Tag Archives: microsoft

RIP Windows Phone 8.1.  Microsoft said Tuesday that it was ending support for Windows Phone 8.1, one of the more notable updates to its troubled mobile operating system.  The writing has been on the wall for a while for Windows Phone, which hasn’t gotten a meaningful update or any new products in two years. While …

Downloading Ubuntu just got easier. Today the operating system was made available in the Windows Store, something Microsoft earlier in 2017 said it would do (see more about Microsoft’s 2017 Build conference here).   While the Windows download is a limited sandbox version of the system, it makes the acquisition process much faster than the traditional route. This version’s main …

Windows 10 S is the latest version of Microsoft Windows, and you’ll find it mostly on low-cost PCs aimed at schools and students, as well as on the premium Surface Laptop. It’s a “walled garden” version of Windows, meaning it promises a safer, more secure experience by only allowing software found in the official Windows app store to be installed. …

Was Microsoft planning to release a smaller Surface called “Surface Mini” in 2014? According to Windows Central, it supposedly was. Back in 2014, a third-party revealed a case for a “Surface Mini” product ahead of Microsoft’s planned event in New York City. The case fed into rumors that the company would reveal a “mini” version of the Surface tablet. A few …

Microsoft will acquire Israeli cloud-management tool company Cloudyn, the software giant said Thursday in a blog post.   While Microsoft did not disclose Cloudyn’s price tag, it said the acquisition fits in with its efforts in cloud-based services for businesses. Cloudyn’s tools already work with Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. “Cloudyn capabilities will be incorporated into our product portfolio that offers customers the …

Now playing: Watch this: Nasty Petya ransomware spreading fast 1:29 Large businesses, electricity suppliers and government agencies around the world are being affected by a strain of malware widely known as Petya. Even a chocolate factory has been hit.  At first, it was believed that it was ransomware, because it essentially locks down an infected computer and a ransom note appears …

Netflix‘s latest original movie is a treat for the eyes and ears, so you may be disappointed to learn that it will have a limited cinema release.  But the streaming service wants to prove that watching movies and TV shows in the comfort of your home can be just as good as heading to your local multiplex. That’s why it’s …

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Twitter! Now playing: Watch this: LG V20: Capture concerts with crisp audio 1:28 In the market for a new phone? …

You’re staring at your windows. You need to measure for curtains, but you have no idea where you hid your measuring tape. Soon, you’ll be able to whip out your iPhone and sort it all out using AR Measure, an augmented-reality app that rolls out an animated tape measure on your screen.  The app comes from developer Laan Labs, which plans …

Environmental activist organization Greenpeace has teamed up with repair gurus iFixit to rate a selection of 40 phones, laptops and tablets for the ability to make common repairs that might extend their lifespans, keep them out of landfills and make it possible to easily recycle the parts. Popular products from Apple, Samsung and Microsoft did not fare well. (Download the …