Windows 8.1 will be shipping with Skype pre-installed

Windows 8.1 will be shipping with Sky pre-installed. Anyone who doesn't have it already installed will get the instant messenger with their upgrade to 8.1. The move could lead to higher Skype usage on Windows 8 due to that the program comes with the operating system.

Windows 8.1 to launch on October 18, Day earlier on Windows Store

Microsoft continues to work on Windows 8.1, and the company has announced that the update will be available on October 18th. The free update will be listed in the Windows Store for existing Windows 8 users at 8AM ET on October 17, with boxed copies, new hardware, and a full retail release on October 18th. The final copy of Windows 8.1, the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) in the coming weeks.

 

Asus Abandons Windows RT, Changes to Full Windows

Windows RT manufacturers are dropping like flies. Asus has told The Wall Street Journal that it will no longer be making Windows RT tablets with ARM chips, due to a large loss on its devices last quarter. Instead of using Windows RT and ARM, Asus will instead be building full windows 8 devices with Intel chips. Asus isn't the only company to leave the platform, Samsung, Toshiba, HTC, and Nokia have left the platform as well. Acer and Dell are the only main manufacturers remaining that use Windows RT.

Even though Microsoft had a $900 million write off on the flagship Surface RT, the company is reportedly producing another tablet with a Nvidia chip.

Firefox 23 Launches with share button, content blocker, new logo, network monitor, and more

The Mozilla Foundation has launched the next version of Firefox for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android: Firefox 23. There are several improvements, including an addition of a share button, mixed content blocker, and a network monitor on the desktop versions.

Firefox 23 also comes with a new logo, see below for Firefox's logo evolution:



 

Firefox 23 has been officially released on Firefox.com and all existing users should be able to upgrade to it automatically. The Android version is available on Google Play.

The biggest addition to Firefox 23 is the share button and the browser's Social API. Developers can  let users share content with friends with only one click.

Here is the social button in action:



 

Also included is the mixed content blocker, which prevents nonsecure (HTTP) content on a website being read or modified by attackers by blocking the nonsecure content from being compromised. In case you’re wondering, mixed content occurs when a webpage containing a combination of both secure (HTTPS) and nonsecure (HTTP) content is delivered over a secure data channel to the browser. Here’s how it looks in action (more details are available here):



Firefox for Android also includes the new logo, but it has a slew of its new features specific to Google’s mobile platform as well.

The full Android changelog isn't available yet.

Firefox 24 is expected to come out in September.

Firefox Changelog:

 

NEW: Mixed content blocking enabled to protects users from man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdroppers on HTTPS pages (learn more).

NEW: Options panel created for Web Developer Toolbox.

CHANGED: “Enable JavaScript” preference checkbox has been removed and user-set values will be reset to the default.

CHANGED: Updated Firefox Logo.

CHANGED: Improved about:memory’s functional UI.

CHANGED: Simplified interface for notifications of plugin installation.

CHANGED: Enabled DXVA2 on Windows Vista+ to accelerate H.264 video decoding.

CHANGED: Users can now switch to a new search provider across the entire browser.

CHANGED: CSP policies using the standard syntax and semantics will now be enforced.

CHANGED:  rendering improvements (see bug 838675).

CHANGED: Replace fixed-ratio audio resampler in webrtc.org capture code with Speex resampler and eliminate pseudo-44000Hz rate.

CHANGED: “Load images automatically” and Always show the tab bar” checkboxes removed from preferences and reset to defaults.

DEVELOPER: HTML5  form control implemented.

DEVELOPER: Write more accessible pages on touch interfaces with new ARIA role for key buttons.

DEVELOPER: Social share functionality.

DEVELOPER: Added unprefixed requestAnimationFrame.

DEVELOPER: Implemented a global browser console.

DEVELOPER: Dropped blink effect from text-decoration: blink; and completely removed element

DEVELOPER: New feature in toolbox: Network Monitor.

FIXED: Various security fixes.

Windows 8 Start Button Has Returned: On A Mouse

The Windows team has never had it easy since Apple came around. As a result of major user backlash, Microsoft put the Start Button back into Windows 8. But, you have to buy a mouse to use it.

The Sculpt Comfort Mouse has a blue strip on the left-hand side. Swiping up on the strip cycles through apps; swiping down reveals the Metro app task switcher. Pressing the button will take you to the Start screen. The mouse connects to your PC using Bluetooth. It will cost $39.95 when it goes on sale in June.

The Sculpt Mobile Mouse has a simple Start button next to its wheel that will open the Start menu in Windows 7 or the Start screen in Windows 8. The Sculpt Mobile is a wireless USB mouse, and it will cost $29.95 when it goes on sale this month.

I'm not sure whether this will satisfy the quells of Windows 8 rebellers. This will certainly be something to watch.