devices

Microsoft has finally unveiled the first publicly available edition of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS). While this version of the new OS is far from complete, it does give users a solid idea of what Microsoft has done to update its ... flagship product for use with mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones. "It's an even better Windows than Windows 7," Microsoft Windows director Steven Sinofsky said at a recent demonstration of the new OS, which took place at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. "It's incredibly fast and fluid to just navigate this UI (user interface ... (view more)

According to a new set of statistics from tech analyst firm Canalys, Apple is now the world's largest manufacturer of computers. But the figures include gadgets such as the iPad tablet device, causing some to wonder exactly what it takes for a ... device to be defined as a computer. The figures cover shipments during the last three months of 2011 . They show that Apple shipped 20 million "personal computing devices," accounting for 17 per cent of the worldwide total. In second place belongs to Hewlett-Packard (HP) with 12.7 per cent, followed by Lenovo at 11.2 per cent, Dell at 9.9 per cent and ... (view more)

Microsoft has now revealed the minimum hardware requirements for tablet computers to run Windows 8, another sign the company wants to extend its operating system (OS) to a wider range of devices. Windows 8 is the first Windows operating system ... designed to work on everything from desktop PCs to tablets. Aside from the classic desktop design, it boasts a user interface called 'Metro' that's intended for small touch-screens. Some critics fear Windows 8 might be so focused on tablet compatibility that it offers very little improvement to users of notebook and desktop PCs. Windows 8 Tablet: ... (view more)

Usually the term 'malware' is synonymous with PC infections that result in frustratingly sluggish computer performance. But now, the same term may be associated with mobile devices just as much as PCs, as the number of mobile malware infections ... skyrocket. According to a new report from Juniper Networks, the number of Google Android applications laced with malware has jumped a staggering 472 per cent since July, 2011. Android users now face a constantly growing wave of threats that isn't likely to abate any time soon. (Source: tomsguide.com ) "Tens of Thousands" of Malcious Apps ... (view more)

Samsung has confirmed it will sell touch-screen devices running Windows 8, beginning in the second half of 2012. For Microsoft, this is a positive sign its efforts to adapt the new operating system to ultra-portable devices will pay off. Samsung's ... sales and marketing chief says the new touch screen device will likely be a modified form of the company's existing Series 7 computer, a touch-screen "slate" (a name sometimes used for Windows-based devices known elsewhere as "tablets") that comes with a separate wireless keyboard. (Source: bloomberg.com ) Windows Slate: 'For Professionals ... (view more)

Microsoft has revealed that the default settings for Windows 8 won't support web plug-ins such as Adobe Flash. However, unlike Apple's portable devices, such systems won't be completely blocked. iPhone, iPad Don't Use Adobe Flash Devices such as the ... iPhone and iPad currently do not include support for Flash, which is used for a wide variety of website animations and online video. The reason why these devices don't support Flash is simply because Flash is too prone to bugs and uses too much memory to be suitable for Apple devices, particularly given the company's obsession with providing a ... (view more)

An exhibitor at this year's Black Hat Security Conference in Las Vegas is warning the public of flaws that could allow an attacker to remotely control insulin pumps and alter the information stored on blood-sugar monitors. Jay Radcliffe experimented ... on his own insulin equipment to establish his findings. The results send out a reminder to the tech world that medical devices synchronized with computer innovations could potentially be life-threatening if left in the wrong hands. In the past, severe attacks have been levied against pacemakers and defibrillators (though these were demonstrated in ... (view more)

The PC is 30 years old this month. But IBM, the company that established the system, believes the PC will soon be outdated. Until 1981, the "personal computer" was simply another term, like microcomputer, for any machine that was small enough and ... cheap enough that consumers could own one at home rather than it being a purely business tool. At the time, there were many different architectures for computers, meaning rival models weren't just different in design, but were largely incompatible. IBM's 5150 machine, however, changed all that. Also known as the IBM Personal Computer, the ... (view more)

It's only been a few weeks since Canadian tech company Research in Motion (RIM) shipped its PlayBook tablet , a direct rival to Apple's ubiquitous iPad. And while buzz surrounding RIM's device has led to decent sales, a recent report announcing a ... PlayBook recall is unlikely to spur further momentum in an already tough market. In a statement issued Monday, Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM admitted that it was issuing a recall for 1,000 PlayBook tablet computers, citing operating system (OS) problems. The company noted that the issue "may result in the devices unable to properly load software ... (view more)

A venture capitalist claims that the Windows operating system is on the decline. However, that doesn't mean it's doom and gloom time for Microsoft; instead, Roger McNamee says the software giant will still thrive thanks to its business services. ... McNamee is co-founder of Elevation Partners, a firm that has invested in corporations including Forbes, Palm and Facebook. It's also a major donor to Wikipedia. Speaking in an interview on CNBC, McNamee says Windows has reached a cycle in which it would stop growing. As a result, he predicts Apple will expand significantly, which will actually wind up ... (view more)