Computerworld Gregg Keizer News

Google trumpets small speed boost to Chrome 27

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:24:00 GMT

Google today upgraded Chrome to version 27, touting it as 5% faster as it patched 13 vulnerabilities.

The iPhone's big lead in customer satisfaction is gone

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 GMT

Apple's dominance in smartphone customer satisfaction faded last year, with rivals like Samsung and Motorola dramatically closing the gap, a national survey said today.

Microsoft software satisfaction slumps

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:00 GMT

Customer satisfaction with Microsoft's software, primarily Windows, dropped slightly in the last year, likely part of the fallout over Windows 8, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Boutique PC seller laughs all the way to the bank on the back of Windows 7

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:46:00 GMT

A boutique system builder has bucked the industry trend of slumping PC sales by continuing to focus on selling Windows 7 machines.

Microsoft's $300M Nook investment hasn't paid off -- yet

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Microsoft has gotten next to nothing from its $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble, analysts said, but it may reap some rewards as it prepares to ship smaller tablets.

Dell replays Windows 8 blame card as PC sales slide

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:31:00 GMT

Dell last week again blamed Windows 8 for contributing to a decline in PC sales revenue during the quarter that ended May 3.

Windows 8 is an enterprise 'non-starter' because IT sees no value in changes

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:26:00 GMT

Windows 8 faces a number of hurdles in the enterprise, but the biggest reason it won't replace the current corporate champion, Windows 7, is simple: IT shops don't think it's worth the upgrade hassle.

Google steals march on Apple in music subscription

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:34:00 GMT

Google beat Apple to the music subscription service punch this week, perhaps the doing of record labels who wanted to put Apple in its place, an analyst said

Google issues YouTube ultimatum to Microsoft as Hatfield-McCoy feud heats up

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Google yesterday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, demanding that its rival remove the YouTube app built for the Windows Phone platform.

Oracle renumbers Java patch updates, confuses users even more

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Oracle has changed the numbering of its Java security updates, prompting one expert to say, "As if Java updates weren't confusing already."

Windows 8 isn't New Coke, says top Microsoft exec; it's Diet Coke

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:47:00 GMT

Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft's head of corporate communications, defended his company's Windows information disclosure strategy, denying that Microsoft has adopted Apple's "cone of silence" approach to imparting news.

Mozilla to Firefox: 'Browser, heal thyself'

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:39:00 GMT

Mozilla on Tuesday released Firefox 21, adding more social media connections, tweaking the Do Not Track privacy setting and rolling out a new tool that long term, aims to create a self-healing browser.

Microsoft votes for free Windows 8.1, collects kudos

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:00 GMT

Microsoft today announced that Windows 8.1, the update later this year for Windows 8, will be free to current users of the operating system, confirming analysts' expectations.

Windows 8 app store fails Top 10 test

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:50:00 GMT

Microsoft's Windows 8 app store failed a test touted by a former Microsoft manager and distinguished engineer as a way to determine an ecosystem's relevance.

Microsoft to squeeze more devs into BUILD

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:53:00 GMT

Microsoft today said it has increased the head count for its June developers conference, and will sell the extra tickets Wednesday.

Microsoft's counter-attack against Windows 8 coverage makes it 'look weak'

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:27:00 GMT

Microsoft on Friday called some media coverage of its plans to update Windows 8 sensationalist and an effort to drive website page views.

Why Microsoft won't charge for Windows 'Blue' ... this time

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:10:00 GMT

Sometime soon, Microsoft will tell Windows 8 users whether they will have to pay for the upgrade code-named "Blue," and if so, how much. Analysts don't expect it to charge anything for the update.

Microsoft sends gamblin' Pete Rose to the plate in swing at Google Docs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Microsoft today took another shot at rival Google, calling its rival's online application suite, Google Docs, "too big a gamble."

Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes.

Backlash begins against Adobe's subscription-only plan

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:48:00 GMT

A petition on Change.org demanding that Adobe back away from its subscription-only model for its creativity software, including Photoshop, has collected over 4,400 signatures by late Thursday.

Microsoft rushes IE8 zero-day fix into next week's Patch Tuesday

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:06:00 GMT

Microsoft today said it will issue 10 security updates next week, two rated "critical," to patch 33 vulnerabilities, including the zero-day bug that has been used by cyber criminals to poison "watering hole" websites in attacks aimed at U.S. government workers.

Best case, Mozilla's Firefox for Windows 8 will ship in October

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:48:00 GMT

Firefox for Windows 8's "Modern" user interface (UI) will likely wrap up development this fall, Mozilla said on its website in a best case-worst case schedule.

Estimates peg 59M Windows 8 devices in use

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:36:00 GMT

Microsoft this week said that it had sold 100 million licenses of Windows 8 in the operating system's first six months. But how many copies are being used?

Microsoft won't guarantee buy-not-rent Office for next decade

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:45:00 GMT

Microsoft yesterday took a swipe at long-time partner Adobe for the latter's wholesale shift to rent-not-buy software subscriptions, and along the way seemed to promise it would Office as old-school perpetual licenses for the next 10 years.

Start button's return to Windows 8? Probably, but there's no guarantee

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:20:00 GMT

Microsoft's head of Windows development on Tuesday came close to promising that the iconic Start button would return to the Windows 8 desktop, but never made a guarantee.

Microsoft's drip-drip-drip Windows communications strategy dubbed a washout

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:03:00 GMT

Microsoft's Tami Reller, the CFO and head of marketing for the Windows division, went on a mini publicity spree today. But she didn't say very much.

