Continuing coverage of Tablets  Boutique PC seller laughs all the way to the bank on the back of Windows 7
A boutique system builder has bucked the industry trend of slumping PC sales by continuing to focus on selling Windows 7 machines. Dell replays Windows 8 blame card as PC sales slide
Dell last week again blamed Windows 8 for contributing to a decline in PC sales revenue during the quarter that ended May 3. Google woos developers as software gains importance
Google did its best to court developers at this year's I/O conference with a much-needed integrated developer environment, API for better games and the ability to more easily translate apps. Windows 8 is an enterprise 'non-starter' because IT sees no value in changes
Windows 8 faces a number of hurdles in the enterprise, but the biggest reason it won't replace the current corporate champion, Windows 7, is simple: IT shops don't think it's worth the upgrade hassle. Tech Titans Talk: The IDG Enterprise Interview Series
In the IDG Enterprise Interview Series, you'll hear from technology CIOs and CEOs on today's burgeoning trends, ongoing headaches and upcoming product plans. Check out this informative series from IDG Enterprise Chief Content Officer John Gallant and his team of editors. Google steals march on Apple in music subscription
Google beat Apple to the music subscription service punch this week, perhaps the doing of record labels who wanted to put Apple in its place, an analyst said Dell slashes its Windows RT tablet price by $200; XPS 10 now sells for $300
Dell drastically cut the online price of its Windows RT tablet, reducing the price by $200 to $299.99 for Dell XPS 10. Mobile management morphs
Customers are pushing the limits of the software -- asking it to manage and do many more things than it was originally created to do -- and vendors are happy to oblige. HP brings Android to laptops with SlateBook X2
Hewlett-Packard has given the "Android treatment" to its latest laptop-tablet hybrid, which is called SlateBook X2 and has a detachable 10-inch screen that can independently function as a tablet. 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. SAP offers mobile device management for $1.30 a month on Amazon's cloud
A new cloud version of SAP's Afaria mobile device management software offers IT departments a more convenient way of controlling mobile devices. Microsoft's counter-attack against Windows 8 coverage makes it 'look weak'
Microsoft on Friday called some media coverage of its plans to update Windows 8 sensationalist and an effort to drive website page views. No Chrome-Android merger, at least in the next year or two
Android's new boss hinted of an eventual merger of Chrome and Android but said the two will remain separate "for the short term," in an interview posted prior to Google I/O's opening keynote on Wednesday. Why Microsoft won't charge for Windows 'Blue' ... this time
Sometime soon, Microsoft will tell Windows 8 users whether they will have to pay for the upgrade code-named "Blue," and if so, how much. Analysts don't expect it to charge anything for the update. Microsoft sends gamblin' Pete Rose to the plate in swing at Google Docs
Microsoft today took another shot at rival Google, calling its rival's online application suite, Google Docs, "too big a gamble." AT&T offers iPhone 5 through pre-paid Aio Wireless
AT&T launched a new wireless subsidiary called Aio Wireless on Thursday that offers phones like the iPhone 5 with no annual contract. Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT
One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes. Amazon may be working on a smartphone with hologram-like 3D
Amazon is reportedly developing a smartphone that sports a 3D screen that relies on retina-tracking technology to make images seem to float above the screen like a hologram. Microsoft rushes IE8 zero-day fix into next week's Patch Tuesday
Microsoft today said it will issue 10 security updates next week, two rated "critical," to patch 33 vulnerabilities, including the zero-day bug that has been used by cyber criminals to poison "watering hole" websites in attacks aimed at U.S. government workers. Best case, Mozilla's Firefox for Windows 8 will ship in October
Firefox for Windows 8's "Modern" user interface (UI) will likely wrap up development this fall, Mozilla said on its website in a best case-worst case schedule. New boot firmware a step toward 64-bit Windows RT
A standards organization has created a boot environment for tablets and PCs that could potentially run a 64-bit version of Windows RT. More support for Windows RT, this time from Nvidia
Nvidia will stay on board with making Tegra ARM-based processors for Windows RT tablets despite sluggish early sales of the devices, making the same commitment that Qualcomm has made, an Nvidia executive said Microsoft's drip-drip-drip Windows communications strategy dubbed a washout
Microsoft's Tami Reller, the CFO and head of marketing for the Windows division, went on a mini publicity spree today. But she didn't say very much. $300M investment in Nook delivers next to nothing for Microsoft
Microsoft has gotten little from a 2012 investment of $300 million with Barnes & Noble, analysts said, but it's poised to reap some rewards as it and its partners start to ship smaller tablets. Security pros cheer hint of hands-off updates in Windows Blue
