Windows 8 ARM will be available at retail at the same time as Windows 8 x86. Or at least Microsoft hopes to make this the case. No doubt about it, Microsoft understands that low-power and mostly mobile devices are critical to their future, and don’t want to waste any time making inroads into this section of the market. There’s no guarantees here, but even if the date for WOA slips, it shouldn’t be by more than a couple of months.

Windows 8 ARM will retain a standard Windows desktop interface and programs. Despite a focus on the new Metro interface, Microsoft has assured its current users that the Windows desktop and core experience apps like Internet Explorer, File Explorer and the like will remain a central part of Windows. Of course, they’re going to need a lot of tweaking, including a lot more of the Ribbon interface (love it or hate it) and possibly the complete removal of the Start button. The next version of Microsoft Office, which they’re calling Office 15, will work on WOA.

You can’t run x86 or x64 software on Windows 8 ARM, but Metro apps will run on both. It’s a fairly obvious point, but bears repeating: with a shift to a completely different architecture, developers will have to work within the boundries of the ARM system-on-a-chip. Current programs just won’t work on ARM machines. However, applications built to Micrrosoft’s Metro standards (and published to the Windows Store) will work on both x86 and ARM-based hardware, and can access standard stored resources. And speaking of Metro…

New Windows 8 ARM software can only be downloaded from the Windows Store. Yup, Microsoft’s going full integrated in WOA, not unlike their similar moves with Windows Phone 7. In keeping with the integrated platform vibe, you won’t be able to just download an EXE file and install it – paid or free, every new app, Metro interface or not, will have to come through the Windows Store. By the way, expect this to be cracked and circumvented roughly twenty minutes after the first WOA machine is sold. Even new driver downloads will come through the Windows Store. x86/x64 Windows will still operate the way it does now.

Windows 8 ARM will be labelled clearly and separately from Windows 8 x86/x64. Remember the fiasco that was the “Vista Ready” program? Now imagine that with two separate code bases and a a dozen or so form factors. Microsoft doesn’t want to repeat that, so they plan on making the differences between W8 and WOA completely transparent. Of course, it doesn’t help that they’re both called “Windows 8″, and around the same time Windows Phone 8 may be coming out. So yeah, expect massive confusion from the Best Buy crowd, and lots of cries for help from your relatives.

You can’t buy Windows 8 ARM. Not as a consumer, anyway: the ARM division of Microsoft and Windows is going to focus on completely integrated devices, not unlike regular smartphones and tablets today. WOA will be sold as a consumer electronics device, not a traditional PC. If you want a WOA machine, you’ll have to buy one from a hardware partner. That said, keeping modders from doing their thing is nigh impossible, and various hacks from published versions of WOA and developer builds should make for some interesting projects. It should be possible, if not entirely practical, to run WOA on some current Android tablets. We can’t wait to see what comes out of the modder crowd.

Most of your peripherals will work with Windows 8 ARM. WOA includes basic plug-and-play functionality for most of the basic add-ons out there, so adding a mouse and keyboard, external hard dives, card readers, et cetera should work just fine.  As usual more esoteric hardware, like the shortcut buttons on your keyboard, will need specific drivers. These may be downloaded from the Windows Store if the accessory manufacturer supplies them. More complicated hardware add-ons, like TV tuners or graphics tablets, will probably need entirely new drivers. There’s no word on external displays, but most ARM licensees have at least some support for HDMI-out already on the market, so it’s probably coming along for the ride.

Windows 8 ARM will support DirectX 10 gaming. And hardware acceleration in the browser and general UI too, but what you want to know about is gaming. There have been some impressive gains in ARM-based graphics cards lately, and getting DirectX support in WOA is a major accomplishment. This doesn’t mean that your current Windows games will work with WOA (because of the architecture – see above) but the tools are there. Developers should be able to get some very impressive graphical oomph out of Windows 8 ARM hardware, and maybe soon after launch ARM downloads from indie and then major publishers will start appearing in the Windows Store.

Windows 8 ARM beta is coming soon, and you can’t have it. At the same time as the next milestone release for Windows 8 x86/x64, Microsoft will be starting a closed beta program for Windows 8 on ARM. A limited number of developers will be given access to WOA hardware and software. There’s no word of a public beta for Windows 8 ARM at all. For some good news, the Windows 8 x86/x64 Consumer Preview will be available in late February. The closed ARM beta will start at this time.

There you have it – just about everything we know about Windows 8 ARM from a consumer standpoint. Developers, you really should go and read the full post at MSDN – just make sure you don’t have anything else planned for this evening. If Microsoft is true to their word, manufacturers should have WOA devices hitting shelves in late 2012, with internals from Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and Nvidia. This is all very far out, as Microsoft keeps reminding us – nothing’s set in stone yet.

Hardware

Aesthetics are secondary for a standard desktop, but as they go, the AM3970 is decent. A steel chassis is surrounded by glossy black panels on the front and top, with only two subtle blue LEDs for power and drive status – a plus in my book. The power button is placed oddly on the upper left corner of the right side, making seeing and using it tricky if you place your computer on the floor or to the right of your monitor. On the floor is certainly where it’s intended to be, with four USB ports plus a headphone jack and line in on the top of the computer. The eject button is also on the right side, implying that the computer is intended to be beside or below the user’s desk and to the left, and leaving little choice otherwise. Once placed there, using the SD/MicroSD/Compact Flash/XD/Memory Stick card reader becomes a chore, thanks to the black-on-black inlaid slots.

Move around to the backplate and you’ll find all the standards, with a generous helping of USB ports. The four ports on the top are paired to ten (count ‘em, ten) on the back, leaving all but the most compulsive of plug-and-players well covered. Two of these ports use the new USB 3.0 standard – a nice touch. A pair of standard PS/2 ports are present for all you old-school Model M and Intellimouse enthusiasts. Our review configuration (AM3970-UR11p) came with discrete graphics and the on-board integrated VGA and HDMI ports disabled, with a DVI port and another HDMI taking their place on the expansion slot. Just below that you get a WiFi PCI adapter to compliment the gigabit Ethernet port, complete with detachable antenna.

