http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Windows Software Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2012 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 29 May 2012 05:29:14 GMT Tue, 29 May 2012 05:29:14 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/News-App-in-Windows-8-Release-Preview-Gets-Detailed-271285.shtml Microsoft is getting ready for the release of a new version of its Windows 8 operating system, one that should arrive in early June as Windows 8 Release Preview with various changes announcing the final flavor of the platform.

Some of these would include the addition of new Metro applications from Microsoft, along with updated ve... (read more)]]> Wed, 23 May 2012 12:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/News-App-in-Windows-8-Release-Preview-Gets-Detailed-271285.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/News-App-in-Windows-8-Release-Preview-Gets-Detailed-271285.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Captured-Moments-Theme-for-Windows-7-270003.shtml We all like to personalize our computers in accordance with our personality or with our mood, so as to get the most out of our days.

Whether with photos with our friends and family or images we snapped in a trip to remind us of specific moments, we can make the desktop background of our PC look more appealing than before.

... (read more)]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Captured-Moments-Theme-for-Windows-7-270003.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Captured-Moments-Theme-for-Windows-7-270003.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Futuristic-Fractals-and-Southwest-Sandstone-Themes-Released-for-Windows-7-268814.shtml Microsoft has been pushing out a load of new themes for its Windows 7 platform, and two new such personalization options are now available for download.

Both these themes can be installed for free on Windows 7 PCs, and both of them come from the same artist: Duncan Lawler.

Images signed by him ... (read more)]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 19:31:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Futuristic-Fractals-and-Southwest-Sandstone-Themes-Released-for-Windows-7-268814.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Futuristic-Fractals-and-Southwest-Sandstone-Themes-Released-for-Windows-7-268814.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Get-an-Early-Chance-to-Submit-Windows-8-Apps-to-the-Windows-Store-268739.shtml The final release of Windows 8 is drawing near, and Microsoft is working on ensuring that the platform is capable of providing users with the features and capabilities they are looking for.

Thus, it wants to make sure that a load of Metro applications will be available for download for Windows 8 right from the s... (read more)]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 09:57:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Get-an-Early-Chance-to-Submit-Windows-8-Apps-to-the-Windows-Store-268739.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Get-an-Early-Chance-to-Submit-Windows-8-Apps-to-the-Windows-Store-268739.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Frost-and-Garden-Macros-Themes-for-Windows-7-268607.shtml The view of a blossoming garden is a great view, that’s for sure, especially when a multitude of colors fill the air. Regardless of the season, a live garden will always bring a state of tranquility to our minds.

However, flowers and plants that are part of a garden can prove incredibly beautiful from up-close as well, ju... (read more)]]> Wed, 9 May 2012 19:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Frost-and-Garden-Macros-Themes-for-Windows-7-268607.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Frost-and-Garden-Macros-Themes-for-Windows-7-268607.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Best-of-Bing-Themes-for-Windows-7-China-2-and-Australia-3-267907.shtml Microsoft has added two new Best of Bing themes to the list of personalization packs available for its Windows 7 operating system, namely China 2 and Australia 3.

With images that lay before your eyes vast surroundings or close-ups with flowers and animals, these new packs are meant to offer you a taste of two beautiful... (read more)]]> Sat, 5 May 2012 17:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Best-of-Bing-Themes-for-Windows-7-China-2-and-Australia-3-267907.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Best-of-Bing-Themes-for-Windows-7-China-2-and-Australia-3-267907.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Forests-and-Saplings-Themes-for-Windows-7-267773.shtml Summer is almost upon us, and it’s about time we all took some time to make plans for vacation, now that nature has fully come back to life.

For those who are in love with nature and would like some new ideas of places to go, there are two new Windows 7 themes available from Microsoft to help.

