Features Hardware The Year in Tech: 2013 Top Technology Stories Page 3 : Apple, Google, Microsoft By TechSpot Staff December 30, 2013 TechSpot is celebrating its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Facebook Twitter Reddit RSS Comments Apple, Google, Microsoft Hardware Software CPU/Graphics The Web Gaming Mobile Apple Google Microsoft Tech Culture IT Security Apple January Apple is awarded a trademark for their retail store design February Apple becomes top U.S. mobile phone vendor in Q4 Apple loses iPhone naming rights in Brazil (update) Apple's iTunes hits new milestone with 25 billion songs sold March Apple considered four alternate names for the iPhone before launch Apple releases OS X 10.8.3, adds Windows 8 Boot Camp support Apple tops customer satisfaction report for 9th consecutive time Jony Ive said to be pushing for a 'flat design' in iOS 7 April DEA claims encryption makes it impossible to intercept iMessages Apple nearing deal with labels for Pandora-like music streaming service Apple retains Siri voice data for up to two years OS X 10.9 to include Finder improvements, iOS-like multitasking and more May Anonymous bidder pays more than $600,000 for coffee with Tim Cook Apple's retail stores reach new record revenue of $57.6 per visitor Next iPad rumored to be 33% lighter and thinner thanks to new touchscreen tech Apple claims Samsung violates Siri patents with Google Now June Apple to repair shattered iPhone 5 screens with new in-store service Apple preparing to launch in-store iPhone trade-in program iOS 7: The biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone Apple announces MacBook Air refresh, all-new US-made Mac Pro OS X Mavericks is Apple's next desktop operating system Apple's iOS 7 to include standardized game controller support Apple TV updated with five new channels, including HBO Go and ESPN Apple now controls 75 percent of the digital music market July Apple developer website hacked, security being overhauled August Apple's Newton, 20 years later: you could smell the future iWork for iCloud now available to anyone with an Apple ID September Apple sends out media invitations for September 10 iPhone event Apple iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S now official: a few surprises in both hardware and software Apple's iPhone gets approved for China Mobile's 700 million subscribers Apple now offers last compatible versions of apps for older iOS devices Apple launches iTunes 11.1 with iTunes Radio, iOS 7 ahead of new iPhones Lost 'Steve Jobs Time Capsule' unearthed after 30 years iPhone sales top 9 million in launch weekend, iOS 7 overtakes iOS 6 Apple refreshes iMac with Haswell, faster SSDs and next-gen Wi-Fi Apple hires top Nike designer to work on wearables Coca-Cola loses most valuable brand title to Apple after 13-year streak October The voice behind Siri steps out from the shadows Former Apple engineer reveals secrets behind Jobs' first iPhone presentation Apple iPhone 5s Review Apple's OS X Mavericks goes live today as a free download Apple announces iPad Air, iPad mini with Retina display New Mac Pro for content creation professionals starts at $2,999 Building a Hackintosh The Easy Way November Apple confirms acquisition of original Kinect developer PrimeSense Jury awards Apple $290 million in patent infringement case against Samsung Apple iPad mini with Retina Display: The TechSpot Review December Apple's iBeacon location-aware shopping goes live in over 250 stores Apple victorious in legal battle against Samsung in South Korea Apple and China Mobile sign long-awaited iPhone deal Google February Google has reduced hacked Gmail accounts by 99.7 percent since 2011 RIAA report bashes Google's anti-piracy efforts as ineffective Chrome 25 released with voice recognition support March Google testing same-day delivery service Google Fiber tops brand-new Netflix ISP Speed Index Google settles Street View privacy case for $7 million Google Keep note-taking service officially launched Google Drive outage reminds us that cloud services aren't perfect Google takes Street View to new heights - quite literally Google Fiber expansion announced, gigabit speeds heading to Olathe Google shares Street View imagery from Fukushima disaster area April Google Fiber expansion may be coming to Austin, Texas Google Inactive Account Manager helps you plan your digital afterlife Google publishes Glass tech specs ahead of launch Google Fiber network headed to the 'Silicon Slopes' of Provo, Utah May Google rolls out paid subscription channels on YouTube (update) Latest Google Easter Egg lets you play Breakout in your browser Google I/O 2013: All the updates and announcements Google launches All Access music subscription service at I/O Google, NASA join forces to build quantum computing laboratory Congress pressures Google on Glass privacy concerns Google Checkout may be dead, but Google Wallet lives on Google quietly adds conversational search to Chrome 27 Google launches Top Charts to show what the world is searching for June Google Glass to ban facial recognition apps over privacy concerns It's official: Google confirms acquisition of Waze Google Glass teardown reveals $150 of hardware Google plans worldwide internet coverage via a network of floating balloons Google admits job interview brainteasers were "waste of time", GPAs and test scores don't matter July StatCounter: Google Chrome is dominating the browser industry Google to shutter Latitude on August 9 to focus on Google+ Google testing encryption methods to foil government snooping Chrome App Launcher arrives on Windows, offers glimpse at Google's bigger plan Google announces new Nexus 7, Android 4.3 and Chromecast August Google donates 79 additional patents to open patent pledge Google Play Store now offering digital textbooks at up to 80% off Google's legal counsel says Gmail