Microsoft

Last week Microsoft shocked many observers by revealing that the standard version of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS) will not include DVD support. In order to get that support, customers will have to upgrade to the more expensive ... version: Windows 8 Pro. Since announcing this news, Microsoft has responded to widespread criticism of its decision. At first, Microsoft claimed that the absence of DVD support was related to the emergence of ultrabooks and tablet computers. The software giant stated that the limitations of these hardware devices (they lack optical disc drives) would ... (view more)

Microsoft's most recent security update includes fixes for a total of 22 flaws affecting the Windows operating system (OS), the Microsoft Office program suite, and the .Net Framework. The 22 fixes are spread across seven security bulletins, three of ... which Microsoft has ranked 'critical,' the company's highest security rating. Another four have been rated 'important,' which is one step down from 'critical.' Remote Code Execution Flaws Rampant All but two of the security bulletins address issues related to remote code execution vulnerabilities. Problems like these can put a computer system at ... (view more)

There was a time when Microsoft's Bing search engine, launched in mid-2009, was one of the hottest pages on the world wide web. But Bing's popularity has cooled since the days of its high-profile release. Today, Microsoft is 'searching' for ways to ... draw web users away from Google search and toward Bing. As part of this effort, Microsoft has introduced a major overhaul of the ways Bing displays its search results on its main page. The new strategy aims to "de-clutter" Bing's search results by getting rid of what the Redmond-based firm characterized as 'unnecessary distractions.' (Source: cnet. ... (view more)

Motorola has won a court ruling that bans the distribution of most major Microsoft products in Germany. However, it's not yet clear if the landmark ban will actually be enforced. A German court granted Motorola an injunction covering distribution of ... Windows 7, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, and the Xbox 360 video game console in that country. If the ban is ever enforced, it would prevent those software and hardware products from being sold in Germany -- presumably until the patent dispute between Microsoft and Motorola is finally settled. However, a U.S. court has issued a ruling ... (view more)

Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch an Xbox-branded, cross-platform music streaming service along with its new Windows 8 operating system. Current expectations point to an unveiling of the new service at this year's E3 (Electronic ... Entertainment Expo) convention set for June, in Los Angeles. Microsoft is calling its new service 'Woodstock' and promises to offer its customers many more features than the music service's predecessor, Zune Music Pass. Rival Device Compatibility While 'Woodstock' will have an Xbox branding, it will not be limited to the video game console. Rather, the music ... (view more)

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a web version of Skype that users could access directly through their browsers without needing to download and install software. According to Liveside.net, a number of new Microsoft job postings have popped up ... in recent weeks asking for job applications from developers with experience building HTML5-based apps for a project called "Skype for Browsers". (Source: webmonkey.com ) Because of its affiliation with Facebook, Skype (which was acquired by Microsoft last year) is already accessible through a browser, technically speaking. The Facebook version of ... (view more)

Microsoft has now revealed that most buyers will choose between just two versions of Windows 8. It's a big change from earlier Windows launches, in which choosing the right version could be a daunting and confusing experience. One version of Windows ... 8, known as simply 'Windows 8', is aimed at consumers and small businesses. The more expensive and expansive option will be called 'Windows 8 Pro'. As with previous "premium" or "business" editions of Windows, it will include features that are most useful in a corporate setting. These additional features include extra network controls, a remote ... (view more)

A leaked Microsoft production schedule, or "roadmap", has revealed to the public some approximate release dates for a number of the company's most anticipated new products. The roadmap appears to have been published late last year, and lays out when ... consumers can expect to see updated versions of Office, Internet Explorer, and Windows Phone software released. According to reports, the roadmap was leaked earlier this week through Microsoft's own publicly accessible Microsoft Partner Network. MeeTroo chief executive officer Maarten Visser is reported to have sent it out via Twitter, although it ... (view more)

Microsoft has announced it will finally stop supporting Windows XP in April of 2014. The decision leaves users of that operating system (OS) out in the cold, without security updates or support of any kind from the software giant. The company had ... already begun phasing out support for the original versions of XP and currently offers support only for copies containing the final batch of updates for the software, Service Pack 3 (SP3). Even Windows XP with SP3 has already reached the "extended support" phase. As a result, Microsoft issues free security updates, but offers tech support on a paid ... (view more)

Microsoft has announced it will issue six security updates next Tuesday. Together, the updates will patch 11 different bugs affecting Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, and other Microsoft programs. It's worth noting that Microsoft has ranked four ... of the 11 fixes "critical," the software giant's highest security warning. "Critical" Bulletin 4 Fixes Office, and More The security update currently receiving the most attention is Bulletin 4. It is designed to repair a serious security vulnerability in a number of different Microsoft programs. The list of software due for ... (view more)