Business

According to a prominent analyst, Steve Ballmer's job hinges on the success of Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system (OS). Gartner's Carolina Milanesi says if the new operating system (OS) fails to pan out, Microsoft's chief executive officer ... could find himself among those looking for a new job. It has been more than a month since Microsoft formally released Windows 8 to the general market. As you probably know, the new OS features a completely new interface optimized for touchscreen devices like tablet computers and smartphones. Early reviews have been mixed, primarily because those ... (view more)

Insiders say it now looks as though Google will not be punished for allegedly favoring its own web sites when compiling its search engine results pages. Rival firms are already complaining such an outcome would allow Google to retain an unfairly-won ... advantage over them. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been looking into a series of allegations that Google abused its dominance of the Internet search market by unfairly favoring its own websites when compiling its search results. However, observers say the punishment the FTC could inflict on Google is unclear, even if the regulatory agency ... (view more)

Owners of devices running Windows 8 will be disappointed to learn that Google will not be investing any more resources into building apps for that operating system or for Windows Phone 8 -- at least not for the time being. In a recent interview with ... the British technology-based publication V3, Google Apps product management director Clay Bavor made it clear his company has no plans to build any more apps for Windows. Bavor says Google is "very careful about what (they) invest and will continue to go where the users are." According to Bavor, Google's users "are not on Windows Phone or Windows ... (view more)

Microsoft has released a series of updates designed to fix several 'critical' security vulnerabilities in its software. Adobe has also released a new security patch for its Flash Player software. Both Adobe and Microsoft are urging their users to ... make sure their computers have installed these repair modules, and if not, to install them manually as soon as possible. Microsoft says most of the ten vulnerabilities addressed by this week's Patch Tuesday updates have been rated 'critical,' the firm's highest security threat level. Adobe has also rated its patch as 'critical.' Internet Explorer ... (view more)

A prominent tech industry analyst has predicted that an update to the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S, will ship in June 2013. Aside from improved hardware specifications, the analyst believes the new device will also come in a number of different colors. ... Jeffries analyst Peter Misek recently unveiled his predictions for a new version of the iPhone 5. Misek believes the device will come equipped with a "super HD" camera and screen and will feature a longer battery life. iPhone 5S to Receive Long-Awaited NFC Technology Misek also believes an updated iPhone 5 will receive Near-Field Communication (NFC ... (view more)

Since its launch in late October, 2012, the Surface tablet computer has been available for purchase only through Microsoft stores and websites. However, that exclusivity seems to be over, and the Surface will soon begin appearing in third-party ... retail stores. A new report suggests the Surface will go on sale in Best Buy, Staples, and other major retail outlets as early as January 2013. That is the same time frame in which Microsoft will begin selling its Surface Pro tablet computer. (Source: cnet.com ) Surface Range Not Yet Complete Right now the only Surface available to consumers runs a ... (view more)

On paper, Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro tablet computer is a whole lot more enticing than the version of the Surface currently available in stores: it boasts more processing power, memory, and storage. It also runs the full version of Windows 8, ... whereas the current Surface uses only the less-impressive Windows RT operating system (OS). Up until recently, the only problem with the Surface Pro appeared to be its price: $899 and up. The current Surface sells for $499 and up. Twice the Price, Half the Battery Life But now there's another reason to worry about the Surface Pro's viability in the ... (view more)

Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt has offered a scathing assessment of Microsoft and its newest operating system (OS), Windows 8, in a recent interview. Talking with the Wall Street Journal, Google's CEO had this to say of Windows 8 (which ... launched October 26, 2012): "I have not used it, but I think that Microsoft has not emerged as a trendsetter in this new model yet." (Source: businessinsider.com ) Put another way, Schmidt seems to believe Microsoft and its products are offering far less of a challenge to Google than they once did. 'Microsoft No Longer a Key Player in Tech ... (view more)

Facing slower than anticipated sales of its new Surface tablet, Microsoft is reportedly slashing orders from its Asian manufacturers of the device. According to a new report, the cutbacks are drastic, with orders being reduced from four million ... units to just two million units. Microsoft says the report isn't true and that it's pleased with Surface sales thus far. The same report indicates that disappointing sales of Microsoft's current version of the Surface -- which is equipped with an ARM-based processor supporting a slimmed-down version of Windows 8 called Windows RT -- have prompted the ... (view more)

PC manufacturer Hewlett-Packard (HP) is advising its customers not to downgrade its computers delivered with the new Windows 8 operating system (OS) already installed. The company says that if customers install Windows 7 on HP computers originally ... equipped with Windows 8, HP will not provide them with support, drivers, or applications. Downgrading was a relatively common practice after the release of the unpopular Windows Vista in 2007, and some say it's being practiced again now that Windows 8 has received more than its fair share of criticism . Downgrading a new computer is especially ... (view more)