Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft is facing the unpleasant end of the European Commission antitrust blunderbuss, with the company now in line for a potentially huge fine over browser choice missteps. The EC confirmed it was investigating the software firm back in July, after an agreed-upon browser choice page failed to be shown to 28m PC users; now, Reuters reports, the EC will open a formal proceeding that will decide the extent of the penalty.

The next step is to open a formal proceeding into the company’s breach of an agreement. We are working on this,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said this week. ”It should not be a long investigation because the company itself explicitly recognized its breach of the agreement.”

Microsoft was quick to hold up its hands and admit its mistake, confirming that a “technical error” had prevented the selection screen from being shown on computers running Windows 7 Service Pack 1. The bug was promptly addressed and the selection dialog shown, and Microsoft hoped that voluntarily extending the browser-choice compliance by 15 months would save it from punishment.

However, that remains the decision of the EU, and the potential to hit Microsoft’s pocket is high. The Commission has the right to apply a fine equivalent to up to 10-percent of Microsoft’s revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, a sum which would amount to as much as $7.4bn.

Meanwhile, Almunia also had some warning words for Google, which also faces the possibility of investigation by the EU. “If remedies offered by Google can eliminate our concerns, we will succeed in reaching an agreement” the commissioner said, referring to complaints by Microsoft and others regarding Google’s attitudes to competition. “Otherwise,” he warned, “the legal road is a long one.”

Microsoft faces up to $7.4bn fine in EU browser punishment is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google’s Chrome for Android browser has been updated to run on x86 processors, meaning Intel Medfield powered smartphones like Motorola’s RAZR i now play nicely with the app. Unveiled earlier this month, and set to go on sale in October, the RAZR i arrived with a few gaps in its software support, most notably the fact that Chrome wasn’t compatible with non-ARM processors.

That’s been fixed now, meaning RAZR i owners will have a choice of browsers when the smartphone hits shelves. It also means that existing Medfield-based phones – such as the Orange San Diego – can now use the app too, and since Intel is hoping to push the Atom chip as much as possible to Android phone and tablet manufacturers, it paves the way for more devices too.

The new Chrome for Android also includes various bugfixes and stability improvements, as well as some fixes to make third-party IMEs work better. It adds YouTube video controls to full-screen playback mode, and videos now continue playing after the phone has been locked and then unlocked.

There’s also location preference integrated at the system level. You can download Chrome for Android from Google Play, and find more on the RAZR i in our full hands-on.

Chrome for Android updated for x86: Plays nicely with Medfield RAZR i is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Over the next few weeks, we can surely expect iOS developers from all over the globe to start pushing out updates to make their applications better interact with Apple’s iOS 6 and that all-new screen found on the iPhone 5. And, because we know some of you choose Chrome over Cupertino’s built-in Safari browser, we thought we’d single out the fact that Google has outed a new version of the app which makes it friendly with the new iPhone’s larger display as well as the most recent variant of iOS. Aside from the iPhone 5 / iOS 6 compatibility, though, Mountain View also bundled in some undisclosed stability and security improvements in version 21.0.1180.82 (!) of the web browsing application. As is usually the case, you’ll find the updated Chrome goods in the App Store — link for that is just down below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile

Google updates Chrome app for iOS 6, makes it friendly with the iPhone 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, Microsoft is issuing a security patch for a Flash vulnerability on Windows 8 in Internet Explorer 10. Though the operating system has yet to see its official public release, researchers testing the RTM version found a bug that could cause Flash to crash and allow for attackers to take control of a user’s machine. Additionally, the company is rolling out an update to address a security hole in Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8 on Windows XP — and IE 9 on Windows 7 and Windows Vista — which left the door open for hackers to spread malware via a specially designed Flash animation. Both security patches are available via Microsoft’s Windows Update service.

Filed under: Internet, Software

Microsoft issues security patches for Flash vulnerabilities in Windows 8 and Internet Explorer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iCloud’s web interface has been updated with a new drop-down notification bar. Alongside badge notifications, it offers up browser-based notifications across Mail, Calendar, Reminders and Find My Phone — which still remains powered by Google Maps, for now. An earlier update also bundled Notes and reminders into the web app, both mimicking the looks of their iPad versions. Now we just need a big enough reason to keep iCloud‘s site constantly open.

[Thanks Austin]

Filed under: Internet, Software

Apple iCloud adds iOS-style notification bar, Notes and Reminders web apps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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