As Microsoft prepares for the release of Windows 8, sure to be critical to many business users, the company is also making a push to improve other products like its cloud storage solution, SkyDrive. Here’s what users of Microsoft’s various business solutions have to look forward to:
Brand New Toys
SkyDrive makeover sneak peak. Changes in SkyDrive give it a Windows 8 look and feel. Changes include a roll out of updated Windows and Mac OS X SkyDrive clients with faster file upload to the cloud and less processing time when checking for file changes. Ars Technica
Outlook.com at 10 million strong. Two weeks ago, Microsoft introduced a preview of the upgraded Outlook.com in connection with release of the new Windows 8. The new Outlook.com also replaces Microsoft’s Hotmail service and now has an estimated 10 million users. The Windows Blog
Microsoft surface for just $199.99. No, we’re not sure we believe it either! A rumor is floating around that Microsoft’s new tablets and laptops could be priced quite reasonably. But given earlier statements Microsoft has made about pricing for these products, we’re not holding our breath. Neowin.net
Other Tools
Thinking about ThinkPad. Other options exist besides the Microsoft Surface. While some Microsoft partners don’t see the point of developing a competitor to the new Microsoft hardware, at least one, Lenovo, does. Here’s what their new device has to offer. ReadWriteWeb
Getting InTune with Microsoft. With all the focus on Windows 8, there’s another choice coming up for Windows users. Business users can decide whether to use just Windows 8, or subscribe to Windows InTune. Here is more about Windows InTune and why it matters. PC World
Hands On Preview
Office hours. If you want to know more about what Microsoft’s new Office 2013 will be like, you may want to check out this hands-on report from a guy who’s spent a few weeks with the preview version. Forward Thinking
What’s in a name? Columnist Preston Gralla looks at the the naming of the new interface for Windows 8, possibly to be described as “modern” instead of “metro.” But what difference does it make what they call the thing, so long as it works? Quite a bit, Gralla argues. Here’s why. ComputerWorld
