LG’s tablet ambitions were scuppered in 2012, when the company confirmed it would sideline its slate plans so as to focus instead on smartphones. Its Optimus Pad failed to gain traction, and fellow Android device OEMs pushed prices low to undercut Apple’s iPad.

Since then, however, we’ve seen Windows 8/RT arrive, as well as some success among Android devices, fueled in no small part by the low-cost Nexus 7 ASUS manufactures for Google. Meanwhile, we’ve also seen some movement in the high-end Android tablet world, with high-res options like Samsung’s Nexus 10 out-performing the iPad’s Retina Display in terms of pixel density.

That might pave the way for LG to use some of its display arm’s homegrown screen talents. Back at CES, LG Display showed off a 7-inch, 324ppi 1920 x 1200 tablet panel, among others, which seems ideally suited for a small tablet rival to the much-speculated iPad mini with Retina Display.

Of course, there’s not only Android to consider. LG could also opt for Windows 8 or Windows RT, joining a relatively limited market of tablets running Microsoft’s platform. Whether the potential rewards for taking on Microsoft’s own Surface are considered rich enough for LG remains to be seen, however.

[via TechEye]

If you’ve heard of Windows Blue, you know that Microsoft isn’t necessarily thrilled about the idea that their original Windows 8 user interface hasn’t taken off at the rate that they’d planned. The “Blue” addition to both Windows 8 and Windows RT is said to make marked improvements on the operating system’s user interface based on user feedback, these improvements being largely touch-based and user-friendly.

The rumor that HTC is bringing two tablets to the market with Windows RT is not unfounded – there’ve been plenty of tips surrounding HTC’s return to the tablet market since they decided to exit not long after their first two Android attempts (with the HTC Flyer and HTC Jetstream, that is). Here though, Windows RT Blue will be used, not Android.

HTC is said to be bringing a device called HTC R7 to the market alongside one called HTC R12. The HTC R7 is said to be bringing a 7-inch Full HD display along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.3GHz processor, more powerful than the Snapdragon 600 processor found in the LG Optimus G Pro, Samsung GALAXY S 4, and HTC One with a single step up the ladder.

The HTC R7 is also said to be bringing a now-standard 2GB of RAM along with 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for memory expansion. This device is being tipped as bringing a 13 megapixel camera on its back along with wireless connectivity through 4G LTE / HSPA+ radios, Wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and A-GPS.

The HTC R12 will be bringing a set of specifications that matches the HTC R7 with one large difference. The HTC R12 is being tipped as bringing a 12-inch display with 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution. That’s essentially unheard of in a device such as this, especially in a Windows RT package.

You’ll find both of these devices – if they do come to fruition – appearing for launch on October 13th right alongside the launch of Windows Blue. This release time will also be marked by a launch of the second wave of Microsoft Surface tablets, it’s said, with Microsoft aiming for holiday sales galore.

[via PhoneArena]

Acer president Jimmy Wong said last Friday at an event in New York that “the plan for the RT tablet is ongoing.” Acer had previously planned to launch a tablet running Windows RT software in Q2 of 2013. However those plans have now been put on hold.

Wong said, “To be honest, there’s no value doing the current version of RT.” Acer plans for now to continue focusing on Windows 8 and Android tablets. The company recently unveiled a new Android-powered tablet at $169 called the Iconia A1. Acer is planning additional support for devices running Windows 8 and Wong predicts sales for devices running the operating system will be better in the second half of 2013.

Acer currently predicts that 25% of its tablet business will come from devices running Windows 8. Wong also noted that he believes the Windows 8 market is starting to pick up after a slow start. The major focus for Acer will be hybrid devices featuring products such as laptops with screens that can be used as tablets separately.

[via Citeworld]

The Acer W3-810-1600 is an 8.1-inch tablet with a resolution the same as the Nexus 7 – 1,280 x 800 – running Windows 8. According to the specs list, inside users will find a 1.5GHz A4 processor and 2GB of RAM, as well as 32GB of internal storage space. Graphics come by way of Intel GMA, and the battery has a 3500mAh capacity with a reported charge life of 8 hours.

The only connectivity feature listed is 802.11b/g/n – no mention of Bluetooth. There’s a rear webcam with a decent 2-megapixels, and the entire unit measures in at 8.62 x 5.31 x 0.45-inches with a weight of 1.1-pounds. The color for the device is silver – it is possible there could be other color options, but only time will tell.

And finally, there’s the price: $379.99. While it isn’t the cheapest tablet out there, the price tag is nothing unusual for a slate, and it is important to remember that it runs full-blown Windows 8, not the less-than-consumer-embraced Windows RT. There’s nothing else to speak of on the device for now, but if the rumors prove true, we should start hearing about the slate – or others like it – by this fall.

[via PC Magazine]

According to the first rumor, the tablet would go into production later this year. But NPD DisplaySearch’s analyst Richard Shim says: “From the supply chain side, we’re seeing the panel specifications, the touch module, the mass production schedule being made … Mass production is Q1 2014. Apparently, pretty significant volume. Multiple millions.”

The rumored tablet is said to have a 7.5-inch display with a resolution of 1400 x 1050 (233 ppi), which puts it ahead of both the iPad mini and Nexus 7. The price, however, will still be on the higher end, with a different source saying that Microsoft is aiming at $399, but that the price may drop below that. The company has been taking steps to get the price lower, which includes changing panel suppliers.

It’s worth noting, however, that a few days ago DigiTimes published a piece alleging that Microsoft will be rolling out a second-gen Surface tablet that measures in between 7 and 9 inches and will be announced soon, possibly this summer. Such a rumor is more in line with the rumor heard earlier this month via the WSJ, but until Microsoft says anything official, it is all speculation at this point.

[via CNET]

Word from upstream supply chain sources speaking with Digitimes have suggested that BUILD will be the place where a new generation of Surface tablets will likely appear first. They’ve added that the first generation, having sold what they claim is 1.5 million units total for the first two releases of the tablet (RT and Pro). This being half of the expectations the company had, a “cautious attitude over promotions” has been initiated for the 2nd generation.

