Windows 8

Leap Motion is on its way. With the clock ticking down to the PC gesture controller’s July 22 launch, Leap has a brand new teaser video that showcases the device’s interaction with Windows. If you'd forgotten how exciting Leap was when we first got the chance to play with it, this might be enough to get your blood pumping again.  Read More

Two hybrid tablet/notebooks are to join HP's 11.6-inch ENVY x2 to make a new x2 family. The SlateBook x2 is Android-based and has Nvidia's Tegra 4 mobile processor as its power house, while the larger, Intel-powered Split x2 will run Windows 8.  Read More

If you’ve been holding your breath waiting for the long-rumored Windows 8 “Blue” update, you might be able to exhale soon. Microsoft still hasn’t officially broken down the new features in the update, but it does now have a name and a price: "Windows 8.1," and "free."  Read More

Acer has announced a new laptop at a press event in New York which features a new hinge system called "Ezel" that brings the display closer to the user for easier Windows 8 touch control. The new Aspire R7 also features a keyboard/trackpad layout redesign, and a speaker setup that automatically swaps left and right output when the screen is flipped over for displaying content to the person opposite.  Read More

Last week, Toshiba entered the ultra high-end laptop market with the KIRAbook, a thin and light Ultrabook with a number of compelling features. The laptop is the first Windows 8 device to feature a Retina-level display (or PixelPure as Toshiba calls it), throwing it into direct competition with Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina display. We take a look at both devices to see which (if either) comes out on top.  Read More

A new rumor suggests that an upcoming update for Windows 8 will allow users to bypass the controversial tile-based Start menu, creating a more traditional Windows experience. The rumors come from sources close to The Verge, as well as leaked code for the Windows “Blue” update.  Read More

When PC sales slumped last year, a common line of thinking was “wait for Windows 8.” Well, we waited ... it came ... and now things are even worse. International Data Corporation (IDC) just released global shipment data for the first quarter, and PCs celebrated Windows 8’s arrival by having their worst quarter ever.  Read More

Microsoft’s Surface Pro makes sense for customers. It takes the power – and app support – of an Ultrabook, and combines it with the body of a tablet. Windows RT tablets, on the other hand, make a lot less sense. Limited app support and confusing incompatibility with legacy Windows apps make them niche products. If a new report holds any water, Microsoft realizes this and is ready to pull the plug on Windows RT products.  Read More

The latest version of Windows is clearly a transition product. Microsoft is laying the groundwork for a more touch-friendly, mobile-oriented future. But it also isn't yet ready to throw out the familiar Windows desktop. The result is a dual nature – and a recipe for confusion. A new tweak, however, aims to smooth this Windows 8 transition.  Read More