Right before Windows Phone launched in late 2010, reviewers were told that wireless carriers couldn't indefinitely postpone Windows Phone software updates, and that they would be forced to deliver at least every other update. However, with some carriers blocking at least two updates this year, customers have raised new questions about this process. Here's what's really happening.
more In the latest episode of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and I discuss some news in the week leading up to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft/Nokia rumors for Mobile World Congress, a Visual Studio 11 Beta sneak peek, Office for iPad rumors and thoughts, more Office 15 goodies, and new battles in Microsoft vs. Google.
more This week on Tech News Weekly: Paul Thurrott is back from Spain, and joins Andrew Zarian for TNW. The White House gets behind a privacy bill of rights. Should there be a privacy bill of rights? Canonical announces plans to turn future Android phones into Ubuntu desktops. Will it be the device of the future? Mozilla partners up with LG to build their own smartphone and tablet OS called Boot to Gecko. Will it be able to take on Android and iOS? Also Andrew and Paul look ahead to Mobile World Congress. What should we expect? And our Picks of the Week.
more In these final days leading up to the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, a couple of key themes that have been rolling around in my head. And what I'm seeing is a solid strategy and a renewed excitement in Windows and its future.
more Microsoft is in the process of consolidating all of its somewhat separate online accounts--Windows Live ID, Xbox LIVE, Zune and Zune Pass, and many more--into a single aggregate account it will call Microsoft Your Account. Kudos to my Windows Secrets co-author Rafael Rivera for uncovering this change.
more While Microsoft and its hardware partners race to deliver a suitable Windows 8-based tablet experience by the end of 2012, the innovators at OnLive have accomplished something previously thought impossible: They've brought the current version of Windows--and Office, and Adobe Reader and Flash--to the iPad today. And it works surprisingly well.
more An often irreverent look at this week's other news, including a Windows 8 product versions revelation, the Windows Server 8 Beta, HP's coming Windows 8 tablet, Smoked by Windows ads go viral, Nokia sells more Windows Phones than anyone, Visual Studio 11 Beta, Google's belated Do Not Track button, Motorola Mobility chief about to be sacked, and Apple ignores China's plight at its shareholders meeting.
more With a week to go until the Consumer Preview, here's a wrap-up of the escalating Windows 8 news that's happened over the past several days.
more Microsoft filed a complaint with antitrust regulators in Europe, alleging that Google and Motorola Mobility are overcharging for patents that cover basic mobile and computing tasks.
more Microsoft's official Office Blogs has an interesting post about the creation of its Windows Phone app, called Office Blogs, of course. In the post, Craig Kerwien, the Director of Site Management in the Office Division Product Management Group describes how he went from idea to working app in just a few hours on a Saturday.
more A decade ago, PC makers and server software makers like Oracle tried to push a concept called thin-client computing on unwilling customers. But this week, the first truly brilliant thin-client computing solution appeared courtesy of OnLive, which now offers free and subscription versions of a service that streams the Windows desktop to iPad users.
more Microsoft on Tuesday revealed that it will expand the number of supported display languages in Windows 8 by 14, bringing the total to 109. This, the company says, will provide a native language version of Windows for over 4.5 billion people.
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