The next edition of Microsoft Office is now available for free testing by the public. As well as a desktop edition of Office 2010, there is also a dedicated application for Windows Mobile devices.

Microsoft has revealed details of the next incarnation of its browser, just three weeks into its development process. The key promises include making Internet Explorer 9 as fast as rival browsers, and allowing hardware to do more of the work with web graphics.

Microsoft has confirmed that an unpatched bug in Windows 7 could give hackers the ability to bring machines to a standstill. But the firm has condemned a security researcher for the way he publicized the bug, despite having used similar tactics themselves.

Microsoft has begun using tools from the Wolfram Alpha service within the results for Bing. It could serve as a valuable way of differentiating Bing from rival search sites.

Microsoft and independent security voices both say an update in this week’s “Patch Tuesday” collection should be the top priority for all users. Failure to do so could leave users vulnerable to a particularly serious security gap.

A Microsoft tool designed to help law enforcement staff to rescue data from a suspect’s computer has appeared online. At least one filesharing site has taken it down, raising questions as to how advanced or secretive the tool truly is.

A month after a record-setting batch of updates, the November ‘Patch Tuesday’ package will contain just six updates. Of those, at least three appear to be revisions or repetition of updates from the October release.

Microsoft has announced another 800 job cuts. The cuts appear to be across the board rather than through specific departments being axed.

Worms are the quickest growing security problem for Windows PCs this year according to Microsoft. It comes as “drive-by downloads” and adware become less of a problem.

Microsoft has found a solution to a problem which caused some Windows 7 upgrades to freeze up before completion. But the firm has yet to solve a separate problem where machines are caught in a reboot cycle.

One of the leading players in the Linux world has described Windows 7 as “excellent”. But some of Mark Shuttleworth’s other comments are a perfect example of the phrase “damning with faint praise.”

The advance hype is over and Windows 7 is now out in finished form (well, as finished as constantly updated software can be). Should you upgrade? That’s a question only you can answer, but we’ve got some tips and suggestions to help make that decision.

Windows 7’s launch was serious business for Microsoft. But that’s not stopped plenty of people finding more lighthearted ways to “celebrate” the release of the system.

Windows 7 is finally here. What that means depends entirely on your perspective. Here’s our take on the impact Windows 7’s debut and potential success or failure could have on every corner of the tech world.

The British Amazon site says Windows 7 has become its most pre-ordered item ever, beating out the final Harry Potter book. It comes as some British buyers report receiving the system early in an apparent attempt to beat a postal strike.