Microsoft to retire Win XP, starts 1,000-day countdown

Much has changed since the launch of Windows XP 10 years ago, Microsoft says, so it has started a 1,000-day countdown before ending support for the popular operating system. Erwin Visser, director for Microsoft's business marketing unit, urged users to move to Windows 7 to keep up with the "last decade of innovation." "As of (July 11), customers have 1,000 days until support for Windows XP ends. Windows XP served us well, but in the ten years since it launched, the world has changed. It’s time to retire Windows XP and move to Windows 7 to take advantage of the last decade of innovation in areas such as security, performance and more natural, intuitive interface," Visser said in a blog post. He said Microsoft and its partners are "committed" to helping customers move to Windows 7 with the needed deployment tools and resources. Visser suggested that Windows users stay updated with Windows Intune, Microsoft's cloud-based PC management and security service. Windows Intune got an update, with Microsoft releasing this week the beta of the service's newest version. An article in PC Magazine noted that Microsoft has sold 400 million licenses for Windows 7 since its release in October 2009. "If Microsoft has anything to say about it, that number will continue to grow in the coming years," the PC Magazine article said. — TJD, GMA News