Topic / Windows 8

Windows 8.1 update an admission of failure as Microsoft attempts to repair desktop OS

By on February 24, 2014

Microsoft is slowly walking away from the touchscreen future of Windows, today announcing an update that backtracks on their initial vision of the new OS. In a significant update for Windows 8.1, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore today announced at Mobile World Congress that “some of those touch affordances weren’t really tuned as well as we could do for those mouse and keyboard users.” The update will introduce a title bar at the top of […]

Lenovo reveals updated ThinkPad X1 Carbon and 8.3-inch tablet

By on January 6, 2014

When Stewart Wilson got his hands on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch, he absolutely loved it. At this year’s CES, Lenovo has announced that the X1 Carbon and X1 Carbon Touch laptops are getting an upgrade. Still featuring an 14-inch display and still thin as ever, the new X1 Carbon includes better viewing angles and better battery life. The X1 Carbon is its lightest ultrabook to date – weighing only […]

Microsoft announces Surface 2, Surface Pro 2 and a slew of accessories

By on September 24, 2013

After eighteen months in development, Microsoft has announced the next generation of Surface tablets, with Redmond revealing the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 at a press conference in New York City. As rumoured, the Surface 2 (dropping the RT moniker) features an NVIDIA Tegra 4 SoC, a hefty upgrade from the ageing Tegra 3 in the current Surface RT, and will be running Windows RT 8.1. Most of the […]

Windows 8.1 is official! Due to be released October 17th

By on August 15, 2013

Stewart Wilson / TechGeek Today Microsoft have officially announced the release date of their highly anticipated update, Windows 8.1. The update will be available on October 17th at 4:00am Redmond time (or 10:00pm Sydney time) worldwide through the Windows Store as a free upgrade for all Windows 8 users. The company has also announced that devices will be on sale with Windows 8.1 pre-installed from October 18th in stores. Windows 8.1 […]

YEAR IN REVIEW: Microsoft takes a chance

By on January 4, 2013

2012 was a year of refinement from Google and Apple, opting to make small changes to their flagship platforms of Android and iOS, as well as their device portfolios. Yet, almost shockingly, the opposite can be said for Microsoft, who instead launched the biggest change to Windows since its inception, as well as brought core redesigns of Windows Phone to market and introduced a competitive tablet OS that works on […]

Surface finally comes to retail stores – JB Hi Fi, Harvey Norman confirmed

By on December 12, 2012

Microsoft has confirmed that the Surface will now enter retail stores – just a few weeks after its launch only through Microsoft Stores and through its website. For Australians, this will mean JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman will start selling the Surface RT in stores from mid-December. Initially, the United States and Australia will see Surface RTs sold at their local electronics retailer, before expanding. Microsoft has also said […]

Windows 8 UI “disappointing”, says usability expert

By on November 20, 2012

Usability expert Jakob Nielsen has described the Windows 8 user interface “disappointing” for both novices and power users to Windows; claiming that Microsoft’s dual approach for the OS – making it work for both tablets and PCs – is making things difficult to find needed features on the PC. Describing the entire thing as a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” duality; he claims that the interface’s usability problems include inconsistency […]

Windows 8 Twitter client ‘Tweetro’ hits user cap, now blocked

By on November 11, 2012

Despite the absence of an official Twitter client on Windows 8, users of the popular social network have been able to access the service on Microsoft’s platform via a number of 3rd party apps. However, the free ride may be about to end. The first casualty of Twitter’s strict, and in my opinion pathetic, new rules for developers is Tweetro, the popular Windows 8 Twitter app, which in the last 24 […]

Microsoft Surface coming down-under November 6, pre-orders available now

By on October 17, 2012

Microsoft has confirmed today what we have been long waiting for – details on price and international availability. And for Australians, Redmond has confirmed that the much-hyped tablet is indeed coming to Australia, with those who pre-order set to receive the tablet from November 6; and showing off its retail prices starting from AU$599. The Surface with Windows RT will be coming out first – before one running on Windows 8 […]

Microsoft shows off Surface in new US ad campaign, leaves out any pricing details

By on October 16, 2012

Microsoft’s first Surface TV ad will air tonight on the US sport network ESPN, as part of a US$1 billion campaign which has already seen a Windows 8 ad (embedded below) and now a Microsoft Surface ad. The colourful, energetic ad, actually seems like a persuasive piece, something Microsoft can rarely achieve. However, without any details on pricing, and the release date looming, that anticipation could  quickly evaporate. If the Surface’s […]

Xbox Music coming tomorrow to Xbox 360, later this month for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

By on October 15, 2012

While Zune Pass had always been a great service, Microsoft lacked the marketshare to actually push it on devices. The Zune lineup, made to compete with Apple’s iPod, never caught on, and Windows Phone 7 has proven to lack a strong following. Xbox Music is set to change this, coming out tomorrow on Xbox 360’s and later this month on Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Phone 8, a mobile […]

‘Metro’ UI renamed to ‘Windows-8 style’ UI – yes, the name is horrible

By on August 10, 2012

‘Metro’ is no more. After a naming dispute with a European partner (which is also known by that name), Microsoft has decided to rename the codename user interface to “Windows-8 Style UI”. Yes, everything that uses it – from Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and even the Xbox 360, which doesn’t even share an 8 – will feature the new “Windows-8 Style UI”. It’s wordy, and it’s not a really […]

Windows Store allows paid apps, expands to new markets

By on August 2, 2012

Microsoft has today announced several new bits of information with regards to the Windows Store that will be available on Windows 8 and Windows RT. The big news – Microsoft has now turned on the payment system for the Windows Store, allowing developers to create paid applications and in-app purchases. This now means that companies will be able to gain some profit from making apps – especially small developers, as […]

Windows 8 hits RTM, enterprise and developer availability dates confirmed

By on August 2, 2012

Windows 8 is officially complete. Microsoft has announced that it has finally reached the RTM (release to manufacturing) milestone, meaning that no new features will be added or removed and the bug fixing begins before its October 26 release date. It also means hardware partners will be able to get the software to install it on its new computers that will come out, most likely during the holiday shopping season. […]

Now, it’s official – Windows 8 coming out on October 26

By on July 19, 2012

After teasing out the dates for Windows 8, Microsoft has confirmed via the Windows Blog that the upcoming version of Windows will be coming out on October 26. On that date, customers will be able to get a copy of Windows 8 via a new PC or from upgrading their existing computers. So expect a flurry of laptop announcements saying that they are Windows 8-ready, and Windows 8 tablets between […]