Microsoft says goodbye to Windows XP operating system.

Microsoft Corp. is finally pulling the plug on a piece of technology that has refused to go away.

the software giant will stop supporting Windows XP, the still ubiquitous computer operating system that's been around for almost 13 years, an eternity in tech terms.

PCs running on Windows XP will still function as they did before. But Microsoft says it's unlikely that your PC will be secure, even if you're running anti-virus software.

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The 5 Versions of Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 appears in five —count ’em, five — different versions. Three of those versions are available in 32-bit and 64-bit incarnations. That makes eight different versions of Windows to choose from. And if you want Windows Media Center, you only have two choices, and it’ll cost you more.

Fortunately, most people need to concern themselves with only three versions, and you can probably quickly winnow the list to one. Contemplating the 32-bit conundrum may exercise a few extra gray cells, but with a little help, you can probably figure it out easily.

In a nutshell, the five Windows versions (and targeted customer bases) look like this:

Windows 8.1 for Emerging Markets is tailored for specific countries and available only in specific languages.

Windows RT, quite possibly the worst name Microsoft has ever given any product, isn’t really Windows because it won’t run old-fashioned Windows programs and it doesn’t have a real Windows 7–style desktop. Windows RT is Microsoft’s iPad-wannabe, built on a completely new kind of computer, commonly called ARM.

It contains the tiled interface, five customized Office-like apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote), File Explorer, and Internet Explorer on an ersatz desktop.

Windows 8.1 — the version you probably want — works great unless you specifically need one of the features in Windows 8.1 Pro. A big bonus for many of you: This version makes all the myriad Windows languages — 96 of them, from Afrikaans to Yoruba — available to anyone with a normal, everyday copy of Windows, at no extra cost.

Windows 8.1 Pro includes everything in Windows 8.1 plus the ability to attach the computer to a corporate domain network; the Encrypting File System and BitLocker for scrambling your hard drive’s data; Hyper-V for running virtual machines; and the software necessary for your computer to act as a Remote Desktop host — the “puppet” in an RD session.

You also need Windows 8.1 Pro if you want to run Windows Media Center, which is an extra-cost add-on.

An added bonus: If you want to buy Windows on Microsoft hardware, the Microsoft Surface computers come with Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows RT (but not Windows 8.1 itself). Surface computers are capable, junk-free, innovative — and pricey.

Windows 8.1 Enterprise is available only to companies that buy into Microsoft’s Software Assurance program — the (expensive) volume licensing plan that buys licenses to every modern Windows version. Enterprise offers a handful of additional features, but they don’t matter unless you’re going to buy a handful of licenses or more.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 both had “Ultimate” versions, which included absolutely everything. Win8.1 doesn’t work that way. If you want the whole enchilada, you have to pay for volume licensing and the Software Assurance program. And then you have to buy Windows Media Center.

Before you tear your hair out trying to determine whether you bought the right version, or which edition you should buy your great-aunt Ethel, rest assured that choosing the right version is much simpler than it first appears.

Buying the right Windows 8.1 version the first time

What if you aim too low? What if you buy Windows 8.1 and decide later that you really want Windows 8.1 Professional? Be of good cheer. Switching versions ain’t as tough as you think.

Microsoft chose the feature sets assigned to each Windows version with one specific goal in mind: Maximize Microsoft profits. That’s why you find plenty of upgrade routes and plenty of opportunity to spend more money in the Add Features to Windows program.

All it takes is a credit card and a Microsoft Account to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro, or to add Windows Media Center to Win8.1 Pro.

Upgrading is easy and cheap, but not as cheap as buying the version you want the first time. That’s also why it’s important for your financial health to get the right version from the get-go.

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Facebook Will Remove Chat to Promote Messenger App

Facebook is going to remove chat from the primary iPhone and Android app, in order to force users to install a standalone Facebook Messenger app.

Facebook has already notified its users in the United Kingdom, France and other European countries that they will need to install a separate Messenger app if they want to continue using Facebook chat on their smartphones. The company issued a statement, saying that they have created a fast and reliable messaging experience via Messenger, and are now determined to focus on that experience.

The representatives of the company admitted that they plan to eventually require that users all over the world install the Messenger app, but they couldn’t provide a specific timeframe for the change.

The app developers point out that the free, standalone Messenger is faster than the messaging service built into the main Facebook app for smartphones. The users will also be provided more features in the Messenger app, including the ability to make voice phone calls via Wi-Fi in some countries and send texts on Android.

At the moment, Facebook keeps facing increasing competition from new and fast-growing mobile messaging application like Line and WeChat, along with such established brands as Google Hangouts and BlackBerry’s BBM. Fortunately, Facebook managed to acquire one of its biggest messaging competitors, WhatsApp, for $19bn a couple months ago. WhatsApp then announced adding voice calling later in February at Mobile World Congress.

Industry observers believe that Facebook’s decision to encourage users to switch to a separate messaging app on mobiles could either help boost the popularity of its Messenger or cause a backlash if users view the action as heavy-handed. In addition, this standalone app will also directly compete with WhatsApp.

Nevertheless, Facebook is increasingly moving into the mobile space, believing that it is a way to continue expanding its 1.2 billion-strong user base. The company has developed or acquired a catalogue of standalone apps aside from its main application over the past few years. Three months ago, Facebook launched Paper, a photo-heavy news-reading application that has already earned positive reviews. The company also purchased photo-sharing app Instagram a couple years ago, which recently reached 200 million users.

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Google acquires Titan Aerospace to deliver Internet via drones

Titan’s drones would bolster Google’s Project Loon in delivering free internet to the far corners of the world.
Last month it was reported that Facebook was in talks to acquire Titan Aerospace, a drone startup manufacturer that produces solar-powered drones which can stay afloat for years at a time. Titan’s first drone, called Solara, can stay afloat for five years and can deliver voice and data services to remote locations across the globe.

Google’s Project Loon high-altitude balloons were launched with the same idea, but Titan’s offerings can stay afloat longer, can carry more payload (22 lbs for Loon and 250 lbs for Solara) and can cover more ground. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Google announced yesterday that it has acquired Titan Aerospace for an undisclosed amount. Facebook, meanwhile, has acquired UK-based drone manufacturer Ascenta late last month. While no terms were disclosed, Google must have shelled out more than the $60 million Facebook offered to Titan.

It is likely that Titan’s drones will join Google’s Project Loon in delivering internet to the far corners of the world. However, it looks like Google will utilize the drones for more than that. A Titan spokesman said that the drones could be used for disaster relief and tracking environmental damage like deforestation. The 250 lbs payload means that the drones can carry a host of monitoring hardware like cameras and other sensors that can track changes in climatic conditions. The imagery sent back from these drones could also be used to enhance Google Maps.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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