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‘Windows’ Stories

Microsoft Windows 8 App Store reveal imminent

Chris Davies, Dec 5th 2011 Discuss [4]

Microsoft is expected to reveal its Windows 8 app store plans this week, detailing how it will challenge Apple's thriving third-party download ecosystem with its new breed of notebooks, desktops and tablets. The unveil will come at an event on Tuesday, Fox News reports, and is expected to offer free and paid apps along with trial versions and in-app payment systems, just as on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. Read The Full Story

Windows 8 ARM tablet apps Metro-only tips insider

Chris Davies, Dec 2nd 2011 Discuss [13]

Microsoft is considering dropping support for regular software on Windows 8 on ARM tablets, according to the latest leaks, leaving owners of the slates with only Metro-style apps to play with. Contrary to original suggestions from Microsoft, that developers - although having to rewrite their x86 software to suit ARM chipsets - would be able to release regular, desktop versions of their apps for Windows 8 tablets, that decision now looks like it will be reversed, ZDNet reports. It's suggested the turnaround could be part of Microsoft's strategy to better challenge Apple's iPad with consumer-centric devices. Read The Full Story

Windows 8 tablet challenge could see Microsoft miss market

Chris Davies, Nov 29th 2011 Discuss [13]

Windows 8 will have a considerable impact on the desktop but struggle to find a foothold in tablets, analysts are predicting, with low-cost Android slates as well as the established iPad titan presenting an uphill struggle for those using Microsoft's platform next year. The delay in reaching the market has allowed Apple and Samsung to push out several generations of tablet while Windows models are still languishing with the finger-unfriendly Windows 7, Forrester's JP Gownder highlights, while the NOOK Tablet and others continue to set expectations of what affordable slates look like. Read The Full Story

Microsoft to release Kinect hardware for Windows

Rue Liu, Nov 22nd 2011 Discuss [0]

Microsoft's Kinect voice and motion control capabilities will soon expand beyond the Xbox 360 gaming console. The software giant has revealed plans to release new Kinect hardware designed specifically for Windows. This new device would sport hardware components optimized for PC scenarios and will be made available by early 2012. Read The Full Story

Vivitar DVR 790HD lets you record 3D for under $100

Rue Liu, Nov 22nd 2011 Discuss [3]

Having the right gadgets to take 3D photos and videos doesn't have to be expensive, especially with Vivitar's new digital camera and camcorder offerings. The company is releasing an incredibly budget-friendly camcorder called the DVR 790HD along with a budget HD digital camera called the ViviCam VT135 that both pack a dual-camera array for 3D stills and video capture. Read The Full Story

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim sales a lesson in listening

Chris Burns, Nov 16th 2011 Discuss [13]

The past few weeks several games have been released, each of the big names selling record numbers either in their own circles or in the greater scheme of things - what Bethesda Softworks release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's shipping of 7 million copies at launch tell us is we need to know the difference between shipping and selling. Just like a record label, a game developer keeps track of both the shipment numbers and the sales numbers on each of its games. While shipment numbers are an OK indicator of how well the stores across the country expect the game to sell, it's certainly not a perfect tell. If Skyrim does manage to sell all 7 million copies already shipped inside its first week of sales, it will have beaten Battlefield 3's five million copies sold in the same time period. Read The Full Story

Qualcomm Gobi 4000 3G/4G chips offer embedded LTE

Chris Davies, Nov 15th 2011 Discuss [0]

Qualcomm has launched a set of new modems capable of both LTE and HSPA+/EVDO connectivity, the Gobi 4000 series, intended to get tablets, laptops and ereaders online at high speed. The new Gobi range builds on Qualcomm's MDM9600 and MDM9200 3G/4G modems, one pairing LTE with HSPA+ and the other with EVDO; they're likely to crop up in multiple tablets over the coming months, with both Android and Windows compatibility. Read The Full Story

Windows Phone Mango gets Spotify

Chris Burns, Nov 7th 2011 Discuss [0]

This week all you lovers of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform working with the newest version 7.5 Mango have the ability to use Spotify for the first time. Spotify is a streaming music group that works on several mobile platforms and desktop computers, and this version of Spotify promises to be the most optimized version for mobile yet. What you'll notice first and foremost is the fact that the app looks completely different from any other version of its diverse interface thus far release - Windows Phone intense! Read The Full Story

Acer reveals Veriton Z2620G and Veriton Z2610G slim all-in-one PCs

Chris Burns, Nov 1st 2011 Discuss [0]

In addition to the all-in-one PCs revealed earlier this morning in the Z series, Acer is presenting this week their first official glimpse of two all-in-one PCs under the Veriton name, Z2620G and Z2610G. While the Z series devices released this morning are mostly for entertainment it would seem, the Veriton duo here looks to be set for business. Ideal for "anywhere that space conservation and presentation are a priority" says Acer's Commercial Systems Business Manager Leila Axelle Robert, and with a 20-inch display on each of these units with a slim display cutting down on bulk, they certainly are that. Read The Full Story

Acer introduces AZ5 and AZ3 all-in-one PCs

Chris Burns, Nov 1st 2011 Discuss [0]

This week Acer reveals two new all-in-one computers, the AZ5 Series with a 23-inch HD monitor and the AZ3 Series with a slightly smaller HD monitor at 21-inches, both computers featuring full touchscreen capabilities. Both series have several hardware options for processors, speakers, and storage, and contain a selection of software offered exclusively with Acer devices. You'll notice that these AIOs look rather similar to one another - that's because they're meant to be part of a single release. Not that you'll want both the 23 and the 21 inch machine, but know now that you'll get essentially the same look either way. Read The Full Story

Battlefield 3 out now: are you buying in?

Chris Burns, Oct 25th 2011 Discuss [4]

It's time for the long-awaited next step in the evolution of modern combat in the Battlefield series, this time set along the border of Iraq and Iran as well as several remote locations in the direct sequel to 2005's Battlefield 2, here simply called Battlefield 3. The game was released today, or this morning, rather, depending on how ravenous you were or are in anticipation of playing the game, and is able to run on Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and EA Mobile has even confirmed that there's an iOS port out there somewhere in space. Though we've heard that the game works exceptionally well on the PlayStation 3, you've got to know in your heart that the desktop version will bring you the highest amount of action. Read The Full Story

Windows 7 passes XP in global usage for first time

Shane McGlaun, Oct 17th 2011 Discuss [1]

I know that this side of Windows ME, Vista was the most maligned OS that Microsoft has produced. I have used Vista for a long time and still do on all of the machines in my home. Honestly, I haven't had any issues with the OS. Still, vast hoards of people and businesses skipped Vista and stuck with XP for a long time and that is finally starting to change with Windows 7 selling very well. Read The Full Story