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Windows boss Steven Sinofsky leaves Microsoft, the world wonders why
Steven Sinofsky has been the President of Windows and Windows Live at Microsoft since July 2009. His reign has now officially ended and he is to be replaced by Microsoft veterans Julie Larson-Green and Tami Reller. As President of Windows and Windows Live, Sinofsky was responsible for a good number [...]
Read More »More evidence points to official Microsoft Office app for iPhone, iPad, and Android
There has been a slow but steady stream of leaks and rumors regarding an official Microsoft Office app for the two most popular mobile platforms out there, iOS and Android. In typical corporate style, Microsoft has been very coy about their plans for Office on iOS and Android, never really [...]
Read More »Microsoft Surface RT tablet comes with 32GB internal storage, but you can only use roughly 16GB
When it debuted last month, many people (including myself) thought Microsoft featured the entry-level Surface RT tablet with 32GB at $499 because it wanted to be price-competitive with the iPad, who’s 32GB costs $599. As it turns out, that probably isn’t the reason why.
You see the two Surface RT [...]
Read More »Microsoft is killing Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger), will integrate it with Skype [Rumor]
Microsoft bought Skype last year. As you have noticed, since that time Microsoft has been trying to integrate the VoIP juggernaut into existing Microsoft services. The latest casualty of the Skype purchase? Windows Live Messenger, or MSN Messenger as it was formerly known for a very long time.
Sourcing “several [...]
Read More »Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Twitter are “douchebags” [Comics]
![Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Twitter are “douchebags” [Comics]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2012/11/tech_company_douchebags_comic-290x160.gif)
According to Wikipedia “douchebag” could refer to “device used to administer a douche”. However, when a person calls someone (or something, in the case of companies) a douchebag, s/he typically isn’t calling them a “device used to administer a douche” but rather referring to the more common usage of douchebag [...]
Read More »Windows 8 isn’t as bad as expected, if user-submitted product reviews are to be believed
Most tech pundits have given a negative outlook to Windows 8, primarily due to its touch-optimized interface on keyboard and mouse PCs. Great, we know how techies feel about Windows 8. How about real people? Yeah, yeah, we have already seen some reactions from “normal people” when prompted to use [...]
Read More »Yahoo will ignore Do Not Track for Internet Explorer 10 users
Microsoft has made waves in the online world by declaring that “Do Not Track”, a new option introduced in browsers that tells websites and ad agencies to not track online user behavior, is enabled by default in Internet Explorer 10. As expected, many organizations came out against this move by [...]
Read More »Bill Gates feels Microsoft Surface tablets are “unbelievably great, really amazing” (shocking!)
Some ex-executives are not shy about criticizing the company they founded. Is Bill Gates one such person? Well, for one, he isn’t an ex — he is still chairman of Microsoft. For two, in regards to the original question, I don’t know. I do know, however, Gates is not going [...]
Read More »Microsoft’s new privacy rules allow it to share user data across services… yet no one seems to care
Earlier this year Google introduced a new, unified privacy policy that allows Google to pool user data across all its various services and use the data as if it belongs in one database. That privacy policy drew fire for many privacy advocates and, most notably, has been the focus of [...]
Read More »Microsoft asked Google to censor “infringing” links belonging to BBC, CNN, Wikipedia, US government, and more
We have seen dumb takedown notices and requests (via DMCA) in the past, such as when a researcher was kicked off MediaFire. However, we have not yet seen something as ridiculous as the following.
As I mentioned before in my criticism of LeakID, companies are allowed to issue DMCA takedown [...]
Read More »Microsoft Surface tablets are durable enough to be used as skateboards
With the combination of magnesium casing and Gorilla Glass 2, no one can deny Microsoft Surface tablets have an excellent physical build… despite the questionable price tag(s). Steven Sinofsky, the President of Windows and Windows Live at Microsoft, tweeted “couldn’t resist taking it out for a spin” with an accompanying [...]
Read More »Microsoft is abusing the ‘Windows’ name to trick consumers into buying Windows RT tablets [Opinion]
Any semi-techie that has being following the development of Window 8 and Windows 8 tablets knows that Windows RT tablets are akin to Android tablets and the iPad — Windows RT is essentially a mobile version of Windows 8. However, the general public is not full of techies and people [...]
