Unless you have been in hibernation under a rock whilst wearing earplugs and a blindfold, you’re undoubtedly aware that support for both Windows XP and Office 2003 is coming to an end. This in itself is not news, but today Microsoft is taking the opportunity to remind us all of the 8 April deadline — as well as pointing out that the operating system and office suite have been supported since the days of Baywatch.

Jay Paulus, director, Windows marketing, Microsoft says that it is time to move on: “It’s been a great run for these popular products, but a decade later, times and technology have evolved. Windows XP and Office 2003 weren’t designed for the world we live in today.”

There has been a lot of debate and discussion about what will happen once the support deadline passes, and this is something that Microsoft is keen to clear up. In case there was any confusion, neither Windows XP nor Office 2003 are going to stop functioning — they will remain usable on 9 April and beyond. But security is a serious issue: “Users will no longer receive new security updates, nonsecurity hotfixes, free or paid support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft.”

Microsoft is understandably pushing people towards Windows 8.1 and Office 365, pointing out that many newer applications will simply not work under Windows XP. It is unusual to hear a company knocking its own product, but here Microsoft explains that Windows XP is “five times as susceptible to viruses and attack” than Windows 8.1.

It’s not just about security, though. Microsoft explains that modern software is designed with modern problems in mind, allowing for a more efficient way of working — and could even save money.

Have you heeded the advice and upgraded all of your software, or are you hanging on until the bitter end and beyond?

A team of researchers from security firm Bromium Labs has managed to produce code that bypasses Microsoft’s Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) software. This security tool is supposed to offer protection against zero-day attacks, and there are fears that the same technique could be used by malicious hackers to get around security and install malware.

A study by Bromium Labs set out to “gauge how difficult it is to bypass the protections offered by EMET” and included a real-world attack scenario. The lab came to the conclusion that “technologies that operate on the same plane of execution as potentially malicious code, offer little lasting protection”.

While the study focused on EMET, similar techniques could be used to bypass other comparable security system — which Bromium Labs refers to a “userland protections” — and highlights the importance of selecting the right type of security

The bypass affected EMET 4.1, and it is not clear whether or not Microsoft will be able to patch hole for the next release. EMET 5.0 Technical Preview has just been released — however, Bromium Labs have suggested that many of the weakness are too deeply ingrained to be easily address:

“The bypasses leverage generic limitations, and are not easily repaired.”

But companies who rely on EMET will undoubtedly be concerned by Bromium Labs’ claim that “yes, we found ways to bypass all of the protections in EMET.” The group points out that the research was made available to Microsoft before publication.

Google’s comparative searches often make for interesting reading, and a Reddit user noticed that it could be used to monitor user opinion of different versions of Windows. The method is a little crude, and far from scientific, but it is interesting nonetheless. Click this link and you’ll be taken to a page that shows you searches that have been performed relating to Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Or, more specifically, it shows searches that have been performed where searchers have appended the word “sucks” to different versions of Windows. Taking things further, Google Trends then plots the results on a handy graph making it easy to see how popular particular search terms have been.

It should perhaps come as no surprise that there are people using the search phrases “Windows XP sucks”, “Windows 8 sucks”, and so forth, and at first glance it would appear that each version of Windows has suffered at the hands of mean-spirited searches. It appears that each version suffers a peak of hatred which gradually trails off over a period of months and years.

Each version suffers a peak of hatred which gradually trails off

Windows XP, for instance, was accused of sucking all the way back in 2004, but there was then a steady decline in “Windows XP sucks” searches to the point that there are hardly any being conducted now. The reason for the trail-off could be indicative of people becoming used to Windows XP — after all, there seem to be endless streams of people keen to continue using it — but it could equally be down to the fact that the operating system is of less interest now and fewer XP-related searches are being conducted.

Vista searches followed a fairly similar trend — although there are a few extra spikes — ultimately trailing off just like XP. In the case of Windows 7, the story is still much the same, but things are a little different when it comes to Windows 8. This particular version of Windows found itself on the receiving end of the most hate, being the subject of a greater number of “Windows xx sucks” searches than any other.