This second generation has a series of components largely the same as the first run, with what these same sources say are parts from LG, Samsung, NVIDIA, Intel, and Pegatron. Changes would be in the chassis of the tablet switching from what was manufactured by China-based Chungnam Precision Casing to Ju Teng. At the moment there’ve been no confirmations from any of the named manufacturers on a second-generation Surface model.

The final bit of information this source spoke about this week was the idea that this generation of the Surface tablet would feature between a 7 and 9-inch display, this matching up well with the trend for larger and smaller than 10.1-inch tablet standard sizes in the industry.

We’ve been tipped before at the possibility of Microsoft getting into the 7-inch tablet game, but we have yet to hear anything official from Microsoft. Klein notes that these “small touch devices” will have “competitive price points,” and they’re said to “available in the coming months,” according to Klein.

However, it’s also possible that other manufacturers will develop smaller tablets that will run Windows. An update to Windows 8′s hardware requirements last month hinted at the fact that the operating system may soon be fitted for smaller-form tablets, as Microsoft lowered the minimum resolution down to 1024×768.

We’re not sure exactly if Microsoft will be making their own 7-inch tablets, or if they’ll leave the task up to their OEM partners like HP, Acer, Asus, etc. However, we at least now know that we should be expecting these device to release sometime over the next few months, which means we’ll be going into the holiday season with smaller-form Windows-based tablets.

[via AppleInsider]

With our reviews of Windows RT devices you’ll find that we’ve not been too impressed. Have a peek at the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 Review we did earlier this month and you’ll see that while the hardware is basically a masterpiece of bits and pieces, the system is less than spectacular. With a full Windows 8 we’d have given the machine much higher praise. It would appear that Dell has been seeing similar responses for their newest RT devices.

Dell’s first Windows RT device on the market is the Dell XPS 10, a machine we got some hands-on with with in Germany this past season at IFA 2012.

“Demand is not where I would like it to be at this point in time. The amount of market information about it is not good enough, and the market sentiment is still pretty negative.” – Neil Hand, Dell

It was added that the Windows app experience for Windows RT has “not been as strong as it needed to be.” If you’re looking at a machine with Windows RT vs a machine with Windows 8, you’ve got a number of apps that literally work on your machine that’s less than Windows 8 – and Windows 8 supports less apps than we’d like, too.

On the flip side, groups like NVIDIA have made an effort to boost the market with their own NVIDIA TegraZone for Windows RT, a system that, like it’s Android counterpart, shows users that work with their processors that there are fabulous apps to be had. With several Windows RT machines on the market today you’re working with an NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor – with that, you’ve got games that will blow you away, even if you’re working with less than Windows 8.

Have a peek in the timeline below for additional news about Windows RT as of late and let us know if you’ve got a Window RT machine at your desk right this minute!

First you’re going to want to see the “leak” that appeared earlier this week. While originally this image (shown above) was something we dismissed as an artist’s rendering, it’s source has now had his or her entire site taken down without a trace. If it were only a mocked-up rendering made only to show how the “Adidas micoach app” it’s showing would look on a tablet, the artist would only have left a note, hoping for as much fame from the image as possible, wouldn’t you think?

Still, these are illustrations, and certainly not a showing of any kind of final product from Nokia. If Nokia made them, they never intended to release them with such rough edges. You can find the original (now 404) source at http://cargocollective.com/heyrey#Nokia-Adidas-App – Cargo Collective is a place where artists and designers create their own webspaces and post their work – this is an invite-only community, which again adds credence to the idea that the artist in question didn’t just jump ship when they were called out on their images.

Next there’s a patent application filed by Nokia for a brand new “apparatus cover with keyboard” that you’ll see here situated below what looks suspiciously similar to the Nokia tablet leaks we’ve seen thus far. Engadget discovered this one on the US Patent and Trademark Office listings website where fun bits and pieces go to be registered – and not always come to fruition on the real consumer market.

Have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the possibility of a Nokia tablet and let us know what you think about such a device coming with Windows RT!

A radio station in China, China National Radio, decided to go after Microsoft’s warranty policy for its Surface Pro tablets. The radio station stated that the Microsoft Surface Pro should follow the nation’s law of having a 1-year warranty for replacing the entire device, and 2-year policy for replacing its parts. Currently, Microsoft offers a 1-year warranty for both replacing the entire device as well as replacing separate parts.

This follows news that Microsoft has just released a special version of its Surface Pro tablet for China, which includes a free copy of Office 2013. The radio station attacked Microsoft shortly after Apple issued its apology for its own warranty policies. Doug Young, author of “The Party Line: How the Media Dictates Public Opinion in Modern China”, says,

It sounds potentially worrisome; it looks like a copycat of the whole apple thing. China National Radio is trying to jump on the same bandwagon. Most western companies already provide much better after-sales service than Chinese companies.

Pan Yi, a reporter for China National Radio, stated that their story had no relation to CCTV’s story on Apple’s warranty. Pan said that “a lot of foreign companies are not very familiar with China’s after-sales policies”. Microsoft’s spokesperson in Beijing has yet to respond to China National Radio’s report. Many other companies have faced criticism in China, like KFC and Volkswagen, though Volkswagen was warranted because its cars in China were equipped with “substandard direct-shift gearbox systems”, resulting in many car accidents. We’ll keep you updated when Microsoft responds to the criticisms. In related Microsoft Surface Pro news, be sure to check out our review for the device here.

[via Bloomberg]

The Outlook RT app was spotted by Windows SuperSite’s Paul Thurrott, who says that the app is in “shipping form”. Many sources have stated that Outlook RT was not initially released with Windows RT devices due to two issues. One issue was a firmware bug with the ARM chipset that would result in constant crashes and hangups with Outlook. The second issue was related to excessive battery drainage. Both issues are reportedly fixed.

A source has also told ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley that Outlook RT has become a “top enterprise request”, and has become a top priority for Microsoft’s Office team. When Outlook RT becomes available to the public, it won’t be released for free, or bundled with future Windows RT devices. You will most likely have to subscribe to Office 365 for the app. Outlook RT is also expected to be rolled out during Microsoft Office’s Gemini update, as well as the release of Windows 8.1 Blue.

