Surface Pro confirmed for UK 'in the coming months'

If you were a little disappointed by the Surface Pro being exclusive to the US, you won't have much longer to wait -- Microsoft is bringing the full Windows 8Surface to Britain "in the coming months".

While Microsoft didn't exactly offer much explanation as to how many months that would be, or if it'll be on sale in John Lewis like the ARM-powered Surface RT, it did say the rollout of the Surface PCs to more countries will begin in late March -- and why wouldn't the UK be an early bird? After all, we did get the RT early. Lucky us.

The Surface Pro won't only be hitting the UK -- it'll be reaching our chums in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand. The Surface RT will also be rolling out in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan.

One thing to note is the Surface Pro sells for much more than the RT -- currently in the US it's $899 (£560), but if you're hoping for an exact like-for-like conversion, then you'll be sorely disappointed. The Surface RT, like most other tech products, is cheaper in the States than in the UK, mainly due to VAT. If I were to take a guess, I'd say the Surface Pro will land at around £700.

When our very own Luke Westaway took a look at the Surface Pro, he loved that the full Windows 8 OS was on-board, but he also had several reservations -- mainly the chunkier form factor and Windows 8's touch-friendliness (or lack of).

The Surface Pro has also played host to many other controversies -- most notably the fact you get much smaller storage space than advertised, meaning if you buy the lower-end model, you'll find yourself running out of room very quickly.

If you don't want to wait another minute for a fully fledged Windows 8 tablet, you do have other options. We recently reviewed the Asus VivoTab Smart and Acer Iconia W700 -- both of which received a very respectable four stars.

[Source: CNET]

Microsoft was hacked in the same wave as Apple and Facebook

Microsoft has been hacked, in the same wave of attacks targeting Facebook and Apple. The company made the announcement in a blog post on its website.

You can sleep safe if you use Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 though, as Microsoft says there's no evidence of any customer data being compromised. Funnily enough, the company says some of its computers in its Mac business unit were among those hacked.

Microsoft says it didn't make a statement immediately, as first it wanted to find out what exactly happened. Only a "small number" of computers were infected by malicious software "using techniques similar to those documented by other organisations."

Last week, Apple announced it had been hit by malware that attacked Java, and a few days earlier, Facebook said it too had been targeted. Just don't tell Jeff Jarvis. Twitter was also hacked last month, with 250,000 accounts affected.

Newspapers including The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal have all accused China of cyber attacks, though the origins of the hack targeting Microsoft haven't been revealed. Google's Eric Schmidt has penned a book on the subject, calling China "the world's most active and enthusiastic filterer of information", as well as the "most sophisticated and prolific hacker of foreign companies."

Microsoft acknowledged these kind of attacks are par for the course in the modern tech landscape. It said in its blog post: "This type of cyber attack is no surprise to Microsoft and other companies that must grapple with determined and persistent adversaries… We continually re-evaluate our security posture and deploy additional people, processes, and technologies as necessary to help prevent future unauthorised access to our networks."

[Source: CNET]

Steve Ballmer is “Super-Glad” Microsoft Built Surface, Thinks Windows 8 Adoption is “Perfect”

Steve Ballmer sat for a spell with MIT Technology Review to discuss the Windows 8 ecosystem.

It’s no easy task to gauge the impact Windows 8 is having on the industry, in part because the industry is changing. The traditional desktop is taking a backseat in popularity to mobile form factors, like notebooks,tablets, and hybrids. Windows 8, as you know, is an attempt to bring all these devices together, along with smartphones, under a unified user interface. IsMicrosoft happy with its strategy up to this point?

Jason Pontin, MIT Technology Review’s Editor-in-Chief, had a chance to speak with Steve Ballmer about Windows 8 and related topics. One of the questions he asked is what Ballmer feels is a reasonable adoption period for a new version of an operating system that’s to be used by a billion people.

“Well, it’s a complex question. You’ll need to define what you mean by adoption rate. It’s affected by three things: How many do we sell? How quickly do people retire the installed base that they own? And what are the similarities and differences between the consumer market and the corporate market?,” Ballmer said. “In the first 10 weeks, we sold 60 million copies. All new consumer PCs are now Windows 8 based. So in that sense, I would say that here the adoption rate is perfect.”