Called Forests, t... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 20:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Forests-and-Saplings-Themes-for-Windows-7-267773.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Forests-and-Saplings-Themes-for-Windows-7-267773.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Can-Bring-Fast-and-Fluid-Animations-to-Metro-Style-Apps-267450.shtml Among the features that applications built for Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system can benefit from, we can count fast and fluid animations.

Animations are an integral part of the user experience in Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and developers can take advantage of them to deliver more appealing apps that before... (read more)]]> Wed, 2 May 2012 14:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Can-Bring-Fast-and-Fluid-Animations-to-Metro-Style-Apps-267450.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-Can-Bring-Fast-and-Fluid-Animations-to-Metro-Style-Apps-267450.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Evangelist-Backs-Off-on-Windows-Phone-8-Updates-Statement-265354.shtml Nuno Silva, Microsoft evangelist, said a few days ago that all Windows Phone 7 devices were meant to be upgraded to the Windows Phone 8 platform.

His statement, which emerged in a video on Portuguese forum Zwame, fueled controversy on Microsoft’s actual plans for the upcoming platform.

Apparent... (read more)]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:21:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Evangelist-Backs-Off-on-Windows-Phone-8-Updates-Statement-265354.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Evangelist-Backs-Off-on-Windows-Phone-8-Updates-Statement-265354.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/What-s-New-in-Windows-Phone-s-Translator-App-264748.shtml Microsoft has just announced the availability of a new version of its Translator app for devices running under Windows Phone.

Powered by Bing, the software is meant to resolve the problem of language translation for all people who are taking advantage of devices based on Microsoft’s mobile operating system.

When trav... (read more)]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:51:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/What-s-New-in-Windows-Phone-s-Translator-App-264748.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/What-s-New-in-Windows-Phone-s-Translator-App-264748.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-to-Reduce-Memory-Usage-for-Low-End-Windows-Phones-264617.shtml In February, Microsoft unveiled a new flavor of its Windows Phone operating system, one destined for lower-end devices, such as the highly affordable Nokia Lumia 610.

The company had to make a series of modifications to the platform, to ensure that users would receive a consistent experience from the OS even on these devices, ... (read more)]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-to-Reduce-Memory-Usage-for-Low-End-Windows-Phones-264617.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Devs-to-Reduce-Memory-Usage-for-Low-End-Windows-Phones-264617.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Explains-Slow-Windows-Phone-Marketplace-Approval-Process-264466.shtml Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace has been growing fast lately, but the approval process for new applications has become slow in the meantime, and the company is offering some info on the matter.

Apparently, the explanation is simple. Both the increasing number of applications available in the Marketplace... (read more)]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Explains-Slow-Windows-Phone-Marketplace-Approval-Process-264466.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Explains-Slow-Windows-Phone-Marketplace-Approval-Process-264466.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Aqua-and-Fauna-Dynamic-Themes-for-Windows-7-264218.shtml Today, two new themes made their way on the long list of similar software available for download for all Windows 7 users interested in additional personalization options on their computers.

Dubbed Aqua Dynamic and Fauna Dynamic, these two themes will make use of RSS feed capabilities to pull images from the web and place them on... (read more)]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Aqua-and-Fauna-Dynamic-Themes-for-Windows-7-264218.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Aqua-and-Fauna-Dynamic-Themes-for-Windows-7-264218.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Recursions-and-Limited-Edition-Artist-Series-Themes-for-Windows-7-263624.shtml Windows 7 users who would like to personalize their desktops with something else, now have new themes for that.

One of these is called Recursions and will set abstract drawings as their desktop’s background, making users’ imagination wander off.

“Microscopic or cosmic? The o... (read more)]]> Mon, 9 Apr 2012 15:22:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Recursions-and-Limited-Edition-Artist-Series-Themes-for-Windows-7-263624.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Recursions-and-Limited-Edition-Artist-Series-Themes-for-Windows-7-263624.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Details-on-Latest-Windows-Live-Essentials-2011-Release-Emerge-263580.shtml A few weeks ago, Microsoft made available for download a new version of Windows Live Essentials 2011, namely 15.4.3555.308, and updated many of the components inside the suite.

