Hasta La Gadget!

Many IT managers and early adopters cherish their TechNet subscriptions — for a modest annual fee, they get advance access to a treasure trove of Microsoft apps. Unfortunately, that too-good-to-be-true deal is coming to an end, as Microsoft plans to phase out TechNet subscriptions in the months ahead. The company will stop taking new customers and renewals after August 31st, while Microsoft Certified Trainers will lose their perks after March 31st. Outside of volume licensing, TechNet downloads will stop entirely after September 30th, 2014. MSDN subscriptions will remain, but their steeper prices will likely rule them out for most enthusiasts. If you’re not a professional, you’ll just have to buy software as it reaches the public — you know, like the rest of us.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

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Via: ZDNet

Source: TechNet

Consumer apps for Microsoft’s consumer cloud storage solution have been available for some time, but the enterprise version, SkyDrive Pro, now has a duo of applications up for grabs, too. iOS and Windows 8 users can now snag free downloads from the Windows Store and App Store, respectively, letting you take content offline, organize files, and upload and share on the go.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft

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Source: Office 365

We already knew that Windows RT tablets would be getting their very own Outlook app with Windows 8.1, but apparently Microsoft has even more plans up its sleeve. Here at Build, the company is teasing a Metro-style Office suite that will be available through the Windows Store, just like any other non-desktop Windows program. Unfortunately, this is a tease in the truest sense of the word: Redmond won’t say when the app will be available, and isn’t providing many official screenshots. However, a company spokesperson did tell reporters that PowerPoint will have “all of the same transitions, the same graphic power [and] file format capability” as the desktop version, so presumably the same is true of Word and Excel too. That’s all we have to share for now, though you can bet we’ll be back with a proper hands-on as soon as Microsoft is ready to show off a more final version of the app.

Update: ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley reports that the Metro-style Office applications (codenamed Gemini) will hit the Windows Store in 2014.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

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How many mugs have you broken this year? If you answer two or more, then you’re a certified klutz and you shouldn’t be using glassware anymore. You’re probably better off with something like the Mighty Mug.

It’s a sturdier-than-usual mug of sorts that’s BPA-free and recommended for the uncoordinated and klutzy.

The secret lies in its “Smartgrip” base. To activate it, you’re supposed to flex and flick the grippy pad with your fingers before setting it down. Once it’s been set down, the Mighty Mug “grips” the surface and you won’t be able to knock it down or knock it over, even if you tried to do so on purpose.

When you’re ready to take a sip, just lift it by its handle and voila! It’s loose and ready for you to drink from.

Mighty Mug is dishwasher and microwave safe and is available from ThinkGeek for $14.99(USD).

[via Incredible Things]

After countless months of "will they" or "won’t they," Microsoft has finally conceded to give iOS users their very own version of Office in app form. Most iOS users, that is. Assuming they want it in the first place, which is no safe assumption given its many, many limitations.

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