Ballmer pointed out that consumers upgrade PCs less frequently than phones but upgrade them more frequently than TVs and game consoles. And in the corporate world, “adoption is always a little slower.”

And what of Microsoft’s Surface strategy?

“I’m super-glad we did Surface,” Ballmer said. “I think it is important — and not just for Microsoft, but for the entire Windows ecosystem — to see integrated hardware and software….Surface is a real business. In an environment in which there’s 350 million PCs sold, I don’t think Surface is going to dominate volume, but it’s a real business.”

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Microsoft does a stealth price increase of Office for Mac

While no one was looking, Microsoft hiked the price of Microsoft Office for Mac. A note inComputerWorld also says Microsoft has stopped selling multi-license packages of the suite of office tools.

That makes Office for Mac 2011 the same price as Office 2013 for Windows. It comes about as Microsoft pushes for its cloud-based Office 365, a subscription-based plan.

A single license for Office for Mac Home and Student is now US$140, up 17% from the old $120 price. Office for Mac Home & Business was hiked 10% to $220.

We confirmed the new prices at the Microsoft online store and at the Apple online store. Some online retailers, such as Amazon, are still showing the lower prices, so you might want to grab a copy from those retailers before the price hike kicks in.

The prices might cause some people to shift to Apple's iWork, but that suite of applications hasn't been updated beyond bug fixes since January 2009.

[Source: TUAW]

Surface Pro Bombs iFixIt’s Teardown Analysis

Our diabolical friends at iFixIt gave Microsoft’s Surface Pro notebook/tablet the teardown treatment, and as always, they documented the surgery with plenty of pics every step of the way. It’s a given that you need nerves of steel to tear into some of the devices that end up on iFixIt’s operating table, and that’s especially true of the Surface Pro, which scored a measly 1 out of 10 on iFixIt’s Repairabilty scale (the higher the score, the easier it is to service).

That’s worse than Apple’s fourth generation iPad tablet, which scored a 2 out of 10, though woe is the user who attempts to service either device on their own. It can be done, though there’s a high amount of risk involved.

On the bright side, the battery in the Surface Pro is not soldered to the motherboard, and the solid state drive is removable, though you risk killing the tablet by trying to open it. Those who brave opening the Surface Pro will find 90 screws inside the device.

“We’re proponents of mechanical fasteners, but this number is a tad crazy,” iFixIt says.

The real challenge, however, is removing the display assembly, which is comprised of a fused glass and LCD. iFixIt says it’s “extremely difficult to remove/replace” because of the amount of adhesive holding everything together.

“Unless you perform the opening procedure 100 percent correctly, chances are you’ll shear one of the four cables surrounding the display perimeter,” iFixIt warns.

Lest anyone make a mountain out of a mole hill on this one, tablets aren’t exactly known for being easy to repair at home. At the same time, it’s something to consider with the Surface Pro, which is positioned as a full fledged notebook that pulls double duty as a tablet. If you’re concerned about component failure, you may want to think about an extended warranty.

Original Post by Paul Lilly, Reposted Courtesy of Maximum PC – Covering everything from hi-end gaming PCs to tablets, peripherals and home theater rigs, Maximum PC’s print and Web editions stay one step ahead of the fast-changing world of everything computer and computing related. Whether its the latest on building your own desktop system, reviews of the latest laptops and accessories, orroundups of the games and software that make your machine go, Maximum PC brings it to you with news, reviews, and years of expertise. TechnoBuffalo is thrilled to bring you the best of Maximum PC right here on our own pages to keep you immersed in all things digital.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Microsoft Offers Workarounds for iOS 6.1 Exchange Bug

iOS 6.1, which was released two weeks ago, brought with it a handful of serious bugs. The first bug, which affected 3G performance on the iPhone 4S was fixed yesterday, followingApple's release of 6.1.1 for the iPhone 4S. 

The second bug involved an error that caused iOS devices running 6.1 to continuously loop when synchronizing a recurring calendar meeting invitation on Microsoft Exchange. This error, which causes excessive memory consumption, was not fixed with yesterday's 6.1.1 update. 

As noted by 9to5Mac Microsoft has published an official support document offering workarounds for the error. 

