Microsoft Testing Patch to Fix Windows 8.1 Update Bug

Microsoft has released a test patch to fix failed automatic and user updates from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, and from Windows RT to Windows RT 8.1, for select markets. The failed update to Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 issue was widely reported by users for a long time. Microsoft is now testing these patches in select areas initially and might roll out to other regions soon.

Windows 8 users can directly visit the Windows Update (not the Windows Store), and if they are eligible they will get the test patch and be able to automatically or manually update to Windows 8.1. Notably, it is not necessary that it will certainly fix the issue for all, as there is a possibility that it does not work since the Microsoft is still testing the patch according to a report from Supersite For Windows.

Also, to enable an automatic update from Windows RT to Windows RT 8.1, users can download the test patch from the Microsoft's support page.

"This (Windows RT) pilot program is an example of ways we're experimenting to help ensure more of our customers benefit from a continuously improving Windows experience," said a Microsoft spokesperson while speaking to Supersite For Windows.

On the other hand, Microsoft is reportedly planning an upcoming updated codenamed 'Threshold' aka Windows 9 that will unify the operating system for all hardware ecosystems - smartphones, tablets and PCs.

Windows Threshold is expected to get a public preview by the fag end of this year. However, before this expect Microsoft to roll out another update called 'Update 2', as stated by multiple reports.

Google Debuts 64-bit Version of Chrome for Windows

Google, on Tuesday, announced that it has launched test builds of a 64-bit version of Chrome for the Windows platform, specifically for Windows 7 and 8 users.

The Internet giant has introduced 64-bit builds of Chrome for Windows on its Dev and Canary  channels.

On the Chromium blog, in an entry posted by Software Engineer Will Harris, it is mentioned that the new version once installed replaces the existing version of Chrome, whilst preserving all the bookmarks and settings, which eliminates the need to uninstall and reinstall Chrome. The post further goes on to detail the advantages that the 64-bit version will have over its predecessors. There are three advantages listed on the blog, namely speed, stability and security.

In terms of speed, Google says the 64-bit version will allow Chrome to utilise the power of the latest processor and compiler optimisations. A more modern instruction result set and a calling convention will supposedly also allow more function parameters to be passed by the registers. This according to Google results in improved speed, an average 25 percent increase, in the case of graphics and multimedia content.

Describing the security advantages of 64-bit Chrome, the blog mentions the utilisation of new Windows 8 features including High Entropy ASLR. This, Google says, will result in improved security on the 64-bit browser. It also supposedly helps better defend against JIT spraying, and improves the efficacy of existing security features like heap partitioning.

Listing the stability advantages, Google claims that it has observed a marked increase in stability in the 64-bit Chrome over the 32-bit Chrome. The crash rate is said to have reduced by half compared to the 32-bit version.

The Dev channel is updated once or twice weekly and is for developers to test new features before they arrive to stable buolda. The Canary channel is described by Google as the "most bleeding-edge official version of Chrome and somewhat of a mix between Chrome dev and the Chromium snapshot builds."

Google has not given any official dates for the launch of the new 64-bit version of Chrome for Windows on its Beta or Stable channels.

Windows 8.1 finally passes Windows 8 in market share, Windows 7 climbs back over 50%

May was the seventh full month of availability for Microsoft’s latest operating system version: Windows 8.1 continues to grow slowly while Windows 8 remains largely flat, allowing the former to finally pass the latter in market share. At the same time, Windows 7 has managed to climb back over the 50 percent mark, while Windows XP still has more than 25 percent of the pie, despite support for the ancient OS finally ending in April.

The latest market share data from Net Applications shows that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have gained a combined 0.40 percentage points (from 12.24 percent to 12.64 percent). More specifically, Windows 8 slipped 0.07 percentage points (from 6.36 percent to 6.29 percent), while Windows 8.1 grabbed an additional 0.47 percentage points (from 5.88 percent to 6.35 percent).

Windows 8, which saw its biggest gain in August at 2.01 percentage points and its biggest loss in November at 0.87 percentage points, continues to slip. There are still computers being sold with Windows 8, but Microsoft is encouraging the upgrade path to Windows 8.1 by making it just a free download away for Windows 8 users.

Meanwhile, Windows 7 managed to grab an additional 0.79 percentage points (from 49.27 percent to 50.06 percent). Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 usually do better combined than Windows 7 does, but some months the opposite happens, and May was one of those instances. It should surprise nobody if Microsoft ends up struggling to woo users off Windows 7 one day, just like the current headache it is experiencing with Windows XP.