It’s also speculated that once Outlook RT is finally rolled out to the public, the chances of Microsoft Office becoming available to iPad devices will drastically improve. The main reasoning for this is because many believed that it would be a terrible move for Microsoft to release Outlook for iPad devices before it released it for its own devices. Once Microsoft releases Office apps for iPads, it could possibly generate $2.5 billion in revenue. In related Windows RT news, be sure to check out our review for Microsoft’s Surface RT.

[via ZDNet]

Of course, Windows 8 has supported 1024×768 for a while now, but hardware requirements from Microsoft as far as tablets are concerned requires at least a widescreen 1366×768 resolution, which is rather odd, but Microsoft has quietly updated its tablet requirements with the new spec, meaning that smaller Windows tablets could be in our future.

This seems fairly obvious, though, as small form factors are rather popular as of now, with Google’s Nexus 7, Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, and Apple’s iPad mini leading the charge in the 7- to 8-inch tablet race. As for when we might see smaller Windows tablets, it’s not entirely certain, but they could come during Microsoft’s BUILD developers conference in June.

If a 7- or 8-inch Windows tablet does, indeed, step into the limelight, it’ll be interesting to see if they catch on. Currently, Microsoft’s Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets haven’t been selling well, so if manufacturers get the price right with the smaller variants, they could squeeze their way in with the other Android and iOS offerings.

[via ZDNet]

App development for Windows 8 hit its peak in November, with an average of 468 new apps being developed daily. The number dropped down to 412 apps developed daily in December, plummeted to 174 apps in January, and fell even further to 142 apps in February. The new surge in app development is possibly due to Microsoft’s new cash incentive for developers to create apps for its ecosystem.

Microsoft is offering developers $100 per app they develop for Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8. They are allowed to develop up to 10 apps per OS for a grand total of $2000. The contest began on March 8th, and is set to end on June 30th. There will only be 10,000 apps accepted. While $100 per app may not be too enticing to developers, Microsoft is also offering developers a 80% split for revenue generated by their apps. That’s 10% more than what Apple and Android offers.

The statistics account for apps for both Windows 8 PCs as well as Windows RT tablets. So saying that Windows 8 has surpassed the Mac’s available 14,000 apps would be a lie. If you take into account the 370,000+ apps the iPad currently has, the Windows Store is still miles behind in development. Nonetheless, 50,000 apps in 4 months is an impressive milestone, and as more people adapt to Windows 8 and Windows tablets, we should see some great advancements for the OS in the future.

[via MetroStore Scanner]

With the Surface RT selling just over a million of that total number and the Surface PRO version of the tablet coming in at somewhere around 400,000 in the short time they’ve been on the market, Microsoft may not be reaching projected numbers. According to these sources, Microsoft had originally ordered about 3 million Surface RT tablets for sale by this time – not quite the same as less than half that amount they’re claiming have been sold thus far.

The Surface PRO appears to be doing a bit better in the much shorter time since they’ve been revealed, but compared to such titans as Apple’s iPad, the big M is nowhere close. According to Apple, 22.9 million iPads were sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone.

Have a peek at the timeline below which includes our review of both of the Surface devices and decide for yourself if you’ll be joining the party. Down there you’ll find more information on what Microsoft has been doing to push the Surface family through to the future, along with the full Windows 8 software universe.

The IDC believes that Android tablets will claim the top spot in the tablet market with a 48.8% market share. iPads will drop down to second place with a 46% market share, and Windows-based tablets will have a combined total of a 4.7% market share. In the future, the market share for both Android tablets and iPads will decrease as Windows-based tablets gain more momentum in the market. All in all, there should be a combined total of 350 million tablets shipped by the end of 2017.

Jitesh Ubrani, an analyst for IDC’s Tablet Tracker, states that “One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below 8 inches in screen size. And in terms of shipments, we expect smaller tablets to continue growing in 2013 and beyond.” Manufacturers are seeing a trend in smaller tablets outselling the more larger 10-inch tablets. The smaller tablets are much easier to carry around and to use when performing daily tasks.

The IDC believes that the low-budget Android tablets are the main reason for Android’s success in the tablet market. Consumers don’t want to spend $500 on a high-end premium Android tablet or iPad when there is a $150-$200 tablet, like the Kindle Fire, that can give them everything they need. Low-cost Android tablets are also hurting the sales of eReaders, which have seen a decline year-over-year due to the more efficient, tablets. The IDC has reduced its forecasted shipments of eReaders by 14% from the years 2013 to 2016.

[via IDC]

According to Microsoft, it has been testing websites with Flash content for compatibility with touch-based use of Windows, as well as battery life and performance. This testing, which is said to have taken place over the last several months, has demonstrated to Microsoft that the majority of websites with Flash content are compatible with the Windows “experience.”

The update is being rolled out for both the desktop and immersive Internet Explorer varieties. For both Windows 8 and Windows RT, Flash content for immersive Internet Explorer will run by default unless it is on the Compatibility View list. Desktop Internet Explorer, however, will have Flash content enabled for all websites on Windows 8, but likewise enabled unless on the Compatibility View list in Windows RT.

With Windows 8, the included Flash is optimized for a host of criteria, including battery life, reliability, performance, security, and of course, touch. This was the result of “substantial changes” made by Adobe, and the use of Compatibility View allowed Microsoft to tailor its browser so that only compatible websites would run Flash content. As of now, according to the company, less than 4-percent of tested websites with Flash content are still incompatible.

[via MSDN]

The Windows RT version of the Samsung ATIV Tab is basically a powered-down version of what we got to see last year in the Samsung ATIV Smart PC from AT&T – or at least that’s what the public is understanding, given the general feedback for the two platforms we’ve seen so far. Why get a Windows RT tablet when you could get a device in essentially the same body with Windows 8 – and a heartier processor?

The question of Windows 8′s ability to withstand the market on tablets alone is also being called into question by the quick in-and-out of the news cycle that’s happening with the majority of the devices revealed since the dawn of the OS. Windows RT being the tablet-specific version of Windows 8 made for devices without keyboards has Samsung hesitant to move forward with it through the future.

