Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Windows 8: Good for the PC market - or rather does not it?
The consumer PC market has not been the launch of Windows 8 will receive the boost that would have been needed - with this assessment, the analysts at NPD Group, at least come for the current trend in the U.S.. Thus, the sales of Windows machines in the four weeks had declined since the introduction of the new operating system by 21 percent over the same period. While sales of notebooks in the U.S. declined by as much as 24 percent, the NPD analysts registered with desktop PCs only a decline of 9 percent.
After all, but was just over half (58 percent) was the newly shipped Windows systems already equipped with Windows 8, as NPD analyst Stephen Baker said. Also, the market research context had recently said that the sales of Windows 8 would develop in Western Europe "as expected". Meanwhile, Microsoft says more than 40 million
Europe: Windows 8 is less than 1% of visits to the Web
Three weeks after its launch, which is Windows 8? As usual, AT Internet focused on visits from the new OS on the websites audited by the measurement specialist.
Windows-8-hack to bypass the forced activation
Not all Microsoft lags behind so much as in the tablet market: When it comes to protecting their own software against unlicensed use, it is quite far forward. The days when anyone could with a matching key Corp. overturn the forced activation of Windows XP are long gone. Who wants partout use Windows nowadays illegally, must bring prior knowledge and invest plenty of time and effort. Some take it but obviously more athletic, if only because Microsoft have legitimate interest, that its products will not be used without a license, recklessly for years penetrated on the backs of honest customers. And so the search continues for ways and with Windows 8 has now been rumored to return a found.
Acer: sales boost from Windows 8
Acer is hoping for a sales jump at the start of the next Microsoft operating system, Windows 8 "Acer will quickly introduce a number of Windows 8 devices on the market. Which we expect this fall again a powerful boost to the sales figures," said Acer Europe head Oliver Ahrens of the Berliner Zeitung.
Acer takes on the German PC market with a share of 14.5 percent last. The Computer Group from Taiwan could rely to buck the general trend of its business: During the market, according to market researcher Gartner shrank by 6.5 percent, Acer put out a paragraph jump of nearly 27 percent. Total business with notebook and desktop computers suffers greatly from the enthusiasm of the customers for smartphones and tablet computers.
Microsoft plans to offer Windows 8, which appears in late October, a single operating system for PCs and mobile devices. This as well as the user interface for desktop and notebook was closely based on the mobile design, which is criticized by many industry observers. Also, a first glance of the EU stated already a malaise that should feel particularly experienced users due to the many changes at the surface and the operation. The Gartner estimated the approach of Microsoft with Windows 8 already risky. However, Microsoft had to take the risk if the company is in a world of advanced mobile devices would continue to play a relevant role.
Ahrens was now confident: "The control via touch-screen and a new design of Windows 8 requires the users but from some - that hurdle is overcome only once, it works very well." Ahrens was also confident that some pundits were in the swan songs tune up to the death of the PC too fast to explain given tablets and increasingly powerful smart phones the end of the PC era is premature: "The classic, powerful, secure and easily operated computer stays with us for long. course more and more people will take advantage of the Tablet PC in addition. Who efficiently create content and wants to manage and want optimal communication, which is also not pass continue on a laptop or desktop PC. And these are the most households and businesses. "
VirtualBox 4.2 supports Windows 8 and Mountain Lion
Oracle has released version 4.2 of its free desktop Virtualisierers VirtualBox. VirtualBox 4.2 supports Windows 8, Mac OS X 10.8 "Lion Mountain" and Oracle Linux 6.3 as host and guest. With the new version it is possible to limit the network bandwidth, and virtual machines VMs integrate into VLANs. Virtual machines can now group, which improves visibility in many VMs.
VirtualBox is available as open source under GPL 2 source code along with packages for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris available for download. The only free for personal use "Extension Pack" upgrade for the support for USB 2.0 and access to virtual machines via RDP.
Main board firmware for UEFI Secure Boot
With Windows 8, Microsoft wants to replace the outdated PC BIOS: complete systems with factory-installed operating system and Windows-8-logo must meet the hardware certification requirements that prescribe the UEFI mode enabled Secure Boot feature. Without deliberate intervention by the user starts thus excluding the preinstalled Windows 8 no other operating system, unless it brings a Microsoft digitally signed UEFI boot loader.
