We all know that Apple sold fewer iPads in 2014 than they did in 2013. But it turns out that Apple wasn’t alone in experiencing a shortfall in 2014: the entire tablet market constricted in the final quarter of last year, with fewer tablets sold worldwide than the same quarter a year ago. This doesn’t…

It’s one of the biggest downers in personal technology: you buy a new PC, take it home and set it up, and then spend hours investigating and removing the crapware that PC makers put on there. But there’s a better way thanks to a small selection of utilities designed specifically to help remove this space-…

Here’s an interesting question about File History, an update to the “previous versions” functionality that Microsoft provides in Windows 8.1. By default, you can only configure File History to use a second disk or a network drive. Is there a way to store previous versions of files on the PC’s only internal disk? Why yes. There…

While the world has clearly moved on to HD video, many of us still have massive DVD collections and would like to make this content available digitally so that it can be enjoyed on mobile devices and streamed to screens around the home via Plex or similar solutions. So here’s how I rip DVD movies and…

If you’re lucky enough to own one of a select few, mostly high-end Lumia smart phones, and are further lucky enough to have been updated to the very latest system update—Windows Phone 8.1.1 plus the Lumia Denim firmware—then you are in for a treat in the form of a new version of the Lumia Camera…

One of the major gaps in Microsoft’s cross-platform strategy has been closed: Today, Microsoft made its OneDrive for Business cloud storage service available to users of Apple’s computing platforms. But the implementations are different: Mac users can now download a public preview of the OneDrive for Business sync client, while iOS users can now access…

Just a week after it made preview versions of Office for Android tablets available, Microsoft has made non-preview versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Android tablets available generally. These apps are free to consumers but require an Office 365 subscription for premium features, much like the Office for iPad apps that were released in…

When Microsoft purchased Acompli in December 2014, I knew the software giant had made a great choice: this stunning mobile app faithfully replicated the Microsoft Outlook experience on iPhone, iPad, and Android handsets and tablets. But now the transformation is official: Microsoft is rebranding Acompli as Outlook on those platforms, where it will eventually replace…

Microsoft today announced major improvements to the photos experiences in OneDrive on the web and on mobile devices and PCs.

The Lumia Denim update enables you to download a new version of the Lumia camera app that includes some impressive new features, but only on certain phones.

In the latest episode of What the Tech, Andrew Zarian and I further our discussion about Microsoft’s HoloLens and my firsthand experience using the device. We also talk about new universal apps in the latest technical preview build of Windows 10, and Apple’s earnings report. Oh, and there’s a snow storm. Running time: 53:02 Subscribe Audio:  iTunes | RSS |…

Microsoft’s bundling of an Office 365 Personal subscription with Windows 8.1 with Bing on many low-end PCs and devices is a godsend to cash-strapped consumers, since it provides a full-year of Office 2013—a value of $69.99—for free. But here’s a secret: You can easily convert that Office 365 Personal subscription into an Office 365 Home…

I just concluded about an hours-worth of hands-on time with Microsoft’s intriguing HoloLens, an augmented reality (AR) headset that will ship publicly at roughly the same time as Windows 10. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take any pictures, record any video, or other document the experience digitally. But I did come away impressed. It’s pretty…

Today’s Windows 10 event wasn’t just about new software: Microsoft also announced two innovative new devices that will accompany Windows 10 to market. But these aren’t new phones, tablets or laptops. Instead, Microsoft is delivering an 84-inch screen that is bristling with sensors and a holographic—really augmented reality—headset. Yes, really. And, yes, both of these…

Microsoft Band is powerful but confusing, and before you can even start tracking your activity there’s so much to learn. So here’s a quick rundown of the things you need to understand to use this new fitness tracker most effectively. The basics, if you will. Note: This article is excerpted from my free e-book, Microsoft…

I wanted to discuss my ideas for building out the content on this site, a plan that is of course evolving according to your feedback. Ultimately, for thurrott.com to make sense, it has to address your needs. So here’s what I’m thinking. Obviously, there will be daily events that guide some of the content here:…