Windows 8 Review

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Does Sinofsky’s Exit Signal a Return to Start Menu in Windows 8?

November 15, 2012 No comments

As we spoke about in a recent post, Steven Sinofsky is no longer a part of Microsoft.  The rumors surrounding this leadership change have been plentiful, but in the end it isn’t what happened that is interesting so much as what might happen as a result.  Since Sinofsky was a driving force behind the form Windows 8 ended up taking, it’s somewhat reasonable to speculate that changes might be in order.

The biggest change that could possibly take place would be the return to a Desktop-based Start Menu.  As well-reviewed as the current interface seems to be among people who use it for long enough to get a feel for the nuances, it has definitely been proven the weakest link in marketing.  The Start Screen and the Modern UI in general are widely criticized for the design choices that have been made to accommodate touch screen interfaces being used alongside the keyboard and mouse.

Owing largely to the increased training load required for a Windows 8 migration, which carries with it some obvious expenses, business adoption has been slow so far.  Analysts predict that this will not start to turn around until next year at the earliest and that even then such efforts will largely be based around Windows 8 tablets before desktop adoption is considered.  Eventual migration is a given for many companies as they come to the end of the Windows XP support cycle but that’s small comfort in the short term.

The success of Stardock’s Start8 software makes up the other side of things.  The Start8 Start Menu replacement tries to prevent users from ever having to learn how to use their new operating system by recreating the Windows 7 interface and allowing those users to boot directly into the Desktop.  It has proven to be a very popular product.

Microsoft has to be at least considering adding an optional Desktop Start Menu to Windows 8 by now.  That would undermine their efforts to establish a new interface paradigm that spans all Windows-based devices, but it would also have immediate positive effects on sales numbers by catering to those potential customers who are put off by the rhetoric indicating keyboard and mouse users have been ignored or marginalized.

The problem with restoring the Start Menu is that it could slow Windows development for the Modern UI significantly.  If Windows RT is going to remain viable, and it has certainly started to gain some attention as user reviews appear, software made for WinRT is needed.  If the draw for developers is removed, particularly the incentive provided by the Windows Store being front and center for every user and therefore providing great exposure, there is no point in their creating programs that are not compatible with older iterations of the operating system.

As much as this is a possibility some time down the line, I would guess that there is little chance of an officially sanctioned change back to the purely traditional Desktop interface.  Metro, the Modern UI, or whatever we’re calling the big screen with tiles on it at the moment will be around for a while.  Chances are very good that it is here to stay.  Adoption of Windows 8 might be slower than many would like, but there aren’t many real affordable alternatives for PC users.  It’s only a matter of time before exposure makes the new interface as intuitive as the old one.

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Microsoft Windows Head Steven Sinofsky Resigns

November 13, 2012 No comments

Not too long ago, Steven Sinofsky was being referred to as the heir apparent to CEO Steve Ballmer at Microsoft.  In a lot of ways, especially with regard to Windows 8 and the Surface Tablet launches, he’s been the public face of the company.  Now for vague but probably understandable reasons he has chosen to move on.

Sinofsky will be replaced by Julie Larson-Green and Tami Reller immediately.  Larson-Green is taking over all Windows software and hardware engineering while Reller is going to handle the business side of Windows in addition to her existing role as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer.  They’re both experienced in all the right ways and will probably bring a great deal of skill to the table to keep Windows 8’s momentum going.

Still, one has to wonder how this all came about so abruptly.  There are plenty of rumors piling up already, but let’s start with the semi-official story.

Microsoft offered no formal explanation of this at all, of course, though the tone of the press release indicated a fairly equitable parting.  A copy of the letter Sinofsky sent out to all employees explaining his actions has leaked in the meantime.

He describes this as a convenient place to consider his options, given that the launches are over with for the moment and nobody will be left hanging too much by his leaving.   There’s a great deal of praise, both for Microsoft and for its employees.  Most of all, he goes out of his way to indicate that this was a personal matter and the timing is just a matter of making way for new leadership as fast as possible rather than dragging things out.

The less reputable though perhaps more interesting information is coming in from anonymous sources claiming to be close to the situation.  The letter I mentioned previously did contain the warning that “Some might notice a bit of chatter speculating about this decision or timing.”  That lends to the idea that there might be something to this, though obviously there was bound to be speculation no matter what.

