Microsoft software satisfaction slumps Customer satisfaction with Microsoft's software, primarily Windows, dropped slightly in the last year, likely part of the fallout over Windows 8, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
How to Prepare for Windows 8 Even Though It's Not Coming to Enterprises Windows 8 won't be adopted as a standard at your business anytime soon, according to a new Forrester report. But that doesn't mean IT shouldn't prepare for it to sneak through the BYOD side door. Here are five ways to be ready for Windows 8.
Windows 8 isn't New Coke, says top Microsoft exec; it's Diet Coke Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft's head of corporate communications, defended his company's Windows information disclosure strategy, denying that Microsoft has adopted Apple's "cone of silence" approach to imparting news.
Microsoft votes for free Windows 8.1, collects kudos Microsoft today announced that Windows 8.1, the update later this year for Windows 8, will be free to current users of the operating system, confirming analysts' expectations.
Retailers didn't do Windows 8 any favors Retailers share part of the blame for poor Windows 8 sales and the ensuing decline of PC shipments, analysts contended today.
Microsoft re-releases 'Blue Screen of Death' patch Microsoft today re-released a security update that had crashed customers' PCs and crippled the machines with endless reboots, saying that the revised patch is now safe to install.
Easy XP-Windows 7 upgrades are over The easy upgrades from Windows XP are done, migration experts said, predicting that a sizeable number of large enterprises will still be running the aged OS even after Microsoft stops supporting it.
Microsoft: Mum's again the word on Windows 8 sales Even though PC shipments were down 14% last quarter, Microsoft's Windows division posted revenue about the same as the last year, making up for slumping sales to OEMs with growth in long-term licensing agreements sold to enterprises.
Microsoft files patent for new open windows viewer Microsoft last week filed a patent application for a new method of browsing through open windows on the desktop that builds on an older, now-abandoned feature in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Microsoft may backtrack on Start button in Windows 8 Microsoft may recant its Windows 8 design theology, bloggers reported Tuesday, by offering Windows 8 users an option to bypass the "Modern" UI and by restoring the Start button and menu to the beleaguered operating system.
Windows 8.1: What's in a name (and why it matters) The more information that leaks about Windows 8's expected summer upgrade, dubbed "Blue" by Microsoft, the more questions that pop up, analysts said today.
Microsoft to patch IE10 Pwn2Own bugs next week, says security expert Microsoft will ship nine security updates next week, two rated "critical," to patch Internet Explorer, Windows, SharePoint Server, Office Web Apps and the company's anti-malware software in Windows 8 and RT.
Windows XP decline stalls as users hold onto aged OS, flout 2014 deadline The decline in usage share of Windows XP, which is slated for retirement in 53 weeks, has slowed significantly, hinting that millions of its users will hold onto the operating system much longer than some, including Microsoft, expect.
Windows Blue and Microsoft's continuous upgrade strategy Microsoft yesterday confirmed Windows "Blue," an upgrade to Windows 8, but analysts remained uneasy about how the faster release cadence that Blue represents will be digested by businesses.
Windows 'Blue' shows desktop's days are numbered Microsoft won't back away from a radical overhaul of Windows and is determined to kill the decades-old, decades-rich desktop, analysts agreed today.
Microsoft to refresh Windows 8 core app trio on Tuesday Microsoft will push updated versions of several long-criticized Windows 8 apps, including Mail, Calendar and People, the "Modern"-style program for keeping track of contacts, to the Windows Store tomorrow.
Apple updates Mountain Lion, patches Safari Apple yesterday updated OS X Mountain Lion for the first time in six months, patching 14 security vulnerabilities and addressing a host of other issues.
How to Downgrade From Windows 8 (Hint: The First Step Is to Know Your Rights) For a variety of reasons, some businesses are looking to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7. The good news is that Microsoft's business licenses come with downgrade rights, but the catch is that the rules can be tricky and compliance could become an issue. Here are some clarifications on your rights when downgrading from Windows 8 or standardizing on noncurrent Microsoft software.
IDC joins 'ditch Windows RT' bandwagon Microsoft's two-pronged OS push into tablets -- Windows RT and Windows 8 -- confuses customers, and the company should focus on the more robust Windows 8, an IDC analyst said today.
Microsoft reverses IE10's Flash blocking in Windows 8, RT Microsoft later today will reverse a months-long practice in how Internet Explorer 10 handles Adobe's Flash Player on Windows 8's and Windows RT's Modern user interfaces.
Who ratted out Microsoft on browser ballot absence? No Microsoft browser rival would comment on, much less confirm, that it reported the omission of the browser ballot to European antitrust regulators -- an omission that led to a $732 million fine this week against Microsoft.
Microsoft slates IE, Windows, Office updates for next week Microsoft today announced it will deliver seven security updates next week, four of them rated "critical," to patch Internet Explorer, Windows, Office, SharePoint Server and the Silverlight media software.
Researchers rake in $280K at Pwn2Own hacking contest Research teams Wednesday cracked Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 (IE10), Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox at the Pwn2Own hacking contest, pulling in more than $250,000 in prizes.