Moving on to internals, the AM3970 comes with a 3.0Ghz Core i5 2320 CPU, 8GB of DDR3 memory (2×4 DIMMs) and a 1TB traditional hard drive. When compared to similarly priced desktop models from Dell and HP, Acer gives you identical components with an extra 2GB of memory. Along for the ride are a standard DVD-RW drive and a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6450 graphics card. Popping the access panel off requires a screwdriver (no thumbscrews) and while pre-built desktops like this one aren’t often made with expansion in mind, a reinforced back panel and a decent amount of room inside should make that easy enough for those who want to upgrade components later on.

A mouse and keyboard are included, naturally. It’s hard to mess up an optical mouse, but the keyboard deserves special attention – and not in a good way. Long travel on the keys combined with a glossy backing will make cleaning a nightmare, and the mushy feedback had me reaching for my spare Microsoft model almost immediately. This is rather disappointing, especially when compared to the quite respectable keyboards Dell tends to include.

Software

Acer includes the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium, the better to take advantage of that 8GB of RAM. Bloatware on basic desktops can be a problem, but on the AM3970 it’s better than I’ve seen elsewhere. Acer seems to be favoring static and easily deleted desktop shortcuts for a little promotional cash, which is fine by me. You still get a few extras that aren’t strictly called for, including the obligatory Microsoft Office trial and Bing bar, Norton Backup, Nook and New York Times readers, Evernote and Skype. With all that in there it would have been nice to see Chrome or Firefox, saving me a download.

With the exception of McAffee’s nagging reminders, auto-starting software is blessedly limited and mostly silent. The rather superfluous MyWinLocker encryption software, Norton Backup and Acer’s Clear.fi sharing service are the only other hangers-on in the Startup tab. All things considered, it shouldn’t take much for even intermediate Windows users to get the AM3970 running exactly as they want it, with a minimum of tinkering – though I note without surprise that neither an OS install disc or or restore disc is included.

Performance

The combination of a Core processor and plenty of RAM makes standard tasks basically effortless on any modern machine, and such is the case here. But thanks to a little extra memory and the discrete Radeon HD 6450 card, the AM3970 is slightly more capable than its competitors who lack one or both. It should handle processor-intensive talks up to and including some light video editing with ease, and HD video playback is smooth in both local and online playback.

That Radeon 6470 won’t get you very far with the latest PC games, unfortunately, and the combination of a single DVI and HDMI jack means you’ll have to get creative with cables and/or adapters if you want have more than one monitor. That said, less demanding games like Team Fortress 2 and such should function just fine.

Wrap Up

While there’s not much demand for the product category, the AM3970 definitely stands out in its limited field. Generous memory and discrete (if only just) graphics give it a performance boost that will satisfy most, and a ton of USB ports and a roomy interior make it suitable for hardware enthusiasts looking to expand. Software load is relatively light, and Windows regulars will feel right at home and unusually unburdened. The odd ergonomics of the case and downright awful keyboard are an issue, but should be easy enough to adjust to (or in the case of the keyboard, replace). All in all the Acer is a solid choice for those needing desktop-class power without breaking the bank.

This shouldn’t be taken as an iron-clad confirmation: the blog post talks about power-saving measures for “both desktop and Metro-style apps”, specifically on system on a chip architectures like ARM. That implies, but doesn’t guarantee, that traditional desktop programs will still be allowed on ARM-powered Windows 8 machines, presumably using the old Windows 7 and earlier interface. Microsoft still isn’t answering questions on the subject.

Even if a desktop mode is included on the ARM version of Windows 8, applications will need to be tweaked and in some cases completely rewritten to run on the architecture. The situation would be somewhat similar to when Apple switched from PowerPC processors to Intel: initially, some apps would work on x86 machines and some on ARM machines, with a little technical wizardry needed to make a program universal. This is in addition to the distinction between normal desktop apps and Metro apps.

It still seems possible that Microsoft will want to focus on low-power (and in most cases low-function) programs for ARM-powered machines. In recent builds of the x86 version of Windows 8, even the good old Start button seems to have been given the boot. Developers can’t even work with the ARM build at the moment, though it’s expected to arrive sometime this month. ARM Windows devices aren’t expected to reach retail shelves until well after the debut of Windows 8 itself.

[via ZDnet]

The line-up includes well-known casual games like Angry Birds along with Reckless Racing and Toy Soldiers. No word from the source as to whether the titles will be paid or free, though Microsoft has said before that, during the pre-official launch later this year, only free apps will be supported in the Windows Store.

The preview Windows Store – and the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 – are expected to be released later this month. Recent leaks suggest Microsoft has killed off the Start button, though that won’t be confirmed until the preview arrives.

Of course, there’s more to Microsoft’s gaming strategy than Solitaire. The company has previously said that it plans to integrate Xbox LIVE into the new PC OS, just as it has with Xbox 360 and Windows Phone. That opens the door to cross-platform challenges and more.

• Hydro Thunder
• Toy Soldiers
• Reckless Racing
• Angry Birds
• Ilomilo
• Rocket Riot
• Full House Poker
• Tentacles
• Crash Course
• Ms Splosion Man
• Wordament

The 8220 build of Windows 8 is labelled as Consumer Preview, meaning thaqt the software is nearing completion. That implies that Microsoft is seriously considering making the change to the Start button permanent. That said, the company often integrates feedback from its public betas into the final product – if testers have an immediate and universal disdain for the change, it’s likely to be reversed. The Start button has been a crucial part of the Windows user interface ever since Windows 95, and its exclusion is sure to cause some distress among those who opt for the more conservative desktop.