According to these rumors, Sinofsky previously delivered an ultimatum to the company demanding that he be named Steve Ballmer’s successor as CEO.  When this wasn’t granted and neither side was willing to budge on the issue, he threatened to resign.  It seems that if this is true, they weren’t looking at a bluff.

There is no sign that any of this transition will have a negative effect on the company’s ongoing development for Windows 8, Windows RT, or the Surface line.  If anything it may make life easier for Microsoft when it comes to dealing with their OEM partners since Sinofsky is rumored to have been the one unwilling to discuss matters relating to the company’s hardware plans with them.

Whatever the case may be, it’s unlikely that he will have trouble finding a new position.  Having played an integral part in the biggest change in computing since the GUI was introduced, it’s difficult to understate his long term impact.

Windows 8 News ,

Customizing the Windows 8 Start Screen

November 11, 2012 2 comments

The Start Screen is the defining feature of Windows 8 and quite possibly the most productive area for personalization.  For those who hate it there are a number of tools available that will allow for a complete bypass of anything that resembles an interface change.  For the rest of us it’s nice to have a number of options at our disposal to make the focal point of the OS more unique.

Grouping

The most obvious feature is built-in.  It’s obvious that you can drag and drop tiles around the screen.  It’s fairly clear that by right-clicking on a tile (assuming keyboard and mouse) you can resize and activate/deactivate Live Tiles.  What a surprising number of users have missed is the grouping and labeling.

By either holding CTRL and running the scroll wheel or clicking the “-“ in the lower right hand corner of the screen, you can activate Semantic Zoom.  Right-click on a group of tiles and you can add a title to the group or move it relative to all the rest.

Custom Tiles

The biggest shortcoming of the Start Screen for many Windows 8 users, given that it’s all but inevitable that most of our current apps rely on the Desktop, is the fact that tiles on this screen can’t be made for Desktop applications.  You get a blank tile with a small icon inside it, but that’s it.  A user over at the XDA forums came up with a solution.

Oblytile lets you make any shortcut or executable into a tile.  It asks for a Tile Name, the program path, and an image.  You can even choose your tile background color.  It’s simple and straightforward.  It can also completely turn the experience around.  Any image you want for any program you want is a lot of customization.  There are already Oblytile image libraries springing up around the web.

Start Screen Background

Perhaps the hardest thing to edit so far has been the background of the Start Screen.  Microsoft included a number of “tattoos” to choose from.  These offer a lot of options, but “a lot” in this case is only by comparison with the plain colors that were available in the previews of Windows 8.  The Desktop allows you to have any background image you want and the Start Screen should do no less.

There have been a couple programs made to offer that flexibility.  The first that I came across was released through DeviantArt by user vhanla.  It patches the DLL that contains the background files.  This means that anything you have handy in JPG, BMP, GIF, or PNG format can be used for this purpose.  Again, simple to use and impressively handy.

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Hope that helps!  Any other suggestions?  I’m always interested in finding new personalization options that I was previously unaware of.

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Microsoft’s Windows 8 App Ads Draw Criticism

November 10, 2012 1 comment

While Microsoft sees the possibilities of their new “Metro” UI as an advertising platform to be simply a matter of course at this point, customers are beginning to notice and complain about their presence in all of the preinstalled applications that have been included in their Windows 8 installations.  There does seem to be a question raised as to how one can expect users to accept a company continuing to capitalize on a customer who has already paid for their product.

The disconnect seems to come mainly in presentation.  To give Microsoft some credit, the ads that have been shown in their own apps so far have been universally unobtrusive and often invisible.  They have also only shown up in apps at this point and there is no sign that this will become anything more than an app-specific phenomenon.

There is a valid complaint to be made over Windows 8’s built-in apps being made into advertising streams.  It would be unforgivable if these apps were central to the functionality of the operating system.  As it stands, they are still often the best option currently available for the niches they fill.  That’s probably why it’s so obnoxious to see all this.

There are two ways that I think these ads can be taken.

One would be a greedy money-grab by Microsoft.  They have already sold the operating system for the lowest prices any such upgrade has ever sold for and now that people are locked into using the Windows Store and Metro UI it’s time to squeeze them and make up those lost profits.

