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According to a new video, Windows 8 will allow users to login/unlock their computers with patterns, just like Android and iOS devices do now.

Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 8 in mid-2012, for desktops and tablets. The OS will feature more cloud-based features, Kinect support, Zune music, and see a revamped UI.

Windows 8 will also have support for ARM-based SoC, alongside Intel x86 architectures, so a plethora of tablets are expected in 2012 featuring the OS.

So far, there has been a very early build leaked to torrent and warez sites, but most of the expected features are not included.

Video slightly NSFW:

Microsoft has celebrated the 18-month anniversary of the release of Windows 7 this week, and let go some figures about the OS.

The software giant says they have sold 350 million licenses of Windows 7, making it the fastest selling OS of all-time, and probably the fastest selling piece of software of all-time, as well.

90 percent of businesses have migrated or are migrating to Windows 7, moving on from the aged Windows XP.

Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 8 in mid-2012, for desktops and tablets. The OS will feature more cloud-based features, Kinect support, Zune music, and see a revamped UI.

Windows 8 will also have support for ARM-based SoC, alongside Intel x86 architectures, so a plethora of tablets are expected in 2012 featuring the OS.

Microsoft has reminded Xbox gamers in Europe this weekend that their free silver subscriptions will be bumped to Gold for free, and given all Gold features.

The software giant is being generous because it wants to break the Guinness World Record for "largest online 100 meter sprint."

Kinect Sports owners are being asked to join the attempt, which will be tomorrow at 1pm EST.

Explained:

Then, all you need to do is play Kinect Sports and complete a sprint mini-game while connected to Xbox LIVE at the time listed below. You must choose sprint from the mini-game menu – not the entire track and field event for your race to count.

Cnet says that Google has asked Spotify, once again, to power its oft-delayed Google Music service.

Talks started last year but were broken off as Google could not agree on what they wanted.

The company was even considering buying Spotify, for an undisclosed amount.

Google Music is expected to be a combination subscription streaming service and cloud locker, when it launches. Google has not yet reached any licensing agreements with the major labels, just like Amazon and Apple have not either.

The company could launch a locker-based service today if it wanted to, but it appears it wants to make sure it can have a combination platform available from day-one, one upping rival services.

The U.S. Army has selected Android as its OS of choice for upcoming Army-approved smartphones and tablets, as well as for apps that will be necessary for missions.

While there have been concerns about stability, security and connectivity for Android as compared to other mobile OS, most are muted, and the Army will be able to use the open source software as they choose, likely beefing up security.

During combat, the devices will likely have to have satellite phone-capabilities, meaning round-the-clock data and voice with no lapses.

The Army wants every soldier to have one of the future Android devices, to ensure they are connected during missions.

A prototype dubbed the Joint Battle Command-Platform is already being tested.

Apps will include "critical messaging" for exchanging medevac requests and other emergencies, and A Blue Force Tracker program to make sure soldiers know where friendlies are.

Finally, the phones will be able to withstand extreme wear-and-tear and will likely be similar to the rugged "ToughBooks" created by Panasonic.

According to sources close to both Apple and Google, it appears Apple has finished preparing its cloud music storage service and will launch it ahead of Google's oft-delayed Google Music.

Using Apple's service, iTunes users can store their songs on a remote server and access them whenever they want, as long as they have an active Internet connection.

There is no timetable for the service, and Apple still hasn't signed any licenses with the major labels.

Last month, Amazon started its CloudDrive without licensing agreements, arguing that user's music was their own, and agreements were not necessary.

The major labels did not agree, and have threatened lawsuits. Apple and Google should expect similar treatment.

Neowin has reported this week that Google is set to begin releasing Chrome OS netbook this summer, as early as late June.

However, the devices will not be sold in a conventional manner, and will instead be sold as a "subscription based model."

The netbooks will be available for $10-20 per month, and Google will replace faulty hardware for the lifetime of the subscription.

Google may also allow you to buy the device for a one-time fee.

It is unclear which manufacturers will create the Chrome OS devices, but Acer and others are expected to have models ready by the summer.

Yesterday we reported that Hulu, the streaming TV content site, was now blocked to BlackBerry PlayBook owners, who had had access for two days after launch.

In the past few years, Hulu has blocked access to the site from the PS3, Google TV and Android devices, each of which originally had the ability to stream the content.

