Tag / Launch

by Xavier Voigt-Hill

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!

by Xavier Voigt-Hill

EE 4G LTE network to launch in UK on October 30th

After introducing themselves and their initial 4G plans to the UK last month, EE CEO Olaf Swantee today confirmed that the nation’s first LTE network will go live on October 30th. The network will initially become active in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield, and service will expand to Belfast, Derby, Hull, Nottingham, Newcastle and Southampton before the year is out. From that point, their ambitious rollout plans expect to have 70% of the country covered by the end of 2013, with this figure increasing to 98% a year later, matching their current 3G footprint. Device-wise, 7 compatible phones and 2 mobile broadband devices have had compatibility confirmed. These are:

Pricing and availability for these devices have yet to be confirmed, but the press release also confirms a forthcoming event where full details will be announced. As for customers who have already purchased the iPhone 5 from T-Mobile or Orange, they will be able to switch networks at launch.

Press Release

Statement to be attributed to Olaf Swantee, CEO, EE

We are delighted to announce that the official launch of our new customer brand, EE, offering the UK’s first superfast mobile 4G and fibre broadband service, will take place on the 30th October 2012. This is a significant milestone for the United Kingdom, and for the people and businesses of our country who will now be able to enjoy the huge advantages of superfast 4G technology for the first time. We are very proud to be pioneering, innovating and leading our industry in launching 4G for our nation through our new EE brand.

Notes to editors:

1. EE will be releasing invitations to a press event shortly to announce full details of its new brand and exciting new superfast services.

2. EE will be the first brand in the country to offer a mobile 4G LTE service, the pioneering new technology that offers superfast mobile internet at speeds typically five times faster than 3G speeds today.

3. EE will launch 4G in ten cities on the 30th October, and will cover 16 cities – a third of the UK population – by the end of the year. Customers on the EE brand will also have access to the biggest and best 3G network in the UK. Further towns, cities and rural areas, will follow rapidly with coverage to reach 98% by 2014.

4. 4G technology provides indoor and outdoor coverage for superfast web browsing.

5. EE’s 4G services will be available on a number of exciting handsets including the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III LTE, Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 820, HTC One XL and the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE.

Via The Verge
Source EE Newsroom

by Xavier Voigt-Hill

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop talks Lumia and Windows Phone

At Nokia’s Lumia unveil in New York today, The Verge got an interview with their CEO Stephen Elop. In the video below, Josh Topolsky probes Elop regarding their launch strategy for the 920 and 820, how Lumia 900 owners should feel after being told that their devices were obsolete and would not get Windows Phone 8 just months after launch and whether the PureView branding is being diluted with the 8.7MP sensor in the 920, compared to the 41MP 808 that pioneered the branding. Elop’s responses in the interview are intriguing, and you can watch the video below.

Source The Verge

by Xavier Voigt-Hill

LG announces worldwide availability for Tegra 3-equipped Optimus Vu phablet

Having been announced shortly before Mobile World Congress in February, LG’s Optimus Vu has kept largely under the radar, save for launches in Japan and South Korea, but a press release today details LG’s plans for a global launch of the 5″ 4:3 behemoth, with the company hoping to get to market before Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, which is set to be unveiled at IFA on August 29th. The aging dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 MSM8660 found in existing models is getting replaced by Nvidia’s Tegra 3 chip, as found in the HTC One X that we recently reviewed, although this means that the device will not support LTE in territories with such networks. The new Vu will ship with Android 4.0, replacing the old Gingerbread build of models past, but this will, as usual, be caked in LG’s customisations, including an upgraded version of QuickMemo™. While we may not be fans of phablets, those who are interested will be able to find the Optimus Vu in stores across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in September, but those Americans who desire the leaked Verizon LTE model will have to wait longer for official confirmation.

Press Release

LG ANNOUNCES GLOBAL AVAILABILITY OF OPTIMUS VU:

Largest LG Smartphone to Be Launched in Europe, Asia, Middle East/Africa and Latin America

SEOUL, Aug. 20, 2012 -– On the heels of its successful debut in Korea and Japan, the Optimus Vu: will make its global debut starting in select markets in Europe, Asia, Middle East/Africa and Latin America starting in September. With the world’s first 5-inch 4:3 aspect ratio display, the Optimus Vu: blurs the line between traditional tablets and smartphones for a truly unique smart device experience.

Since its March debut in Korea, the Optimus Vu: has sold over 500,000 units, demonstrating public acceptance of its form-factor. The reception the device received in Korea prompted LG to launch the Optimus Vu: in Japan this month, where it has also been received positively by Japanese consumers.

For the global roll-out, the Optimus Vu: will be equipped with NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 mobile processor, the super 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core with 5th battery-saver core, that offers a superb balance of performance and power requirements. 4 cores are used for high performance tasks such as games and multitasking. For voice call, email, music and video playback, only 5th battery-saver core is enabled and it consumes very less power.

When paired with the high-resolution 5-inch, 4:3 ratio IPS display, the Optimus Vu: becomes something special –- a device that’s both pocketable and spacious. The Optimus Vu: will come with an upgraded version of QuickMemo™ and Notebook, two features which make great use of the large display real estate.

“The different form factor makes Optimus Vu: unique even in the 5-inch smartphone category which we expect will catch on once they become more widely available,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

Key Specifications:

  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 3G network
  • 5.0 inch 4:3 ratio XGA IPS display with 768 x 1024 pixels
  • 32GB memory
  • 8.0MP rear/1.3MP front cameras
  • 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
  • 168g

Via Engadget
Source LG Newsroom