Microsoft

Microsoft has unveiled additional features for Windows 10, as well as making previously-announced features available for testing. Most of the changes are aimed at mobile computer users, but there will be a few extra improvements for desktop users . ... Windows 10 Testing being done in Batches Microsoft is taking a very deliberate approach with its public testing program for the new Windows 10 operating system. Rather than throw out a semi-completed version of Windows 10 for testing and deal with all the feedback at once, Microsoft is slowly adding new features to the test edition of the operating ... (view more)

It's the end of the line for Windows 7 -- sort of. After this Friday, October 31, Microsoft will no longer sell Windows 7 licenses to PC manufacturers, otherwise known as OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). That will force most PC makers to ... turn to Windows 8.1 -- at least, until Windows 10's release next year. For businesses who don't appreciate Windows 8's main features -- like the Start screen, touch integration, and "Modern" (or "Metro") user interface -- there's some good news. Microsoft will continue to allow PC makers to produce Windows 7 ... (view more)

Rumors suggest that Microsoft is primed to launch its own smartwatch in the next few weeks. Details are still hazy, but it seems it may connect with multiple devices , and not only Windows Phones. Smartwatches have been one of the big tech stories ... of 2014, becoming a serious mainstream product after years of hype. Apple is launching its own smartwatch running a modified version of the iPhone software, while firms such as Samsung have produced Android-based watches. Check Emails at the Flick of a Wrist Although smartwatches run a mobile operating system, they usually rely on a connection to a ... (view more)

When Microsoft launched the Windows 10 Technical Preview a couple weeks ago, the company offered users the chance to provide feedback through a "Windows Feature Suggestion Box." As expected, feedback is pouring in as to which features should be ... present in the operating system's final version. Windows Explorer Tabs Top List So far the most requested feature is adding tabs to Windows Explorer. Microsoft says more than 1,600 people have requested a feature that would effectively treat Windows Explorer the same as an Internet browser. As such, users would be able to create new tabs ... (view more)

Microsoft's decision to ditch Windows licensing fees for small-screen devices has led to a raft of ultra-cheap Windows-enabled gadgets. Approximately 50 new manufacturers have taken advantage of the offering, with some Windows devices sold in the ... far East now costing less than a copy of Windows itself. The move came earlier this year and is thought to be a response to the huge success of Google's Android operating system. Android is particularly popular with manufacturers because it's free to install onto their devices. That said, as tablet computers and smartphone prices have ... (view more)

Reports that Windows 10 Technical Preview contain spyware-like features have been dismissed as overblown. However, the issue should raise awareness of some of the limitations of using preview software. Several news outlets have made startling claims ... about Windows 10 Technical Preview, suggesting it collects confidential data; some have gone as far to suggest that the operating system contains a keylogger . That's a nasty feature found in some malicious software that tracks what you type on your keyboard, looking for sensitive information such as passwords or financial account details, ... (view more)

Microsoft has revealed that the next edition of its flagship operating system will be known as Windows 10, rather than Windows 9. The new operating system represents a further blurring of the lines between full-size PCs and portable devices such as ... smartphones and tablets. The choice of new name is largely a marketing tactic. Microsoft wants to get across the idea that the system will be a major relaunch over the much-maligned Windows 8, rather than a small set of minor revisions. Two Major Differences in Windows 10 There will be two main differences in approach with Windows 10. The first is ... (view more)

Screenshots of Windows 9 have leaked to the press and they show an operating system (OS) that's a substantial step away from the controversial Windows 8. Windows 9, which is currently code-named Threshold , is expected to launch later this year, ... with a technical preview expected sometime in October. Screenshots Confirm Start Button Returning Experts speculate that Microsoft will blend the best elements of Windows 7 and 8 together, and graft them onto the classic desktop found in Windows 7. Leaked screenshots show that Windows 9 will likely have a Start Menu of sorts - something which was ... (view more)

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer era has officially come to an end. The company's former chief executive officer, who stepped aside last year , has now announced that he will be resigning his position on Microsoft's board. Ballmer joined Microsoft more ... than thirty years ago, rising from the company's first business manager (hired by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates) to its chief executive in just under two decades. Ballmer was at Microsoft's helm for a number of important projects, including launches for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, the Xbox video game console ... (view more)

It appears Microsoft's August Patch Tuesday, which began rolling out last week, didn't quite go according to plan. In fact, the firm was recently forced to pull several updates after reports indicated that some users were experiencing severe system ... errors. This month's Patch Tuesday security updates addressed a total of 37 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office. Within days, it became apparent there was a problem; users reported that after the updates were downloaded and installed, they received the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which ... (view more)