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"You shouldn't expect an iTunes [Metro] app on Windows 8 any time soon," Microsoft CFO Tami Reller tells CNN Money. "iTunes is in high demand. The welcome mat has been laid out. It's not for lack of trying." The quote may suggest that Microsoft has been talking with Apple about adding Metro support for iTunes, but without any progress.
The leaked Acer Iconia W3, which first surfaced on the weekend has been confirmed for June 4 launch in Russia. The launch date was revealed by Acer’s general director of the Taiwanese company’s Russian office, and provides an indication for its global rollout. The device briefly appeared on the Amazon store, before it was quickly pulled.
VoIP service Viber has released new Mac and Windows versions of its client software. Previously the app was only available for mobile platforms, such as iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone. The Desktop software incorporates all the features of the iOS app, such as instant messaging, contact sync, group chats, and shared histories.
A US Department of Labor website tailored for nuclear weapons researchers has been compromised, redirecting visitors to a series of alternative websites. If the accessor was using Windows XP and Internet Explorer 8, the culmination of the attack inserted the "Poison Ivy" malware onto the computer, giving access to the user's data by "DeepPanda", a group of hackers believed to be located in China.
Microsoft has updated its Weather app for Windows 8. The changes include new interactive and dynamically-moving weather maps for cities and regions, satellite images, temperature and precipitation levels, cloud cover, and radar pictures. The Bing blog also notes that weather details for ski resorts in 31 countries around the world are also provided in the update.
Microsoft has enabled two-factor authentication for Microsoft Accounts. Leaked earlier this month, users will see the option to add the extra security measure through the account management menu over the next few days, and can download an authenticator app from the Windows Phone store or use third-party apps on other platforms, according to a company blog post. Apps and devices that will not work with the new security measure directly can have application-specific passwords created in order to function.
Promised iOS and Android versions of Office won't launch until the fall of 2014, according to a leaked roadmap obtained by CNet. The document describes a project called "Gemini," said to be Microsoft's plan to incorporate the Metro user interface into Office. The first "wave" in Gemini is expected to be an October 2013 update of the core apps -- Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote -- that will run on mobile versions of Windows 8 and Windows RT. The software will allegedly supplement the desktop Windows suite, instead of replacing it.
Microsoft is preparing to add a two-factor system for account authentication, according to a report. The new system, aimed at improving account security overall by adding a number-based token to the Microsoft Account log-in system, has reached a point where the company is close to turning it on for all users, though it is not clear when this will be.
Jolla has released the Software Development Kit (SDK) for its Linux-based Sailfish mobile operating system. The SDK has been made available for Mac, Windows and Linux (32-bit and 64-bit) with its release paving the way for interested developers to create native applications for Jolla’s forthcoming handsets. The Sailfish OS also supports the Qt platform, which developers previously used for creating native apps on Nokia’s abandoned Symbian and MeeGo operating systems, making it simple for apps running on those platforms to be ported to the new OS.
Microsoft may name its upcoming operating system refresh Windows 8.1, if a leaked image is proven correct. A screenshot posted on WinForum.eu and confirmed by sources of ZDNet shows the leaked Windows Blue build adding a suffix to the Windows 8 name instead of using Windows 9. The RT edition will be known as Windows RT 8.1. Though unlikely, it is still possible for Microsoft to give the OS update a different name, as a firm release date has yet to be set.
(Updated with sell-out status) Microsoft is offering Mac developers a special QuickStart kit that includes copies of Windows 8 Pro and Parallels Desktop 8, according to an official blog post by Sandeep Singhal, the company's group program manager for Internet Explorer. The kit comes on a USB stick, and is heavily discounted, requiring only a $25 donation to a charity of the developer's choice. Singhal says that a "limited supply" of the kit is available.
