Microsoft’s recent spate of ads which pit a Windows 8 device against the iPad—especially the ones feature the Siri-style voiceover—have been generally funny. But the latest in the series of ads is particularly effective. It takes place in a college classroom and shows off the versatility of a hybrid Windows 8 device quite nicely....More

Microsoft today announced that it has released Skype for Outlook.com in six markets, with more to follow. The firm had previously released a preview version of this integration back in April....More

A new Reading View in Internet Explorer 11 makes reading web-based content better than ever. This handy new feature turns basic web pages into beautifully laid-out articles and will ship as part of the final Windows 8.1 release....More

In our latest look at Windows Phone handset usage from AdDuplex, we see the recently-released Lumia 520 pulling ahead even further and cementing its lead. Plus, the firm provides a peek at how the recently-released Lumia 1020 is fairing....More

Ever since Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 Preview back in June, readers have asked me whether Stardock’s useful utilities like ModernMix and Start8 will work with the new OS version. With the recent leak of a near final Windows 8.1 build, I decided to test ModernMix on my daily-use PC. And I think this is going to be a very useful transition tool indeed....More

When Halo: Spartan Assault debuted for Windows 8/RT and Windows Phone 8 a month ago, there was a silly and unnecessary limitation on the handset side: It was only available to those Windows Phone 8 users on Verizon in the United States. But now that the one month exclusivity period is over, users of non-Verizon phones in the US can download the game as well....More

Google’s spiteful and unreasonable blocking of YouTube services on Windows Phone reached absurd levels this past week: After Microsoft issued what it said was the officially sanctioned YouTube app for the platform, Google blocked it just a day later. In this astonishing Cold War between two of tech’s biggest giants, Microsoft has done the right thing by users and Google has not. Why is Google so afraid of Windows Phone?...More

In Windows 8.1, Microsoft is finally provided the kind of in-box help that it should have shipped with the initial versions of Windows 8 and RT. This help takes two main forms: Pop-up help tips for the hidden and undiscoverable new navigational UIs in the OS, and a new app called Help + Tips....More

Nokia announced this week that it is rolling out the “Amber” software update to its Windows Phone 8 handsets. Additionally, the Nokia Pro Camera app that debuted in the Lumia 1020 last month is now available for the Lumia 920, 925, and 928 as well. There’s just one problem: You have to wait for your carrier to unblock both....More