Tag Archives: Windows8.1

Following outcry, Microsoft gives developers early access to finished Windows 8.1 builds

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Windows 8.1

When Microsoft delivered Windows 8.1 to manufacturers, some developers were more annoyed than overjoyed -- unlike in years past, they weren't getting advance copies to help optimize their apps. The company has heard their complaints, however, and it's now offering the Release To Manufacturing builds of Windows 8.1, 8.1 Professional and Windows Server 2012 R2 to both MSDN and TechNet members. The enterprise edition of Windows 8.1 will be available later in September, Microsoft says. Regular users will still have to wait until the mid-October launch to get their turn, but the early developer release should lead to a healthier stock of Windows 8.1-ready apps in the weeks ahead.

Update: In case you'd forgotten, 8.1 also arrives with a "fully built-in Skype app." The Skype blog details new features like the ability to answer calls from the lock screen, a window that automatically adjusts when you open up links and click to call from Internet Explorer.

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Via: Blogging Windows

Source: MSDN Blogs, Skype Blog

VMware launches Fusion 6 virtual desktop for Mac with Mavericks support, Windows Store app integration

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VMware Fusion 6 launches with Mavericks support, Windows Store app integration

VMware regularly upgrades its Fusion virtual desktop client to support major new operating systems, and it's keeping up that tradition with today's release of Fusion 6. The new Mac app is optimized for OS X Mavericks' most important features, including a reworked full-screen mode that plays nicely with multiple displays. The software is equally ready for Windows 8.1 virtual machines, and lets users place shortcuts for Windows Store apps in a Mac's Applications folder or the Dock. There's also fine-tuning for Haswell-based Macs, a simplified setup assistant and support for virtual machines with up to 16 processors and 64GB of RAM. Fusion 6 Professional users get a few business-friendly upgrades, such expiring virtual machines and cloned machines that link back to master copies.

Both variants of Fusion 6 are available today, although pricing has increased significantly since Fusion 5. It now costs $60 for a stand-alone purchase of Fusion 6, and $130 for its Professional edition. Anyone who buys Fusion 5 between August 1st and September 30th can get the newer version for free, but they'll otherwise have to pay either $50 (for a standard copy) or $70 (for Professional) to stay on the cutting edge. %Gallery-slideshow73880%

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Source: VMware

Daily Roundup: HTC 8XT for Sprint, Windows 8.1 heads to manufacturers, Galaxy Gear, and more!

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DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Microsoft releases Windows 8.1 to manufacturers ahead of October 18 launch

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Microsoft releases Windows 81 to manufacturers ahead of October 17 launch

We caught the first Windows 8.1 (aka Blue) news back in March, and after several betas and a preview, it's been bundled off to manufacturers. That's a mere five months from alpha code to gold master, a feat that Microsoft trumpeted as "an unparalleled level of collaboration" between customers and Windows product teams. Now, manufacturers will be able to ramp up their production lines with the new version in time for the holidays, as Redmond emphasized in its Blogging Windows post. Current Windows 8 owners will get the update for free, but all end users will have to hang on until the official October 18th release date. With a month and change left, though, it looks like all the ducks are in a row to herald the return of the tech world's most infamous button.

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Source: Blogging Windows

Microsoft explains 3D printing standards in Windows 8.1 (video)

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DNP Windows 81 goes allin on 3D printing

Whether you're looking to print an Aston Martin or a birdhouse, Microsoft promises you'll be able to do it more easily with Windows 8.1. Redmond is looking to iron out the wrinkles currently associated with 3D printing -- like metadata loss during exporting and limited communication between apps and printers -- and make 3D printing more like 2D printing so it becomes "more seamless and ubiquitous." The software giant's plan for making it all happen? Defining a standardized feature set that represents what current and future printers can and will do, for one. Microsoft is also pushing for the use of its own 3D data format (3MF) that addresses the current's (STL) shortcomings -- most notably its lack of support for different colors and materials. October 17th probably won't be the day 3D printing explodes, but these are certainly welcome steps toward that happening. Now, if Ballmer and co. could just bring the price of the printers themselves down then we'd really be in business.

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Source: Extreme Windows Blog (Microsoft)

Weekly Roundup: Smartphone buyer’s guide, Hyperloop, Windows 8.1 release date, and more!

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The Weekly Roundup for 12032012

You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Windows 8.1 to ship with Skype pre-installed

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Windows 81 to ship with Skype preinstalled

We already suspected that Windows and Skype were going to get particularly cozy after Microsoft phased out Messenger, but it's now official: Windows 8.1 will ship with Skype pre-installed. Those who haven't already downloaded the messaging client will get it when they upgrade their OS (or buy a Windows 8.1 PC) after October. The move won't change much for existing Skype users, but it could easily lead to a jump in Skype adoption when the app will soon come bundled with the majority of PCs.

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Source: Windows Experience Blog

Daily Roundup: Tablet buyer’s guide, Outlook goes down, Windows 8.1 launch date, and more!

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DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Microsoft confirms Windows 8.1 launching October 17th

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Microsoft confirms Windows 81 launching October 17th

Microsoft has announced that Windows 8.1 will be arriving on October 17th (well, in the US, anyway), confirming an earlier rumor of a mid-month launch. For some reason, the company's specified an exact release time of 12am on October 18th in New Zealand, which is 4am PT or 7am ET on October 17th. At that time, the free update will begin rolling out across local Windows Stores, and will be available "at retail and on new devices" from the 18th onwards, depending on your region. Check out our hands-on and subsequent coverage for an idea of what to expect from the update.

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Source: Microsoft

Windows 8.1 reportedly scheduled for mid-October launch

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Windows 8.1 reportedly scheduled for mid-October launch

Getting acquainted with Windows 8.1 has been a slow process that started early this year, but it looks like it'll finally hit shelves in roughly two months. According to an unnamed source cited by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, the RTM build of the operating system is still on track to hit manufacturers by the end of August, and the OS -- along with new hardware carrying it -- will be publicly available come mid-October. Those hoping to get their hands on the near-final software ahead of time via MSDN or the sunsetting Technet are out of luck, however, as the outlet's tipster claims the final portions of 8.1 won't be obtainable through those means until general availability. If you need something to help pass the time until then, you can always dive into our in-depth hands-on with the update formerly known as Blue.

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Via: The Verge

Source: ZDNet