A new report finds that at the end of the first quarter of 2013, the landscape of the user base of the desktop and laptop operating systems has changed somewhat since the end of 2012, according to data published by Netmarketshare. The research firm says that Windows 7 continues to dominate the worldwide landscape with 44.73 percent of the total worldwide PC user base. Noteworthy numbers include Windows 8 climbing to 3.17 percent, and Windows XP holding a commanding second place at 38.73 percent, but falling gently. Mac OS X 10.8 has climbed to 2.65 percent, mostly at the expense of OS X 10.7 dropping to 1.81 percent.
Today's daily deal slasher from Tigerdirect.com is on the 15.6-inch Vizio Ultrabook, which has been reduced by $400 from $1,000 down to $600. That's about $50 less than the lowest price we have seen on this notebook anywhere else. The Vizio Ultrabook features a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of solid state storage -- and has Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed. A one-year warranty on parts and labor is included.
A leaked copy of what is claimed to be Windows Blue has appeared on file sharing sites, ahead of the updates public preview. The downloadable ISO file, weighing in at 2.63GB, is said to have come from a Microsoft partner based in France, and shows a number of adjustments to the operating system, including a choice of smaller and larger Live Tiles for the Start screen.
More details relating to Microsoft's plans for Windows Blue have leaked, in the form of a video from an internal event. The demonstration from Microsoft Research at TechFest shows a new version of Fresh Paint made for Windows Blue, as well as company officials confirming the Windows Blue codename.
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8 in mid-2014, according to a product support lifecycle table. Updates, including those to help secure the mobile operating systems, will last until July 8, 2014 for Windows Phone 8, while Windows Phone 7.8 users will see its life cycle support continue until the 9th of September.
Following accusations by the European Commission in October of 2012, the regulatory agency plans to fine Microsoft for continued refusal to offer a choice of browsers consistently in the Windows operating system. According to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter claim that the fine is expected before the end of March -- and it may be a significant sum, given that it is the second time that Microsoft has failed to adequately comply with a Commission order.
Acclivity today announced AccountEdge Basic 2 for Mac and Windows. The new version of the accounting application includes improvements to sales, banking, and customer management, in addition to other features designed to make small business owners' bookkeeping tasks easier.
Oracle has once again released an updated version of Java SE 7 in order to combat serious vulnerabilities that have resulted in malware attacks on both Macs and Windows PCs. The new version, Update 15, comes less than three weeks after the previous patch, and follows an Apple-issued update to Java SE 6 in the wake of hacker attacks against Apple's own employees' work Macs. The new update is said by Oracle to "enhance security" as well as improve performance and stability.
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has expressed he is not satisfied with innovation at the company, including its mobile products. An interview with the ex-CEO also saw Gates admit that Microsoft failed to "get out in the lead very early" in the mobile market, labeling the way the company developed its mobile products later than others as "clearly a mistake."
The Evad3rs hacking team has released its promised jailbreaking tool for iOS 6 devices. Known as evasi0n, the software supports any version of iOS 6 through 6.1, and is available in Mac, Windows, and Linux editions. It's also untethered, meaning that it doesn't require connecting to a computer and reapplying the jailbreak if an iOS device is rebooted.
Nokia is willing to "consider any option" in choosing an operating system for a tablet, according to CEO Stephen Elop. Both Android and Windows will be looked at in a tablet's development, claimed Elop in an interview, though the company will primarily look towards Windows as it's tablet OS of choice.
This week TigerDirect.com has slashed the price on the Samsung Series 5 Slim notebook PC from $699.99 down to $499.99, which already makes it the lowest price we have seen on this notebook by $60, and until 2/28/2013, save an additional $50 with a mail-in-rebate offer that drops the price further to $449.99 with $7.99 for shipping. This notebook features a 2.1GHz AMD dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed. Other features include a Radeon HD 7500 graphics card, Wireless N networking and HDMI port. A one year warranty on parts and labor is included from Samsung.
Google may be adding Google Now integration into its Chrome browser in the near future. A notification center has been added to the company's latest build of Windows Chromium, giving developers a chance to add Chrome notifications to their applications, as well as being an ideal platform for the Google Now cards that were hinted at in December.