Microsoft has seen its fair share of controversy surrounding Windows 8, mostly due to the touch-friendly Metro interface changes. The Desktop tile is meant to be a window into Windows past for power users, and as such, the removal of something so integral as the Start button seems odd indeed. Other small but crucial changes, like the Ribbon menu interface finding its way into more applications, have also drawn ire from more experienced Windows users. If you’d like to try out Windows 8 for yourself, you can download the Developer Preview at the Windows Dev Center. THe build shown above isn’t public yet, but an open beta program is expected in the next few months.

[via ZDNet]

My issues with motion gaming have prompted me to turn my back on the Wii. In fact, I haven’t even seen my Wii in well over a year, since it’s been sitting in my closet with the rest of the obsolete and boring consoles I’ve bought over the years.

[Image credit: Cha già José]

Sony’s PlayStation Move is similarly useless to me. The wands add no value to my gaming experience and as far as I’m concerned, should be relegated to the junk heap in the PlayStation 4.

And now, we move to the Kinect. I’ve said here before that while the Kinect comes with a really cool technology, I’m not a fan of the peripheral. I do, however, acknowledge — like the Wii — that there are some people out there that see some value in a product like the Kinect.

But what saddens me is that Microsoft’s motion-gaming peripheral is, well, the next big thing in gaming.

Microsoft is doubling down on the Kinect. A software development kit that allows PC software developers to take advantage of the device’s technology is in the wild, and there is a very good chance that it might also become the go-to device for laptops.

In the beginning, that might mean PC gaming will be enhanced, but I can also see the device becoming a useful accessory for those developing other programs across a wide array of industries, including medical, manufacturing, and retail.

But it’s that gaming element that keeps holding me up.

According to the latest rumors, it’s possible Microsoft will launch the Xbox 720 with a Kinect camera built into the console. What’s more, there is some speculation that Sony might try to find a way to come close to matching the Kinect’s controller-less functionality.

Add that to the fact that the Kinect is selling exceedingly well and it quickly becomes clear that it could very well be Microsoft’s ticket to gaming dominance in the coming years.

I hate to say it, but the Microsoft Kinect is the next big thing in gaming. It’s already changed how console makers think, and it’s well on its way to transforming Windows PCs. But it’s the fact that it might play an even greater role in the next generation that’s enough to make me cringe.

Just when I hoped you would be out of my life, Kinect, you’ve found a way to become a part of it for the next several years.

Maybe it’s a good thing I own a Mac, eh?

The group sharing feature allows you to share photos with a group of friends or share your screen to give a presentation to as many as 10 people. That group screen sharing feature is available Skype Premium, and the premium service includes group video calling along with live chat with customer support. The update also allows users of the Windows platform to check Facebook news feeds from within Skype and to send messages to or video call Facebook friends.

Those last features are in Skype for Windows Beta. The new 5.8 version also supports full HD video calling, push to talk, Skype updater service, Bing toolbar integration, and the ability to hide offline Facebook contacts. The 1080p video calling requires the Logitech C920 Web Cam. The new 5.8 version of the software is available for download right now.

Nonetheless, East believes Android manufacturers do still stand a chance of making a mark on the tablet segment, it’s just that they need a little more time to build momentum. “When Android phones were introduced, there was a lot of hype” he points out, “and then, actually, they didn’t take off in the sort of way that reflected that hype. Then a few years later – two years later – half a million units a day, 700,000 units a day. I think we should give Android tablets a little bit more time.”

In the meantime, Microsoft will need to capitalize on its brand awareness headstart if it wants Windows 8 on ARM to be a success. ”It’s up to Microsoft [and we'll see] how well they’re going to exploit that advantage” East cautions, “but I think that’s a fundamental difference.”

ARM announced $217m in revenue for Q4 2011, over a fifth higher than the same period a year ago, while profit rose 45-percent. 1.2bn ARM chips were shipped in cellphones and mobile computers, the company claims.

That boosted tracking means developers can now pick out which user they want to track with the sensor, and works with the Kinect Explorer features: more precise audio beam and sound source angle measurement, tweaked color and depth modes, and motor controls. The whole package is said to be more stable, with various runtime and audio fixes, and there’s a “commercial-ready installer” to streamline integrating Kinect for Windows hardware into an end-application.

Some of the other changes would seemingly feed in to suggestions that Microsoft is looking to integrate Kinect into Windows 8 notebooks. There’s a new “Near Mode” that allows the depth camera to track objects as close as 40cm from the sensor-bar, which should make for better observation of users sat in front of their notebook. Meanwhile, there’s the v.11 Microsoft Speech components baked into the SDK and runtime installer, potentially enabling the “log me in” speech and face recognition tipped in the latest leak.

Those at a distance aren’t forgotten either, with a better ”far-talk” acoustic model to improve on speech recognition accuracy. The Kinect for Windows team says to expect SDK and runtime updates 2-3 times per year moving forward.

The Kinect for Windows sensor is available to order now, priced at $249.99.

The PCB measures in at 2.5 inches and contains a complete minicomputer, including a 1 GHz ARM processor, 512 MB of RAM, a WiFi radio, mSata slot, and two microSD card ports. But what’s cool about it is the way it interacts with the other components that are already in your laptop, so you still have full access to USB ports, keyboard/mouse HDMI output, and all the other neat functionality that Android tablets don’t necessarily have.

Switching between your built-in Windows and the custom Android UI is easy as pie, or more specifically, a hotkey. So, in other words, it’s pretty darn cool. When can people actually expect to buy it? Unfortunately, that little detail remains unclear. The company has been unreliable in the past but says it is on the way soon. When it is available, it’ll cost less than $200. Sold.

[via IBTimes]

While the systems work, the sources claim they’re extremely power-hungry. That’s not an issue for the existing Kinect, which gets its power from the Xbox 360, but for a notebook that could be the kiss of death. “Devices in the field must be plugged in whenever possible” the insiders suggest, with one possible solution for production hardware being separate camera units that carry their own battery packs and clip onto notebooks.

