. All Things D says that employees took that as a sign that Gates was throwing Ballmer under the bus, but others say that Gates is just going along with the board’s decision even if he didn’t agree with it.

    Whatever the case may be, Ballmer will be out of Microsoft within the next 12 months. He’ll have left behind a legacy unmatched in the tech world, even if that legacy isn’t exactly pristine.

    [Image: Wikimedia Commons]

  • Let’s Celebrate The Strange And Wondrous Career Of Steve Ballmer

    Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced today that he would be retiring within the next 12 months after working with the tech company for more than 30 years. To celebrate the life and career of Microsoft’s energetic CEO, here’s a collection of Ballmer’s best moments from YouTube user mekintosz7. It includes everything from his time as a Windows 3.1 salesman all the way up to his infamous press conferences as CEO.

    Look, Ballmer made mistakes during his time as Microsoft CEO. Some would even argue that he’s responsible for Microsoft’s current struggles with Windows 8. Even so, he’s one of the few tech CEOs that got truly excited around his company products and wasn’t afraid to show it on stage. You may see a screaming madman in the above video, but I just see passion (and a bad A Night at the Roxbury parody).

    So, here’s to you, Ballmer. May you always be remembered as the guy who called Eric Schmidt “a f*cking p*ssy.”

    [Image: YouTube/mekintosz7]

  • Steve Ballmer To Retire As Microsoft CEO Within 12 Months

    For the past 13 years, Steve Ballmer has ruled Microsoft as its CEO. He oversaw the rollout of four Windows operating systems including the most recent Windows 8. Most of us thought he’d be around for the release of Windows 9, or whatever else is next, but it looks like the CEO that wouldn’t quit is finally doing just that.

    Ballmer announced today that he will be retiring within the next 12 months. He doesn’t give an exact date as his retirement is entirely dependent upon the company finding his successor. Oh, and before you ask, there’s no word yet either on who might be replacing him.

    So, why is Ballmer choosing now to retire? After all, he just announced a massive restructuring plan that will see Microsoft transition into a devices and services company. Surely he would want to be around for that, right? Well, according to an internal email to all Microsoft employees, Ballmer says that was the original plan:

    There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.

    Ballmer’s logic is surprisingly sound. The transition to a devices and services company will take a long time, and he isn’t getting any younger. Microsoft is going to need a younger executive team that can stick it out for the long haul.

    In regards to that executive team, Ballmer is optimistic that the current team in place will help move Microsoft into its next phase of growth:

    This is a time of important transformation for Microsoft. Our new Senior Leadership team is amazing. The strategy we have generated is first class. Our new organization, which is centered on functions and engineering areas, is right for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

    Microsoft is an amazing place. I love this company. I love the way we helped invent and popularize computing and the PC. I love the bigness and boldness of our bets. I love our people and their talent and our willingness to accept and embrace their range of capabilities, including their quirks. I love the way we embrace and work with other companies to change the world and succeed together. I love the breadth and diversity of our customers, from consumer to enterprise, across industries, countries, and people of all backgrounds and age groups.

    I am proud of what we have achieved. We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion since I joined Microsoft, and we have grown from employing just over 30 people to almost 100,000. I feel good about playing a role in that success and having committed 100 percent emotionally all the way. We have more than 1 billion users and earn a great profit for our shareholders. We have delivered more profit and cash return to shareholders than virtually any other company in history.

    As stated above, Microsoft is just starting to look for Ballmer’s replacement. The company’s Board of Directors has put together a committee comprised of Bill Gates, John Thompson and others who will consider potential candidates from inside and outside of the company.

    “As a member of the succession planning committee, I’ll work closely with the other members of the board to identify a great new CEO,” said Gates. “We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties.”

    Until Microsoft announces a successor, let the speculation begin. I would bet on Steven Sinofsky if he was still with the company, but that’s unlikely to happen now.

    [Image: Wikimedia Commons]

  • Touchscreen Notebooks Reportedly Languishing

    For Microsoft, Windows 8 was supposed to bridge the gap between traditional PCs and the growing tablet market. The operating system was designed to run smoothly on tablets, sporting a tile-based home screen. Microsoft also sold manufacturers on the idea that customers would love the Windows 8 interface so much that they would want touchscreens in both their PC monitors and laptop displays.

