Hasta La Gadget!

Intel is kicking off its ultrabook symposium in Taipei tomorrow, and details have emerged of exactly what the company will be showcasing for the platform going forward. NetbookNews sat down with Navin Shenoy, the Vice President of Intel’s Architecture Group, and gleaned some information as to what to expect. As you might imagine, Intel is keen to promote ultrabooks and bring even more to market. Currently there are around 35 designs available to buy, but Intel says there are at least 140 designs for the platform.

Intel is also hoping to hit a very aggressive $699 price point for entry-level ultrabooks going forward in order to stave off competition from Apple’s MacBook Airs. There have been a couple of Sandy Bridge-based models that have briefly touched that price, but Intel is hoping for a wider range of ultrabooks to start hitting that specific number.

Standard ultrabooks are currently flooding from the market from a variety of manufacturers, but Intel hinted that around 40 ultrabooks with touch capabilities would see the light of day soon enough. Those models will launch around the fourth quarter, coinciding with the release of Windows 8 which places a new emphasis on touch operation.

Finally, the company once again hinted at its next-generation processor, Haswell. The processor will mark another jump in speed for Intel, but also bring with it reduced power requirements. Intel is pitching the 22nm processor as the first System on a Chip for the PC, claiming that it will use up to 20 times less power than Ivy Bridge. That low-power requirement will be especially important for ultrabooks, enabling true all day computing and bringing them closer to ARM-based tablets.

Intel: $699 ultrabooks coming soon is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
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As we’ve seen, there will be no shortage of tablet / laptop hybrids on offer when Windows 8 starts shipping this fall. But since those keyboard docks will typically be sold separately, that means you’re also about to see loads of third-party alternatives. Not to be left out, Microsoft just announced a Bluetooth mobile keyboard, along with its smallest-ever mouse — both of which can be used with any Windows tablet.

Starting with that Wedge Mobile Keyboard, it resembles Zaggmate’s iPad case from 2010, in that it has a hard case to make it more travel-resilient. Here, though, the casing is made of flexible rubber, allowing it to double as a tablet stand. Putting it over the keys also turns the keyboard off, allowing you to conserve battery life. On board, you’ll also find hotkeys specific to certain Windows 8 features, such as the Charms Bar. And, as the name suggests, the keyboard rises a bit in the back, thanks to the battery door on the other side (this takes two AAA cells, by the way.) One caveat: though you can use it with Windows 7, 8 and RT, and even Mac OS X, but it’s not compatible with Vista. Sorry, folks.

In a similar vein, the tiny Wedge Touch Mouse has a matching soft-touch surface and is also Bluetooth-enabled. Like other mice in Microsoft’s lineup, it has BlueTrack technology, allowing it to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. The mouse, which runs on a single AA battery, also shuts down whenever you power down whatever device it’s paired with. These products will ship “soon,” according to Microsoft, with the keyboard retailing for $79.95 and the mouse going for $69.95. For now, we’ve got a bunch of photos below for your viewing pleasure.

Filed under: Peripherals

Microsoft intros Wedge Mobile Keyboard, whose case doubles as a stand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday we reported that according to Valve’s boss, Gabe Newell, the reason behind Valve’s efforts at pushing out a Steam for Linux platform is because he thinks that Windows 8 is a “catastrophe”. We’ve yet to see how Windows 8 will sit with the masses and if its impact is a positive or negative one. We’re hoping the former since we don’t really need another Windows Vista. That being said, it seems that Newell wasn’t alone in his sentiments as Blizzard’s Rob Pardo has echoed Newell’s feelings regarding Windows 8 as well.

Speaking out in a tweet, Pardo was quoted as saying, “I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space’ – not awesome for Blizzard either.” Is Windows 8 really as bad as developers are making it out to be? Like we said, we won’t know until it has actually launched but it is definitely something to think about! But for those who have tried the Release Preview, what did you guys think of it so far?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft announces BUILD 2012, Windows 8 Store won’t have $0.99 apps,

Toying with the idea of picking up a keyboard-dockable Windows 8 slate? Take your pick — since Computex (and Microsoft’s own Surface unveiling), these devices have popping up like wildflowers — and one of them may have just slipped through federal inspection. A recent FCC filing reveals an ASUS branded tablet bearing the mark of Windows 8. The feds out the device as the TF600T, an unannounced product that sounds suspiciously similar to the Tablet 600 ASUS trotted out at Computex. Further investigation only revealed a standard radios — Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC — but the Transformer-like model number and Windows logo have our attention. Is this the Tablet 600? We’ll let you know when ASUS has something official to say. Dive into the federal report for yourself at the source link below.

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Did ASUS’ Windows 8-packing Tablet 600 hit the FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 01:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’d wager almost everyone has a printer attached to their computer or shares one over a network. Microsoft says that over the years the system that allows users to print has evolved into a complicated architecture supporting printing to a huge array of printers. That print system touches multiple layers and facets of Windows according to Microsoft. Microsoft is talking a bit about the work done for Windows 8 to reimagine the print system and provide support for a number of devices to customers.

Windows 8 uses a new printer driver architecture that Microsoft calls version 4. This architecture uses smaller and faster print drivers and supports a print class driver framework. That idea behind that print class driver framework is to allow people to install a printer without needing a driver in many cases. Microsoft also mentions that it worked to determine how to give Metro app developers the ability to print. That resulted in the reinvention of how printing is enabled from Windows Runtime.

Microsoft says that in Windows 7 and earlier versions of the operating system, each printer needed a specific driver to work. That meant Microsoft had to include a huge number of drivers and operating systems. The picture you see here is one of Microsoft’s printer labs where it tests printer compatibility with new versions and updates for Windows. Rather than shipping many printer drivers with Windows 8, the operating system will use the printer class driver framework. The framework is extensible, supports printing to existing devices, and allows manufacturers to include support for new devices, even if they haven’t been designed yet. The goal was to make printers of all sorts “just work” with Windows 8 rather than having to install software.

Microsoft promises simplified printing in Windows 8 is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.