Microsoft

Fri
05
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

Windows RT Tablet PCs: Retailers Slashing Prices

Several manufacturers of Windows RT tablet computers, including Amazon.com, have begun cutting the price of that hardware. But Microsoft is holding firm on the cost of its own tablet, the Surface. The price cuts are for tablet devices running ... Windows RT, an edition of Windows 8 specially designed for ARM processors that can usually be found in smartphones and not desktop or laptop computers. At first glance Windows RT devices look and feel like Windows 8 devices. However, they have a couple of big limitations: you can't switch to the traditional desktop mode used in previous editions of ... (view more)

Wed
03
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Readying Smaller Surface Tablet PCs: Report

Microsoft has hinted that smaller Surface tablet computers could be released in the near future. The hint comes in the form of new Windows 8 certification guidelines. According to these new guidelines, Microsoft will soon be able to support compact ... resolutions (and screen sizes), allowing manufacturers to create Surface tablet displays measuring between 7- and 8-inches in diameter. The document goes on to suggest that support will be offered for resolutions as low as 1024x768. Coincidently, this is one of the most popular resolutions for smaller tablet screens. In comparison, current ... (view more)

Fri
29
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft 'Targeting Kids,' Mom Says After Hack

A Canadian woman whose son was the victim of an Xbox hack says Microsoft refused to offer any assistance in the matter. Instead, it was the game's publisher, Electronic Arts (EA), that offered to compensate Jennifer Stubbs for the hack. Stubbs' ... 11-year-old son Dylan recently alerted his mother to some strange activity on his Xbox Live account. Upon further review, it appeared someone had hacked her son's account and purchased about $300 in virtual goods. Hacker Access Account, Makes Purchases "I wasn't aware that these purchases were happening," Stubbs said. "Someone had gone into our device ... (view more)

Thu
28
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Most Counterfeit Software Includes Malware: Study

A new study commissioned by Microsoft and carried out by researchers at IDC has found that most counterfeit software includes some kind of malware. The researchers also estimate that the total value of the counterfeit software market now exceeds ... $100 billion. IDC recently published its findings in a report titled "The Dangerous World of Counterfeit and Pirated Software: How Pirated Software Can Compromise the Cybersecurity of Consumers, Enterprises, and Nations ... and the Resultant Costs in Time and Money." Most Counterfeit Software Laced with Malware In that report (which can be viewed in ... (view more)

Wed
27
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft: Windows RT Not Going Anywhere

Recently, an analyst for prominent research firm IDC indicated that Microsoft's decision to introduce two operating systems at the same time -- Windows 8 and Windows RT -- had "resulted in confusion on the consumer side." That led some insiders to ... suggest it was time for Microsoft to dump the feature-poor Windows RT and focus exclusively on pushing Windows 8. However, Microsoft has come out to say definitively that Windows RT is here to stay. ARM Development Keeps Microsoft Optimistic In a recent interview, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows Planning, Hardware, and PC Ecosystems ... (view more)

Tue
26
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Windows Store Reaches Major Milestone

Microsoft's Windows Store has hit a new plateau: 50,000 applications. It's an impressive start for the Windows Store, though there's a long way to go to match similar stores from Apple and Google. Although the 50,000 app level is impressive, ... statistics show that the number of applications being submitted by developers each day has actually declined from late last year. (Source: venturebeat.com ) Back in December 2012, shortly after the Windows 8 launch, the Windows Store received about 400 new applications each and every day. However, by February 2013 that number was closer to 150. Microsoft ... (view more)

Mon
25
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

'Windows Blue' Updates Revealed via Leaked Video

A secret Microsoft video shows us what we can expect from 'Windows Blue,' Microsoft's next major update to the Windows platform. The internal video was recorded at Microsoft's recent TechFest, an annual gathering of Microsoft researchers to discuss ... their latest developments. The video first appeared on the independent blog site 'MSFTKitchen'. Interactive Touch Comes to Windows 8 Among the most important improvements made to Windows 8: better touch capabilities. In the video, Microsoft's chief technical staff operator, Eric Rudder, says that his team is "really excited to work, now that the ... (view more)

Fri
22
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft: The FBI Is Spying On Our Customers

Two weeks ago Google revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been spying on its customers using National Security Letters that don't even require the approval of a U.S. judge. Now, Microsoft says the FBI is using the same ... strategy to snoop on its customers. National Security Letters (NSLs) are written documents issued by the FBI that force companies, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to hand over various types of information, including credit card details, banking data, and addresses, phone numbers, etc. NSLs Used to Access Microsoft User Accounts According to ... (view more)

Thu
21
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Partners Bribed Foreign Officials: Report

According to reports, United States federal officials are investigating claims that people with ties to Microsoft paid foreign officials to use Microsoft software. The United States Department of Justice and the Security and Exchange Commission are ... reportedly investigating these bribery allegations, which pertain to Microsoft activity in China, Italy, and Romania. The allegations were originally shared with U.S. officials last year. Business Partner Told to Bribe Chinese Officials At the time, a Chinese citizen with business ties to Microsoft was told by a representative of the Redmond, ... (view more)

Thu
21
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Reveals 'Smart Home' Vision in New Video

Microsoft has shared its vision of what the future home might look like. In a recently released YouTube video, Microsoft revealed cutting-edge voice- and motion-enabled innovations. Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer has long been an ... advocate for touch screen displays and voice-recognition technology. The YouTube video appears to indicate that these concepts could realistically be put into practice, with some estimating that the technology could hit retailers in as little as three years' time. Microsoft's Fully Connected Home The video, titled "Microsoft's Future Vision: Live, ... (view more)

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