The days of Microsoft releasing one new version of its Windows OS every few years are long gone. With the introduction of mobile devices into the frame - albeit somewhat belatedly - the Redmond, Washington outfit has moved to an annual release cycle akin to Apple. With Windows 8.1 following last year's drop of Windows 8, we haven't really heard a great deal about what's coming up next, however, Mary Jo Foley - renowned for leaking information about Microsoft - has come through with the news that the forthcoming edition of the famed desktop / tablet platform is codenamed ‘Threshold’.
Windows and OS X have been competing for years in the battle of the two major desktop platforms, and although Windows has been comfortably ahead since the beginning of time, Apple's Mac operating system has certainly made some headway in more recent times. Microsoft's Windows 8.1 and OS X Mavericks 10.9 are the latest entrants to the market, and although, as noted in the headline, Windows 8.1 has just sneaked ahead of Mavericks in terms of reach, the latter's 2.42% market share has now surpassed that of each of its predecessors.
We can't lie, it's getting a little boring watching ads where companies try to get one over their competitors by simply prodding them with the biggest, spikiest stick they can find, but at least this new ad from Amazon does actually talk about the company's own tablet as well.
Apple has never been shy about supporting charities, which is why a glance through the iPad and iPhone accessories lists on the Apple Store will reveal one or two Product (RED) versions of cases and covers. The company has also been known to turn its stores red, and for the third year running selected Apple Stores in various countries have had their iconic glowing Apple logo turned red in support of World AIDS Day.
Cyber Monday has finally arrived. Millions of consumers all over the globe are expected to utilize their existing technology to scour the Web for the best Cyber Monday deals out there, with the aim of grabbing some new gadgets at bargain prices. Reductions and money-saving deals aren't exactly alien in the tech world, but Cyber Monday has historically presented consumers with much deeper discounts. To get you up and running, we have scoured the Web for some of the best Google, Microsoft and Apple deals available during the course of the day.
Charging our iPhones is something that we take for granted. In fact, in a post-iOS 7 world it's something that many of us find ourselves doing much more often than we would like, and that's only going to continue with more and more apps multitasking and asking to keep track of our location in order to offer enhanced functionality. If you've ever used Google Now over an extended period of time on an iPhone, then you'll know what we mean.
The emergence of social networks and sharing services like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr has only accelerated the popularity of mobile photography and means we can share our creations with a few taps. But what about those who want to go beyond the native capabilities of mobile cameras with an added accessory? Well, the extremely popular Easy-Macro is one of the more popular options, and it just got even better.
There's nothing more personal than a private conversation between family members, loved ones or close friends. If you suspect that that privacy is being abused by a friend, college roommate or a work colleague then it's time to either keep a closer eye on where you leave your smartphone, or pick up the PeeperPeeper app from the Play Store and catch them red-handed. The latter seems a lot more fun.
Those rumors of a PS4 and Vita bundle being made available in the UK were spot on as it turns out, with Sony confirming to Eurogamer that the company will be working closely with retailers in order to offer the new home console alongside Sony's mobile gaming machine as part of an 'ultimate bundle.'
We already heard earlier from Sony's UK chief that the PlayStation 4 will probably not enjoy the kind of longevity of its 7-year-old predecessor, with Fergal Gara noting that the changing ways in which consumers are accessing games and gaming services will dramatically shorten cycles . This is contrary to Microsoft, which believes the Xbox One will last out a decade, but EA Studios executive VP Patrick Söderlund has waded into the argument by suggesting that he expects both the new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to remain flagship for five to six years.