EU let Microsoft police itself on browser ballot promises Europe's antitrust agency put Microsoft on the honor system, letting the company monitor its own compliance with a 2009 settlement that required it to offer other browsers to Windows users, the EU's top regulator admitted.
EU fines Microsoft $732M over browser ballot debacle European Union antitrust officials today hit Microsoft with a $732 million fine for failing to live up to a 2009 settlement that requires it to offer Windows users a choice of alternate browsers.
EU to hit Microsoft with 'large fine' Wednesday, says report European antitrust regulators will reportedly slap Microsoft with a "large fine" Wednesday for failing to live up to a 2009 settlement that requires it to offer Windows users a browser ballot.
EU to fine Microsoft over browser ballot fiasco, says report European antitrust regulators will slap Microsoft with a fine before the end of March for failing to offer customers a browser choice screen, according to a report today by the Reuters news service.
Intel demos perceptual computing software toolkit Software engineers at Intel are exploring new ways for computers to perceive the human voice, gestures and head-and-eye movements to supplement the traditional ways that people use the keyboard and mouse.
Hapless Vista turns 6, shuffles toward obscurity Six years after its long-delayed but well-publicized release, Windows Vista now accounts for less than 6% of all Windows machines, according to Net Applications.
Microsoft preps monster security update for next week Microsoft will issue 12 security updates next week, including two for Internet Explorer, that will patch a near-record 57 vulnerabilities in the browser, Windows, Office and the enterprise-critical Exchange Server email software.
Enterprises standardize on four-year-old IE8, says dev Even as the release of Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) looms for Windows 7, enterprises are standardizing on the four-year-old IE8 instead, a developer of browser management software said today. Insider (registration required)
Microsoft issues tools to block IE10 upgrades on Windows 7 Microsoft has released tools to block Internet Explorer 10 from automatically reaching corporate PCs running Windows 7, a sign that the new browser will not release for at least several weeks
FAQ: Microsoft rents out Office 365 Microsoft this week launched the first two of its new pay-as-you-go subscription plans for Office. Is this the way we'll get software from now on? Or is it a gamble that could easily go awry? We've got the answers.
Windows 8's usage uptake falls further behind Vista's Windows 8 fell further behind the pace of Windows Vista's uptake last month, a metric company said today, even as usage share of the new operating system continued to slowly climb.
Big Windows 8 discount ends today Today is the last day customers can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for the discounted price of $39.99.
Microsoft tweaks Mac Office, makes it rental As expected, Microsoft today updated Office for Mac 2011 to work with the new Office 365 Home Premium software-by-subscription plan the company debuted Tuesday.
Microsoft earnings shed no new light on Windows 8 sales Revenue at Microsoft's Windows division was up 11% in the fourth quarter of 2012, unexpected results that did little to answer the question on analysts' tongues: How did Windows 8 perform in its first sales test?
Microsoft waived hearing in EU browser ballot antitrust case Microsoft waived its right to a hearing before European antitrust regulators to further answer charges that it failed to offer customers a browser choice screen, according to documents filed with the SEC. Insider (registration required)
Microsoft to raise Windows 8 upgrade prices by 5X Microsoft on Friday announced Windows 8 upgrade price increases of as much as 400% that will take effect Feb. 1, when a three-month promotional discount ends.
Pwn2Own hacking contest puts record $560K on the line HP TippingPoint, the long-time organizer of the annual Pwn2Own hacking contest, has revamped the challenge for the second year running and will offer cash awards exceeding half a million dollars, more than five times the amount paid out last year.
Google revs up Chrome, crushes bugs Google on Thursday upgraded Chrome, improving the browser's start-up performance and patching two dozen security vulnerabilities.
Microsoft exec defends Windows 8 sales pace Defending Windows 8 against reports that sales have been sluggish, one of Microsoft's top executives said it will take time for customers to digest the new operating system and for device makers to ramp up production of the hardware users want: Touch-enabled PCs and tablets.
Microsoft kicks off 2013 with clutch of critical Windows updates Microsoft today patched 12 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office and several server and development products, but did not come up with a fix for the IE bug that cyber criminals have been exploiting for at least a month.
Windows 8, Surface Tablets to Lead Microsoft's Fight for Relevance in 2013 Microsoft made big bets on Windows 8, Windows Phone and Surface tablets in 2012, and now it needs to make those bets to pay off. As more consumers and businesses go mobile, 2013 will be Microsoft's most challenging year yet.
Windows 8 discounts end in three weeks Microsoft's Windows 8 Pro upgrade discount will expire in about three weeks, at which point the company will triple or even quintuple the current price of the new operating system, according to several online retailers.
Microsoft to patch Windows 8, but stays mum on IE zero-day fix Microsoft will release seven security updates next week -- including one rated critical for Windows 8 and Windows RT -- to patch 12 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office, SharePoint Server and the company's website design software.
Apple CEO Tim Cook's 2012 comp package plummets Apple raised CEO Tim Cook's salary by 55% for 2012 and awarded him a $2.8 million bonus, but said the chief executive's pay was still 'significantly below the median' of comparable firms.