That view would tend to be confirmed by the Xbox console.  Users have gone from having no advertisements on their dashboard to having to deal with multiple large boxes with sound on every tab.  Those who buy into the Xbox Live Gold program are by no means immune to this.  There is no way to disable, block, or otherwise avoid being marketed to even if all you’re trying to do is load Netflix.

More charitably, Microsoft could be offsetting the ongoing maintenance costs of these apps somewhat and at the same time encouraging development of alternatives.  One of the biggest problems that the Windows Store has in competing at this stage is its lack of selection.  By offering functional products with room for improvement that fill a need without being literally built-in they leave the door open to other options.

This would mean that the unobtrusive advertising displays are likely meant as examples of how to properly implement ads in a free app without driving off customers.  It would also mean that there is likely to be a finite limit on the ongoing support and upgrades for Microsoft apps as other developers step in to take over handling of core tasks.

Whichever you believe, and it’s certain to be some combination of the two views in the end, at least there is some reason to take heart.  Advertising is not a feature of the OS itself.  You do not have to see these ads on your Start Screen and you will not find them popping up in places where you can’t get rid of them.  The Weather app is great, for example, but you can hardly consider it part of the central functionality of Windows 8.

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Recent Selection of Best Windows 8 Apps

November 9, 2012 No comments

With the release of Windows 8 to the public, it’s been interesting to track the most popular apps in the Store.  This is the first time there has really been a solid bridge between the tablet and desktop application environments and so it could have taken us by surprise somehow.  Realistically that could still happen as adoption rates increase over the next couple months, but let’s take a look at some of the current popular apps.

Angry Birds Star Wars

Ok, nobody is shocked to see Angry Birds enjoying popularity.  The fact that they have joined up with the Star Wars franchise isn’t exactly going to hurt sales either.  Looking past the marketing gimmick of the week, is it a decent game?

Well, it’s safe to say that this won’t change the landscape of video game production as we know it.  It’s the usual Angry Birds experience will a lot of dramatic stings and imagery from the Star Wars trilogy.  The old one, at least in what I played.  The fun is still plentiful and the game is more than worth your time if you like this type of play.  Black bomb birds in brown coats shooting waves of piggish storm troopers with The Force was admittedly hilarious.

Cocktail Flow

This one has been around for a while now and seems to be excellent at maintaining user interest.  It’s exactly what you would expect.  The Cocktail Flow app will assist you in your pursuit of cocktails.

Starting with a basic criteria such as “Contains Whiskey”, “Is Green”, or “Has No Alcohol” you can build your perfect drink.  Probably not that last one for most people drawn to this app but the option is there!  It’s searchable, contains accurate and thorough directions, throws in some best-case-scenario pictures and generally makes the whole experience pleasant.  This might be a narrowly purposed app, but it is a very well made one and it’s easy to understand the popularity.

Khan Academy

The popular education supplement site bearing the same name as the app has released their own Windows 8 interface.  Lessons are available for streaming or download.  Navigation is straightforward.  The wide variety of trivia answer content that can’t necessarily be classed as lessons is also included under a “New and Noteworthy” heading.

This one is basic and seems to be basically a portal to their site.  I noticed no major shortcomings and would see this as a useful resource for people who appreciate the Khan Academy and recreational learning in general.

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This is by no means a list of all the best apps.  It’s not even a chance to cover the Top 3 for the week.  They are all notably popular for good reasons and I would consider them worth checking out.  All are available for free in the Windows Store (Angry Birds Star Wars has a free trial including quite a bit of play) and you will likely find them all enjoyable.  We’ll be watching the top apps in the store over the next few weeks and continuing to highlight some of the ones that should definitely be given a chance.

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Xbox Surface Tablet Expected in 2013; Smartglass for iOS Available Today

November 8, 2012 No comments

According to reports coming through The Verge’s sources at Redmond, there is a new version of the Surface being developed.  This will be a smaller, more specialized device focused on gaming.  The Xbox Surface tablet, as it has been dubbed by many, is likely to be Microsoft’s preface to the release of the next generation of Xbox console.

There has been rumor before now about a 7″ version of the Surface.  Back in June some specs were leaked that pointed to just such a device.  Apparently it was not ready yet, but this may be exactly the device those specs referred to.