Although the prototypes were apparently modified ASUS netbooks, the company itself is not believed to be assisting Microsoft with the hardware trials. Instead, the hacked-together ultraportables are supposedly all Microsoft’s own work, as the company takes the prototype hardware into the wild to test how they cope in busy, noisy environments, and hopefully fine-tune the sensors involved.

ASUS is expected to be among the early adopters, however, given it already has a foot in the door with its Xtion range of devices. However, motion-sensing Windows 8 hardware will be Kinect-only: Microsoft is supposedly insisting on its kit being the only such tracking system installed in each individual device. In return, vendors will be able to customize Windows 8 on Kinect-enabled devices, something that’s suggested may cause fragmentation, but also opens the door to keyboard- and mouse-free set-top boxes built using the OS’ Media Center functionality, where the regular Windows desktop isn’t seen at all.

As for other uses, the only one possibility that has been specifically mentioned is an advanced biometric security system: users sit in front of their computer and say “log me in” to access it. Although face-recognition log-in systems already exist – Lenovo has offered such a system on its ThinkPads for some time, and Google included the tech in Ice Cream Sandwich - the Windows 8 Kinect-based system will actually analyze both facial and vocal features to make sure it has a match.

Running along the bottom edge is “a set of what appear to be LEDs” the report continues. Insiders at Microsoft have supposedly confirmed that the modified netbooks are indeed official demo units, though the expectation is that – unlike the original Kinect for the Xbox 360 – Microsoft will not itself be building computers with Kinect baked in.

Instead, the company is expected to license the Kinect system as an add-on to Windows 8. Gaming is one possibility – especially as we already know Xbox LIVE will be integrated into the new desktop platform – but there are other options including hands-free multimedia navigation, easier control of an HTPC or new usability for the disabled.

Microsoft’s approach isn’t the only one we’ve seen looking to add different control methods to Windows 8. Tobii unveiled its Gaze system earlier this month, using eye-tracking cameras to add an extra dimension to traditional mouse and keyboard navigation. However, Tobii’s previous eye-tracking hardware has been considerably more expensive than a Kinect sensor, while Microsoft is also believed to be readying a second-gen version accurate enough to allow for lip-reading.

[via Electronista]

The trend isn’t limited to iOS devices either. 8-percent of those surveyed use Macs, Forrester found, and 63-percent of companies surveyed either support or are interested in supporting Mac adoption. Almost half of enterprises questioned issue Macs to at least part of their workforce, with plans for a 52-percent increase in that number this year.

Perhaps the most interesting part is related to age, with Windows use still strong among older staff while younger workers are supposedly twice as likely to use Apple products instead. That’s even the case for those on lower payment rungs; 17-percent of those on under $12k per year opt for Apple, even though cheaper alternatives might be available.

Forrester reckons that trend will eventually “end Windows’s dominance” while also helping to “blunt Android in the enterprise with product consistency and a simpler ecosystem,” and eventually “become the largest tech vendor by revenues in 2012.” Ambitious, but with the PC market apparently doing its level best to shrink to nothing while Apple reports record sales, not entirely difficult to believe.

This laptop has up to 750GB of hard drive space, support for up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and will connect along 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, and gigabit Ethernet. Of course there’s also a single USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, and a USB/eSATA combo port. Inside you’ll find such business oriented gems as LoJack, BIOS password protection, and a fingerprint reader. The whole package comes with a magnesium alloy case and the contents are protected with an anti-shock hard drive.

So what we’ve got here is a 12-inch by 8.1-inch laptop that’s just 1.1-inch thick and made for your everyday consumer. It’s not flashy, and will certainly get the job done for masses of users across the nation and the world, and will be running Windows 7 Home, Professional, or Ultimate operating systems, your choice. The version with Windows 7 Home Premium and an Intel Core i7 processor will cost you between $922 and $999 USD, and you’ll be able to buy one starting immediately wherever fine computers are sold!

[via eeeepc.it]

Fast, small PCs aren’t especially new, though it’s only now that processor and graphics technology has caught up that SFF models can hold a candle to the bulky PC gaming rigs of old. Sony and Microsoft fettle their dedicated consoles to pretty much a single purpose, delivering optimum gaming performance from a device that has to work as an predictable appliance; it also means their abilities are pretty much unchanged since their hardware was first announced. The X51, in its high-spec’d form at least, is likely to be capable of better graphics and handling more intensive games.

The tipping point will come when Windows 8 arrives. Microsoft has already said that it plans to support Xbox LIVE on Windows 8 PCs, hooking platform-specific as well as other titles into the social and ranking system. “Live has been successful on the Windows Phone. Live will be built into the PC” Microsoft’s VP of global marketing Mike Delman said back in June 2011. “It will be the service where you get your entertainment. We were talking about it – you will not just see consoles and handhelds at this show next year, this show’s going to morph into other devices.”

Now Microsoft’s not stupid. It knows it has a perfectly serviceable console platform in Xbox, and the likelihood of it doing anything that legitimately threatens the Xbox 360′s rising appeal – or the potential success of the next-gen Xbox – is low. Still, there are a lot of people out there who might not buy a dedicated console but could be swayed to pick up a compact box that delivers not only gaming but HTPC functionality.

That blurring of the distinctions between console and computer – and, indeed, phone – all fit in with something the company has referred to as “three screens and a cloud”; gaming, desktop and mobile platforms all interlinked, your entertainment following you on the most appropriate device at any one time. Microsoft has also been readying its Kinect for Windows kit recently, promising a February launch for developers at least. Still, when the motion-sensing bar makes it to broad availability – we’re guessing at around the time Windows 8 hits PCs later in 2012 – it will bulldoze through another differentiator between 360 and the desktop.

Pricing will remain the big differentiator, at least for the moment. The X51 kicks off at $699, though that’s with a Core i3 processor; figure on spending $1,149 upwards if you want a Core i7 chip instead, and we’ve a feeling most hardcore gamers will. That’s enough to buy six Xbox 360 consoles with spare change left over, or one console, a Kinect and a whole catalog of games.

Still, consoles as we know them are gradually being squeezed, with capable and compact PCs at one side and the rise of casual gaming on affordable Smart TV set-top boxes at the other. Just as has been the case in mobile, with dedicated portable consoles losing out in favor to gaming smartphones and PMPs like Apple’s iPod touch, the center of our living room entertainment is also evolving. Alienware’s X51 isn’t going to kill the Xbox 360 and PS3 today, but it’s further evidence the old guard of gaming needs to step it up if they want to remain relevant tomorrow.

Interestingly, that resume time limit isn’t applied to ARM-based Windows 8 computers, at least not at present. Still, all must have a fair array of sensors – including ambient light, a digital compass, 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope – together with five specific hardware buttons, for power, rotation-lock, volume up, volume down and finally a Windows key. The latter must be at least 10.5mm in diameter, but manufacturers are free to make it circular, square or another shape.

It’s clear Microsoft has been thinking about usability for the new hardware. Unlike NFC on phones, which can basically be pushed together and fall within the short-range wireless technology’s range, Windows 8 PCs must have some sort of indication printed on the chassis as to where the NFC contact point is. There’s also mandatory support for no-reboot installation of graphics drivers, and the expectation that new PCs should have at least 10GB of drive storage free.

Direct3D 10 device (with WDDM 1.2 drivers) graphics is also obligatory, plus any webcam must be 720p capable at a minimum. As for restarting or joining a domain, CTRL+ALT+DEL is out and replaced by pressing the Windows key and Power buttons simultaneously.

The first Windows 8 tablets are expected to hit the market in the second half of 2012.

[via Within Windows]

According to a document titled Windows Hardware Certification Requirements, which Microsoft released last month, the company confirms that it is up to manufacturers as to whether Secure Boot is locked down or not. For x86-powered PCs, notebooks and tablets, OEMs are free to decide which way to leave the settings; however there is no choice for ARM-powered models:

“MANDATORY: Enable/Disable Secure Boot. On non-ARM systems, it is required to implement the ability to disable Secure Boot via firmware setup. A physically present user must be allowed to disable Secure Boot via firmware setup without possession of Pkpriv. Programmatic disabling of Secure Boot either during Boot Services or after exiting EFI Boot Services MUST NOT be possible. Disabling Secure MUST NOT be possible on ARM systems” Microsoft

“We are introducing capabilities that provide a no-compromise approach to security to customers that seek this out” Microsoft Ecosystem team member Tony Mangefeste wrote back in September, when Secure Boot issues were first identified, ”while at the same time full and complete control over the PC continues to be available.” The decision appears to be one that would prevent ARM hardware from being repurposed from running Windows 8 and instead coaxed into loading Linux-based platforms, such as Android, or, as The Verge suggests, dual-booting between them.

As for x86 machines, concerns have apparently been voiced from notebook vendors that Intel-based Windows 8 devices will have entry-level pricing considerably higher than ARM-based counterparts – either running Windows 8 or another OS – as neither Microsoft nor Intel are willing to subsidize software or hardware. Microsoft has refused to discount Windows 8, DigiTimes reports, and Intel won’t countenance Clover Trail-W price cuts for tablets, it’s said, as they each fear a knock-on effect on the gross margin of general PCs.

Paul Jacobs spoke on the rest of their partners as well, saying that their S4 chip will be blasting forth with the Snapdragon S4 processor. What Jacobs showed off in brief was a tablet running Windows 8 with full touch sensitivity running ultra swiftly without so much as a hitch on both the S4 chip and LTE speed. Welcome to the future of tablets? We think so.

We’re live at the Qualcomm event here at CES 2012 and you can continue to follow us with the [CES LIVE] portal. Seeya there!

As we’ve seen from the App Player beta last year, BlueStack’s wrapping of Android software is pretty comprehensive and user-friendly. No modification to the core Android app itself is required, and it loads as it would on a native device; part of the magic is translating the hardware capabilities of the host machine into something the virtualization can access, so that apps can still use networking and more.

Microsoft staff apparently have mixed opinions on BlueStacks, according to the company’s CEO, with some simply glad to see more Metro-compatible programs and others preferring native code instead. Still, the App Player will at least mean those with new Windows 8 hardware later in 2012 won’t have to hang around waiting for fresh software to try out: there are over 400,000 Android titles, after all.

BlueStacks also has a Mac version in the pipeline.

[via AllThingsD]

Microsoft is now officially talking about the new Kinect for Windows and when it will hit stores, they even offered up pricing details. The Kinect for Windows will land on February 1 in the US and 11 other countries including the UK. The MSRP for the new hardware will be $249. Microsoft is noting that at first there will be limited quantities of the device.

The retail price of the system includes a year’s worth of upgrades for the software. The price later, this year will drop to $149 for qualified educational users. Microsoft also notes that it has decided to make all its money on Kinect for Windows off the hardware with no charge for the SDK or the runtime for developers. The developers that are using the beta SDK and Kinect for Xbox hardware will be allowed to continue to do so with an extension of the beta license for three more years. That extension will expire June 16, 2016.

iPad users will be able to easily and securely view and edit cloud-hosted documents with Windows desktop apps in a smooth and seamless experience. Instant-response multi-touch gestures combined with a full on-screen Windows keyboard and handwriting recognition will make it easy to view and edit even complex documents directly on the iPad.

The OnLive Desktop app is free and comes with 2GB of cloud storage along with access to available Windows 7 apps, which so far include Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and several utilities and games. An OnLive Desktop Pro option will be coming soon that offers 50GB of cloud storage and accelerated priority access, and additional PC apps and features for $9.99 per month. The free OnLive Desktop app will also be heading to Android soon.

Prior to the event, they let random individuals try out the touchscreen technology and even took a few testimonials. One person, Veronica, stated “I like it better… It’s more fun, it’s a new thing. It’s also easier, more immediate, modern… Super fast”. The important change will obviously be ‘speed to action’. Maneuvering to do some things over a touchscreen is just easier, so it’s really only going to improve the user’s experience.

Next up, they described users will be able to vocally control their laptops at very quick rates. The speech activation doesn’t go through the cloud like most other voice recognition clients – it is built right into the device. Even with an accent, you can teach it to understand you. It will learn your voice over time and can be set to talk back to you. Siri was only the beginning.

Together, TI says, it’s enough for “fast and fluid multitasking in Windows 8 while maintaining ultra-low power consumption”, something particularly important when you want to take on Android and iOS based tablets that can last all day on a charge.

The OMAP4470 also includes M-Shield mobile security, a separate hardware-managed encryption system. That can be relied on to create a trusted execution environment (TEE) without taking up cycles in the primary OMAP4470 cores.

It’s not just tablets TI has in its sights, however. The company is also pushing its ARM-based OMAP4470 as an alternative to AMD and Intel x86 processors in notebooks and desktops. We’ll know more when we can check out the Windows 8 demo board first-hand.

After a little fumbling, we managed to find our way into the “old” Windows 7 desktop and locate the specs of the Toshiba machine. The laptop runs on a mere 1.3Ghz Corei3 processor and 4GB of RAM. Toshiba’s graced it with a 128GB SSD drive. The Windows 8 interface runs on integrated graphics, though we couldn’t determine what kind. This is extremely early hardware, so things may be a little sketchy as far as the OS reporting goes.

We know that Windows 8 will run on current-generation hardware, and for the most part, that’s what we’re seeing. But we were surprised at just how well it did. Obviously there’s a user interface barrier to overcome, especially since Windows 8′s gestures weren’t working on the laptop’s trackpad. (This will absolutely be fixed long before a final version of either the software or the hardware hit shelves.)

In the meantime, we’ve got a good idea of how well Windows 8 handles even relatively light hardware. It leaves us with a lot of hope for later this year, when Windows 8 machines of all shapes and sizes – and perhaps most importantly, ultrabooks and tablets. Check out our full hands-on with this prototype ultrabook as well for good measure.

With an already solid lineup with products like the Portege Z835 they have a strong offering but we wont turn away an ultra-sleek, ultra-powerful 14″ laptop — right? It’s worth mentioning that it isn’t clear what Toshiba will be calling this new 14″ laptop but it sure does look pretty. From what we understand it will be consumer focused and priced.

Just like the Portege Z835 mentioned above this new Ultrabook features the same rounded edges and simplistic design although not the magnesium alloy construction. Instead, this new Ultrabook is wrapped in aluminum and it manages to stay extremely thin and super lightweight.

All of the LED lights and chrome-accented hinges have been replaced with a more elegant design but nothing groundbreaking or extremely new — but definetaly a step up from current offerings. The chicklet style LED-backlit keyboard is a nice addition but something we’d expect from an ultrabook in this day and age. While this is an early unit that clearly didn’t have a name we do have USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-out, Ethernet and the usual SD card readers and headphone/microphone ports. Remember that while being extremely new and only a prototype all that can be subject to change. One good note is we’ll be working along with Windows 8 whenever this makes way to consumers hands.

Once we see more we’ll be sure to update with additional details. Stay tuned for hands-on video.

This computer has a lovely piece of edge-to-edge class on the front, 6GB of RAM on the inside next to that Sandy Bridge, and it’s the very first PC with Magic Canvas software that does not have a touchscreen. While it may be a bummer that this device wont be amongst the hoards of touch-sensitive computers that’ll be dropping inside 2012, you can take comfort in knowing that this machine won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It doesn’t look half bad for an all-in-one, either.

We’ll certainly be having a closer look at this computer when it comes time to review it early in these 2012 months, but for now have a glance here above and below at some photos of it up close. Does this look like the Windows-based machine you’ve always been wanting? How about the Beats machine you’ve been waiting for? It’s got TV tuner and Blue-ray drive options too, you should know, so feel free to use this for your college room-bound media center if you’re in such a position.

Unfortunately, there’s a considerable amount of international users still hobbling along with the ancient browser. If you take out the United States numbers, approximately 8% of computers are using IE6. That’s a drop of less than 2% in the last six months. Still, that’s a far cry from where it was just a few short years ago: when IE7 was introduced in 2006, IE6 had a whopping 80% of the market cornered. Today, the combined share of Internet Explorer 7-10 is just over 50%, with IE8 taking the largest chunk of Microsoft’s users. Firefox and Chrome are duking it out for second place: Chrome recently took the lead over Firefox with almost 20% of the world market.

IE6 has been a headache for IT managers and web developers alike for years, mostly thanks to its many security holes and poor support for web standards. After introducing newer versions Microsoft itself has urged its customers to abandon the older browser in favor of the latest version. Currently the official release of IE is version 9, which had 12% of the total market all by itself as of December 2011. When Windows 8 is release later this year, the gold version of Internet Explorer 10 will accompany it.

[via Tom's Hardware]

For your coin, Samsung offers a Core i5-2467M processor rated at 1.6 Ghz, paired to 4 gigabytes of DDR memory and a 500GB traditional hard drive. Testing the limits of what defines an “Ultrabook” (aside from the laptop series, of course) the NP530U4B-A01US features a DVD-RW drive and a slightly chunky 4-pound carry weight. With just a 4-cell battery it might have some trouble getting extended untethered use, but with integrated graphics users probably wouldn’t be stressing it anyway. In the configuration offered only a 1366×768 LED backlit screen is present, plus a single HDMI-out and two USB 2.0 ports. WiFi and Bluetooth 3 round out its communication capabilities.

If the press shots of the 14-inch Series 5 model are anything to go by, Samsung seems to be taking the Ultrabook definition a little far. The extra screen size and DVD drive make it about three quarters of a pound heavier than the 13 inch model, and since no dimensions listed, we’re assuming that they’re nothing outstanding. That would put the Series 5 14-inch into the “thin and light” category in my book – not bulky by any means, but not an Ultrabook, either. Then again, it’s starting at a significantly smaller price than the Series 9, so budget-minded laptop buyers who want a little more screen real estate aren’t likely to complain. We’re likely to see some photos and a legitimate pre-order soon enough, or at CES next week if nowhere else.

