Microsoft introduces several changes to Internet Explorer 10 in its Windows 8 operating system. You may for instance know that Windows 8 ships with two different Internet Explorer versions: first the regular Internet Explorer 10 that you can run on the desktop interface, and then the Metro Internet Explorer 10 that only runs on the startpage interface. That’s however not the only change, as Microsoft has integrated the Adobe Flash technology natively in the browser. This is similar to what Google has done i its Chrome browser. The benefit of this is that Flash is not integrated as a plugin so that it can run on the modern ui interface as well. It also means that Microsoft can distribute the Flash update at once to all of its users so that users are protected right away from threats.

One of the problems however is that Microsoft is now responsible for keeping the versions of Flash Player up to date in Internet Explorer to protect users from attacks targeting vulnerabilities in older version of the technology.

Adobe recently released an update to its Flash Player that resolved several security issues found in the player. Google distributed the update with Chrome, and other users may have received automatic updates or updated Flash Player manually. The only browser that has not received an update yet is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8. Microsoft, for whatever reason, has not released an update yet that closes the security vulnerabilities in its integrated Flash Player. This in turn means that Windows 8 users who use IE10 to access flash contents in the browser are vulnerable to attacks targeting those resolved security vulnerabilities.

Ed Bott contacted Microsoft for a statement and received the following response:

Security is of course important to us, and we are working directly with Adobe to ensure that Windows 8 customers stay secure. We will update Flash in Windows 8 via Windows Update as needed. The current version of Flash in the Windows 8 RTM build does not have the latest fix, but we will have a security update coming through Windows Update in the GA timeframe.

This means that Microsoft will release an update around the October 26 release date of Windows 8 leaving users of the system vulnerable to attacks for more than two months.

It is recommended to avoid using Internet Explorer 10 to view Flash contents until the issue is fixed. The easiest way to make sure that this does not happen is to make a different browser the default browser on the system.

Windows 8: Unpatched Flash vulnerability leaves users at risk was posted on Everything Microsoft – Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

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The Windows Phone team has updated their blog with a reminder to users running a version of Windows Phone below v7.5 (aka Mango) to update their device with the latest version in order to continue to have access to the Marketplace on both the web and on the device.

The move is being made to continue making improvements to the Marketplace and Microsoft needs to move users to the latest update to do so.

If you have never upgraded you phone’s software, you will need to connect the device to your PC and run the Zune PC software and follow the onscreen instructions to begin the process.

Microsoft Urges Windows Phone Users To Update in Order to Keep Marketplace Functionality was posted on Everything Microsoft – Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

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Microsoft normally start a special promotional offer coming up to the release of their new operating system to try stop users from holding off on buying computers until its launched. Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 7 for all Windows Vista users who purchased new machines that came running Windows Vista in the months leading up to the release of Windows 7.

While we are yet to hear of an official offer from Microsoft, PC World have received some information from their sources with regards to a similar promotional offer for Windows 8.

Apparently Microsoft will be offering anyone who purchases a Windows machine running Windows 7 a reduced price to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. When customers make their purchase, they will receive special promotional coupons which will entitle them to Windows 8 Pro at a special price, but it won’t be for free.

The below image is apparently the promotional flyer that Microsoft have been sending around to their retailers and partners.

What makes me curious about this offer though is the fact that the upgrade is to Windows 8 Pro. Most users won’t actually have a need for Windows 8 Pro. It’s more aimed at businesses and tech enthusiasts with features like  includes encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity.

Surely it would make more sense for Microsoft to offer similar upgrades like they did with Windows 7. ie. Windows Vista Home Premium -> Windows 7 Home Premium etc.. It seems odd that they’re trying to get all Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro even though many users will have no need for it.

Of course, this upgrade offer isn’t set in stone, and until we receive official word on it from Microsoft, we can’t be certain that it’s going to work like this.