Read More »Microsoft Surface tablet (32 GB, Windows RT version) is sold out within 24 hours — a sign of success despite the ridiculous price?
Yesterday Microsoft unveiled the pricing on the Windows RT Surface tablet, and opened preorders for the Oct 26 release. Less than 24 hours later, the 32 GB standalone version is backlogged, going from an estimated 10/26 shipment date to “within 3 weeks”… which more or less means it has sold [...]
Read More »It is official: Microsoft Surface tablets start at $499, Windows RT version will be available Oct 26
After much speculation, the cat is out of the bag. Microsoft has officially announced the pricing on one of the Surface tablets… and it isn’t very pretty.
According to Microsoft, the WiFi-only Windows RT Surface tablet with 32GB will start at $499. If you want the “smart cover”, an awesome [...]
Read More »Many manufacturers are “overwhelmingly negative” about Windows 8, according to an analyst
There is enough Windows 8 hate to go around. Apparently Asian manufacturers are in the same boat. Topeka Capital analyst Brian White recently traveled Asia meeting with various Asian manufacturers, at different nodes in the supply chain. White felt “the sentiment around Windows 8 was overwhelmingly negative” and most manufacturers [...]
Read More »Official Microsoft Office apps may come to Android, iOS, and Windows Phone in March 2013
Despite dominating office suites on desktops, Microsoft has yet to move into the realm of office on mobile devices. This may be changing, and this may be changing as soon as this upcoming March.
According to Petr Bobek, product manager at Microsoft’s Czech Republic subsidiary, let it slip at a [...]
Read More »[Web] No need for desktop office suites when you can use Microsoft Office Web Apps for free
If you are tired of paying hundreds of dollars for Microsoft Office, don’t want a desktop office suite, or don’t like Google Docs then Microsoft Office Web Apps is for you.
What is it and what does it do
Main Functionality
With Microsoft Office Web Apps you can use Word, [...]
Read More »Windows XP is the most exploited version of Windows while infections on Windows 7 are increasing, according to Microsoft
Wondering which version of Windows you should stick to be the safest? According to data released by Microsoft in its most recent Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, Windows XP remains at the top of the list when it comes to most infected Windows version while Windows 7 — particularly 64-bit [...]
Read More »Microsoft Surface tablets will be around $350, according to Dummies.com
The release of Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface tablets is almost here yet the speculation about Surface tablet pricing is still alive and kicking. We have had multiple people chip in over the months about Surface pricing, from a $199 rumor to Microsoft CEO hinting at iPad-like pricing. Today we [...]
Read More »We have another Windows 8 hater — the developer of Minecraft
Valve hates Windows 8, Blizzard Entertainment isn’t very enthusiastic about Windows 8, and a user interface expert feels Windows 8 is a “cognitive burden” on people. Who else is a Windows 8 naysayer? How about the developer of Minecraft.
Minecraft is a popular game for PCs. Markus “Notch” Persson, the [...]
Read More »EU is getting ready to sue Microsoft which could result in a fine as high as $7.4 billion
Remember that browser choice screen Microsoft promised to include in all EU-destined Windows PCs from 2009 onwards? That same browser choice screen Microsoft “accidentally” forgot to include in Windows 8 but has now promised to add it? Yeah, well, despite Microsoft’s assurance, EU regulators have finalized their probe into Microsoft [...]
Read More »Fake “Microsoft Windows Update” e-mail will steal your Gmail, Windows Live, Yahoo, or AOL passwords — be careful
E-mail threats are a non-stop nuisance. After the recent “Important Changes to Microsoft Services Agreement” malicious e-mail, we have another swipe at Windows users. This time the e-mail comes in the form of a phishing attack.
An e-mail from “privacy@microsoft.com” with the subject of “Microsoft Windows Update” is hitting inboxes [...]
Read More »For years, Microsoft has been secretly limiting online passwords to 16 characters — despite leading users to believe otherwise
When you register for a new Outlook.com e-mail address, you are told your password can be a maximum of sixteen characters. While there are, of course, security implications with limiting passwords to sixteen characters, what is worse is how Microsoft has been lying to us for years.
You see while [...]
