A while back Google unveiled indoor plans for Google Maps on Android smartphones. As of today, the service is also available on the desktop web version, which you probably use on your computer.

Not only that, but the map data is no longer limited to places in France, but has now been expanded to include select locations and places of interest in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, the UK, the US, Sweden, and Switzerland. Read more »

Spiceworks is a go-to place for ITs to find information, ideas and problem solutions on the web.

The guys over there decided to put together an infographic about what hot tech toys ITs want to get for Christmas this year, based on the opinions of “over 800 IT pros”. Follow on to see it. Read more »

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s Firefox for Android update, today we see the proper desktop version of Firefox get updated to ver. 17. The version spent about a month at beta stage, available to everyone interested for testing, so today’s release is a final, stable thing.

The new version of Firefox doesn’t have that many new end-user features. One change is the way it handles older versions of plugins such as Flash, Silverlight, or Adobe Reader. If you have an older version of these (perhaps because you don’t have enough user rights to update them), they will be temporarily disabled until you explicitly allow them to run for particular elements on the page via the so-called Click-to-play interface. But there’s even more. Read more »

The latest stable release of the popular Chrome for Windows browser from Google now has full GPU acceleration enabled for video decoding.

Dedicated graphics chips draw considerably less power than CPUs when watching videos, which means that your laptop will last that much longer. Read more »

Google Maps is undoubtedly on of the best (if not the best) mapping service in the world and when it comes to the various layers Maps offers there really isn’t anyone that can come close.

Terrain is among those layers, which is available both in the Android app and in the website. The Google team has now updated the terrain view in the entire world and it is now much more detailed and differentiates mountains and forests far better than before. Read more »

Today Microsoft stepped on stage and released its Windows 8 and Windows RT to the tech world in what was largely conceived as the biggest Windows release ever. Availability starts today and active Windows 7 customers can upgrade starting from $39.99.

Microsoft talked OS features, integration along a wide variety of devices, the services that are launching alongside the OS and demoed all of them. Read more »

Skype for Mac and Windows has received an update to version 6.0 with an alternative sign in and extended Microsoft-integration in tow.

You can log in without a Skype ID and opt for using a Microsoft Live ID or a Facebook one instead. There’s also Retina support for Mac, visual changes and more. Read more »

Following their biyearly tradition of releasing major updates to their OS, Canonical has released the newest version of Ubuntu, 12.10 Quantal Quetzal.

Among the chief new features is the ability to set websites as web apps and pin them to the launcher. You can have websites such as Gmail or Facebook pinned to your launcher and then open them just as you would open an application. Read more »

With the release of their next operating system release just over a week from now, Microsoft is working hard to advertise the product and create public awareness. If you’re in the US you may have already seen Surface ads all over the place by now.

Microsoft has now released an ad for Windows 8 that will air on national television, shortly followed by several others. It’s a teaser ad that quickly goes through some of the Windows 8 features, such as the new Modern UI, multi-touch functionality and the ability to run applications side by side. Read more »

Dell is introduced its lineup of upcoming PCs, running the new Windows 8 operating system.

There’s the new tablet-slash-ultrabook called XPS 12, the XPS 13 ultrabook has received an Ivy Bridge update, while the XPS One 27 and Inspiron One 23 All-in-Ones got touch-enabled screens. All four are available for pre-order in the USA, Canada and select European countries with shipping expected to start on October 25. Read more »

Today we finally get to see all price options for Microsoft’s next-generation computer OS – the Windows 8. The OS will launch on Oct 26, but you can pre-order it on a DVD right now, if you absolutely need to have a disc. For the rest of us, the update would be available online for download and purchase via the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant for a cheaper price. The full Windows 8 Pro OS will be downloadable as well when you purchase the license separately.

Oh, yes, and the prices, of course. An online upgrade from Windows XP, Vista or 7 to Windows 8 Pro will cost you $40, as we’ve seen before. That’s a time-limited offer, valid only until January 31, 2013. But there are other options, too. Read more »

The launch of the new Windows 8 OS (and probably Microsoft Surface tablets right along with it) is coming later this month and the first crop of Windows 8 ads is already out – even if Microsoft didn’t intend it to be.

The videos showcase some of the new gestures and features of the new OS, check it out after the jump. UPDATE: The videos have been pulled. Read more »

Back in August, Steam announced its plan to expand its online store. The plan was to move beyond selling just games and also offer useful software for your computer. Sticking to that plan, Steam has now added a software section with a handful of apps now available for purchase.

The list of software currently includes GameMaker: Studio, 3D-Coat, ArtRage Studio Pro, 3DMark Vantage, 3DMark 11, CameraBag 2 and Source FilmMaker. Other than the first and the last, all other are paid applications and Steam is offering a 10% off discount for the first week. Read more »

The latest beta build of Opera’s browser is now available for download.

Version 12.10 brings a improved API support, SPDY support, touch optimization for the upcoming Windows 8 and Retina, Notification Center and sharing to social networks in Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Read more »

Adobe today released an update to its Elements and Premiere Elements applications, bringing their version number to 11.

The software is lighter than Photoshop but still pretty powerful. In addition Adobe will offer a discounted bundle of the two services – $150 for new customers and $120 for updating ones. Read more »