Windows 8 Packaging retail box revealed

A lot of people, including yours truly, have been vocal about their disdain for Microsoft’s new look. Sure, the simplistic look works, but it just doesn’t feel like Windows anymore. For those who feel like Microsoft is abandoning the classic Windows design, the packaging isn’t going to change your mind.

The Verge got an exclusive sneak peek at the packaging that you’ll see on store shelves when Windows 8 launches on October 26. While there’s something to be said about good design, it just feels a little too colorful and fun. I’ve always associated Windows with business and enterprise, not the consumer market.

Of course, this is a new direction for Microsoft and the design change was needed. Windows 8 is all about taking on the consumer market and kicking the post-PC era into high gear. While you can use Windows 8 on desktops, Microsoft is definitely hoping to become a leader in the tablet arena with the Surface tablet.

Putting my old man persona aside, I can definitely see the new Windows 8 packaging attracting the young people who like spiffy designs. I mean, just look at the Windows 7 packaging:


That packaging doesn’t look fun at all. I like it because it’s classic Windows, but we’ve already established that I’m the equivalent of an 80-year old man when it comes to Windows design. I’m resistant to change and that’s fine. It’s good to see that Microsoft has not become an old man with me. They’re willingness to change and put such a huge bet on tablets is going to make or break the company in the next few years.

It might seem weird to draw this much from just some simple packaging, but art really does say it all. The new packaging is a window into a crazy new world that’s entirely foreign to me. Besides, if Windows 8 fails, we can at least put the packaging up in some modern art museum.

Source: webpronews.com

Read More

Entry Level Window 8 Surface Tablet

There are many speculations floating around the web about the upcoming Windows 8 operating system as well as the devices which it will run on.A month ago Microsoft announced the Surface Tablets which will feature Windows 8/WinRT operating system.

Though the pricing of the device is yet to be officially announced by the software giant,many of the blogs and sites are speculating their figures for the upcoming tablet.Yesterday one of the Swedish online store reported about an entry level Surface Tablet pricing to be around $1150 for the 32GB version of ARM based Surface Tablet.

But as reported earlier by Techie-Buzz Author Paul Paliath,who reached out to the Webhallen.The site then cleared the air on the pricing which they showcased for Surface Tablets,saying that the existing pricing has nothing to do with the final pricing of the product,they set the initial pricing high for the pre orders and that when the official pricing comes out those who have pre ordered the Surface Tablets will get the prices adjusted to the actual costs that time.

So this statement from the site should now clear all the doubts about the pricing of Surface Tablets,at least what we do know that the entry level ARM based Surface Tablets won’t cost your pocket a $1000,but you might see a higher price range for the Intel based Surface tablets running on Windows 8 Pro.

Read More

Microsoft confirms Windows 8 will launch this October

Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 will be released by the end of October.

The firm made the announcement at its Worldwide Developer Conference in Toronto today. October was the long rumoured date for the launch and has been confirmed by Windows chief marketing officer and chief financial officer Tami Reller.

"For the first time, we provided details on Windows 8 availability. Tami confirmed that Windows 8 is on track to Release to Manufacturing (RTM) the first week of August." said the Windows Blog.

Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide, according to Reller. Consumers will be available to purchase Window 8 PCs, laptops and tablets from October as well as upgrade from Windows 7.

Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will cost $39 for XP, Vista and Windows 7 users. However, if you buy a new Windows 7 machine the Windows Upgrade Offer allows you to upgrade for $14.

The software giant said that it has sold more than 630 million licenses for Windows 7 to date. "For enterprise customers with Software Assurance benefits, they will have full access to Windows 8 bits as early as August." Added Microsoft.

Developers making Windows 8 apps will be able to start making money from their work once the OS hits RTM as this is when the commerce platform will be switched on.

Source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Read More

Microsoft Surface Pro vs Surface RT tablet

Both are expected to be great tabs and will attract millions of customers. Here we compare Microsoft Surface RT tablet Vs Surface Pro tablet and their specs. Release date is yet to be announced for both the tabs

Microsoft has recently showcased a pair of Windows-based tablets; the Surface RT and Surface Pro. Designed to compete with Apple iPad, Google Nexus 7 and other key tablets, the new Windows tablets are expected to come out of cover later this year. The Surface RT is an ARM-based variant of the tablet, which will run on Windows RT, the special ARM version of the firm’s upcoming operating system, Windows 8. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro will come with Intel chips and will have the original PC version of the firmware. Amazingly, both the tablets will sport 10.6-inch displays. Many have defined them as hybrids of tablets and Ultrabooks rather than mere tablet PCs. Here is a comparison between the Surface RT for Windows RT and Surface Pro for Windows Pro.

