The White House quietly posted the new plan on its web site on Friday, arguing that the low-key release was appropriate amid a heightened security alert in the country.

BBC: US unveils cyber security plan

To install on the Windows 8 PC, I used a product key given to me by Microsoft for pre-release testing, otherwise you would have to go to Office.com to buy a subscription and get a product key. (A free 30-day trial is available.) The Windows 8 PC install took about 20 minutes, and a helpful introduction walked me through key points of Office 365.

WSJ: Review of Office 365: A Fresh New Office Finds a Place in the Cloud

Ford disclosed the news in typically low-key fashion, deep in its earnings release.

FORBES: Ford's Unhappy $2 Billion European Surprise

Neither of these is actually true, as would have been clear to anyone who perused the entire news release or dissected the colour-coded key to the map.

BBC: Harrabin's Notes: Frozen assets

Posing next to 24mm and 50mm lenses, the NEX-6 looks to be very much the in-between camera we suspected it was, without as much dedicated control as the NEX-7 but still carrying an electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash and a dedicated function key near the shutter release.

ENGADGET: Sony NEX-6 spotted in the wild, electronic viewfinder and mode dial in tow

Weather also appears to have been a key factor, as a tough winter led to a strong release of pent-up demand at the start of spring.

FORBES: The Housing Market

Traders will keep an eye on data for U.S. factory orders later Tuesday in the run-up to Friday's release of the monthly jobs figures, a key measure of the health of the world's largest economy.

NPR: World Stocks Edge Higher On US Economy Hopes