Going back to earlier versions, Windows Vista managed to gain 0.01 percentage points (from 2.89 percent to 2.90 percent). Windows XP meanwhile dropped a solid 1.02 percentage points (from 26.29 percent to 25.27 percent). Unfortunately for Microsoft, that drop is nowhere near as large as it should be.

In 2013, Windows lost share every month except for March, July, and November. So far in 2014, Windows slipped in January and April, gained in February and March, and now gained 0.19 percentage points (from 90.80 percent to 90.99 percent) in May. OS X fell 0.23 percentage points (to 7.39 percent), while Linux gained 0.04 percentage points (to 1.62 percent).

Net Applications uses data captured from 160 million unique visitors each month by monitoring some 40,000 websites for its clients. StatCounter is another popular service for watching market share moves; the company looks at 15 billion page views. 

Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack ofWindows Phone updates, apps

It looks like Nokia has finally come out in the open against Microsoft's slow pace of pushing updates to Windows Phone 8.

 While the Finnish handset giant has been churning out new handset models and updated versions of its own services and apps, Microsoft has often been criticised for not playing a very conducive role when it comes to bringing its mobile OS on par with Android and iOS. 

Till now, tech evangelists and Nokia fans had been panning Microsoft for ignoring the Windows Phone 8 platform, however, it now seems that Nokia also wants Microsoft to get out of its slumber. 

In a recent interview with International Business Times, Bryan Biniak, Vice President - App Development at Nokia, has fired salvos at Microsoft, subtly conveying the message that smartphone sales are suffering due to lack of updates. He said, "We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today." Biniak also talked about the problem related to lack of apps, and how it's affecting the consumer's perception against Nokia's Lumia smartphones. "We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale," he added. "To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices." While the Windows Phone platforms boasts of 165,000 apps, a number of major apps including Instagram are missing form the platform. New releases and variants of popular games like Angry Birds and Temple Run also arrive on Windows Phone, months or sometimes years after they release their iOS and Android versions.

 A lot of software development on the Windows Phone platform is being supported by Nokia, with the company developing its own imaging software for its camera-focused offerings. Nokia says it will continue to invest in the platform's development on its own. "As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right," said Biniak.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Preview now available for download

At its Build developers conference,
Microsoft announced that it has made
the preview version of Windows 8.1,
the update to its Windows 8 desktop
operating system, available to the
public for download.
As the word 'preview' suggests, this
build is sort of a final beta and might
contain some bugs so Microsoft
recommends that you should only
install it if you're comfortable with
troubleshooting your PC. The company
also warns that you might lose some
functionality or encounter errors as
the software is still in development
stage. Also, the final version of
Windows 8.1 could feature more
changes.
To download the new OS, you need to
visit the Windows 8.1 Preview page
and download a small program. It's
worth pointing out you will not be able
to 'uninstall' Windows 8.1 Preview
and will need to perform a fresh install
if you wish to go back to Windows 8.
After executing the downloaded
program, the PC will prompt you to
restart and will give you an option to
download the Windows 8.1 update
from the Windows Store. You'll just
need to follow the instructions to
download and install the update.
Microsoft also lists some devices that
are not compatible with the Preview,
yet.
It says, "Some tablets and PCs running
newer 32-bit Atom processors require
updates to their graphics drivers
before they can run the Windows 8.1
Preview. Those tablets and PCs
include the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2,
ASUS VivoTab TF810C, HP Envy X2,
HP ElitePad 900, Samsung ATIV Smart
PC, and Fujitsu ARROWS Tab. We are
working closely with Intel and OEM
partners to deliver updated drivers
that will allow you to install the
Windows 8.1 Preview as soon as
possible."
The Windows 8.1 update features a
couple of new improvements including
a new Start tip that offers Start menu
like functionality, desktop wallpapers
for Start screen, updated search,
automatic app updates, new
multitasking experience, a revamped
Store, better PC settings and a new
version of Internet Explorer, among
other changes.

'Major' Microsoft reorg expected byJuly 1st as Ballmer contemplatessingle 'Windows' division

Microsoft's rumored "major restructuring" looks set to be unveiled by July 1st. All Things D reports that the reorg, which will focus on the devices and services vision, is being led by CEO Steve Ballmer without the consultation of all Microsoft's executives. 