    It’s been clear for months now that Windows 8 failed to spur growth in the traditional PC market. More recently, it has also become apparent that the Windows 8 OS was not enough to save Microsoft’s underperforming Surface tablets. Now, touchscreen manufacturers are predicting that touchscreens on laptops have not become the hit Microsoft and its partners had hoped.

    DigiTimes today reported that orders for touch panels used in notebook computers are expected to soften in the second half of 2013. The report’s unnamed “industry sources” stated that this is despite large price drops for panels during the first half of 2013. Touchscreen notebook adoption is only predicted to hit around 10% by the end of this year.

    The report mentions Windows 8 specifically as a disappointment for manufacturers, who had hoped the OS would open up a new market segment. The low demand, combined with pricing wars between Chinese manufacturers, means that notebook manufacturers are now rumored to be releasing their 2013 holiday products later than expected.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • Windows 8.1 Will Officially Arrive On October 17

    We heard reports yesterday that Windows 8.1 will move out of preview and into its final version in October. Rather than let rumors scurry along the underbelly of the Internet, Microsoft has come out to confirm the launch date for its latest OS update.

    Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc announced today that Windows 8.1 will be going out to all Windows 8 users on October 17. To be more specific, the company says that it will go live at 12:00 a.m. on October 18 in New Zealand, but the International Date Line will ensure that we get it on October 17.

    The report from yesterday mentioned that Microsoft would be working with its partners, who are receiving Windows 8.1 later this month, to release new Windows 8.1 hardware in October. LeBlanc confirmed just as much today by saying that new hardware will be hitting the market on October 18. He doesn’t get into specifics, but we’re likely to see a bunch of 7 to 8-inch tablets hitting the market on that day.

    So, should you be looking forward to Windows 8.1? That really depends on what you want out of a Windows machine. If you enjoy Windows 8, you’re going to love Windows 8.1. Microsoft has made a number of changes to the software on both the consumer and enterprise side of things to make the experience smoother while giving users more customization options.

    For those who hated Windows 8 before, you’re probably not going to see a lot here to like. Microsoft made a big deal about the return of the Start button, but it’s only a Start button in name. Upon clicking it, users are taken to the new Start menu instead of the traditional list of programs. Some users may also not be happy with Microsoft deeply integrating Bing into all facets of the Windows 8.1 experience, including local searches for documents and applications.

    Despite all this, Windows 8.1 may be the start of regular annual updates to Microsoft’s flagship operating system. It gives the company the opportunity to address issues consumers and enterprise customers have with its software and issue regular updates that could one day mold Windows 8 into something that everybody wants to use. Windows 8.1 won’t be that update, but hey, there’s always Windows 8.2.

  • Windows 8.1 General Availability Will Come In October [Report]

    Ever since June, Windows 8 users have been able to try out the future with the Windows 8.1 preview. The updated OS brings with it a wealth of improvements, but there are still more features missing from the beta that the final build will provide. The question now is when we’ll actually get that the final build of Windows 8.1.

    ZDNet reports that the final build of Windows 8.1 is nearly complete, and will be released to consumers in October. I predicted just as much when Microsoft announced last month that it would ship the final Windows 8.1 OS to OEMs in August. According to the most recent report, Microsoft is on track to deliver its latest OS to its hardware partners in the last week of August.

    Interestingly enough, the report also mentions that Microsoft won’t be making Windows 8.1 available to its MSDN or TechNet subscribers before general availability. Previous incarnations of Windows, including Windows 8, became available to MSDN subscribers shortly after the RTM versions go to OEMs. This is usually to allow its developer partners to start building apps ahead of the public release, but the incremental update nature of Windows 8.1 may have facilitated this change in policy.

    Either way, it’s looking like developers and consumers alike will be getting the final version of Windows 8.1 at some point in the middle of October. At that time, Microsoft and its hardware partners will release new hardware sporting Windows 8.1 into the market. Some of that hardware will include the cheap 7 and 8-inch tablets that Microsoft and its hardware partners hope will convince users to jump on the Windows 8 bandwagon.

