Windows 8 Release Expected in 2012 article says that Windows 8 will be with us in 2012. Windows 8 Features And Release Date article expect Windows 8 to be launched sometime in mid-late 2012. For details how Windows 8 looks take a look at Building “Windows 8″ – Video #1. For latest details check also Microsoft Newsroom on Windows 8 and Windows-ARM.Com.
The biggest changes in underlying technology is that Windows 8 is supposed to run on either the x86 or ARM architectures. Microsoft is in the process of rebuilding Windows for the post-PC era, by stepping back from its core roots (Intel processors) and embracing ARM. Windows-on-ARM Spells End of Wintel article tells that Brokerage house Nomura Equity Research forecasts that the emerging partnership between Microsoft and ARM will likely end the Windows-Intel duopoly. ARM-based chip vendors that Microsoft is working with (TI, Nvidia, Qualcomm) are now focused on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.).
Making the Windows to run other platforms than x86 seems to be a big change, but this is not the first time Microsoft has tried that (there has been once Windows NT for DEC Alpha and still Windows Server 2008 for Itanium). ARM is now hot and Microsoft is active pushing Windows 8 to use it. Sinofsky shows off Windows 8 on ARM and Office15 article tells that Windows boss Stephen Sinofsky has ended months of speculation with the first (fairly) detailed drilldown into Windows 8 on ARM (WOA) platform, and says it should be ready for a simultaneous launch with its x86/64 counterpart. WOA includes desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. WOA is, as Sinofsky said, “a new member of the Windows family,” but it’s not Windows 8. It’s entirely new, and because it works only on ARM devices. Windows on ARM software will not be sold or distributed independent of a new WOA PC. In other words, WOA is to Windows as iOS is to Mac OS X.
Devices running WOA will come with both a Metro touch-based interface and the more traditional desktop, and will run Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote applications with full document compatibility with x86/64 systems. One thing was made crystal clear by Microsoft: Windows 8 on ARM will not be the same experience as Windows 8 on Intel-AMD.
How the two flavors of Windows 8 will be different article gives some details how Windows 8 on ARM is different from Windows 8 on X86. Windows 8 on ARM will not be the same experience as Windows 8 on Intel-AMD.
Building Windows for the ARM processor architecture article from Building Windows 8 blog is a goldmine to all you who are interested in more details on Windows 8 on ARM (WOA) platform. This post is about the technical foundation of what we call, for the purposes of this post, Windows on ARM, or WOA. WOA is a new member of the Windows family, much like Windows Server, Windows Embedded, or Windows Phone.
WOA builds on the foundation of Windows, has a very high degree of commonality and very significant shared code with Windows 8. Many low level details needed to be rewritten, but there is a significant portion of Windows that is generally built with code that can be made to work on ARM in a technically straightforward manner. These subsystems include the Windows desktop and applets and supporting APIs, though those needed to modified for better resource and power utilization. Enabling Windows to run well on the ARM architecture was a significant engineering task.
Here are my collection of the most important points I found from How the two flavors of Windows 8 will be different and Building Windows for the ARM processor architecture articles.
Windows 8 ARM devices will run on ARM processors from Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, and Nvidia, all running the same Windows OS binaries. WOA PCs use hardware support for offloading specific work from the main processor to integrated hardware subsystems to improve performance and battery life. ARM SoCs for WOA have DirectX capable GPUs (DX) for accelerated graphics in Internet Explorer 10, in the user interface of Windows, and in Metro style apps. WOA PCs are still under development, and thee goal is for PC makers to ship them the same time as PCs designed for Windows 8 on x86/64.
Windows 8 on ARM will not run traditional Windows 7 stuff (WIN32 x86 applications) because the processor is completely different and WOA will not support any type of virtualization or emulation. WOA does not support running, emulating, or porting existing x86/64 desktop apps.
