Media Center yanked from Windows 8 Release Preview, here's how to re-enable it

Microsoft has already said that Windows Media Center will be available to Windows 8 users as a separate, paid for add-on, rather than being integrated into the OS as was the case with the last two releases of Windows. Although it was still present in the Consumer Preview, if you’ve already installed the new Release Preview build you may have noticed that the media center software is nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, there is a way to enable Media Center in Windows 8 Release Preview for free so users can continue testing it in the interim. Also, if you want to play DVDs on Windows 8, Media Center or a third-party app are required, as Microsoft decided not to include DVD and Blu-ray playback by default anymore.

Here are the instructions as detailed on a Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview FAQ:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Add features to Windows 8.Tap or click I already have a product key.Enter this product key: MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 and then click Next.Select the checkbox to accept the license terms and then click Add features.Your PC will restart and the Windows Media Center tile will be pinned to the Start screen.

This is the same procedure users will need to follow when adding Media Center to the final version of Windows 8 — save for the fact that you’ll need to pay for the license key. Microsoft hasn’t revealed exactly how much the upgrade will cost yet, besides saying that "it will be in line with marginal costs".

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Center,heres,Media,Preview,reenable,release,Windows,yanked

Microsoft SkyDrive update adds Windows 8 sync, other improvements

The client software for SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage solution, has been updated for both Windows and Mac OS X. Build 16.4.4111.0525 adds improved Windows 8 integration, specifically with photos and goes on to address a number of bugs and quirks. The update also aims to improve performance and the overall user experience.

Probably the biggest change in SkyDrive's client software is its Windows 8 photo manager integration. When a user logs in with their Microsoft account (a.k.a. Windows Live), the Windows 8 Photo app will work with photos from the associated SkyDrive account. This new feature will also work with the Windows 8 Release Preview, something Microsoft just released for public consumption today.

Other changes include a bump from 150,000 files to a maximum of 10 million, improved reliability in both terms of syncing and stability and quicker folder updates. In April, Microsoft had lowered the 25GB of space to 7GB but upped the maximum file size to 2GB. More storage can be purchased at a premium.

 Windows 8 integration obviously isn't useful for Mac users. However, those who do use SkyDrive on their Macs may be pleased to know that the annoyingly persistent SkyDrive icon has been taken out back and shot. 

If you already have SkyDrive installed, the update should be pushed out automatically -- SkyDrive just needs to be running. Windows users can check to see what version they are using by right-clicking on the SkyDrive icon in the system tray (right corner of the task bar) and clicking "Settings" from the menu. For Mac users, bring the SkyDrive application into focus, click the "Settings" menu at the top of the screen and then click "About". The latest build number should be 16.4.4111.0525.

If you don't have SkyDrive and would like to give it a whirl, you can download it here (Mac & PC). This installer will update to the latest version during setup.

Not sure what cloud storage is best for you? You may also want to check out our very own cloud storage comparison.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: improvements,Microsoft,other,SkyDrive,update,Windows

Windows 8 Release Preview is out, download now

Microsoft accidentally leaked yesterday that Windows 8 Release Preview would become available today and indeed, it's now here, download links are below. Windows 8's development has been considerably more open than on previous releases, we believe in part so Microsoft could introduce and tweak the new Metro interface, which has become the new face of the Windows operating system.

The combination of the new Metro-based Start screen and the traditional desktop has been criticized by many, but at this point it's become apparent there's no turning back. Microsoft is betting heavily on a new paradigm that has the traditional PC and upcoming tablets sharing a common user interface, which also resembles Windows Phone OS’ latest efforts.

We’ll bring you more details on Windows 8 Release Preview changes and new features shortly.

Download: Windows 8 Release Preview 32-bit, 64-bit or Upgrade Assistant

Product Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

Also available: Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate  |  Windows 8 Driver Kit

Key Features and Changes

It delivers new Bing apps, including ones for Travel, News and SportsImprovements to Mail, Photos and People apps since the Consumer PreviewIncreased personalization options for the Start screenImproved multi-monitor supportRefinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows StoreNew Family safety features and enriched privacy and security controls when browsing online, including Do Not Track capabilities being turned on by default with Internet Explorer 10Enriched support for touch with Internet Explorer 10, including a new capability with the Release Preview called “flip ahead” that allows users the option to flip between pages with the swipe of a finger, as well as a touch-friendly  Adobe Flash Player now fully integrated into IE10; IE10 is also the first browser to enable Do Not Track “on” by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy

Here's a handy list of relevant Windows 8 stories, so you can catch up while you download:

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: download,Preview,release,Windows

Microsoft SkyDrive update adds Windows 8 sync, other improvements

The client software for SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage solution, has been updated for both Windows and Mac OS X. Build 16.4.4111.0525 adds improved Windows 8 integration, specifically with photos and goes on to address a number of bugs and quirks. The update also aims to improve performance and the overall user experience.