[Thanks Deron!]

“As detailed in the complaint filed today, Comet produced and sold thousands of counterfeit Windows CDs to unsuspecting customers in the United Kingdom. Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too” David Finn, associate general counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting, Microsoft

According to Microsoft’s suit, Comet used a factory in Hampshire, UK, to produce the CDs. They were then offered as a paid upgrade to customers in the retailer’s stores; usually Windows users are offered the opportunity to burn their own recovery media as part of the setup process.

Comet is currently owned by Kesa Electricals PLC, a French multinational based in Britain, though in November 2011 the company announced it would sell the retailer to equity firms Hailey Holdings and Hailey Acquisitions. Washing its hands of the loss-making chain will cost Kesa in the region of £50m ($78m).

Comet is yet to respond to the suit, though we’ve got a request in for more information from the company.

Update: Comet has given a statement to the Mirror:

“We note that proceedings have been issued by Microsoft Corporation against Comet relating to the creation of recovery discs by Comet on behalf of its customers. Comet has sought and received legal advice from leading counsel to support its view that the production of recovery discs did not infringe Microsoft’s intellectual property.

Comet firmly believes that it acted in the very best interests of its customers. It believes its customers had been adversely affected by the decision to stop supplying recovery discs with each new Microsoft Operating System based computer. Accordingly Comet is satisfied that it has a good defence to the claim and will defend its position vigorously”

Skype will be partnering with Towerstream, which operates a network that covers Time Square, West Village, East Village, South Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo, Lowe East Side, Clinton, Chelsea, Union Square, Midtown, Midtown South, Murray Hill, Stuyvesant Park, and Turtle Bay.

To connect, make sure you have the latest Skype version installed on your Windows or Mac device. You can also use the Skype WiFi app on your iOS device. Follow the prompts and once you’re connected, you can make Skype video or voice calls, send emails, and surf the web. You can thank Skype by tweeting with the hashtag #freeskypewifi.

[via Skype Blog]

What you’ll have to do is head over to here: [Security Bulletin List] and see if your software is amongst those affected. If you never access the internet, you’ve probably got nothing to worry about – but since you’re here now, probably you should check. This attack works through a certain type of HTTP request that consumes 100% of the processes of one CPU core. Several requests of course could cut a server down to it’s knees in no time. Microsoft has the following to say:

“Attacks targeting this type of vulnerability are generically known as hash collision attacks,” the company said, adding that the hole is not specific to Microsoft’s Web services as it affects PHP 5, Java, .NET, v8 and to some extent PHP 4, Ruby and Python. The folks behind those platforms are expected to issue similar updates in the near future, but the holidays will undoubtedly delay that process.” – Microsoft

Again this is an attack you likely wont feel hitting you if you’re an average citizen, but better safe than sorry. This update to security is currently rated Critical for the following systems: Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1, and Microsoft .NET Framework 4 on all supported editions of Microsoft Windows. Don’t freak out, but don’t hesitate to update.

That said, the questions keep on coming: did you get anything neat you’d like to share for Christmas? Did you spend this national holiday outside of the home, or did you spend it tinkering with your Android device to make that perfect kernel for the New Year? Will you be celebrating the new year with an iPhone in hand, or at the keys of a brand new Windows machine? What will you make of this next week?

And what do you look most forward to for the upcoming year in technology and gadgets? This year certainly seemed to be short when it came to reporting the news, did you get everything you expected from the manufacturers that create the toys we work with on the daily? Or is it all about what you’ve got already? What was your favorite device of the year?

We’ll have our own answers to all of these questions in the coming week – meanwhile feel free to answer them one-by-one right here in this post!

The last update to iTunes 10.5.1 brought the iTunes Match feature, which lets you store your entire music collection in the iCloud, whether or not all the music was purchased through iTunes. Songs that matched those already in Apple’s libraries are streamed from 256kbps master copies, while songs that cannot be matched are uploaded for streaming.

iTunes 10.5.2 brings some improvements to iTunes Match, but mainly addresses the audio distortion problem that several users have experienced while trying to play or import certain CDs. The update for Mac computers requires OS X 10.5 or above, while the Windows version of the update comes in either 32-bit or 64-bit.

[via 9to5Mac]

Some of Microsoft’s rules center on usability and consistency of experience across platforms, particularly when Windows 8 on ARM arrives (expected to be in mid-2013). The company’s “Certification requirements for Windows apps” insists that “Your app must provide the same user experience on all processor types” or, if that’s not possible, that developers need to submit separate versions for each CPU and detail the differences in the app description.

Meanwhile, apps “must fully support touch interactions” so that users can navigate “using only touch and gestures” as well as not using any gestures in a way that differs from native Windows 8 gestures. The “App Developer Agreement” details roaming, or multi-installs, with software limited to, say, only x86 or only ARM processors needing to be compatible across all such PCs using those kinds of chips.

If users attempt to install a purchased app on more than five devices simultaneously, one install will automatically be deactivated as per the “Windows Store Terms of Use“; it’s unclear how Microsoft decides which that should be, whether it’s simply the first to get the install or the machine on which the app has been used the least or the longest period ago. If you buy an app mistakenly, Microsoft isn’t offering a “cooling off” returns policy unless one is required by law in your country.

Windows Store preview:

As we said earlier, it’s expected that Windows 8 will be officially released in 2012, but the actual expected date for the completion and shipment of the upcoming Microsoft operating system remains, at the moment, not set in stone. Still, no information has been imparted yet on precisely what will be in the public beta of Windows 8, the feature set not yet released nor specified at the moment. But it will most likely be decided by the engineers working on the project deciding which components are release-ready (we hopefully most of them).

