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There’s no doubt about it: mobile device sales are booming, while traditional computer sales are leveling out. In fact, PC shipments dipped for the first time in 11 years. However, it’s estimated that there will be around 1.5 billion devices running the Windows OS by the end of the year, compared to the just over 600 million devices running Android. In four years’ time, though, that may change.

Research firm Gartner thinks that the Android operating system will be on more devices than Windows by 2016. They estimate that there will be 2.3 billion devices on Android by the end of 2016, while Windows will claim 2.28 billion devices. It’s not an absurd hypothesis, since Android has already become a dominating figure in the mobile market, and it’s only been four years since the OS first released.

Android controls two-thirds of the smartphone market, and is number 2 in the tablet market behind Apple. Worldwide shipments of PCs dropped 8% in the third quarter, which has been the steepest decline since 2001. Obviously, more and more people are purchasing powerful tablets and smartphones for their basic everyday computing needs.

Of course, Microsoft has dominated the desktop OS market for years, but they’ve been slow to adopt to newer technologies. The company’s smartphone marketshare is only around 3%. However, they’re looking to shake things up with their upcoming launches of Windows RT and Windows Phone 8, both of which will bring the Windows experience to tablets and smartphones.

[via Reuters]

Android to surpass Windows in OS market share by 2016 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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With Windows 8 Microsoft is pushing manufacturers away from a traditional BIOS to UEFI with Secure Boot. But that poses problems for alternative OSes like Linux, because UEFI requires any software have a signed certificate. The Linux Foundation has been looking for a solution and thinks that it may have one. The proposed work around is a little convoluted and surprisingly involves obtaining a Microsoft signature for a new barebones bootloader. This wouldn’t actually boot Linux or any other OS actually. Instead, it would then start a second bootloader, the one associated with your OS of choice. It’s a little messy, but it should mean that the signed bootloader will be a catch-all solution for any operating system. Of course, it could take a while for the Foundation to actually obtain a signature from Microsoft. So “Designed for Windows 8” systems might not be able to run Linux right away, but rest assured a solution is on the way.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

Linux Foundation proposes convoluted solution for UEFI Secure Boot originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 03:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re champing at the bit to get hold of a Windows 8 computer, you can now buy an Acer or Gateway from HSN.com—just be warned that it’s loaded with crapware and likely a poor idea. More »

At today’s RIM event, the BlackBerry maker gave us a closer look at BB10, with CEO Thorsten Heins talking up the operating system as “all about getting things done” and coining the interface “BlackBerry Flow.” He demoed a new Peek feature that lets users access the message notifications screen with a right angle gesture. The function can be used in any app: performing the swipe takes users to the BlackBerry Hub where they can view Tweets, messages and other notifications. There’s also a new clock and alarm system, which works by the user holding their fingertip on the bezel and sliding it to the appropriate time to set an alarm.

There’s also the business-friendly Balance feature we already knew about, which will let users’ IT departments access corporate email and perform remote wipe without affecting the rest of the phone. With Balance, BlackBerry phones essentially have two profiles, one secured for the work environment and one for personal use. It just so happens that we already got a hands-on look at the software running on a Dev Alpha B handset: take a look here.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

RIM puts BlackBerry 10 on display: new alarm, Peek gesture and more originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that its successor is available, you’re unlikely to hear much excitement for Windows Server 2008 around IT water coolers, but that’s not to suggest it’ll fade into oblivion anytime soon. In fact, Microsoft has extended its mainstream support of the server OS — previously set to expire on July 9th, 2013 — through January 15th, 2015. The company will continue to deliver free security fixes for the operating system beyond this cutoff date, however maintenance updates will require the purchase of extended support from Microsoft. According to the company’s revised product lifecycle, paid updates for Windows Server 2008 will now be available through January 14th, 2020. For those curious, the new dates were largely determined by Microsoft guidelines, which guarantee a minimum five years of support, or in this case, two years of mainstream support beyond the release of the successor product. Naturally, it pains us to imagine firms chugging along with Windows Server 2008 into 2020, but you just know it’ll happen. Now, at least someone in Redmond will be watching out for them.

Filed under: Software

Microsoft extends free Windows Server 2008 support through January 15th, 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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