From InfoWorld: Visual Basic, originally released by Microsoft in early 1991, may seem a bit long in the tooth compared to newer languages like Java, PHP, or Apple's six-month-old Swift. But it still has a following, and Microsoft mapped out a list of improvements this week.

Version 14, timed to...

From PC World: Opening up to new payment options, Microsoft has started accepting Bitcoin payments on its Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox stores.

The cryptocurrency can be used to add money to a Microsoft account in order to buy apps, games and other digital content from its various online stores...

From CNET: Sony will follow Microsoft's Xbox One into China with the launch next month of its PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, the company confirmed Thursday.

The PlayStation 4 console will be available on January 11 for 2,899RMB (about $468), while the handheld PlayStation Vita will go for 1...

From DailyTech: Hot on the heels of the announcement of 4K video downloads and uploads by IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI) video-sharing site Vimeo, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) has joined the ultra high definition (UHD) video-sharing party.

UHD/4K in the film space has been described as a 3,840 x 2,160 pixel...

From InfoWorld: Intel is bringing all its assets to bear on the Internet of things, a hot topic for nearly all IT vendors but one that's especially critical to big chip makers.

While Intel would like to see its low-power chips used in sensors, wearables and other hardware that will ship in huge...

From PC World: Lenovo is issuing a recall for more than 500,000 computer AC power cords in the U.S. after receiving reports of the cord overheating, sparking, melting, and burning. All problematic cords were reported by users outside the U.S. The current recall also affects 44,000 devices sold in...

From CNET: Peer-to-peer file-sharing site The Pirate Bay has been knocked offline worldwide in the wake of a police raid on the company's Stockholm, Sweden premises, and the subsequent seizure of servers and other equipment.

"There has been a crackdown on a server room in Greater Stockholm. This is...

From DailyTech: The first of two Apple, Inc. (AAPL) employees caught stealing and selling company secrets to suppliers was sentenced this week. Caught in a federal sting by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), Paul Shin Devine -- a manager at Apple -- had been charged with committing fraud, breach...

From InfoWorld: Google has made a series of announcements aimed at helping Microsoft customers run Windows workloads on Google's cloud.

Microsoft License Mobility is now available for Google Cloud Platform, Google said Monday in a blog post. This allows customers using SQL Server, SharePoint and...

From PC World: In 2013, Bop.fm quietly launched a Web service that promised “free legit music you can share with anyone.” Now it’s taking that model to the mobile space.

On Tuesday, the company announced the launch of its first iOS app, allowing fans on either the iPhone or the iPad to listen to...