Microsoft's apparent plan to automatically update its own Windows Store apps in the next version of Windows 8 is drawing praise from security experts. Intel's new Atom chips peak on performance, power consumption
Intel's upcoming Atom chips with new CPU architecture will be up to three times faster and five times more power efficient than their predecessors and break the "myth" that ARM processors are more power efficient, Intel said. Gates sticks to company line on tablets, knocks iPad
Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates today stuck to the company line on tablets, and disparaged rival Apple's iPad for its lack of a keyboard and its inability to run Office. Asus to launch Chromebook in second half of 2013
Taiwanese PC maker Asus plans on getting behind Google's Chrome OS and will launch a notebook running the OS in the second half of this year, said company CEO Jerry Shen. Scot Finnie: A call for mobile innovation
A lot more innovation is desperately needed for mobile hardware design and platforms. Are Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft up to the task? Amazon's new China app store could help pave way for Kindle products
Amazon.com has updated its mobile app store to include support for its Chinese customers, in a sign that the U.S. company could be preparing to sell its Kindle e-readers and tablets in the country. Amazon leaks evidence of first smaller, cheaper Windows 8 tablet
Details of what could be the first smaller Windows 8 tablet leaked Friday when Amazon briefly published a listing for an 8.1-in. Acer Iconia tablet. What I learned living abroad as a digital nomad
Digital nomad Mike Elgan returns to the U.S. after 10 months of travel and shares these tips for working and living abroad. 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. Acer introduces $169 Android tablet
Acer has placed its bet in the tablet wars on low pricing, introducing a $169 Android tablet with a 7.9-inch screen. Barnes & Noble boosts content on Nook with Google Play
Barnes & Noble is adding the Google Play store to HD versions of its Nook tablet, in a bid to counter slowing sales of its devices. Time to say goodbye to Windows RT tablets?
Windows RT tablets grabbed just 0.4% of the tablet market in the first quarter, a dismal result that led some tech experts to urge Microsoft to scrap the platform that's in its six-month infancy. Blackberry CEO's comments ignite debate on future of personal computing
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins' prediction that tablets would decline in popularity provoked debate on what will happen over the next five to 10 years to smartphones, tablets and laptops -- even wearable computers -- and what devices users might eventually prefer. Blackberry CEO: Tablets are doomed!
Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins has made a bold prediction: He says that tablets don't have much of a future. CIOs Must Manage the Risk of the Status Quo
One of a CIO's greatest risks is not moving fast enough, says columnist Adam Hartung. To avoid out-of-date thinking, ask futuristic questions like "What if in five years smartphones and tablets totally replace laptops?" Samsung, Intel invest in speech analysis firm
Intel Capital, Samsung Venture Investment and Telefonica Digital have all invested in Expect Labs, whose technology is used to analyze and understand conversations in real-time and find related information. Yes Siri, no Siri, for the Mac
Apple's next version of OS X will probably not include Siri, the digital, voice-activated assistant embedded in the iPhone and iPad, an analyst predicted. Qualcomm says its tech allows for pad-free charging
If Qualcomm's vision becomes a reality, users will be able to wirelessly recharge smartphones and tablets without placing them in direct contact with charging pads. Bellevue College looks to online software to help autistic students collaborate
Bellevue College in Washington has deployed online learning software to help students with autism improve their small-group collaboration skills. HP ships $169 Slate 7 Android tablet
Hewlett-Packard on Friday started shipping its $169.99 Slate 7 tablet with Android 4.1, which signals the company's reentry into the consumer tablet market after the TouchPad imploded in 2011. Windows Blue won't solve all Microsoft's problems, analysts say
Microsoft's failure thus far to significantly spark PC and tablet sales with Windows 8 has put high expectations on an expected 2013 refresh of the OS, dubbed 'Blue.' HP could bury TouchPad fiasco with $169 Slate 7 tablet
Hewlett-Packard in the next few days will ship the US$169 Slate 7, the company's first product for the consumer tablet market since the spectacular failure of the WebOS-based TouchPad in 2011. Apple CEO defends Mac line; analysts foresee iPad hybrids
Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday defended the company's iconic Mac line, which saw a second consecutive decline in sales last quarter, and promised that Apple would continue to crank out personal computers. Samsung to expand retail presence in US
Samsung is making an aggressive sales push in the U.S. market by expanding into thousands of third-party retail outlets where dedicated staff will sell and provide advice on the company's smartphones, tablets and entertainment products. Apple teases 'new product categories'
