Windows 8 review

It's unusual, to say the least, for us to spend a year with a product before publishing our review. In the case of Windows 8, we've written thousands of words already, starting with our first hands-on in September of 2011, followed by deep dives on the Developer Preview, Consumer Preview, Release Preview and RTM build. Even our readers have had ample time to get acquainted with the OS -- it's been available as a public download since February....

Read More

Windows 8 Versions

With only two versions of Windows 8 to be available to consumers, plus one for ARM devices (pre-installed only), what you get ought to be straightforward. But, as is usual with a new version of Windows, there's still room for confusion because what you get with each version overlaps slightly. Windows 8 Windows 8 (yes, just Windows 8) is the home version for x86 Intel and AMD PCs. The features you do and don't get mostly make sense; joining...

Read More

Microsoft won't release Service Pack 2 for Windows 7

The engineering team responsible for building and releasing service packs has reportedly been told there won’t be another service pack for Windows 7. It marks the first time in multiple releases that Microsoft won’t be issuing a second major update. If you recall, Windows XP received three service packs during its run while Vista scored two major bundles. It’s unclear at this hour why Microsoft isn’t planning a second service pack but it doesn’t...

Read More

Mozilla Unveiling

The release of Firefox 16 may not have been as tidy as Mozilla would have liked it to be thanks to the security flaw that was discovered soon afterwards, but apparently that didn't have much of an effect on uptake of the new browser. That's according to research firm Chitika, which says that Mozilla's quick response--the software was patched and re-released less than 24 hours later as version 16.0.1--minimized any potential negative impact. “It...

Read More

Windows 8 spurs new PC designs

If you're going to buy a new computer in the next year or two, the decision will be more complicated. It also will be more fun, with all sorts of new models that will make you think differently about what a PC is, what it does and how it works. A catalyst for this change is the radical new design of Windows 8, which works equally well on a touch-screen tablet, a traditional laptop or an all-in-one desktop PC. Helping things along...

Read More

Cellphones Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide

Shopping for a smartphone can be an exciting and arduous experience. Along with the promise of something new and fantastic, it brings the fear of commitment, and even worse, the prospect of saddling yourself to a lousy device for two years. Fortunately for you, Engadget spends tons of time playing with the latest gear and we're constantly on the lookout for what's coming next. If you're wanting to take the pain out of shopping for a smartphone,...

Read More