Microsoft offers up several fixes, including the recommendation not to process Calendar items like meeting requests on iOS 6.1 devices. The company also recommends immediately restarting the devices and renewing the device partnership to halt the continuous looping access. 

Devices using iOS 6.1 should be blocked or throttled, says Microsoft, in order to reduce the effect on server resources. 

While none of these options are true fixes, Microsoft mentions that it is working with Apple to investigate the issue and suggests customers open an Enterprise Support case with Apple, via Enterprise agreement or a pay-per-incident case report.

[Source: MacRumors]

Xbox 720 makes Internet connection mandatory, report says

Microsoft could be working hard to suck all the bargains out of gaming, if fresh rumours concerning the next Xbox are to be believed.

Citing "sources with first-hand experience of Microsoft's next-generation console", Edge reports that the Xbox 720 (said to be code named 'Durango') will require an Internet connection in order to function, and will see games shipping with single-use activation codes.

That would put the kibosh on buying or selling second-hand games, forcing you to always pay first-hand prices. It would likely also rule out lending games to a friend or sibling.

This is only a rumour for now, so take this report with a pinch of salt. These anti-second-hand measures are already being taken by a number of games publishers however, who bundle one-use codes with games in order to make the discs less valuable to sell. Sony's upcomingPlayStation 4 is rumoured to feature the same locked-down technology.

The report also reckons that the next Xbox will use Blu-ray discs, taking advantage of the format's high-capacity discs, and will come packing a quad-core processor.

The next Xbox and PlayStation 4 are both expected to go on sale this year, to combat the Wii U, which was released before Christmas. Sony has already teased a PlayStation event on 20 February, so we could be less than a fortnight away from glimpsing the fourth PlayStation console.

[Source: CNET]

Bill Gates: Windows 8 is doing "well" without him

How is Windows 8 doing? Microsoft says it's sold 60 million licenses for the latest version of its operating system, though according to other reports, it's performing nowhere near how the company would like. Bill Gates, however, seems pretty chuffed.

Asked by CNBC whether he'd ever return to the company as CEO, Gates replied that Windows 8 and the Surface tablet are doing "well" without him, The Verge reports. But then he would say that. Wouldn't he?

You can watch the full interview for yourself here. The interviewer asks the question just after five minutes in.

Gates points out he's engaged with Microsoft on a part-time basis, but he's very focussed on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "Microsoft has got a lot of exciting things going on," he said. "It's a competitive field. Windows 8 has done well, Surface computer is doing well, so I share lots of ideas where Office should go, and I think the field as a whole should feel proud of how quickly it's moving, and Microsoft will lead in a lot of those areas."

Asked which devices he uses, Gates said he reads on a Windows PC, while Windows Phone is "a fantastic product" and a "great tool".

So pretty effusive.

In just a few days Microsoft will hike up the price of Windows 8 by some 400 percent. So if you're umming and aahing about whether or not to buy, it's make your mind up time. And it's just a couple of weeks before Microsoft launches its Surface Pro tablet that runs Windows 8 instead of Windows RT. Which is the one everyone has been waiting for.

In the interview, Gates also gave an update on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has given away $28 billion to help combat health crises around the globe like Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.

[Source: CNET]

Microsoft profits down during Windows 8 and Surface launch

Windows 8 has sold 60 million copies, helping Microsoft to take a record amount of money. In the three months during which it launched Windows 8 and the Surface tablet, the big M saw revenue rise but profits fall.

In the final quarter of 2012, Microsoft took in a total of £13.61bn revenue. £4.1bn of that is profit. Revenue is up by 3 per cent on last year, but profits are down 4 per cent.

That might sound disappointing in the period that Microsoft launched a new flagship operating system, but in fact Windows revenues went up by a quarter, with 60 million copies sold. It's the business-focused Office software that's underperformed.

One reason for the reduced profit is that a boatload of cash was ploughed into marketing. With the launch of Windows 8 the click-tastic Surface advert seems to be in every blinkin' ad break. Sadly, Microsoft kept schtum about sales of the Surface.

The Surface runs the stripped-down Windows RT version of the OS that's designed specifically for tablets. The full version of Windows 8 appears on the Surface Pro, which debuts in the US next month but could take a while to reach these shores.

Meanwhile Microsoft is set to hike up the price of Windows 8 by an eye-watering 400 per centnext month.