Light Blue Software has announced Light Blue 4, an upgrade of its photo business management software. The new app has been rendered fully native in versions for Mac and Windows, instead of being based on FileMaker. Currently only a public beta of the Mac software is available; the completed Mac release is due by the end of January, to be followed by the Windows edition in February. iPad and iPhone apps are in development, and should be ready sometime this spring.
For a period between November 18th and December 22nd, MacBook sales came in 6 percent lower year-over-year, according to new NPD Group data. It's not clear why MacBook sales suffered, although there are several potential reasons. The major driver may be that Apple released only one updated MacBook in late 2012, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro; every other MacBook was updated earlier in the year. In late 2011, the entire MacBook Pro lineup was refreshed.
HTC is prepping two new Windows RT tablets, reports Bloomberg. One is said to be a 7-inch tablet that may also be able to make phone calls, while the other will be a larger 12-inch model. The two ARM-based devices are expected to debut sometime in 2013, with an unveiling of prototypes a possibility for CES 2013.
A Dell executive urged Microsoft to not use Windows branding for its ARM-based operating system, according to reports. Jeffrey Clarke of Dell apparently told Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer that it should have been called something else other than Windows RT, but Ballmer deemed the Windows brand to be too important to not be used in the new devices.
CodeWeavers has launched CrossOver 12, a new version of its software designed to run Windows apps in OS X or Linux. The update implements a new version of Wine, the program's core technology, which is said to have received over 5,000 changes. Support has been improved for a number of Windows apps, such as Microsoft Office and several editions of Quicken. Newly compatible apps include Quicken 13 and World of Tanks; on Linux, Guild Wars 2 has been added.
Yahoo has launched a significant update of its Mail service. The web interface, foremost, has been updated with a cleaner look, as well as an improved search function. One AllThingsD source claims that Yahoo was deliberately aiming at making the site "more Gmail-like." Yahoo is also reportedly working on an overhaul of its homepage. The company's new CEO, Marissa Mayer, has meanwhile stated in a blog post that the new Mail should roll out to most users.
Originally planned for a September release, the long-awaited enhanced edition of the party-based, turn-based RPG Baldur's Gate -- which includes both the original game and the expansion Tales of the Sword Coast -- will be out on November 28, and Overhaul Games has released a new trailer promoting the title and its imminent release for the Mac, the iPad, and Windows. The new version of the game sports some 400 enhancements, including some new content.
Sales of Windows 8 are slower than expected, according to a member of management at NewEgg. A senior executive at the online retailer has called the operating system's sales figures not the "explosion" the company had expected, but while it is selling slowly, the rate of sales is gradually and steadily improving.
A survey conducted by Avast has found that immediate interest in Windows 8 may be weak, and nearly half of the upgrade-ready respondents are eyeing a Mac or iPad rather than another PC. The survey, which was referenced by USA Today, polled 135,000 Windows users last month ahead of the Windows 8 launch. Only nine percent indicated that Windows 8 has hastened their plans to upgrade, and more than 74 percent still have no immediate plans to upgrade.
Parallels has released an important update for Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac, its virtualization software. The code notably supports tablet gestures in Windows 8, and adds a tile to the Windows 8 interface, letting people access shared Mac apps. It also provides full and faster USB 3.0 support, and easier settings for Retina displays.
Microsoft has sold over four million upgrades for Windows 8 in the first few days after its launch. Speaking at the Build developers event on the Microsoft campus, CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed the number in his keynote speech, alongside announcements for more Windows 8 apps, such as PayPal, Dropbox, and ESPN.
Google's Android is on track to become the most used operating system in the world, according to research firm Gartner. Over the next four years, as mobile devices continue to define the next wave of computing, the number of smartphones, computers, and tablets running Android software is expected to grow to 2.3 billion from the current total of 608 million. Over the same period, the number of devices running Microsoft's Windows platform is expected to grow from 1.5 billion to 2.28 billion.