Form factor
There is little difference between the 10.6-inch tablets in form factor. The Windows RT-based Surface RT is thinner at 9.3mm, whereas the Surface Pro for Windows 8 Pro is slightly thicker at 14mm. The latter is also a bit heavier than its sibling. Both the tablets come with identical form factor as they feature a very squared-off and angular slab, which is developed from magnesium liquidmetal. Each tablet touts a PVD layering to the metal, which is a kind of finishing treatment to the high-quality wristwatches. As a whole, though a bit larger than the regular tablets, Surface RT and Surface Pro are handy and highly portable.

Display screen
In fact, not much is known about the displays of the tablets. Microsoft has revealed that the tablets will have 10.6-inch LCDs with Corning’s Gorilla Glass and Microsoft’s own ClearType technology. And the Windows 8 Pro tablet will tout a higher 1080p resolution, while the Windows RT version will have 720p resolution. That is, the Surface Pro will have a sharper and clearer display than Surface Pro.

Storage
The Redmond software giant has revealed that the Surface tablet for Windows RT will come with two memory options; 32GB and 64GB. Regarding the Surface Pro, the company has just mentioned that it would have higher storage, possibly 64GB and 128GB. Both the tablets are hoped to come with microSD slots for memory cards up to 32GB. But we have no idea about the built-in RAM of the tablets. The Surface RT may come with only 1GB of RAM; but the Surface Pro, being an Ultrabook rather than a tablet, might have 2GB of RAM.

Processor
This is the thing that fairly distinguishes the tablets. The Surface RT is meant for an ARM Cortex based CPU, which might be Nvidia’s much-touted Tegra 3 quad core chip. Well, the tablet will have a Tegra 3 quad core processor on ARM Cortex-A9 architecture that will probably clock at 1.5GHz. Likely, the machine will get its graphical performance from a ULP GeForce GPU.

The highly professional Windows 8 Pro model is designed to run on Intel’s third generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 architecture. Well, the machine will offer the specs of an Ultrabooks thanks to the high-power processor. The tablet is a bit bigger as it requires a large case to include laptop-style cooling vents. Needless to mention, the Surface Pro is to have much more power than the Surface RT.

Operating System
Operating system is another significant area where the Surface tablets differ. The Surface RT, as noted above, will run on Windows RT, the special version of the OS for ARM-based devices. The Surface Pro, in the meanwhile, will feature Windows 8, the professional version of the operating system.

Windows RT or Windows Runtime is designed to run Metro style apps developed using the Windows Runtime standard. Surface RT users can download apps for the device from Windows Store, which is an upcoming ultimate app store for all Windows 8-based gadgets including tablets, laptops and others. On the other hand, Windows 8 Pro will support all professional apps that you can run on your PCs, laptops, servers and others.

Conclusion – Verdict
Microsoft has designed the Surface tablets simply aiming at two types of customers. So there is no chance for a competition between the Surface RT and Surface Pro. However, being two smart tablets on two variants of Windows 8, the Surface tablets will fulfil the requirements of all kinds of customers. Users can choose a Surface tablet based on its processor speed, software compatibility and other aspects.

Source: novnews

Read More

Release date and features of Windows phone 8

Looks like Microsoft is enjoying giving out surprises of late and the latest one comes barely within three days of announcing the Surface line of tablets. The Redmond giant announced details of the Windows Phone 8 at the Microsoft Windows Phone Summit in San Francisco this Wednesday.

The Windows Phone 8 shares the same core as that of the Windows 8, the same one that runs the Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro tablets. The bar is set high for the partners of Microsoft who are also coming up with tablets and laptops based on the Windows 8 platform, the bulk of which will launch later this year.

Microsoft has left enough room for developers to build apps for both Windows 8 and the Windows Phone 8 with the functionality to port apps from each other. Microsoft has made it clear that the phone will support multi-core chips and that testing has been done with devices up to 64 cores – this means hardware should be no constrain at all.
Under the hood

The Windows Phone 8 will be launched with a dual-core processor and will support 720p and WXGA display resolutions. With more power, the greater the battery drain, but we guess Microsoft must have taken care of this – because the norm today and the selling proposition for many is the number of cores.

The microSD card slot will finally be introduced to the Windows smartphones.

Gaming and Graphics
Graphics and media playback will be similar to the regular Windows versions, and that should ensure the arrival of more powerful games and entertainment-based apps. Most of the current lot of games and apps might have to be upgraded to make full use of the new Windows 8 platform.

Given the hardware capability of the platform and the onboard GPU power, the Windows Phone 8 could see a lot of incoming 3D games from developers.