At the time, the company said that the new release was only a minor update for the package, and did not offer specific info on what was modified... (read more)]]> Mon, 9 Apr 2012 13:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Details-on-Latest-Windows-Live-Essentials-2011-Release-Emerge-263580.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Details-on-Latest-Windows-Live-Essentials-2011-Release-Emerge-263580.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Garden-Seasons-and-Light-and-Dark-Themes-for-Windows-7-263252.shtml With spring well underway all around the globe, the time has come to change the background of your Windows PC’s desktop to reflect the changes Mother Nature is undergoing.

New themes are available for that, put up for download for free from Microsoft. Two of them will bring warmth to your desktops, both packing ... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Apr 2012 19:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Garden-Seasons-and-Light-and-Dark-Themes-for-Windows-7-263252.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Garden-Seasons-and-Light-and-Dark-Themes-for-Windows-7-263252.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Phone-SDK-Now-Works-on-Windows-8-263180.shtml Windows Phone application developers have found themselves in a bit of a situation last month when trying to put the official developer tools from Microsoft on Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

There have been issues with the two working together, and Microsoft announced that Windows 8 CP did not actually offer support for the Windows Phone SDK a... (read more)]]> Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Phone-SDK-Now-Works-on-Windows-8-263180.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Phone-SDK-Now-Works-on-Windows-8-263180.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Ducklings-Theme-for-Windows-7-to-Bring-Cuteness-to-Your-Desktop-262555.shtml With spring well upon us and April Fools' Day behind, it’s time to look elsewhere for something to make us smile and brighten our day.

Fortunately, we won’t have to look too far, since the newly released theme for Windows 7 will actually suffice.

We’re referring here to the Ducklin... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Apr 2012 12:28:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Ducklings-Theme-for-Windows-7-to-Bring-Cuteness-to-Your-Desktop-262555.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Ducklings-Theme-for-Windows-7-to-Bring-Cuteness-to-Your-Desktop-262555.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Two-New-Kinect-Themes-for-Windows-7-261259.shtml When it comes to the personalization options that Windows 7 users can benefit from, new themes available from Microsoft are always great options.

Lately, we had the chance to have a look at a variety of new such customization options, including some that brought landscapes from Germany straight to your Windows 7 PC’s desktop, or ... (read more)]]> Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Two-New-Kinect-Themes-for-Windows-7-261259.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Two-New-Kinect-Themes-for-Windows-7-261259.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/iPad-Developers-Can-Easily-Port-Apps-to-Windows-8-Microsoft-Shows-260102.shtml This fall, the world will get a full taste of the next generation operating system from Microsoft, Windows 8, as well as of the applications designed specifically for it.

Over the past several months, the Redmond-based software giant has been providing developers with details on what they need to do to have applica... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/iPad-Developers-Can-Easily-Port-Apps-to-Windows-8-Microsoft-Shows-260102.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/iPad-Developers-Can-Easily-Port-Apps-to-Windows-8-Microsoft-Shows-260102.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Demoes-Prototype-Dynamics-App-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-259786.shtml Microsoft appears set to prove to the world that Windows 8 was indeed meant to fit the needs of both consumers and enterprise users alike.

At Microsoft Convergence 2012, the company brought business applications specifically designed to take full advantage of the capabilities of the new platform.

We ha... (read more)]]> Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:18:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Demoes-Prototype-Dynamics-App-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-259786.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Demoes-Prototype-Dynamics-App-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-259786.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Business-App-Concepts-Get-Showcased-259528.shtml With Windows 8, Microsoft introduces a new approach to the building of applications for its client, as well as to what using such applications involves.

Windows 8 comes with a new interface included into the mix, the Metro UI, which has been developed specifically for touchscreen displays.

