In a recent survey, a majority of people preferred Windows 7 over Windows 8. Good news: A lot of people prefer the Microsoft Surface tablet over the iPad or Android tablets.
Microsoft claims that Windows 8 is the first version of Windows to be designed for both tablets and desktops, with users able to switch between the new user interface and the more familiar desktop mode. This was viewed to be a weakness by 18 percent of respondents.
Microsoft has revealed the pricing and other details for the home and small business versions of their Office 365 subscription based Office suite. 5 devices are allowed for the users you designate for about a c-note. Great pricing for always having an up to date, cloud based Office suite.
Microsoft is integrating everything and killing the Zune name (again). Xbox companion and now the Windows Phone companion app. Now, you get a metro styled interface when you plug in your phone to a Windows 8 powered PC. It connects and allows you to access the pictures, videos, music and documents on your phone.
Microsoft has been retiring a number of its Zune desktop app features recently, in preparation for the upcoming switch to Xbox Music. While the company is readying its new music subscription service, Microsoft will also introduce new apps to manage and sync Windows Phone 8 devices. Sources close to Microsoft’s WIndows Phone plans have revealed the look and feel of a Windows 8 companion app for Windows Phone 8 devices.
Microsoft is again offering a downgrade option for new users of Windows 8 Professional to Windows 7 or Windows Vista, but not XP. XP is finally getting the retirement notice.
"Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business," states the software license agreement for the version of Windows 8 Pro that will be installed by computer makers (OEMs) on new PCs.
Microsoft is helping with the push of HTML5 with the release of 8 classic Atari games: Asteroids, Combat, Centipede, Lunar Lander, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, and Yar’s Revenge. I will definitely be playing these games.
Microsoft says Atari approached the software company to mark 40 years since the launch of Pong and to create a way to market Atari’s games to a new generation. Optimized for touch, most of the games include multiplayer options that work via a special link or through a Facebook account. The games are free to play, but non-Internet Explorer users will see display and pre-roll ads on the site. Atari is also launching a way for developers to create additional games for the portal, with an open source SDK and JavaScript libraries available to devs.
Samsung has announced their first Windows Phone 8 device, and it is a true beauty. The looks are one thing, the specs are also extremely beefy. I was debating on whether or not to upgrade my Windows Phone 7 powered HTC Trophy to another Windows Phone or go back to Android for a bit. Now, I think I’m going to stay with the Microsoft brand a while longer. Of course, if Verizon only goes for one bottom of the barrel model, I may still go Android. Verizon always seems to fail me.
Inside the crazy-thin 8.7mm brushed aluminum chassis is a huge 4.8” HD Super AMOLED display made from Corning Gorilla Glass 2 (read: tough to break, but still light)and a rundown of killer specs: 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of onboard RAM, and an 8MP autofocus rear camera and 1.9MP front-facing camera. You’ll have the choice of two storage capacities – 16GB or 32GB – and both models have a MicroSD slot for expanded storage. Backing all of this up is a massive 2300mAh battery to keep you rocking all day.
A decent review from a Windows power user, Scott Hanselman. He has installed Windows 8 on three machines, including a Mac Book Pro. How’s he like it? Like most, confusing at first but then it gets familiar and productive.
People don’t like it when you move their cheese. They are just trying to get through the maze, they have it all under control and then, poof, someone moved their cheese. Now it’s a huge hassle to find it again. Change a hotkey or the case of the menus and all heck breaks loose.
17 years have gone by since there were actually lines at the store at midnight waiting for the newest release of a Microsoft operating system. Windows 95, the full GUI OS that replaced the DOS first, GUI second Microsoft Windows 3.11 (Windows for Workgroups). It was also the OS that introduced the Start Menu, which has recently been removed with Windows 8.
Happy Birthday, Windows 95! It really doesn’t feel like 17 years since I was running it on my 486DX/66.
In a response to the cries last week about the SmartScreen application sending data to Microsoft, Microsoft has responded to the claims. It’s very good news, although all the worries aren’t resolved.
"We can confirm that we are not building a historical database of program and user IP data," a spokesperson told El Reg. "Like all online services, IP addresses are necessary to connect to our service, but we periodically delete them from our logs. As our privacy statements indicate, we take steps to protect our users’ privacy on the backend. We don’t use this data to identify, contact or target advertising to our users and we don’t share it with third parties."
Microsoft’s new SmartScreen, which checks programs that the user has downloaded from the internet against a safe/unsafe database, appears to have some major security concerns. Judging from the initial looks at what is happening, it doesn’t look good. I’m looking forward to Microsoft’s response to this one.
This problem can however get even more serious: It may be possible to intercept SmartScreen’s communications to Microsoft and thus learn about every single application downloaded and installed by a target. Here is my analysis:
