It’s the combination of two platforms that Microsoft says makes Xbox One most successful. The on-stage demo certainly looked impressive, with the speech- and gesture-controlled console instantly switching between gameplay and multimedia content.

To recognize that there’ll be a new Kinect sensor bar, which Microsoft will be including in the box with every Xbox One. That has a broader field of view, too, with 1080p Full HD resolution, and can track and identify the users’ voice from across the room.

The Xbox OS will be responsible for games, just as you might expect. However, the Windows core will be used for other apps, such as Skype, and Microsoft will be able to more frequently update it while keeping the Xbox OS stable for game developers to rely upon.

Meanwhile, the new Xbox One platform will be tied closely into Xbox LIVE, which Microsoft says will consist of more than 300,000 servers. That will include a Game DVR feature – complete with editing tools – to upload and share videos of your best achievements in the cloud.

As you can see in the video below, the Leap Motion device works via some smooth flicks of the wrist, finger plucks, and other such hands-off movements to control Windows without using a mouse and keyboard. This allows one to enjoy the touch-based design of Windows 8, for example, without a touchscreen panel, and brings the functionality to whatever computer you would like.

The device connects to a PC with a standard USB cable, and once connected works out of the box, no tweaking or such necessary. A 4-cubic foot span across your desk becomes your gesture-control area, with the device tracking finger movements to within 1/100th of a millimeter. The device itself measures in at about 3-inches long, so it won’t take up much room at all.

As you might suspect, the device’s usefulness extends beyond just tapping Windows tiles and scrolling through web results. As with a touchscreen device, it can be used to sketch, to sign digital documents, and to play games, among other things. Says Leap Motion, this video is a preview for those interested to check out before the device enters beta testing next month, during which period developers will get to use the unit.

Leap Motion CTO and co-founder David Holz said: “Out of the box, users will have the ability to browse the web, navigate their desktops, and interact with existing software. Everything you can do with a touch-based system, like Windows 8, can now be accomplished with Leap Motion technology. We want our users to have a magical experience, with easy and natural movements in the air leading to amazing interactions.”

The app is available now from the Windows Store, and can be used by both Windows 8 and Windows RT users, meaning it can be used on both a Windows 8 PC and a tablet. For those who don’t require the full expanse of Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Express is a free alternative that offers a variety of photo-editing tools, such as the basics like cropping and red-eye correction, as well as color-adjustment tools and “Looks” photo filters.

Back on January 25, the company rolled out an update to its Express app for iPad, adding support for Retina displays, as well as some other needed features, such as multi-tasking and using the on-board camera. That last feature is now available across the latest version of the software for all devices, including PCs with an attached or integrated webcam.

In case you missed it, earlier this month Adobe rolled out Photoshop CC with integrated collaboration, Behance instant sharing, and more. Such is part of their Creative Cloud online storage, which is a subscription-based service for Adobe users available at a monthly fee. Tools, syncing, and more are offered.

It was also revealed earlier this month that Adobe is working on a Lightroom app for iOS users, an offering that will provide support for editing RAW images. This app will appeal more to the professional market, as well as those who currently use Lightroom. While not exactly the same, the app will be similar to the desktop version of the software, and will allow users to transfer their work to a computer for finalization.

SOURCE: Windows

The company also reiterated that a preview version of Windows 8.1 will be available starting June 26, and will be launched during Microsoft’s BUILD conference that week, which the company first confirmed earlier this month. Preview versions will be available for both Windows 8 and Windows RT.

As for what this update will bring, that’s still a slight mystery. There will obviously be the usual bug fixes and performances enhancements all around, but it’s been rumored that Windows 8.1 will allow for smaller Windows tablets to come into play, allowing Microsoft to compete against Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire series. Microsoft said that the update will help them “to deliver the next generation of PCs and tablets,” so it’s possible that we could be looking at 7-inch slates this next generation. We recently heard about the possibility of new HTC tablets coming with an updated version of Windows RT. This would mark the return of tablets for HTC if true, but we’ll have to keep our ear to the ground for the time being.

Microsoft said that they will have more details about the Windows 8.1 update “in the coming weeks,” so it’s definitely worth it to sit tight for the time being if you’re looking forward to an update to Windows. It’s said that Microsoft will bring back the Start button, as well as include an option for straight-to-desktop booting, but we’re taking those rumors with a large grain of salt for now.

As I write this, I’m working on a Mac Pro that I bought several years ago. At the time, the computer was state-of-the-art and capable of handling all kinds of tasks. For me, it was a perfect solution: it offered me the flexibility to run three monitors, had the power to handle some video editing, and was running OS X – an operating system, I believe, is superior to Windows.

But now years later, I’m lamenting my purchase of the Mac Pro. Although it’s still chugging along, it’s not working as well as it once did. And despite my best attempts to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of this supposedly high-end computer, it’s falling short on several fronts.

While all this has been going on, Apple has been launching new Macs at a torrid pace. Since my Mac Pro purchase, the company has launched two new Mac designs – the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display – and continued to update the iMac with outstanding design ideas. But it’s the Mac Pro that, save for a slight upgrade, has been ignored by Apple.

Now, I know that I’m not alone in wondering what is happening in Cupertino. Over the last few years, we’ve all been watching with baited breath as Apple hits the stage to unveil new Macs, hoping that a Mac Pro will be one of them. But each time, we’ve been disappointed. Apple’s customers have even e-mailed CEO Tim Cook to ask what in the world is going on. His response? Be patient.

Still, it’s hard for us to be patient. We’re watching our friends running Windows doing far more than we can with the Mac Pro. And it’s making us think twice about making the leap to a custom-built Windows desktop that, while not ideal, could actually deliver the enhanced power we need.

I’ve been holding off taking that plunge because I believe Apple has something up its sleeve for the Mac Pro. The trouble is, I just don’t know how much longer I can hang on. Yes, my Mac Pro is still doing its job, but it’s getting harder and harder to complete tasks. And I’m becoming more frustrated by the computer by the day.

So, I need to ask, Apple: where in the world is my new Mac Pro? If you’re not going to launch a new one, just put us out of our misery and tell us. If you are, make it quick; we’re losing faith that you’re actually going to launch a replacement. And the sooner we lose faith, the sooner you lose us to a Windows PC.

I never thought I’d say it, but it’s possible that I might just have to ditch my Mac Pro for a custom-built PC. Don’t make me do it, Apple. Don’t. Make. Me. Do. It.

In an interview with CNN, Reller says that Microsoft has attempted to convince Apple to build a Windows 8 app for iTunes, but the Cupertino-based company doesn’t seem to want to budge, even though such an app “is in high demand” for Windows 8 users, according to Reller. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having just a desktop version of iTunes, but Windows 8 tablet users are out of luck.

Since Surface tablets running Windows RT don’t have a desktop mode, iTunes users won’t be able to access the music player and media store on their tablet, and will have find a computer in order to manage their music, movies, and iOS apps. Surface Pro users have access to desktop mode, however, but the experience isn’t as good as on a full-size computer.

Apple has made much of their software available for Windows, but as the world is shifting more towards tablets, it seems the competitiveness has increased along with the rise in tablets, and Apple may be thinking twice about bringing their software over to Windows tablets, simply because the company wants to keep the exclusivity with iTunes.

Currently, the Windows app store has over 60,000 apps available for download, and there’s been around 250 million downloads total so far. Reller says that it’s a “realistic achievement” to have all the most popular apps in the iTunes App Store available in the Windows app store by the time the holiday season rolls around.

[Source: CNN]

Inside, there’s supposedly an Intel Core i5 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. On the back, Sony has slapped on an 8-megapixel camera using one of its Exmor RS sensors, and there’s a backlit keyboard along with NFC.

Other specifications include “ClearAudio+” sound and what Sony is supposedly describing as “ActiveSleep”, a power management technology the company attempted to trademark back in February. The unnamed slider – though we’d hazard a guess at Sony VAIO Duo 13, given its smaller stablemate – will apparently run for up to 10hrs on a single charge.

The video was supposedly filmed during internal training at UK tech retail chain Dixons, according to one NotebookReview forum member. While no release information was given, the uploader claims there should be more details in a couple of weeks time.

[via Engadget]

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]

An exact release date for the final version hasn’t been disclosed yet, but Microsoft says that it’ll be out at some point “later this year.” While the preview that the company will release in June will mostly be meant for developers, the company will be providing public preview versions as well for anyone to try out.

We’ve been hearing a lot of chatter about Windows Blue lately, including the possibility of Microsoft bringing back some crucial features that users have missed from Windows 7, including re-introducing the Start button, and including an option to boot straight to the desktop, bypassing the start screen altogether.

Microsoft could also be working on Windows Blue versions for their tablet operating system. We heard hearsay earlier today about the possibility of new HTC tablets coming with an updated version Windows RT. We’re not sure if we’ll hear about Blue updates for Windows RT at BUILD this year, but it’ll definitely be something that we’ll keep in our minds as we go into June.