Labeling to “avoid confusion”: When a consumer buys a Windows on ARM PC, it will be “clearly labeled and branded” so as to avoid potential confusion with Windows 8 on x86/64. Device makers work with ARM partners to create a device that is “strictly paired with a specific set of software (and sometimes vice versa), and consumers purchase this complete package, which is then serviced and updated through a single pipeline.”
Windows on ARM devices don’t turn off: You don’t turn off a WOA PC, according to Sinofsky. WOA PCs will not have the traditional hibernate and sleep options. Instead, WOA PCs always operate in the Connected Standby power mode, similar to the way you use a mobile phone today. Read Engineering Windows 8 for mobile networks for more details.
WOA supports the Windows desktop experience including File Explorer, Internet Explorer 10 for the desktop. Out of the box Windows on should ARM will feel like Windows 8 on x86/64. Sign in, app launching, Internet Explorer 10, peripherals, the Windows desktop and Windows Store access are the same. You will have access to the intrinsic capabilities of Windows desktop with tools like Windows File Explorer and desktop Internet Explorer if you want to use your mobile device in this way. Or you can use the Metro style desktop and Metro style apps (like what you see on Windows phone smartphones) if you like that more.
Metro style apps in the Windows Store can support both WOA and Windows 8 on x86/64. Developers wishing to target WOA do so by writing applications for the WinRT (Windows APIs for building Metro style apps) using the new Visual Studio 11 tools in a variety of languages, including C#/VB/XAML and Jscript/ HTML5.
Together talking on launching Windows 8 Microsoft also talks about new Windows Mobile Phone 8 and it’s integration with Windows 8. Windows Phone 8 Detailed article gives some details what integration with Windows 8 means. Windows Phone 8 won’t just share a UI with the next-generation desktop and tablet OS, apparently: it will use many of the same components as Windows 8, allowing developers to “reuse most of their code” when porting an app from desktop to phone. The kernel, networking stacks, security, and multimedia support as areas of heavy overlap.
Windows Phone 8 is the version of the platform currently being referred to by codename “Apollo” (the one scheduled for deployment after the upcoming Tango update). Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott has published a post confirming many of the details.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft clarifies Ballmer’s claims of massive Windows 8 adoption
Analysts point out how Microsoft inflates the pool of Windows 8-capable PCs
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9227459/Microsoft_clarifies_Ballmer_s_claims_of_massive_Windows_8_adoption
The kerfuffle started when the Agence France-Presse (AFP) wire service, reporting from a South Korean technology event, said Ballmer claimed up to 500 million users would “have” Windows 8 “next year.” A slew of blogs and news websites piled on, most of them questioning Ballmer’s number, or even his sanity.
It wasn’t hard to see why: Windows 7, which Microsoft has repeatedly said has been the fastest-selling operating system in its 37-year history, sold roughly 525 million licenses between its 2009 launch and the end of 2011. During the 12 months of last year, Microsoft claimed it sold some 225 Windows 7 licenses.
“The numbers Steve Ballmer gave at the Seoul event are a restatement of what we said at the Windows 8 Store event in December, when we were talking about existing Windows users and analyst projections of PC sales for 2012 that could be upgraded to Windows 8 when the time comes,” said a Microsoft spokeswoman in a email reply Tuesday night to a request for comment and clarification.
“With something like 400 million to 500 million users expected in the next year, the best economic activity for people building machines, and the best economic opportunity for people writing applications will be around Windows,” Baller said, by Bishop’s version.
Ballmer said nothing about Windows 8.
“What will matter is how fast actual adoption of Windows 8 is, not how fast it sells on new devices, or what the run rate for PCs is,” said Michael Cherry of Directions in an email reply to questions. “If a new laptop is sold with Windows 8 and then downgraded to Windows 7, it has no value to a Metro-style application developer.”
titanium bar says:
titanium bar…
[...]Windows 8 on ARM « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog[...]…
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 Dev Kit Only Does Metro Apps (Unless You Pay)
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/05/microsoft-visual-studio-free/
Microsoft has said that the upcoming free version of its new Visual Studio 11 programming kit will only be used to build Windows applications with the new Metro touch interface that debuts with Windows 8. And some developers aren’t too happy about it.
