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Microsoft Surface RT review
Last June, a mysterious event invite came out of Microsoft’s Washington HQ. Unlike pretty much every other tech launch in the last two years, we hadn’t seen any major leaks beforehand, although rumours of the launch being for a tablet with Windows 8 (or, according to Mat Honan, a #MSFTaaaaaablet). What the company ultimately unveiled was the Surface, its first piece of Windows-based hardware, in both RT and Pro flavours, the latter of which still hasn’t made it to the UK. In a brave experiment, I have spent the last couple of months using the RT model as my primary computer, and it’s definitely been turning heads. Has this been for good reasons, though? Read on to find out. Continue reading →
The Verge: Nokia to release ‘true’ PureView EOS Windows Phone in 2013 with aluminium body
The Verge’s Tom Warren, a reliable writer with regard to Microsoft news, reported that Nokia will be releasing the first ‘true’ PureView Windows Phone handset late in 2013. The device, codenamed EOS, will feature a sensor closer to that which appeared on the Nokia 808 PureView which was released last year. As well as this, it is reported that the device will signal the start of a new design cycle for the Lumia range. The device will be made of aluminium and will have squared edges, contrasting with the rounded polycarbonate body found in the current Lumia range.
The device is believed to be in the pipeline for AT&T in the US, and is expected to be released alongside another device (codenamed Catwalk) which will also have an aluminium body. It is clear that Nokia is moving away from the polycarbonate which they have used in their previous Windows Phone handsets. This change means that they will be in a much better position to compete with phones such as the iPhone 5 when it comes to size and weight, something that they have been unable to do thus far with the Lumia range, however this is in no way Nokia’s first phone of aluminium construction. The Nokia N8, the precursor to the aforementioned 808 PureView, was constructed out of the lightweight metal and was indeed available in a number of colours. With MWC coming up in a few weeks, we can expect to see more information coming out of Finland with regard to these handsets and Nokia’s upcoming Windows RT tablet.
Source The Verge
Delayed Samsung Ativ Odyssey Windows Phone will hit Verizon shelves on January 24th
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 launch event was headlined by the appearance of Jessica Alba, but otherwise very little unknown information surfaced about the operating system or the devices it would appear upon. One smidgen of news that did emerge, however, was that a Samsung device, depicted by a lonely silhouette and named the Ativ Odyssey, was in the pipeline for a December release on Verizon in the US. Of course December came and went without a release, but CES gave Samsung the opportunity to show the 4″ Windows Phone 8 device to the world. Now, a press release has stated that the phone will be available sooner rather than later, with stores set to receive the Ativ Odyssey and Valentine’s Day editions of the Nokia Lumia 822 and Motorola Droid Razr M tomorrow (January 24th).
The Odyssey joins the Lumia 822 and HTC 8X in Verizon’s lineup of LTE Windows Phones, and its microSD slot and 2100mAh battery should win it some fans, although the 800 x 480 screen resolution and 5MP camera show that it is pitched towards the lower end of the market. As with almost all other Windows Phone 8 devices, the package comes powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip accompanied by 1GB of RAM, and it will be available for $49.99 with a new 2 year contract, while whispers of a European launch remain unconfirmed but not impossible.
Via Engadget
Source Verizon Wireless
Microsoft finally announces release date and pricing for Surface Pro
The Surface Pro, the big brother to Microsoft’s Surface RT which was released in October last year, won’t go on sale in January as originally planned, but you will be able to have one in your hands by February 9th. On the bright side, Microsoft do seem to have admitted defeat with their Surface RT retail strategy, which was so bad that it was nominated for our biggest failure award – the Seattle-based company says that the Surface Pro will have wide retail availability beyond just Microsoft.com and Microsoft Stores.
We knew that Microsoft were targeting the high-end market with the Surface Pro, but even so the prices they’ve announced do seem extortionate. The minimum you’ll find yourself paying for one is $899, for the 64GB version with no covers included. The 128GB model will add $100 on to that price. The Surface RT 32GB tablet, the cheapest member of the Surface family you’ll find, would set you back $499, so there is obviously a significant difference between the RT and the Pro. Like with the its little brother, if you want to buy a keyboard cover for your Surface Pro it will cost $119 for the Touch Cover or $129 for the Type one. Microsoft will throw in a free pressure-sensitive pen in the box too.
