Microsoft has today ditched Windows Home Server while simultaneously unveiling four new editions for Windows Server 2012. The four editions, which are aimed towards different types of businesses and enterprise, consist of Standard, Datacenter, Essentials, and Foundation.
Although nothing is confirmed, moves made by Redmond-based Microsoft could offer a hint as to the name of the next generation Xbox console, which, as yet, has oft only been referred to as the Xbox 720 by those putting two and two together.
With Apple's OS X Lion retailing at a very reasonable $29.99 last summer, Microsoft has re-thought the pricing structure for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. Hitherto, upgrading to the "Pro" variant of any Windows version has been a costly affair, but it will not be the case this time around for existing users.
Now that Google has unveiled its proper entry into the living room entertainment space, the Nexus Q, is it worth considering against the already established products in the market from Microsoft and Google? Short answer: Unless you want to pay more for less, no. Here's the longer answer.
As of right now, the existing consumer tablet market is dominated and was essentially created by Apple when it released the first iPad. Since then, Microsoft and Google have been working to catch up and get their foot in the door of this Apple-dominated market. Google's Android tablet OS has managed to gain some ground, and we can expect Windows 8 tablets to hit the shelves later this year. However, in the past two weeks, both Microsoft and Google have announced special tablet hardware devices that they hope will help them gain even more ground in this market.
Microsoft recently announced Windows Phone 8 with a bunch of important new features that put it but in the three-horse mobile OS race. Features included support for multiple cores, HD displays, Near Field Communication (NFC), a shared core with Windows 8, use of Nokia’s mapping technology for turn-by-turn navigation, Skype integration and a much more customizable start-screen. We’ve discussed these features in detail here.
The next version of Microsoft Windows is just a few weeks away from completion and release, folks! After months of speculation, leaks, controversial keynotes and demonstrations, Developer/Consumer Previews, we’re closing in on the feature-complete RTM build. A report published earlier today suggests that the final build will be available in July. Details after the jump!
Despite having only been announced at the beginning of the week, the Microsoft Surface has become the most talked-about gadget on the planet, and by declining to comment on price and availability - a couple of reasonably important factors - the gossip chain has reached overdrive. To add a little extra spice to proceedings, Bloomberg reckons the highly anticipated tablet-ultrabook cross may initially only ship with Wi-Fi capabilities, which could certainly put a dampener on the general excitement within the tech sphere.
Microsoft surprised some and impressed many with details of its Surface earlier this week, which does look much like the first lovechild of the tablet and the ultrabook. The device, which is reckoned to be releasing this Fall, has divided opinions to a degree, mainly because the Redmond company neglected to disclose some of the key details such as price and availability. Nevertheless, the fuss it has managed to cause in a few short days bodes well for a more competitive tablet market moving forward.
People wanting to see what Microsoft announced during its Windows Phone Summit today can now find out by watching the presentation in video format, right from the comfort of your own computer after the Redmond outfit published the entire thing online.