More searches relating to Windows 8 sucking are being performed

But the trail-off of “suck” searches is much slower; more searches relating to Windows 8 sucking are being performed. Obviously, it is still fairly early days for Windows 8 and 8.1, but the dislike levels do seem to be staying higher for longer — time will tell how things pan out.

Is the shallower dropping off of sucking a sign that Windows 8 is the least liked version of Windows Microsoft has produced? This is hard to say with any confidence, as Google Trends does not provide concrete figures that could be relied up in court, but it’s clear that every single version of Windows is met with animosity that gradually fades. Windows 8 may be on people’s hate list at the moment, but the same was true for all of its predecessors — it just goes to show how resistant to change people are.

It looks as though Windows 8 is proving far more antagonizing than previous versions of the OS, but the difference isn’t so marked as to be worrying. If anything, the graphs show just how fickle computer users can be — what’s hated today could be loved tomorrow.

How does your experience with Windows 8 compare to older versions?

Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green, the woman who was formerly a Windows executive and most recently the top executive in the company’s Devices and Studios Group thanks to former CEO Steve Ballmer’s company restructuring, has transitioned into a new role at the devices and services giant. Her replacement? Nokia’s Stephen Elop.

Larson-Green will now become the chief experience officer for products such as Bing, Office, Skype, and more. Her immediate boss will be Qi Lu, the executive VP who is in charge of the Applications and Services Group. Elop will take her place as the top executive in the company’s Devices and Studios Group as soon as the Nokia acquisition closes sometime this quarter. This particular group handles the Xbox, Surface, and other hardware products.

Larson-Green also sent out an email to Microsoft employees declaring this change. The folks over at Geekwire were able to get their hands on the email and we have copied it below for your reading pleasure.

From: Julie Larson-Green
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014
Subject: FW: ASG Organizational Announcement

Team,

As you will read in the notes below from Qi and Satya, I’ve accepted a new challenge, leading the My Life & Work team in ASG and serving as the Chief Experience Officer (CXO). As hard as it is for me to leave Devices & Studios, I’m thrilled about this opportunity. In working with company leaders this year to establish our One Microsoft vision and plan, I thought about ways I could have impact on helping Microsoft prepare for the future and innovate. My discussions with Satya and Qi made clear this is a critical space to drive new thinking and an essential way to help the shape the company’s direction.  I’m looking forward to developing the Digital Life & Digital Work Experience Substrate that powers modern digital experiences regardless of device, as well as working across ASG to strengthen customer experiences.

I want to thank each and every one of you for welcoming me and supporting me as the leader of Devices & Studios over the past 7 months. I’m very proud of what we have accomplished during such a short timeframe.  We launched Xbox One, Surface 2 & Pro 2, blockbuster games like Forza and Ryse, a brand new Xbox Music and Video service, PPI, and some amazing unannounced innovations just to name a few – incredibly impressive!

Our opportunity to grow as a world-class devices and experiences company is greater than ever, and I have every belief that as One Microsoft we’re on the right path. The addition of Nokia Devices & Services into the DnS family will add tremendous scale, talent and opportunity for our future.

I’ll remain in role leading the DnS organization in the interim until the Nokia deal closes and Stephen Elop makes his transition to Microsoft. We’ve been meeting regularly throughout and are making a lot of progress, ensuring our teams are ready for the Day 1 close and beyond.

You are all in great hands with Stephen and already we’ve shared a lot with him and his LT from Nokia regarding all of the fantastic people, teams and products in DnS. I also know many of you are looking forward to welcoming the Nokia team and working more closely with them.

As I look to the future, I’m reminded of a favorite Chinese proverb: “To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.”

I encourage you all to stay focused on the journey and opportunities ahead, and know that I’ll be there in step with you as we launch the next chapter of Microsoft.

Thank you,

Julie

The face of the computer world is changing, despite some of us grasping at the past. The traditional desktops and laptops are becoming a rare breed, though many of us still find a compelling need for these devices. Replacing them are tablets and a new style of notebooks known as convertibles.