Those wishing to build traditional desktop apps for Microsoft’s Windows operating system will have to use the for-pay version of Visual Studio 11, an older version of the free tool, or some other tool entirely.
“Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows 8 provides tools for Metro style app development,” Microsoft said. “To create desktop applications, developers need to use Visual Studio 11 Professional, or higher.”
Developers who build applications for Windows typically use Microsoft’s Visual Studio to code and deploy products, and though the full version of Visual Studio that sells for around $500, Microsoft has long offered a free version with a more limited set of tools. But the limits on the free version of Visual Studio 11 — the Visual Studio that dovetails with the upcoming Windows 8 — were unexpected.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Free Windows 8 desktop app development is dead
Metro or bust with Visual Studio 2011 Express
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/28/visual_studio_express_11_metro_only/
The next free version of Microsoft’s Visual Studio programming suite won’t build normal Windows desktop apps, it has emerged.
Visual Studio 2011 Express edition will only allow developers to build touchscreen-friendly programs for the new Windows 8 Metro UI, according to the software’s product page
Coders will have to pay for Visual Studio 11 Professional or higher if they want to build anything other than the webbified fondleslab apps for Windows 8.
Microsoft will, however, continue to make elements of Visual Studio 2010 Express available for free download – this includes Visual Basic 2010 Express, Visual C++ 2010 Express, and Visual C# 2010 Express.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AMD admits it has to work on improving Linux OpenCL support
Windows 8 is not the only party in town
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2180336/amd-admits-improving-linux-opencl-support
AMD’s considerable effort in releasing its Llano and Trinity accelerated processor units (APUs) has been offset by stumbling support from applications for its GPGPU architecture.
Although AMD works with Microsoft to provide OpenCL support in Windows 8, Neal Robinson, senior director of Consumer Developer Support at AMD told The INQUIRER that the firm has “more work to do in the Linux environment”.
As for Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system, Robinson said, “You’ll see heterogeneous compute on Windows 8 in the Metro interface or in the traditional desktop interface, whichever the user wants to use. There’s a lot of opportunity [for support] there for sure, between DirectX 11 and C++ AMP.”
Robinson explained some of the open-source work AMD has been involved in with developers on projects such as the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), x264, Handbrake and Videolan, with Robinson saying it will work with FFMpeg in the near future to develop OpenCL support.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows XP Costs Firms Five Times More To Maintain Than Windows 7, Says Microsoft
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/windows_xp_costs_firms_five_times_more_to_maintain_than_windows_7_says_microsoft
Of the many upcoming entries to the technology fray, Windows 8 is by far one of the most anticipated. The Consumer Preview dropped in February to critical acclaim, and although there’s nothing particularly amiss with the current Windows 7, consumers are still pretty eager to sink their teeth into the Metro interface.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can Windows 8 Succeed In a Cloud-Based World?
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/05/29/1532251/can-windows-8-succeed-in-a-cloud-based-world
“To say that Microsoft has a lot riding on Windows 8 is a bit of an understatement. The upcoming OS needs to prove that Windows can stay relevant in a world where desktop-based programs are increasingly giving way to cloud apps, and mobile devices are eclipsing PCs as the center of people’s computing lives. Can Windows 8 succeed in that mission?”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Is Windows 8 Ready for a Cloud-Based World?
http://slashdot.org/topic/cloud/windows-8-ready-for-a-cloud-based-world/
Microsoft wants Windows 8 to appeal to both consumers and businesses. That success could hinge on how well the OS works as a cloud platform.
Microsoft is betting big that Windows 8, its next-generation operating system due later this year, will prove a resounding hit with consumers and businesses.