Probably the biggest change in SkyDrive's client software is its Windows 8 photo manager integration. When a user logs in with their Microsoft account (a.k.a. Windows Live), the Windows 8 Photo app will work with photos from the associated SkyDrive account. This new feature will also work with the Windows 8 Release Preview, something Microsoft just released for public consumption today.

Other changes include a bump from 150,000 files to a maximum of 10 million, improved reliability in both terms of syncing and stability and quicker folder updates. In April, Microsoft had lowered the 25GB of space to 7GB but upped the maximum file size to 2GB. More storage can be purchased at a premium.

 Windows 8 integration obviously isn't useful for Mac users. However, those who do use SkyDrive on their Macs may be pleased to know that the annoyingly persistent SkyDrive icon has been taken out back and shot. 

If you already have SkyDrive installed, the update should be pushed out automatically -- SkyDrive just needs to be running. Windows users can check to see what version they are using by right-clicking on the SkyDrive icon in the system tray (right corner of the task bar) and clicking "Settings" from the menu. For Mac users, bring the SkyDrive application into focus, click the "Settings" menu at the top of the screen and then click "About". The latest build number should be 16.4.4111.0525.

If you don't have SkyDrive and would like to give it a whirl, you can download it here (Mac & PC). This installer will update to the latest version during setup.

Not sure what cloud storage is best for you? You may also want to check out our very own cloud storage comparison.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: improvements,Microsoft,other,SkyDrive,update,Windows

Media Center yanked from Windows 8 Release Preview, here's how to re-enable it

Microsoft has already said that Windows Media Center will be available to Windows 8 users as a separate, paid for add-on, rather than being integrated into the OS as was the case with the last two releases of Windows. Although it was still present in the Consumer Preview, if you’ve already installed the new Release Preview build you may have noticed that the media center software is nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, there is a way to enable Media Center in Windows 8 Release Preview for free so users can continue testing it in the interim. Also, if you want to play DVDs on Windows 8, Media Center or a third-party app are required, as Microsoft decided not to include DVD and Blu-ray playback by default anymore.

Here are the instructions as detailed on a Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview FAQ:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Add features to Windows 8.Tap or click I already have a product key.Enter this product key: MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 and then click Next.Select the checkbox to accept the license terms and then click Add features.Your PC will restart and the Windows Media Center tile will be pinned to the Start screen.

This is the same procedure users will need to follow when adding Media Center to the final version of Windows 8 — save for the fact that you’ll need to pay for the license key. Microsoft hasn’t revealed exactly how much the upgrade will cost yet, besides saying that "it will be in line with marginal costs".

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Center,heres,Media,Preview,reenable,release,Windows,yanked

Acer, Asus, Toshiba to showcase Windows 8 tablets at Computex

Acer, Asus and Toshiba are all planning to showcase Windows 8 / Windows RT tablets at Computex next week in Taiwan. Windows 8 will be featured on slates running Intel processors while RT will make an appearance on ARM-powered chips from the likes of Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, according to a new report from Bloomberg citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Acer’s offering will be a traditional tablet powered by an Intel chip while Asus will showcase something similar to their Transformer model with a removable keyboard. The company is expected to have tablets on display that use Intel chips and Nvidia’s Tegra 3 SoC. Sources say that Toshiba will introduce a hybrid notebook / tablet device, perhaps similar to the Lenovo Yoga we saw at CES, with a Texas Instruments chip under the hood.

More specifically, Asus vice president Steven Guggenheimer is expected to show off their lineup during a presentation on June 6. Qualcomm is also planning to demonstrate a product running Windows RT on their Snapdragon processor. CNET says that this information correlates with what they have been hearing from their sources as well.