Read More »Microsoft releases new update to plug Internet Explorer exploit — get this now even if you got the earlier one (both 32-bit and 64-bit are supported)
Earlier this week dotTech brought you news about a vulnerability affecting Internet Explorer. Microsoft realized the significance of the vulnerability and quickly issued a hack-and-slash Fix it utility to patch the vulnerability. Aside from the fact that the earlier Fix it apparently didn’t support 64-bit machines, it also wasn’t a [...]
Read More »Microsoft has dodged $7 billion in taxes since 2009, according to a report by the Senate
Recall the comic I posted a couple days back that poked fun at Apple for dodging taxes, among other things? Yeah, well, some comics are actually based on the truth. The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in the United States Senate just released the results of an in-depth study that looked [...]
Read More »Microsoft releases patch for Internet Explorer vulnerability, download the fix now to stay safe
You know that Internet Explorer vulnerability affecting Internet Explorer 7/8/9 on Windows XP/Vista/Win7 dotTech recently posted about? Yeah, well, it looks like Microsoft is on the ball with this one; they have just issued an easy-to-apply ‘Fix it’ to patch the vulnerability. According to Microsoft, “applying the Fix it solution, [...]
More pricing details for Windows 8 tablets are revealed, turns out the tablets will be insanely… expensive
In August a rumor generated buzz about the possibility of seeing Windows RT tablets — specifically the Windows RT Surface — for as low as $199. A few days later Lenovo stoked the rumor by publicly saying Windows 8 Pro tablets will sell for $500-$700 and Windows RT tablets will [...]
Read More »Seemingly real Microsoft e-mail is spreading malware, be careful
Whether it be through Windows or its online services, Microsoft touches the lives of many, many people around the world on a daily basis. So when an e-mail from “Microsoft <servicenotification@email.microsoft.com>” with the subject of “Important Changes to Microsoft Services Agreement” magically appears in the inbox [...]
Read More »Okay, Microsoft Surface tablets will likely *not* be priced at $199
Last month the tech world was buzzing with the possibility that Microsoft will aggressively price the Windows RT Surface tablet at $199. While there still are no concrete facts on the pricing of Microsoft’s tablets, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer more or less just crushed the chances of a Surface tablet [...]
Read More »Some brand new PCs have pre-installed viruses, according to Microsoft
In August 2011 Microsoft started an investigation into fake copies of Windows coming out of China. For this investigation, Microsoft employees bought 20 brand new PCs from various Chinese vendors and took them back to HQ to test for forfeit copies of Windows. All twenty machines were found to have [...]
Read More »Microsoft elaborates on Office for Windows RT, tells us it is “fully-featured” but has some missing functionality
Ever since Microsoft announced Windows RT tablets (aka Windows 8 tablets running on ARM-based processors) will come bundled with Microsoft Office, there have been a lot of questions as to exactly what that means. Will Office on Windows RT be like Office on regular Windows? Will it have missing functionality? [...]
Read More »Microsoft keen to bring us into Star Trek era with 3D, real-life, whole-room display gaming
“Computer? Halo.”
The previously dark room lights up; what was formerly your living room is transformed through light and sound (and who knows! Maybe even scent!) into a battlefield. You pick up your “gun,” holding your hands as if holding the actual prop. The gun on the main screen in [...]
Read More »Microsoft debuts Visual Studio 2012, the only (free) way to create Windows applications
I’m not a coder. I don’t develop applications. I almost flunked the only programming class I ever took. So obviously, Microsoft’s announced new software absolutely does NOT have me in mind, but that isn’t a problem – I’m a reporter, not their intended audience. However, details about the new Windows [...]
Read More »Windows Store now accepts app submissions from individuals (not just companies)
With the launch of Windows 8 fast approaching (come on, October 26th!), Microsoft has made an interesting decision about the Windows Store. The corporation has opened up the submission ability to include individuals unconnected to Microsoft itself. Before this semi-surprising change, only people with company accounts with Microsoft were able [...]
Read More »Flash vulnerability fix for Internet Explorer 10 is on the way, says Microsoft [Windows 8]
The version of Internet Explorer 10 that comes bundled with Windows 8 has a vulnerability that has been traced to it’s integrated specific version of Adobe Flash. At first, Microsoft claimed that they wouldn’t be providing security patches for the bundled software until October; now they’ve changed their tune amid [...]
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