Hasta La Gadget!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Microsoft’s Build developer conference is going on right now in Anaheim, California, and Windows 8 is the belle of the ball. Earlier today, Windows chief Steven Sinofsky spilled more details about the OS, touting the minimum requirements and NFC support, while we fessed up to having had some quality hands-on time ourselves. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the company’s hardware partners are also ready to start talking. NVIDIA just opened its Windows 8 developer program, and says it’ll embrace not just x86-based PCs, but Tegra-powered tablets as well. Specifically, that means support for its forthcoming quad-core Tegra platform, codenamed Kal-El, along with PCs packing GeForce, Quadro and Tesla cards. Any developers who happen to be hanging around the Anaheim Convention Center can sign up at NVIDIA’s booth, though there’s also an online registration page for everyone else. Find that at the source link, along with the full PR after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA opens Windows 8 developer program with support for Kal-El tablets

NVIDIA opens Windows 8 developer program with support for Kal-El tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Samsung seems to be the go-to company these days when it comes to mobile OS acquisition rumors, but now it looks like HTC’s on the proverbial hot seat. According to an interview by The Economic Observer in China, chairwoman Cher Wang has affirmed that HTC is at least mulling the idea: “We have given it thought and we have discussed it internally, but we will not do it on impulse.” The report goes on to make strong mention of HP’s recently-backstabbed webOS platform, but stops short of suggesting that it’s the only OS in the running. Continuing on, Wang stated: “We can use any OS we want. We are able to make things different from our rivals on the second or third layer of a platform. Our strength lies in understanding an OS, but it does not mean that we have to produce an OS.” Of course, that’s a cheerleading session surrounding the outfit’s polarizing Sense overlay, and we’re guessing that webOS would eventually look a heck of lot different under HTC’s control. On second thought, maybe Wang’s actually trying to acquire iOS — she sure seems to love those Apple stores!

HTC chairwoman Cher Wang: we might buy a mobile OS, if it feels right originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bada 2.0 won’t just be riding the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y, but according to a tweet from Samsung, it’ll be available on all older Wave models as well. The company did warn that the OS could run “differently” between devices based on specifications like CPU and memory size, which may affect lower end models like the Wave 525 and Wave 533. However, if you are the proud owner of any of the fancier Wave phones like the S8500, expect the full OS makeover. The upgrade is due to splash across Europe some time in the fourth quarter, rolling out worldwide soon thereafter.

All Samsung Wave phones will get Bada 2.0, if they can handle the upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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