The Xbox Surface is expected to be running on a custom ARM processor and will likely include a customized version of Windows RT.  The chip architecture is largely unimportant considering this would be marketed as a video game accessory in the first place and therefore not be expected to have much openness to it, but the customized Windows installation is intriguing.

There would be no reason to include a copy of Office 2013 with this device.  The Touch Cover and Type Cover would also be largely unimportant given the size we’re expecting.  Many functions would have to be included, especially the ability to download game apps and interface with home entertainment systems through platforms like Smartglass, but this type of stripped-down OS could have potential in any number of other applications.

Remember that at one point we were asked to imagine Windows 8 being the OS of choice for eReaders.  With those selling for the kind of minimal profits that have become common today, Microsoft is effectively out of the running unless they have something less costly to offer.  Is the Xbox Surface a test run for this sort of thing?

On the same vein, one of the big pushes for Microsoft’s gaming interests is the Xbox Smartglass platform which has become initially complete today with the release of Smartglass for iOS.  You can now pick up apps for Windows 8, Android, and iOS in the applicable app store.

The new app is a fairly substantial improvement over what was available previously in the Xbox Live app.  It’s simple to use and connect to your console.  All you need to do is be on the same network as your console and log in with the same user account.  The dashboard will basically be streamed directly to your phone from that point on.

Media streaming between Smartglass devices is already working well, so that should be useful for many people.  While the gaming side of things is still picking up steam, big names like Halo 4 will likely bring even more user attention to the potential of the software.

Between both Smartglass apps and the Xbox Surface, Microsoft seems to be preparing for a major fight on the gaming front.  With the Wii U already gaining popularity and the Playstation 4 expected to remedy many of the major complaints about the current generation, this is not a situation where anybody can hope to ride out the transition on the strength of old success.

Windows 8 Apps, Windows 8 News, Xbox , , ,

Grapholite Diagrams for Windows 8

November 6, 2012 No comments

When it comes to flowcharting software, Microsoft’s Visio is pretty much the standard.  You can find alternatives out there that will accomplish all the same things, but rarely is there much that they do better.  Want to guess what software is not available for use in Windows 8′s Modern Interface?

As I’m writing this, the best-rated alternative to be found in the Windows Store is Grapholite Diagrams.  There is a reason for this.  It’s a very well executed piece of software.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it surpasses Visio in any ways I came across, but since it’s unlikely that Windows RT will be seeing that particular addition to its software library any time soon the comparison is less important.

Obviously we’re talking about a program made for flowcharting.  You get a number of templates to build on (in this case a very large number) and from there you can build with text and shapes.  There are dozens of shapes, themes, colors, etc. to work with to get what you want.  It seems simple enough at first glance.

The reason it’s notable enough to review here is the execution.  This is the first time I have run into something that can handle these tasks well using a touch interface, especially while bringing other useful features along for the ride.

Let’s start with Touch.  Anybody who has tried OneNote MX is familiar with the radial interface that replaces the ribbon found in most Office applications.  Grapholite took some cues from that and designed an equally functional version of their own.  All the commands you need are available at the flick of a finger or the click of a mouse.  They also managed to work in support for a number of touch gestures.  Tap to select, Tap & Drag to select groups, Slide two fingers to shift the document, Drag the corner of an object to resize, and so on.  It’s even possible to manipulate the shapes by hand when necessary.

That doesn’t mean all the attention was given to touch, though.  The breadth of the display options is impressive.  Every aspect of your diagram can be changed, from shape to color to opacity, including the connections running from point to point.  These connections, by the way, are handled impressively to the point where even intricately overlapping paths are easily traced.

Grapholite is even well integrated with the Windows 8 UI.  Most of your customization options will appear as part of a panel that can be shown or hidden via the App Bar.  Sharing and printing are simple matters initiated in the usual Windows 8 fashion.  You can export your diagram as an image or vector drawing.  Everything you might need seems to just work.

If you’re on a desktop, Visio is still the better software.  At a minimum of $249 compared to Grapholite’s $26.99, it might not be better enough for just anybody though.  On the touchscreen I have found no better option thus far.  There are still features that I would like, particularly the ability to tell objects to automatically resize to fit the text they contain, but this is a product that is more than worth the price for anybody in need of it.  Nothing is hard to figure out, all your options can be accessed with minimal effort, and anything you want to do is likely to be possible.  You can’t ask for a lot more than that.

