Business

Microsoft and several other prominent technology firms have filed a complaint with the European Commission against Google. The problem, according to Microsoft: Google is using its Android operating system (OS) like a Trojan horse to take control of ... the rapidly-expanding mobile market. At the moment, Android can be found on most tablet computers and smartphones. According to a recent study by Strategy Analytics, roughly 7 in every 10 mobile devices run this highly-adaptable OS. Microsoft is just one member of the FairSearch coalition, which also includes Nokia and Oracle. In total, FairSearch ... (view more)

Microsoft is now warning Windows XP users that it will only support the aging operating system (OS) for one more year. Beyond that point, anyone still using it will be at risk. To get people off the old OS, Microsoft is offering a 15 per cent price ... reduction for businesses upgrading to Windows 8. April 8, 2014, will mark the end of extended support for people running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3), the last of the major updates to the system. Those who didn't apply the service packs are already out of the support window, though there's no charge to download these updates. Extended ... (view more)

Big fixes are now available for virtually every Microsoft operating system (OS), including the new Windows 8 and Windows RT. April's Patch Tuesday release addresses 'critical' vulnerabilities found in most versions of Windows. The first critical ... flaw focuses on Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser and applies to versions 6 through 10. The fix will address a flaw that could allow for a drive-by hack, meaning hackers could use the hole to attack machines by leading victims to websites laced with malware. Windows XP Through Windows 8 Systems Affected This means that virtually every ... (view more)

Microsoft communications leader Frank Shaw has taken a swipe at Facebook over 'Home,' its new mobile application for the Android platform. According to Shaw, it's an old idea. Home was recently unveiled by Facebook. It turns an Android device's ... screen into one big Facebook News Feed, thereby limiting applications to the background. Overall, it's designed to make accessing news easier than before. According to Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg, it's part of Facebook's plan to put people ahead of apps. Idea Two Years Old, Microsoft Exec Says But Microsoft's Frank Shaw thinks the ... (view more)

A few weeks back I reported on the addition of spelling and grammar checking to Google's 26th version of Chrome, the search company's low-frills web browser. Now, it appears that Google is promising a serious speed boost with Chrome version 27. ... Specifically, Google says that Google Chrome 27 -- which is currently available in beta form for PCs and Android mobile devices -- will offer a five per cent speed boost over previous versions of the browser. Tests Show Chrome the Speed Leader Given that Chrome is already a blazing-fast browser, that's a substantial improvement in overall performance. ... (view more)

Microsoft may very well be the most recognizable name in the technology industry. But a new report suggests that the company could be virtually irrelevant in just four years' time unless a major change is made. The report comes from well-known ... analyst firm Gartner. Specifically, Gartner's report says that by 2017 shipments of Microsoft devices, or devices running Microsoft software (such as Windows and Office), could pale by comparison to shipments of similar goods based on Google properties. Beyond that, the report suggests that Apple hardware and software could be just as prevalent as ... (view more)

One analyst says that Apple is working on several brand new technologies. The most exciting: a 60-inch 'smart' television set that uses features found on the company's popular iPhone and iPad devices. According to Brian White of Topeka Capital ... Markets, Apple plans to start manufacturing its own TV sets. This isn't a new rumor; in fact, previous reports indicated that Steve Jobs was closely involved in such a project before his death in 2011. Based on conversations with a variety of electrical components manufacturers in Asia, White has put together a series of possible features that could ... (view more)

Several manufacturers of Windows RT tablet computers, including Amazon.com, have begun cutting the price of that hardware. But Microsoft is holding firm on the cost of its own tablet, the Surface. The price cuts are for tablet devices running ... Windows RT, an edition of Windows 8 specially designed for ARM processors that can usually be found in smartphones and not desktop or laptop computers. At first glance Windows RT devices look and feel like Windows 8 devices. However, they have a couple of big limitations: you can't switch to the traditional desktop mode used in previous editions of ... (view more)

Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook has apologized to the people of China. But the apology hasn't settled a dispute about whether the company broke any rules and why it came under such fierce criticism. The issue has been in the news since the ... government-run China Central Television station aired the 2013 edition of an annual consumer affairs investigation show. This year, the show's targets included Apple's warranty policies . The show claimed that Apple takes advantage of a loophole in consumer law when dealing with phones that are beyond repair and have to be replaced. According to the ... (view more)

Apple is reportedly getting ready to release the iPhone 5S, the company's next iPhone offering. And while little is known about the features that will be offered, a recently discovered Apple patent application might have shed some light on the ... topic. The patent, which was first filed back in September 2011 (but had only surfaced earlier this week) outlines an Apple proposal for up to two AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED) screens for a new device. AMOLED screens are known to house faster pixel-switching capabilities, meaning that response times are even greater than standard OLED displays. Whole ... (view more)