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from the yes-microsoft-still-has-relevance dept.
A couple of interesting tidbits came out of Build 2014 yesterday. The conference is being streamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Microsoft Planning on $0 Windows for Some Devices
Apparently competition, combined with a desire for Microsoft to invade new market spaces, is applying downward pressure on the price of some forms of Windows licenses. Microsoft announced that Windows would be available at no cost for "Internet of Things" devices as well as for phones and tablets with screens less than 9 inches. Not included: Whether this applies to Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 RT, but the inclusion of "phones and tablets" leads me to believe that it will be the RT version.
Start Menu To Return To Windows 8.1
After nearly a year and a half since it was removed in Windows 8, the start menu is finally returning. The previews shown at BUILD show that live tiles (similar to those on Windows Phone) will be displayed side-by-side with the more traditional hierarchy of groups. No word on when this will finally be released to users.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by DECbot on Thursday April 03 2014, @01:40PM
Isn't that repetitive of your other statement? They were giving away IE and the likes to gain market share for years now. Adding the OS to the mix isn't a stretch. Hell it comes on nearly every PC for "free" already.
Though what is cutting edge is MS's SaaS offerings. I'm sure the bean counters would be happier writing a check to MS every month than having a bunch of engineers demanding server upgrades, larger IT budgets, CAL renewals, emergency server maintenance and related tech support fees. If they could remove the datacenter and all the techs and engineers related to having in house IT off the balance sheet, and only have one line item called MS IT Services they'd be happy. ---Well, as happy as an accountant can be. Perhaps vindicated and satisfied are better terms. Just write a check to MS for all things IT and then focus on what really matters, the company coffee budget and janitorial services. Can't let those get out of hand, it'd ruin the company.