Incoming features
Windows Phone 8 will come with NFC support, with the addition of a new mobile wallet feature. The feature will be similar to Google Wallet, but with added elements borrowed from Apple’s Passbook app that will support tickets and passes as well. These features are also there in the latest Microsoft Surface tablets.

The latest smartphone from Microsoft will replace the existing Bing maps with Nokia Maps. The new mapping system will offer offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation for free.

With the Windows Phone 8, Microsoft will also target the enterprise segment – with secure boot and disk encryption.

Partial upgrade for current Windows Phone owners
This one’s quite a blow! Windows Phone 7 and 7.5 won’t update to Windows Phone 8. Microsoft will, however, release an update, Windows Phone 7.8, that will include the new Start screen of the Windows Phone 8 and a few more features.

With the update, users will be add more “live tiles” and also resize them, giving them more screen real-estate.

Release date for Windows Phone 8
Microsoft hasn’t given a clear indication of any specific launch date, but we can expect it sometime this fall. We might see a lot of things from Microsoft getting launched at around the same time. Manufacturers for the Windows Phone 8 include Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, and HTC.

The Windows Phone 8 is a giant leap for Microsoft, with which we can see Microsoft getting back to its earlier form. This smartphone is an example of Microsoft sticking to its roots and offering users better encryption, security, support, and the ability to manage them pretty well.

With a sure footing and multitude of features loaded, Windows Phone 8 should emerge as a strong competitor in the smartphone market dominated by Apple and Google.

Source: Nvonews

Tags: Windows 8, Microsoft, Windows phone 8, Smartphone

Read More

Microsoft Launch Windows 8 Pro with Intel Powered Ivy Bridge Tablet

Microsoft has introduced a Windows 8-based 9.5mm thick "Surface" tablet with a USB 2.0 port, rear/front cameras, a built-in stand (on rear only 0.7mm thick), HDMI output, and a magnetic cover.
The tablet weighs only 0.680 kilogram and comes with an Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor or an ARM processor.

Under the bonnett is Microsoft Office, PDF markup apps and digital ink support is also built in.

The tablet has a 10.6 inch high-definition touchscreen and front and rear facing cameras, which all fit into a 9.3 millimeter, 1.5-pound frame.

But Surface also brings some new innovations to the tablet space. The device's cover, for instance, flips down to become a full keyboard. It features a rigid case built from magnesium, a pen that clicks into the tablet and a built-in kickstand.

Microsoft is recycling -- or extending -- a brand name it has used before. The first "Microsoft Surface" device, which began shipping in in 2008, was a giant touchscreen computer aimed at retailers and other commercial customers.

Microsoft's Surface tablet will first be available on a version of Windows 8 called Windows RT. That operating system will run on microchips designed by ARM (ARMH), which are inside 95% of the world's smartphones and tablets. Another version of Surface will be designed for the fuller Windows 8 operating system, which will run on Intel chips.

Microsoft didn't give specifics, but the company said the Windows RT version will be available sometime in the last quarter in 32- and 64-gigabyte versions, and will be priced "comparably" to other tablets on the market.

The full Windows 8 version will be available three months later in 64- and 128-GB versions. Microsoft plans to set its price point in the same zone as ultrabooks, which typically run around $1,000.

Source: Smarthouse

Tags: Ivy Bridge, Microsoft, Tablet, Windows 8

Read More

Microsoft going all in with Windows 8

As Apple and Google continue to win over new customers with their sleek, modern products and services, Microsoft has been plotting its next move to keep up in the fast-paced technology world.

After years of dominating the operating system market, Windows has recently seen its sales decline because of this tough competition.

At the beginning of March, Microsoft unveiled the beta version of its newest competitor in the operating system market: Windows 8.

After the failure of Windows Vista, Windows 7 returned some dignity back to the Microsoft operating system brand name. Now, the company is going all in with Windows 8 on its latest attempt to keep up with the newest trends.

Windows 8 features a new "Metro" style, dropping the well known "Start" menu that has been in versions of Windows from XP to 7. Windows 8 will be available for both desktop and tablet platforms, and devices can easily connect via a cloud system. For different-sized devices and screens, Windows 8 will automatically scale the content.

Apps are in your face in Windows 8 as a major feature as well. The ability to customize the apps you want is provided in a user-friendly experience.

Plus, the entire operating system has been optimized for touch screens, tablets and mobile devices of all kinds. Now, you can flick in new apps to the focus of your screen with your finger.

A new Forrestor Research report indicates that Apple and Google are still dominating the mobile operating system market. However, Microsoft believes Windows 8 will help bring back some of its faithful customers.

No one knows if Microsoft will continue to dominate the operating system market as it has in the past, but Windows 8 is the latest attempt to satisfy hungry tech crowds. Let's wait and see if Microsoft's gamble pays off.

Read More