Today, HP announced the latter, unveiling its Pavilion x360, a device that sports Windows 8.1, but doubles as both a laptop and tablet. “When you open it up, the x360 looks like an (un)conventional laptop. Oh, sure, it’s got a keyboard and it opens up clamshell-style, but that double-hinged mechanism connecting the touchscreen to the base is what makes all the difference”, the company states in an official announcement of the product.

So, what do you get in the new Pavilion x360? Three USB ports, HDMI out, Ethernet, SD card slot, SIM card capability, a generous 500 GB drive and Bluetooth.

The product is set to ship on February 26th, so it is only days away. Price is set at a rather low $399, which makes it affordable to the masses. Is it enough to sway customers over to the new Windows? That remains to be seen.

If you drive a newer model Ford, you likely have the Sync in-vehicle communications and entertainment system, which runs Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Automotive. Enjoy it while you can – Ford is reportedly dumping Windows in the next generation Sync systems in favor of BlackBerry’s QNX.

Sync, powered by Windows, has been providing seven million vehicles with the ability to have hands-free phone calls, music control, and perform other in-car functions with the use of voice commands. Unfortunately, this has resulted in glitches.  Ford has reported malfunctioning tech systems and touch screens, and improvements have felt short over the years.

Ford is now looking towards BlackBerry’s QNX, which happens to be much cheaper than Windows. In fact, QNX and Microsoft are the two primarily suppliers of automotive operating system software. Currently, Volkswagen AG’s Audi and BMW utilize BlackBerry’s QNX operating system to power their in-vehicle communication systems. 

Having the Sync system glitch-free is a key selling point for Ford vehicles, as demand for in-vehicle communications and entertainment systems is quite high. In fact, in-vehicle technology is the top selling point for 39% of auto buyers, according to a recent study by Accenture. Ford hopes to turn things around by making the move to BlackBerry’s QNX.

We’ve embedded two videos that showcase the two operating systems in action, in case you are not familiar with either one. Take a look below.

Recently we learned about a critical vulnerability found in IE 9 and IE 8. Microsoft had confirmed that it was aware of the bug, and on Wednesday, the company issued a fix-it patch that addressed the vulnerability for both the affected browsers.

While those on Windows 7 and higher could simply install Internet Explorer 11, the current version of Internet Explorer, and get away with the problem, Windows Vista users, which account for 3.6% of desktop share, had no such option. This attack code had left one third of Internet Explorer users vulnerable. This attack code was reportedly circumventing one of Windows’ most critical anti-exploitation technologies ASLR (address space layout randomization) using Flash ActionScript which is used by many websites that run content using Flash player.

Microsoft has made available a “fix It” patch on its website which you can manually install on your computer. You can install this patch until the company rolls out a permanent fix, likely during the upcoming Patch Tuesday. “This issue allows remote code execution if users browse to a malicious website with an affected browser. This would typically occur by an attacker convincing someone to click a link in an email or instant message.” states, Microsoft’s newest security advisory (2934088).  A permanent fix for this issue will be coming very soon, perhaps in the March’s “Patch Tuesday.”

The planned acquisition of Nokia’s Devices and Services business by Microsoft will not be affected by tax issues in India, the company has said in a statement. Microsoft’s takeover includes ownership of a handset factory in Chennai in southern India, but Nokia has an ongoing tax dispute with the Indian government.

The factory has not been operating since December after the government claimed that Nokia owed around $3.4 billion in taxes. Since local authorities stepped in, Nokia says that the jobs of 30,000 people are at risk but insists that the Microsoft purchase will go ahead as planned in the near future.

The Finnish company issued a very short statement making it clear that the deal with Microsoft should not be affected in anyway by the dispute over unpaid taxes:

“Nokia would like to stress that recent developments in India related to ongoing tax proceedings are not expected to affect the timing of the closing nor the material deal terms of the anticipated transaction between Nokia and Microsoft, announced on September 3, 2013. The transaction is still expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, irrespective of the proceedings in the Indian tax case.”

