windows

A "user experience specialist" says Windows 8 suffers from not being designed specifically for desktop and laptop computers. That expert goes so far as to say that performance enhancements associated with the new operating system (OS) might be ... meaningless for most people. Raluca Budiu says the things that are easier to do in Windows 8 aren't the tasks most people will want to do. Budiu, of the user experience consulting firm Nielsen Norman Group, works with clients to measure the ease of using specific websites and operating systems. She made her comments on Windows 8 in an ... (view more)

Microsoft continues to give its products Windows 8-style makeovers as it prepares to release the new operating system in late October, 2012. The latest subject: Microsoft SkyDrive , the software giant's cloud computing service. For those not ... familiar with SkyDrive, it's a cloud storage service that allows users to save important files online and then access them from any Internet-connected device. As with all cloud storage options, SkyDrive offers a great way to back up vital files. However, doing so does involve some risks , too. SkyDrive: Syncs with Office, 7GB Storage Free One of SkyDrive' ... (view more)

Lenovo says it's not concerned about the upcoming release of Microsoft's 'Surface' tablet computer. Instead, the firm says it plans to stay competitive by developing and selling better hardware. It's tough talk for a company known to build products ... that for many years have relied on the Windows operating systems. Making the comments: Lenovo Chief Executive Officer Yang Yuanqing. During an earnings report on Lenovo's first fiscal quarter 2013, Yuanqing said his firm was not concerned about the upcoming release of Surface, even though the device will compete with any future Lenovo tablet ... (view more)

It will be a busy week for IT administrators as Microsoft rolls out fixes for five critical vulnerabilities in its products -- including both Windows and Internet Explorer -- and as Adobe issues patches for similar flaws in its Reader and Acrobat ... programs. As part of its monthly Patch Tuesday update, Microsoft plans to release nine security bulletins on August 14, 2012. Five of those nine bulletins have been designated "critical", the Redmond, Washington-based firm's highest security rating. Windows, Internet Explorer Receive Updates Those five critical bulletins address serious ... (view more)

Microsoft has confirmed its "Do Not Track" feature will be switched on by default in the new Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) web browser. The decision is intended to protect user privacy. However, it has earned a frosty reception from some online ... advertisers. The feature was introduced to prevent users' online activity from being reported to third-party groups, a concern when advertisers began gathering information from multiple websites to compile very detailed pictures about what individuals do online. Since then, browser makers have worked on a variety of measures to combat this ... (view more)

Windows Live Messenger 16.4 Now you can bring your online conversations to life with Windows Live Messenger. It's free software that helps you make high-definition video calls and chat face-to-face with friends and family! It also lets you connect ... Facebook to Messenger, so you can instant message your Facebook friends even if they don't use the Messenger system. http://microsoft.com Windows Live Mail 16.4 Windows Live Mail is a free email management utility that lets you work with multiple email accounts, calendars, and contact lists, even when your computer is offline. Once you add your ... (view more)

Microsoft has made a change to the final edition of its new Windows 8 operating system (OS). According to a new report, the change forces users who prefer Windows' traditional desktop layout to use the system's new interface (formerly known as ... 'Metro') every time the new OS boots up. This requirement could represent a major irritant for many Windows users. The most significant change in Windows 8 is the new user interface. It's a much different design featuring very large icons known as 'tiles,' and has already become fairly popular among users of Windows-based smartphones. Microsoft ... (view more)

For some time, gaming experts have been speculating about the release date, hardware specifications, and software capabilities associated with the next version of the Xbox video game console from Microsoft. Now, a slip up by a Microsoft ... representative may have revealed that the device will be heavily integrated with the Redmond, Washington-based company's soon-to-be-released operating system (OS): Windows 8. In a podcast with the hosts of the show Vergecast, Windows Live general manager Brian Hall listed the "new Xbox" along with a number of other products that will use or closely ... (view more)

Microsoft is reportedly scrambling to come up with a replacement name for its new user interface in Windows 8. According to reports, the Redmond, Washington-based company has decided to completely drop the name 'Metro' after a threat of legal action ... arose over possible trademark violations. Microsoft has reportedly told its staff they should not use the term in any applications or documents. Microsoft has been calling its new interface 'Metro' for some time. In the past it was meant to describe an overall design style, including both a typeface and a system incorporating very large icons. ... (view more)

Microsoft is finished with Windows 8, and has officially released the new operating system to manufacturers (a milestone called "RTM"). Hardware makers like Dell, Asus, Acer, and Hewlett-Packard will now begin the process of installing the new ... operating system (OS) on their computers slated for sale on or after the OS's launch date, October, 2012. By releasing Windows 8 to manufacturers, Microsoft is acknowledging that it has completed development and testing of the new OS. Obviously, work on the OS will continue so that updates and additions can be offered in the future. Windows 8 ... (view more)