Microsoft are expected to announce this upgrade offer around the 2nd of  June, along side the announcement of the Windows 8 Release Candidate. Microsoft will be aiming to make the most of the back to schools season with this offer because Windows 8 probably won’t be released until after this window.

It will be interesting to see what the offer is that Microsoft come up with.

What do you think it will be?

Let us know in the comments

Source:

PC World

Details of Microsoft Windows 8 Upgrade Offer For Windows 7 Users Emerge was posted on Everything Microsoft – Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

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There’s a certain concern raised when a book you’re writing suddenly appears on Amazon when you’ve only written a quarter of it  :/  That said, it’s still very exciting and today this is the first look (for me too) of the cover for the first of my new Windows 8 books.  I don’t know about you but I think it looks really cool.

The new “Windows 8 Power Users Guide” is the first commercial edition of my self-published Power Users Guide series, the Windows 7 one is still available for download completely free here.  If you are wanting to, or even just thinking of writing a Windows 8 book because it’s a career you’d like to get into I want this book to speak up for each and every one of you, and indeed this is what the dedication inside the cover will say.

It’s a great time to self-publish a book as many services, including Amazon itself allows you to sell your eBooks and much more through their CreateSpace service.  Writing the book doesn’t need to be difficult either, my original Windows Vista Power Users Guide was just 68 pages and still had great reviews.

So what would your take on a Windows 8 book be and who would you write for?  Your market and knowing the competition is very important.  Perhaps you want to write for complete computer newbies.  Here you’d be competing with the Dummies books and Microsoft Press’ Step-by-Step books which are usually 500 pages, black and white and heavy going.  There’s also my own forthcoming Windows 8: Out of the Box which is none of these things and perhaps you’d want to write something closer to that.

Maybe you want to write an in-depth guide for enthusiasts or IT Pros, much like the new Windows 8 Power Users Guide.  There’s no need to cover the entire OS in-depth.  Just the pieces you feel are appropriate for your book.

So consider this a rallying call.  If I can do this then anybody can, I genuinely mean that.  If you want to write a book on Windows 8, Windows Server 8, Office 15 or any new product it’s never been easier and there’s never been a better time.

The Windows 8 Power Users Guide Now Availble for Pre-Order on Amazon was posted on Everything Microsoft – Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

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However, our resident MVP (Microsoft Valued Professional) Mike Halsey always seems to be one step ahead of us all.

Some of you may know of the Windows 7 Power Users Guide that Mike wrote for Windows 7.

The eBook is an extensive 170 page guide to Windows 7, written by Mike and is available for free to download (Download it here at Windows 7 News) This eBook has been a huge success and has had well over half a million downloads to date.

And now I’m delighted to announce that Mike will now be writing the Windows 8 Power Users Guide, and he’s been picked up by the international publisher APRESS. This new “Windows 8 Power Users Guide” will be for IT Pros and Users who want to master Windows 8. Of course since Windows 8 isn’t even out yet and the book is still in the early stages of development, most of the specifics have been kept under wrap, but I’ve been assured that there’s been nothing like this book before!

Here’s a few words from Mike himself in relation to the Power Users Guide Series as well as his reaction to being picked up by the international publisher APRESS:

I self-published my first Windows Power Users Guide in 2006 for Windows Vista, and it had a great review from ‘Windows Vista: The Official magazine’ in the UK that made it a real hit.  This spurred me on to write the Windows 7 Power Users Guide, a free 170 page guide, which has had more downloads than I can count (the download counter on my website actually broke after half a million, so draw your own conclusions).  To have the Power Users Guide name and format picked up by a major international publisher is a dream come true, and I hope it is also great encouragement to anyone wanting to write their own book for Windows or any other tech subject in 2012 and beyond.”

No doubt Mike will have a few more teasers for us between now and the release of the book, it’s great to see his book series has been picked up by a major publisher, and it’s brilliant that we have him on our team here at Windows 8 News and Windows 7 News.

I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing him every bit of success with it.

Windows 8 News, Rumors & Tips