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Keep up with the latest operating systems news, reviews, advice and more, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Unix

Microsoft keeps calm, issues emergency IE update

Microsoft today shipped an emergency update for Internet Explorer to stymie attacks that have been occurring since at least Dec. 7.
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IDC latest to pile on OEMs for poor Windows 8 PC sales

Shortages of touch-enabled Windows notebooks led to a steeper-than-expected decline in PC sales last quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Windows RT: Bug not a bug?

Microsoft and a respected researcher disagreed this week about whether a bug in Windows RT is actually a security vulnerability that should be patched.

Windows 8 fails to lift the PC market in Q4

Microsoft's Windows 8 OS failed to provide a spark to PC sales during last year's fourth quarter, with worldwide unit shipments falling by 6.4 percent compared to the same quarter in 2011, according to research by IDC released on Thursday.

Red Hat takes wraps off RHEL 5.9

Red Hat on Tuesday announced the general availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.9, a new update to the company's popular open-source enterprise platform.

Researchers: Microsoft will pull trigger on emergency IE patch

Microsoft will issue an emergency update to patch a vulnerability in Internet Explorer in the next two weeks to fix a flaw criminals have been using for more than a month, researchers said.

Microsoft exec defends Windows 8 sales pace

Defending Windows 8 against reports that sales have been sluggish, one of Microsoft's top executives said it will take time for customers to digest the new operating system and for device makers to ramp up production of the hardware users want: Touch-enabled PCs and tablets.

Microsoft: Windows 8 passes 60M licenses sold

Microsoft has sold more than 60 million Windows 8 licenses so far, a number that is "roughly" in line with the performance of Windows 7 at the same stage of its release three years ago, according to Tami Reller, CFO and CMO of the Windows Division.

Microsoft kicks off 2013 with clutch of critical Windows updates

Microsoft today patched 12 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office and several server and development products, but did not come up with a fix for the IE bug that cyber criminals have been exploiting for at least a month.

For GNOME 2 fans, now there's Fuduntu Linux 2013.1

Fans of the classic desktop gain a new compelling Linux option.

Microsoft's 13 worst missteps of all time

DOS 4.0, Zune, and Windows 8 are but a few of the landmarks among 25 years of failures Redmond-style

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols: Vendors just can't stop trying to lock us all in

We're heading to a new era of platform lock-in that extends to vendors' Internet services.

Windows 8, Surface Tablets to Lead Microsoft's Fight for Relevance in 2013

Microsoft made big bets on Windows 8, Windows Phone and Surface tablets in 2012, and now it needs to make those bets to pay off. As more consumers and businesses go mobile, 2013 will be Microsoft's most challenging year yet.

Linux Live USB Creator makes installing Linux easier

With Linux Live USB Creator, you can now install one of many Linux operating systems onto your USB stick, and operate it with absolute ease.

Customize Windows 8's boot screen with Boot UI Tuner

One thing you might have noticed about Windows 8 is its new boot loader (i.e. the screen that appears shortly after you start your PC). It has a graphical interface, which is nice, but it's not great for anyone who prefers a dual- or multi-boot setup, and it also makes it a little harder to get to advanced boot options.

Ultimate Windows 8 starter guide: Must-know tips, apps and utilities

The year is drawing to a close, so there's a very good chance that you now find yourself staring straight down the gaping maw of Windows 8.

What SharePoint 2013 means for the data center

Migrating from SharePoint 2010 is doable, but that's not true, unfortunately, from the 2007 version.

Review: Windows Azure shoots the moon

Microsoft's cloud wows with great price-performance, Windows toolchain integration, and plenty of open source options

A short history of NFC

To understand where the technology is going, it's helpful to understand where it's been. And a bit about how it works, too.

After 2012 launch splash, Windows 8 faces enterprise skepticism

Among the raft of recent and upcoming Microsoft upgrades, Windows 8 towers in importance but its chances for success remain cloudy among enterprise customers.