Says Reller in the interview, Microsoft has just recently sold its 100 millionth Windows 8 lincese (and since surpassed that number), saying the number represents both PC/tablet licenses and upgrades. To give an idea of the sales rate, the number of licenses sold sat at about 60 million back in January of this year. Following in line with this, certified devices have also increased to 2400.

And then, of course, there’s Windows Blue, which we saw a leak of back in March. Blue is an update said to bring new features and other improvements to Windows 8, having been the source of much speculation over the course of many weeks. When asked about the update, Reller confirmed that it will be rolling out “later this year,” saying that it’ll bring something to the table for just about everyone – features for companies and consumers and the community that has been providing ample feedback for months now.

There was also some discussion about the PC market in general, in particular its rumored impending demise. Microsoft doesn’t see it that way, saying that “the PC is very much alive and increasingly mobile,” to which Reller says Windows 8 is tailored, specifically mentioning convertible laptops, notebooks with touchscreens, and other related devices. Rounding out the interview is a brief note on the Windows Store, with apps increasing 6-fold since launch. SkyDrive, likewise, has since growth, scoring 250 million users.

[via Microsoft]

In that orientation, the P3 can be used either with the fingers or with a stylus; Acer will offer that separately, though the case will have a slot to store it in-between use. Connectivity includes a USB 3.0 port, HDMI, and a headphone socket, and there are Dolby Home Theater speakers and a 720p HD webcam on the front.

On the back, Acer has included a 5-megapixel camera. Inside it’s a choice of 60GB or 120GB SSD, and Acer says the Aspire P3 should wake from sleep in “only a few seconds.” The whole thing tips the scales at 3.06 pounds, and Acer is billing the P3 as ideal for those who might otherwise have considered a tablet – like an iPad – and a separate keyboard dock.

The Acer Aspire P3 runs full Windows 8 – not Windows RT – and is expected to go on sale immediately. It’ll be priced from $799.99 depending on specifications.

With the Windows 8 version of Skype you’ll now be able to both record and send as well as receive and view video messages. This means you’re recording a video of yourself with Skype, sending it to a person who isn’t actively on Skype at the moment, and allowing them to see the video independent of yourself. This differs from Skype’s normal functionality which is text chatting or real-time video chat.

This release allows for the latest release version of the app called Skype for Windows 8 to catch up to the versions on Mac, iOS, and Android. You’ll notice that Windows Phone 8 is not on this list – we’re expecting this and other current-release functions to appear on the platform sooner than later. For now though: courage.

The release being populated in your direction today is Skype 1.7, mind you – make sure you’re up to that version in Windows 8 for full functionality. This version also has a set of languages coming in at the same time as the original English version thanks to a series of what Microsoft says are volunteers – well done!

Bulgarian: Nikolina Filipova & Nikolay Filipov
Czech: Petr Silon
Dutch: Kees Koenders
German: Claudius Henrichs & Dick Schiferli
Lithuanian: Viktoras Kriukovas
Norwegian: Stig Auestad
Polish: Karol Szastok
Portuguese: Francisco Ferreira
Romanian: Péter & Mónika Henning

[via Skype]

This device will do what Toshiba hopes will draw in the odd-device-seeking masses with a set of specifications only otherwise seen on solid one-piece notebooks. Here the user will be employing an 11.6-inch touchscreen (Full HD) that functions as both the display for the notebook and a tablet on its own once detached from what then becomes just a keyboard dock.

This device aims also to take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with an optional DigitizerPen. Writing notes and sketches on the display of this machine will be an interesting comparison to make with the Android competition, especially since at the moment, it appears that Toshiba’s solution will require said pen to be carried separately.

This device appears to be quite similar to the Acer Iconia W510 convertable tablet/notebook revealed earlier this year, but the big difference remains the Ultrabook angle. With full Windows 8 coupled with an Intel Core processor under the hood, Toshiba’s bid may end up being a win in this season’s Windows 8-toting market.

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]

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.

According to The Verge, sources “familiar with Microsoft’s plans” reveal that Windows 8.1 will see the Start button make a reappearance. However, the button will only let users access the Start Screen, and not the traditional Start Menu like in past version of Windows, but the button will still be located at the bottom-left corner like it always has.

If you weren’t aware, Microsoft killed off the Start button with the release of Windows 8, calling it a redundant feature since users can easily pin programs to the task bar. However, the Redmond-based company has received a lot of backlash for doing so, and tons of third-party tweaks have been made to bring back the Start button to the new OS.