users should have no legitimate expectation of privacy September Google explains how Project Loon will work Google goes mainstream with Haswell-based Chromebooks Google creates new company to focus on extending life expectancy October Next version of Chrome essentially runs Chrome OS inside Windows 8 Chrome used more than Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer combined Google Glass 2 coming soon, Explorer program is expanding November Google, HP pause sales of the Chromebook 11 due to overheating chargers Google sends out developer invites to Chromecast hackathon and Cast SDK showing December Chromecast now supports 10 new apps including VEVO and RealPlayer Cloud Google buys robotics design company Boston Dynamics Microsoft January Microsoft Illumiroom uses Kinect, projector to fill room with images Microsoft Security Essentials fails AV-Test certification... again Microsoft Surface Pro on sale February 9, starting at $899 Microsoft blames OEMs for slow Windows 8 sales, plans February "relaunch" February Microsoft 'Blue' to encompass Windows 8, Phone, Services and RT Microsoft's SkyDrive now hosts over one billion Office documents Office 2013 EULA says the software is bound to one PC forever Bill Gates discusses Steve Ballmer's leadership role, mobile mistake Windows Blue to feature IE11, Bing search, public summer preview March Windows 8 adoption at 2.79%, not growing as fast as Windows 7 Denmark to slap Microsoft with $1B in taxes after funneling profits overseas Forbes: Bill Gates is the world's most generous person Microsoft reverses one-PC Office 2013 licensing restriction Microsoft fined € 561m for not showing browser ballot on Win7 SP1 Microsoft sells 400,000 Surface Pros despite $899+ price tag Microsoft under fire in Europe over Windows 8 UEFI Secure Boot Windows Blue public preview planned for Build conference in June April Windows 8 adoption cracks 3% in March, 10% among Steam users Windows Blue to be named Windows 8.1, improves Windows search Microsoft creative director on always-on console: #dealwithit Next Xbox to feature AMD processor, not compatible with 360 titles Microsoft yields: boot to desktop, Start menu options in Windows 8.1? Start button confirmed to make a comeback in Windows 8.1, sort of Microsoft must pay $1.8 million for Motorola's patents, well short of $4 billion request Microsoft releases five-minute IllumiRoom demonstration video May Outlook.com migration complete, service hits 400 million active accounts Confirmed: Windows 8.1 is Windows Blue, free upgrade due later this year Microsoft officially announces Xbox One: here's what we know so far Office 365 blows past one million subscribers, latest Office 'best-selling' yet Windows 8.1 offers plenty of Metro enhancements, but mostly forgets about the desktop June Microsoft restructuring focuses on "devices and services" division Xbox One will force gamers to stay online after all Microsoft announces Xbox One on sale November for $499 Microsoft exec says gamers without Internet can stick with Xbox 360 Microsoft Points will be converted to real money later this year Microsoft to open 600 Windows stores inside Best Buy this summer Microsoft releases Office Mobile for iOS, available to 365 subscribers only Microsoft backtracks: Drops daily check-ins, used games restrictions on Xbox One Microsoft to invest $700M into data center to power Xbox Live, Office 365 Microsoft's Build 2013 keynote, Windows 8.1 showcased and more Download Windows 8.1 Preview: Start button returns, boot to desktop, better search and more July Leaked documents reveal Microsoft's collaboration with NSA Microsoft takes $900 million charge on unsold Surface RT tablets Ballmer: We built too many Surface RT tablets August Microsoft: Windows 8.1 will launch on October 18th Microsoft launches ad-free Bing for Schools, will award free Surface RT tablets in exchange for using its search engine Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within the next 12 months, special committee begins search for a successor Steve Ballmer names Windows Vista as biggest regret while CEO Surface Pro price permanently cut by $100, Touch Covers cut by $40 September Microsoft buys Nokia's Devices and Services unit for 5.4 billion Euros Microsoft takes another stab at hardware with new Surface 2 tablets Bill Gates: using Ctrl-Alt-Del as a login command was a mistake Microsoft working on single app store for Windows, Windows Phone Ford's Alan Mulally said to be the frontrunner for top job at Microsoft October Microsoft investors seek fresh leadership, want Bill Gates out as chairman Windows 8.1 available to pre-order starting at $119 Microsoft board of directors recommend Gates, Ballmer for re-election Microsoft details next WP8 update: larger screens, quad-core processors, and more Six Things Microsoft Got Right in Windows 8.1 and Others Still Missing PSA: Windows 8.1 now available through Windows Store Microsoft pulls Windows 8.1 update for Surface RT following BSOD reports November Microsoft to spend more than $400 million on Windows marketing this holiday season Microsoft reportedly narrows down the list of CEO candidates to five Microsoft CEO candidate Stephen Elop reportedly considering dropping Bing and selling Xbox business Microsoft reportedly implementing stronger encryption to combat NSA spying December 'Threshold' wave of updates to target Xbox One, Windows and Windows Phone, will further unify Microsoft operating systems Windows 'Threshold' may bring back the Start menu Microsoft sells over 2 million Xbox Ones worldwide in 18 days Microsoft planning to compete with Android by offering Windows Phone for free Hardware Software CPU/Graphics The Web Gaming Mobile Apple Google Microsoft Tech Culture IT Security If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing. 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