Microsoft is really pushing the Kinect in to computing. They are working with vendors to include Kinect sensors within the hardware of laptops. As  long as the applications are there, I see no reason why this wouldn’t succeed. There is a lot going for the Kinect, from gestures to security to gaming. The only thing missing: applications. Without them, the need for the Kinect is dead.

A source at Microsoft has confirmed that the devices are indeed official prototypes of laptops featuring a Kinect sensor. In terms of functionality, there are hundreds of different ways that motion control could be leveraged in a portable. Gaming has the most obvious applications, but a Kinect-enabled laptop could also toggle between programs with the wave of a hand, or media controls could be tweaked with the wag of a finger. What’s more, motion-controlled portables could offer a new way for disabled individuals to interact with their devices.

Nokia has confirmed that it has sold over a million Lumia Windows Phone devices. Great for Windows Phone (yet still less that what Nokia has done in the past). They have started releasing the devices to US users through T-Mobile and AT&T. The new Nokia Lumia 900 is launching on March 18th for a price of just under a hundred bucks. When Verizon starts offering these devices (which based on their track record won’t be for a while), I’ll probably be picking one up. I love my HTC Trophy, but the new Nokia’s look real nice!

The bigger news is the phone’s price: AT&T and Nokia are planning to launch this flagship smartphone at just $99.99 on a two-year contract. That price point would make this sleek smartphone an absolute game-changer for Windows Phone, and it makes sense when you think about how much money Nokia and Microsoft are planning to spend promoting the launch.

Windows 8 does have a lot of challenges with the ARM processors, most of them related to compatibility with x86 instructions. While this is going to be a big issue, I do think that Microsoft knows about this and plans on some kind of emulation on both fronts. They wouldn’t segment the Windows ecosystem, they seem to be trying to do the opposite.

So what does this mean?   That Office 2010 someone bought for $120-350 or that Sims 3 Pets game you bought for $29 in September of 2012 will not run on a ARM-based Windows 8 tablet or notebook. This doesn’t mean that WoA platforms won’t have applications; they will.  Microsoft has gone great pains to develop a new application development environment where developers can write new Metro Windows 8-based applications using a new and slick Visual Studio developer app.  That doesn’t change the fact that none of the legacy apps will work.

For those wondering whether or not to use the 32 bit or the 64 bit version of Internet Explorer (if you use Internet Explorer), Computerworld has some good information on it. There is a good reason not to use the 64-bit version, but many times it won’t matter. I use 32 bit, myself, due to the plugin issue. I don’t notice any speed difference, so it may be noticeable, but it’s not a hindrance to any work being done.

They do this for a good reason: backward compatibility. Plug-ins have to be rewritten to work with the x64 version, and a lot of plugins have yet to be rewritten. More 64-bit plugins are being released all the time, of course, so this problem isn’t as severe as it used to be. For instance, you can now download and install 64-bit versions of Adobe Flash Player and Google Toolbar. But if Windows were to default to running the 64-bit browser tomorrow, it would still result in a lot of frustrated tech support calls.

Hmmmm, I call BS. There are rumors that the new Xbox (720, Next, whatever you want to call it) will not allow you to play used games. This would nearly kill the console before it even launches, if it is true. There are a lot of people that won’t buy a game new with prices topping $70 these days. Waiting a year for it to drop to $30 is an option, but buying it used for $15 or less after the year or $35-$40 right off the bat can save some money. If it’s true, I’m sure that modding of consoles will be very popular.

Gaming news site Kotaku is claiming that the so-called Xbox 720 will incorporate some type of anti-used game technology. Citing a "reliable industry source," Kotaku admitted that it’s not clear how such a technology would be set up and if it means the Xbox wouldn’t play used games at all.

This guy has a good opinion on Windows 8 – techies are going to dislike it, those that use computers as a tool are going to love it. It does seem to have a lot more attention to detail.

First lets go back to 2005 and 2006. Microsoft was in the height of it’s “me-too” phase. Bill Gates had clearly checked out mentally from the company. Windows Vista was in beta, and the talk of the town was that the Windows XP’s follow up was going to be a disaster. It was. It was a living embodiment of everything wrong with Microsoft. The operating system had been mismanaged to the tune of a years of delays. It felt designed by committee and sterile. This was a dark time for me. I openly lusted for a MacBook: an elegant machine, with an operating system made by people who cared about the details, about the way people who used their products would perceive it. I was standing on the edge, and I almost became a member of the Mac faithful until Zune made it’s debuted and helped me understand that Microsoft could in fact produce quality products.

While I am still a big fan of Android due to it’s massive mod scene (which can also be it’s weakness), I love my Windows Phone 7. I’m glad I’m not the only one. MaximumPC has 10 reasons why they think the Windows Phone 7 is much better than the Android OS.

It really does. And look, we get it. An Android is a power user’s phone, and we know that if you’re really looking for power-use, you’ve got to be willing to learn some things. But we’re the geeky minority here, and you’ve got to keep in mind that most people are looking for a phone that makes it easiest to do their day-to-day tasks. Keeping that in mind, WP7’s “tile” system is simply easier to organize and find the things you need to throughout the day. It looks cooler too; way cooler, actually.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the people getting fired or denied a job based on something they posted on Facebook, Twitter or *gasp* MySpace. Microsoft knows that, too, and is here to warn you about the dangers of what you post. Make sure you think about what you are posting before you click the “Submit” button.

In observance of Data Privacy Day 2012, Microsoft Corp. is releasing new data about consumer behaviors online and is offering guidance and tips to help people better manage their online profiles and maintain a positive reputation. In an increasingly connected world, everything people do online, from responding to emails and texts to clicking the “like” and “retweet” buttons on favorite Web pages, uploading photos and making purchases online, contributes to their online reputation.

For those against the virtual money system with Microsoft Points, you’re in luck. There are rumors that Microsoft is phasing out it’s point system to purchase virtual goods. You will be able to now use real money on a credit card or debit card. Yes, this may be an inconvenience to some without the various cards, but should make things more uniform in the Microsoft world. Previously, Windows Phone, Windows and Xbox were three separate marketplaces, and only one would accept the Microsoft Points currency.

While the decision to eliminate Microsoft Points may seem to be a surprising move, Microsoft has been gradually introducing cash purchases to Xbox Live, the most popular platform where Points are used. It makes sense for the company to move to a single cash-based payment system, as it brings it in line with its app market competitors and eliminates a consistent criticism of the system — that the Points to dollar conversion ratio is not only confusing, but it forces consumers to purchase more Points than they actually need. The smallest amount of Points that a consumer can purchase at one time is 400, or $5 worth.

According to several studies, Windows Phone 7, with the help of the Nokia partnership, will overtake the mighty Apple iPhone in 2015. With Windows Phone at ~2% market share and iPhone at 18%, it would take a lot. Android, of course, will stay at #1 with it’s flood of devices upon the marketplace. WP7 definitely deserves to gain a lot of market share. I haven’t had anyone use my phone and not enjoy it. It is very intuitive and easy to use.