There’s now something of a standoff. The Indian government will not want to risk 30,000 jobs by keeping the factory closed, but it will be equally keen to recoup outstanding taxes it believes are owed. Opening the factory, allowing the deal to go ahead and no preventing handsets from being produced would be a massive boost to the local economy, so it’s hard to imagine that Nokia’s statement is wrong — it is really in the government’s interest to allow things to get up and running as soon as possible.

Microsoft is currently set to roll out Update 1 for Windows 8.1 soon and now rumors are circulating yet again about the next version of Windows – currently known as Windows 9. This information comes from Wzor, the man responsible for the recent Windows 8.1 Update 1 leaks. We’re going to label it as a rumor for now, for obvious reasons.

According to Wzor, Windows 9 will reach Beta in May of this year. This will be the only Beta version of the operating system. A Release Candidate build of Windows 9 will then arrive sometime between late August and September of this year. Sign-off for the final build of Windows 9 will take place sometime between the end of October to the middle of November. Wzor is sticking to his claim that Windows 9 will hit RTM between October 21st and October 25th.

However, the well-connected Mary Jo Foley over at ZDnet recently said she heard from her sources that Windows 9 Threshold RTM will not hit RTM in October 2014, as rumored by Wzor. According to Mary Jo Foley, “By the way, for what it’s worth, I’m hearing from my sources that WZor’s claims this week that Threshold will be released to manufacturing in October 2014 are inaccurate. Maybe he’s hearing about something like another Windows 8.1 Update.”

Microsoft is expected to introduce a plethora of new features including floating modern apps as well as some sort of “mini” Start Menu, but it seems they’ll not be a part of the Windows 8.1 Update 1, according to Foley. It could, however, make an appearance next year with Windows 9.

We don’t often associate the words “Microsoft” and “open source”, but the company does more than the general media gives credit for. Today the Redmond-based company takes another step, as its Fuse Labs (a research arm) announces a new app being offered out to the community.

NewsPad Editor is a brand new concept that allows groups of people to communicate in building a story. “The software, which supports real-time collaborative editing and content curation, incorporates the best ideas from Wikipedia, Storify, and online text editors”, the company announces.

The idea is to combat the usual content systems which are designed for one writer. It was created after consultation with bloggers in the Seattle area, and the interviews revealed that many writers felt overwhelmed with more stories than they could possibly cover.

“NewsPad also incorporates lessons from the network structure of local communities. During the summer, as we built NewsPad, we were also learning from research by Shelly Farnham and Emma Spiro to map out local Twitter networks, in combination to deep qualitative research on the health and information resources of Seattle’s communities. By comparing Seattle neighborhoods’ Twitter networks to blogging networks, we were able to identify patterns of interaction and information access across dozens of Seattle neighborhoods”, the announcement states.

You can find out more information, and get your hands on the app by following the link below.

Sometimes it seems as though you can do right for doing wrong; that’s certainly the way it seems for Microsoft a lot of the time. I will admit to sticking the boot into Microsoft from time to time — I am as guilty of this as anyone — but sometimes it is important to look at the bigger picture, gain a little perspective and cut the company a little slack. In a tirade on his website, Paul Thurrott lays into Microsoft asking “what the heck is happening to Windows?”

There is a great deal happening to Windows, and it has been happening for the last couple of years. There have been ups and downs. Paul points out that Windows 8 was widely regarded as being a failure, and it is true that it was a disappointment for many people — and Microsoft will hardly have been celebrating the sales figures.

He goes on to say that detractors complained that the release of Windows 8.1 was seen as a step backwards. While it is true that Windows 8.1 is still not a perfect operating system, it was a step in the right direction. Now it seems that Thurrott has had a change of heart and the release of Update 1 is causing him to question his initial defense of Windows. The accusation? That Microsoft is trying to please everyone.

Is it not right that Microsoft should listen to its customers?

Looking at the combination of the traditional desktop and modern UI some complaints are easy to understand. On the face of it, Windows 8 lacked direction. It was unwilling to nail its colors to the mast and presented users with a hybrid experience that was just too much for some to bear. Things improved with the release of 8.1 as Microsoft listened to the complaints users had made. Yet this appears to be a problem for Thurrott.