$300M investment in Nook delivers next to nothing for Microsoft

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:53:00 GMT

Microsoft has gotten little from a 2012 investment of $300 million with Barnes & Noble, analysts said, but it's poised to reap some rewards as it and its partners start to ship smaller tablets.

Security pros cheer hint of hands-off updates in Windows Blue

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:02:00 GMT

Microsoft's apparent plan to automatically update its own Windows Store apps in the next version of Windows 8 is drawing praise from security experts.

Gates sticks to company line on tablets, knocks iPad

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:40:00 GMT

Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates today stuck to the company line on tablets, and disparaged rival Apple's iPad for its lack of a keyboard and its inability to run Office.

Apple breaks into Fortune 500's top 10

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:18:00 GMT

Apple climbed the Fortune 500 this year to the No. 6 spot, its highest-ever ranking, its first time in the top 10, and the top technology company on the influential list, replacing sagging HP.

Microsoft's $2B loan to Dell comes with strings

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

As part of Microsoft's loan of $2 billion to a group trying to buy PC maker Dell, the two companies must modify the payment terms of Dell's current agreements with Microsoft, a document filed with U.S. regulators said.

Amazon leaks evidence of first smaller, cheaper Windows 8 tablet

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:59:00 GMT

Details of what could be the first smaller Windows 8 tablet leaked Friday when Amazon briefly published a listing for an 8.1-in. Acer Iconia tablet.

Microsoft admits zero-day bug in IE8, pledges patch

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:42:00 GMT

Microsoft late Friday confirmed that a "zero-day," or unpatched, vulnerability exists in Internet Explorer 8, the company's most popular browser.

Google bares Chrome's Trojan strategy with native-style packaged apps

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:08:00 GMT

Google's move this week to make it easier for Chrome browser users to find "packaged apps" is part of a strategy to turn any Internet-capable device into a Chromebook wannabe loyal to the company's ecosystem, an analyst said today.

Retailers didn't do Windows 8 any favors

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Retailers share part of the blame for poor Windows 8 sales and the ensuing decline of PC shipments, analysts contended today.

Rare working Apple-1 computer to hit auction block this month

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:21:00 GMT

A German auctioneer will put a working Apple-1 computer on the block later this month, and expects the handmade computer to fetch between $261,000 and $392,000 at Thursday's exchange rate.

Apple hijacks OS X devs to keep iOS on track

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:54:00 GMT

Apple may delay the release of OS X 10.9 because it's pulled engineers from the team to help in a final push on the next version of iOS, according to online reports.

Think different: Apple's $17B debt offers stark contrast to 1996's junk bonds

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:39:00 GMT

Apple's record-setting $17 billion bond offer this week stood in stark contrast to the company's darkest days, when in 1996 its millions in notes were rated as junk because investors wondered if the company would survive a thrashing by Microsoft

Windows 8 grows slow, XP just won't go

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:07:00 GMT

Microsoft was hit with a double whammy last month as it made scant progress in either boosting the usage share of Windows 8 or depressing the share of Windows XP, data published today showed.

Microsoft's browser auto-update pays off as IE10 share doubles

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:19:00 GMT

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) doubled its usage share last month, and now accounts for nearly 11% of all copies of IE in use, a Web measurement company said today.

Want the best tech support? Buy a Mac, says Consumer Reports

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:15:00 GMT

Apple today again captured top honors in Consumer Reports' tech support ratings survey, besting other computer makers by a wide margin.

Sued Opera designer fingers Mozilla's 'Search Tabs' as root of $3.4M claim

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:35:00 GMT

The former Opera Software designer accused of leaking trade secrets to Mozilla denied the charges yesterday, but confirmed that the lawsuit takes aim at a search revamp he worked on while a consultant for the maker of Firefox.

Yes Siri, no Siri, for the Mac

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:40:00 GMT

Apple's next version of OS X will probably not include Siri, the digital, voice-activated assistant embedded in the iPhone and iPad, an analyst predicted.

Update: Opera slaps former designer with $3.4M lawsuit for spilling secrets

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:01:00 GMT

Opera Software has sued a former designer, claiming that work he did for the company ended up in a project at rival Mozilla, according to Norwegian press reports today.

Google pays record $31K bounty for Chrome bugs

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Google this month paid a security researcher $31,336 for reporting a trio of bugs in Chrome.

Google backs off redesign of Chrome's New Tab Page

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:36:00 GMT

Google has apparently rethought a change to its Chrome browser that had users up in arms and has restored an older design of its popular New Tab Page in the newest beta of Chrome 27.

Moves, mistakes prove Steve Jobs era at Apple over, say analysts

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:59:00 GMT

Apple is clearly not Steve Jobs' company any longer, analysts said this week, citing examples from Tuesday's earning calls with Wall Street.

Apple to challenge $368M patent infringement verdict

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Apple will challenge a November 2012 jury verdict that awarded $368 million in damages to Nevada patent-holding company VirnetX, a filing with U.S. regulators showed.

Google adds in-browser Office doc viewing to Chrome

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:37:00 GMT

Google yesterday released an add-on that lets users view Microsoft Office documents within its Chrome browser, another small step in the search giant's encroachment on Microsoft's lucrative business productivity turf.

Windows Blue won't solve all Microsoft's problems, analysts say

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:13:00 GMT

Microsoft's failure thus far to significantly spark PC and tablet sales with Windows 8 has put high expectations on an expected 2013 refresh of the OS, dubbed 'Blue.'