Though February is a bit a later than some of us were hoping for a public beta release, Windows 8 seems to be making steady progress, and now that Microsoft has confirmed this milestone today, the official version of Windows 8 should be on track for its expected third quarter release next year. Have any readers downloaded or used the Windows 8 developer preview? What are your thoughts? How does it compare to Windows 7, or even other operating systems? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

[via The Verge]

You’ll have options of 3 cell, 31.2 Whr or 6 cell, 62.4 Whr batteries, the latter providing you with the most magical massive set of hours without a plug-in. You’ll have the ability to load in as much as 8GB of RAM, a 500GB or 320GB harddrive, and the massive range of ports should keep you connected no matter what you’ve got in mind. You get an ethernet port, 3 USB 2.0 ports – one of them powered, a flash card reader, HDMI port, VGA port, and of course a port that connects to your everloving power cord as well. There’s also a VGA webcam with “low light sensitivity” so you can chat in the dusk.

There are several standard models, one of them with an Intel Core i3-2367M processor, the other two with AMD E-300 or AMD E-450 processor options. Education discounts non-withstanding, you’ll be able to pick up one of these little monsters for the low low price of $469 directly from Lenovo. Look like the option for you for your next school season? Perhaps a holiday present for the 2 semester superstar in your life? Your biggest choice here may well be between the black and the red cover, when it comes down to picking one up for your next season’s accessory matching, so keep that in mind!

However, legacy apps for the traditional Windows desktop won’t be supported: instead, the store will offer Metro-style software. Legacy software will show up as a landing page within the store, linked to developers’ sites, while brick & mortar sales of boxed apps – as well as third-party download sites – will still be supported.

The Windows 8 Store was confirmed in the pipeline several months ago, indeed the icon – though not the functionality – was present on the Windows 8 tablet we previewed back in September. Microsoft has refused to comment on its exact setup until this week, though.

Third-party Metro apps will become particularly important as Microsoft pushes the tablet potential of the new OS. The first such slates are expected to show up in the second half of 2012, with Samsung and ASUS both tipped to be readying models. The initial batch will run on x86 processors from Intel and AMD, though the Windows 8 on ARM project will see Samsung, Lenovo, Sony, Acer and other manufacturers reportedly weigh in with versions running on NVIDIA, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm chipsets in mid-2013.

What’s still unclear at this stage is whether ARM Windows 8 models will be able to run legacy apps at all. Rumors that they would not began last week, amid suggestions that only Metro apps would be supported, though Microsoft is yet to confirm either way.

Until now, Microsoft has said that Windows 8 ARM tablet owners would have a choice when it came to software. The new OS brings the Metro UI to PCs from Windows Phone, with a more finger-friendly, Live Tile based interface for touch use and general multitasking, and the regular desktop underneath if needed. Now, it seems, Microsoft may limit ARM Windows 8 tablets only to that Metro UI, and apps that support it.

While limiting app choice may initially seem like a poor idea on Microsoft’s part, the strategy hasn’t been a hinderance to Apple. The iPad runs iOS rather than OS X, after all, and has encouraged a flourishing third-party developer scene of its own; our experience with Windows 8′s Metro interface, albeit on an x86 tablet not an ARM-based one, suggests that the new UI is a huge step forward for touchscreen usability, something previous iterations of Windows-based tablets have always struggled with.

Windows 8 Metro UI hands-on:

Forcing only tablet-centric apps onto ARM slates – which, with their focus on battery longevity, browsing and multimedia consumption are likely to be the main models to appeal to consumers potentially also considering an iPad – is likely to result in a more controlled, consistent user experience. Of course, Microsoft’s big challenge remains timing; although the Windows 8 x86 public beta is now expected early in the new year, ARM-based hardware isn’t tipped to arrive until mid-2013. That delay could be enough for Microsoft to miss its chance at the consumer tablet market altogether researchers have warned.

It’s unclear at this stage whether the limitation also exists for notebooks/netbooks running Windows 8 on ARM chipsets.

Microsoft’s own delays in bringing out Windows 8 on ARM are likely to contribute to the company’s problems in the tablet market. The version of the OS – which isn’t expected to show up on shipping products until mid-2013 - is most likely to be found running on tablets, where ARM chipsets’ low power demands and strong multimedia abilities help make for slimline hardware with strong entertainment credentials.

Instead, OEMs looking to Windows 8 for tablets will be forced to use the x86 version, expected to be released midway through 2012, and pair it with traditional processors from Intel or AMD. Intel’s Ivy Bridge chips should bring lower power requirements in Q1 next year, but they’ll still be less frugal than ARM-based chipsets such as those from NVIDIA and Qualcomm.

The existing user-experience of Windows-based tablets has hardly left consumers with a positive impression of the platform, something Microsoft will have challenge with Windows 8. Although models running Windows 7 often have powerful processors and accurate touchscreen displays sometimes offering both finger and digital stylus input, the OS itself treats touch control as an add-on rather than baking it deeply into the core platform.

That’s all changing in Windows 8, as we experienced with an (Intel-based) demo unit earlier this year. Nonetheless, the hefty CPU power will take its toll on battery life, and pricing will likely remain higher than the $249 the NOOK Tablet comes in at. “Microsoft missed the peak of consumer desire for a product they haven’t yet released” Gownder concludes, suggesting that the delay means the company must inevitably try even harder to impress when devices finally do reach the market.

Optimizing the Kinect hardware for PC usage will involve several adjustments, such as shortening the USB cable to ensure a reliable connection for all kinds of computers as well as including a small dongle to make the device connect more easily with other USB devices.

Software-wise, the Kinect for Windows will have to be tweaked to enable the depth camera to perceive objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device, or about 1.5 feet. This so called “Near Mode” could enable a whole new category of up-close apps to be developed.

The Kinect for Windows hardware should launch commercially in early 2012. Microsoft had released a Kinect for Windows SDK beta version for testing and academic use back in June and launched a Kinect Accelerator program last week that will pick ten finalists to receive $20,000 in funding to advance the development of Kinect.

[via WinRumors]