Microsoft is also rumored to be adding an option that will allow users to boot directly to the traditional desktop environment in Windows 8.1 as well. This will give users the option to bypass the Start Screen in Windows 8, and go directly to the desktop view. Numerous third-party tweaks have been made for this as well.

[via The Verge]

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]

Some of the reason why tablets running the Windows operating system have not been as popular as Microsoft wanted has to do with price. Windows tablets came to the market at price points that most consumers simply weren’t willing to pay in the face of existing competition at a lower cost. It appears that will change in the future with Intel CEO Paul Otellini promising that future Windows tablets running Atom processors will be cheaper.

According to Otellini, tablets running Windows 8 and Atom processors in the future will start at about $200. That price is roughly half the cost of where your typical Windows 8 tablet starts today. Offering tablets for only $200 will go a long way towards raising consumer interest in Windows 8 powered devices.

Otellini didn’t offer any specific timeframe on when tablets running Intel hardware and Windows 8 software carrying a $200 price point surface, he only said in the near future. Otellini is specifically talking about Intel-based ultrathin notebooks using the Bay Trail processor. The Intel CEO also mentioned that devices running the companies Bay Trail will be as thin as 8 mm.

[via Neowin]

Although deployment on regular desktop PCs and notebooks far outstrips that of touchscreen-equipped hardware, Microsoft’s Start Screen UI has been pushed on all Windows 8 computers with no easy way to bypass it. Manually switching to the traditional desktop is possible, but so far cannot be established as the default.

According to the insiders, Microsoft’s latest test builds of Blue have seen the addition of an option to do just that, however. The feature is expected to be particularly popular with enterprise users, who rarely have a touchscreen and have supposedly encountered strong negative feedback from users frustrated by the Metro-style interface.

Meanwhile, there’s also the possibility that the Start button itself could make a reappearance, with Microsoft also supposedly considering restoring the app launcher button. That’s been another controversial omission from Windows 8.

As the source points out, “until it ships, anything can change” and Microsoft’s final rounds of testing could end with the decision not to include the customizable UI options when Windows 8.1 finally ships. That judgement is expected to be finalized by August 2013, when Windows 8.1 “Blue” is believed to be released to manufacturing.

Netflix talks about the reality of video plugins, making specific mentions of browsers that don’t support them (Internet Explorer in Metro Mode, for example), as well as the security risk using plugins can pose. Moving to HTML5 from Silverlight will take care of these two issues, and will open up the ability to watch instant video via the service on a wider range of devices and browsers.

For now, Netflix is waiting to make the switch on what it calls three “premium video extensions”: Media Source Extensions, Encrypted Media Extensions, and Web Cryptography API. The company says it is working with industry leaders, and that these initiatives will be the solution to current issues with delivering video in the absense of a plugin like Silverlight.

The first iteration of this has been pushed out for the Samsung ARM-based Chromebook, which takes advantage of the Media Source Extensions and Encrypted Media Extensions in Chrome browser to deliver Silverlight-free video content. According to Netflix, Web Cryptography API isn’t in use on the Chromebook yet, instead being replaced with Netflix’s own Pepper Plugin API. The PPAPI plugin will be swapped out with WebCrypto when it is available via Chrome, at which point HTML5 video testing will start for OS X and Windows.

[via Netflix]

With the Samsung Series 9 Premium Ultrabook that’s become available today, you’ll be working with a cool 128GB SSD and a 3rd Gen (Ivy Bridge) Intel Core i7 processor busting out with Samsung’s Fast Solutions technology. With this tech onboard, you’ll be booting up in less than 10 seconds with a resume time from sleep at nearly zilch.

The Series 9 Premium Ultrabook will be available starting this week (and today) everywhere fine Samsung devices are sold – notebooks and desktops, that is, for a cool MSRP of $1399.99 USD. This machine has also been sand-blasted for full fingerprint resistance, so you know it’s a high-quality build inside and out. From what we’ve seen of this device thus far – before this update – we’re all about it.

Have a peek at the looks we’ve had at the Samsung Series 9 family in the timeline below – pay special attention to the post in the “IFA 2012″ hotlink in the first paragraph of this post. There you’ll find the next generation as well!

As this most recent IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker report shows, the first quarter of 2013 was not extremely kind to the likes of HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, ASUS, and the rest of the bunch. With a total average drop in PC shipments of 13.9%, it’s not appearing too positive for the near future in next-level PC production. That 13.9% drop is compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, while year-on-year the decline was a rather similar -12.7%.

