Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Fans of the Lincoln-Kennedy coincidences can appreciate similarly contrived dynamics in comparing Nokia and RIM (neither of which, contrary to the occasionally expressed opinion, has been murdered despite “Apple and Android” consisting of three words and 15 letters)… Tweet This Post

It’s safe to say that anticipation is high for the upcoming Windows 8 Release Preview, which will become available in the first week of June. While we’re still curious to see if Microsoft can better integrate the desktop and Metro environments of its latest operating system, the company has now revealed a significant change to [...]

Those looking to buy a Windows 7 PC this year will soon have an offer to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro OS for just $15, according to Windows blogger Paul Thurrott. On its face, this is a great offer in line with what Microsoft has done in the past… Tweet This Post

Microsoft has finally shed some light on the different versions of Windows 8 we’ll see upon release, and thankfully, things are much simpler than past versions. This time around, there are only three flavors Microsoft is pushing heavily: Windows 8, the version geared towards most consumers; Windows 8 Pro, for enterprise and enthusiast users; and [...]

It’s hard to say how popular Chrome OS, Google’s browser-centric operating system, really is. There can be little doubt, though, that Google is quite serious about this initiative. Today, Google launched the latest developer version of Chrome OS and this update sports the first major redesign of the operation system’s interface since its launch in [...]

We don’t have 100 fingers — theoretically the supported limit of Windows 8 on the 82-inch capacitive touchscreen display we just had a chance to go hands-on with at the company’s latest OS demo at Mobile World Congress — but things looked pretty impressive even with just 10… Tweet This Post

Windows 8 shows a design sensibility and a clarity of purpose not often seen in a Microsoft product. I’ve spent about a week with the “consumer preview” of Windows 8, which is available to the public today (you can download the Windows 8 consumer preview for free here)… Tweet This Post

Clearly, cats are in. But Mac, it seems, is out. Apple has quietly dropped the Mac name from its latest OS X Mountain Lion operating system, while also retroactively changing the Lion branding on its website… Tweet This Post

You may still be purring your way through our in-depth preview, but Mountain Lion is now officially out of the bag, with Apple releasing a preview version of its latest OS X to the members-only Developer Program… Tweet This Post

Nokia is working on a Windows Phone model that incorporates NFC (Near Field Communications) technology to connect to external accessories – and is even considering versions with wireless charging, its design chief has indicated in an exclusive interview… Tweet This Post

BlackBerry maker RIM’s official line has been that it is not for sale, but this week, persistent rumors that it could get bought anyway got another fillip, in the form of a report that the handset maker has hired Goldman Sachs to advise it… Tweet This Post

If you’re curious how difficult it is to make a successful Android tablet, ask Dell. The company today announced it is killing off its Streak 7 Android tablet in the U.S., while claiming it will still sell the product through retail partnerships abroad… Tweet This Post