This week Apple also announced its numbers, and has once again done boffo business thanks to the phenomenal popularity of the iPhone and iPad. In crazy upside-down finance world, however, Apple's record profits led to a dizzying drop in share price. Work that one out.

[Source: CNET]

Microsoft Unleashes New SDK So Older Apps Work With Windows Phone 7.8

Microsoft on Tuesday made a new Windows Phone SDK available to developers so their WP7.1 and 7.5 apps will play nice with Windows Phone 7.8. Basically, the biggest aspect developers will need to tweak is adding support for adjustable Live Tiles, which is a hallmark feature of Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.8.

The upcoming update to 7.8 isn’t as feature packed as WP8, which resides on devices such as the Lumia 920 and HTC 8X, but it’s certainly a nice addition for older handsets. Hopefully this means that Windows Phone 7.8 will be made widely available soon.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Microsoft hikes up price of Windows 8 by 500%

Bad news if you want to upgrade to Windows 8 but are yet to do so. Microsoft has announced its introductory offer will end on 1 February. From then on, in the US, instead of costing $40 to upgrade to Windows 8, it'll set you back $120, or $200 for Windows 8 Pro.

There's no word on what the new UK price will be, but I'm expecting a similar hike.

In fact, getting my calculator out, if Microsoft raises it by the same amount for us Brits, Windows 8 Pro will jump from £24.99 to about £125. Ouch.

So if you haven't upgraded yet but intend to do so, better get downloading.

Windows 8 brings with it a whole new interface that uses 'tiles', known as the Metro UI. It's a world away from previous versions of Windows, with quicker log-in and boot-up times, and the ability to sync between your PC and tablet. However, sales have so far failed to set the world alight, according to reports.

Sales of Windows 8 PCs are "well below Microsoft's internal projections" one report says. Fujitsu has suffered a slump in sales of computers running the operating system, too, andblames it on the fact Microsoft's OS is "weak". One study showed just 39 percent of people were planning on upgrading to the latest version.

Acer has also joined in the Microsoft-bashing, saying it doesn't stand a chance against Apple. So it's not really been a swinging start for Windows 8.

Still though, Microsoft says it's sold 4 million copies of the operating system, while sales of its Surface tablet -- which runs Windows RT -- have been "modest". I can't see a spike in sales after this price hike though.

[Source: CNET]

So Long Windows Live Messenger!

After loyally serving its users for more than 13 years, Microsoft finally bit the bullet anddecided that it will retire its Windows Live Messenger service on March 15 this year. The plan to shut down Messenger was already on the table in November 2012, but the exact date had not yet been announced. Now, the software giant officially notified its users by email that from March 15 on, Windows Live Messenger will no longer be ‘live.’

Windows Live Messenger, more commonly known as MSN Messenger, was launched way back in July 1999. Before the social media era, it was once one of the most widely used online chat services. As the years rolled on, more functionality was added to the chat, allowing users to share pictures, make video calls and play online games. However, having to compete with Facebook Chat, Skype, Google Talk and iMessage, its popularity has waned significantly.

When Microsoft coughed up a whopping $8.5 billion in 2011 to purchase Skype from eBay and its other shareholders, it became clear that Windows Live Messenger’s days were numbered. With Skype, users can not only chat, call and make video calls but they will alsoreceive additional benefits which they didn’t have with the good old Messenger: screen sharing, calling to landlines and group video conferencing. Furthermore, Skype has a broader device support for all platforms, including iPad and Android tablets. Not to mention that Microsoft canmonetise its users through top-up services making Skype the natural commercial choice.

Microsoft will be offering the Windows Live Messenger users a migration service to easily make the transition to Skype. An upgrade button was added to the newest Messenger desktop app. When clicking on it, it automatically uninstalls Messengers and replaces it with Skype.However, some of those who already made the transition reported that the transfer of contacts was not successful. Skype want to make the transition as smoothly as possible, advertising for additional technical support jobs to join its team in preparation for March 15. Those who already have an existing Skype account can easily merge it with their Messenger account.

So, it looks like you have approximately two months to keep using your beloved Messenger. Alternatively, you could migrate to China where it will still be possible to login on Windows Live Messenger, because the technology is hosted by a local service provider.

So long Messenger, long live Skype!