Hasta La Gadget!

The latest build of Canary, the bleeding-edge test-bed for Google Chrome, reveals that the company is working on touch-centric features for its desktop browser. By swiping left and right, for instance, users will be able to avoid the chore of hitting the back and forward page buttons — while pinch-to-zoom and on-screen keyboards are also available to try out. Now, of course, you just need some hardware to take advantage of the new features.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Google

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Via: The Verge

Source: Google Chrome Canary

Microsoft made $853m in revenue from Surface tablets in its 2013 fiscal year, a disappointing figure that failed to even cover the company’s $900m inventory adjustment charge for the poorly selling Surface RT. The figures, confirmed in Microsoft’s most recent 10K filing, paint an underwhelming picture of the Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, though doesn’t specify exactly how many units have been sold.

Microsoft has been coy on giving those figures out, though that hasn’t stopped industry observers from guesstimating around the company’s sales. In March, sources with unofficial access to the numbers claimed that Microsoft had sold around 1.5m units.

Earlier this month, Microsoft admitted it had taken a $900m hit on inventory adjustment around the Surface RT. The news came just a day after Microsoft slashed the price of the tablet by around $150.

Overall, Microsoft still managed to pull together a rise in Windows revenue for the year, though pushing Surface didn’t help. Sales of the tablets failed to even cover the extra $898m the company spent on marketing them and Windows 8, the 10K reveals.

Next up, so the rumor mill would have it, is a new range of second-gen Surface tablets, still running either Windows RT or Windows 8, with a broader choice of processors. There have also been whispers of LTE-equipped versions, to better take on Apple’s 4G-enabled iPads, along with 7-inch versions to challenge the Nexus 7 and iPad mini.

VIA Dina Bass

Surface tablet revenue just $853m Microsoft reveals is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

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This week the folks at Gateway have brought back some heat in a collection of laptops and desktops for the 2013 business year. This new collection brings Haswell Intel Core processors as well as some ever-so-slightly thinned-down bodies in the notebook line while the desktop machines amp up largely on the inside – then there’s the Gateway One ZX, an all-in-one for students in a big way. Unassumingly simple looking, the lot of them.

Also included in this weeks gush of releases from the company, Gateway KX Series displays bring 19.5-, 21.5, 23-, 24- and 27-inch screens bring tilt capabilities from -5 to 25 degrees each. These models work with IPS, VA or TN panels while the whole lot work with three-year parts and labor warranties – and the lot of them starts at $99 this week. The desktop line exists in the Gateway One ZX, Gateway DX Series, and the compact Gateway SX Series.

The smallest of this collection exists in the Gateway SX Series and works at “a third of the size of standard desktops” with third-generation (not 4th) Intel Core i3 or AMD A Series processors and as much as 8GB DDR3 dual-channel memory. You’ll find a massive 8 USB 2.0 ports on this machine’s body if you’d like as well. This compact line starts at $529.99 USD.

The Gateway DX Series brings on features tuned for families and students looking for movies and videos as well as games. This is the entertainment beast, not so much for massive video processing and hardcore rendering – not that you couldn’t try, of course. Here you’ve got 4th generation (Haswell) Intel Core i5 or AMD A Series processors with up to 10GB DDR3 dual-channel memory and 1TB hard drives. You’ll find this series bringing on two USB 3.0 and up to 10 USB 2.0 ports depending on your specific model choice. This line starts at $398 USD and sits well inside the “mini tower” universe.

In the Gateway One ZX all-in-one desktop line you’ll find a lovely 21.5-inch Full HD Ultrabright LCD powered by a Intel Pentium Processor G2030 processor and 4GB DDR3 dual-channel memory. This unit is aimed squarely at the school-faring crowd and is suggested for use with “casual gaming” and student work galore. Inside is a 1TB hard drive, an optical drive (they’re not dead yet!) and built-in 2.5W stereo speakers with 2.1-channel surround sound support and high-def audio. This unit comes in at $529.99 in its most base configuration.

Gateway One ZX all-in-one joins DX and SX desktops reboot is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We reported back in June that Halo: Spartan Assault would be making its way to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, marking the franchise’s first foray into the mobile device dominion, as well as a long-awaited return to PC. Word at the time said that it would be launched some time in July, and per an announcement by Nokia on Twitter this evening, today is that day.

Those using a Windows Phone 8 device on Verizon will be able to grab Halo: Spartan Assault from the Windows Phone store, while those running mobile operating system on a different carrier are going to have to wait until next month. Windows 8 users, however, have seen their days of waiting come to an end, with the game being available for download from the Windows Store.

The game was created by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games, and won’t be seeing a big launch in retail stores, with it instead serving to help push gamers towards the Windows platform, whether mobile or otherwise. This is the first Halo franchise game developed for touchscreen devices, and as such it won’t be quite as intense as its console-based brethren.

There are 25 missions available in the game, with the player operating as Spartan Davis and Commander Sarah Palmer. It is promised to offer gamers a robust story line that dives “deeper into the back-story of the Human-Covenant wars,” giving enthusiasts a reason to pick up a copy. The app – both mobile and Windows 8 version – is priced at $6.99, but you’ll have to pay for each separately if you want it on both your computer and smartphone, for example.

The game can be used with a touchscreen, but there’s also support for using a keyboard and mouse if desired. Whatever device is used will need to have at least 1GB of RAM, while those with lower memory will be able to pick up a revised version designed specifically for the less powerful hardware next month, according to Microsoft. Have you already grabbed a copy? If so, let us know what you think!

SOURCE: Windows Blog

Halo: Spartan Assault releases for Verizon Windows Phone 8 devices and Windows 8 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.