Windows 8 is a Big Loser

As reported in multiple sources (see story below), Windows 7 is still growing much faster than Win8.x (Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 combined), and at the same time in the life cycle of both OS, Win7 clearly shows Windows 8 is a big #FAIL. Even worse, the bulk of the desktop OS (see chart above) that Microsoft has, is mostly on either Windows 7 or Windows XP. Many of those users have already REJECTED moving to Windows 8, and will in the next few years go to computers, tablets, and even smartphones, on operating systems made by Google (Chrome OS, Android), Apple (iOS, OS X Mavericks), and even Linux. Why did Windows 8 fail on desktop and notebook computers? See story below --

The stats don't lie: Windows 8.1 seriously underperforming compared to Windows 7: "Following Windows market share on NetApplications, as I do every month, it’s clear to me that Windows 8.x isn’t the hit Microsoft hoped for. There are several reasons for this, all of which I’ve discussed previously -- dwindling PC sales, users dislike of touch and the Modern UI, and so on. Last month Windows 7’s growth outpaced that of Windows 8.x by four fold, and it’s not the first time the older OS has proven the more popular choice either. It’s becoming something of a regular occurrence. Adoption of the tiled OS is slow, very slow. Especially compared with the strong pick up Windows 7 enjoyed from the start."

Tech giants call on president and Congress to rein in Internet spy programs - SiliconValley.com: "In an unusual joint statement, leading Internet companies called Monday for new legal restrictions on government spy programs that the companies view as an increasing threat both to their customers' privacy and their own business interests. "The U.S. government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement that accompanied an open letter to the president and Congress. The letter was also endorsed by top executives at Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and other Internet giants who are usually fierce competitors...."

Microsoft: We goofed on that Windows 7 end-of-sales date
ZDNet
Summary: Microsoft officials are now saying the end-of-sales date for PCs preinstalled with Windows 7 is 'to be determined,' rather than October 30, 2014. By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft | December 10, 2013...

Apple's Siri has met her match, analyst says

USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO -- Google's voice-based search service, Google Now, has improved enough in the past year to rival Apple's Siri, although both technologies still need work, according to test results released Tuesday. Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper ...

10 New Android and iOS Apps Get Chromecast Support:  10 new apps on iOS and Android have gained support for Chromecast streaming today. They are a mix of audio and video apps that pull content from various online sources, and also a few that can stream your personal files....

Microsoft beefs up account security

PCWorld
Microsoft is adding a few new security features to provide more peace of mind for Microsoft Account holders. Users will soon be able to see a recent activity log ...

Times of India

Apple offering free computer coding classes as part of initiative

Los Angeles Times
"Visit your favorite Apple Retail Store on December 11 for a free one hour... that anyone can learn the basics of computer programming," Apple'swebsite says.

eWeek

Apple patents tech for making curved touch surfaces, displays

Apple Insider
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday awarded Apple a patent that describes a method for efficiently manufacturing curved touch surfaces, ...

Apple Insider

Google replaces buggy KitKat with another update

CNET
Google replaces buggy KitKat with another update. Nexus 5 owners, don't be surprised when you get Android 4.4.2 KitKat, even though the last Android update ...

Modern Readers

Google Scraps Plan to Build Hong Kong Data Center

Wall Street Journal (blog)
Internet giant Google Inc. has scrapped a plan to build its own data center in Hong Kong and will instead expand its facilities in Taiwan and Singapore.

Wall Street Journal

How Apple's Lightning-Plug Guru Reinvented Square's Card Reader

Wired
The new Square Reader is 45 percent thinner than the previous version--a slimming that took careful consideration of the device's components. Photo: Josh ...

Apple Insider

Google +Post Turns Google+ Content Into Web Ads

PC Magazine
Google today rolled out +Post ads, which let brands push content from public Google+ pages to any site using Google's ad network. The offering, still in beta, will ...

Digit

Microsoft 'not aware of any surveillance activity' on Xbox Live

Computerandvideogames.com
Microsoft has told CVG it is "not aware" of any NSA surveillance activity on Xbox Live following fresh reports of government snooping on its online gaming ...

MiamiHerald.com

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