While we can expect to see a number of Windows 8 devices launch alongside the OS later this year, we are told that Windows RT devices will initially be limited in quantity and come from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba. Windows RT is designed specifically to run on ARM processors, the first mainstream version of Windows to do so.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Computex,showcase,tablets,Toshiba,Windows

Media Center yanked from Windows 8 Release Preview, here's how to re-enable it

Microsoft has already said that Windows Media Center will be available to Windows 8 users as a separate, paid for add-on, rather than being integrated into the OS as was the case with the last two releases of Windows. Although it was still present in the Consumer Preview, if you’ve already installed the new Release Preview build you may have noticed that the media center software is nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, there is a way to enable Media Center in Windows 8 Release Preview for free so users can continue testing it in the interim. Also, if you want to play DVDs on Windows 8, Media Center or a third-party app are required, as Microsoft decided not to include DVD and Blu-ray playback by default anymore.

Here are the instructions as detailed on a Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview FAQ:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Add features to Windows 8.Tap or click I already have a product key.Enter this product key: MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 and then click Next.Select the checkbox to accept the license terms and then click Add features.Your PC will restart and the Windows Media Center tile will be pinned to the Start screen.

This is the same procedure users will need to follow when adding Media Center to the final version of Windows 8 — save for the fact that you’ll need to pay for the license key. Microsoft hasn’t revealed exactly how much the upgrade will cost yet, besides saying that "it will be in line with marginal costs".

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Center,heres,Media,Preview,reenable,release,Windows,yanked

Acer, Asus, Toshiba to showcase Windows 8 tablets at Computex

Acer, Asus and Toshiba are all planning to showcase Windows 8 / Windows RT tablets at Computex next week in Taiwan. Windows 8 will be featured on slates running Intel processors while RT will make an appearance on ARM-powered chips from the likes of Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, according to a new report from Bloomberg citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Acer’s offering will be a traditional tablet powered by an Intel chip while Asus will showcase something similar to their Transformer model with a removable keyboard. The company is expected to have tablets on display that use Intel chips and Nvidia’s Tegra 3 SoC. Sources say that Toshiba will introduce a hybrid notebook / tablet device, perhaps similar to the Lenovo Yoga we saw at CES, with a Texas Instruments chip under the hood.

More specifically, Asus vice president Steven Guggenheimer is expected to show off their lineup during a presentation on June 6. Qualcomm is also planning to demonstrate a product running Windows RT on their Snapdragon processor. CNET says that this information correlates with what they have been hearing from their sources as well.

While we can expect to see a number of Windows 8 devices launch alongside the OS later this year, we are told that Windows RT devices will initially be limited in quantity and come from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba. Windows RT is designed specifically to run on ARM processors, the first mainstream version of Windows to do so.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Computex,showcase,tablets,Toshiba,Windows

Microsoft SkyDrive update adds Windows 8 sync, other improvements

The client software for SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage solution, has been updated for both Windows and Mac OS X. Build 16.4.4111.0525 adds improved Windows 8 integration, specifically with photos and goes on to address a number of bugs and quirks. The update also aims to improve performance and the overall user experience.

Probably the biggest change in SkyDrive's client software is its Windows 8 photo manager integration. When a user logs in with their Microsoft account (a.k.a. Windows Live), the Windows 8 Photo app will work with photos from the associated SkyDrive account. This new feature will also work with the Windows 8 Release Preview, something Microsoft just released for public consumption today.

Other changes include a bump from 150,000 files to a maximum of 10 million, improved reliability in both terms of syncing and stability and quicker folder updates. In April, Microsoft had lowered the 25GB of space to 7GB but upped the maximum file size to 2GB. More storage can be purchased at a premium.

 Windows 8 integration obviously isn't useful for Mac users. However, those who do use SkyDrive on their Macs may be pleased to know that the annoyingly persistent SkyDrive icon has been taken out back and shot. 

If you already have SkyDrive installed, the update should be pushed out automatically -- SkyDrive just needs to be running. Windows users can check to see what version they are using by right-clicking on the SkyDrive icon in the system tray (right corner of the task bar) and clicking "Settings" from the menu. For Mac users, bring the SkyDrive application into focus, click the "Settings" menu at the top of the screen and then click "About". The latest build number should be 16.4.4111.0525.

If you don't have SkyDrive and would like to give it a whirl, you can download it here (Mac & PC). This installer will update to the latest version during setup.

