Evernote starts testing Evernote 5 for Windows desktop

Evernote has released its Evernote 5 beta for Windows, allowing users to try out the productivity desktop app and its slew of new features.

The app has been redesigned with features similar to the Evernote 5 for Mac app released in November. New features include shortcuts, dedicated buttons, expanding lists, and a redesign of the note list and note editor. Users will also be able to view notes as cards and edit the metadata on notes. Premium customers get an additional feature: related notes. With this feature, Evernote will automatically pull up notes that may be related to notes you're currently editing or viewing.

Andrew Sinkov, Evernote's VP of Marketing, warns that the app may be glitchy because it's in beta, or testing, mode.

"Evernote 5 is currently in beta," he wrote in a blog post. "In fact, this is the first of several betas that we'll be releasing. Before installing it, please be sure that you're comfortable using early software. While unlikely, you may experience various issues and possibly even data loss. Also, certain features, like Reminders, are yet to be implemented."

Source: CNET

Windows 8.1 Preview: What you need to know

Those of you eager to check out the new Windows 8.1 Preview have a few choices as to how and where to install it. Let's cut right to the chase and review the different options.

Update Windows 8
If you're already running Windows 8, you can simply update it to Windows 8.1 via the Windows Store, as CNET's Jason Cipriani explained earlier this week.

One word of warning before you proceed, however. The Windows 8.1 preview is essentially a beta of the new OS and is by no means a finished or polished version. Therefore, you shouldn't update to Windows 8.1 on your main or only PC. Instead, reserve the update for a spare or non-essential device outfitted with Windows 8.

Your first step in Windows 8 is to browse to Microsoft's Windows 8.1 preview page. Click on the Get it now button. At the Download Windows 8.1 Preview page, click on the Get the update button. You're prompted to open or save an msu file. You can open it directly or download it and then double-click on it to install it. You're then asked to install an update for Windows. Click Yes. After the installation completes, you're prompted to restart your PC.

Windows restarts to install the new update. Log back into Windows 8 at the lock screen. You should see a message inviting you to get Windows 8.1 Preview for free. Click on the link to Go to the Store where you can download the update...

Read the full story here. Source: CNET

Microsoft Ending Windows XP Support on April 8, 2014

Microsoft is finally closing the book on Windows XP on April 8, 2014 as it closes down support for the aging operating system.

Despite Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 having all hit the market, there are stillcomputers out there running around with Windows XP as the operating system. Microsoft has already carried on support for the OS launched in 2002 longer than it normally would due to the popularity of the software, but all good things must come to an end.

Microsoft reminded everyone today that only 365 days of Windows XP support remain, and after that it will be a wild frontier for those who still continue to use the software. April 8, 2014 will mark the end of extended support which means that corporations will no longer be able to pay for support and that there will be no further software patches issued.

Considering we are in the 11th year of Windows XP, you can’t really blame Microsoft for finally shutting this down. It is honoring the support window from the release of SP3, and the 2014 date will mark a 12 years since the initial release.

If you’re still using Windows XP, and plan to do so past the cut off date, remember you will be doing so “at your own risk.”

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Windows 8.1 is Official Name for Microsoft’s Project Blue

Microsoft recently confirmed that it’s working on new developments for its Windows Phone and Windows 8 platforms under the code name “Project Blue.” The company hasn’t revealed much about what Project Blue will entail, but ZDNET’s Mary Jo Foley has learned from inside sources that the Redmond-based company will ultimately call the release Windows 8.1. A similar update called Windows 8.1 RT is also scheduled for Windows RT.

Foley said Microsoft is currently planning to push the update in August, but that Microsoft will continue to call the operating system “Windows 8″ to avoid confusion among consumers. That’s a similar approach that the company took when it released service pack updates to its earlier operating systems. Foley isn’t aware of any pricing for the cost of the planned upgrades, if there’s any cost to consumers at all.

It’s unclear how Windows Phone will play a part of Project Blue, although we suspect an update for the platform is also in the works.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Windows Blue confirmed as Microsoft hints at yearly updates

Windows Blue, the heavily rumoured update to Windows 8, has been confirmed by Microsoft -- but the software behemoth says the "chances of products being named thusly are slim to none."

In a post on the corporate blog, Frank Shaw, corporate vice president of corporate communications (none more corporate!), wrote, "product leaders across Microsoft are working together on plans to advance our devices and services, a set of plans referred to internally as 'Blue'."

What Microsoft hasn't yet announced -- and what Shaw heavily hints at here -- is that Windows will become a regularly updated service, instead of a major purchase once every three or four years. This would make it more like Mac OS X, which typically costs around £15 to upgrade to the newest version (going from Lion to Mountain Lion currently costs £14).

"Our customers have already experienced the ongoing rhythm of updates and innovations over the past six months, including new devices, new apps and services, better performance and new capabilities," Shaw explains. "This continuous development cycle is the new normal across Microsoft -- we'll tune everyday experiences as well as introduce bold, connected and exciting new scenarios."