On the same date as the Surface Pro is released, Microsoft have announced that a standalone 64GB will be made available for $599 – previously you could only buy it as a package with the black Touch Cover for $699.
It’s nice to finally get some genuine information on the Surface Pro, but we really feel that the large price tag will put a lot of potential consumers off buying one. Mind you, Microsoft do seem to be aiming here to make something which will completely replace your laptop or desktop PC, whereas previous tablets have only really been able to be used in conjunction with another device, to do all the ‘serious’ stuff on. The Surface Pro will certainly be an interesting one to watch, but personally we can’t see it taking off.
Via Engadget
Microsoft confirms features and release plans for Windows Phone 7.8
In a blog entry posted today, Windows Phone corporate vice president Terry Myerson confirmed Microsoft’s plans for Windows Phone 7.8, the update that the company has remained quiet about since its announcement at the Windows Phone 8 event in June. Serving to sweeten the blow for existing Windows Phone 7.x device owners that are unable to update their devices to the latest version of the operating system, 7.8 will bring new Start screen options including resizeable tiles and 20 theme colours, and users can also opt to have new password options and the daily Bing picture as their lock screen wallpaper. While developers are unlikely to target 7.x for app releases due to SDK changes for 8, Myerson promises that Angry Birds Space and Angry Birds Star Wars will soon join Draw Something and Words With Friends in the expanding Windows Phone Store for 7.x. The update is currently said to be in testing with OEM and carrier partners, and Microsoft hope for a smooth rollout of the update in early 2013.
Source Windows Phone Blog
Windows Phone 8 launch liveblog
At an event back in June, Microsoft offered a ‘sneak peek’ at some new features of Windows Phone 8, with the new start screen being the star of the show. While we weren’t told about devices, the past couple of months have given us announcement events from Samsung, Nokia and Microsoft’s new best friend HTC, but all parties have remained pretty silent when it comes to the full extent of Windows Phone 8’s new features. That’s all set to change today, as Microsoft is hosting an event in San Francisco to show off their new mobile operating system to the world – and we might even hear about Windows Phone 7.8 for existing customers too. We will be liveblogging the whole thing right here, so stick with us to find out what’s up Microsoft’s sleeve.
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16:37 Google’s just dumped a whole load of Nexus news. Bear with us as we filter through it.
16:45 If you want to watch along with us, Microsoft has a stream for you.
16:48 A little over 10 minutes to go now.
16:56 It’s almost time!
16:57 The pre-stream music is actually horrible.
17:01 The announcer kindly asks everyone to turn their devices to off or silent. Not very blogger-friendly.
17:02 Here’s a table of phones.
17:04 And we’re off! Joe Belfiore is talking about why he loves his Windows Phone.
17:05 Big cheers from the Windows Phone fans in the room.
17:05 He’s talking about the successes of Windows 8, Surface and the San Francisco Giants.
17:06 Before he talks about the product, he’s going to talk about what’s happened in the last few months.
17:07 191 countries can now access the WP Store.
17:08 120,000 apps already available for 7.x devices.
17:09 Belfiore’s taking jabs at the iPhone 5’s ‘revolutionary’ fifth row of icons.
17:10 After recapping the core inspirations of WP, a video has come on soundtracked by Jonsi’s wonderful Go Do, showing off the individuality and stuff.
17:13 Let’s talk about live tiles.
17:14 Apps ‘light up the phone’. Live apps can integrate into the wallet and other hubs in WP8.
17:15 There is a new lock screen powered by ‘live apps’.
17:15 Photos, notifications and other stuff can appear.
17:16 Microsoft have partnered with Facebook to make an app that supports the lockscreen, showing various photos from your past.
17:17 Text on the lockscreen can also be customised.
17:18 New apps include Twitter, Draw Something, ESPN, Angry Birds Space and Groupon.
17:18 A new version of Skype is the highlight, based on the fantastic Windows 8 app.
17:18 It is integrated naturally into the phone experience and will run in the background.
17:19 Soon Windows Phone will have 92% of the top mobile apps, including Temple Run and Urbanspoon.
17:20 Lots of Unity games will be arriving with the new native code support.
17:21 Pandora is coming with a year of complimentary ad-free music.
17:22 SDK stuff coming tomorrow at /build.
17:23 The Data Sense feature keeps you under your data limits.
17:24 IE10 compresses sites to use less data.
17:25 Data Sense can track down WiFi hotspots on a map.
