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 the desktop portion of Windows 8 -- a completely restyled visual appearance. As you might remember from the Consumer Preview, window borders and widgets featured a simplified and subdued look in comparison to the glass-like materials of Aero, which Microsoft now calls "dated and cheesy." With the latest refresh, however, the company has pushed its modernistic philosophy even further to reveal a spartan (yet functional) interface that draws less attention to the chrome elements and allows the user to focus more on content.

Microsoft's latest reveal was made as part of a larger, retrospective look at its development of Windows and the evolution of the operating system. At every step, the company states that its emphasis has been on the overall "learnability" of the environment. As such, Microsoft claims that it's making great strides to ensure that consumers may quickly get up to speed with the latest OS, and hints that it has a number of reveals yet to be seen. In its very next breath, however, it also emphasized people's ability to adapt and move forward, which suggests the number of changes might not be as concilatory as some might've hoped. Regardless, we'll know for sure what Microsoft has in store in just a few weeks.

Kiss Aero goodbye: Latest Windows 8 build reveals minimalistic desktop UI originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's an expansion of mobile competition in the US that comes out of left field, even for us: GameStop as a cellular provider. GameStop Mobile, as it's called, is that rare bird of an AT&T-based MVNO that relies on a bring-your-own-device strategy. As long as your hardware works on AT&T's 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands and isn't locked to another carrier, you can bring any GSM- and HSPA-based phone (or data-only device) and use it contract-free: rates start at anything from a strictly pay-as-you-go $5 through to a $55 monthly plan with unlimited voice and text, if just an anemic 500MB of data. Tablet owners and other data-only fans can pay the same $55 for 1GB per month -- a bit stiff considering that those on AT&T proper can get 5GB of data for slightly less. No doubt this is to take advantage of iPad and iPhone trade-ins, PlayStation Vitas and the overall rise of unlocked devices. We're just wondering whether GameStop will catch a few customers subscribing as they pick up their Diablo III pre-orders or else face the uncertain future that befalls many MVNOs.

GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is a small (but growing) series of Nintendo characters as traditional Japanese Ukiyo woodblock prints by Geekologie reader Ezra's illustrator friend Jed Henry. This is Samus here, but there's a Link and Mega Man after the jump. Will he eventually do a Mario? Only time will tell. Kidding, there's no way there won't be a Mario one. Unless Jed hates Mario and never draws one, in which case I'll come back to this post and replace all this text with something about somebody's peenor. Probably mine. Will it be big? Will it be small? Will it be on fire? SPOILER: Crooked and shooting laser beams. Hit the jump for the others.

Verizon relents a little on unlimited data, Congress considers fighting for some "hearts and minds" at home, and Mac folks can relax about lost hotkeys. More »

As we inch closer to summer, you're more likely to run into poison ivy, bug bites, and the other itchy ailments that come with being outside. Redditor xume points out that banana peels are a great homemade remedy for itchy skin. More »

Yeah, we were surprised too — a clothing company making furniture? But when it comes to the Aether Beach Chairs & Table ($500), it actually makes sense. Designed for maximum...

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Why it took so long for somebody to finally combine cupcakes and sausages is beyond me, but I suspect it has something to do with a lot of people calling themselves foodies but not really being foodies. People always like to lie about themselves to sound more interesting. Me? I'm the hardest-core kind of foodie. "The kind that invents new foods?" I was gonna say the kind that eats food off the floor with zero regard for the 5-second rule, but one time I DID eat a hotdog on a hamburger bun, so I guess yours works too. These are cupcakewursts: artificial sausage casings filled with cupcake batter and grilled. The Cupcake Project has complete instructions if you want to make your own, which, let's not kid ourselves, you do. *poking gut* "Stop." *pokes again* "I SAID STOP." Not until you tehehe like the Pillsbury Doughboy. Hit the jump for several more shots, including some of the cupcakes on long john donut buns with raspberry jelly ketchup.

Why it took so long for somebody to finally combine cupcakes and sausages is beyond me, but I suspect it has something to do with a lot of people calling themselves foodies but not really being foodies. People always like to lie about themselves to sound more interesting. Me? I'm the hardest-core kind of foodie. "The kind that invents new foods?" I was gonna say the kind that eats food off the floor with zero regard for the 5-second rule, but one time I DID eat a hotdog on a hamburger bun, so I guess yours works too. These are cupcakewursts: sausage casings filled with cupcake batter and grilled. The Cupcake Project has complete instructions if you want to make your own, which, let's not kid ourselves, you do. *poking gut* "Stop." *pokes again* "I SAID STOP." Not until you tehehe like the Pillsbury Doughboy. Hit the jump for several more shots, including some of the cupcakes on long john donut buns with raspberry jelly ketchup.