Microsoft confirms zero-day bug in IE6, IE7 and IE8 Microsoft on Saturday confirmed that Internet Explorer (IE) 6, 7 and 8 contain an unpatched bug -- or 'zero-day' vulnerability -- that is being used by attackers to hijack victims' Windows computers.
Windows 8's uptake falls behind Vista's pace With just a week left in the month, Windows 8's usage uptake has slipped behind Vista's at the same point in its release, according to data from Net Applications.
Consumer Reports makes case for Windows 7 PCs Windows 7 may be the better choice as a PC operating system on new systems than the just-released Windows 8, Consumer Reports magazine said this week.
Ousted Windows exec Sinofsky to teach at Harvard Steven Sinofsky, the former Microsoft executive ousted as the head of its Windows group five weeks ago, yesterday said he would teach at the Harvard Business School this spring.
Microsoft quashes critical bugs in IE10, Windows 8, Word Microsoft today patched a dozen vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows, Word and Exchange, fixing flaws in the new IE10 for the first time and crushing bugs in Windows 8 and Windows RT for the second month running.
8 of 10 customers choose Windows 7, says PC builder Given a choice, customers of a Pacific Northwest PC system builder overwhelming pick Windows 7 over the newer Windows 8, the company's president said Thursday.
Windows 8 uptake: More like Vista than Windows 7 After a month on the market, Windows 8's usage uptake resembles 2007's Vista -- ultimately a poor performer for Microsoft -- rather than the eventually successful Windows 7, Net Applications said Saturday.
Windows 8 PC orders weak, says analyst Computer sellers have scaled back their expectations of the sales pop they'll get from Windows 8 this year, an analyst said today.
Microsoft's Sinofsky, by the numbers Microsoft is best known for Windows, and for the past six years, Steven Sinofsky has been best known as the man behind Windows. Even the numbers tell a story.
Microsoft patches critical flaws in Windows 8, Windows RT Microsoft today patched 19 vulnerabilities in Windows, Internet Explorer 9, Excel and the .Net development framework, including four flaws in the just-released Windows 8 and its tablet spin-off Windows RT.
How to deploy Windows 7 right
From hardware to licensing, you need to make the right choices to smooth the transition and get the most out of Windows 7.
The clocks have finally sprung forward here in the UK, which gives us another hour of daylight and more time to examine the latest releases of Microsoft's Patch Tuesday security update process. With the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for April 2013, we see a set of nine updates, with two marked as “Critical,” and the remaining seven rated as “Important.” As usual, all of these updates will require a restart on your desktop machines.
Dell, which built itself into a tech powerhouse by selling Windows-based PCs, is being seriously hurt by poor Windows 8 adoptions and big slowdowns in enterprise Windows 7 upgrades. So says a Dell SEC filing. And things may only get worse from here -- potentially for Microsoft as well as Dell.
With this month’s Microsoft Patch Tuesday update, we see a set of seven updates, four of which are marked as “Critical,” addressing serious problems that could enable someone to access your computer if they are not patched. The remaining three are rated as “Important,” and, while they aren’t as serious as the critical patches, they do address security issues that need to be fixed. Most of the seven patches affect Microsoft Office, with only two impacting Windows.
Poor, beleaguered Apple -- nothing's going right: on the one hand it must try to make its business out of a minority (20 percent) share of the PC industry; on the other, Macs manufactured six or more years ago are still in active use. Life really does suck, sometimes…
This pilot fish is responsible for the firewall, so it makes sense when his supervisor asks if fish has stopped any Internet traffic going to a particular workstation. No, says fish -- but there's clearly a problem.
It's now official: Windows 7 is the most popular desktop operating system in the world, finally surpassing the old warhorse, Windows XP. And given that Windows 8 was built more for tablets than traditional PCs, Windows 7 will likely reign for many years to come.
If the number of people using pre-release versions of Windows 8 are any guide, the new operating system may have a rocky launch and uptake, says new research from Net Applications.
It's nearly official: Windows 7 this month will become the world's most popular operating system, surpassing Windows XP. And don't expect Windows 8 to take away the crown, because it's not at all likely.
Windows XP was one of Microsoft's greatest successes and greatest failures: A success because it was so rock-solid, a failure because it was so good that many people didn't want to upgrade to Windows Vista. Based on initial looks at Windows 8, Windows 7 may well be the new XP.
One thing you'll like about Windows 8: Even though it's only in its preview form, it's already faster than Windows 7. And as development proceeds, it should only get even faster.
Microsoft has been trying to kill Windows XP for years, and it's finally paying off: XP market share has dipped below 50%, with Windows 7 sales more than taking up the slack. But Microsoft shouldn't rejoice, because the future is in mobile devices, and Windows Phone 7 has only a 1% market share of new smartphone sales, according to a just-released survey.
New Camera Codec Pack lets Windows Explorer generate image thumbnails from RAW files; Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011 will be able to edit those files as well.
Enterprise IT had a good business case for moving off of the nearly decade old Windows XP operating system and onto the more modern Windows 7. The case for Windows 8 will be more challenging.
The Matrix runs on Windows
With Windows 7 is Microsoft's operating system is evolving toward perfection... to the point that it could endanger all of humanity?!