    Of course, there’s also the rumor that Microsoft will be releasing updated Surface tablets this year. The launch of Windows 8.1 would be as good of a date as any to launch, but it’s hard to say when Microsoft will be getting its hands dirty in the tablet market again. It’s current Surface tablets aren’t exactly flying off store shelves, even with a price drop. That being said, a refocused marketing effort not tied to dance moves, but instead productivity, would do wonders for the brand.

  • Asus Drops Support For Windows RT

    Asus Drops Support For Windows RT

    Windows RT has not been all that successful since it first launched late last year alongside Windows 8. The new operating system was billed as a slimmed down version of Windows 8 for tablets that run on ARM-based chips and only support apps built for Windows 8. It was a good idea, but consumers didn’t bite. Manufacturers have been pulling their support over the last year, and one of the last few holdouts has finally called it quits.

    Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Asus CEO Jerry Shen says that his company will no longer create Windows RT devices due to the financial losses his company has accrued due to supporting the platform. Much like Microsoft, the company had to take a writedown on its unsold Windows RT tablets.

    Of course, Asus still values Microsoft as a partner and won’t be abandoning Windows 8 anytime soon. Shen says that his company will now exclusively focus on Intel/x86 machines. These machines run Windows 8 Pro and are backwards compatible with legacy software. Much of the criticism levied against Windows RT was that it wasn’t backwards compatible so a focus on Windows 8 Pro machines is a good bet.

    Of course, the question now is whether or not there’s anybody actually supporting Windows RT anymore. It’s hard to say at this point. Microsoft lowered the display requirement so manufacturers can make cheap 7-inch Windows RT tablets, but the only manufacturers taking advantage of the lower display requirements are focusing on Windows 8 proper.

    At this point, it looks like only Microsoft is keeping Windows RT alive. It’s already lowered the price of its current Surface RT tablet, and is even rumored to be working on an entirely new Surface RT for this holiday season. Even then, it’s hard to say how long even Microsoft will keep it up. It took a $900 million charge related to unsold Windows RT tablets during its last earnings report. Microsoft certainly has the cash to keep pushing Windows RT, but its shareholders and partners might not appreciate that very much.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • ASP.NET Sees Further Enhancement In Visual Studio 2013 Preview

    For a while now, developers have been able to test drive the latest Visual Studio as part of the Visual Studio 2013 Preview. Like any good preview, Microsoft has been constantly improving it as developers give them feedback, including some enhancements to ASP.NET.

    Microsoft recently announced that it was bringing a number of ASP.NET and Web Tools enhancements to its Visual Studio 2013 Preview. The enhancements include a new UI, new authentications and updates for MVC 5 and SignalR.

    To start off, Microsoft notes that it’s added a “simple UI for creating projects that offer support for multiple ASP.NET frameworks.” Developers will be able to use different authentication configurations, including individual user accounts, organizational accounts and Windows authentication. They note that all configurations work the same across all ASP.NET frameworks.

    Speaking of authentication, ASP.NET authentication is now based on the OWIN middleware. It’s part of what Microsoft calls Project Katana – an effort on the part of Microsoft to make ASP.NET more flexible to the meet the demands of the open Web. In the latest update, Project Katana added “an HttpListener-based sever, a self-host API and OwinHost executable for running OWIN applications without having to create a custom host.”

    Microsoft also notes that ASP.NET now supports claims-based authentication. This type of authentication allows developers to “authorize requests from client applications to your Web APIs using OAuth2 2.0 bearer tokens.”

    On a final note, Microsoft has updated ASP.NET MVC 5, Web API 2, Scaffolding and SignalR. There’s nothing all that notable from these updates except for a small change that sees MVC projects being standard Web applications now instead of using their own custom project GUID.

    If you want to check out the new Visual Studio 2013 Preview alongside the enhancements being made to ASP.NET, you can grab the install here.

  • Halo: Spartan Assault Is Now Out On Windows 8 Devices

    Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it would be bringing an entirely new Halo title to Windows 8 devices. The game – Halo: Spartan Assault – would be set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4, and feature an entirely new story set within the Halo universe.

    Here’s the official synopsis:

    The game takes place between Halo 3 and Halo 4 with the first missions of the Spartan Ops program – diving deeper into the backstory of Human-Covenant wars. You play as either Commander Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity and you battle against Covenant forces with 25 missions (as part of 5 operations with 5 missions each).

