Windows 8

Microsoft smartphone rumor resurfaces

Earlier this summer, rumors swirled that Microsoft was going to make its own Windows Phones and maybe even market them under its Surface brand. This week, that rumor is back, thanks to China Times and now Boy Genius Report.

Why does this rumor keep recurring? It's either because it's true, or because Microsoft's top brass won't, once and for all, quash it if it's not. And that leaves the door wide open for speculation.

When rumors first surfaced (pun intended) that Microsoft might make its own Surface Windows Phone, Microsoft fueled the fires with its … Read more

Paul Allen likes Windows 8 -- well, except for a few things

Paul Allen, one of Microsoft's founders, is weighing in on Windows 8. What he's found is he likes it -- mostly -- but some features are pretty "puzzling."

Microsoft will be releasing its latest iteration of its operating system later this month. Unlike prior versions of Windows, the newest release is the first to have two modes and to integrate touch capabilities. One mode, formerly referred to as the Metro interface but now called "Windows 8 style," is geared at tablets, while the other is more traditional looking and is targeted at conventional PCs. … Read more

Microsoft revamping its MSN portal for Win8, IE10 users

Microsoft plans to make a touch-optimized version of its MSN portal available to users running Windows 8/Windows RT and Internet Explorer 10 as of October 26.

Microsoft officials are showing off a near-final preview of that portal in New York during Advertising Week, which kicks off this week on October 1. They also will be showing off new touch-centric Windows 8/Windows RT ads that will be available on MSN and on select Windows Store apps during this week's advertising confab.

The updated MSN portal will be available only to Windows 8/Windows RT and IE 10 users, … Read more

Windows Phone challenging RIM for third place in Europe

Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system is gaining on Research In Motion, a new study says, but it still has a long way to go before catching Android and iOS.

Windows Phone is vying with RIM for third place in Europe as low-end devices -- like the Nokia 610 -- drive sales in key markets such as Italy and France, according to a global smartphone sales report from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

But iOS and Android still make up the vast majority of sales in the region, sharing about 83 percent of the share in the big five European markets of … Read more

Windows 7 ups lead over XP as top OS

Windows 7 scooped up more market share last month at the expense of Windows XP.

For September, Windows 7 carved out 44 percent of all Web traffic among operating systems, as recorded by Net Applications. Windows XP took second place with 41.2 percent. Those numbers showed a wider gap between the two since August when Windows 7 finally grabbed the lead over XP by a fraction of a percentage point.

More than ten years after its release, Windows XP has proven its strong staying power. Many users and organizations bypassed Windows Vista, which held just 6 percent of the … Read more

Minecraft maker says he won't certify his game for Windows 8

Markus "Notch" Persson, creator of the wildly popular Minecraft video game, says he won't allow Microsoft to certify it for inclusion in the Windows 8 gaming marketplace.

"Got an e-mail from Microsoft wanting to help 'certify' Minecraft for Windows 8," Persson tweeted yesterday. "I told them to stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform."

"I'd rather have Minecraft not run on Windows 8 at all than to play along," he continued. "Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to Windows 8 that way.&… Read more

Trouble in paradise? Cracks show in Microsoft-Intel alliance

When Microsoft unveiled its Surface tablets earlier this year, Intel executives were shocked.

Microsoft started developing its self-branded tablets -- including one that uses an Intel chip -- without notifying Intel or asking for help. Intel, like many of Microsoft's other partners, didn't find out about Surface until shortly before the event, and it did not play a role in the announcement. Microsoft decided to go it alone, much like rival Apple has done.

Microsoft's decision represents new territory for the software and chip giants -- collectively known as the Wintel alliance to many in the industry … Read more

We really do think Windows 8 is great, Intel says

Intel insists Windows 8 is going to be "one of the best things that ever happened to" the company, despite a report yesterday that CEO Paul Otellini questioned the software's readiness.

According to Bloomberg, Otellini told staffers in Taiwan that Microsoft is releasing Windows 8 before it's completely ready. But the Bloomberg report noted that he also said it's the right decision, allowing Microsoft and the PC makers to compete with new products during the key holiday season.

The comments still raised questions, however, about Windows 8, as well as the relationship between Microsoft and … Read more

Windows 8 countdown: Windows Store apps at 2,000-plus

A month from now, on October 25, Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in New York City.

So with time getting short before Windows 8 and Windows RT become generally available, how are things looking from an app perspective?

As of Monday, September 24, there were 2,188 Windows Store applications available internationally, with 1,593 of those available in the U.S., according to Directions on Microsoft Vice President of Research Wes Miller. There are approximately 150 apps that are available for x86/x64 machines and not ARM, Miller said. In other words, there are about 150 apps in the … Read more

Intel CEO slams Windows 8, says it's not ready -- report

Intel Chief Executive Paul Otellini slammed Windows 8 during a meeting with employees in Taiwan, according to a Bloomberg report, saying the operating system still has bugs and is being released before it's ready.

Otellini said Windows still needs some improvements, according to Bloomberg. But Otellini also said releasing Windows 8 before it's completely ready is the correct decision to help Microsoft and the PC makers compete against Apple during the key holiday season. He added that Microsoft can make changes after Windows 8 ships, the report said.

Microsoft and Intel have been close partners over the years, … Read more