Business

Microsoft has hinted that smaller Surface tablet computers could be released in the near future. The hint comes in the form of new Windows 8 certification guidelines. According to these new guidelines, Microsoft will soon be able to support compact ... resolutions (and screen sizes), allowing manufacturers to create Surface tablet displays measuring between 7- and 8-inches in diameter. The document goes on to suggest that support will be offered for resolutions as low as 1024x768. Coincidently, this is one of the most popular resolutions for smaller tablet screens. In comparison, current ... (view more)

Reports suggest Google Glass, Google's futuristic spectacles with all the functions of a smartphone, will be manufactured in the United States. The news comes as one politician seeks a pre-emptive ban on people using the technology while driving. ... Google Glass hardware includes a pair of spectacles with a small display in the corner of one lens, along with a microphone and earpiece in the arms. The company recently confirmed the tech will be compatible with prescription eyewear. According to Google, you'll control the gadget with voice commands. In addition to allowing voice calls, the glasses ... (view more)

A Canadian woman whose son was the victim of an Xbox hack says Microsoft refused to offer any assistance in the matter. Instead, it was the game's publisher, Electronic Arts (EA), that offered to compensate Jennifer Stubbs for the hack. Stubbs' ... 11-year-old son Dylan recently alerted his mother to some strange activity on his Xbox Live account. Upon further review, it appeared someone had hacked her son's account and purchased about $300 in virtual goods. Hacker Access Account, Makes Purchases "I wasn't aware that these purchases were happening," Stubbs said. "Someone had gone into our device ... (view more)

A new study commissioned by Microsoft and carried out by researchers at IDC has found that most counterfeit software includes some kind of malware. The researchers also estimate that the total value of the counterfeit software market now exceeds ... $100 billion. IDC recently published its findings in a report titled "The Dangerous World of Counterfeit and Pirated Software: How Pirated Software Can Compromise the Cybersecurity of Consumers, Enterprises, and Nations ... and the Resultant Costs in Time and Money." Most Counterfeit Software Laced with Malware In that report (which can be viewed in ... (view more)

Are you a bad speller? Could your grammar skills use some work? Then you might want to download the latest version of Google's popular Chrome Internet browser. Google's latest version of Chrome includes an in-browser spell-checker that can recognize ... many different types of spelling and grammatical errors. According to reports, it can recognize grammar mistakes, distinguish between homonyms, and even make context-sensitive corrections. Enable "Ask Google for Suggestions" It's important to note that, in order for the spell checker to function, users of Chrome must enable the "ask ... (view more)

Recently, an analyst for prominent research firm IDC indicated that Microsoft's decision to introduce two operating systems at the same time -- Windows 8 and Windows RT -- had "resulted in confusion on the consumer side." That led some insiders to ... suggest it was time for Microsoft to dump the feature-poor Windows RT and focus exclusively on pushing Windows 8. However, Microsoft has come out to say definitively that Windows RT is here to stay. ARM Development Keeps Microsoft Optimistic In a recent interview, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows Planning, Hardware, and PC Ecosystems ... (view more)

Microsoft's Windows Store has hit a new plateau: 50,000 applications. It's an impressive start for the Windows Store, though there's a long way to go to match similar stores from Apple and Google. Although the 50,000 app level is impressive, ... statistics show that the number of applications being submitted by developers each day has actually declined from late last year. (Source: venturebeat.com ) Back in December 2012, shortly after the Windows 8 launch, the Windows Store received about 400 new applications each and every day. However, by February 2013 that number was closer to 150. Microsoft ... (view more)

The only thing worse than paying hundreds of dollars for a smartphone is dropping and breaking said expensive smartphone. Now, it appears Apple is working on a technology that would allow a phone to identify and properly prepare for a fall. A ... recently revealed patent filing by Apple (called "Protective Mechanism for an Electronic Device") describes a number of different ways to protect an electronic device in the event of a fall. The goal: to lessen or eliminate the physical damage inflicted by such a traumatic event. Special Mechanism Used for Safe Landings According to AppleInsider, Apple ... (view more)

A secret Microsoft video shows us what we can expect from 'Windows Blue,' Microsoft's next major update to the Windows platform. The internal video was recorded at Microsoft's recent TechFest, an annual gathering of Microsoft researchers to discuss ... their latest developments. The video first appeared on the independent blog site 'MSFTKitchen'. Interactive Touch Comes to Windows 8 Among the most important improvements made to Windows 8: better touch capabilities. In the video, Microsoft's chief technical staff operator, Eric Rudder, says that his team is "really excited to work, now that the ... (view more)

Two weeks ago Google revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been spying on its customers using National Security Letters that don't even require the approval of a U.S. judge. Now, Microsoft says the FBI is using the same ... strategy to snoop on its customers. National Security Letters (NSLs) are written documents issued by the FBI that force companies, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to hand over various types of information, including credit card details, banking data, and addresses, phone numbers, etc. NSLs Used to Access Microsoft User Accounts According to ... (view more)