Invoking the success of Apple's game-changing iPhone and iPad, CEO Tim Cook has hinted that Apple will introduce "exciting new product categories" starting this fall and through the end of 2014. Mac sales growth stalls -- here's why Apple doesn't care
Apple's Mac has been punished by shifting consumer tastes just as has the overall PC industry, data from the company's earnings statements show. Facebook Home hits 500K downloads
In the 10 days that Facebook Home has been available, it has had more than 500,000 downloads. Office 365 subscriptions furnish 4% of Microsoft's Office division revenue
Microsoft's Business division, which manages the company's Office cash cow, recorded a 5% revenue bump in the first quarter over the same period in 2012, an increase driven by a surge in enterprises signing long-term licensing agreements. Microsoft to drive Windows tablet strategy with smaller devices, OS rebates
Microsoft's chief financial officer yesterday confirmed that the company and its hardware partners would ship smaller, lower-priced Windows tablets in the next months. 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. Outgoing Intel CEO knocks Windows 8, predicts $200 touch PCs this year
Intel's outgoing CEO took a few parting shots at Microsoft's Windows 8 Tuesday as he explained a slump in both revenue and profits for the first quarter. Intel invokes Apple's Knowledge Navigator to envision future smartphones
More than 25 years after Apple introduced "Knowledge Navigator" as a concept that envisioned the future of computers, Intel has reintroduced the concept as the future of smartphones. 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. Microsoft signs patent licensing deal with Foxconn covering Android, Chrome devices
Microsoft has signed up another major electronics manufacturer to its Android and Chrome patent licensing program, this time Taiwan's Foxconn, which will pay royalties to the U.S. software giant. Netflix to dump Silverlight, Microsoft's stalled technology
Netflix plans to abandon Microsoft's Silverlight media player plug-in for Windows and OS X in-browser video streaming, and replace it with a trio of HTML5 extensions. Don't blame Windows 8 for PC slowdown; Apple hit, too
Don't blame Windows 8 for plummeting PC sales, a retail analyst at NPD Group said today. Microsoft smart watch would be 'snipe hunt' distraction from Windows 8
Microsoft is reportedly working on designs for a touch-enabled smart watch, a move one analyst called a "snipe hunt" that would distract it from the critical chore of getting Windows 8 off the ground Windows XP's looming retirement won't shake PC business out of sales funk
But Microsoft is likely to reap more revenue from the disappearance of XP than will system builders, as many customers will do in-place upgrades to Windows 7 on current hardware. Products with faster USB speeds to reach market in 2014
Products based on a USB specification that will double the data transfer rates between host devices and peripherals will reach the market in late 2014, the standards-setting organization said on Thursday. Surface 'Mini': ARM, Atom or both?
Microsoft will launch a new line of Surface tablets later this year, including one or more smaller 7-in. devices, according to the Wall Street Journal. Samsung sees value in bigger Galaxy Mega smartphones
Samsung struck again Thursday, announcing two even bigger Galaxy Mega smartphones with 5.8-in. and 6.3-in. LCD HD screens. Report: Microsoft plans 7-in. tablet to compete with Apple, Google
Microsoft is said to be planning a 7-in. version of its Surface tablet to help it compete with similar size devices from Apple and Google. Microsoft moves to blunt concerns about Surface Pro warranty in China
Microsoft is trying to stamp out concerns about its Surface Pro warranty policy in China just over a week after Apple apologized for its own customer service woes in the country. Intel 'Bay Trail' chip set to bring budget convertible PCs to the market
Intel's upcoming 'Bay Trail' Atom processor is aimed at the low-end market, and promises to deliver convertible PCs and notebooks with all-day battery life at budget prices, the company said on Wednesday. Inside Siri's brain: The challenges of extending Apple's virtual assistant
Plenty of developers would love to be able to take advantage of Siri in their own apps. Alas, that's a significant technical challenge. Here's why. Second-screen prototype hopes to boost TV viewing
Akamai Technologies demonstrated a prototype second-screen system that presents complementary content on a smartphone or tablet that is synchronized with what's happening on the main television screen. U.S. patent office retracts rejection of Apple's iPad Mini trademark
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week reversed itself, withdrawing a rejection of Apple's trademark application for "iPad Mini," according to a document published by the agency. 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. Update: Facebook unveils Android Home screen and app family
Facebook is not building its own smartphone. Instead, it today unveiled Home, a Facebook-focused home screen designed to give Android users quick access to their Facebook friends. SkyDrive decision reveals Microsoft's Office on iOS strategy
Microsoft's update Wednesday to its SkyDrive iOS app shows that the software giant has no intention of sharing revenue with rival Apple, and is further evidence it will tie Office on the iPad to its subscription plans, an analyst said today. Dell to release new Windows tablets later this year
