The most recent numbers show PC sales dropping like a rock, with many blaming the radical changes in Windows 8 for scaring away customers. A new rumor suggests the drop has prompted Microsoft to consider reversing course on at least one aspect of the new user interface.

Microsoft may introduce a "Boot to Desktop" mode in the next major update to Windows, called either Windows 8.1 or Windows Blue, according to a post on WinBeta. A version of the update leaked out last month, and someone who examined the code discovered that it includes a line of code for suppressing the Start screen.

Microsoft reportedly is working on a touch enabled watch, sources close to the firm have said, that is likely to channel features found on Windows Phone 8.

Details are thin on the ground, but according to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft has asked suppliers in Asia to ship components for a potential "watch-style device".

According to one of the supplier's executives, they met with Microsoft's research and development team at its headquarters in Redmond. It looks like it could just be a research project, though, as the suppliers said they were unsure whether the firm will go ahead with the watch development.

Microsoft today launched updates for five out of its six Bing Apps for Windows 8. With this update, the News, Finance, Sports, Travel and Maps apps – all of which are installed by default on Windows 8 systems – now all sport a number of new features and improvements that, as Microsoft puts it, “make it easier to customize and personalize them to best suit your needs.” The company also announced an update to the Bing Weather App, but this new version is not available yet.

None of the updates will rock your world, but all of them are welcome additions to these apps, especially because they often felt somewhat limited in their early iterations.

Anonymous has restarted its attack against North Korea and once again is using a North Korean Twitter account to announce website scalps.

The Twitter account @uriminzok was the scene of announcements about the hacked websites during the last stage of Op North Korea, and reports have tipped up there again.

The first wave of attacks saw a stream of websites defaced or altered with messages or images that were very much not in favour of the latest North Korean hereditary leader, Kim Jong-un.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Bitcoin bubble appears to have burst. As of this writing, its current value is around $160—down from a high of $260. (It fell as low as $130 today.)

There is no obvious explanation for why the digital currency has fallen so far and so fast, although the market correcting after such a huge rise might be a good explanation. (Update 4:05pm CT: Bitcoin seems to have somewhat recovered and appears to be hovering around $200. Update 6:00pm CT: The exchange rate has fallen back to around $160.)

Some redditors have taken solace in a comment thread entitled "Hold Spartans."