Desktop PCs - News

Ballmer: Windows 7 is Vista, just 'a lot better'

Windows 7 will be like Windows Vista, but more so, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer said today as he defended the first two years of Vista and claimed its successor will be a major release.

Mozilla offers alpha version of mobile browser for N810

Mozilla plans to release on Thursday an alpha version of its mobile browser today for Nokia's Internet tablets.

Microsoft mulling 'Instant On' feature for Windows

Microsoft is considering giving its Windows client OS the capability to be turned on very rapidly by allowing users only limited access to the OS, a concept it's calling "Instant On," according to a survey Microsoft conducted.

MS: 'Vista Capable' lawyers trying to hijack Windows Update

Microsoft is objecting to a plan that would force the company to use its Windows Update service to notify potential members in the "Windows Vista Capable" class-action lawsuit, according to documents filed in federal court Wednesday.

What's in a name? Microsoft defends 'Windows 7' moniker

After users disputed his count, a Microsoft executive explained how the company concluded that the upcoming Windows 7 is the seventh version of the operating system.

Mozilla releases Firefox 3.1 Beta 1

Mozilla has released Firefox 3.1 Beta 1, the first preview meant for the general public, but disabled one of its most-touted improvements.

Microsoft sticks with 'Windows 7' for next OS

Microsoft has announced that the code name for its next operating system, Windows 7, will be the product's official name.

Microsoft to improve Vista's problematic UAC in Windows 7

Microsoft plans to improve the much-maligned user account control (UAC) feature in the next version of its Windows client OS, acknowledging that the new security feature it built into Windows Vista has caused unnecessary problems for users.

Mozilla locks in Firefox 3.1 feature list

Mozilla will use a several-week delay it recently added to the Firefox 3.1 schedule to build a private browsing mode and beef up the browser's address bar, the company said yesterday. Three weeks ago, the company said it would insert four to five mor...

Mozilla adds geographic tagging to Firefox

Mozilla has released an add-on to Firefox that enables the browser to automatically pinpoint a user's location by communicating with Wi-Fi signals so Web sites can provide customized content to users.

Lawyers want Windows Update used to push lawsuit notices

Lawyers in the "Windows Vista Capable" class-action lawsuit against Microsoft have asked a federal judge to force the company to use its Windows Update service to notify potential class members, court documents filed Thursday revealed.

Microsoft fights Ballmer testimony in 'Vista Capable' suit

The only thing CEO Steve Ballmer knew about Microsoft's Windows Vista Capable marketing campaign was what he was told by subordinates, and he should not have to testify in the class-action lawsuit that accuses the firm of deceiving customers, the com...

Mac OS X market share cracks 8 percent

Apple's Mac OS X market share has passed the 8 percent mark for the first time, a research company reported Wednesday.

Browser metrics: IE slide continues, Firefox users update

Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) continued to lose market share in September, Google's Chrome stabilized at under 1 percent and more than half of Firefox 2.0 users accepted an offer to update to Version 3.0, a Web metrics firm said Wednesday.