However, Windows 8 faces a tech landscape radically different from the one that greeted any of its predecessors, including Windows 7. For starters, cloud services and platforms are proliferating at an insane clip; your average PC user can navigate their entire day without needing any sort of desktop-based app, only a browser and a decent Web connection.
One of Microsoft’s biggest rivals, Google, is already rushing to take advantage of this brave new world with its Chrome OS, a browser-based operating system installed on laptops manufactured (so far) by Samsung and Acer. Those “Chromebooks” offer Google’s suite of online services and a selection of cloud apps via the Chrome Web Store.
Microsoft’s other operating-system rival, Apple, has also incorporated more and more cloud features into its Mac OS X. In addition to an App Store, the iCloud platform allows users to wirelessly sync content across their ecosystem of iOS and Mac OS X devices.
Second, mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are beginning to eclipse PCs as the center of peoples’ computing lives.
Microsoft’s most visible solution is a Start screen rendered in the same “Metro” design interface that defines the company’s Windows Phone and revamped Xbox dashboard (see the above image, of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview’s Start screen, for an idea). The large and colorful tiles, linked to applications and capable of displaying all manner of active data, can be touched (if Windows 8 is running on a tablet) or clicked on (in the case of PCs with mice or touch-pads) with equal facility.
Whether Windows 8 will succeed or fail as a cloud (and mobile) platform could depend largely on the willingness of third-party developers to create useful and/or fun apps. But the larger success of Windows 8 will hinge on much bigger factors, including if people are willing to make yet another upgrade after adopting Windows 7—or jumping to Apple’s camp—a few short years ago.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2012/05/31/microsoft-accidentally-announces-windows-8-release-preview-for-may-31st-pulls-blog-post/
In a post today on a Microsoft blog, Vice President on the Windows Development team, Chuck Chan, touted the release of the Windows 8 Release Preview to the Windows Dev Center. The blog post seems to have disappeared, perhaps because it was posted accidentally, but we have archived it below.
The post is dated May 31st, so it was obviously supposed to go out tomorrow. Specifically, it was posted to the brand-new-looking Windows Hardware and Driver Developer Blog, which is now empty of any posts. Whups.
The links provided in the post for the Windows 8 Release Preview and the other components of the Windows 8 development kit point to current releases.
Tomi Engdahl says:
I need to multitask, but Windows 8′s Metro won’t let me
Er, Microsoft? Multi = more than 2
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/31/windows_8_metro_and_multitasking/
What is multitasking? Different people seem to mean different things when they use the word multitasking. The definition chosen has implications for accepting or rejecting the prevailing design choices of modern user interfaces.
I have been a vocal critic of Windows 8′s Metro interface. My chief complaint is that it does not allow for what I consider to be multitasking. Microsoft argues that in fact it does allow multitasking. When the argument winds through its inevitable course, it turns out that we are talking about two different, but interrelated, concepts.
The Redmondian view is that Windows 8 – even in Metro mode – is a full multitasking environment. From a programming perspective, Microsoft is correct. Windows 8 is a multitasking operating system in which applications and services can run in the background to perform tasks independent of what is occurring in the foreground application.
The other context in which Microsoft claims that Windows 8 allows multitasking – even under Metro – is that Windows 8 provides methods of task switching. Even if you are using full-screened Metro applications, multiple applications can operate at the same time. To multitask the Microsoft way, you simply switch between them. For those not fully comfortable with one application at a time, Microsoft has been so kind as to grant its users the ability to run two Metro applications side by side: one occupying 34 per cent of the screen, and the other 66 per cent. Microsoft claims they thusly allow multitasking, both in a programming sense, and in a practical human sense.
As it was taught to me, “multi” generally means “more than two”. I would typically call “doing two things at the same time” dualtasking, and “one thing a time” monotasking.