Not sure what cloud storage is best for you? You may also want to check out our very own cloud storage comparison.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: improvements,Microsoft,other,SkyDrive,update,Windows

Windows 8 Release Preview is out, download now

Microsoft accidentally leaked yesterday that Windows 8 Release Preview would become available today and indeed, it's now here, download links are below. Windows 8's development has been considerably more open than on previous releases, we believe in part so Microsoft could introduce and tweak the new Metro interface, which has become the new face of the Windows operating system.

The combination of the new Metro-based Start screen and the traditional desktop has been criticized by many, but at this point it's become apparent there's no turning back. Microsoft is betting heavily on a new paradigm that has the traditional PC and upcoming tablets sharing a common user interface, which also resembles Windows Phone OS’ latest efforts.

We’ll bring you more details on Windows 8 Release Preview changes and new features shortly.

Download: Windows 8 Release Preview 32-bit, 64-bit or Upgrade Assistant

Product Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF

Also available: Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate  |  Windows 8 Driver Kit

Key Features and Changes

It delivers new Bing apps, including ones for Travel, News and SportsImprovements to Mail, Photos and People apps since the Consumer PreviewIncreased personalization options for the Start screenImproved multi-monitor supportRefinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows StoreNew Family safety features and enriched privacy and security controls when browsing online, including Do Not Track capabilities being turned on by default with Internet Explorer 10Enriched support for touch with Internet Explorer 10, including a new capability with the Release Preview called “flip ahead” that allows users the option to flip between pages with the swipe of a finger, as well as a touch-friendly  Adobe Flash Player now fully integrated into IE10; IE10 is also the first browser to enable Do Not Track “on” by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy

Here's a handy list of relevant Windows 8 stories, so you can catch up while you download:

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: download,Preview,release,Windows

Amazon Cloud Drive gets desktop app for Mac and Windows

Amazon's Cloud Drive has been around for a while, but yesterday the company made it much easier to upload files from its servers by releasing dedicated apps fow Windows and OS X. The move comes hot on the heels of Google Drive's launch last week and Microsoft revamping its SkyDrive cloud storage solution.

Unlike the aforementioned two, as well as services like Dropbox, Cloud Drive doesn't create a specific folder that syncs its content automatically to your Amazon-hosted storage. Rather, you use a contextual menu or drag files onto the cloud icon in your taskbar to upload them, and have to manually re-upload stuff if you make changes that you want stored in the cloud. When you want to download or manage and move files to appropriate folders on your Cloud Drive account, you have to access the service via a web browser.

There's no support for syncing data between multiple devices using the cloud as an intermediary, and you also don't get any features to share files publicly or with other users. In other words, it’s a simple one-way tool for uploading specific files or folders to the cloud, with the ability to pause or resume interrupted transfers.

We wouldn't be surprised to see Amazon adding some of these features with later builds of the application -- it seems like the way to go if they want to compete with other cloud-based storage providers.

Amazon Cloud Drive comes with 5GB of free storage space and is available to anyone with an account at Amazon.com. You can upgrade to several tiered packages at a dollar per gigabyte: 20GB for $20 a year, 50GB for $50 and so on up to 1000GB. Songs purchased through Amazon MP3 don't count toward your Cloud Drive storage limit on any plan, while paid tiers also allow unlimited storage of digital music acquired elsewhere.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Amazon,Cloud,desktop,Drive,Windows

Microsoft to drop "Windows Live" brand alongside Windows 8 release

Were you finally getting used to the idea of Microsoft integrating its products and services under the "Windows Live" umbrella? Well, if you're someone who's gotten comfortable with the Windows Live brand, you're about to be jettisoned into the zone of discomfort again.
With the advent of Windows 8 looming around the corner, Microsoft has decided to retire its "Windows Live" brand.
Debuting in 2005, Windows Live has grown to encompass a collection of software and services. But, as Microsoft reasons on its blog, much of that functionality will not only be included in Windows 8 but reimagined. As a result, Microsoft will be dropping Windows Live in favor of a suite of rethought cloud-based "apps" featuring better integration and simplified naming conventions.
Services like Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Calendar or even Windows Live Mail will now simply be referred to as Messenger, Calendar and Mail, respectively. Services like Hotmail will continue operating normally, but Microsoft is looking to unify all of its services under a singular "Microsoft account". The company does not go into great detail concerning what that will mean for @live.com accounts, but the blog post does mention migrating those users over to the new system. The same Microsoft account can also be used for signing into Windows 8 and will be used for Xbox Live, Zune and others.
Here's what Microsoft intends services and products to look like under Windows 8:

