Business

A new report reveals that Microsoft won't kill support for all Windows XP users. However, continuing to receive crucial security updates for the aging operating system won't be cheap. Microsoft has repeatedly insisted that users of Windows XP move ... away from the decade-old operating system (OS) by April 2014, when support for the OS officially ends. For most users, that means Microsoft will no longer make or distribute security patches designed to keep the OS safe from hackers. 'Custom Support' Extends XP's Life -- For a Price But not everyone is being cut off in April 2014. According to a new ... (view more)

Google is reportedly negotiating with the National Football League (NFL) in an effort to take over rights to the NFL's Sunday Ticket package. If the two sides reach a deal it could be a major boost for online broadcasting. The package, currently ... offered by satellite firm DirecTV, allows viewers to watch all Sunday NFL games that aren't available on local television in their area. This includes people who are fans of a team from somewhere else in the country and people who simply want to have access to as many games as possible. Google and the NFL have both confirmed the meetings have taken ... (view more)

Who will replace Steve Ballmer as Microsoft's chief executive officer? It's a tough question, but one many people are asking right now. That's why a British bookmaker, or 'bookie', is taking bets on Ballmer's replacement. Ladbrokes is one of the ... leading bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Recently the firm posted its list of the top picks for Microsoft CEO. According to Ladbrokes, it's likely the next Microsoft chief executive officer has already worked for the Redmond, Washington-based firm. Nokia CEO Given 5/1 Odds The current front runner is Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, who served as head of ... (view more)

Times are tough over at Microsoft. At least, it seems that way given consumer reaction to Windows 8 and the firm's new Surface tablet . Now, the firm's chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer, has announced plans to leave the company. But one very ... prominent economist thinks the Redmond, Washington-based firm is still in better shape than one of its main rivals: Apple. Apple Losing its "Quality Edge" In a recent New York Times piece, internationally renowned economist Paul Krugman suggested that Apple might have a more troubled future than Microsoft. His reasoning: conservative IT ... (view more)

Microsoft has released its first major update to the Windows 8 operating system, Windows 8.1 (or 'Windows Blue'), to manufacturers. That means the update is on track for its October 18, 2013 release. Microsoft's Windows SuperSite editor Paul ... Thurrott recently took to Twitter to announce that Windows 8.1 had been released to manufacturers (RTM). That means the update has reached Microsoft's quality standards and is ready to be installed on new PC systems. Microsoft had earlier stated that it would reach this milestone by the end of August, meaning the company is slightly ahead of schedule. ( ... (view more)

Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer has announced plans to leave the Redmond, Washington-based firm in the next twelve months. It's a monumental change for a firm going through a difficult period in its history. Ballmer, who is 57 years ... old and originally joined Microsoft in 1980, says his firm has already appointed a special committee to interview candidates for the position. Microsoft co-founder and current chairman Bill Gates is said to be on that special committee. Dramatic End to a Roller Coaster Career Ballmer's tenure as CEO has been a tumultuous one. Ballmer was named CEO ... (view more)

There's nothing more frustrating than ending a long work day by waiting two hours for a traffic jam to clear up. That's why Google has announced plans to update the Google Maps mobile application to provide real-time updates for its users, thereby ... helping them avoid troublesome traffic areas. Google made the announcement on Tuesday, August 20, 2013. The update will give mobile Google Maps users real-time alerts about fender benders, new construction projects, and other potential traffic issues. Real-World Drivers Provide Traffic Updates Providing the data required for the service will be Waze ... (view more)

Steve Wozniak, the man who founded Apple along with the late Steve Jobs, is not a fan of the new film 'Jobs'. Wozniak suggested the movie, which stars Ashton Kutcher, is misleading. Wozniak recently took to tech blog Gizmodo to rant about the movie, ... which debuted last week. "I suspect a lot of what was wrong with the film came from Ashton's own image of Jobs," Wozniak said. Wozniak's main concern appears to be that Kutcher -- who made a name for himself on Fox's "That 70s Show" and MTV's "Punk'd" -- failed to capture the essence of Steve Jobs' real-life personality. Wozniak Working On ... (view more)

BlackBerry, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company formerly known as Research in Motion, is in big trouble. However, the firm's chief executive officer, Thorsten Heins -- who BlackBerry tapped to take over as CEO just last year -- is set to make more ... than $50 million in salary and incentives if he's forced out of the firm's top job. Heins had served in several executive positions prior to becoming BlackBerry chief executive officer in January 2012. He joined the firm as Senior Vice President of the BlackBerry Handheld Business Unit in 2007 after working for several hardware and software ... (view more)

A Google court filing says users of its Gmail service and their contacts have no right to expect privacy. It's a controversial position that will undoubtedly catch the attention of privacy-minded consumers and Google's main rival, Microsoft. The ... filing is a response to a class action lawsuit brought by action group Consumer Watchdog, which has complained about the way Google automatically scans emails and uses the contents to decide which advertisements to show a Gmail user when he or she logs in to the site. The case focuses on Gmail users and the terms and conditions they agree to before ... (view more)