Recent Windows 8 News, Reviews, and more https://gcp-assets-origin-fly.cnet.com/bundles/cnetcss/images/core/logo/cnet_og.png https://www.cnet.com/collections/windows-8#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d https://www.cnet.com/collections/windows-8#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-finally-beats-xp-in-desktop-os-market/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d67b2900c-00f3-4624-8eef-7bb6e3f4e423Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:19:54 +0000Both Windows 8.1 and 7 are snagging more Web traffic, says Net Applications, while XP is grabbing less. Might this be related to the free upgrade to Windows 10?Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-restore-file-explorer-to-your-taskbar/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d68db83d0-757d-4206-a739-7fa395e65839Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:42:40 +0000Did your Explorer icon go missing? Here's how to get it back.Rick Broida https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/microsoft-rings-in-12-days-of-holiday-deals-with-79-toshiba-tablet/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d3ffc187b-e9da-4d43-8bd9-3e8b808f926bMon, 08 Dec 2014 13:58:00 +0000The first deal of Microsoft's 12 days trims the price of a Windows 8.1 tablet by $20 and throws in a free one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-is-feeling-more-love/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d427e0d67-3c83-4544-95b9-1b0371b8cd38Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:42:00 +0000Microsoft's current desktop OS is close to stealing second place from Windows XP in the desktop OS arena, according to new stats from Web tracker Net Applications.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-9s-new-start-menu-appears-in-action-in-new-video/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d683d3928-5e42-4ecf-a496-05a62b41688aFri, 12 Sep 2014 13:10:00 +0000A video allegedly of the upcoming preview of Windows 9 shows how the new Start menu combines elements of the classic menu with the Start screen.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-continues-to-inch-along/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d99652ac4-3fcf-4665-b978-995a41a1ea14Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:56:00 +0000Microsoft's latest OS keeps gaining users, according to Net Applications, but progress is still coming at a snail's pace.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-update-windows-8-1/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d51ca4deb-caf9-40b5-958a-8140749e84b1Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:00:07 +0000Microsoft rolls out updates the second Tuesday of each month, many of them critical. How can you be sure to catch all these updates?Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-august-update-now-available/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d5a91efc9-d181-462f-8005-c9f8edafd8f7Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:38:58 +0000Users can now manually install the update or wait until it rolls out via Microsoft Update. Either way, the update carries with it just a few minor tweaks.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/pictures/9-tips-every-windows-user-should-know/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d72513323-0d91-4feb-94a8-ed60f06591b2Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:01:00 +0000It can be hard to transition to Windows 8.1 from an earlier version. These tips will help get you started with Window 8.1 and make your experience more enjoyable.Dan Graziano https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-august-update-to-offer-minor-improvements/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d5211edc3-67cf-4fc1-bf7e-2f4a3dea5f1dWed, 06 Aug 2014 17:26:00 +0000Microsoft's latest strategy with Windows 8.1 is to roll out regular updates that refine the OS but don't deliver major new features.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/microsofts-surface-pro-3-wins-plaudits-for-display-says-researcher/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d1e00688f-991f-441a-9377-4aa7194ee025Wed, 30 Jul 2014 13:00:12 +0000Microsoft's newest 12-inch tablet has one of the best displays of any tablet out there, according to DisplayMate Technologies. That's no mean feat.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/microsoft-ceo-affirms-one-windows-for-all-devices/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3dd181804f-596a-48a9-b6c7-6c3150964812Wed, 23 Jul 2014 05:25:58 +0000Satya Nadella says in no uncertain terms that the "three" Windows operating systems will merge into one OS.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/microsoft-says-surface-pro-3-sales-outpacing-earlier-models/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d97401adb-25ca-434a-90b1-0e22384881dbTue, 22 Jul 2014 23:19:00 +0000Tech giant also confirms decision not to ship a smaller version of the device during its fourth-quarter earnings conference call.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-9-shows-off-in-alleged-new-screenshots/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d23dfd0fd-3c69-40d5-8276-ae7d7b2f9e22Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:57:00 +0000Apparently leaked screenshots of the next Windows reveal the upcoming new Start menu and a resizable Windows 8 app running on a desktop.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-update-2-reportedly-will-land-august-12/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d9e9f0438-fa32-46b4-ab6a-c510f327a6a1Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:43:00 +0000The next update to Windows 8.1 will arrive during August's Patch Tuesday, claims a Russian website.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/why-windows-needs-a-start-menu/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3d27095537-3658-48fa-8db5-3cb5fdac69a2Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:00:07 +0000Commentary: The Windows 8 Start screen does offers certain benefits, but the good, old-fashioned Start menu is still the best way to access all your programs and settings.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/the-chromebook-gains-and-microsoft-responds/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3da0bff7ac-ff3a-4f6e-9e5c-49244e0dd7a9Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:23:55 +0000Chromebooks continue to give Microsoft and Windows trouble. And Microsoft continues to make a case against them.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/pcs-see-surprising-gain-in-us-global-decline-slows/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3db1430f4b-89c9-4b6c-9ffa-d0e1f4cf05a9Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:55:00 +0000PCs are seeing surprising strength, especially in the US, according to IDC. Are some tablet models starting a slow fade?Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/microsoft-surface-pro-3-good-news-bad-news/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3df36de8c4-63b5-4604-bcc7-4a9393e2981cSat, 05 Jul 2014 20:48:00 +0000After two weeks with the Surface Pro 3, the good and the bad come into sharper relief.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-ie-syncs-web-passwords-across-windows-windows-phone-8-1/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3dec6db8bd-5917-483a-a584-575f40028dbfTue, 24 Jun 2014 09:21:57 +0000Password sync, now on IE11 on Microsoft's newest operating systems, makes moving among PCs, phones, and tablets easier. It's also handy for Microsoft to keep customers in its ecosystem.Stephen Shankland https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/the-microsoft-surface-pro-3-bigger-is-better/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3dece4c483-9cdf-479e-9fa2-89669416cabdSat, 21 Jun 2014 20:56:00 +0000Microsoft made good design decisions for the Pro 3. That's important, because prior versions always seemed like interesting placeholders till a more fully realized concept came along.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/blogging-intels-next-gen-processor-broadwell-is-mostly-a-2015-thing/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3da1ae9977-1d40-4326-8b16-49183ddad5dcThu, 19 Jun 2014 03:53:00 +0000If you're waiting for a redesigned Mac or Windows 8.1 device with Intel's latest and greatest silicon, chances are you will have to wait until 2015 to got to a store and pick one up.Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/asus-4k-windows-8-1-laptop-coming-sharp-shows-8k-display/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3db5fab773-0186-4756-9272-f0a140b77984Wed, 11 Jun 2014 03:19:54 +0000Asus is getting ready to market a 15.6-inch laptop with lots of horsepower and a 4K display. Should Apple be worried?Brooke Crothers https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/windows-8-1-patches-wont-install-without-april-update/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3de2a4481b-f464-48cd-8ac6-aa531aea7ed8Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:21:00 +0000To snag Microsoft's June patches and later ones, Windows 8.1 users better make sure they've installed the April update.Lance Whitney https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-sidestep-microsoft-google-and-do-a-dual-windows-8-1-android-tablet/#ftag=CAD-01-10aai3dbd93fde1-97bc-4314-941a-a9979536298eSun, 08 Jun 2014 19:39:00 +0000Asus figures out a way to get around objections from Microsoft and Google and do a hybrid that runs Windows-8.1 and Android.Brooke Crothers