Over the years, a number of Microsoft products have endured some form of identity or brand confusion. In 2005, Microsoft had tried migrating users from Hotmail to its Live brand, but shortly afterward was forced to reverse its plans.
Another great example of that confusion is Windows Live Mesh. WLM was born from an acquisition which spawned Windows FolderShare. Live Mesh came along as an independent project but overstepped FolderShare's turf, so Microsoft renamed Windows FolderShare to Windows Live Sync. Live Mesh never quite made it out of beta, but developers merged Windows Live Sync with Live Mesh to make Windows Live Mesh but the two existed concurrently and...
Ahhh, forget it. Just read this instead.
View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: alongside,brand,Microsoft,release,Windows

Motorola wins injunction: Xbox 360 and Windows 7 sales banned in Germany

Microsoft was dealt a huge blow by Motorola Mobility after the latter was granted an injunction by the Mannheim Courts in Germany, preventing the Redmond-based software giant from selling online or in German stores its Xbox 360 games console and Windows 7 operating system. The results of this court case is just one of several which are said to include around 50 patents that the phone maker claims Microsoft should have licensed.

The conflict centers around Microsoft's use of Motorola Mobility's patents for the H.264 video compression standard, which is used widely in the industry. The patent itself describes a way of reducing the size of video files and is licensed under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Microsoft rejected the original licensing terms, claiming that such an agreement would result in the software giant paying an annual bill of around $4 billion. Motorola disputes that figure.

"We are pleased that the Mannheim Court found that Microsoft products infringe Motorola Mobility's intellectual property. As a path forward, we remain open to resolving this matter. Fair compensation is all that we have been seeking for our intellectual property," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The court's decision effectively means Microsoft must remove all infringing products from sale from the German market, although a seven day grace period has been given during which time the OS maker can appeal. That said, it's unlikely it will ever get to the point where that will happen. Motorola will most likely use the court win as leverage to get licensing agreed, plus backdated compensation for past usage.

"This is one step in a long process, and we are confident that Motorola will eventually be held to its promise to make its standard essential patents available on fair and reasonable terms for the benefit of consumers who enjoy video on the web," said a spokesman for Microsoft in a statement. "Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise."

As a precaution, Microsoft moved its European distribution center from Germany to the Netherlands last month, to minimize the possibility of any potential disruptions. This case follows on from a decision by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) last week, which also ruled that Microsoft's Xbox 360 games console is infringing patents owned by Motorola. A hearing in the US has been set for May 7, although it's possible the Judge will delay the ruling until a later date.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: banned,Germany,injunction,Motorola,sales,Windows

Windows 8 won't support DVD, Blu-ray playback by default

Microsoft has pounded another nail in the coffin for optical media with the revelation that it won't be including DVD playback support by default in Windows 8. With a post on the Building Windows 8 blog yesterday, the company explained that DVD and Blu-ray playback as well as watching broadcast TV on PCs is in decline, and thus it no longer feels that the cost of licensing specialized decoders across all copies of Windows is justified.

Windows Media Player will continue to be offered in all versions of Windows 8 and allow playback for internet video and other files, but without DVD playback capability. Instead, those who need the functionality can purchase the Windows Media Center upgrade separately, or use third-party software.

The Windows Media Center update will be available to Windows 8 customers via the Add Features to Windows 8 control panel (formerly known as Windows Anytime Upgrade), bringing full integration with DVD playback, broadcast TV recording and playback, and VOB file playback. Exactly how much the upgrade will cost should be announced closer to Windows 8's launch, but Microsoft says "it will be in line with marginal costs".

While the move might seem a bit drastic it probably will be just a minor annoyance considering there are tons of free third-party video players out there that support DVD playback, including the popular VLC. Moreover, Windows 8 will run on a variety of form factors that don’t have optical drives to play DVDs, including tablets and ultrabooks, so the decision to avoid paying licensing fees for these devices seems reasonable.

That said, faithful Media Center users will still be disappointed with news that it will be sold as a separated add-on, rather than being integrated into the OS as was the case with the last two releases of Windows.

View the original article here

Read more »

Posted in: Bluray,default,playback,support,Windows