“At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market.” – Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program Vice President, Clients and Displays

You’ll find that Lenovo – good ol’ Lenovo – was the only vendor to have stayed flat from the quarter before this one to the one we’ve just completed. Their market share also went up a couple of percentage points while each of the other top-5 groups decreased by at least .2 points of a percentage – that’s Dell hanging in there as well. HP remains on top of the stack with a 15.7% share of the market but was hit hard with a 23.7% drop over the past year.

“While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market.” – Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program Vice President, Clients and Displays

According to the top 5 vendors chart of United States PC Shipments, Apple reaches in for a piece of the pie – as does Toshiba. Here we’ve still got HP up on top, Dell not far behind, and Apple butting heads with Toshiba and Lenovo. Here you’ll find Lenovo once again the only brand of the top five to not have lost market share over the past year with a 13% gain from Q1 of 2012 to Q1 of 2013.

Of course when you average the collection of the top 5 vendors of PCs in the United States, you still get a cool 11% drop this quarter compared to 2012′s Q1. Apple on its own also lost 7.5 points year-on-year in this market, still running strong with an estimated 1,418 units shipped in Q1 2013.

Have a peek at the timeline below for other recent IDC reports to see how the mobile and desktop PC universes are making their time here as we roll into the spring of 2013.

[via IDC]

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!

With Aruba’s solution you’ll be working with a visible differentiation between work and play – personal privacy is at the forefront of this initiative and will allow businesses as well as employees to take command of their devices. And not just laptops. Also included in this push is Apple products from desktop to iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones and tables, Windows, and BlackBerry too.

Aruba is making an effort to secure your data and your workspaces on all devices by partnering with a variety of brands that have high-powered apps you’re already using right this minute. Cisco, Box, SugarSync, and more are on-board already – Aruba has made it clear that the community has already brought fourth more than 40 apps working with the system at launch time – nothing to turn your nose up at! This WorkSpace Partner Program continues to expand, as well – more partners are jumping onboard all the time!

At this very minute, those of you out there with an app that you feel would be a good fit for this secure business-minded system can sign up on the official Aruba WorkSpace site – there you’ll get a toolkit that will jump-start your app into a whole new realm. Also at this minute you’ll be able to jump onboard with the ClearPass Access Management System – meanwhile Aruba’s newest in WorkSpace is currently still in Beta.

WorkSpace will be making its official launch later this year – July is expected for both the main system and the client-side software application for both iOS and Samsung Android devices. We’ll see more soon!

[via Aruba]

After hooking up your authenticator app to your account, you will need to provide both your password, as well as the constantly-changing security code from the app, when you want to sign into your Microsoft account. While the two-factor authentication works for many apps, there will be apps that won’t be compatible with it. For these apps, Microsoft will be implementing “app passwords” as a substitute.

The two-factor authentication will also be unable to work with linked accounts, so you will have to unlink all of your accounts before you can attach your authenticator app. Also with the two-factor authentication, you have the option of choosing whether or not you’ll require a code every time you sign into your account. If you constantly sign in and out of your account, this option is a Godsend. Of course, it will most likely require a code to sign-in if you’re signing in from a different computer or a different internet connection.

The Windows authenticator app is available for all major mobile devices, including iOS devices, Android devices, Blackberry devices, and of course Windows devices. Microsoft hasn’t released a specific date or time window for when its two-factor authentication feature will go live, but we’re expecting it to be out relatively soon. Microsoft is stepping up its security after its recent cyberattack and security breach.

[via LiveSide]

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]

While it hasn’t been officially confirmed that Intel’s Haswell chips are being shipped, many sources have come to CNET to confirm the news. They said that Intel should be releasing an official statement confirming the shipments at the IDF Beijing conference this week. The chips will provide major improvements to a critical aspect of laptops; battery life. Laptops with the chip are expected to last 24-hours with a single charge.

There will be some complications coming with the first batch of Intel’s Haswell chips. Intel has confirmed that the intial batch of Haswell chips have a bug that can affect USB 3.0 ports. Intel says that your files will be safe from data loss or corruption, but after waking up your computer from standby mode, you may need to re-plug your USB device into the socket. So far the issue seems isolated to a small amount of “USB SuperSpeed thumb drives”.