Today, RIM has said they are in talks with Hulu on brining the content back, but as Hulu Plus, the $8/month premium service that is available on most mobile devices.

Notes the company:

We are in conversations with Hulu to bring the Hulu Plus subscription service to BlackBerry PlayBook users.

Amazon has said this week that the Kindle e-reader will finally allow customers to borrow books from 11,000 U.S. libraries, beginning later in the year.

The feature had been available on the rival Barnes & Noble Nook since its launch and many librarians and critics wondered why Amazon had not made such a simple addition.

Amazon will let users check out a Kindle book from the local library and read it on their Kindle or PC or Android/iOS/BlackBerry device.

If you check out the book again, or buy it, the customer's bookmarks and other notes will be preserved in the cloud.

Amazon has not said when the update will be rolled out.

Verizon has said today that Samsung's first LTE device, the Droid Charge, will be available on April 28th.

The Droid Charge runs Android 2.2, has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, a 1GHz processor, an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 1.3MP front-side camera.

Samsung has pre-loaded Flash and the Samsung Media Hub, offering up movies and TV shows for rental or purchase.

Verizon says LTE users should have down speeds of 5-12Mbps and upload speeds of 2-5Mbps.

The Droid Charge will also feature mobile hotspot, allowing up to 10 devices to connect to the LTE. For now, Verizon is offering that feature for free.

Starting next week, the Charge will cost $300 with two-year contract, and it comes with free $25 credit to Samsung Media Hub.

Apple reported its latest quarterly earnings and both revenue and profit soared year-over-year (YoY).

Revenue grew 83 percent to $24.7 billion, and profit jumped 95 percent to $6 billion.

The iPhone was, by far, the biggest revenue driver, with sales jumping to 18.6 million, over 100 percent growth YoY.

iPad sales, on the other hand, sputtered, falling well below analyst expectations at 4.7 million units sold.

Worries of the Japanese tsunami disaster affecting the top or bottom line were quickly assuaged, with COO Tim Cook saying revenue would drop just $200 million and that the supply chain is still intact, with no delays.

When speaking of iPad 2 sales, Cook said the demand was "staggering" and that the company "sold every one that we could make."

As expected, iPod sales fell for the 10th straight quarter, down to 9 million, or down 17 percent YoY.

As of the end of last month, Sony has shipped 50 million PS3 units worldwide and it appears that most of those consoles have been sold to consumers.

Additionally, Sony has sold 8 million Move motion control systems as of April 3rd.

The PS3 launched in late November and the Move was released in September 2010.

Including PSP owners, the PlayStation Network has 75 million registered accounts, with over 40 million expected to be active.

Sony is about 3 million units behind the Xbox 360, which had a one-year head start and has seen extremely strong sales since the release of the Kinect motion control system.

In just 20 days since The New York Times raised its controversial pay wall, the newspaper has signed up 100,000 subscribers.

All online readers get access to 20 stories per month for free, and some free articles via the Time's mobile app. $15 gets you unlimited access to the site and the phone app. $20 gets you online access and unlimited use of the iPad app. $35 per month gets you unlimited access to everything the Times offers.

If you are a print subscriber, you have unlimited access to everything, as well.

The New York Times says the numbers "meaningfully exceeded expectations" but encouragement remains muted until retention rates can be calculated after the initial promotion period, which does include a starter trial at an introductory 99 cents.

Sony has acknowledged today that a few features of the PSN have been down since last night and that it may be a "day or two" until the service is fully functional again.

The PlayStation Store is inaccessible to U.S. and European gamers, with many getting the error: "The server is currently down for maintenance."

Sony has not given a reason for the downtime.

The PSN has over 70 million registered users, with 40 million or so expected to be active accounts.

If 'Anonymous,' the hacking group which took down the PSN earlier this month with DDoS attacks is to blame, they have not taken credit. The group stopped their attack after seeing it was affecting PS3 gamers more than it was Sony.

Hulu, in their ongoing efforts to not embrace smartphones and tablets, has blocked access to the site for BlackBerry PlayBook owners.

Tablet owners headed to Hulu.com for free, streaming TV are now greeted with:

We notice that you are trying to access Hulu from your BlackBerry browser. Right now, this device is not supported.