Dell will release Windows tablets later this year that could potentially include devices with screen sizes larger than 10 inches. Google puts pressure on Microsoft, launches Quickoffice for iPhone and Android
Google launched its Microsoft Office substitute, Quickoffice, for Apple's iPhone, Android smartphones and Android tablets, fulfilling a promise made in December. Prices of Windows RT tablets drop, point to failure of OS
Prices of Windows RT devices have started falling, signaling an attempt by PC makers to quickly clear out stock after poor adoption of tablets and convertibles with the operating system. Microsoft launches special Chinese version of Surface Pro aimed at home users
Microsoft is hoping to build momentum behind its Surface Pro tablet in China by launching a special edition including Office Home & Student 2013 -- but with Windows 8 Standard, rather than Windows 8 Pro. Uptake gap between Windows 8 and Vista widens even as new OS gains share
Windows 8 last month fell even further behind the historical adoption pace of Windows Vista, Microsoft's 2007 flop, new statistics showed today. Leaked BlackBerry road map reveals two phablets, widescreen tablet in coming year
BlackBerry plans to release a larger tablet and two phone-tablet combos, or phablets, over the next year, according to a leaked road map presentation slide. Dell blames 'uncertain adoption' of Windows 8 for some of its financial woes
Dell blamed Microsoft's Windows 8 as one of several causes for its grim financial future, according to a Friday filing with U.S. securities regulators. How Microsoft lost the future of gesture control
Microsoft squandered its five-year head start in gesture control technology and is now falling behind. By the time the company gets Kinect for Windows into the consumer market, Leap Motion may already own that market. Microsoft signals push to smaller, lower-priced Windows tablets
Microsoft has relaxed a Windows 8 certification requirement to allow devices with lower resolutions, a move analysts said means Microsoft could soon join the shift to smaller, less expensive tablets. Wello aims to bring the gym home through live training service
Maggie Perkins was mulling whether to give up her gym membership when she tried out Wello, whose fitness trainers offer workouts through live two-way video feeds. Four months later, she has no regrets about her decision to forego the gym. Microsoft could rake in $1.25B first year from Office on iOS, Android, asserts analyst
Microsoft could rake in more than $1 billion in revenue in the first year after launching Office for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms, an analyst said today. Microsoft collects 13 design patents for Surface, keyboard covers
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office yesterday awarded Microsoft 13 design patents for its Surface line of tablets, including their innovative Touch keyboards-slash-covers, according to published documents. 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. Samsung uses Qi charging for Galaxy S4, but sees A4WP as the future
While Samsung's latest smartphone, the Galaxy S4, uses the Qi standard for wireless charging, the company will continue to push the Alliance for Wireless Power's specification as the future standard for mobile devices. Microsoft confirms it's shut off Windows 8-Google Apps calendar sync
Microsoft confirmed Monday that Windows 8 users who upgrade the Calendar app will no longer be able to synchronize that schedule with the calendar included with Google Apps for Business, Academic or Government. Back up, wipe and restore your iPad
If you're planning to sell or give away your iPad, then it is essential that your personal information and data be erased from it. If it's running sluggish after a few years, sometimes backing up your data, erasing it from the tablet and restoring it might improve performance. 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. Security experts applaud Apple's new two-factor authentication
Apple this week followed the lead of rivals like Facebook, Google and Microsoft, offering two-step authentication to help customers secure their Apple IDs against hacking. 8 myths about the smartwatch revolution
By the time Apple ships its rumored 'iWatch' smartwatch, it will be entering an already crowded market. That's a good thing, says columnist Mike Elgan. Windows 8 app store growth slows
Microsoft launched a Windows 8 app-for-cash promotion this week because growth of the company's app store has slowed this quarter, an analyst argued today. Apple's hire of Adobe CTO foretells move toward iOS-OS X hybrids
Apple's hiring of Adobe's former CTO Kevin Lynch opens some intriguing possibilities for the company's future moves, analysts said today. Despite Schmidt comments, merger of Chrome OS, Android still possible, analyst says
Although Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said this week that Chrome OS and Android will remain separate operating systems "for a very, very long time," one analyst still thinks the two will merge. Defense spokesman says DoD not dumping BlackBerry
A U.S. Department of Defense spokesman on Thursday said a report suggesting the defense agency is dumping BlackBerry devices was inaccurate, and that BlackBerry is still part of ongoing DoD mobile device deployment plans. Jack Gold: Has BYOD peaked?