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Explaining Windows 8: Shut Down, Reboot, Sleep

November 6, 2012 No comments

One of the most obvious aspects of the Windows interface has started causing some confusion with the release of Windows 8.  People are extremely upset about the lack of transparency in basic system functions like shutting down the computer.  Fortunately it isn’t as much of a pain as you might have read before.  There are a number of options available and the confusion largely stems from the fact that this is a divergence from the sort of interface we’ve grown so used to over the years.  It isn’t actually complicated.

Here are a few ways you can shut down when using a mouse and keyboard with Windows 8:

Option 1: Shut Down via Charm Bar

Open the Charm Bar by moving your cursor to either of the right-hand corners of any display or pressing WIN KEY + ‘C’.

Click on “Settings”, the Gear-shaped icon. (NOTE: This bar can also be reached at any time through keyboard shortcut: WIN KEY + ‘I’)

Click on “Power” and choose whether to Shut Down, Reboot, or Sleep.

Option 2: Use Desktop Keyboard Shortcut

Open the Desktop.

If you have any windows open, make sure that you select the desktop itself by clicking outside of those windows.

Press ALT-F4.

Choose whether to Shut Down, Reboot, Sleep, Sign off, or Switch User.

Option 3.1: Manually Create Shortcuts

Open the Desktop.

Right-click on the Desktop and select New>Shortcut.

In the location box, type or copy/paste: shutdown.exe -s -t 0

Name it “Shutdown” when prompted.

Pin this new shortcut to your Task Bar or Start Screen for easy access.

For Restart, substitute: shutdown.exe -r -t 0

For Sleep, substitute: rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

Option 3.2: Automatically Create Shortcuts

Open Notepad.

Copy and paste the following script (Courtesy of Digital Inspiration) into Notepad:

'
' This script will create shortcuts in the Start Menu
' Written by Amit Agarwal - 06/03/2012
' Web: http://labnol.org/?p=20989
' Version: 0.1
'
set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strStartMenu = WshShell.SpecialFolders("StartMenu")
set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strStartMenu & "\Shutdown.lnk")
oShellLink.TargetPath = "%systemroot%\System32\shutdown.exe"
oShellLink.Arguments = "-s -t 0"
oShellLink.WindowStyle = 1
oShellLink.IconLocation = "%systemroot%\System32\shell32.dll,27"
oShellLink.Description = "Shutdown Computer (Power Off)"
oShellLink.WorkingDirectory = "%systemroot%\System32\"
oShellLink.Save
Set oShellLink = Nothing
set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strStartMenu & "\Log Off.lnk")
oShellLink.TargetPath = "%systemroot%\System32\shutdown.exe"
oShellLink.Arguments = "-l"
oShellLink.WindowStyle = 1
oShellLink.IconLocation = "%systemroot%\System32\shell32.dll,44"
oShellLink.Description = "Log Off (Switch User)"
oShellLink.WorkingDirectory = "%systemroot%\System32\"
oShellLink.Save
Set oShellLink = Nothing
set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strStartMenu & "\Restart.lnk")
oShellLink.TargetPath = "%systemroot%\System32\shutdown.exe"
oShellLink.Arguments = "-r -t 0"
oShellLink.WindowStyle = 1
oShellLink.IconLocation = "%systemroot%\System32\shell32.dll,176"
oShellLink.Description = "Restart Computer (Reboot)"
oShellLink.WorkingDirectory = "%systemroot%\System32\"
oShellLink.Save
Set oShellLink = Nothing
Wscript.Echo "Created Shutdown, Restart and Log Off buttons"

Save the file as “Shutdown.vbs”, preferably to your Desktop for easy access.

Double-click on the newly created file.

Tiles for Shutdown, Restart, and Log Off should all be in your Start Screen now.  These can be pinned to your Task Bar if desired.

There are other options available beyond these, including adding the Shut Down command to the WinX Menu and other such more complicated methods.  These are generally the simplest.

It’s clear that Microsoft was trying to encourage users to get used to leaving their computers on and taking advantage of things like automated hibernation options, but sometimes that just doesn’t cut it.

