At this year's Build conference in April, Microsoft is expected to reveal Windows 9. After dividing its audience with Windows 8, I have one suggestion for the new OS: bring back the Windows 98 desktop themes. Seriously. Just look how amazing they were... Read More >>
Tech companies don't exactly have have the best track record when it comes to marketing to womenfolk—obviously. But after running damage control on horrible campaign after horrible campaign, you'd think they'd try to avoid making the same mistakes again—and you'd be wrong. Enter Microsoft's new all-in-one lady commercial. Read More >>
Your browser is in all your devices. Hell, you can even get it in your watch if you're down with that. And in the Microsoft world, its next destination is your living room wall. Read More >>
Unless you've got an Xbox 360 or Xbox One under your TV, or a Windows Phone handset sitting in your pocket, Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming platform is pretty much off limits to you. And no, Wordament's achievements don't count. But that may not always be the case, as it looks as though Microsoft's hoping to bring Xbox Live to rival mobile platforms in a comprehensive way. Read More >>
While most Xbox One owners sit twiddling their thumbs awaiting the arrival of the March update, a lucky few have been granted early access as beta testers. And they've spilled the beans on a handful of features Microsoft has so far kept schtum about. Read More >>
Nokia man Stephen Elop may have missed out on the big CEO job at Microsoft, but he has a pretty decent consolation prize -- he'll be taking control of the Devices and Studios team that manages the Xbox gaming brand and MS's entertainment ambitions. Read More >>
Bad news if you've just bought yourself an Xbox One, as Microsoft's cutting the price by £30 from this Friday. It even includes a special edition-packaging Titanfall (while stocks last), which according to Xbox UK marketing director Harvey Eagle is the reason behind the price-drop, and nothing to do with sales performances. [CVG] Read More >>
Expect to see even more Windows Phones in the wild later this year, now that Microsoft has confirmed several new (or returning) hardware partners. Most interesting for our markets are Lenovo, LG and ZTE, but there are a bunch more for other countries that will be joining existing manufacturers Nokia, HTC, Samsung and Huawei. Read More >>
While Windows 8.1 was only released in October, Microsoft's already confirmed an update is heading to users sometime around spring. Based on customer feedback, users can expect to see the start screen updated with discoverable search, power and settings buttons, plus easy app launching and multi-tasking from the taskbar. Read More >>
Microsoft is late to the game when it comes to putting a digital assistant on its phones, but the wait might be worth it. Sources close to the project have revealed some of the specifics of Microsoft's upcoming "Cortana" service to The Verge, and it could be the very best of Siri and Google Now. Read More >>
Microsoft’s newly acquired phone division is pumping out the hardware at great pace, with the Lumia 1320 offering six inches of fun and a 5-Megapixel camera for capturing evidence of said fun. It won't win any beauty contests, or smallest-phone contests, but it’s not terrible. Don't be a Windows Phone denier, it’s really not that bad. Read More >>
Microsoft's run of consecutive console sales wins in the US has come to a crashing halt, with Sony's PS4 managing to outsell the Xbox One in January. Not only that, but sources with access to the numbers suggest PS4 sales were nearly double those of Microsoft's rival machine. It's only one month of data, but still. [Twitter vis Techradar] Read More >>
You can control the Xbox One by shouting, waving your arms or—if you must—using a controller. But a leaked pre-order page suggests that a conventional remote is on the way, too. Read More >>
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