We’ve yet to see Samsung actually cut out Windows RT devices from their sales points in Germany and/or other European checkpoints, but the near future may prove this set of tips to be more than just a bad vibe for Microsoft. Keep your eyes peeled for additional confirmations from all angles.

[via Engadget]

Said the Microsoft representative, “As part of our phased approach to Surface availability, Surface will be coming to Japan in the near future.” This phased approach, as it was called, has involved the tablet device slowly hitting shelves in nations around the world. Such countries that already have access to the Surface RT include Canada, the UK, China, Australia, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, and more.

Word has it the 32GB version of the Surface RT could be priced at 50,000 yen, which is about $530. This is a tad more than the price equivalent in the US, where the tablet costs $499. This is following the recent launch of the Surface Pro, which features Intel hardware and runs the full Windows 8 operating system, versus Windows RT that is found on the original Surface.

There’s no word on when the Surface Pro will be launched in Japan, but we’re curious to see how well the original device will sell in the nation. Surface RT allows users to download the RT versions of programs, such as Office RT instead of the regular Office suite. This has been a big turn-off for many consumers, who are either confused about the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8, or who had elected to wait for the Pro version so they could they install the programs they want.

[via CNET]

NVIDIA announced today that they repurchased a monstrous $100 million in stock while they paid a dividend of $0.075 per share back to investors, that equalling out to be a lovely $46.9 million in the end. GAAP earnings per share this reported year were $0.90 per diluted share, one of only a few down-turns compared to last year. Another was Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share being reduced from $1.19 in fiscal 2012 to $1.17 in fiscal 2013.

One of the highest points in the report was NVIDIA’s reported $4.28 billion in revenue for fiscal 2013, that being a record for the company. Outlook for the future is being shown to be quite positive as well, with revenue for the first quarter of NVIDIA’s fiscal 2014 set to be a fabulous $940 million – plus or minus 2 percent. NVIDIA also notes that they plan on paying another quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share on March 21st, 2013 – this will go to all stackholders on record as of February 28th, 2013.

Operating expenses for this upcoming quarter are expected to be “approximately” $430 million – that’s up for $402 million this past quarter. Over the entirety of fiscal 2013, NVIDIA reported $1,578.1 in operating expenses, while fiscal 2012 came in at $1,408.2 – and all of these numbers are GAAP, mind you, with non-GAAP numbers available to you in the full NVIDIA report.

An expanded growth over the next 12 months has been projected by NVIDIA and lots of exciting things are in store without a doubt. Stay tuned to SlashGear for more information on NVIDIA’s future through our Tegra hub as well as the NVIDIA tag portal for more!

Although we don’t know how many devices each store had in stock, that all of them are sold out still shows an impressive demand for the oft-criticized device. Those who want a Surface Pro can still order the 64GB version, which consumers are less enthused about due to its lower actual available storage space. A microSD slot is available for storage expansion, however.

Unlike the previously released and moderately received Surface RT, which runs Windows RT, the Surface Pro is made with Intel hardware and runs the Windows 8 operating system. As such, users can run their favorite programs on the hybrid device and use it as they would any other laptop. Users can expect somewhere between 4 and 6 hours of battery life, depending on activity, something many feel is too low.

Following this release, the Surface RT version will be released in 13 additional countries throughout Europe on February 14, comprised of: Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden. You can check out our full review of the Surface Pro here, and of the Surface RT here.

[via Surface]

We’ve had our own up close and personal looks at the Microsoft Surface RT as well as the Microsoft Surface Pro in the past few weeks, and it was only after our review of the Pro model that we found ourselves comparing and contrasting with the MacBook Air. What’s being suggested this week is that it’s not a notebook the public is looking for, but a smaller tablet.

Speaking with Bloomberg about the general ups and downs of the Surface lineup thus far, chief financial officer for Microsoft’s Windows unit Tami Reller noted that the company “will scale over time, but right now we’re focused on making sure the designs that have been built do have commercial availability and commercial success, and we’ll stay focused on that for the short-term.” This of course means that while the company could potentially create a smaller (or larger) tablet in the future, for now they’re putting all efforts into making sure the models they’ve got out at the moment sell well.

With the Google Nexus 7 still running strong after several months of sales straight from the company that pushes the device with Android, it’s no wonder Microsoft wants to keep to itself – so to speak. And while the Nexus 7 dominates the $199 price point, there’s another tablet between here and there that dominates an in-between price point: the iPad mini. While it’s certainly not Microsoft’s goal to dominate the mobile tablet universe with the Surface RT or the Surface Pro, they’ve made it clear this week that they’re going to attempt to stay strong in the standard 10.1-inch size segment for the time being.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see each of the most important recent stories released on the Surface lineup and let us know what you think. Are you ready for a 7-inch Surface tablet – or perhaps an 8.9-inch tablet with another keyboard dock?

This is not the first we’ve heard of a Nokia tablet in the works. One of the more interesting hints came back in March of 2012 where Nokia design chief Marko Ahtisaari confirmed a tablet with the choice quip, “we are working on it.” It was back then that we also saw supply chain sources claiming Nokia would be using Microsoft’s Windows RT system (not quite named that back at the time) for its future first tablet delivery. Elop back then also noted that Nokia wouldn’t create a tablet until it could bring something unique to the space.

We also saw notes about a Nokia Windows RT tablet in December of 2012 complete with a keyboard cover containing a separate battery for the unit. Here in February of 2013 we’ve got Elop once again speaking up (with AFR) saying, “we haven’t announced tablets at this point, but it is something we are clearly looking at very closely.” Elop went on to note that the Nokia is “studying very closely the market right now as Microsoft has introduced the Surface tablet,” making it clear that they are “trying to learn from that and understand what the right way to participate would be and at what point in time.”