Windows upgrades have typically been a big deal. Bouncing up a notch from Windows 7 will set you back £100, or £190 for the Pro version, after an introductory offer of £25 ended in February.

With take-up of Windows 8 so far below expectations, Microsoft may feel the time of the big-box upgrade has gone the way of the box itself. Smart phones have accustomed us to free, instant OS upgrades -- and we're mad as hell when we don't get them -- so paying £100 for new PC software is just archaic.

Windows Blue is expected to bring more subtle and detailed touchscreen control, as hinted at in a recent leaked demo video. It's due out in August, according to sources speaking to our sister site ZDNet.

[Source: CNET]

Microsoft to Enable Flash by Default in IE 10 on Windows, Windows RT Tomorrow

Microsoft announced Monday that it will automatically enable Adobe Flash content inside of its Internet Explorer 10 browsers on Windows RT and Windows 8 machines beginning tomorrow, March 12. The company suggested that there was a compatibility issue before now that prevented it from wanting to leave the option on by default.

“As we have seen through testing over the past several months, the vast majority of sites with Flash content are now compatible with the Windows experience for touch, performance, and battery life,” Microsoft said on its website. “With this update, the curated Compatibility View (CV) list blocks Flash content in the small number of sites that are still incompatible with the Windows experience for touch or that depend on other plug-ins.”

The update should be available to all users running Windows RT and Windows 8 tomorrow.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Microsoft landed with £486m EU fine in browser-choice row

Microsoft has been landed with a staggering €561m (roughly £486m) fine, after European regulators found the software giant hadn't offered PC owners enough of a choice when it came to their browser.

The fine was handed down by the European Commission, as punishment for neglecting an anti-monopoly settlement from 2009, the New York Times reports. In that settlement the company behind Clippy vowed to offer Windows users a choice of which browser they wanted to use, instead of simply defaulting to its own Internet Explorer.

The result was 2010's browser ballot, which you may have spied yourself if you've started up a new Windows PC in the last couple of years. The ballot offered rival operating systems such as Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple's Safari browser.

The order in which rival browsers would appear on the ballot was a subject of heated debate, but eventually Microsoft plumped for the five most popular Web browsers appearing in random order.

Good stuff, but Microsoft seemingly dropped the ball, with a version of Windows 7 (SP1) not offering users the choice. The company reportedly says it has updated both Windows 7 andWindows 8 to include the ballot, but that hasn't stopped anti-monopoly officials sending the firm a monstrous bill.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser remains popular, though critics say a huge part of that success is because it's been the default software on Windows PCs for a long time.

[Source: CNET]

Microsoft reverses course, says Office 2013 licenses can now be transferred to new PCs

There were plenty of Office users none too pleased with Microsoft's recent decision to tie Office 2013 retail licenses to the PC they were originally installed on, and it looks like the company has been listening to them. Microsoft announced in a blog post today that it's changing the policy, and will now allow users to transfer the license if they get a new PC or the old one fails. The company says that it will update the actual license agreement included with the software in a future release, but makes it clear that the change is effective immediately. Of course, there are still some limitations. You can't transfer the license more than once every 90 days unless there's a hardware failure, and you still can't have the software on more than one computer at the same time. You can find the full text of the new license at the source link.

[Source: Engadget]

Surface Pro confirmed for UK 'in the coming months'

If you were a little disappointed by the Surface Pro being exclusive to the US, you won't have much longer to wait -- Microsoft is bringing the full Windows 8Surface to Britain "in the coming months".

While Microsoft didn't exactly offer much explanation as to how many months that would be, or if it'll be on sale in John Lewis like the ARM-powered Surface RT, it did say the rollout of the Surface PCs to more countries will begin in late March -- and why wouldn't the UK be an early bird? After all, we did get the RT early. Lucky us.

The Surface Pro won't only be hitting the UK -- it'll be reaching our chums in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand. The Surface RT will also be rolling out in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan.

One thing to note is the Surface Pro sells for much more than the RT -- currently in the US it's $899 (£560), but if you're hoping for an exact like-for-like conversion, then you'll be sorely disappointed. The Surface RT, like most other tech products, is cheaper in the States than in the UK, mainly due to VAT. If I were to take a guess, I'd say the Surface Pro will land at around £700.

When our very own Luke Westaway took a look at the Surface Pro, he loved that the full Windows 8 OS was on-board, but he also had several reservations -- mainly the chunkier form factor and Windows 8's touch-friendliness (or lack of).

The Surface Pro has also played host to many other controversies -- most notably the fact you get much smaller storage space than advertised, meaning if you buy the lower-end model, you'll find yourself running out of room very quickly.

If you don't want to wait another minute for a fully fledged Windows 8 tablet, you do have other options. We recently reviewed the Asus VivoTab Smart and Acer Iconia W700 -- both of which received a very respectable four stars.

