Microsoft

Change of heart? IE11 might speed Web graphics with WebGL

Microsoft's next version of Internet Explorer might just support WebGL, a standard for accelerated 3D graphics on the Web that the company previously has attacked as a security risk.

A leaked version of the next version of Windows, code-named Blue, came with a version of IE11, and developer's scrutiny of the browser shows evidence of WebGL.

"It seems like WebGL interfaces are defined but not functional at this time," said Web developer and author Francois Remy in a blog post this week. That means that the IE11 build has some infrastructure in place to support WebGL, … Read more

Rumor of Microsoft's plans for Windows RT off the mark

A breathless rumor about Microsoft merging Windows RT with Blue is a misunderstanding of the facts, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The Asia-based rumor last night was that Microsoft would merge Windows RT with its upcoming Windows Blue tech. But technically that's already a given, a source close to Microsoft told CNET.

The codebases are already the same so there's nothing technically to merge, according to the source. There's one Windows Store for both ARM and Intel-based x86 devices, so people don't have to visit a different Store depending on the chip their … Read more

Microsoft debuts Web site to search all its patents

No stranger to intellectual property litigation, Microsoft today launched a Web tool that lets anyone search its entire portfolio of 40,785 patents.

The idea, according to the software giant's general counsel, Brad Smith, is to create greater transparency, giving those who might otherwise illegally use Microsoft's patents without permission a way to find what intellectual property Microsoft owns.

"One of the fundamental objectives of the patent system is to provide notice regarding inventions -- not only the nature of what has been invented but who owns the patent," Smith wrote in a blog post.

What'… Read more

Microsoft opens more 'specialty' retail outlets

Microsoft is continuing to slowly and steadily add more brick-and-mortar stores to its roster -- but with a new twist.

Rather than opening nothing but full-service, large-scale locations, the Softies are adding more small-footprint "specialty store" locations across the U.S. and Canada. These specialty stores are what Microsoft has rechristened its holiday pop-up stores.

On the Microsoft Store Facebook page, Microsoft describes these specialty stores as "scaled-down Microsoft retail stores that carry a curated selection of the best products Microsoft has to offer."

In its full-size stores, Microsoft showcases and sells everything from a fairly … Read more

Windows Blue to let you sync your Start screen across devices

The next version of Windows will be able to show you the same Start screen across all your Windows 8 devices.

Investigating the latest enhancements destined for Windows Blue, Supersite for Windows creator Paul Thurrott was greeted by the same Start screen on two different Windows 8 PCs. This means that users who log in with their Microsoft account will see the same Start screen tiles, layout, and color scheme across all their Windows 8 devices.

The actual Start Screen sync feature in the PC Settings screen isn't yet working in the current Windows Blue build. But users should … Read more

Windows RT in trouble? Report makes cryptic claims

Windows RT has not gone swimmingly so far for Microsoft, but a new report from Asia is taking this a step further, saying it will be "merged" with Windows Blue.

Digitimes' reporting can sometimes be frustratingly vague. A new report continues the tradition but makes a potentially important claim that Windows RT will be merged into Microsoft's "next-generation Windows, codenamed Blue."

Here's what the Taipei-based news site said is the basis of merging RT into Blue, citing Asia-based suppliers.

Although the PC supply chain had pushed the Windows on ARM (WoA) platform aggressively, the … Read more

Microsoft lands design patents for Surface cover keyboard

While Microsoft's Surface tablets may not be exactly clicking with consumers, some of its design elements have won the blessing of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The USPTO granted a trio of patents today for the touch/type cover keyboard design on Redmond's tablet, including its "ornamental design for an electronic tablet with input device coupling," as Microsoft described the construct in its patent application abstracts. Apparently thinking it was onto something big, Microsoft applied for patents covering its tablet's keyboard design last May, roughly a month before the mystery event that turned … Read more

With Windows Blue comes fear of desktop's demise

Windows Blue has triggered a spate of doomsaying about the end of the Windows desktop.

Today there has been no shortage of articles claiming that Blue portends the end of Windows 8 desktop mode. You know, the mode that most Windows 8 users spend their time in.

Rumored changes for Metro -- the Windows 8 touch-centric tablet mode -- include a different way to handle multitasking in side-by-side snap view. Possibly providing less reason to drop to the desktop for multitasking.

But what seems to have most observers worried is the changes to Control Panel.

Here's what Information Week … Read more

Microsoft acknowledges Windows Blue, announces next Build conference

Microsoft finally has come clean about its "Blue" code name for upcoming Windows tech, while also announcing its next Build Conference.

Microsoft is "working ... on plans to advance our devices and services, a set of plans referred to internally as Blue," the company said in The Official Microsoft Blog today.

Microsoft quickly qualified this by saying that the "chances of products being named thusly are slim to none."

These plans are expected to manifest as improvements and refinements to Windows in a variety of devices, ranging from phones to tablets to servers.

In Windows … Read more