Hasta La Gadget!

Did you look on Japan with envy as Microsoft launched a 256GB Surface Pro in the country, leaving other countries with modest storage? If you’re American, you won’t have to fret any more: Microsoft has confirmed to Engadget that there will be “limited availability” of the 256GB model in the country through its new commercial reseller program. While the company didn’t say exactly which stores will carry the Surface Pro, Windows Phone Central has already spotted the new version on sale at CDW for $1,200. New orders will still take a few days to ship, but it could be worth the wait for the ultimate version of Microsoft’s official tablet.

Update: Microsoft has clarified its earlier statement in an FAQ — at least at present, you’ll have to be in business, education or the public sector to get the 256GB Surface Pro.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

Comments

Via: Windows Phone Central

Source: CDW

When the Unity game engine runs virtually everywhere — well, almost — it’s no surprise that Unity Technologies has just announced that the engine will support the Xbox One. However, the firm is also revealing a partnership with Microsoft that promises a deeper level of integration on the One than we’ve seen on some other systems. Microsoft Studios partners will get to build Unity-based Xbox 360 and Xbox One games for free. They’ll also receive tools that take full advantage of the One’s tricks, including cloud computing, matchmaking, improved Kinect gestures and SmartGlass.

Developers who aren’t console-inclined are covered as well: the partnership will give all Unity Pro 4 customers free access to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 development add-ons once they’re available this summer. While there’s no guarantee that game producers are more likely to target Microsoft’s ecosystem than they have in the past, the Unity deal could lower some of the costs and technology barriers. And there may be more: Microsoft has dropped hints that it will provide further details on its support of indie console app development sometime in the near future.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Xbox.com

Today during Microsoft’s 2013 edition of Build, Rhapsody announced that it’s releasing a version of its music app designed for the Windows 8 operating system. As you might expect, the Win8 variant will bring many of the same features found on its iOS and Android counterparts, including the ability for subscribers to create playlists and stream / download songs from Rhapsody’s ample library of tunes. There will be some tidbits tailored specifically for Redmond’s OS, however, such as a Snap Mode for simple multitasking and an option that allows tracks to be pinned to the Metro-style home screen. The company told us the application will hit the Windows store shortly, so we’ll be sure to update this post as soon as we have a link to the download.

Update: Rhapsody’s Windows 8 app is now up for grabs via the Windows store, linked down below for your convenience.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Windows store

Windows 8.1 isn’t just good news for users, as the new OS version is also bringing the goodies for developers as well, in the form of 5,000 new APIs for devs to play with. Along with 8.1’s arrival is a new version of Visual Studio that’ll allow devs to write native apps for Windows 8 and optimize them for the platform. The software comes with all the diagnostic tools any good Win8 developer needs, including a way to see an app’s power consumption and network efficiency. The Visual Studio 2013 preview is available for download today, so devs anxious to dig in can do so at the source below.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Visual Studio

The last time we wrote about Windows 8.1, we had lots to talk about, but very little to share in the way of hands-on impressions. You see, though Microsoft unveiled loads of new features, apps and UI tweaks, it only released a handful of screenshots — and nobody outside the company was permitted to actually use the new software. Today, though, the OS update is available for anyone to download for free; in fact, because we’re oh-so special, we’ve playing around with it for about 15 hours already. So while that’s not enough time to put together a comprehensive review, we feel qualified to offer a few early thoughts. If you’re curious, you can meet us after the break for impressions on everything from the new panorama capture feature to Xbox Radio. And yes, we brought screenshots this time. Lots of ’em.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Microsoft