Be sure to read the post Where’s Nokia’s tablet strategy? from Chris Davies posted all the way back in July of 2012 to see another guide on this situation that holds true to today. It’s not just about Windows RT, Windows 8, or even Windows Phone 8 here, it’s about Nokia and their lovely Lumia lineup only existing as a smartphone-sized solution. Should Nokia stick to this form for a handheld unit, or does a company with such a massive name need a massive touchscreen offering as well?

This newest push for the expansion of excellence in the HTC HD2 has revealed the Windows UI (aka originally known as metro) version of Internet Explorer to be taking right around 6 seconds to start up. It’s also being re-realized that this user interface isn’t all that different from what Windows Phone 8 is, showing massive buttons and essentially the same text blocks all around regardless of the app. At the moment this 480 x 800 interface is functional on a base level with some limited amount of apps being able to be opened and worked with by the creator (again, Ctll), as an exercise in the power of cross-loading.

What this entire process represents is a show of convergence in our modern technologically advanced age. One computer is never more different from another than it is from a piece of electronics without a bit of silicon onboard. One piece of software can be ported from one machine to another one way or another, just so long as the person making it happen is willing to dedicate time, effort, and sweat enough to make it happen. With the HTC HD2 we’ve got a beacon of fun and entertainment as much as we have a singular device from which all hacks come.

Have a peek at the timeline below for more news from the past few years surrounding this HTC device and get pumped up about the future for Windows Phone as well. There’s also an HTC event coming up on the 19th in February you really should be watching out for – we’ll be there with bells on, you can bet! Keep your eye on @CotullaCode as well for more hot hacking action.

During the earnings call, Microsoft CFO Peter Klein suggested that more Windows RT devices will be available in the future, including cheaper models. Klein said that the company is “working closely with chip partners and OEMs to bring the right mix of devices,” and added that Microsoft is looking to “expand the product lineup” and provide “a greater variety of devices at a bigger variety of price points.”

As it stands, the Surface Pro, which Microsoft plans to release on February 9, starts at $899, and the original Surface starts at $500, and comes with a stripped-down version of Windows 8, called Windows RT. While $500 is certainly competitive, it seems Microsoft wants to make budget tablets that could compete on price with Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Google’s Nexus 7.

Microsoft didn’t address specifically any sales numbers on Surface tablets in its earnings report, but analysts estimate that the company most likely sold anywhere from 600,000 to one million Surface tablets during the quarter, which is about 3% of Apple’s iPad sales during the same quarter.

[via Seeking Alpha]

The Microsoft Surface Windows RT (see our full review right this minute) is available in a number of countries and regions already, including the UK, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Australia, and France. Starting in the coming weeks we’ll be seeing this machine available in the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland as well. That’s one heck of a roll out there for this soon to be massive beast.

The newest accessory set for the Surface family begins with the Surface Edition Wedge Touch Mouse, which will be coming with specific design cues made to complement the Surface experience complete with four-way Touch scrolling and a finish that replicates the Surface’s VaporMg casing. This mouse will be available for $69.95 on February 9th, the same time as the Touch Cover Limited Edition. This new cover will work with customizability, offering unique laser-etched designs in red, magenta, or cyan – each available for $129.99 USD.

Finally the next version of the Surface Windows RT will be released in a 64GB edition, this version coming with – you guessed it – 64GB of internal space right out of the box. Important to note is the fact that this version of the tablet does not come bundled with a black Touch Cover. Microsoft makes it clear that this means users will be open to purchasing their own cover of their choice, be it a Touch Cover or a Type Cover, rather than paying the extra cash for the Touch Cover even if they don’t want it in the box. This version of the tablet will be available “in all markets in which Surface Windows RT is currently sold.”

This system is similar, though not the same, as the NVIDIA TegraZone for Windows RT. One of the big differences here is that the TegraZone works with games that have been optimized for the Tegra 3 (and Tegra 4) processor, the Microsoft PLAY environment is specified for Windows 8 and Windows RT. So crossover games are possible, but we’re talking about different things entirely as far as how the games are being marketed.

The games you’re going to be able to access today in the Microsoft PLAY environment number to 15, this providing a modest offering for the initial launch, including titles that’ll keep your eyes peeled for more in the future. These titles are all being tagged with Microsoft Studios in this case, this meaning they’re good enough for that seal of approval, likely to be appearing in stores as the demonstration-level quality they want all Windows 8 and Windows RT machines to be up at in the wild.

• Skulls of the Shogun
• Gunstringer: Dead Man Running
• ilomilo+
• Wordament
• Toy Soldiers – Cold War: Touch Edition
• Taptiles
• Rocket Riot 3D
• Reckless Racing
• Pinball FX
• Microsoft Minesweeper
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection
• Microsoft Mahjong
• Hydro Thunder : Hurricane
• Adera
• 4 Elements II

You’ll be able to find these games on the Windows Store right this minute, and many more games are on the way. What we’re hoping for in the future is more than these arcade-style games – full-fledged Xbox 360 (or 720 by the time we see them) games ported over or made optimized at the moment they’re ready for the gaming console, available everywhere. Of course that might not be Microsoft’s game, but NVIDIA’s. We shall see!

[via OXM]

Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the company said that the Surface Pro would be available around 90 days after the release of Surface RT tablets, which occurred on October 26, so the 90-day window is quickly coming to a close, and we should expect the new tablets arrive at the end of this month or the beginning of February.

The Surface Pro will be available in two versions: A 64GB version will sell for $899 and a 128GB version will cost $999. The main differences between the Surface Pro and Surface RT is that the Surface Pro will run more like a traditional laptop, and will be able to run any Windows 8 and Windows 7 application, giving Pro users a wider variety of software options.

The new tablets will come with an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, a 16:9 ClearType display sporting a 1920×1080 resolution, and several different types of external ports, like a Mini DisplayPort that will be able to drive an external display with up to a 2560×1440 resolution. And of course, the new tablets will come with a full version of Windows 8.

[via ZDNet]

A jailbroken Windows RT operating system would mean that unsigned ARM applications could be run on the Microsoft tablet. An unlocked tablet capable of running unsigned applications could usher in an entire Windows RT homebrew community and make the tablet more popular with hackers and developers. The new tool comes from XDA Developers user netham45.