Is it not right that Microsoft — or any company for that matter — should listen to its customers? This is what Update 1 is about, addressing further issues that have been raised. But this is not good enough for Thurrott. He would prefer that Microsoft stuck to a “singular vision that is typically associated with the Mac and Apple’s other products”. As a customer I would much rather a company took notice of what I had to say rather than just telling me how things are going to be.

The ability, and willingness, to respond to demands is the sign of a forward-thinking, progressive company. Microsoft took a bold step with Windows 8 and it turned out that people weren’t quite ready for such a radical departure from what they had become used to. Did Microsoft stick doggedly to its “singular vision”? No, this would have alienated users. Instead Microsoft did the sensible thing and did what too many companies fail to do. It listened.

Thurrott complains that Windows 8 is evolving in a spaghetti-like fashion and there are now — as there have always been — multiple ways to achieve the same thing. This is not a bad thing. It is choice. For me, the modern interface doesn’t work. I don’t like it, so I don’t use it. But there’s another side of Windows that works very well for me, so I use that instead. Even within desktop mode there are multiple ways to do the same task. Want to create a new folder? This can be done using keyboard shortcuts, context menus or toolbar buttons. They are options that you can use as the mood takes you.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with presenting users with choice, and there is even less wrong with listening to them and adopting Windows to meet requirements. The claim that Microsoft is “trying to please everyone” is one that sticks. Of course Microsoft wants as many people as possible to like and use Windows — this just makes sense — and it follows that their product would be adapted as deemed necessary.

Would you prefer that Microsoft had tunnel vision with Windows, or are you happy to see changes being made according to customer feedback?

There are just 60 days to go until Windows XP reaches the end of its support cycle. Despite the age of the operating system, there are still millions of people — including numerous businesses — who use XP on a daily basis. While there are some who are determined to stick doggedly with the old version of Windows, there are some who have simply postponed upgrading to Windows 8.1. To help with the transition, Microsoft has produced a guide to the tings businesses need to consider.

Two months may not seem like long for a business to upgrade its computer systems, but Microsoft’s guide helps to keep things as simple as possible. It is possible that older hardware will be up to the task of running Windows 8.1, and a check can be performed by using the upgrade assistant.

As it is likely that anew computers will be required, Microsoft invites businesses to investigate the newer form factors that are available. There are obviously Surface device to consider, but Microsoft also highlights the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and the Dell Venue 11 Pro. The blog post points out that as well as being underpowered, it is likely that older desktop computers are large, bulky affairs which ate very different to the small, sleek models that are available today.

Buying a new system always means having to migrate files and data, and this is something that is likely to be as off-putting to some business as the actual cost that will be involved in the upgrade. Microsoft has advice about how to bets go about this, but there are also helpful tips about planning ahead.

Anyone using an older system is also likely to be reliant on older software and there is no guarantee that this will work under Windows 8.1. Tools are available to help check compatibility, and there are also numerous resources to help make the move as quick and painless as possible.

There will be some who remain determined to stick with XP beyond April, but Microsoft is ready to retire the elder statesman of the OS world:

“We are proud of the value that Windows XP has offered to businesses for more than a decade and we are excited to help companies reach the next level of productivity with Windows 8.1 Pro.”

Is your business ready?

Recently, Foursquare received $15 million in funding by the Redmond giant to help them become a sustainable business and in return, they’ll help Microsoft with their products and services. A recent report from Bloomberg suggests Microsoft’s recent investment in FourSquare will be used in location data and services in the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1, including the voice-assistant Cortana to help push out tips, discounts, and suggestions based on user’s location on the go. 

Microsoft didn’t reveal anything about the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 or the Cortana voice-assistant, and how they’ll work, along with their official launch date, but Microsoft Zig Serafin told Bloomberg, “We’re building some contextually aware experiences to power some upcoming products in Windows Phone. This will be for anywhere you get a Bing-powered experience.”

