Samsung has announced a new series of monitors just days ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show. The 24-inch Series 7 SC770 utilizes a 10-point multi-touch panel that is optimized specifically for use with Windows 8 – the first display designed for Microsoft’s new operating system. This will allow users to take full advantage of Windows 8 touch features like pinching, dragging and rotating objects.

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Microsoft announces plans to open six new retail stores in 2013

                               
Microsoft is planning to open six new retail stores in 2013 in addition to the 40 or so physical locations already spread across the country. It’s all part of an ongoing plan to transform Microsoft from a software tycoon into a brand that’s recognizable across several markets and to get more in touch with those that are responsible for their success: everyday consumers.

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Atom-based Windows 8 tablets delayed until Jan. over driver issues

                                          
Although system builders were supposed to dash off the starting line with seemingly dozens of Windows 8 tablets following the operating system's October 25 launch, most major players seem to have stalled at the gates -- particularly when it comes to Atom-based devices.

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Consumer Reports recommends Windows 7 in most circumstances

                    
Consumer Reports recently weighed the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 8 and came to the conclusion that it’s probably best in most circumstances to stick with Windows 7 or even buy a new machine running Microsoft’s previous iteration of Windows. They offer plenty of reasons to back up their advice, too.

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Yahoo updates e-mail client, revises apps for Android, iOS, Windows 8

                          
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer announced earlier today via blog post that the search company has updated their web-based e-mail client. The revised layout focuses on minimizing distractions and improving speed, Mayer noted. Yahoo Mail now also has new mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows 8 users on the go that are available as of writing.

Performance upgrades were a key concern for Yahoo as its sluggish nature likely deterred many users over the years. The company estimates that the speed increases will collectively save users around 36 million minutes each day.

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Lenovo updates Thinkpad X1 Carbon with touch screen and Windows 8

                                  
Lenovo has announced a touch-enabled version of its Thinkpad X1 Carbon ultrabook. Originally released in August 2012, the refreshed model is much the same as its predecessor, but should provide business laptop users with an optimal experience on Microsoft's new finger-friendly Windows 8 operating system thanks to a 10-finger, 14-inch HD+ touch display running at a 1600×900 pixel resolution.

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Microsoft introduces browser-based Windows 8 app creator

                                      
A recent Microsoft Research Connections blog post outlines some changes that have been made with regards to the tools that developers can use to create apps for Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8. Up to this point, developers were required to build the app on a computer using a special set of development tools.

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Bing Maps gets 121 terabytes of new satellite and aerial imagery

               
Microsoft has once again updated Bing Maps to include even more satellite and Global Ortho imagery. The company announced on their official blog that 121 terabytes of new data have been loaded into Bing Maps, which is of course also accessible through the Windows 8 Maps app.

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Surface Pro pricing revealed: $899 for 64GB and $999 for 128GB

                       
Following the release of the Surface with Windows RT last month, Microsoft has finally announced a release date and pricing details for the Intel-based variant equipped to run the full-fledge version of the operating system. As expected, it won’t be priced to compete with the iPad. Arriving in January, the Surface Pro will be available in 64GB and 128GB flavors, priced at $899 and $999 respectively.

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VLC launches Kickstarter campaign for Windows 8 app

                       
The team behind the popular open-source media player VLC has announced plans to develop a native app for Windows 8’s  Metro UI, and they’re looking to crowdsource funds for the project through Kickstarter. According to the team, although they currently receive donations through the VideoLAN association (a French non-profit) to purchase test devices and pay for servers, the Kickstarter money will allow them to work on the new port full-time while hiring professional designers to rework the user interface for Metro.

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Microsoft Security Essentials bombs tests, loses AV-Test certificate

                          
Microsoft Security Essentials was the only entry to fail AV-Test's certification between September and October -- an embarrasing slip for the once well-regarded virus protection solution. MSSE received a total of 10.5 out of 18 possible points, most notably falling short in zero-day malware attacks. As a point of reference, 11 points are required to receive certification. The fallen AV only received 1.5 out of 6.0 for system protection, but fared better when it came to repairing infections and usability: 3.5 and 5.5 out of 6.0, respectively.

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Asus delays dual-screen hybrid Taichi ultrabooks until Dec. or later

                      
Asus has reportedly delayed the launch of its upcoming dual-screen Taichi ultrabooks. Unveiled at Computex in June, the hybrid systems were originally due to ship in November, soon after last month's release of Windows 8, but an Asus representative has told PCWorld that units aren't likely to hit US shelves until December or later, though no additional details were provided. Given that news, retailers including Amazon, Newegg and TigerDirect have halted preorders, which have been ongoing since early October.

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Windows Store crack turns trial apps into full versions

                       
A tool of questionable ethical value has surfaced, allowing Windows 8 users to transform trial apps into their full-fledged, paid-for counterparts. Wsservice_crk has actually been available for at least a month -- most notably at the MyDigitalLife forums -- but only recently has the cracking tool garnered much attention from online news outlets.

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Next Windows Phone update to include VPN support, various fixes

                        
With the launch of Windows Phone 8 almost exactly a month ago, Microsoft is already looking forward to an interim update for the platform. Codenamed Apollo Plus, the update is said to include wireless and audio improvements, as well as VPN support -- a feature that has been missing since the initial Windows Phone release but was part of previous versions of Windows’ mobile operating system.

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Paul Thurott: Windows 8 sales "well below" Microsoft's projections

Despite Microsoft's excitement at selling four million Windows 8 upgrades in four days, well-known industry blogger Paul Thurott says sales of the OS are "well below" Microsoft's internal projections. Get your salt shakers ready, but Thurott cites ones of his "trusted sources" at Microsoft for the tip, although fails to produce any specific numbers. To be fair though and in hindsight, Thurott does seem to have pretty accurate sources.

Despite the lack of numbers though, investors are a curious bunch, so we're likely to see official Windows 8 sales figures in the not-so-distant future. Until then though, anyone interested in watching the Windows 8 drama unfold will have to wade through a variety of anonymous leaks, specious rumors and fuzzy analyses in order to develop their own judgments.

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Dell's consumer sales suffer, Windows 8 touch devices encouraging

With yesterday's report of sagging consumer PC sales, Dell said it's looking to other markets (i.e. enterprise and IT services) to help pick up the slack. Dell has talked about transitioning from consumer PCs to IT business services in the past, but the company seems confident that its business-focused 10-inch Latitude tablet featuring Windows 8 and a swappable battery pack will be an integral part of that plan.

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