17:26 As you approach your limits, it changes how the phone behaves with data.
17:27 45% more web browsing on the same data plan with Data Sense.
17:28 The first carrier to support Data Sense will be Verizon with the Lumia 822 and HTC 8X.
17:29 Belfiore’s moving onto ‘child mode’.
17:29 We have a video of children pleading to play on a phone.
17:30 “Kid’s Corner essentially creates a separate place on your phone that’s for kids…All things that you pick is for them.”
17:30 Here are Joe’s children to demonsterate.
17:31 Alexander, 9, is going to play Battleships.
17:32 One of his children just called him ‘mommy’. Awkward.
17:33 This demo isn’t going too well.
17:34 If you don’t have kids, you can just disable the feature.
17:35 Now there’s an advert for it featuring Jessica Alba.
17:36 And here is Jessica Alba. Rapturous applause for her.
17:37 Twitter has just erupted with techies talking about Jessica Alba. This is unusual.
17:38 Apparently her daughter once tweeted to 4 million people. Kid’s Corner stops that.
17:39 She’s now talking about what she loves about Windows Phone. It’s the same-old personal stuff.
17:41 Now Jessica’s talking about her new company – The Honest Company.
17:43 The people hub now has a feature called Rooms.
17:44 They seem similar to groups.
https://twitter.com/jrvolpe/status/26297318248981708917:46 You can share Rooms with iPhone users, including calendars and such.
17:47 On a related note, the Lumia 920 will be in UK stores on November 2nd, with the 820 coming 5 days later.
17:48 Now Joe is talking about SkyDrive stuff.
17:52 Xbox Music will also be available on Windows Phone 8.
17:52 Playlists and song choices sync across the cloud.
17:53 All of your content is with you wherever you are.
17:54 Joe’s walking off now, but Ballmer is in a new advert.
17:55 BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLMER!
17:55 He’s talking about the successes of the weekend again.
17:56 “We’re bringing phones into the family with Windows Phone 8.”
17:56 “We set out to reinvent the smartphone…that could be personal for each of us.”
17:58 Steve is talking about personalisation and the connection to Windows 8.
18:00 He said developers. Get ready
18:00 Now he’s talking about the killer hardware, starting with the Nokia Lumia 920.
18:01 Next is the Samsung Ativ S.
18:02 And now the Windows Phone 8X by HTC, Microsoft’s flagship.
18:03 All three and more will go on sale in Europe this weekend, while in the US phones will follow soon after.
18:04 Verizon will carry the 8X ($199), Lumia 822 ($49) and Ativ Odyssey (exclusive in December).
18:05 T-Mobile will have the Lumia 810 ($99) and 8X ($149).
18:06 AT&T will have the 8X, Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 exclusively. Pricing is to be confirmed.
18:07 Microsoft stores will sell all US phones in November.
18:07 “You won’t be able to turn on the TV or open a magazine without seeing a Windows ad.”
18:08 “Windows Phone is the best phone for Windows.”
18:10 Jessica, Joe and Steve are out to wrap things up. Also the stream has died.
18:10 And that’s all folks. We’ll be off to get some hands-on time this weekend, and (hopefully) bring you some news on how Microsoft plans to treat its existing customers.
18:11 See you next time! Thanks for joining us.
Microsoft Windows 8 launch liveblog
As Microsoft prepares to unleash Windows 8 upon the world tomorrow, a number of launch events are scheduled around the world, but the largest of them all takes place in New York this afternoon. We’re expecting to hear news of Surface and Windows, while numerous new high-profile applications for the Windows Store are likely to be unveiled. For all the news as it happens, join us right here for all the news as it happens.
All times are in BST
This event is now finished
15:30 Let’s do this.
15:40 While we wait for things to kick off, why not watch our Windows 8 overview?
16:08 Just a few minutes to go now…
16:09 Plenty of time to get some beef Hula Hoops.
16:16 We should be live now. If you want to watch along with us then the kind folks at Microsoft have provided a stream.
16:19 Starting with a video: The World Is Ready.
16:21 Steven Sinofsky is up, talking about building on the success of Windows 7.
16:22 They’ve sold over 670,000,000 licenses.
16:23 2PB of data added to SkyDrive every month.
16:24 Now talking about the advances in technology since Windows 95 came out.
16:25 Windows 8 is reimagined for the next billion users.
