Microsoft Windows News, Reviews, and Resources | Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

May 14, 2013

Article

It’s Official: Windows 8.1 “Blue” will be Free 58

Microsoft’s Tami Reller appeared publicly today and reveal that Windows 8.1 “Blue” would indeed be made available for free to existing Windows 8 and Windows RT customers when it ships later this year. And as expected, a public preview release of the OS update will be made available in late June, when Microsoft holds its BUILD developer conference....More
May 13, 2013

Article

Introducing Amazon Cloud Player for Windows Desktop 14

So this is interesting. For the past several months I’ve been clamoring for Amazon to release a Cloud Player mobile app for Windows 8/RT (“Metro”) and Windows Phone 8. Nothing on that front, yet, but today Amazon surprised me with a Cloud Player application … for the Windows desktop....More
May 13, 2013

Article

Skype Updated for Windows Desktop and Windows Phone 8 5

Skype today released minor updates to its Windows desktop application and Windows Phone 8 app. But the Microsoft business unit noted that it is still trying to address some key issues with the Windows Phone 8 app, with fixes to come at a later date....More
May 12, 2013

Article

New Coke? 99

Microsoft’s communications chief has a tough job these days, and with Windows 8 is under attack from all sides he’s bravely called for a return to the center and a less partisan conversation about the new OS. There’s just one problem: The periodicals he’s called out for engaging in “sensationalism and hyperbole” are in fact right about Microsoft’s strategy. And ignoring that is the real problem....More
May 11, 2013

Article

No iTunes Mobile App for Windows 8/RT? Good! 59

Microsoft revealed this week that Apple has no plans to make a “Metro” mobile app version of iTunes for Windows 8 and RT. Sounds good to me: iTunes is an anachronistic and outdated music service that hasn’t kept up with the times....More
May 10, 2013

News

Short Takes: May 10, 2013

An often irreverent look at this week's other news, including an Apple snub of Windows 8/RT, comparisons of Windows 8 license sales and usage, the ever-quotable Acer CEO, Android’s utter dominance of the industry continues, no change of strategy for Nokia, the Chinese invade the US … smart phone market, and a sensitive new driver for the Surface Pro pen....More
May 9, 2013

Article

(Re)Start Me Up: The Great Windows 8 Debate 207

Microsoft’s decision to remove the Start button and Start menu from Windows 8 is either the most forward-leaning decision the company has ever made or a bone-headed move that has alienated some customers forever. Here’s what I think about this....More
May 9, 2013

Article

The Craziest Windows 8 Ads Ever Made 21

Three Windows 8 ads aimed at the Japanese market are making waves this week and for good reason: They’re nuts. I’m sure knowing a little Japanese would help, but they’re still worth watching....More
May 9, 2013

Article

Julie Larson-Green Talks about “Blue” and the Future of Windows 44

Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green made a rare public appearance this week to discuss Windows 8.1 “Blue” and her team’s attempts to win over disgruntled Windows users. Here’s a selection of the pertinent information from her Q&A with WIRED....More
May 8, 2013

Article

Windows 8.1 “Blue” Public Preview to Arrive in June 45

As expected, Microsoft will issue a public preview of Windows 8.1 “Blue” in late June at its annual BUILD developer conference, giving enthusiasts and other users an early peek at the coming update to Windows 8. But you won’t have to wait that long for more Blue news: Microsoft plans a reveal event within a few weeks too....More
May 7, 2013

Commentary

Is Microsoft Set to Add Hosted VDI to Azure?

If a credible recent rumor is true, Microsoft is preparing a dramatic expansion of Windows Azure that will include an Azure-hosted desktop virtualization service, or what I think of as a hosted VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) solution. Is VDI about to get a lot less expensive and complex?...More
May 7, 2013

Article

App Builder Virtual Summit Now Available for On Demand Viewing

Last week, Microsoft held an App Builder Virtual Summit, providing budding Windows 8/RT and Windows Phone developers with a nice introduction to the platforms. And now the whole thing is available for on-demand viewing....More
May 7, 2013

Article

Tami Reller Talks Windows 8.1 "Blue" 46

Microsoft executive Tami Reller maintains the proverbial stiff upper lip in various interviews this week, but the underlying message is clear enough: Despite public protestations to the contrary, the firm has heard the complaints. And in the coming update, codenamed “Blue,” it’s going to try and do right by those customers who feel alienated by this release....More
May 7, 2013

