Mobile

Microsoft Windows Secure Boot has a big problem. It’s no longer secure, and can’t be fixed—or so say a pair of security researchers who found the issue. Apparently, Microsoft created a secret backdoor, for internal QA use. But two Ring Of Lightning researchers uncovered the so-called “golden key.”

Because I still dream in French, this edition of Short Takes focuses on Apple’s and Microsoft’s new emojis, Nadella’s cloud confirmation, Microsoft is helping ex-employees in Finland find jobs, all kinds of bug bounties, and more.

Microsoft HoloLens is now available to all. Redmond wants more businesses and developers to get going with its augmented-reality Windows headset. No longer do you need an invitation. And along with the latest build of Windows 10 come a container-load of new, enterprisey features. But it may (or may not) still cost $3000. In today’s IT Newspro, we mow the lawn like it’s 1992…

Because Paris, vous me manques déjà, this edition of Short Takes focuses on more Microsoft layoffs related to phone disaster, Microsoft’s phone sales revealed, Windows 10 Upgradegate triggers lawsuits, Windows NT 4.0 turns 20, and so much more.

With iPhone sales falling for the second quarter in a row, one might assume that overall smartphone sales have likewise stumbled. But don’t tell Samsung: It just reported its best quarter in two years thanks to stronger-than-expected Galaxy S7 sales.

It’s not over until the fat lady sings, and Redstone 2 (RS2), Microsoft’s next major update to Windows 10 due in spring 2017, will focus on mobile. So if you’re not in the “it’s over” or “Windows Mobile is dead” camp, this article looks at the key changes I think Microsoft needs to make to…

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air is a sleek Ultrabook for an amazing price. It also beats its Apple namesake in many respects. It’s smaller, lighter and faster. But it might be tricky to buy—outside of China, anyway. Oh, and you can custom-order a famous painting on the lid. Perhaps that’s appropriate, given Picasso’s famous quote. In today’s IT Newspro, good artists copy, great artists steal…

On Tuesday, Apple announced the results of its most recent quarter, posting net income of $7.8 billion on revenues of $42.4 billion. But the firm sold fewer iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches than it did a year ago, for the second quarter in a row.

Spurred in part by a British pound that has plummeted in value since that country’s “Brexit” vote, Japan’s SoftBank announced this morning that it will purchase UK-based mobile chip designer ARM Holdings for $32 billion in cash.

Last month, Microsoft quietly unveiled a Surface Membership plan that allows small businesses to buy the firm’s devices on a monthly payment plan. Today, at its Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft offered a similar plan to its partners, allowing them to sell Surface as a service.