The switch cost can be at least partially compensated for through training and preparation. Despite this partial compensation, there is plenty of research to state that when you do more than one thing at the same time, the cumulative time expended on both tasks is greater than if you had done one at a time, and you are more prone to errors.
Task switching is only one element of how I multitask.
After nearly 30 years, multitasking is as much a part of who I am as my own hands. It is so much more than task switching, continuous partial attention or a series of predetermined workflows.
Multitasking may not always a good idea, but I absolutely require the option to do so. An option that – regardless of the PR spin – Metro simply doesn’t provide.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Delivering the Windows 8 Release Preview
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/31/delivering-the-windows-8-release-preview.aspx
Today, Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download in 14 languages. This is our final pre-release, and includes Windows 8, Internet Explorer 10, new Windows 8 apps for connecting to Hotmail, SkyDrive, and Messenger (and many more), and hundreds of new and updated apps in the Windows Store.
Windows 8 Release Preview: new apps, improvements, and Flash support (hands-on)
http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/31/3053284/microsoft-windows-8-release-preview
Windows 8 Release Preview: The Ultimate Delta Guide
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-release-preview-ultimate-delta-guide-143044
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft Recruits Designers in Race for Windows Apps
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/microsoft-recruits-designers-in-race-for-windows-apps.html
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is so eager to have a panoply of applications for the next version of its Windows operating system that it has lined up design firms, recruited interns and sent engineers on an around-the-world road show to help developers get them built.
Unlike Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG), which run the world’s largest app stores, Microsoft doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for programmers to come knocking when they want to create downloadable games, productivity tools or online magazines for its computer software.
Enlarge image Microsoft Windows 8 Seen Tapping $58 Billion App Market
As Microsoft struggles to keep up with a technology landscape that is moving beyond personal computers into a future defined by mobile devices, the company is under pressure to gain a toehold in tablets. Demand for these handheld machines is driven by apps, which Gartner Inc. predicts will generate $58 billion in sales in 2014.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 due ‘for the holidays,’ but will biz bite?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57444964-92/windows-8-due-for-the-holidays-but-will-biz-bite/
Windows 8 is heading toward retail, but businesses may not be that interested in the upgrade yet.
Microsoft dropped some hints today that the commercial release of Windows 8 could come sooner rather than later, but critics are worried that it’s not very business friendly.
“If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 8 and Windows RT match our expectations, then we will enter the final phases of the RTM (release to manufacturing) process in about 2 months,” Sinofsky wrote. (Windows RT refers to the version that runs on ARM chips. Windows 8 runs on Intel and AMD processors.)
He continued. “If we are successful in that, then we are tracking to our shared goal of having PCs with Windows 8 and Windows RT available for the holidays.”
That’s the good news. On the other hand, businesses may not find the upgrade to be satisfying, say observers.
“Virtually all of the major new features in Windows 8 — the new Windows Runtime, the Metro environment with its full-screen apps, and the all-new developer APIs that drive it all — are derived solely from the mobile world and Microsoft’s experiences building Windows Phone for smartphones,” wrote Paul Thurrott at SuperSite for Windows.
Thurrott continued. “It’s become increasingly clear that Microsoft doesn’t actually expect businesses to upgrade to this new system in any meaningful way.”
Thurrott went on to say that it’s a “a calculated risk” that allows Microsoft to focus on the consumer market, which it risks losing to Apple and, to some extent, Android.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Acer, Toshiba to Take on IPads With Windows 8 Tablets
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/acer-toshiba-to-take-on-ipads-with-windows-8-tablets.html
Acer Inc., Toshiba Corp. (6502) and Asustek Computer Inc. (2357) will unveil tablets running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 8 operating system next week, people with knowledge of the matter said, challenging the dominance of Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPad.
Acer will display a tablet based on Microsoft’s new software at the Computex show in Taipei, while Toshiba will show a tablet and a notebook-type device, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been made public. Asustek will present tablets with detachable keyboards similar to its current Transformer model, the people said.
