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Windows 8 hits stores on October 26
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
Microsoft has just announced that Windows 8, the next major update to its flagship operating system, will go on sale on October 26, 2012. The announcement was made my Steven Sinofsky during Microsoft's annual sales meeting. We're guessing that we'll see the Microsoft Surface tablet launch the same day.
Read More 
| Windows Team Blog
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Windows 8 upgrades will cost $40 for XP, Vista, and Windows 7 users
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
The launch of Windows 8 is just around the corner, and Microsoft has finally confirmed upgrade pricing. Users runing Windows XP, Windows Vista, and/or Windows 7 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99. That's a big change for Microsoft, as upgrade pricing was previously $99 for Pro OS upgrades, and is a welcome change for consumers. Apple has been releasing major OS updates for under $30 for years now, with Mountain Lion launching later this month for $19.99, and we'd been hoping Microsoft would follow suit and drop the price.
The $40 upgrade fee applies to the digital download. If you prefer a DVD, that'ss run you $69.99 in stores. Also, both of those prices are just for a limited time, running through January 31, 2013. After that, we expect Windows 8 upgrade pricing to double.
Read More | Windows Blog
Watch this: Hands-on with the new Windows Phone 7.8 home screen
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software, Videos,
Microsoft has released a preview showing how the next version of Windows Phone 7, 7.8, will visually look. As you might recall, when the company showed off Windows Phone 8, it also announced that there would be no upgrade path for any Windows Phone 7 devices. However, they also let us know that those users would be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8 in order to get the most obvious and visual feature--the new Windows Phone home screen. Once upgraded to 7.8, users will be able to resize all of their tiles as easily as Windows Phone 8 users can, and in the video above Microsoft's Ben Rudolph walks us through the experience.
Xbox Music replaces Zune, brings 30 million tracks to Xbox 360, Windows 8, Windows Phone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Music, Video Games,
We knew Microsoft was planing to do away with the Zune brand, and today the company revealed its new music service during its E3 Media Breifing. Xbox Music will soon be released for the Xbox 360, Windows Phone, and Windows 8. During the presentation, we were able to see that the service takes on the Metro UI, staying consistent with the Xbox 360, Windows Phone, and Windows branding. Expect over 30 million tracks to be available at launch, with the Smart DJ feature that was popular with Zune users to stick around. Microsoft also mentioned that Xbox Music will give you access to your music collection from "any screen," but we don't know if that means we should expect iOS and Android apps like they'll be released for Xbox SmartGlass, or if it just means that you'll be able to access your music from a web browser, similar to Zune. Xbox Music is set to launch later this year.
Xbox SmartGlass app to bring dual-screen entertainment to Xbox 360, mobile devices
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software, Video Games,
That Xbox SmartGlass rumor that we posted at the eleventh-hour has turned out to be true. During the Microsoft E3 Media Briefing this morning, the company gave all the details of the ambitious Xbox SmartGlass feature. SmartGlass is an app that will be available on Windows 8, smartphones, and tablets that will allow the user to view and use content that is tied to the game or video you're currently enjoying. SmartGlass is meant to be used as a second screen, and a great example was given using Game of Thrones. While watching the show on HBO Go on the Xbox 360, you can use the SmartGlass app to view an interactive map that shows where the action in each scene is taking place, offering content and more informational metadata about the show.
Windows 8 picks up new UI, waves goodbye to Aero Glass
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft has just revealed some major changes as it pertains to the user interface of Windows 8. Gone is the popular Aero Glass theme that shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. It's being replaced with a flatter design that seems to match the boxy shapes that we've been seeing on the Xbox 360, Windows Phone, and the Windows RT Metro UI. It does seem to make sense, although we always thought that Aero Glass was certainly visually appealing. Microsoft says it's confident that users will find the new UI less distracting.
Within the same announcement, the company takes you back in time with a tour through various Windows interfaces, starting with the original Windows 1. Good stuff.
Read More | Building Windows 8
Microsoft brings back ‘buy a PC, get free Xbox 360’ deal for students
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Video Games,
Once again, Microsoft is going to be offering a free Xbox 360 for students who buy a qualifying PC. The computers start at $699, and when purchased at certain retailers, a 4 GB Xbox 360 will be thrown in gratis beginning on May 18. Up in Canada, students are welcome to the same deal, and the PCs start at $599. Participating retailers include Dell, Best Buy, Newegg (see our Newegg promo code thread,) Fry's Electronics, Staples, Future Shop, the Microsoft Store, and more.
Wanna save even more cash? Wait to make the purchase until June 2, when the Windows 8 upgrade program is set to launch, allowing PC buyers to upgrade to Windows 8 for just $15.
Read More | Windows Team Blog
Dropbox will give you 3 GB of extra free space to upload your photos and images
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Internet, Storage,
Dropbox has updated its Mac and Windows apps with the ability to upload photos and videos directly from cameras, smartphones, tablets, SD cards (pretty much anything that can capture photos or media,) directly to your Dropbox account. The feature has been in beta for a couple of months, and has now been rolled out to the masses.
Worried about all those extra pics taking up your storage space? Dropbox has you covered there as well. With the first image you upload, Dropbox will increase your storage by 500 MB. Then, for every additional 500 MB of photos and videos you upload, they'll grant you another 500 MB of space, up to a total 3 GB of extra storage. Even better, if you decide you no longer want your images in your Dropbox, simply delete them--you'll keep the extra 3 GB of space!
Download the latest version of Dropbox to get in on the action.
Read More | Dropbox
Download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview right now
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
Today Microsoft released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview to the world, and it's been the talk of the day. Why? Well, Windows 8 is a huge departure from everything that Windows has ever been, and at the same time, it's very different than what you'd expect from OS X as well. Sure, both Mountain Lion and Windows 8 are super touch-centric, but Microsoft truly decided to come up with some new, innovative, and different techniques for the next major version of Windows, and now anyone can give it a try. A word of warning though--this is a preview in every sense of the word. If you prefer, we can call it a beta. This isn't final software, so don't expect it to be all buttery smooth. Still wanna try it though? Yeah, we thought so. Head on over to Microsoft to download it!
Zune and Windows Live will die with the release of Windows 8
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Rumors, Software,
It looks like two Microsoft products are about to get killed off (or really, renamed) with the release of Windows 8. When the next major Windows OS launches, that'll be the end of the Zune and Windows Live brands. Yep, Microsoft is finally getting rid of the brand that was supposed to rival the Apple's iPod/iTunes ecosystem, but failed miserably. It’s not just the physical player they’re killing off - they did that last year while holding onto Zune as the name of the desktop software and music service. Now, Zune will be no more.
In addition, in an effort to further simplify things, the Windows Live brand is also going away. Here's a look at what to expect, and what will replace the two brands:
- Microsoft Account (Windows Live ID)
- Mail (Windows Live Mail)
- Calendar (Windows Live Calendar)
- People (Windows Live Contacts)
- Photos (Windows Live Photo Gallery)
- Music (Zune Music Player)
- Video (Zune Video Player)
We also wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft replaced Zune with a streaming music service similar to Spotify. The sad part is that Zune could have been what Spotify Premium currently offers had Microsoft been more forward thinking with the concept. We've actually said many times in the past that the Zune Pass was the best deal in music. Currently there are other well-established music services with dedicated users like Spotify, Rdio, MOG, and Rhapsody. If this is Microsoft’s attempt to dominate a new market, we sure hope they've got a better plan than they did with the original Zune launch.
Read More | The Verge
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