Bloomberg also reports Cortana will be a part of the Windows Phone 8.1 — like we didn’t already know this — and will launch within “several months,” citing sources familiar with the project and Foursquare agreement. Several months could mean anything, but in another sense, it could be correct as it will take a few months for the Windows Phone 8.1 to reach all devices — as Microsoft already confirmed that Windows Phone 8 devices can be upgraded to WP8.1.

In terms of launch, Microsoft is rumored to unveil the Windows Phone 8.1 OS in the coming months, possibly at the annual BUILD 2014 conference which will take place in April. Several rumors suggest WP8.1 will hit RTM in March, with the developers getting access to it in April followed by its official public launch in the following months. When it comes to Cortana, a rumor suggested it will see the light of the day in April and will be available in US only, at least in the beginning, but you never know, Microsoft may have planned some surprises for its users.

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics are officially underway and, despite the misgivings of many people regarding the state of affairs at the venue, as well as in the host nation, it’s still an event many of us will tune in to watch.

In the US, that coverage comes from NBC, which yesterday released an app for Windows Phone. But the broadcasting company is doing more with Microsoft than just providing an app. It’s utilizing the software giant’s technology to run streaming and on-demand coverage.

“Through the power of cloud computing, NBC will use Windows Azure Media Services, a highly scalable video service platform hosted in Microsoft’s datacenters, to publish and stream coverage of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games”, Microsoft announces.

NBC points out that its previous coverage, which was the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, generated an average of six hours watched per day for each viewer. According the NBC Sports’ Scott Guthrie, the company expects even higher demand this time around.

“To meet that demand, Windows Azure is leading the way by providing end-to-end live streaming of the Winter Olympics entirely in the cloud, including encoding, transcoding and streaming, for the first time in history”, Guthrie comments.

Will you be watching the streaming version of Olympics, or sticking to the tried and true TV? Either way, coverage should be very good this time around.

A big company announcing details of its finances for the quarter often makes for interesting reading, but Sony played something of a trump card this week. The company spoke of the “drastic changes in the global PC industry” meaning that it no longer felt it was viable to stay in the business. Rather than staying in the game and fighting its corner, Sony made the surprise move of selling its VAIO brand so it can concentrate on smartphones, tablets and TVs.

VAIO – a name that Sony would have liked customers to associate with quality and luxury, almost as a Maserati of PCs. But as poor sales demonstrated, it is a name that was more readily associated with expense, and apparently the quality was not sufficiently high enough to justify the price for large numbers of people. But what does this all mean for the PC industry in general, and Microsoft in particular?

It is true that the VAIO name is not going to completely disappear, but for the time being it is going to be limited to Japan. Of course there is scope for it to expand globally again in future, but whether or not this will actually happen is anyone’s guess. On the face of it, things aren’t looking great for the future of the PC.

On the face of it, things aren’t looking great for the future of the PC

The newly appointed Satya Nadella may be wondering if he’s to blame. One day in the top spot at Microsoft and one of the most well-known names in the industry withdraws! But of course, this is not something that has come completely out of the blue. The death of the PC is something that has been predicted for many years now. We’re not quite there, but it is fair to say that we are moving towards a post-PC world. This is a world that reflects the business move just announced by Sony — mobile devices are very much where the innovation and excitement is to be found.

PC and laptop sales have been in steady decline for some time now. Some industry analysts have suggested that the blame for this could be placed at least partially at the door of Windows 8. It is certainly true that the world was not enthralled by the release of this version of the operating system, but the issues experience by naysayers are being addressed. There is interest in Windows 8.1 Update 1 — massive interest. Whether this will be enough to rejuvenate a flagging PC market is not clear, but most of Microsoft’s income stems from the business division anyway — dwindle PC sales don’t really have that much impact. Sure, it’s not great news to see such a big name disappearing, but it is not the end of the world.

Companies such as Lenovo and Nokia have demonstrated that there is huge interest in mobile computing. Sony’s shift to focusing on this area of the industry could create the lead that others can follow. Microsoft is already well-positioned to make great strides in this field, but the company is also able to hedge its bets and keep a foot in the desktop market in case the transition is slow.

