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Microsoft kills Messenger to push Skype

Wednesday's CNET Update is app happy:

Today's tech news roundup bids farewell to Windows Live Messenger. Microsoft is pushing users to use Skype instead for instant messaging. The latest Skype update lets users transfer contacts from Messenger.

The new Xbox SmartGlass app is now available for Apple devices. The app turns an iOS device into a second screen for navigating through Xbox menus and media, and it's easier to type with an iOS keyboard. Some games have extra features for SmartGlass, like Halo 4, Dance Central 3 and Forza Horizon.

If you're wondering about an app for Microsoft Office, … Read more

Microsoft: Skype and Messenger coming together

After months of leaked bits, Microsoft's Skype division is finally opening the informational tap.

We've already seen and now used the new Windows 8 Skype client. We've heard there's a Windows Phone 8 Skype client coming -- though it's still not in the Windows Phone Store and Skype reps are not sharing more on when it will be.

On November 6, the Skype team provided more information about its recently stated plans to ultimately replace Windows Live Messenger with Skype. The planned cutover date is quite aggressive: It's Q1 2013, according to a new … Read more

'SNL' assaults social media experts

Social media experts are hard to friend.

Their sheer exalted certainty can often jolt the spine into uncomfortable spasms and jut the jaw into hitherto unknown positions.

It was inevitable, then, that in this moment of political excitement and uncertainty "Saturday Night Live" might attempt a poke or two in their direction.

Here we have a social media expert, Kourtney Barnes, who expresses her knowledge through the examples of one or two Facebook postings. A sample from one Hannah Goldberg on Mitt Romney's Facebook page suggests she doesn't find Mitt Romney terribly attractive at all.

"… Read more

What is SurfCast and can it spoil Microsoft's Windows 8 party?

A few days after the Windows 8 operating system went on sale and started generating significant revenue, Microsoft was slapped with a lawsuit by a company no one had ever heard of. The suit targets the core design feature of the new Windows 8 user interface -- the Live Tiles that surface dynamically updated information, such as tweets, photos, notifications and weather data, on the home screen of Windows 8 devices.

Read: Microsoft sued over Live Tiles

SurfCast's bare-bones Web site is short on corporate details, such as who is actually running the show. … Read more

Microsoft takes on smartphone icons with Live Tiles

SAN FRANCISCO -- Windows Phone 8, the second pillar in Microsoft's rebirthing of Windows, finally reached escape velocity. A wide variety of Windows smartphones will be shipping soon, entering a market totally dominated by Apple (iOS) and Google (Android).

Steve Ballmer gave assurances at the launch event at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium, named after rock music impresario Bill Graham, that after four years the company finally got Windows Phone right. "People all over the world are about to fall in love with Windows Phone," the Microsoft CEO said. "If you're … Read more

The 404 1,157: Where we live in a van down by the river (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Anthropologist says Apple is definitely a religion.

- Google brings Street View to the Grand Canyon.

- Apple now owns the trademark to The Beatles' Apple Corps Logo.

- What I learned while live-tweeting a friend's funeral.

Video voice mail: Mossimo has a positive update on a previous video voice mail.… Read more

HTC fires up daily deals for One X+, Windows Phone 8X and 8S

HTC is getting into the daily-deals business in Europe.

The company today announced a new service, called Best Deals, that aims at delivering "money-saving deals" to those who own HTC smartphones. According to HTC, the service is launching on the One X+, as well as the Windows Phone 8X and 8S, in November. Best Deals will also come to the HTC One X and One S in a future software update.

In order to get the service off the ground, HTC has partnered with a host of deals providers, including LivingSocial, which will deliver offers through Best Deals … Read more

Join CNET's Windows 8 launch coverage on Thursday (live blog)

Live coverage of Microsoft's Windows 8 event

After months of anticipation, preview builds, and hype, Microsoft will formally launch its next-generation operating system, Windows 8, at an event in New York on Thursday.

Windows 8 represents a wholesale change in the user experience, relying on live tiles and a more touch-friendly interface than previous iterations. It's unclear whether consumers will embrace the dramatic changes or shun the software, relying instead on Apple's OS X or the older Windows 7.

What's more clear is that Microsoft has a lot riding on the success of this operating system, … Read more

Apple's big 'little' event: Join us Tuesday (live blog)

Apple is holding its special event on Tuesday, and you can get your full dose of the news right here.

The press conference, at which Apple is expected to debut a smaller version of the iPad as well as updates to Apple's Mac line, kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET's Scott Stein, Rich Brown and I will be bringing you the news live from the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, Calif.

CNET will also be running live commentary from editors Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Donald Bell beginning at 9 a.m. PT, which you'll be able to watch right above our live blog. Note that there's no live video of the presentation itself. … Read more