While the Surface Pro 2 was shown off with a set of power upgrades earlier today, the Surface 2 is set to return with a collection of slim-downs. This starts with a thinner body, a lighter body, and a silver option (so you’re not just stuck with black.) This device is coming with a Full […]
This week the folks at Microsoft have introduced the Surface family in a bit of a reboot, starting with the Surface Pro. As the company is making clear this week through their own Panos Panay, “reinventing the wheel is not the goal, making it better is.” In other words, this isn’t going to be a […]
Microsoft’s little-loved Windows RT OS could get a second wind by merging more closely with Windows Phone and targeting so-called “phablet” devices, according to hints from the company. The OS, which puts Windows 8 on ARM chips but which has been criticized for its confusing software support in comparison to the “full” x86 version of […]
The rest of the industry may have turned its back on Windows RT, but it looks as if Microsoft isn’t prepared to ditch the Windows-on-ARM dream just yet. During an analyst call, Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s recently crowned software chief, seemed to describe RT as a first attempt, which will be followed up by further devices in the future:
“Windows RT was our first ARM tablet(sic). And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future.”
Myerson’s choice of words, and in particular his reference to phones that “extend into tablets,” suggests that Microsoft could be looking to bridge the divide between its smartphone and tablet divisions, and perhaps give Windows Phone a much more prominent role than the much-maligned Windows RT. Indeed, using Windows Phone as a tablet OS, or merging WP and RT, would help Microsoft to unify its various platforms and apps — something it has talked about in the past and that is actually a key focus of Myserson’s work:
“… we really should have one silicon interface for all of our devices. We should have one set of developer APIs on all of our devices. And all of the apps we bring to end users should be available on all of our devices.”
So, who knows, perhaps Windows Phone and RT have a common future? In which case, the idea of Nokia taking charge of this unified drive — building phones and tablets on the same platform — would make a lot of sense.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Microsoft
Via: Neowin
Source: Microsoft
Eye-tracking specialist Tobii has launched its latest peripheral, the Tobii EyeMobile, bringing gaze control to Windows 8 tablets like Microsoft’s Surface. Combining the company’s PCEye Go tracker with a special cradle for your slate, the USB accessory brings eye control to everything from Office and other productivity apps, through entertainment apps like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, […]
iCloud for Windows now lets you sync bookmarks between your iOS devices and the Windows versions of Chrome and Firefox. Useful!
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Supposing you’re not one of the vast numbers of users out there planning on updating from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 this October, Microsoft has been kind enough to price out a full start structure. In other words, if you don’t have Windows running on your machine, or if you’re running a version of Microsoft’s […]
The 2013 American Customer Satisfaction Index report for Household Appliance and Electronics has been issued this week, showing Apple to continue to lead the pack in Personal Computers as has for a decade. This honor appears to be running above the industry average, with a total score of 79 shown for satisfaction in Personal Computers […]
If you already have Windows 8 installed on your PC, Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade in the Windows Store. (But if you own a Windows 8 PC, you probably already knew that.) Now, Microsoft has revealed pricing for people who plan on installing Windows 8.1 on a system that currently runs some older version of Windows (i.e., Win 7). If you’re just now making the switch (was it the return of the Start button that sold you?) you can expect to pay $120 for Windows 8.1 and $200 for Windows 8.1 Pro. Yep, the same prices you’d currently pay for a copy of Windows 8.
Interestingly, too, Microsoft will be selling so-called full-version software, which means you don’t already need to have Windows running on your machine to complete the installation. All told, you’ll be able to either download the software from Windows.com, or buy an old-fashioned box set in a retail store, if that’s your thing. Whatever your preference, you’ll have to wait until October 17th, just like the cool kids who’ll be getting it for free.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Kinect for Windows developers can now get a little more creative: Microsoft has released version 1.8 of the camera’s SDK, which lets app creators produce a green screen effect by removing the background. The update also brings a new Kinect Fusion API that scans the color of an object in addition to its shape, saving some 3D modelers the trouble of creating a separate texture map. There’s better scene tracking and more code samples, too. Programmers who crave the new software tricks can grab the refreshed SDK and its companion tools at the source links.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Microsoft
Source: Kinect for Windows Blog, Download Center
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