The tool is a batch file that automates the jailbreak process that was originally discovered by a hacker going by the name clrokr. That particular user was able to change settings in the Windows RT kernel after discovering the correct values to open the types of apps that the operating system was allowed to run. This jailbreak tool is far from perfect though.

The main limiting factor for this tool is that the setting needs to be changed each time the computer is booted up. Apparently, the setting can’t be permanently altered on devices that are enabled with Secure Boot. The original hack from clrokr was reportedly highly technical limiting its usefulness to those with the expertise to execute it. However, the automated jailbreak tool from netham45 makes the process into something that the average user with a Surface RT tablet that feels like running unsigned software can take advantage of. It’s worth noting that there’s a high probability that Microsoft will patch the “flaw” that this tool takes advantage of.

[via TheNextWeb]

Mike Abary, Senior Vice President of Samsung’s U.S. PC and tablet business, offered his statement during CES. In addition to the above issues, he also is quoted as having said that Windows RT products necessitate hardware tradeoffs in order to keep the price point low enough to attract buyers, and that such moves are not something the company is fond of. No information was given on what Samsung has planned for the tablet.

“There wasn’t really a very clear positioning of what Windows RT meant in the marketplace, what it stood for relative to Windows 8, that was being done in an effective manner to the consumer … The investments necessary to educate the consumer on the difference between RT and Windows 8, plus the modest feedback that we got regarding how successful could this be at retail from our retail partners, we decided maybe we ought to wait.”

If the market shifts and demand for such products grow, Samsung will reevaluate its decision to withhold the product. This is another blow to Microsoft’s Windows RT operating system, which has failed to attract the attention of consumers. Among other things, many buyers are confused about the differences between Windows 8 and Windows RT.

[via CNET]

According to CNET, several Microsoft retail store employees expect the Surface Pro tablet to make its appearance at the end of the month. Starting at $899, the Surface Pro will sport an Intel Core i5 processor and a 1080p HD display. It will also run a full version of Windows 8, unlike the Surface RT running on tablet-optimized Windows RT.

Microsoft originally opened up pre-orders for its Surface RT tablet 10 days before the tablet’s release on October 26. If the company is to follow a similar pattern, then we’ll likely see an official announcement shortly after CES, with pre-orders starting at that time as well.

The Surface Pro will act more like a laptop than the regular Surface tablet, which was more of a hybrid. Of course, you’ll still have the ability to easily use the Surface Pro as a tablet, but using either keyboard attachments will no doubt give the Surface Pro more credit as a powerful laptop of sorts.

[via CNET]

As the follow up to the wildly successful and much-loved Windows 7, Windows 8 made plenty of enemies before it even released. This was thanks to the consumer preview that had every chattering well before Windows 8′s launch. Throughout all of 2012, we were hearing about what people liked and what they hated about Windows 8, with debate springing up all over the place and anticipation for Microsoft’s new version of the Windows OS riding high.

Then, at the end of October, it was finally time to launch the beast. Windows 8 was released to the world on October 26, garnering plenty of criticism and praise alike. We liked Windows 8 quite a bit, and while it isn’t perfect, we’re excited to see what Microsoft does with this news direction for the OS in the future. Others didn’t exactly share our enthusiasm though, bemoaning the new user interface at every chance. Some PC manufacturers even blamed perceived low demand for Windows 8 for their lagging sales, so Microsoft definitely made some enemies by releasing this very different version of Windows.

Whether you like it or not, that doesn’t change the fact that we saw some really impressive Windows 8 machines springing up shortly after launch. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 was one of them, leaving Windows RT in the dust in favor of the fully featured Windows 8 and a sporting a 360-degree hinge that lets you fold the laptop into all kinds of orientations. The Samsung ATIV Smart PC is another Windows 8 device worth checking out, though in a rather strange turn of events, we were only able to review half of it. Acer has been putting out some solid Windows 8 products as well, launching the attractive Aspire 7600U All-in-One and the excellent Aspire S7 ultrabook. In other words, it’s been a good few months for those who are enthusiastic about Windows 8 and want some good hardware to run it on.

Despite all of the doom and gloom surrounding Windows 8, the simple fact of the matter is that we won’t know just how well it’s doing with consumers for a while yet. Microsoft announced a little earlier in the year that it had sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses, which certainly doesn’t seem to mesh with the idea that Windows 8 is off to a bad start, but there are plenty of retailers and PC partners who are quick to say that Windows 8 has been underperforming.

Make no mistake, Microsoft changed a lot with Windows 8. While the Windows we’re used to is still mostly intact, it’s hiding behind an all new Start screen, which serves as a replacement to the Start menu that was introduced with the release of Windows 95 all those years ago. Windows 8 signals an entirely new direction for the Windows brand, but Microsoft embraced that change as a company, revealing an all-new logo in 2012. This new logo is a lot cleaner than the old one (some might say “boring” rather than “cleaner”), featuring the live tiles that have been so controversial among lifelong Windows users. With this new logo, Microsoft showed us that it’s ready for an all-new era of Windows.

Of course, 2012 wasn’t all about Windows 8. Microsoft launched its new Surface tablet alongside Windows 8, and with it comes Windows RT. In our review, we declared that Surface was a solid start for Microsoft’s tablet business, though there may be a few sticking points with consumers. We won’t really get to see what Microsoft can do in the tablet space until the Surface Pro launches next month, but unfortunately, Surface Pro still doesn’t have a solid release date despite its January 2013 launch window.

In the meantime, Surface has been causing some controversy of its own. Some love it, some can’t stand it, and we’ve heard plenty of rumors that claimed Microsoft was scaling back on Surface production. Those rumors implied that Surface wasn’t as big a hit as Microsoft was hoping for, but then the company surprised us all by announcing that it had ramped up Surface production and would be offering it through a number of third party retailers. Not only that, but it also announced that a number of the temporary retail stores it had opened for the holiday season would become permanent fixtures, so at least in that respect, it would appear that Microsoft has found success.