Microsoft has already shown that it is capable of producing some impressive hardware of its own

Microsoft’s move to the cloud with Windows Azure, Outlook.com, Office 365 and the like could be seen as partly indicative of its own belief in the future of mobile. Joining forces with Nokia means that tablets and smartphones are also well-catered for, but Sony’s switch to concentrating on smartphones and tablets almost certainly means focusing on its Xperia range rather than looking to Windows Phone or Windows RT.

In a sense, Microsoft is losing Sony to Google as the devices that Sony will be producing are Android-based. HP has already shown its interest in mobile devices with it investment in Chromebooks — again, Google. Does this matter? Windows Phone may be losing out to Android, but there is little sign of Windows losing its dominance of desktops and laptops. Chromebook has caused some interest, but it is far from being a major threat.

Of course, Microsoft still has a very healthy home and business user base. There are millions of people ready to lap up the software pumped out by the company — it’s just a shame that the number of manufacturers working on the hardware side of things is diminishing.

Microsoft has already shown that it is capable of producing some impressive hardware of its own — Xbox One and Surface are testament to this. The investment in Surface and Surface Pro, coupled with the move to the cloud, shows that Microsoft is pinning more on mobile devices than desktop computers. The PC may not be dead, but it is certainly changing.

With other manufacturers jumping ship, Microsoft could ultimately be left on its own producing both hardware and software for Windows devices. Now that would be an interesting state of affairs.

But what do you think? Does the sale of VAIO impact the PC industry? What’s does the future of the PC hold?

Microsoft has rolled out another Windows advertisement titled The New Windows: Karate which features a mother who, while sitting in her child’s karate class, talks to a camera about how her kids are always on her laptop. She then brags about how her “Asus with Windows” laptop is not only under $300, but has everything the kids need.

The woman then takes a jab at the Google Chromebook. She argues that the Asus X200CA Windows laptop has everything her kids need, unlike the Chromebook which can’t install Microsoft’s Office productivity suite and requires an internet connection to get things done. You can check out the Asus X200CA laptop here.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Microsoft take a shot at Google’s Chromebook. Back in November, Microsoft rolled out a video that basically stated: “the Chromebook was pretty much a brick.” Microsoft’s Ben the PC Guy even hit the streets of Venice, California, showing everyone how the Chromebook doesn’t stack up against a Windows device.

“Whether it’s playing games or getting homework done with Microsoft Office, Windows laptops give you the best of work and play,” the video description reads. We’ve embedded the view below for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Finding a new CEO isn’t the only thing which is worrying Microsoft right now. December’s global usage of Windows XP, the second most popular desktop operating system on the planet manifested a 3% decline, but the 1.3% surge in January’s data has left all of us shocked.

The 13-year old operating system will be retiring on April 8th this year, but instead of switching to a newer version of Windows, people have surprisingly started showing interest in it again. According to Net Marketshare, the global share of Windows XP has risen from December’s 27.84% to 29.23% by the end of January 2014.

So whose share did Windows XP eat? Well, while Windows 8.1 managed to go up from 3.50% to 3.93%, its predecessor Windows 8 registered a 0.02% decline. Meanwhile, Windows Vista is running on around 3.3% computers worldwide, whereas Windows 7 is still going strong with a whopping 47.49%.

What’s with the sudden jump in market share for Windows XP? Sound off in the comments below with your theories!

We are only hours away from kick-off of the big game. The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have completed all preparation, and now it’s a matter of sitting back and watching who comes out on top. However, the game is only half of the story where the Super Bowl is involved.

Ads play a huge part in the game, in fact they are one of the primary reasons that some people actually bother tuning in. If you paid attention during the season, you likely realized that the Redmond company has partnered with the NFL, including making the Surface the official tablet of the league.

Microsoft also has an ad planned for the big game, and despite that it hasn’t actually started, you can now see the entire one minute video in advance.

This isn’t the ordinary game ad, which have a tendency to lend a sense of humor to things. Instead Microsoft has gone the route of showing what technology can do help those less fortunate, including people with no voice, or even missing limbs. It is a heartbreaking, yet also hopeful, look at the technology being employed in today’s world.