    As for the gameplay, it’s a twin-stick top-down shooter. Think of it like Geometry Wars, but with an actual plot. It will also probably be a bit easier. On most devices, you will control it via digital analog sticks, but you can also use a mouse and keyboard on PCs and tablets that support them.

    As an added bonus, Halo: Spartan Assault connects with your Halo 4 career. By playing the mobile title, you can earn up to 50,000 XP in Halo 4 as well as a unique emblem. You can also earn bonus content in the upcoming Halo 4 Champions Bundle DLC.

    If you want to see it in action, here’s the launch trailer for Halo: Spartan Assault:

    Halo: Spartan Assault is now available for your Windows 8 phone, tablet or PC. It will set you back $6.99.

  • Microsoft Cuts Surface RT’s Price To $349

    Microsoft Cuts Surface RT’s Price To $349

    Many, including yours truly, thought that Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet was a bit too expensive at $500. That price may have even been the reason why it’s not doing so well. Microsoft is hoping to rectify that with a worldwide price cut.

    Microsoft revealed today that it has cut the Surface RT’s price by $150. You can now snag a 32GB Surface RT for $349. If you desire a bit more storage, the 64GB Surface RT now retails for $449. The ridiculously overpriced type cover still goes for $129.99.

    The U.S. isn’t the only territory getting a price cut as Microsoft is also dropping the price of its Surface RT tablets in the UK and Australia as well. Our friends in the UK can get the 32GB Surface RT for £279 while those in Australia can get one for AU$389.

    Unfortunately, the Surface Pro will not be seeing a similar price cut. The $899 tablet is in dire need of a lower price as well if it’s to compete with the lower priced iPad and Android tablets that are continually taking more and more marketshare away from Windows. Microsoft may argue that the value of its tablets lie in Windows 8, but consumers just aren’t seeing it.

    That may, of course, all change when Windows 8.1 and rumored new Surface tablets launch later this year. Microsoft has just restructured itself into a company wholly focused on Windows, and Surface will play a large role in that. If Microsoft can get its message straight by promoting synergy between its products, it could make Windows 8 the winner Microsoft so desperately needs it to be.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • Watch Steve Ballmer Talk About Microsoft’s Big Restructuring Plan

    On Thursday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced a massive restructuring of the core Microsoft business. The strategy calls for Microsoft to realign itself as a single entity focused on one goal – keeping people in the Windows ecosystem.

    Ballmer announced the restructuring plans at a Microsoft Town Hall Meeting where he outlined the plan in detail to Microsoft’s employees and the press. The basic gist of the plan, according to Ballmer, is a Microsoft that creates “a family of devices and services for individuals and business that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value most.”

    You can see more of Ballmer’s comments below from a B-Roll that Microsoft released on Thursday. The video, intended for television broadcast, has plenty of Ballmer action, but it also has a minute of silent footage at the end showing the attendees at Microsoft’s Town Hall Meetings. That’s just how B-Rolls, well, roll.

    The minute of pseudo-voyeurism at the end aside, Ballmer’s comments on the future of Microsoft are ambitious and exciting. Bringing all of Microsoft together under one purpose is something that’s needed to happen for a long time coming. With it, Ballmer may just be able to keep his job, and Microsoft may remain relevant far beyond the death of traditional computing.

    Now if only Microsoft can keep the NSA at arm’s length.

  • Yahoo Mail Adds Multiple Account Support To iOS, Windows Apps

    Yahoo announced today that it is making it possible for Yahoo Mail users to access all of their Yahoo Mail accounts from the Yahoo Mail apps for iOS and Windows 8, joining the existing functionality in the Android app.

    So, if you have multiple accounts, you can access all of them from the app with ease. Just log into the app with one of your IDs, tap the sidebar icon, and then the plus sign to add accounts. You’ll then be asked to sign in and enter another ID and password.

    Yahoo Mail accounts

    From then on, you’ll be able to find your various accounts in the sidebar, and easily switch between inboxes.

    “We hope this makes managing your inboxes a little easier,” says Yahoo Mail product manager Ash Sharma. “Let us know what you think!”

    Oh, something tells me Yahoo Mail users won’t be shy about letting Yahoo know what they think.

  • OEMs Will Get Windows 8.1 In August

    Have you tried out Windows 8.1 yet? Are you a fan? If so, you may be wondering when you can get your hands on the final version. After all, Microsoft has only said it will launch later this year. Well, we now have a better idea of when it might finally be made available.