While Surface will need some time to grow into a tablet that can challenge the likes of the iPad and the significant number of quality Android tablets, there was one new Microsoft release in 2012 that everyone was excited for: Windows Phone 8. Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform had failed in the past to capture a sizable portion of the smartphone market, so Microsoft poured a lot of resources into Windows Phone 8.

That effort shows, too. In our review of the mobile operating system, we said that Windows Phone 8 was much improved over previous installments, and that it was a mobile OS that everyone – Windows Phone veteran or otherwise – could enjoy. However, we also pointed out that regardless of how good Windows Phone 8 is, it’s quality hardware that will ultimately bring people to the platform.

Windows Phone 8 is still very young, but already we’re seeing a bunch of really solid WP8 devices. HTC is entirely on board with the platform, releasing the Windows Phone 8S and Windows Phone 8X. Nokia is naturally there too, giving us plenty of handsets to get excited about with the Lumia 920 and Lumia 810. It’s too early to tell if Windows Phone 8 can perform well enough to keep Apple and Google on their toes, but if these early handsets are any indication, then the future is bright indeed.

In fact, if there’s one thing Microsoft’s 2012 encourages, it’s looking toward the future. Windows 8 and Surface may be off a relatively shaky start, but they lay the groundwork for some truly exciting releases in the future. On the other hand, Windows Phone 8 is off to a great start, but good initial reaction doesn’t mean anything if the OS can’t perform in the long run. Ultimately, Microsoft set the stage for years to come in 2012, so even though it’s difficult for us to label the year as a success or failure, we should be seeing some very interesting things as time goes on.

According to MIT’s Technology Review, Microsoft invited a select group of iOS developers to the company’s headquarters to talk Windows apps. During the two-day meeting, Microsoft execs outlined how developers could create apps that meshed with its software for Windows PCs and tablets, and encouraged them to produce versions of their apps for the Windows Phone platform.

Microsoft hosted multiple development sessions over the two days in order to give developers a better grasp on how to make apps for the Windows Store. A Windows developer answered questions on stage, such as questions relating to design style, and the dos and don’ts to what developers can do with their Windows apps as far as functionality.

Some of the developers in attendance applauded Microsoft’s professionalism and the bold look of the new Windows platform. However, others questioned Microsoft’s decision to use one operating software for PCs, phones, and tablets, saying that writing apps for PCs, tablets, and smartphones is a “nightmare.” A lot of developers, though, turned out to be interested in making apps for Windows, especially since the Windows Store isn’t as clogged up as the iTunes App Store or Google Play store. It’ll only be a matter of time before we find out if Microsoft’s hard work is paying off.

[via Technology Review]

A new video takes a few guesses as to what the highly anticipated Galaxy S IV will look like and what kind of features it’ll have, and a new concept from Hyundai will have users taking advantage of NFC to lock and unlock their vehicles. Federal regulators are pushing for black boxes in cars made after September 2014, and Toshiba has pulled the veil off a new 20-megapixel sensor for a point-and-shoot camera. We heard today that Game of Thrones and Project X were among the most pirated products in 2012, and Samsung told us how its Galaxy line has been performing in India.

Apple CEO Tim Cook took a 99% pay cut this year, while Samsung was busy dishing new details on its Premium Suite and the Android 4.1 update for the original Galaxy Note. Apple and Intel are rumored to be working on iWatch and targeting a 2013 release, and Mercedes-Benz released promotional images for the 2014 CLA-class early. We were told that crime in New York City is up for the first time in 20 years thanks to iDevice hype, while Microsoft doubled the number of apps on the Windows Phone market in 2012. If you’re in the giving mood, you might want to support Extra Lives’ Pokethon III, but if you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, Xbox Live’s Borderlands 2 sale isn’t a bad idea either.

OUYA developer consoles started shipping today, the Sony ODIN has been tipped to hit the market as the Xperia X, and Foursquare and NASA have launched a new Curiosity Explorer badge. Microsoft said today it isn’t all that worried about Google stealing its Office thunder, and Windows RT has been ported to the HTC HD2. Finally tonight, Chris Burns delivers his review of the Spigen SGP SGP10091 Armor Slim Case for the iPhone 5. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the rest of your night folks!

What we’re seeing here is a set of users, both CotullaCode and StroughtonSmith, working together to bring this tablet-loving OS to the smartphone. This user interface is made for much larger devices and certainly wont be widely used by smartphone hackers, thus exercise thusly made real for the fun of it – or for the challenge of it, of course. You’ll see int he gallery below a set of shots of the OS working on the old HTC Windows Mobile device, with the name “LEO computer” simple to see.

At the moment we’re not being told how it was done, but our friendly source assures us that “it was helped by the EFI implementation he wrote for WP8.” This of course refers to the Windows Phone 8 hacking of the HTC HD2 from earlier this year – just near the end of November 2012, that is. You’ll see this and a collection of other HTC HD2 ports in the timeline near the end of this post.

Meanwhile you’ll want to know that this hack is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for the public. At the moment, the creators have no intent of sharing their precise method nor an instructions manual for the meek. You’ll just have to close your eyes and imagine the possibilities.

- Thanks for the tip, Steve!

The NVIDIA TegraZone being available for Windows RT means that NVIDIA will be pushing developers to their limits with a cross-promotional bit of excellence on all Tegra 3-toting devices. If you’ve got a Windows RT tablet with Tegra 3 (regardless of manufacturer), you’ll have a precise collection of games ready and waiting for you to peruse that you’ll know were made with your device in mind. In many cases, this means that the game has features above and beyond what it’d have working with any other processor-toting device.

Here at the launch of the NVIDIA TegraZone for Windows RT, you’ve got a selection of the following awesome collection of games: Judge Dredd vs Zombies, Pinball FX 2, Reckless Racing Ultimate, Riptide GP, Soulcraft, Space Ark, Sprinkle and Vendetta Online. Each of these games is offered for sale in the Windows Store but through the TegraZone is detailed with Tegra-only enhanced features. These features include enhanced physics in water, smoke, and cloth, dynamic lighting and particle effects – and more!

