After well over a decade of service, Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows XP, meaning that no further updates will be released from here on in.
Hot on the heels of Apple's CarPlay, Microsoft's effort is decidedly similar to that of the iPhone maker. Windows in the Car follows the same approach in that it will allow users of Windows Phone devices to take over a car's built-in entertainment and navigation systems using the Mirrorlink standard, with all input duties then taken over by a large touch screen built into the car's dashboard.
It's immediately apparent, when checking out the new features of the Windows 8.1 Update 1, that Microsoft is pandering to the large faction of users still running a traditional desktop PC rig. From tweaking the way that the search and power options are accessed to ensuring that Windows Store apps play nicer with the keyboard and mouse, there's no doubt that today's announcement at BUILD 2014 was aimed squarely at the traditionalists. Following the announcement of the new Windows 8.1 Update 1, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson also took the opportunity to showcase how Windows 8.1 will eventually offer users the chance to roll back the clock with the return of the traditional Start Menu.
As well as taking the wraps off Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft today took to the stage at BUILD 2014 to announce the Windows 8.1 Update 1. Although not as feature-packed an update as the mobile edition, it still offers plenty of handsome improvements, and we've got all of the details right here.
Tutorial on how to set or run animated screensaver as desktop wallpaper on Windows 8 or Windows 7. True, it's nothing new thanks to the fact that the trick of having a screensaver as a wallpaper has been around for some years, but we'd forgotten all about it and, we're willing to guess, so have you. It's really so simple that everyone should be at least giving it a try.
With Microsoft officially ceasing support for the antiquated Windows XP early next month, the company has been making some last-ditch attempts to get customers running the software to switch to something a bit more contemporary, pushing a series of very attractive trade-in programs. In the latest, those on Windows XP machines looking to upgrade to Windows 8.1 will, in return for lugging their old rig to their local Microsoft Store, be the recipient of a $100 savings voucher against a purchase of a computer over the $599 mark, and if you've been meaning to grab yourself a new computer and still find yourself languishing on XP, now's the best time to take the plunge.
Apple-bashing from Samsung is nothing new, particularly given the ongoing court hearings between the two relating to supposed theft of patented technologies, but in a rare treat, the Korean outfit has taken a swipe at Apple, Microsoft and Amazon in one fell swoop with its latest Galaxy Pro Series Ad. The Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note Pro, which Samsung was heavily pushing at Mobile World last month, offer quite a few features built with the power user in mind, and with the advertising machine in full flow, the company has wasted no time in having a swipe at the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle Fire and Microsoft Surface for their respective shortcomings.
Satya Nadella, the recently-appointed CEO of Microsoft and the third since its inception, was chosen for the role by the board for a variety of reasons. One of his core strengths - his heavy involvement in the company's cloud services - was seen as the vital tool needed to carry the company forward into the cloud-based era, and already, we're seeing evidence of the rationale behind his appointment. Today, Microsoft released a new, free OneNote app for Mac, a further free OneNote utility for its own Windows OS, and notably, a cloud-based API facilitating the integration of both first and third-party apps with with OneNote.
It has only taken the best part of 18 months, but VideoLAN has finally come through on its promise to tailor its famed VLC media player for users of Microsoft Windows 8 / 8.1. Finely tuned for seamless integration with the tiled interface, VLC for Windows 8 is now available to download, although unfortunately for Windows RT users, the RT edition is not quite ready.
Fans of Microsoft's Surface tablet have been waiting patiently for additional news about the new Surface Power Cover. The interesting new accessory was originally teased back at the end of the third quarter last year, but there's been relatively little buzz about the product in the time that has followed. The original speculation suggested that Microsoft had every intention of releasing the powerful new cover alongside the second-generation Surface hardware, but for a number of reasons that plan didn't come to fruition. Still, all good things come to those who wait, and we can now welcome in some additional details about the cover, including a release date and price.