[Source: CNET]

Steve Ballmer is “Super-Glad” Microsoft Built Surface, Thinks Windows 8 Adoption is “Perfect”

Steve Ballmer sat for a spell with MIT Technology Review to discuss the Windows 8 ecosystem.

It’s no easy task to gauge the impact Windows 8 is having on the industry, in part because the industry is changing. The traditional desktop is taking a backseat in popularity to mobile form factors, like notebooks,tablets, and hybrids. Windows 8, as you know, is an attempt to bring all these devices together, along with smartphones, under a unified user interface. IsMicrosoft happy with its strategy up to this point?

Jason Pontin, MIT Technology Review’s Editor-in-Chief, had a chance to speak with Steve Ballmer about Windows 8 and related topics. One of the questions he asked is what Ballmer feels is a reasonable adoption period for a new version of an operating system that’s to be used by a billion people.

“Well, it’s a complex question. You’ll need to define what you mean by adoption rate. It’s affected by three things: How many do we sell? How quickly do people retire the installed base that they own? And what are the similarities and differences between the consumer market and the corporate market?,” Ballmer said. “In the first 10 weeks, we sold 60 million copies. All new consumer PCs are now Windows 8 based. So in that sense, I would say that here the adoption rate is perfect.”

Ballmer pointed out that consumers upgrade PCs less frequently than phones but upgrade them more frequently than TVs and game consoles. And in the corporate world, “adoption is always a little slower.”

And what of Microsoft’s Surface strategy?

“I’m super-glad we did Surface,” Ballmer said. “I think it is important — and not just for Microsoft, but for the entire Windows ecosystem — to see integrated hardware and software….Surface is a real business. In an environment in which there’s 350 million PCs sold, I don’t think Surface is going to dominate volume, but it’s a real business.”

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Surface Pro Bombs iFixIt’s Teardown Analysis

Our diabolical friends at iFixIt gave Microsoft’s Surface Pro notebook/tablet the teardown treatment, and as always, they documented the surgery with plenty of pics every step of the way. It’s a given that you need nerves of steel to tear into some of the devices that end up on iFixIt’s operating table, and that’s especially true of the Surface Pro, which scored a measly 1 out of 10 on iFixIt’s Repairabilty scale (the higher the score, the easier it is to service).

That’s worse than Apple’s fourth generation iPad tablet, which scored a 2 out of 10, though woe is the user who attempts to service either device on their own. It can be done, though there’s a high amount of risk involved.

On the bright side, the battery in the Surface Pro is not soldered to the motherboard, and the solid state drive is removable, though you risk killing the tablet by trying to open it. Those who brave opening the Surface Pro will find 90 screws inside the device.

“We’re proponents of mechanical fasteners, but this number is a tad crazy,” iFixIt says.

The real challenge, however, is removing the display assembly, which is comprised of a fused glass and LCD. iFixIt says it’s “extremely difficult to remove/replace” because of the amount of adhesive holding everything together.

“Unless you perform the opening procedure 100 percent correctly, chances are you’ll shear one of the four cables surrounding the display perimeter,” iFixIt warns.

Lest anyone make a mountain out of a mole hill on this one, tablets aren’t exactly known for being easy to repair at home. At the same time, it’s something to consider with the Surface Pro, which is positioned as a full fledged notebook that pulls double duty as a tablet. If you’re concerned about component failure, you may want to think about an extended warranty.

Original Post by Paul Lilly, Reposted Courtesy of Maximum PC – Covering everything from hi-end gaming PCs to tablets, peripherals and home theater rigs, Maximum PC’s print and Web editions stay one step ahead of the fast-changing world of everything computer and computing related. Whether its the latest on building your own desktop system, reviews of the latest laptops and accessories, orroundups of the games and software that make your machine go, Maximum PC brings it to you with news, reviews, and years of expertise. TechnoBuffalo is thrilled to bring you the best of Maximum PC right here on our own pages to keep you immersed in all things digital.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Microsoft sells out of 128GB Surface Pro models online and in some stores

If you were wondering how well the public would take to a Microsoft-made tablet costing $899 or more... quite well, at least from initial impressions. The 128GBSurface Pro has sold out at Microsoft's US online store, and checks suggest a lack of stock at both the company's retail stores as well as Best Buy and Staples. Canada is facing similar shortages at Best Buy and Future Shop. Not surprisingly,storage worries (since partly alleviated) have left the 64GB tablet as the only one in consistent supply, and we suspect that the 128GB model in Microsoft's Canadian store won't last for much longer. We'd be cautious before declaring the Surface Pro a runaway hit, however -- there's no word on how many units each store had, and Microsoft has refrained from reporting Surface sale numbers to date. Still, the early uptake is good news for Microsoft's first foray into designing an x86 PC, and it shows that many early adopters aren't hung up on the price.

[Source: Engadget]