Explaining Windows 8 , , , ,

Skype Replacing Windows Live Messenger

November 6, 2012 No comments

Recent news indicates that Microsoft will be retiring the Windows Live Messenger client in favor of Skype.  This transition has been in the works since they first acquired the popular internet communication service but from what we’re seeing it could be announced formally as early as next week.  This will be a brand change more than a service change in most ways, but it will be quite the transition for millions of Microsoft’s users.

Aside from web client users, which excludes Google Talk and Facebook almost entirely and therefore skews the numbers somewhat, Windows Live Messenger is the most used internet messaging service on the web today.  OPSWAT reports Windows Live having a 64.4% market share under these conditions while Skype comes in second with 18.6%.  Over 80% of the internet chat going on at the moment is running through Microsoft’s servers.

In terms of hardware, the transition has already begun.  They have moved the majority of Skype messaging onto the Messenger backend over the course of the past several months.  Most of that was taken as preparation for the launch of the Windows 8 Skype app in order to allow it to idle in the background and only wake when needed rather than being constantly active.  Skype’s traditional peer to peer connection system is still in place for all phone and video calling, of course.

The most important reason is obviously the ability to consolidate under a single service.  Windows 8 has largely been Microsoft’s attempt to tie the whole computing experience together and attach it to a single user account.  Once you set up your PC you immediately have SkyDrive for your storage, Xbox-related apps for all your music and video, an actual Xbox Live Gamertag for even the most casual of solitaire playing, and so on.  The account itself even brings in email since it’s made quite clear that anybody who wants to start for the first time is welcome to sign up at Outlook.com.  Now Skype can be brought in as the primary method for all real time personal communications.

The transition away from the largely unpopular Windows Live experience has been a smart move for Microsoft.  It was never one of their strongest sellers and few will really miss the remnants when they’re gone.  While the move to Skype will be rough in that users will not immediately have access to features like Facebook messaging that they might have become used to through the Live Messenger, it’s likely that these will either come along quickly or be picked up by things like the Messaging app available in the Windows Store.

 

Applications, Windows 8 Apps , ,

Live Tiles Lawsuit Causes Microsoft Problems

November 1, 2012 No comments

The Windows 8 interface, formerly known as Metro, relies heavily on the new Live Tiles that can be found on the Start screen.  There is nothing quite so obviously revolutionary about Windows 8 as the way these are used.  Practically every complaint and much of the praise that Microsoft has gotten over the changes to the computing experience can be tied into the implementation of these tiles.  Unfortunately, they might not be Microsoft’s to implement.

Portland-based SurfCast has filed a patent infringement suit over the Live Tile interface used in Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.  It appears that they may have patented this kind of thing years before Microsoft sought their own patent.

From the text of the SurfCast patents:

“…a graphical user interface which organizes content from a variety of information sources into a grid of tiles, each of which can refresh its content independently of the others.”

“Tiles permit ‘dynamic bookmarking’ of information in that each tile is a viewer of a single information source—including streaming data sources—and can be customized with the user’s choice of content as well as initialized with sets of options that are pre-determined by the software of the present invention”

“A tile is different from an icon because it provides a real-time or near real-time view of the underlying information in that it contains continually refreshed content.”

“A tile provides an at-a-glance view of the current status of the program or file associated with it but does not necessarily have the large number of active areas associated with windows such as title bar, menu bar, toolbars, and scroll bars.”

That all sounds very familiar for some reason.

Microsoft has stayed largely silent on this issue so far aside from confirming their intention to continue using the interface and declaring that they came up with the concept on their own.

Given how obvious an idea this seems to be, it’s easy to pass this off as just another “patent troll” looking to cash in on a huge new product.  Unlike most such companies, however, SurfCast has been around over a decade and came up with these patents in-house.  They didn’t just acquire something applicable in order to bring a lawsuit.  There is a good chance that this is not an attempt to abuse the broken system of patent law, despite the ongoing series of similar-sounding lawsuits doing exactly that all over the tech world and especially in the mobile device market.

The biggest problem that SurfCast will have is proving that the Live Tile idea isn’t so obvious that its patents are invalid.  If Microsoft is able to successfully argue that the tiles were part of a natural and unprompted progression in their interface design, for example, they can’t be infringing.

SurfCast does claim that Microsoft has been aware of their patents since at least early 2009, which could cause problems for their defense if true.  This will obviously not halt the sales of Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 for the moment, but the damages could be substantial if this suit is successful.

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