This week Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has announced in an interview with a French newspaper, that sales of their new Surface Windows RT tablet which launched late last month, are "Starting Modestly”.

However CEO Ballmer would not divulge any exact figures on sales of Microsoft’s new Windows RT Surface tablet. Explaining that the modest sales are likely due to the Windows RT Surface tablet only being available to purchase online and via a few Microsoft stores across the US.

To recap the Windows RT Surface tablet is the budget version of the fully blown Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet, and is priced at $499 for the 32GB Surface RT tablet without the touch-sensitive keyboard cover, and rising up to $699 for a 64GB Surface RT tablet with the keyboard cover ... Read more »

The other day we told you about sound issues and now it looks like at least a few Microsoft Surface owners are having other issues with their tablets. Issues with the device’s Touch Cover.

Reports indicate that the cover’s seam is coming apart after just a few days of use. When one of the users went to a store asking for a replacement, the representative told him that at least two other people were having the same problem. This affects users from both the US and the UK so it doesn’t seem to be just a single defective batch.

The seam might be too weak. It could be that simple. Hopefully they resolves these issues soon.

Source Phone Arena

Microsoft’s Surface tablet has been out for a few weeks now, and in general users have seemed very pleased with the tablet, despite the current lack of quality apps available. However some units might be affected by a strange issue that has not yet been resolved.

A thread at the Microsoft Answers web page is where a number of Microsoft Surface owners are reporting having the following problem: the tablet’s sound output gets muted for no apparent reason. Pressing the volume rocker sets the volume back to its previous level, but the mute button gets triggered again at some point, either randomly or after the device is turned back on from sleep mode.

Speculation is that the touch cover for the Microsoft Surface might be the problem since the issue is present only if the accessory is in use. Micr ... Read more »

Last month it was rumoured that Microsoft was gearing up to release it MS Office Suite of software for Android and iOS in March 2013. Although nothing had been confirmed by Microsoft.

Today however the Verge technology website is reporting that several sources close to the development of the MS Office software have revealed that Microsoft is planning to release MS Office for both Android and iOS in early 2013, presumably earlier than March 2013.

The new Microsoft Office Mobile suite of software will be launched in the form of free applications, enabling Android and iOS users to view Microsoft Office documents on the move from their smartphones and tablets. The Verge explains:

"On first launch, a Microsoft account will provide access to the basic viewing functionality in the apps. Wor ... Read more »

Microsoft recently launched their new Windows 8 App store along with the launch of Windows 8, and now it would appear that there around 13,000 apps in the Windows 8 App store.

According to a recent report from Win App Update, Microsoft has added roughly 3,000 apps to the Windows 8 app store in the last 8 days and are on target to hits 20,000 apps by the end of November.

It looks like Microsoft is on target to add around 10,000 apps to the Windows 8 app store per month, if it continues at the same rate, which would mean that there would be around 30,000 apps available by the end of the year.

Source ... Read more »

Microsoft recently launched Windows 8, and their first tablet, the Microsoft Surface, we already know that Microsoft has plans to produce more hardware under their Surface brand, as this was confirmed by the company’s CEO, Steve Ballmer.

Now according to a recent report by the Verge, one of these new devices under the Surface brand, will be a smaller 7 inch Surface tablet, which is designed for gaming, and may come with the name of the Xbox Surface.

The Xbox Surface tablet is expected to feature an ARM based processor, and it isn;t expected to run a full version of Windows, instead it will run a custom Windows kernel with the focus on gaming, but with other features like messaging and more.

Microsoft branding the device under their Xbox brand is a smart move, if they are trying to sell a gaming orientated tablet, then ... Read more »

Sources close to Microsoft have revealed this week to the Verge technology website that Microsoft is looking to retire its Windows Live Messenger service in favour of Skype which it acquired back in May 2011. Skype was originally developed by Estonian coders Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn.

Microsoft is expected to officially announce the retirement of its Windows Live Messenger service very soon say the sources, close to Microsoft, during which it will be intergrtaed in to Skype.

Microsoft has been contacted about the Windows Live Messenger news but has yet to release any official statement. However it is thought to be part of the ongoing process to integrate Skype users with Microsoft accounts, and follows efforts by Skype t ... Read more »

If you haven;t been able to attend the Microsoft Build 2012 conference in person, but would still like to see first hand the presentations that took place during the conference. You will be pleased to learn that Microsoft has now made available videos from Build 2012 on its Channel 9 website, for all to see.

The videos from Build 2012 also include the Keynotes and Preshow buildup as well as presentations covering What’s New for Developers in Office 2013 and SharePoint 2013 and more.

"At Build, we’ll dive deep to cover all the areas you care about. How to design and build beautiful Windows 8 apps. How to sell your apps in the Windows 8 Store and make money. And much more. Join us on the Microsoft Campus for 4 days of extraordinary presentations delivered by the engin ... Read more »

LG has announced a new monitor that is designed specifically for Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system, the LG Touch 10, which is a 23 inch monitor that allows you to use up to 10 fingers at once on the display.

"This is a compelling new product that re-imagines the touch experience and shows that LG is an industry leader in developing the next generation of touch monitor products,” said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit at the LG Home Entertainment Company. "Smartphones and tablets have already proven that consumers are ready to fully embrace touch features. Our 10-point touchscreen takes it one step further by exponentially expanding the range of interactive possibilities. We believe this technology will excite and inspire software developers and users alike.”

According to LG the Touch 10 is designed to bring a tab ... Read more »