Tired of the current crop of tablets mostly sporting Android and iOS? If that's the case, mark your calendars for November, because according to reports, that's when Intel-based slates running Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system are set to land in retail. Anticipation is running high for next-generation tablets equipped with Microsoft's touch-friendly OS, which could prove game changing in the mobile space.
Mozilla isn't mincing words when it comes to Microsoft's decision to limit or restrict the behavior of non-Internet Explorer browsers in Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 intended for systems with ARM hardware inside. In a semi-angry blog post, Mozilla raged against reports that Internet Explorer will be the only browser allowed to run in the privileged 'Windows Classic' environment, calling the move "an unwelcome return to the digital dark ages where users and developers didn't have browser choices." Ouch.
Do you Ubuntu? If the answer's "Yes," then you probably installed the operating system yourself, using an .iso image and a little keyboard finger-grease. Congratulations! You're the One Percent of the computer world; most users, especially everyday users, would never even attempt to load a Linux variant on a PC. If they want to go truly mainstream, Ubuntu and its Linux brethren need to come preinstalled on OEM-built computers -- and that's why the numbers and news tossed around at yesterday's Ubuntu Developers Summit are so heartening.
Microsoft didn't make many friends by casually mentioning how Windows Media Center wouldn't be included with Windows 8, Redmond's next generation operating system set to debut in a few months. In fact, many were downright outraged at the news, and seeing the sharpened pitchforks and brightly lit torches being waved around cyberspace, Steven Sinofsky set out to clarify things on the Building Windows 8 blog.
Microsoft has high hopes for Windows 8, the Metro-sexual operating system slated to ship around six months from now. The elephant in the room is Windows 8's Metro user interface and whether or not consumers are ready for such a drastic change to what's been a mostly familiar layout up to this point, and it could be taken as encouraging signs (for Microsoft) that its Developer Preview, Consumer Preview, and Release Preview builds have all seen a high number of downloads. If that's the case, why are some PC makers freaking out?
Microsoft's next generation desktop operating system, Windows 8, inches closer to release with each passing day. In fact, barring any last minute snags and/or delays, Microsoft will make available the Release Preview of Windows 8 in early June. How early? Within the first week, which is less than seven weeks away. What this tells us is that Windows 8 is nearly ready for prime time.
Microsoft is doing something with Windows 8 that it should have down with Windows 7 and Vista. It's paring down the number of SKUs to just three, one of which is designed for ARM processors, leaving the x86 crowd with just two versions to choose from. Every grade school teacher who has ever taught their students the K.I.S.S. (as in, Keep It Simple, Silly or Stupid) principle should be giving each other vindicated high-fives.
Over the weekend, Microsoft began a two-year countdown to the extinction of Windows XP (end of Extended Support), encouraging XP holdouts to move to Windows 7. Now it’s the turn of Vista holdouts to seriously contemplate upgrading to Windows 7, for today (April 10, 2012) is the last day of the hugely unpopular XP successor’s mainstream support phase. Hit the jump for more.
Summer is fast approaching, and if you're an Android fan, what better treat is there to celebrate the change in season than a delicious Ice Cream Sandwich? Certainly not Gingerbread, yet going by the numbers, that's what the large majority of Android users are chomping on. According to Google's updated Platform Versions website, only 2.9 percent of Android devices are rocking Android 4.0 or later (4.0.2 and 4.0.3).
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