16:26 Windows 8 will be available at 12:01am tomorrow in every time zone.
16:27 8 was built on the foundations of 7.
16:28 Cold boots on new PCs in 10 seconds.
16:29 1,240,000 hours of testing in 190 countries.
16:30 Designed for touch and to be alive with the activity that matters most.
16:31 1,000 devices have already been certified for Windows 8.
16:32 There will be new Ultrabooks today, with some sporting touch screens.
16:33 Moving on to the Windows Store, officially opening today.
16:34 Hundreds of new apps every day, with the rate increasing each day.
16:35 231 markets for the store. Largest app selection at opening of any app store.
16:36 Now we have Windows Retweet RT, featuring Office 2013.
16:37 Windows RT currently supports over 420,000,000 peripherals, including mice, keyboards and printers.
16:38 Now there’s an advert featuring Best Coast and guitars.
16:39 Mike Angiulo and Julie Larson-Green on stage to demonstrate.
16:41 They’re just taking a look at the core. I think we did that better, but they’re not doing too badly.
16:44 The desktop is now even better. Run it side by side with Store apps.
16:45 Now talking about SkyDrive and Windows Phone.
16:47 They’re showing off the HTC 8X, a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 (with stylus!) and an Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook.
16:49 Touch notebooks start at just $499/£400.
16:51 “So many apps.”
16:52 Showing off Hulu with snapped email. Into the Wikipedia app (via Store) with the video still playing. Search is universal.
16:53 Julie’s using Urbanspoon now. Sharing is easy, and now exploring NY with Bing Travel.
16:55 Jetpack Joyride is available on Windows 8. Goodbye productivity.
16:56 Now they have the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, Dell XPS tablet and Samsung Ativ Tab.
16:57 Swapping now to the Asus Vivo Tab RT and Microsoft’s own Surface which gets a rapturous applause.
16:59 Ballmer alert.
17:00 He’s looking intense and talking about the benefits of a Microsoft account.
17:01 Biggest Windows ever with ARM and tablets included.
17:05 New Office “works great with a stylus”.
17:06 Great support from media outlets for apps. IE10 sites can be pinned.
17:07 MSN is the first site to be designed for Windows 8 and IE10.
17:08 SkyDrive is great for documents, while Outlook and the new Skype app are great for communication.
17:09 Rich entertainment experience with the Xbox brand, including free streaming music.
17:10 “Windows uniquely gives [businesses] the tools they need.”
17:11 Similarities to Windows Phone are positive – with live tiles, Microsoft Accounts and SkyDrive. More on that on Monday.
17:11 He said developers. Be warned.
17:12 Ballmer on 670,000,000 Windows 7 PCs: “That’s a very large number, even in the world of very large numbers.”
17:13 “Windows 8 PCs really are the best PCs ever.”
17:14 “Windows 8 brings together the best of worlds: PC and tablet; work and play.”
17:15 And that’s a wrap.
17:15 A whole load of uniformed people went on stage, music started playing and the lights dimmed. I can’t be the only one that was scared of a dance there.
17:15 And that’s all folks! We’ll be back on Monday for the Windows Phone and Android events!
17:16 Thanks for joining us!
HTC Windows Phone 8 event liveblog: 8X and 8S unveiled as Microsoft’s Windows Phone flagships
September’s been a pretty crazy month of announcements, and now HTC are trying to impress us with their showing in New York. New Windows Phone 8 devices are expected, although an updated One X is also rumoured. Whatever happens, we’ll bring you the latest news here!
Continue reading →
Nokia unveils PureView-touting Lumia 920 with Windows Phone 8 at New York event
At an event in New York today, Nokia unveiled the Lumia 920, their first phone with the forthcoming Windows Phone 8 operating system. With a design that serves as a refinement to the Lumia 800 and 900 before it, the 4.5″ device has an 8.7MP PureView camera, a 1280 x 768 PureMotion HD+ display that Nokia claims to be its best ever, a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and a variety of polycarbonate body colours, including yellow, red, white, gray and black. While there is no sign of a cyan model, one that proved very popular with the 800 and 900, the 920 has a 2000mAh battery and will feature Qi wireless charging.
Windows Phone 8 has a native screenshot feature! Pressing the home and power buttons takes a shot and puts it in your pictures hub.
Kevin Shields demonstrated the device – and Windows Phone – with some gloves. We love him.
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