Expect enterprises to start instituting stricter policies to make BYOD a more secure and cost-effective policy. Microsoft hopes to spur Windows app development with cash
Once again, Microsoft has opened its coffers to app developers, offering them up to $2,000 to build new Windows 8 and Windows Phone apps.
| Our bloggers on tablets Google I/O 2013: Live blog and streaming video
Google's I/O 2013 developers' conference kicks off this morning -- and we've got you covered. Click inside for live play-by-play commentary and streaming video from San Francisco's Moscone Center.
Why did Steve Jobs cancel dinner with Bill Gates? A) 'I'm sick', B) 'I'm an asshole'
The death of Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, still visibly moves close rival and later friend, Microsoft's Bill Gates, who talked about the two men's final meeting at the home of the ailing tech Svengali on CBS last night, revealing the depth of respect that grew between the two.
Bill Gates swats the iPad, says Office will help Windows 8 tablets rule
The iPad may rule the roost today, but eventually Windows 8 tablets will succeed, in large part because they're built to run Office. So says Bill Gates, while also taking a backhand swipe at the iPad.
Who wants Windows RT? No one.
Despite a massive marketing campaign for the Microsoft Surface, RT-based tablets have been a bust, with a measly 0.4% market share. So says the latest report from IDC. How long will Microsoft keep propping up this ill-begotten operating system?
Who's the biggest gainer in U.S. smartphone market share? Wrong! It's Windows Phone.
Windows Phone is all but dead and buried, right? Wrong. A new study shows it's got plenty of life -- in fact, it gained more market share in the past year in the U.S. than Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry. And even better times might be ahead.
Windows 8 is depressing PC sales in record numbers, warns IDC
PC sales are plummeting because consumers are confused and unhappy with Windows 8, and there's no end in sight. So concludes an IDC report, which says the sinking sales are the worst it's ever seen.
Office for iOS, Android not here until late 2014 -- bad for Microsoft, good for Google
It appears that the long-rumored version of Office for iOS and Android may not be released until the fall of 2014. If true, that could help Google make serious inroads into the office suite market, and seriously cut into Microsoft's lead.
What Google's next Nexus 7 needs
Google's second-generation Nexus 7 may show up soon -- so what's the updated tablet need to succeed?
Three reasons Microsoft wants to kill the Windows Desktop
Microsoft's Windows Blue update to Windows 8 makes it increasingly clear that Microsoft wants to kill the Desktop. That may seem self-defeating, but there's method in Microsoft's madness. Here are three reasons I think it wants to eventually kill the Desktop.
Apple's facts eclipsed as Samsung's circus hits NYC for Galaxy blitz
There's a truism that those who make the most noise have the least to say. And while I'm not saying the two are connected, Samsung's about to spend millions marketing the latest Galaxy smartphone, while Apple quietly shares a little evidence suggesting iPhones offer a better experience, and users like them more. I don't expect that message to get through though, in the face of Samsung's Times Square circus.
What will Andy Rubin's departure mean for Android?
Android chief Andy Rubin is being replaced by the guy in charge of Chrome and Chrome OS. So what's that mean for the future of the platforms?
Samsung executive and IDC analyst agree: Windows 8 needs serious help
Windows 8 just received a one-two punch: The head of Samsung's memory chip division says it's no better than Vista, and an IDC analyst has called it "horribly stalled."
Asus MeMO Pad Smart: Hands on with the new $300 10-inch tablet
Asus's new MeMO Pad Smart offers solid performance at an affordable price. There's just one little problem.
UK judge who questioned Apple's integrity gets a job with Samsung
One of the UK Judges who got global attention when he declared Apple [AAPL] should publish a UK press ad and website page saying Samsung did not copy its products has found himself a new job -- working for Samsung, FOSS Patents reports.
Apple's new iPad TV ads put apps at the heart of the tablet wars
Apple published two new iPad ads ('Alive' and 'Together') last night. In bot, the company focuses on the biggest hard to emulate strength of its market-leading tablet: its 300,00-strong app empire.
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