The upcoming changes are said to be major, leaving some executives worried for their own positions and the plans for the company as a whole. All Things D quotes one insider as saying they're "titanic" changes, noting they might be attached to Ballmer's legacy at the company. "It’s the first time in a long time that it feels like that there will be some major shifts, including some departures," says the alleged insider. Could Windows and Windows Phone move closer together? Ballmer is reportedly considering a new structure that would create four separate divisions: enterprise business, hardware, applications and services, and an operating systems group. 

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that the OS group could be jointly led by Windows Phone chief Terry Myerson and head of Windows engineering Julie Larson-Green. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans have revealed to The Verge that the new structure would see a significant focus on further aligning the Windows and Windows Phone operating systems.

Microsoft moved to a shared Windows 8 kernel in October for Windows Phone, but applications that run on both platforms still need tweaking by developers, and the two Windows stores remain separate. Microsoft is heading to San Francisco on Wednesday to host its annual Build developer conference. 

The software maker will unveil improvements to its Windows 8 OS in the form of a Windows 8.1 update that will enter public preview this week. Microsoft plans to finalize and ship the Windows 8.1 update in time for new 7- and 8- inch devices later this year. It's also expected to play a role in new Surface devices expected for the holidays. Any reorg news, internally at least, would likely come during the Build conference as Microsoft switches to its new financial year on July 1st. If Ballmer's rumored reorg takes places then it will be the first company-wide structural change at Microsoft under Ballmer's leadership. 

The 57-year-old took over the CEO role from co-founder Bill Gates in January 2000, and made some significant changes in 2008 ahead of the company's Windows 7 software. Ballmer recently let former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky go, in an unexpected move just weeks after the company shipped Windows 8. It's clear a significant change is underway at Microsoft, and Ballmer has detailed a "fundamental shift" in Microsoft's business as it moves to a combination of hardware and software.

Samsung Ativ Q tablet cum laptop hybrid launched with Android and Windows 8 dual-boot support

Samsung has launched a dual OS
hybrid tablet cum laptop called Ativ Q.
Samsung Ativ Q is a 13.3-inch device
that has a thickness of 13.9 mm and
weighs 1.29 kgs. It also comes with a
qHD+ display that has a resolution of
1800x3200 pixels. The hybrid is
powered by an Intel Core i5 processor.
The device comes with a 4GB RAM
and 128GB SSD storage. It also has a
720p HD camera on-board. In terms of
ports, the Ativ Q comes with one USB
3.0, one USB 2.0, an HDMI port, a
headphone/ microphone combination
jack and a microSD card slot.
The device comes with both Windows
8 and Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
operating systems onboard, giving
users the option to choose which OS to
boot into. It also gives you the ability
to pin an Android application to the
Windows 8 start screen, providing
some kind of integration between the
two operating systems.
In terms of the physical build of the
tablet, the slider format with the
keyboard makes it similar to Sony's
Vaio Duo 13. There is no touch pad on
the keyboard but left and right mouse
keys do exist. The mouse is present in
the form of a track pad in the centre of
the keyboard, similar to how it is
placed on the Vaio Duo 13.
The tablet offers S-Pen functionality
allowing you to create content using
the stylus on the tablet. Samsung has
also incorporated Smart Sync
functionality into the tablet enabling
users to control their smartphones
using the Ativ PC. So, your Android
smartphone can be somewhere in your
bag, while you reply to a text using
your computer.
The hinge design of the ATIV Q gives
four physical modes to the tablet. One
can lay the display flat over the
keyboard for tablet mode; raise the
display upright to type through the
keyboard similar to how you use a
laptop; float and adjust the display to
a desired viewing angle; or flip the
display to place it on a stand mode.
Samsung has not revealed anything
about the pricing or the availability of
the PC-tablet hybrid as of now.

This Is the New Windows 8.1 Reading List Option – Screenshot

Microsoft is working on what’s being called Reading List, a new Windows 8.1 feature supposed to allow users to save web-based content for later viewing.Only little was known until now, but a new screenshot posted a couple of hours ago onWinForumreveals the design of the new app.The app will be accessible via the Share Charm and will allow users to save content such as web links, photos, text, and documents with just a few clicks or tabs. As you cansee, it’s based on the same Modern design concept introduced by Microsoft in Windows 8 and it’s completely optimized for the touch.More details on Reading List and all the other features to be introduced in Windows 8.1 are expected to be provided in just a few days at the BUILD developer conference that kicks off next week.