This means that developers inte... (read more)]]> Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:31:02 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Business-App-Concepts-Get-Showcased-259528.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Business-App-Concepts-Get-Showcased-259528.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-with-Internet-Explorer-s-Integration-Level-258166.shtml When made available for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, Mozilla’s Firefox web browser will benefit from a level of integration similar to the one available for Internet Explorer.

Mozilla has already started the work on the Metro-Style flavor of the application, and they now have a proof of co... (read more)]]> Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-with-Internet-Explorer-s-Integration-Level-258166.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-for-Windows-8-s-Metro-UI-with-Internet-Explorer-s-Integration-Level-258166.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Details-Development-of-Metro-Browsers-for-Windows-8-258106.shtml Internet Explorer 10 won’t be the only browser available for Windows 8 devices. It won’t be exclusive neither to the desktop mode in the upcoming OS, nor to the Metro UI.

We already know that, when it comes to desktop, Microsoft will allow for legacy applications to run on x86-based Windows 8 machines.
read more)]]> Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Details-Development-of-Metro-Browsers-for-Windows-8-258106.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Details-Development-of-Metro-Browsers-for-Windows-8-258106.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Rainbows-Theme-for-Windows-7-257918.shtml With all the fuss around the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, one might have believed that Microsoft started to forget about delivering new goodies to its Windows 7 users.

However, it appears that this is not so, and that the Redmond-based software giant is providing more customization capabilities to the older platform as well.
read more)]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:02:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Rainbows-Theme-for-Windows-7-257918.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Rainbows-Theme-for-Windows-7-257918.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Developer-Events-for-Europe-257467.shtml On February 29th, Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, none other than the beta release of its upcoming client.

The company has already made the platform available for download and offered a variety of details on the OS, but it seems that it has even more of them to share.

Along wit... (read more)]]> Thu, 8 Mar 2012 13:30:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Developer-Events-for-Europe-257467.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Developer-Events-for-Europe-257467.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Bing-Maps-SDK-for-Metro-Style-Apps-257291.shtml Along with the new Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft opened the Windows Store application portal for the public, providing users with the possibility to get a taste of Metro apps, and enabling developers to better understand what these would involve.

Today, the company announced the availability of the new Bing Maps SDK for Metro st... (read more)]]> Wed, 7 Mar 2012 15:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Bing-Maps-SDK-for-Metro-Style-Apps-257291.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Bing-Maps-SDK-for-Metro-Style-Apps-257291.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Research-Releases-Cliplets-for-Windows-7-257131.shtml A new application is now available for download from Microsoft Research, destined to offer the possibility to combine still images with videos.

Released free of charge, the new Microsoft Research Cliplets 1.0.1 application can be downloaded and installed on PCs running either 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

T... (read more)]]> Wed, 7 Mar 2012 10:45:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Research-Releases-Cliplets-for-Windows-7-257131.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Research-Releases-Cliplets-for-Windows-7-257131.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-CP-and-Windows-Phone-SDK-Won-t-Get-Along-for-Now-256956.shtml Last week, Microsoft made available for download the Consumer Preview flavor of its Windows 8 operating system.

Millions of people all around the world have already downloaded and installed it on their PCs at home or at work, - the first million downloads was topped in the first 24 hours – including Windows Phone de... (read more)]]> Tue, 6 Mar 2012 20:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-CP-and-Windows-Phone-SDK-Won-t-Get-Along-for-Now-256956.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-CP-and-Windows-Phone-SDK-Won-t-Get-Along-for-Now-256956.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Bing-Apps-256641.shtml The new Windows 8 Consumer Preview release came with a number of Metro applications packed inside, three of which were Bing apps.

Microsoft unveiled the new operating system version last week in Barcelona, Spain, and has already made it available for download

For those who did not have the opportunity to download and install the ... (read more)]]> Mon, 5 Mar 2012 12:48:00 GMT Softpedia News - Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Bing-Apps-256641.shtml Windows Software http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Consumer-Preview-Bing-Apps-256641.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire)