May 06
Microsoft just confirmed that the successor to Windows 8 will roll out later this year, that it’s sold a whole lot more Windows 8 licenses than when we last checked in, and that the largely empty Windows Stores are finally …
May 06
Microsoft tops 100 million Windows 8 licenses sold, promises Windows Blue update in 2013
Posted in: Today's Chili
For many observers, the real story for Windows 8 was never going to be the 60 million licenses sold during the holiday rush — it was always about the long term. The first indications of its post-launch impact are here, and show mixed results. In an interview on the company blog, Microsoft CMO/CFO Tami Reller says that it “recently” sold its 100 millionth Windows 8 license since the OS launched in October. That’s a healthy figure, but sales of about 10 million units a month between its January stat update and today show adoption hasn’t picked up again since the initial dropoff. The usual post-holiday lull no doubt played a part, although estimates of a much steeper drop in PC sales than usual suggest more was afoot. Microsoft doesn’t see an immediate problem however, touting both brisk Windows Store adoption — downloads of both free and paid apps surged from 100 million in January to 250 million — and the pending arrival of more affordable convertible notebooks, touchscreen laptops and all-in-ones later this year.
Oh, and about that Windows Blue update everyone’s been talking about? It’s at last official. Microsoft isn’t mentioning details beyond the Windows Blue codename, but it does promise that the upgrade should be available before 2013 is over. We’re looking forward to that extra level of personalization already.
Filed under: Desktops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Source: Blogging Windows
May 06
Up until now, there have yet to be any Windows 8 tablets that offer anything below a 10-inch screen, although we recently heard Microsoft was planning on introducing a 7-inch Surface tablet in the near future. It looks like Acer is one of the first companies to manufacture a smaller Windows 8 tablet as their device was accidentally outed by Amazon who displayed it on their website briefly.
The confusion may have been a result of Acer announcing a number of its upcoming products on Friday, although none of the devices were called the Acer Iconia W3-810-1600. The tablet Amazon accidentally outed features an 8.1-inch screen and will have a full Windows 8 OS, not Windows RT. Even though this is the first Windows 8 tablet to show up with a screen below 10 inches, we’re sure it won’t be the last one considering the popularity of handheld tablets. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Windows 8.1 Could Receive Automatic Desktop Scaling, Amazon Kindle Fire HD Price Slashed By $20 For Mother’s Day, 
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May 06
We’ve seen a number of Windows 8.1. leaks over the past couple of weeks, but a new report may bring another highly desired improvement to Windows 8.1.
According to users who have installed the latest Windows 8.1 build, which is 9385, it looks as though a number of apps have automatically updated themselves in the background. Current Windows 8 users know that in order to update an application, they’re first notified of the update, which you’ll then have to navigate the OS’ menus in order to initiate an update. One of the apps that was seen to have updated its app on its own is an app called Movie Moments.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Amazon Kindle Fire HD Price Slashed By $20 For Mother’s Day, Acer Aspire S7 Review (S7-391-6413), 
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May 03
Acer Announces Aspire R7 Notebook Hybrid, Aspire P3 Ultrabook Convertable, Iconia A1 Android Tablet
Posted in: Today's Chili
Acer teased a “unique noteook” in a Star Trek trailer a few weeks ago, and earlier this morning, the company held a press event in New York City to unveil what they consider to be a unique notebook. We believed what Acer could be unveiling today could be a laptop / tablet hybrid, such as the HP Envy X2 or similar devices, and it looks as though that’s exactly what they had prepared to unveil today, but they had a bit more to show than just a simple laptop / tablet hybrid machine.
One of the first products Acer showed off this morning was the Acer Aspire R7, which is a Windows 8 notebook that features a 15.6-inch screen which is mounted on an ezel hinge that allows the user to adjust the screen to whatever angle is most comfortable for them. The screen is also flippable, which makes it possible for you to share the R7’s screen with someone sitting across from you, or even lay the screen flat in order to collaborate with someone else. Acer has re-imagined the layout of its R7’s keyboard / trackpad by moving the keyboard forward and having the trackpad closer to the screen. The Acer Aspire R7 is expected to be released on May 14 exclusively at Best Buy.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Acer Might Make Windows 8.1 RT Tablet, Shuns Current RT Version, New Surface Tablet With 7.5-Inch Display Will Allegedly Sell For $399, 
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May 03
Acer] has revealed its latest ultrabook, the Aspire P3, throwing Windows 8 into a touchscreen convertible as part of the company’s renewed focus on touch devices. Packing an 11.6-inch HD IPS LCD display, Core i3 or i5 processors, and up to six hours of battery life into a 0.77-inch thick notebook, the Aspire P3 looks at first glance like a regular laptop but – with the screen section pulled forward in what’s effectively a keyboard dock – can be flipped into a slate.
In that orientation, the P3 can be used either with the fingers or with a stylus; Acer will offer that separately, though the case will have a slot to store it in-between use. Connectivity includes a USB 3.0 port, HDMI, and a headphone socket, and there are Dolby Home Theater speakers and a 720p HD webcam on the front.
On the back, Acer has included a 5-megapixel camera. Inside it’s a choice of 60GB or 120GB SSD, and Acer says the Aspire P3 should wake from sleep in “only a few seconds.” The whole thing tips the scales at 3.06 pounds, and Acer is billing the P3 as ideal for those who might otherwise have considered a tablet – like an iPad – and a separate keyboard dock.
The Acer Aspire P3 runs full Windows 8 – not Windows RT – and is expected to go on sale immediately. It’ll be priced from $799.99 depending on specifications.
Acer Aspire P3 convertible wants to replace your iPad and keyboard dock is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 02
Wunderlist for Android and Windows gets Pro version, a few freebies for the kids
Posted in: Today's Chili
As if it weren’t plenty apparent, the people at 6Wunderkinder are pretty good at task management. Less than a week after the company delivered Wunderlist Pro for iOS, Mac and the web, it’s followed through on the promise of Android and Windows versions. For $50 per year (or $4.99 per month), Wunderlist Pro delivers advanced collaboration features like task delegation and, soon enough, file sharing. Even if you aren’t too keen on paying for the Pro version, though, free users will discover an action bar in the latest update that brings the ability to sort items alphabetically, by assignee or by due date. Also from the action bar, you can email, print or invite people to shared lists. Yep, there’s something for everyone, and even if you aren’t yet familiar with Wunderlist, this is a prime opportunity to check out the scene.
Source: 6Wunderkinder
May 02
As the Skype Video Messaging universe expands, it would seem only natural that the Microsoft-owned company might have brought the service to Windows 8 first and foremost. As it is, this final push for the service hit their hero operating system last. Here it is, at long last – the Windows 8 version – fully functional, this time – of Skype Video Messaging. Let the away messages in video form begin!
With the Windows 8 version of Skype you’ll now be able to both record and send as well as receive and view video messages. This means you’re recording a video of yourself with Skype, sending it to a person who isn’t actively on Skype at the moment, and allowing them to see the video independent of yourself. This differs from Skype’s normal functionality which is text chatting or real-time video chat.
This release allows for the latest release version of the app called Skype for Windows 8 to catch up to the versions on Mac, iOS, and Android. You’ll notice that Windows Phone 8 is not on this list – we’re expecting this and other current-release functions to appear on the platform sooner than later. For now though: courage.
The release being populated in your direction today is Skype 1.7, mind you – make sure you’re up to that version in Windows 8 for full functionality. This version also has a set of languages coming in at the same time as the original English version thanks to a series of what Microsoft says are volunteers – well done!
Bulgarian: Nikolina Filipova & Nikolay Filipov
Czech: Petr Silon
Dutch: Kees Koenders
German: Claudius Henrichs & Dick Schiferli
Lithuanian: Viktoras Kriukovas
Norwegian: Stig Auestad
Polish: Karol Szastok
Portuguese: Francisco Ferreira
Romanian: Péter & Mónika Henning
[via Skype]
Windows 8 grabs Skype Video Messaging in cross-platform bid is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 02
Windows 7 users have been able to sneak a peek at Skype’s new Video Messaging feature since earlier in the week, but now the referenced Windows 8 version is available as well. The new tool, the service’s version of video voicemail, is still “in its early release,” so you may run into a bug or two. To that end, the team invites testers to reach out with feedback through a handful of channels. It’s all outlined at the source link below.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Skype
May 01
Microsoft reportedly working on Mohoro, an Azure-hosted remote desktop service
Posted in: Today's Chili
Microsoft is plumbing the depths of cloud computing yet again with the development of what could be a pay-per-use desktop virtualization service called Mohoro. According to ZDNet‘s Mary Jo Foley, Mohoro is essentially Azure‘s answer to Remote Desktop, but as a hosted service. Intended for “companies who want thin clients or to run legacy apps on new PCs,” her source states that, “With Mohoro, you click a few buttons, deploy your apps, use Intune to push out configuration to all of your company’s devices, and you’re done,” thus skipping the need for server infrastructure. As Foley points out, however, Azure-hosted virtual machines aren’t currently set up to run Windows clients under Microsoft’s licensing terms. What’s more, Mohoro development is reportedly in its early days, and as such, Foley speculates that it won’t be a reality until much later — she’s guessing the latter half of 2014.
Filed under: Networking, Microsoft
Source: ZDNet
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