    Today at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partners Conference, the company announced that OEMs will get their hands on Windows 8.1 in August. In other words, manufacturers like Asus and HP will be able to get the final release version of Windows 8.1 next month in preparation for the launch of the updated OS.

    So, what does that mean for the regular consumer? Well, Windows 8 went out to OEMs in August of last year, but the OS didn’t actually launch until October 26. It’s likely that a similar plan is in place this year as Microsoft wants to give OEMs plenty of time to produce and test Windows 8 machines. It might even take longer as Windows 8.1 supports smaller display sizes, and manufacturers will want to be out of the gate with small, inexpensive Windows 8.1 tablets.

    In other news, Microsoft’s Jensen Harris showed off a new demo at its Worldwide Partners Conference. Here’s all the new stuff that was revealed:

    In [Harris’] demo, he showed off some pretty cool new features and functionality, including how Windows 8.1 is optimized to work great on small-form-factor devices and portrait view. He also demoed the Reading List app that lets you share articles from the web and content from other apps to read later which roams with you across your Windows devices through the cloud courtesy of SkyDrive. And with 20 billion searches on done via Windows PCs each month in the U.S. alone, Jensen highlighted the huge opportunity to build a great search experience into Windows and showed the new search experience in Windows 8.1 which is powered by Bing. He also demoed a different kind of search for music integrated with Xbox Music where you can share a webpage to the Xbox Music app where it “scrapes” the webpage for mentions of songs to create a playlist for you based on the music mentioned on a webpage. And finally, Jensen demoed for the first time new technology built into Windows 8.1 called Miracast that streams HD video and audio over Wi-Fi to another display like a TV. With Surface Pro, he essentially turned a TV into a whiteboard with the OneNote app.

    We don’t know when Windows 8.1 will launch, but it’s looking more and more like a pre-holiday season release. Microsoft needs to push its latest OS upgrade this holiday season, and it needs to get product into stores before November to do so.

  • Windows 8 Is Finally More Popular Than Vista

    Since launch, Windows 8 has been hounded by an unavoidable fact – Windows Vista was still on more computers. The certifiable flop of an operating system had been all but abandoned with the launch of Windows 7, but Windows 8 struggled to surpass even the measly marketshare that Vista was still clinging onto.

    After months of fighting for measly gains, Windows 8 has finally emerged victorious over Vista. The latest report from Net Applications shows that Windows 8 marketshare is now at 5.10 percent whereas Vista is at 4.62 percent.

    Windows Vista and 8 still can’t hold a candle to their predecessors, however, as Windows XP and 7 still own a vast majority of the marketshare. Windows XP is currently sitting at 37.17 percent and Windows 7 is at 44.37 percent. Of course, it should be noted that Windows XP and 7 are both seeing small month-over-month declines, but nothing drastic.

    Going back to Windows 8, this is actually a pretty big deal for the OS. Sure, it’s not growing as fast as Microsoft wishes it was, but it’s at least finally out of the shadow of Vista. Now Microsoft can build upon its latest releases, including Windows 8.1.

    Windows 8.1, which was made available in Preview form last week, is going to be incredibly important for Microsoft going forward. More and more people will start ditching their Windows XP machines sooner or later, and then they will start looking for a new machine. The rise in tablets means that they will probably go mobile and Windows 8.1’s support of smaller form factors means that it can sell cheap Windows 8 machines to consumers looking for a cheaper alternative to the iPad.

    It still remains to be seen what the future holds for Windows 8. The release of Windows 8.1 and cheaper tablets/PCs may increase its marketshare dramatically as we head into the holiday season. It could also just continue to flounder as Windows PCs continue to lose marketshare to Android and iOS devices. I’m sure Microsoft will be working to make sure the former happens.

    [h/t: The Next Web]

  • Free Microsoft Updates Coming Later This Year

    Free updates and Microsoft are not something that you usually see in the same sentence. Starting this year, however, Microsoft may start having a change of heart.

    At its annual BUILD developer conference, Microsoft announced that it’s ditching its old method of releasing updates to software every two to three years. Instead, it will be approaching software updates like the rest of the industry does with weekly updates.

