Windows 8

Windows 8.1 to let you secure folders with your fingerprint

Windows 8.1 will have a couple of tricks up its sleeve for people who use fingerprint readers.

One of Monday's sessions at Microsoft's TechEd conference highlighted the support that Windows 8.1 will offer for fingerprint recognition, as described by The Verge. Prior versions of Windows handled fingerprint readers through third-party software. But Windows 8.1 will be the first edition of Windows to natively support the technology.

Users will be able to log into their PCs via a Microsoft Account, purchase apps, and open different programs with a swipe of the finger. They'll even be … Read more

Dell updates PC line for Intel Haswell: XPS 12, XPS One 27, Alienware X51, plus a new touch-screen monitor

Remember the Dell XPS 12? The flippy-toppy 3.35-pound laptop-tablet convertible's been updated with the latest Intel fourth-gen Core i-series Haswell processors (Core i5-4200U, Core i7-4700U, or Core i7-4650U), which enables more than two hours more battery life than before (according to Dell), and a significant graphics boost thanks to integrated Intel HD4400 or 5000 graphics. Storage options include up to a 512GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. The new XPS 12 starts at $1,199. These types of small tablet-convertible systems are, ideally, the ones that Intel's newest ultrabook processors were made for,

But that's not … Read more

Intel's new fourth-gen 'Haswell' processors: What you need to know (FAQ)

Intel has officially revealed its next-generation lineup of desktop and mobile processors in the Core i3, i5, and i7 family, also known as "fourth-generation" or code-named "Haswell." The two-part announcement started over the weekend with Intel's quad-core enthusiast-level processors, and now the veil has been lifted on dual-core desktop and mobile processors, too.

This FAQ will mainly focus on the dual-core processors and what they'll do for mobile systems. For a detailed rundown on the quad-core processors, check out our hands-on look.

What is it? Haswell is Intel's code name for the fourth … Read more

Hands-on with the XPS 11

TAIPEI -- We spent a few minutes here at Computex 2013 with the Dell XPS 11, a new convertible notebook with a flip design, not unlike the Lenovo Yoga Ultrabook.

One of the notebook's main features is its 11.6-inch, 2,560x1,440-pixel-resolution display. This gives it an extremely high PPI, much more than the larger XPS 13, which has a 1,920x1,080 screen.

The screen looks sharp, and you won't be able to make … Read more

Microsoft gives timetable for Windows 'Blue' servers

Microsoft finally peeled back the covers on the server-side products coming as part of the "Blue" wave on the opening day of the annual Microsoft TechEd North America conference.

Microsoft officials went public with details about Windows Server Blue, which is officially christened "Windows Server 2012 R2"; System Center "Blue," which will be called "System Center 2012 R2"; SQL Server Blue, a k a "SQL Server 2014"; and Visual Studio Blue, or "Visual Studio 2013," on Monday at its show for IT pros and developers in … Read more

Acer again takes aim at Windows RT, says it's not 'so influential'

Acer Chairman J.T. Wang has a hard time saying anything nice about Microsoft's Windows RT.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Monday, Wang said he's not sure Windows RT is "so influential anymore," adding that his company has "not decided if we want to launch [a Windows RT-based device], to start mass production."

Microsoft offered up Windows RT last year to placate device makers that were delivering tablets on ARM-based chips. The trouble is, Windows RT is incompatible with key software solutions that were designed for its standard operating … Read more

Microsoft to cut Windows RT cost for vendors, says report

Microsoft may trim the prices it charges tablet vendors for Windows RT.

Citing "people with knowledge of the matter," Bloomberg reported Monday that the price cuts would be aimed at Windows RT running on smaller tablets. The goal is to prod more manufacturers to launch Windows RT devices, which haven't exactly seen blockbuster sales.

The new pricing is confidential, Bloomberg's sources said. But any drop in the cost of Windows RT for vendors would trigger lower prices for tablet consumers.

"You need more breadth of equipment manufacturers making the devices, you need lower prices, you … Read more

Acer's new Haswell PCs include S3 and S7 ultrabooks, 8-inch Iconia W3 tablet, and new Z3, V7, and V3

(Updated 11 pm PT June 3 with additional PCs and Intel processor specs)

The time has come for PC manufacturers to start unveiling new hardware in association with Intel's forthcoming fourth-gen Core i-series "Haswell" processors, and some are doing it earlier than others.

Acer, recently busy with its "Star Trek"-inspired Aspire R7 unveiling, has announced even more PC products: a new 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, a second slim S3 ultrabook to accompany the also-updated S7, and a refreshed Aspire Z3 all-in-one desktop PC. Some of them feature Intel's newest fourth-gen "Haswell" … Read more

How to delete your Windows 8 personal settings from the cloud

Windows 8 can sync your settings and personal preferences over multiple PCs, as long as you log in with your Microsoft account. It's a convenient feature if you frequently switch between computers, like a laptop and a desktop. If you don't want to sync your settings, you can disable it by going to PC Settings on your Windows 8 PC. However, your sync settings will remain on Microsoft's servers. Here's how to delete your Windows 8 personal settings from the cloud:

Step 1: Disable syncing on every Windows 8 PC or RT device. Display the Charms … Read more

Former Windows boss Sinofsky happy with Windows 8 sales

To hear former Windows boss Steven Sinofsky tell it, Windows 8 is doing just fine, despite analyst reports that PC sales have declined, in part, because of tepid consumer interest in the 7-month-old operating system.

"It's hard for me to look at selling 100 million of something and not be happy," Sinofsky said at the D11 conference Thursday, according to AllThingsD's live blog of his conversation. (Microsoft said earlier this month it had sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses in the six months since Win 8's introduction.)

Asked why those Windows 8 sales haven't … Read more