Along with the shipments of Haswell Chips, Intel will also be releasing its “Merrifeld” Atom chips for smartphones, as well as its “Bay Trail” Atom chips for tablets by the end of this year. The Haswell chips will fully utilize Windows Blue when it comes out, maximizing both performance and battery life in Windows Blue systems. Intel anticipates that the combination of both the chip and Windows Blue will revamp the laptop/ultrabook world.

[via CNET]

The app brings with it a variety of features, including the ability to view live videos in high-definition and having access to archives of full game videos. There’s both home and away broadcasts, depending on your location, and DVR functionality for live games: pause, play, fast-forward, and rewind. Depending on location, some users will also have access to closed-captioning.

In addition, users can use MLB.TV to listen to both live and archived radio broadcasts of games, as well as viewing daily Major League Baseball scoreboards and 2013 team schedules. There’s “Favorite Team Support,” as well as full-screen video functionality, making viewing more comfortable, especially when outputting it to a large monitor or television set.

Finally, as far as features go, users can also use Snap view to pop the live game over to the side of the monitor and have the game states up and running on the main desktop. While you have to be a premium MLB.TV subscriber for some of these features, those without a subscription aren’t completely out of luck. Free users can watch the free Game of the Day via the Major League Baseball app.

[via TechNet]

“While there will be some individuals who retain both a personal PC and a tablet, especially those who use either or both for work and play,” Gartner research VP Carolina Milanesi said of the stats, “most will be satisfied with the experience they get from a tablet as their main computing device.”

That satisfaction means existing PCs are far less likely to get replaced, whereas once they might have been regularly updated. Whereas many vendors have blamed the global recession for underwhelming sales, Gartner argues that, in fact, it’s a sign of far more complex changes. “This is not a temporary trend induced by a more austere economic environment” the firm warns, “it is a reflection of a long-term change in user behavior.”

By 2017, Gartner expects PC and notebook shipments to have dwindled to 272m units, down from 341m in 2012. That will be partially offset, the analysts predict, by what it calls “ultramobile” – ultraportables and ultrabooks – shipments, which are tipped to more than quadruple between 2013 and 2017, to 96m units worldwide.

Headed in the opposite direction are tablet and phone shipments. Gartner estimates 197m tablet shipments in 2013, rising to 266m the following year, and then surging to 468m in 2017. Phones, meanwhile, will go from 1.9bn this year, to 2.1bn in 2017.

As for what OS will be reaping the rewards, Android is singled out as the likely top candidate. Apple and Microsoft will tussle for second place, it’s suggested, with Windows tipped to maintain a lead over iOS/OS X through to 2017.

Word about the issue between Microsoft and Apple had come from multiple sources who were said to be familiar with the situation. According to the rumors, Microsoft claimed that it shouldn’t be hit with the 30-percent fee because the subscriptions were not exclusive to iOS, and in the end the company sought a deal with Apple. Potentially, the dispute could have lead to the SkyDrive app being removed from the App Store.

Whether a deal was struck, the fee was removed, or Microsoft gave in is unknown, but the company has released version 3.0 of its SkyDrive for iOS app, and so Apple fans of Microsoft’s cloud storage service needn’t worry. This latest version includes a few improved features, a change to the user interface, and some new features that haven’t been seen before. The app now supports both the iPad mini and the iPhone 5.

In addition to the added support, the app’s icons have been updated, and the user interface itself has been tweaked. Photo optimization has been implemented, including the ability to download full-res images to an iPad and iPhone, the ability to change the size of an image upload/download, and metadata is now preserved when files are backed up to SkyDrive. The saving and opening of SkyDrive files on other iOS apps has been improved, and there have been a variety of other small tweaks, fixes, and performance boosts, as well.

[via Windows]

Where the regular Pro tablet comes with a one month trial of Office 2013 Home and Student, however, the Chinese Edition gets the full package. That’s despite the local variant being priced the same for the 128GB model, even though Office 2013 would usually be 699 yuan ($113).

However, there are some limitations too, not least from the underlying restrictions on Windows 8 for China. The biggest is likely to be language support, since the OS can only be used with the Simplified Chinese UI language pack; you’ll need a full (paid) copy of Windows 8 if you want to use any others.

Whether the third variant of the tablet will improve sales for Microsoft, or just confuse them, remains to be seen. The inclusion of the full copy of Office suggests Microsoft is looking to combat software theft – something the low-cost, download-only Windows 8 for China was also intended to do – but having it on sale alongside, rather than instead of, the regular Surface Pro could end up puzzling potential buyers.