As it was with the original NVIDIA TegraZone, this version of the interface is made for the current most fabulous Tegra processor, but will keep up-to-date with the best of the best in the future. That means here that while the Tegra 3 quad-core processor is king (and has been throughout 2012), we’ll likely see a new beast from the NVIDIA crew for mobile devices in 2013 – currently code-named Wayne, as it were. Keep an eye out! Once that processor is out, developers working with NVIDIA will still be busting out the best of the best, so the TegraZone is up on the greatest no matter when you see it!

The most important part of this whole equation is the relationship that the folks at NVIDIA have with the developers behind these hard-hitting games, and the amazing apps they create as a result of said relationships for you, the user. You can download the TegraZone app from the Windows Store right this minute – have at it!

Also have a peek at the TegraZone path that’s been forged on SlashGear in a small sampling from Slashgear in the timeline below for Android – and hit our own NVIDIA [Tegra Portal] to take in the full NVIDIA Tegra environment, top to bottom!

[via NVIDIA]

A few more details have surfaced that claim the tablet will have its own HDMI and USB ports and will be fitted with a 10.1-inch screen. The tablet is also said to support mobile broadband connectivity on the AT&T network. One of the more interesting rumors is that Nokia has reportedly focused significant energy on a battery-equipped keyboard cover for the tablet.

If you’re familiar with the Surface RT tablet, you know the keyboard cover packing an extra battery is one of the bigger features of that Windows RT tablet. Nokia’s keyboard cover is said to envelop the tablet like a book. The cover is said to click in the place providing a keyboard and a kickstand to prop the screen of the tablet up.

The keyboard accessory’s internal battery is claimed to be able to power the tablet after its internal charge runs down. Rumors insist that the tablet itself will have a battery with 10 hours of usable runtime and a quick charge capability. The keyboard cover accessory is also said to have a pair of USB ports for additional connectivity. With CES 2013 only days away, perhaps we’ll hear more about this tablet at the show.

[via The Verge]

The supply chain tittle-tattle suggests that Nokia had initially intended to release a Windows tablet in Q1 this past year, agreeing a test-run of 200,000 units with ODM Compal. However, Microsoft’s decision to lead the Windows tablet charge with Surface, dissuaded the Finns, with the untested nature of the new OS apparently also scaring them off.

While the exact number of ordered units is yet to be settled upon, this latest chatter says, Nokia is supposedly back in talks with Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Compal about the hardware. The likely reveal is at Mobile World Congress in late February 2013, it’s suggested; Nokia arguably stole the show in 2012, with the surprise announcement of the 808 PureView phone.

Now, DigiTimes has a patchy reputation for rumors, which usually leaves us wary, but the evidence for a Nokia tablet is stacking up. The company’s design chief has previously confirmed that he has been working on tablet concepts, and the Qualcomm connection has also been rumored before.

Publicly, Nokia would only say that “we continue to eye the tablet space with interest, but we have not announced any specific plans,” though CEO Stephen Elop has insisted that the company will only wade into the slate segment when it can identify a way to make something “uniquely Nokia.” Time may not be on the company’s side, however; Nokia identified the absence of a tablet in its range and the threat that presented to its joined-up ecosystem as a whole in an SEC filing earlier this year.

Exactly how Nokia could put a distinctive spin on Windows tablets – beyond using its Lumia design style – is unclear, especially given Microsoft is already working hard on building integration between Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and other elements of its software and services. Still, if Nokia can leverage its experience with carrier subsidies, a 3G/4G-enabled Nokia Windows RT model could well help the firm stand out in showrooms.

[via MobileGeeks]

John Lewis is selling the 32GB Surface RT variant for £479 and the 64GB model for £559. Both variants come with a black Touch Cover, and you actually don’t have any choice in the matter. Whereas Microsoft offers Surface RT with the option of the Touch Cover, John Lewis is including it along with every Surface purchase. That’s not a bad deal, considering that the Touch Cover seems to be a pretty big part of the Surface experience.

We’re not sure if Microsoft will get Surface in other UK stores, but for the moment, John Lewis is it. Also unclear is whether or not John Lewis will get the incoming Surface Pro, but with Surface RT now on the store’s shelves, it seems likely it’ll be among the first stores to get Microsoft’s beefier Surface model.

Microsoft recently announced that it had increased Surface RT production, and that its temporary holiday stores here in the US will stay open into the new year. Some of those temporary stores will even transition into permanent retail locations, but Microsoft has yet to announce which ones will be hanging around. Check out our story timeline below for more on Surface RT!

[via Windows Phone Central]

According to this report when Microsoft made it known to partners that Windows RT would be the name for its ARM supporting operating system, a top Dell executive tried to talk Steve Ballmer into using another name. Dell PC division head Jeffrey Clarke said that he spoke to Ballmer earlier this year about Windows RT. Clarke urged Ballmer choose a different name since the ARM version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system can’t run older Windows programs.

Clarke apparently feared that calling the operating system Windows RT would confuse some consumers into thinking that RT was compatible with older versions of Windows software. However, Ballmer reportedly said that the Windows brand was too important not to use for Microsoft’s new ARM operating system.

Dell does plan to sell its own Windows RT tablet called the XPS 10. Exactly when the tablet will ship depends on the configuration chosen. Ship dates for the XPS 10 tablet range between late December and early January at this time.

[via Neowin]

Microsoft says that with introducing PEGI 18 games in the Windows Store, the company reinforces two principles that are fundamental to the Windows Store: “flexibility and confidence”. Microsoft says that users “have come to expect and appreciate rich gaming experiences on Windows and this includes games rated PEGI 18.”

Previously, the Windows Store guidelines stated that games and apps with a rating over PEGI 16 would not meet the store’s certification requirements, which would prevent them from being available on the Windows marketplace. However, today marks the first day that PEGI 18 games can be submitted to the store, and Microsoft announced that The Witcher and Grand Theft Auto IV are coming to the platform soon.

This is certainly good news for Windows 8 gamers, as most popular games out on the market currently are rated as mature content. We’re glad to see that Microsoft is loosening their restrictions a bit, and while that will result in more mature content being released in the Windows Store, it certainly won’t lesson the amount of appropriate content available for the younger crowds.