Article

Explaining Windows 8 PC Sales in Q1 2013 27

This week, Microsoft revealed that it has sold over 100 million Windows 8 licenses since the OS’s release late last year. This number is identical to the number of Windows 7 licenses it sold over the same launch-time period three years ago, but well below the 20 million per month average it eventually achieved for that version of Windows. I have a few thoughts about this....More
May 7, 2013

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Microsoft Has Sold Over 100 Million Windows 8 Licenses in First 6 Months

Microsoft revealed today that it has sold over 100 million licenses to Windows 8 in its first 6 months in the market, equaling the tally for its well-received predecessor, Windows 7, for the same time frame. But this means that Windows 8 is also tracking well below the average monthly sales of Windows 7 over its three years in the market....More
May 6, 2013

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Amazon Accidentally Previews First Windows 8 Mini-Tablet

We’ve known for months that Microsoft will improve Windows 8 this year to support a new generation of mini-tablets and that it will prep its own 8-inch Surface to take on the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD. But this past week, Amazon offered the first conclusive evidence of this next generation of machines when it outted a coming 8.1-inch Acer tablet by mistake....More
May 4, 2013

Article

In Blue: Camera 8

Anyone who has looked at the Camera app in Windows 8 is probably unimpressed with the basic functionality it provides. But the Camera app in Windows 8.1 “Blue” is notable for a few reasons. It is also, I believe, the first built-in app to be updated in leaked builds of this OS update....More
May 4, 2013

Article

Yes, Windows RT Has a Role to Play in the Future of Windows 46

Like many people, I’ve openly questioned Microsoft’s decision to make and sell Windows RT, an ARM-based version of Windows 8 that sacrifices backwards compatibility while embracing today’s key mobile platform. But a recent flub by tech bloggers triggered an understanding of the very vital role that Windows RT should play in the future of Windows. And it’s a need that RT, quite simply, isn’t fulfilling today....More
May 3, 2013

Article

In Blue: Automatic Desktop Display Scaling 26

In yesterday’s brief overview of a newly-leaked build of Windows 8.1 “Blue,” I noted that Microsoft had added a new automatic desktop screen scaling feature that appears aimed at fixing a long-standing issue with Windows. Having tested this feature on a real PC with multiple displays, I now have a bit more to report....More
May 3, 2013

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Short Takes: May 3, 2013

An often irreverent look at this week's other news, including a new rumor about the name of the next Xbox, Nokia’s new plan for winning over customers in the United States, the Windows 8 page on Wikipedia is vandalized, Internet Explorer 10 usage surges at the expense of Chrome, NOOK continues to be a bur in Microsoft’s sock, Intel does the obvious, and Activision announces Call of Duty: Ghosts....More
May 2, 2013

Article

In Blue: Notes from Build 9385 28

Windows 8.1 “Blue” build 9385 leaked earlier this week and I’ve been running it in a virtual machine ever since. Today, as I apply this build to a physical PC, I’d like to provide a quick update about the handful of changes we can see so far....More
May 2, 2013

Article

Skype Previews Video Messaging for Windows 8 and Windows Desktop

Skype this week added a preview version of video messaging to both the Skype “Metro” mobile app for Windows 8/RT and the Skype desktop application for Windows. Video messaging lets you record a video a video message and then send it to your friends and other contacts via Skype....More
May 1, 2013

News

Report: Microsoft Surface Already Impacting Tablet Market

With just two quarters of Surface sales under its belt, Microsoft is already one of the top five tablet makers in the world, a report from IDC claims. And the firm sold an estimated 900,000 Surface RT and Pro tablets in Q1 2013, despite limited availability of the latter....More
May 1, 2013

News

Microsoft Stock Surges as Windows 8 Sputters

Microsoft is experiencing an unexpected surge in its stock price this week after a decade and a half of stagnation. But don’t look to the recently released Windows 8 as the catalyst for this change: According to the latest usage share statistics, Windows 8 is barely moving the needle at all....More
Apr. 30, 2013

Article

Windows 8: A Six-Month Report Card 67

Windows 8 has been in the market for six months now, offering a logical enough time to evaluate the progress Microsoft has made in that time. After all, the firm last year redefined itself as a maker of devices and services, and Windows 8 fits nicely into both of those categories. How is it really doing?...More