Hasta La Gadget!

You’d think that with Skype firmly under Microsoft’s control, the service would roll out new features to Windows first. Bizarrely, though, that’s not the case. Skype’s video voicemail feature, which previously soft launched on Android, iOS and OS X, is now coming to Windows 7 and up (a Windows 8 version should be forthcoming), hitting the company’s end of April promise. The feature, still labeled a preview, works exactly as advertised, letting users record short video clips that can be sent to and viewed by any contact regardless of their OS. There’s one caveat though: you’ll need to install Skype 6.5 beta for Windows desktop and Flash to test it out. It’s just a risk your vainglorious self will have to take for modernity.

Filed under: Desktops, Microsoft

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Source: Skype

Microsoft continues to stay silent on exactly how many Surface tablet it ha s sold around the world. The first of its Surface tablets, the Surface RT, launched in October of 2012. Analytics firm Strategy Analytics has published a new report looking at the tablet market for the first quarter of 2013.

According to the report, demand for Windows tablets is increasing steadily. The analytics firm says that during Q1 of 2013 Microsoft shipped 3 million Windows tablets. It’s worth noting that the report doesn’t say exactly what it’s considering to be a tablet. Microsoft has true tablets such as the Surface RT and the Surface Pro, but Microsoft partners also offer a number of convertible notebooks that could be considered tablets.

Microsoft had 7.5% of the tablet market during Q1 of 2013 with its Windows-based offerings. The research firm did note that limited distribution, a shortage of apps, and continued confusion amongst consumers about the tablets have all contributed to hold Microsoft back. Compared to the two giants in the tablet market, Android and Apple, Microsoft has a mere fraction of the market share.

The report shows that iOS is still at the top of the tablet market with about 19.5 million units shipped during Q1. Android sits in the second place spot with 17.6 million units shipped during the quarter. Currently iOS holds 48.2% of the global branded tablet market share, Android has 43.4%, and Windows has 7.5%. Another interesting caveat when it comes to the numbers for Android market share is that if the company figures in white box tablets, which are tablets aimed at a different market than branded tablets, Android increases its market share to 52% and Apple slips to 41%. The overall tablet market shipped 40.6 million units during Q1 of 2013.

[via Neowin]

Windows tablet demand surged post-Win8 says research firm is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

In an effort to wean more people onto the Windows platform, Microsoft has partnered up with popular audiobook service Audible to offer Windows users a free audiobook. The offer only applies to users running either Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8, and it seems you’ll only have your pick from three pre-selected audiobooks being offered.

The three choices that you have to pick from are “The Power Trip,” Navy Seal autobiography “American Sniper,” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” which is narrated by actor Jake Gyllenhaal and will also be hitting theaters here shortly. All three of these books seem to be really popular, especially “The Great Gatsby,” so be sure to take advantage of the offer while you have it.

Howevever, there is some fine print to be aware of. Only new Audible registrants will be able to get a free audiobook, and you’ll have to register for a new account through the Windows 8 or Windows Phone app on your computer or smartphone. It’s also only available in the US and you have until May 13 to snatch up your free copy.

While this may be an enticing offer for some users, especially the book lovers out there, we’re not so sure that this promotion alone will be enough to get people to try out Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8. It’s certainly a good deal for those who already are on one of these platforms, but we can’t see others really going for it. Either way, if you’re yearning for a free audiobook, now’s your chance.

Audible offering Windows users free audiobook is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While BitTorrent threw its hat into the cloud storage ring this January with an early version of its Sync app, it was hard to be truly excited when only a small circle could use it. The company isn’t waiting for a completely polished version to renew our interest, however — it’s making BitTorrent Sync Alpha available to the general public, starting today. The newly accessible build brings the same unlimited Linux, Mac and Windows file syncing as before, although it adds a handful of tools to limit just who can see what. Those worried about security can now sync read-only files or offer one-time Secrets (file sharing keys) to friends that expire after a day if they’re unused; it’s also possible to exclude specific files or folders in larger transfers. Sync remains in a rough state, as the Alpha badge suggests, but those willing to live with the quirks no longer have to wait on the sidelines or consider alternatives.

Filed under: Storage, Internet, Software

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Source: BitTorrent Labs

Epson started selling its new sliding style Windows 8 notebook PC “Endeavor S series NY10S” today on their online shopping site Epson Direct Shop.

Sliding the 11.6 inch full HD touch panel screen back and forth, “Endeavor S series NY10S” transforms between being a note PC and a tablet.

It has an Intel Core i7-3537U processor as CPU, 8GB RAM, and 124GB SSD built-in.

It is 19.8 mm thin and weights 1.2 kg when it’s in a tablet form.

Price: About 120,000 yen
OS: Windows 8 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-3537U processor
LCD: 11.6 inch full HD (1920 x 1080)
Touch panel: 10 point multi touch (capacitive sensing method)
Built-in battery: 6 hours battery life