Microsoft: Yeah, It's Really That Easy

Earlier we showed you a young girl's review of the Surface RT. Microsoft Portugal has released an advertisement showcasing just how simple Windows 8 really is.

The Windows 8 Apps You Have to Have

Now that Windows 8 and Windows RT have been out for about a month and a half, the Windows Store has started to get its fair share of nifty apps. I’ve included a few of my favourites down below. Which third-party apps do you find most useful and what apps are you still waiting for?

YouTube+
The YouTube+ app is truly fantastic. With all the key features of the core website in a clean and easy-to-use interface, the YouTube+ app is available in an ad-supported unlimited trial, or, alternatively, for $2.99 from the Windows Store. Playlist mode and a download feature (which I find particularly handy as a sort-of “offline” mode) are among my favourite features.

Nextgen Reader
I’ve been seeking a truly excellent Google Reader-compatible RSS feed reader since Windows 8 Developer Preview. I’ve gotten used to gReader on Android and truly loved its utility, but on my Windows devices I ultimately found myself sticking with a Chrome extension called Google Reader Notifier. I’d tried News Bento and several other RSS readers, but was ultimately unsatisfied. Nextgen Reader, on the other hand, has been nothing but a joy to use. It loads quickly and displays feed information well. There is an unlimited, ad-free trial, but you can also support the developer by purchasing the app for $2.99 on the Windows Store.

TuneIn
Though Pandora is popular and quite useful, I’ve recently found myself enjoying the large selection of music stations made available through TuneIn. In particular, Cinemix has been a now near-constant addition to my everyday music listening.


PuzzleTouch
Though the main interface for the app is ad-infested, the main app works impressively well. PuzzleTouch is exactly what it sounds like: a puzzle app. You can use built-in puzzles or craft your own by using images stored on your computer.

Google
Google is a nifty app for searching--and for quick links to all the various Google services.

Stuff I’m still waiting for:

Google Drive
While there is a handy link to the web version of Google Drive in the Google app, the friendliness and cleanliness of a dedicated app is something I currently am hopeful for.

Google+
I love Google+, and the Google+ app for Android is simply fantastic. Something similar for Windows 8 and RT would be a welcome addition.

VLC
VLC for Windows 8 (and Windows Phone 8) is currently in development and is even seeking funds via Kickstarter to give the project a boost. VLC is my primary media player for DVDs, and I’d love to see this in all its Modern UI glory.

The Verge: Apple iPad versus Windows 8 (Preview) Tablets

Joshua Topolsky of The Verge has created the nifty video above detailing some of the advantages and disadvantages of Apple's iPad compared to devices powered by Microsoft's newest Windows, Windows 8.

Note: The version of Windows used in this comparison video is a pre-release version and many, if not most, issues with the operating system have since been remedied.

Windows 8: How's it Going?

Microsoft's latest version of Windows, Windows 8, launched just over a month ago. Windows 8 brings some startling changes for users of the platform nearly as drastic as those introduced with Windows 95. How has the new operating system been fairing?

Reports are mixed. Microsoft itself has reported that it has sold over 40 million copies of the new operating system, but adoption rates are, according to TechRadar, one-fifth of what they were for Windows 7, with less than one-half of one percent of all Windows machines running the new operating system.

Despite the potentially bad news for Microsoft, it has recently announced that the Windows Store has already cracked the 20,000 app mark, with approximately 18,000 of those apps available for free.

Additionally, Microsoft has announced a new initiative called Windows Blue which serves as both the name for its next operating system and a new, yearly-release schedule for major system upgrades at a low cost.

Sources: TechRadar, The Verge (1), PC World, The Verge (2)

Microsoft Gets Shaken-Up, Too - Head of Windows Departs

It seems that Apple is not the only company this past week to be subject to some pretty big shake-up. Steven Sinofsky, head of Windows and the man responsible for the launch of the very successful Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems left Microsoft Yesterday. Julie Larson-Green, formerly in charge of UI Design for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office will take his place. Click the source link below for the full article.

Source: The Verge

Patently Absurd: Microsoft Sued for Live Tiles

Microsoft is now being sued for its Live Tiles technology used in its Zune, Surface, Windows Phone, and Windows 8 offerings by a company called SurfCast. It is odd that this suit is coming up only now, however, as several of the allegedly infringing technologies have been in the market for several years.

The Patent in question is US Patent #6,724,403, described as follows: "A computerized method of presenting information from a variety of sources on a display device. Specifically the present invention describes a graphical user interface for organizing the simultaneous display of information from a multitude of information sources. In particular, the present invention comprises a graphical user interface which organizes content from a variety of information sources into a grid of tiles, each of which can refresh its content independently of the others. The grid functionality manages the refresh rates of the multiple information sources. The present invention is intended to operate in a platform independent manner."

Nilay Patel of The Verge questions whether this patent actually covers the allegedly infringing devices, but patent laws and filings are now so vague and so unable to keep-up with the pace of technology that only time will tell whether Microsoft will pay dearly for their advances in the computing industry.

What do you think about this lawsuit? Is Microsoft infringing? Is SurfCast just a patent troll? Leave your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Source: The Verge

The Verge: How to Navigate Windows 8

With the recent release of Windows 8, students and teachers everywhere will need to know and understand the nuances of Microsoft's latest operating system. Sean Hollister of The Verge gives an in-depth look at the new shortcuts, gestures, and tips to get you in command of Windows 8.

Article: The Verge

Windows 8 in 8 Minutes

Windows computers have been a critical part of the school environment for some time now. With Windows 8 just around the corner, it's a good idea to get familiar with Windows 8 and some of the many new features it presents.

Windows 8 offers a new Start Screen in place of the old, familiar Start Menu. Don't be alarmed, however, as the new Start Screen is quick, fluid, and easy to use, and, for many users, is all that's really necessary.

Watch the video below to become more acquainted with the new Windows 8, available Friday, 26 October 2012.