Honeywell has introduced its first rugged enterprise hybrid phone, the Dolphin 70e Black. It sports a 4.3-inch, capacitive touchcscreen that is viewable in direct sunlight and is IP67-rated for resistance to water and dust. It also has what most consumer handsets lack in the form of an enterprise-class, area-imaging scanner.
In a week loaded with poor quarterly reports from industry giants, Microsoft has joined the ranks of companies with lower-than-expected profits. Microsoft's quarterly profit fell 22 percent, likely from the drop in other companies' computer sales running Windows. The greater-than-expected drop sent Microsoft's shares down 1.5 percent in after-hours trading.
Earlier today, an update was issued to Windows Azure Mobile Services, Microsoft's scalable cloud backend. Added to the software is full iOS support, authentication support with Facebook and Google credentials, SMS and email support, amongst other changes. The most significant addition to the service is the iOS support.
Walmart is selling Windows 8 over the counter 11 days too early. The retailer has been spotted putting boxed copies of Windows 8 Pro on its shelves ahead of the official October 26th street date, with employees claiming the operating system was available to purchase, though the store was not promoting them.
Microsoft has started its television-based marketing campaign for Windows 8. Commercials for the new operating system started to air today, and will appear most prominently during the Sunday National Football League games before being used in commercial breaks for other TV shows.
Microsoft is blocking 'Adult' rated video games in the Windows 8 Marketplace. The policy found in the Windows 8 App Certification Requirements stops any game rated higher than 'Mature' in the US or rated PEGI 18 in Europe from being sold in the app store, in what has been described as an exercise in brand management. The restriction however is being seen as more of an issue for European gamers than US-based customers of the app store.
Microsoft has let slip the full packaging range and pricing for Windows 8. Five different designs will be used for the packaging, which now consists of paper-based materials, excluding the DVD itself. The change in packaging has reduced its weight by 41-percent, and allows Microsoft to make an 80-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
ViewSonic this week introduced a touch-capable LED display with the 22-inch TD2220. Due out in October to coincide with the release of Windows 8, it will allow users to explore the operating system's touch control technology. The display can read inputs from a bare or gloved finger as well as a stylus.
Ceton has announced pricing and an approximate ship date for its Echo Windows Media Center Extender that was introduced earlier this year. The unit is much revised, however, with a body that's 72 percent smaller than the original, and now nearly the quarter of the size of the power adapter for the Xbox 360. It's also power efficient, rated at under 5 watts.
Twitter has released simultaneous updates for the Mac, Windows, Chrome, and web versions of TweetDeck, its more advanced client software. The main change is the addition of a new theme which casts black text on a white background, instead of the standard white text on gray. A simple toggle control flips the theme back and forth at will.
iOS and Android versions of Office 2013 should be released in March, according to a Microsoft product manager. Petr Bobek made the comment at a press event in the Czech Republic earlier today. The Verge, meanwhile, says it has seen a press release from Microsoft's Czech team that confirms plans for "Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian," on top of the flagship Windows edition. There should also be an Office Web Apps update.
Microsoft is reportedly replacing its virtual currency with real-world currency, users of the latest Windows 8 beta claim. The Microsoft Points system, used on Xbox Live for purchasing downloadable content, is apparently absent from the Windows App version of the Xbox Video store, according to The Verge.
Acer revealed that its first Windows 8-powered tablet, the Iconia W700, will ship on October 26. The 11.6-inch tablet has 1920x1080 resolution and a IPS LCD touchscreen that allows up to 10 points of input. Pricing will start at $800 and top out at $1,000.
Microsoft has provided details on the Windows 8 deploying experience, by explaining what happened when it deployed the operating system to desktops within the company. A blog post detailed how the Microsoft installed Windows 8 onto 30,000 systems, allowing nearly 30,000 employees to use the oncoming operating system from mid-July onwards.
