Some sort-of-good news for anyone still using Windows XP, including 95% of all ATMs in the world: Microsoft will still provide antimalware signatures for the operating system through July 15, 2015. That’s not the same as software patches, but does help consumer and business security programs identify malware on the system. The original end of support date of April 8, 2014 still stands. ATMs aren’t going to stop working or explode, but will be more vulnerable to malware and other badness. [Microsoft] [More]
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Microsoft Pays YouTube Users A Pittance To Promote Xbox One & Not Say Anything Bad About It
By 1.21.14
Dear Microsoft: If you’re going to ask YouTube video bloggers to sell out and shill for your Xbox One console, at least open up your wallet and spend some real money. Is all the negative publicity — and potential regulatory hassle — that’s destined to come of it worth a mere $3,750? [More]
95% Of ATMs Are Still Using Windows XP. No, Really
By 1.16.14
Who is still using Windows XP, an operating system which is now twelve years old? Other than “everyone’s mom,” the real answer might not be as obvious: the nation’s network of automated teller machines. ATMs all contain computers, of course. Computers are susceptible to malware. Systems running Windows XP may be more susceptible to malware after April 8 of this year, when Microsoft finally ends support and security patches for XP. [More]
Consumerist Presents The 19 Worst Ads Of 2013, Brought To You By Consumerist
By 12.31.13
While we all have that one friend who is constantly littering our Facebook timelines with YouTube links to “Hilarius!” [sic] commercials, most of us hate advertisements. Even the ones that are funny or interesting the first time you see them will inevitably begin to grate after you see it for the 10th time in an hour. But some ads never even earn that initial chuckle, and instead go right to pushing that nerve that makes you want to body-slam your beloved 55″ TV. [More]
Xbox One Dropping Your Online Games? You Might Be Able To Blame Comcast For That.
By 12.31.13
Does the shiny new Xbox One that Santa left under the tree work when you turn it on, but not actually do the whole online gaming thing so well? If you’re also a Comcast customer, you could be encountering a big bug. [More]
Microsoft Developing A “Smart Bra” To Tell Women It’s Time To Step Away From The Fridge
By 12.5.13
On the one hand, who hasn’t wished someone could jump in and say “Stop, you don’t want to eat that” somewhere in the middle of the fifth bowl of [insert your own guilty pleasure]? On the other hand, we sincerely hope that if Microsoft ever does introduce its “smart bra” — designed to help women from overeating in times of stress — that there’s a garment for men, too. Because goodness knows, we all need comfort food at one point or another. And also don’t tell me what to eat. [More]
Just Try Not To Cringe At The Anti-Google Merchandise In Microsoft’s Online Store
By 11.22.13
On the one hand, these “Scroogled” items up for sale on Microsoft’s official online store provoke a response of ugh, groan. On the other hand, it’s all, cringe, no, awkward. Either way you go, Microsoft’s attempt to poke fun at its competitor just comes off as a little bit… sad. [More]
Some Xbox One Owners Complain Of Monstrous Disc Noise
By 11.22.13
You just spent $500 (plus tax and shipping, if applicable) to get the brand new Xbox One gaming console on the day it launches. You unbox it, plug it all in, turn it on, put in a disc and WHAT THE $&##^%@ IS THAT SOUND? [More]
Google Mocks Opacity Of National Security Requests While Feds Try To Hide Court Action From Public
By 11.14.13
For quite some time, Google and other Internet biggies have argued that they should be able to reveal relatively detailed data to the public about user-information requests from federal law enforcement agencies, and specifically those that fall under that black umbrella of national security. In its latest transparency report, Google uses a visual to show its distaste for this opacity. Meanwhile, the federal government is attempting to argue its case for the lack of transparency behind doors closed so tight that even the others involved in the request won’t be privy to what’s said. [More]
Microsoft Promotes Xbox Game With Footage From PlayStation
By 11.7.13
With Microsoft and Sony both releasing next-gen gaming consoles in the coming weeks, the push is on for each company to convince consumers that its console is the bee’s knees and thus worth plunking down several hundred dollars to purchase. What better way to sell the public on the awesomeness of your product than by accidentally uploading footage from your competitor’s console? [More]
Microsoft Promises That New Kinect Is Not (Always) A Crazy Spying Machine
By 11.1.13
With the new Xbox One console only weeks away from launch, Microsoft is doing its best to quell concerns that the new Kinect motion and voice sensor will be spying on users and storing important, sensitive information. [More]
Will The Xbox One Live Up To Its “No Jerks” Promise?
By 10.3.13
For the last few months, Microsoft has been saying that the new reputation system being used with the upcoming Xbox One console will cut down on the number of crap-talking tools that have historically kept some gamers away from taking advantage of online multiplayer games. Now the company is explicitly marketing the Xbox One as a “No Jerks” experience. [More]
Bill Gates Admits: Control-Alt-Delete Was A Mistake
By 9.27.13
Kids today might not understand the references to “Ctrl-Alt-Delete,” that lovely, finger-twisting keyboard combination used to reboot or log on to Windows. But in a recent talk, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates explains the rationale behind the unholy trinity and admits that in hindsight, he should have insisted on a single dedicated key. [More]
Microsoft Finally Takes Head Out Of Sand, Opens Up Xbox Music To Android, iOS
September 9, 2013
Nearly a year after replacing its failed Zune music store with Xbox Music, Microsoft has finally come around to the realization that the service, which only worked on computers and wireless devices running Windows operating systems, wasn’t going to convince people to drop their Galaxy S4s, iPhones, iPads, or Kindle Fires. The company announced today that Xbox Music is now available for use on iOS and Android devices, and that web-based streaming is no longer relegated to computers running Windows 8 or RT. [via PCmag.com] [More]
Xbox One Could Use Cloud To Let You Play All Those Xbox 360 Games You Paid For
By 9.5.13
When designing the upcoming Xbox One gaming console, Microsoft made the conscious decision to not make the device backwards-compatible, meaning that all the Xbox 360 games consumers have spent billions of dollars to acquire over the last eight years can not be used on the Xbox One. Realizing that this might miff some gamers, a Microsoft exec now says the idea of backwards compatibility hasn’t been completely ruled out. [More]
You Have Until 2016 Before Microsoft Stops Pretending To Care About Your Xbox 360
By 9.4.13
Now that we all know that the Xbox One will hit stores on Nov. 22, the big question is how quickly the many millions of Xbox 360 consoles will become obsolete, especially when you consider that the new console will not play the games that Xbox users have spent the last eight years purchasing. [More]
Microsoft Swears It Isn’t Going To Change Its Mind Again On Xbox One DRM
By 8.28.13
First, Microsoft announced that the upcoming Xbox One gaming console would severely restrict a user’s ability to resell games or play previously owned titles. Then Sony announced that its competing PS4 wouldn’t have any new restrictions, and Microsoft was basically forced to give them up. But that hasn’t stopped some consumers from being justifiably concerned that, once Xbox One has garnered a substantial user base, Microsoft will pull an about-face and institute the harsh digital rights management programs it had intended. [More]
Delta Gives Windows Phones To 19,000 Flight Attendants, Brings Number Of Windows Phone Users To 19,003
By 8.22.13
Okay, so maybe more than three people currently own and use a Windows-based smartphone (though I’ve never actually seen anyone using one in the real world). Regardless, Delta has picked up a few tons of Nokia Lumia 820 phones to give out to 19,000 of its flight attendants for use during flights. [More]