Secure Boot is thereby prevent the start of malware blocked but also the first of many boats USB drives or optical media, and therefore the installation of other operating systems. Microsoft also does prescribe that Secure Boot be on normal x86 PCs and laptops can be disabled, but it is probably depending on motherboard firmware, a trip to the BIOS or UEFI setup required.
Secure boot is a feature of the 2011 adopted UEFI version 2.3.1 and have yet to be found in the wild. That is changing now, because some motherboard manufacturers such as Gigabyte, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI launch first (beta) versions of firmware for certain boards which are to meet the Windows 8 specifications. Unfortunately, the Taiwanese companies usually do not specify exactly which points to the specification for the firmware version exactly fulfilled or not. But with the L1.47 Beta BIOS version for Asrock B75M worked on Windows 8 Secure Boot and allow first experiments.
After the BIOS update is secure boot first off and there are no load digital certificates. Both of you need to independently initiate via the setup option. After a restart Secure Boot is active, the firmware works in "user mode". Only in setup mode is allowed, the key, and databases can be changed, but the Asrock firmware knows but the set-up mode, but offers - unlike the MSI mainboard last Aldi PC - no functions to influence keys (PK, CEC) or databases (db, dbx).
If Windows is started 8 in secure boot mode or not can be found out by our present knowledge only to a registry key. Under HKLM \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Secure Boot \ State is the DWord value "UEFISecureBootEnabled" who is active Secure Boot has the content "1" and "0" if Secure Boot before the launch of Windows 8 via BIOS was switched off setup. Other effects of the Secure Boot fell Asrock B75M not.
Kernel-mode drivers that are not digitally signed will, but in the secure boot mode can not be installed - but those signatures x64 Windows requires anyway and only the 64-bit version of Windows 8 will support UEFI and hence Secure Boot. Exciting and usually only when the expected Atom Tablets with Intel's Clover Trail chips and Connected Standby: The latter function will require Secure Boot, on the other hand, there is for the PowerVR graphics this atom now only 32-bit drivers. But for the Windows RT tablet with ARM SoCs are otherwise prevented from Microsoft combination of 32-bit code and UEFI is necessary.
When Asrock B75M with beta firmware the startup of other operating systems in secure boot mode by the way do not worry: Even if you activate secure boot can allow using the BIOS setup, loading a Compatibility Support Module (CSM). This CSM is after the actual firmware startup to BIOS compatibility so that any other operating systems run without UEFI boot loader. This is exactly why Microsoft requires hardware in the Certification Requirements for computers with Windows-8-logo that with Secure Boot the CSM is prohibited. But Asrock writes laconically regarding the CSM option: "Please do not set to disable unless runnig WHCK test", which is about: "Please do not turn off unless you check the Windows Hardware Certification". WHCK the test Microsoft describes in a PDF document.
Until Windows 8 start in little more than six weeks, every motherboard and notebook manufacturers who wants to sell products for computers with Windows-8-Logo, the Secure Boot requirements have been implemented. At least publicly, but offers as Intel does not appropriately updates for its own motherboards. Linux developers hone meanwhile on their equipment for UEFI Secure Boot, upcoming versions of the distributions Fedora, Suse and Ubuntu should be able to handle it. For previous operating system such as Windows 7 x64, but apparently no secure boot-retrofit planned.
Report: Nokia's Windows Phone 8 for middle class
The Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is preparing reportedly also in the smartphone middle class before moving to Windows Phone 8th The U.S. technology blog The Verge claims to have heard from several sources that Nokia will next year bring out two WP8 smartphones in the middle class. Nokia has in this league, the models currently on Lumia 610 and 710 in the market.
The new units will each have a 1-GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB RAM. While one of the devices with a 4.3-inch display and 8GB of memory is fitted, which have a smaller 4-inch display, 5-megapixel camera and 4 GB of memory. In both smartphones will be the memory can be expanded with an SD card. Unconfirmed is also a report on a beginner smartphone with Windows Mobile 7.8.
In the past week the Finns had presented its new top line Lumia 920 and 820. It had come to an embarrassing breakdown in marketing: a demonstration video for the mechanical stabilization "OIS" the Lumia 920 gives the impression that parts of the movie were shot with a smartphone, without however to say explicitly. Indeed, the video was shot with a different camera, which is to guess in a short reflection on the screen background. Nokia has responded quickly to such reports, given the deception and asked for forgiveness.
