Microsoft has previewed the next major release of Windows, codenamed ‘Windows 8’, to its BUILD developer conference this week.

Features include a touch-friendly interface that’ll also work with a mouse and keyboard, the introduction of ‘apps’ with a ‘Windows Store’ and increased integration with Microsoft’s cloud services.

The latest figures from the International Data Corporation show unexpectedly high tablet and e-reader sales, with both beating their quarterly targets.

Worldwide media tablet shipments were up 88.9% on the previous quarter and 303.8% year-on-year, reaching 13.6 million units at the end of the second quarter. As a result, IDC has raised its tablet shipment forecast to 62.5 million units for 2011.

76% of UK high street retailers don’t have a mobile website or mobile-optimised content, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by mobile marketing and business solutions company 2ergo.

And even mobile-ready retailers are poorly prepared, with almost 20% lacking m-commerce capabilities and many others choosing to focus on iPhone users.

Intel Corporation and Google have said they’ll work together to make sure future versions of Android will work on Intel’s low-power Atom processors.

The aim is to speed up the development of Intel-powered Android smartphones.

The Apple iPhone 4 can claim to be the world’s thinnest smartphone. That’s the opinion of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, which was asked to adjudicate after a complaint about an online ad for Apple.

The complaint pointed out that the Samsung Galaxy S II was just 8.71mm at its thinnest point, while the iPhone 4 - which claimed to be “the world’s thinnest smartphone” - was 9.3mm.