Hasta La Gadget!

Oh, sure — you’ve already started digging into the upcoming Windows Store (or, at least what it’ll deliver), but Microsoft just revealed a cute little nugget about its future functionality here at Build 2011. In keeping with its mantra of making Windows 8 a one-size-fits-all affair, the Store will be home to both Metro-style apps (useful for tablets and desktops alike) as well as traditional Win32 programs. You know, like Quicken. The outfit is hoping for this to provide more visibility for the programs that we all grew up on, and so long as the categorization is under control, we’re all for it.

Not surprising, given that there’s “no overlay” here. Whatever you see, it’s “all Windows.” The company’s playing up its flexibility for coders, with a full spate of supported coding options explained in graphical detail just after the break.

Follow our continuing Build 2011 / Windows 8 coverage here!

Continue reading Windows 8 Store to sell both Metro-style apps and conventional Win32 programs

Windows 8 Store to sell both Metro-style apps and conventional Win32 programs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Curious what the minimum specifications for Windows 8 will be? As are we. Microsoft’s remaining mum on specifics, but the outfit’s Steven Sinofsky — President of Windows and Windows Live — just confessed during the opening Build 2011 keynote that an antediluvian Lenovo S10 was potent enough to run Windows 8. And in fact, it’ll do so with more poise than with Windows 7. A brief demonstration explained that Win8 demanded fewer system resources (barely, but still) than Win7 on the same hardware, proving that an early-gen Atom CPU and 1GB of RAM is “enough” to run the outfit’s upcoming operating system. We highly doubt it’s enjoyable, but at least you (probably) won’t be forced into an upgrade if you don’t want to be. Have a gander at the actual numbers just after the break!

Continue reading Windows 8 can run on an Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM

Windows 8 can run on an Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Satoru Iwata came on stage at Nintendo’s pre-Tokyo Game Show shindig and announced the 3DS will be getting a few upgrades soon. No word on any hardware changes — yet — but owners can expect 3D video capture as well as upgrades to the Street Pass Mii Plaza and eShop. The press conference is still ongoing, so check back for more details as they’re announced or watch the live video stream (in Japanese) embedded after the break.

Update: And it’s all over! Nothing else new to speak of on the hardware front, and we didn’t catch any more news about those software changes either. We’re just getting our TGS team on the ground in Japan now, so expect more news in the days to come.

Nintendo 3DS to add 3D video capture, upgraded eShop and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the first of what we expect to be many announcements related to Windows Phone Mango devices, AT&T stepped up to the plate this morning by unveiling three new “4G” handsets that use the latest version of Microsoft’s OS: the HTC Titan, Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash. We already know quite a bit about the Titan, but details on Sammy’s selections are slim for now — images aren’t even available for either phone, though it’s likely we’ve seen at least one of them before. In addition, the carrier’s also planning to update its entire existing lineup with Windows Phone 7.5.

As for the fall lineup, there doesn’t seem to be a slacker in the bunch. The Focus S will have a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.4GHz CPU and an 8 megapixel rear camera that accompanies a 1.3 megapixel front-facing cam for video chat. Also bearing Mango is the Samsung Focus Flash, considered the lower-end offering by Sammy, which still brandishes a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen — no Plus involved on this one — as well as a 1.4GHz CPU and 5 megapixel rear shooter and front-facing camera that for now has no specified resolution. Each of the phones are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter, and the existing lineup should be on the receiving end of the update sometime “this fall.” This is just the beginning of the impending flood, so we can’t wait to see what else is around the corner.

Continue reading AT&T announces Windows Phone Mango lineup coming this fall, existing devices to be updated

AT&T announces Windows Phone Mango lineup coming this fall, existing devices to be updated originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s the word straight from Bloomberg‘s unnamed sources: Sprint’s not only getting the elusive iPhone 5 — it’s keeping an unlimited data plan around just to sway buyers who may otherwise spring for the AT&T / Verizon Wireless variants. Furthermore, these folks in-the-know have good reason to believe that it’ll be launched “next month,” which gives Apple a shockingly small amount of time to invite us over for a west coast reveal. As it stands, the only folks who’ll get limitless data with an iPhone 5 on its existing US carriers are those with grandfathered plans; any new customers on Ma Bell or Big Red will be forced to select one of many tiered options. Not surprisingly, neither Sprint nor Apple are commenting on the story, but if it all proves true, Sprint can definitely hang its hat on having one serious competitive advantage.

[Thanks, Prhime]

Sprint rumored to retain unlimited data with iPhone 5 launch, prove unicorns are indeed legit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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