Asustek will demonstrate tablets based on an Nvidia ARM- based chip called Tegra and another powered by an Intel chip, the people said. The Tegra-based device, which is similar to the one that will go on sale, will be displayed publicly, setting up an opportunity for direct comparisons between a Windows computer running on ARM and one using Intel technology.
The Acer (2353) tablet is built around an Intel chip, while Toshiba is using Texas Instruments for its processors.
Qualcomm, the world’s largest maker of mobile-phone chips, will demonstrate a test device running Windows 8 based on its Snapdragon processor, said a person familiar with its plans.
The June 5-9 Taipei show will highlight a limited number of ARM-based devices as Microsoft seeks to ensure that when Windows 8 is released later this year, the products will stand up to comparisons with the iPad. The limited debut will be followed by a second wave of computer and phone makers lined up for next year, two of the people said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 Release Preview Now Available To Download
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/05/31/2114208/windows-8-release-preview-now-available-to-download
“”Microsoft has announced the immediate availability of Windows 8 Release Preview. Unfortunately there isn’t a Consumer Preview > Release Preview upgrade path — you’ll have to format and perform a clean installation”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Alternatively, if you don’t want to format a partition, ExtremeTech has a guide on virtualizing Windows 8 with VirtualBox. After a lot of fluster on the Building Windows 8 blog, the Release Preview is actually surprisingly similar to the Consumer Preview.
Virtualizing Windows 8 Release Preview is a breeze with VirtualBox
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/120493-virtualizing-windows-8-consumer-preview-is-a-breeze-with-virtualbox
Updated @ May 31: This guide was written for Windows 8 Consumer Preview, but it will also work with the Windows 8 Release Preview (which was released today).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Asus, Acer, Toshiba to unveil Windows 8, RT tablets
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57445147-92/asus-acer-toshiba-to-unveil-windows-8-rt-tablets/
Windows tablets from Asus and Toshiba at Computex should tell us more about the progress of Windows RT.
Asus, Acer, and Toshiba will roll out a mix of tablets based on both Windows 8 and Windows RT at the hardware-centric Computex trade show next week, according to Bloomberg.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8: We kick the tyres on Redmond’s new tablet wheels
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/01/windows_8_rc_review/
Review The surprising thing about the Windows 8 Release Preview just delivered is not how much has changed from February’s Consumer Preview, or even the Developer Preview from September 2011, but rather how little.
Microsoft is set on delivering this hybrid tablet-and-desktop operating system pretty much as-is, despite widespread feedback that the concept is not quite working.
Windows 8 is a touch-first operating system that uses Microsoft’s Metro design language, first seen in Windows Phone, on top of a new runtime layer which is designed for cloud and mobile.
Apps are isolated from each other and from the operating system, and most users will install them only from Microsoft’s store. Conceptually the old Windows desktop is just another app: tap it, and you are back in the familiar desktop environment.
Perhaps the biggest change is that Adobe Flash is now baked into Internet Explorer 10, even on the Metro side which Microsoft said would be free of plugins. Technically this is still correct. Microsoft has worked with Adobe to get Flash distributed with IE 10 and updated via Windows Update. This will work on ARM as well as x86 devices.
There is a catch though: Flash support only applies to sites on a compatibility list distributed by Microsoft.
I found Flash worked well on major sites, but not elsewhere. This is intended as a compatibility feature, not for the long-term.
Nevertheless, this will be a selling point for Microsoft against the iPad, although with many sites now making special allowances for Apple’s Flash-free tablet in their multimedia content this is not the big deal it once was.
What is odd is that Microsoft has not done the same for Silverlight, its own multimedia and application plugin. This is particularly strange given the extensive Silverlight dependence in Microsoft’s own products
IE 10 has some other new features. By default, IE has Do Not Track set to on.
Microsoft has improved multi-monitor support.