    Microsoft Office stands to gain the most from this move as the software company will commit to releasing minor weekly updates to the software that addresses issues in a more timely manner. Before this, Microsoft would release major updates every three to four years with minor bug fix updates releasing every few months.

    Office isn’t the only software that’s getting weekly updates either. Microsoft says that its other apps on Windows 8, including Outlook and SkyDrive, will receive updates on a more consistent basis than before.

    Of course, moving to a faster update cycle will change how Microsoft collects feedback. In ages past, Microsoft would gather feedback from its users before making decisions that might prove unpopular. Microsoft will obviously still use this feedback in the future, but it will also be using hard data in its decision making. In other words, it will evaluate how people use its software to determine what changes, if any, need to be made in future updates.

    What remains to be seen is if Microsoft will move to the rumored annual upgrade cycle for Windows 8. That seems to be the case at the moment with the release of Windows 8.1 later this year, but that could be a one-off designed to address concerns users had with the original Windows 8. We’ve no idea if Microsoft will continue the trend by releasing Windows 8.2, or whatever it will be called, in 2014. There are good arguments for and against an annual update cycle so Microsoft might be taking it slow for now to see the reaction to an update like Windows 8.1.

    Windows 8.1 and a future of free Microsoft updates is available now in a free preview form. It will officially launch later this year as a free update. We’ll hopefully know the full extent of Microsoft’s plans for its software by then.

    [h/t: Bloomberg]

  • Windows 8.1 Preview Is Now Available

    Windows 8.1 Preview Is Now Available

    As promised, Microsoft has released the Windows 8.1 Preview to the world as part of its annual BUILD developer conference. The preview includes a number of updates that will make Windows 8 more palatable for even the most diehard Windows 8 haters.

    If you’re just joining us, Windows 8.1 is less of an upgrade and more of an acknowledgement on Microsoft’s part that it needs to cater to everybody, not just touch devices, with Windows 8. The original release of the new operating system removed many features that have become integral to the Windows experience (like the Start button). Windows 8.1 brings those features back while adding new features for both the traditional desktop interface as well as the new Metro interface.

    So, what can you expect from the Windows 8.1 Preview? As mentioned above, the big news is that the Start button is back. Another welcome addition is an option to boot directly into desktop mode, bypassing the Start menu entirely.

    As for the Metro additions, Microsoft has added more customization options including live wallpapers and the ability to use your own images as backgrounds. The Live Tiles can also be customized to your needs with new size options, including a manual sizing option.

    Windows 8.1 also brings updates to some of Microsoft’s most popular software including SkyDrive and Internet Explorer. For SkyDrive, Windows 8.1 now allows you to sync your files across all of your Windows devices. As for Internet Explorer, it’s been upgraded to IE11 for faster browsing and better HTML5 support.

    For enterprise users, you’ll want to check out all the enhancements and upgrades Microsoft is bringing to Windows 8.1.

    The Windows 8.1 Preview is available as a free download on the Windows Store right now. You can read more on the preview and how to install it at Microsoft’s site. Windows 8.1 proper will be officially released later this year.

  • Samsung Announces New Windows8/Android ATIV Tablets

    Samsung Announces New Windows8/Android ATIV Tablets

    Back in April, Samsung re-branded all of its laptops under the ATIV brand. The manufacturer’s ultrabooks, all-in-ones, and smart PCs now go by ATIV Books, ATIV Ones, and ATIV Tabs with different numerical monikers. In case that’s not confusing enough for everyone, Samsung this week announced two new Windows 8 tablets, branded ATIV Q and ATIV Tab 3.

    The ATIV Q is the more fancy of the two, sporting a 13.3-inch, 275ppi, 3200×1800 resolution display. It also has an Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM. It comes with a 128GB SSD hard drive.

    The ATIV Tab 3 will be the lower-priced of the new tablets. It has a 10.1-inch, 1366×768 resolution display, an ATOM processor, 2GB of RAM, and comes with 64GB of embedded storage. It also comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office Home & Student.

    The interesting thing about these tablets is that the ATIV Q is what Samsung calls “convertable.” The tablet can be switched from Windows 8 to Android Jellybean 4.2.2, allowing Android apps to be used. In addition, files and folders can be transferred and shared between the two operating systems, meaning multimedia can be viewed on both operating systems.