Even photos that are designed to illustrate the benefits of the new camera technology, have not been taken according to the company with the Lumia smartphone, but still images from this video production. "The video was created at a time when the Lumia 920 still in the early prototype stage was," the company said on background. "While we had no intention here to mislead you, it was an obvious mistake, this is not clearly marked."
Want to file away the company's affair so as yet. An internal investigation was to figure out how it could come to the misleading marketing, said a spokeswoman for the economic news agency Bloomberg. Apparently no one wanted to deliberately deceive, but it was a mistake to give up a hint.
All-in-One PC with Windows 8, and multi-touch pad
More than five million all-in-one PC, HP has sold claims to be and wants to benefit from the launch of the operating system Windows 8, which is known to bring new touch features. Therefore HP has the two youngest members of the TouchSmart series, Envy 23 and Envy 20, equipped with multi-touch displays that detect up to 10 simultaneous touches. When SpectreOne HP is but another way: In the 23.6-inch display sits no sensor, but HP will ship with a wireless multi-touch trackpad. It is strongly reminiscent of Apple's Magic Trackpad. What Windows 8 gestures are supported, documented or not HP. But other companies, such as suppliers Synaptics touchpad or the Microsoft Touch Mouse at work on improved Windows 8 drivers.
The SpectreOne is the first all-in-one. (AIO) PC, the HP counts for complex designed Spectre series The Full HD display should be less than 12 millimeters thick. Thanks to HDMI input, it can also be used as a screen for other devices. HP is also an NFC transceiver. The Nahfunktechnik should be possible to use, for example, to unlock the PC with an NFC smartphone.
As for the SpectreOne HP offers for Envy Envy 20 and 23 TouchSmart TouchSmart optional SSDs or the cache function Express Cache.
The third newcomer belongs to cheaper Pavilion Series: The Pavilion 20 AiO PC only has an HD display and will be in the U.S. from October to have for 449 U.S. dollars. For HP Envy 20 and 23, called 799 or $ 999, the SpectreOne will cost 1299 U.S. dollars. If and when the devices in Europe or Germany will have to be, the HP announcement is not apparent.
Rumors of devices with Windows Phone 8
Now have appeared on Twitter the first pictures of the possible new Nokia phones. Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 to the hot models, both come according to the rumors with a dual-core Qualcomm processor. The smaller model will have a 4.3-inch screen, the words "Carl Zeiss" on the back may indicate a high-quality camera.
The curved shape of the back of the Lumis 920 indicate some sources as an indication that the 4.5-inch device is equipped with the Pure View technology, which was first used in the Nokia Symbian Model 808 Pure View. A Nokia spokeswoman had already confirmed that the company is planning Windows phones with this technology.
With Pure View technology sets a new standard for the Nokia photo quality of smartphones: the sensor captures images with approximately 41 megapixels, the Pure View mode it be pictures with the usual 5 or 8 megapixels calculated. Including with a continuous zoom for video recording is possible, without the individual pixels must be calculated by the software.
In addition, there are new rumors about upcoming WP8 phones from HTC. Three new models will present the Taiwanese reportedly currently they are traded under the code name Rio Accord and Zenith. Officially, they should be well presented in the third Spetemberwoche.
From the mid-level model Accord, there is already a picture, but this should not be a real photo, but the result of an image editing program. The alleged specifications: dual-core processor with 1.5 GHz clock speed, 720p display, 8 or 16 GB of memory (expandable via microSD), 8-megapixel camera and NFC support. The Verge also reports that the upcoming Windows phones will be equipped by HTC with Beats Audio technology that HTC has used to enhance the sound in its Android models.
HP: Touch Tablet and two laptops with Windows 8
The beginning of the year presented 14-inch Ultrabook Envy 14 in a slim metal body appears named in a version with a touch screen, 4 Envy TouchSmart. It weighs 2.2 pounds and is less than 2.5 centimeters thick. There sits a Core i5 ULV, the runtime should reach eight hours. From late October HP will deliver it for 1000 euro in a configuration with 8 GB of memory, 500-GB drive, 1.7-GHz processor and touch screen with 1366 × 768 points.