Preorders of the new Surface Chinese Edition are open now, priced at 6588 yuan ($1,062) for the 64GB model and 7388 yuan ($1,191) for the 128GB model. They’ll begin shipping come April 10.

[via istartedsomething]

According to Twitter’s Roman L. and the screenshot from Winforum.eu he posted above, meanwhile, Microsoft has already begun referring to Windows 8.1 (or, in this case, 8.1 Pro) by the Windows 8 name in its latest builds. The screenshot apparently comes from build 9375, and if legitimate is one of the more recent 8.1 escapees.

Windows 8 won’t be the only platform to get a splash of color, either. According to the source, Windows RT – the version of the OS designed for ARM-based processors, and most notably used on the Microsoft Surface tablet – will also get a Blue update. That will be referred to as Windows RT 8.1, it’s suggested.

Microsoft has previously confirmed that Blue is a Windows update, but beyond that has been tight-lipped on what exactly PC users can expect. It’s unclear whether the .1 update will be a paid one or not, too.

However, leaks earlier this year did flesh out the rumors with some feature possibilities, including extra personalization support, new split-screen layout support, and a range of new preloaded apps.

Another term for what Windows 7 has become, as ZD-Net notes, is Long-Term Support, with Windows XP losing that role at the precise moment Windows 7 took the throne. Now it’ll be several years before Windows 8 takes over 7. With Windows 8 out now and, according to NetMarketShare, appearing to grow in popularity at roughly the same rate Windows 7 did back in 2009, we’ll likely see a business must-use marker in about 3 years.

NetMarketShare currently places each of the top operating systems used at the following market shares – note how Microsoft still essentially dominates the market.

• Windows 7 – 44.73 percent share
• Windows XP – 38.73 percent share
• OS X – 6.9 percent share
• Windows Vista – 4.99 percent share
• Windows 8 – 3.31 percent share
• Linux – 1.2 percent share

Have a peek at other NetMarketShare reports from the past few months and years to see how they’ve tracked not only desktop operating systems, but mobile devices as well. Right this minute, Microsoft is rolling with 91.8 percent of the desktop OS market. It’ll be interesting to see where they are in a few years time – at this rate, they’ll be basically in the same place as they are here – no worries!

While the trend amongst those purists in the hardcore gaming community would otherwise have a fit over a so-called Gaming PC coming packed with “bloat ware”, it seems that Valve’s contribution won’t be so ill-fitting.

“The Razer Edge has more than enough power to play the latest and greatest Steam titles and it is completely built with PC gamers in mind. The tablet is a great way to experience everything Steam has to offer, including Big Picture mode.” – Greg Coomer, product designer at Valve

Big Picture mode is a full-screen user interface built in to Steam, available to all desktop app users right this minute – check it out if you haven’t already!

The Razer Edge and the Razer Edge Pro are both gaming tablets working with 10.1-inch displays and Windows 8 inside. You’ll be working with detachable gaming controllers as well as optional keyboard docks and will find yourself paying well over a thousand bucks to gain said privilege. Have a peek at our guide “Razer Edge gaming tablet: What the heck is it?” and see if it’ll be worth dropping either $1,300 or $1,450 USD depending on the options you’d like – go big!

[via The Slanted]

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]

The only game announced that has a price tag associated with it so far is BeJeweled from PopCap, which is priced at $4.99, and is the addictive game that many mobile gamers are already familiar with. There are several titles that haven’t had their prices announced yet, so whether they turn out to be free like a few announced is yet to be seen.

Among the free games is the cute Samurai vs. Zombies from Glu, which is pretty self-explanatory. You play as a samurai, recruit warriors and farmers and such, and you battle against zombies. There’s also Emily’s True Love from GameHouse and ShuffleParty from Microsoft Game Studios, which is a 3D shuffleboard bowling game that is said to be a hit.

And finally, currently filed away under “Coming Soon” in terms of pricing information is The Harvest, a sci-fi RPG, as well as Doritos Crash Course: Go!, which, as you might have guessed, will leave you with a strange hankering for cheesy corn chip snacks. Then there’s Endless Skater, a skateboarding game, and Field & Stream’s Fishing game, where you can relax and reel in some virtual fish. Speaking of fishing, there’s also Fishdom 3, which is a virtual fish tank, and last but not least is Ty the Tasmanian Tiger.

[via Windows]

Of course with NVIDIA GT 640M LE (1GB DDR3, Optimus Technology) you’ve not exactly got the biggest, baddest beast in the land, but you’re still running with a brand that boasts its greatness on a daily basis. The tablet itself is 278.5 mm x 178.85 mm x 19.5 mm / 10.9″ x 7″ x .80″ – not exactly tiny. All that comes in the PRO version – there’s also a basic edition which you can find out more about in our fabulous original rundown.

