Major Nelson just announced that Microsoft is accepting beta testers for the next version of Xbox Live which includes new features like Internet Explorer for Xbox, better search and discovery, an updated dashboard and more. If you’re interested and of course you are (new features yay!) you can sign up right here. [Major Nelson] More »
Dead tree product catalogs — dated. Fortunate, then, at least for Mother Earth, that Microsoft’s unveiled the results of its team-up with retail-focused search engine TheFind, several web-based Glimpse catalogs, offering the visual pizazz of a retail magazine without the carbon hangover. Injecting Redmond’s HTML5 know-how into the shopping hub’s catalog and social apps, it distills those functions into the single site. Stores including Brooks Brothers and Lands’ End have already offered up their collections in the web store, but Techcrunch reckons the venture needs a little more work. The images appear to be little too compressed and blurred in the new format, while the detail view directs users to social network sharing rather than a product’s description. But with Microsoft already offering the HTML5 juice that powers the online app for free, someone else might improve on the company’s groundwork.
Continue reading Microsoft teams up with shopping search engine for HTML5 digital catalogs
Filed under: Internet
Microsoft teams up with shopping search engine for HTML5 digital catalogs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
TechCrunch | 
Windows Team Blog | Email this | Comments
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and now that the EU’s caught a whiff of alleged misconduct on Microsoft’s part, it’s dragging Windows 8 under the hot lights. Though MS moved swiftly earlier this week to acknowledge and remedy the technical glitch that prevented users from selecting alternate browsers on early 2011 Win7 machines, it now faces similar claims from third parties regarding its upcoming Win8 tablets. According to Reuters, the European Commission’s broadening its investigation to encompass allegations that Redmond is blocking the install of rival browsers on Win RT tablets running ARM chips and withholding access to full APIs. The company’s yet to issue a response to this latest bout of legal drama, but when the stakes are this high, you can be sure it won’t be before long.
Filed under: Software
EU deepens Microsoft investigation amidst claims Windows RT tablets block rival browser install originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments
HP’s plans to open-source webOS included mention of Enyo 2.0, a framework designed to spread webOS’ learnings to other platforms — to spread the love around, so to speak. The code foundation, while behind schedule, has just left beta: any developer with a mind to producing web apps can now create interface elements and whole apps using the technology derived from Palm’s legacy. Any reasonably modern browser will run the end result, whether it’s running Android, iOS or a full-fledged desktop release. We may never recreate the exact feeling of using an HP TouchPad on our iPads and Galaxy Tabs, but we know that some of its software design heritage will carry on.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Software
Enyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS’ web app legacy with everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The European Commission probed Microsoft back in 2009 over Internet Explorer’s massive market share, concerned that it was stifling competition thanks to the browser being installed by default on Windows PCs. Microsoft suggested an option screen that would give customers an option between five different browsers, but it turns out that Microsoft may not have implemented the solution for millions of Europeans.
The Next Web reports that the Commission has opened a new investigation into whether Microsoft presented the browser option screen. Microsoft reportedly did not offer the screen when it issued the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 update at the beginning of 2011, and the Commission isn’t happy as a result: “We take compliance with our decisions very seriously. And I trusted the company’s reports were accurate. But it seems that was not the case, so we have immediately taken action. If following our investigation, the infringement is confirmed, Microsoft should expect sanctions.”
Microsoft could face fines up to 10% of its annual turnover, with the European Commission “treat[ing] the case as a matter of priority.” If Microsoft has fallen foul of the ruling and the Commission uses Microsoft’s annual revenue, the Windows maker could see a hefty $7 billion fine.
UPDATE: Microsoft has responded to the issue, saying that a “technical error” prevented the browser screen from being prevented in Windows 7 Service Pack 1. A spokesperson for Microsoft says that the bug will be fixed immediately, and that new software is being sent out with the correct browser screen option. In an attempt to appease the European Commission, the company has said that it will extend its browser option compliance by 15 months.
European Commission investigating Microsoft’s browser option commitment [UPDATE: Microsoft responds] is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this whole browser choice issue was resolved back in 2009, but no. European regulators are back on Redmond’s back, following suspicions that the megacorp may not be complying with the deal it struck all that time ago. Specifically, the allegations focus on versions of Windows 7 sold since February 2011 that came preloaded with patches, and which may not have displayed the all-important browser selection screen that offered up IE alternatives like Firefox and Chrome.
The EU’s concerns have already been bluntly expressed by Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, who said that Microsoft “should expect sanctions” if the “infringement is confirmed” by the investigation. Almunia added that this is the first time his commission has been faced with a previous offender potentially failing to meet its antitrust commitments.
Update: Reuters reports that Microsoft has acknowledged a “technical error” that meant it “missed delivering the BCS (browser choice screen) software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7.” The company apologized for the problem and said it has taken “immediate steps” to fix it.
Filed under: Software
Microsoft under investigation for not fulfilling browser choice pledge (update: MS says it’s fixing ‘glitch’) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | ZDNet, Reuters | Email this | Comments
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