Also, the flat 15.6-inch Spectre there is now a touch version of the Spectre XT TouchSmart. It has a bright IPS panel with full HD resolution and weighs 2.2 kilograms, 2.2 centimeters thick. A special feature is the Thunderbolt interface, which is so far only found in a few notebooks. With 4 GB of memory, 1.7 GHz processor (i5-3317U ULV) and 256 GB SSD big it should be available in December 1600 Euro.
In the first printed version of the Price of Envy x2 was erroneously given as 1000 euros. Properly are 900 euros in the caption.
Microsoft antivirus change HOSTS file independently
In Windows 8 automatically deletes entries in the HOSTS file for a particular domain. Attempts are about to leave requests on Facebook.com, Twitter.com or ad server to run as ad.doubleclick.net by diverting to 127.0.0.1 into space, the entries disappear after a short time as if by magic from the HOSTS file. All that remains is an empty line. In other domains, such as heise.de the effect is not on the other hand.
Behind this phenomenon lies the antivirus, Windows Defender, which is in the new version of Windows pre-installed and active by default. After looking into the Defender course, which is reached by the start-up screen after typing "Defender" and click on the History tab, the reason is clear: The Defender suspects a potentially malicious manipulation of the HOSTS file and registered accordingly "SettingsModifier: Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack". Incidentally, the Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) provide for older versions of Windows that the entries are reset for these domains. This is not surprising, but Windows Defender in Windows 8 is essentially just a new name for the MSE.
The items in question are in fact often created by malware to the user of an infected system when you visit a site such as Facebook.com move them to a different server. There could, for example, a phishing version of the requested page, lurk sends the entered credentials to Internet crooks. That entries are removed for advertising server, which is used by many users as a simple but effective adblocker likely to be due to pests also use the HOSTS file to redirect requests to reputable vendors advertising on their own servers. This allows the fraudster Show own banners in his pages.
Anyone who feels patronized and the HOSTS file still would like to use for the affected domains can, his HOSTS (c: \ windows \ system32 \ drivers \ etc \ hosts) to the exception list of the MSE or Windows Defender add. You can find the appropriate item under "Settings, Excluded files and locations". This recognizes the antivirus program in an emergency malignant changes the HOSTS file but no longer.
Windows 8 available on MSDN and Technet as well as trial
Microsoft's MSDN and Technet subscribers can now download the final Windows 8. Available versions of the "Windows 8", "Windows Pro 8" and "Windows 8 Enterprise" each as a 32 - and a 64-bit version. "Windows 8" and "Windows 8 Pro" stuck in the same image - what is installed, the installation key decisions. This now needs to be entered at the beginning of the installation, a skip is no longer possible. The ISO files are based on the version and language of around 2.5 to 3.5 GB in size.
In addition to MSDN and Technet language are collected ready as an ISO image. Lunches are included in Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, German, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Croatian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Czech, Thai, Turkish and Ukrainian.
At the same time, Microsoft has a 90-day trial version of "Windows 8 Enterprise" available for download. Therefor no MSDN or Technet subscription is required, it is enough a live ID. The trial will expire 90 days. An upgrade installation to a retail version is not possible, who will later transfer of the trial to a purchased version, you must install from scratch.
On 26 October is the new Windows individually and preinstalled on new PCs at retail appear. Who buys a new PC until then receive discounted updates. A first look at the finished Windows c't has thrown in issue 18/12.
Ultra Book Challenge for the start of Windows 8
A developer contest with a difference organized by Intel to launch Windows 8 Instead of an open competition, may be open to everybody, Intel has six selected from all over the world coming developers who are within six weeks of applications on the legs and thus show to what options to offer built-in Intel Ultra Books Touch and Sensors has.
A mere presentation of the scope of these "ultra Book Challenge" completed applications would be relatively boring. Therefore, the six developers blog articles will report on their progress. They are trained to respond on her experiences and describe how they have mastered one or the other challenge.
Four experts, known as a blogger is not in the scene will be evaluated as judges and coaches comment on the standings and. After the six weeks they will test the developer of "six pack" applications built on ultra-books, and within two more weeks to decide who will have earned the title "The Ultimate Code."
Whom both the subject and the manner interested in how the selected developer will meet the challenge, can follow the event on a dedicated website and on the Facebook page of Intel.
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