Since we saw this device back at CES 2013 for our most recent hands-on adventure, the tablet itself has been modified just a bit – but for the most part, it’s still the same device we described then as “a rather interesting combination of ‘why would I want this’ and ‘take my money right this minute’”. You’ll almost certainly be saying one of the two when you see the price: $1,450 USD brand new for the PRO – go grab one!

If you need a bit more convincing, hear this: this is just about as close to NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD that you’re going to get until later this year. With a 10.1-inch 1366×768 IPS display up front and Windows under the hood, it’s also the only experience you’re going to get like this on the market today. Unless you create your own handlebars and control connections for your own Windows 8 tablet, that is.

There’s also a keyboard dock, mind you. We’re expecting that this tablet will have no end to its accessory add-ons throughout its life. Expect the oddities to roll in!

Why would you want it?

Because playing games on a 10.1-inch tablet is cool, but playing games on a 10.1-inch tablet with a massive set of physical controls attached is even cooler. This device isn’t for everyone, but if you’re the sort of person that’s looking for a gaming experience that’s not exactly like one you’ve ever had before, this is a good place to start!

Have a peek at our hands-on with the Razer Edge and get pumped up about our future coverage as well – this is a rather unique experience, we assure you – don’t miss it!

The wave-one updates will transform the existing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote apps by converting the apps to Window’s Metro UI. Gemini’s second wave is said to be the jump start to Microsoft’s planned, frequent updates for Office 365 users. It will bring updates to both the Microsoft Office apps, as well as Microsoft Office services, such as Exchange, or SharePoint.

According to ZDNet, there is a group inside the Microsoft Office team called the Modern Office Experience (MOX). Their prime goal is making Office more Metro for Windows 8 and future Windows Blue users. They accomplished their first goal when they created a Metro version of OneNote. The group originally wanted to create hybrid-Metro office apps, where they would act just like the Office 2013 apps now, but would also be able to work with Windows’s Metro environment. Unfortunately, it didn’t comply with the Windows RT/8 regulations, so the idea was killed.

Along with the Gemini release, Microsoft plans on developing a touch version of Office in the near future. The touch-based Office will be targeted more towards Windows RT devices, that will have consumers see Office as more than just a desktop-based application. To fully take advantage of the Gemini updates, as well as Microsoft’s other Office updates, the company is trying very hard to push consumers to subscribe to its Office 365 service. It is even temping college students to subscribe by offering them a free trial of the service.

[via ZDNet]

If you’re not familiar with what Windows Blue is all about, it’s essentially a set of updates to improve on the lesser-fantastic features of Windows 8 that need a bit of polishing. Microsoft’s Vice President of Corporate Communications, Frank X. Shaw, wrote in a blog post that Microsoft is “working together on plans to advance [their] devices and services,” and referred to those plans as “Blue” internally.

Details are rather slim, however, but it’s possible that Microsoft may provide more info about Windows Blue at the company’s upcoming BUILD conference in June, which Microsoft announced yesterday. The company said that they’ll be revealing “what’s next” for Windows, Windows Server, Windows Azure, Visual Studio, TechEd, and more.

We’ve already seen a leaked build of Windows Blue, so we sort of already know what to expect, and we even went through five features of Windows Blue that could change Windows 8 for the better. At this point, we’ll have to just wait and see what Microsoft has up its sleeves for its BUILD developers conference later this summer.

This machine is not the kind of beast you’re going to be gaming on. Nor is it the computer you’re going to want to give to your niece so she can impress her friends. Instead this is the computer you’ll get for your school library or one you’ll have at the workplace for word processing and office display action.

The ThinkCentre Edge 62z’s display is able to be mounted to the wall or sat on a desk – with included attached stand, of course. You’ll find this machine packed with 3rd Gen Intel Core i3 processors for the low end of high power – this is the most recent generation of Intel processors, but there are also Core i5 and Core i7 models that ramp up by a considerable amount with each step. You’ll also find six USB 2.0 ports for plugging in so many keyboards, mice, and external hard-drives that you won’t know what to do with them all.

Each of these units is ENERGY STAR 5 compliant and works with the EuP 2013 energy efficiency requirement “by consuming less than 0.5 Watts of electricity when turned off.” How about that? This machine will be available starting in May 2013 wherever fine Lenovo products are sold.