Microsoft is tweaking the Windows 8 desktop to give it more of a Metro feel, with squared window corners and a more blocky style.
Another common complaint is that typical Metro-style apps waste screen space. On a 1280 x 1024 desktop, for example, it seems odd that the SkyDrive app can only fit three rows of document shortcut icons in its default view. Go to the Detail view and you get nine. Touch-friendly, but for users equipped with mouse and keyboard this feels wrong.
A more fundamental issue is the lack of integration between the Metro side and the desktop side. This is by design, but it is also continually confusing,
Microsoft is committed to full-screen apps on the Metro side, as part of its “immersive user interface”, but this itself is an annoyance.
The case against is that Microsoft is not listening to the feedback from even its most committed users.
A few relatively small tweaks, like the ability to run Metro in a window, would ease the transition, but Microsoft has taken the bold or foolish or obstinate (pick your favourite) decision to press ahead with its original design.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8: Taking a look at Microsoft’s latest operating system
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18301673
Microsoft has launched the most complete preview yet of its forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.
Rory Cellan-Jones installed it on a Samsung tablet, to get a sense of how the system functions on a touchscreen platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nvidia reveals driver support for Windows 8 preview release
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2181898/nvidia-reveals-driver-support-windows-preview-release
Nvidia has said its upcoming R302 drivers have attained Microsoft Windows hardware quality labs (WHQL) certification for the Windows 8 operating system.
“Nvidia’s Windows 8 drivers support all the features in the new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) v1.2.”
Daniel confirmed that the Nvidia R302 drivers will only support the Windows 8 operating system. Users running older versions of Windows will have to use the Nvidia R300 drivers release.
AMD announced that it will move away from its monthly Catalyst releases.
AMD announced its Catalyst 12.6 beta release yesterday, but the firm made no mention of support for the Windows 8 preview release.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Asus announces Tablet 600: transforming Windows RT device with Tegra 3 and 2GB RAM (hands-on video)
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/4/3062235/asus-tablet-600-windows-rt-tablet-windows-8
Ahead of its Computex press conference, Asus is showing off the Tablet 600, a Windows RT device that takes the detachable keyboard form factor
It’s got an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, an eight-megapixel camera, 2GB RAM, and a 10.1-inch 1366×768 Super IPS+ panel.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Acer unveils 27-inch Aspire 7600U and 23-inch 5600U swiveling Windows 8 all-in-ones
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/3/3061875/acer-aspire-7600u-5600u-all-in-one-pc-windows-8
Acer has just announced two new all-in-one Windows 8 PCs at Computex 2012 in Taipei: the 27-inch Aspire 7600U, and the 23-inch Aspire 5600U.
Both the 7600U and the 5600U have “full HD” screens, 64-point multitouch display and Dolby surround sound, and their stands are pretty fantastic: they can be positioned completely vertical to the ground at a 90-degree angle, tilt down all the way down to zero degrees for a completely flat surface for collaborative touchscreen work, and swivel in either direction as well.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8′s built-in AV to be security of last resort
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9227707/Windows_8_s_built_in_AV_to_be_security_of_last_resort
Integrated Windows Defender will activate only on PCs sans antivirus software or after other products have expired
Microsoft’s Windows 8 will activate its built-in antivirus (AV) software only if it senses that the PC is not protected by another security program, according to AV vendor McAfee.
The new operating system, which last week reached its final public milestone, includes security software, dubbed “Windows Defender,” that combines characteristics of both that anti-spyware program of the same name and the free Security Essentials, the antivirus program that until now has been offered as a separate download.
According to Gary Davis, director of global consumer product marketing for McAfee, Microsoft has given third-party vendors and computer makers first crack at protecting PCs.
Computer makers, known as OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), typically include trial versions of major antivirus programs with their PCs. Those trials offer malware signature updates for limited periods, sometimes as short as 30 days. When the trial expires, PC owners are encouraged to upgrade to the full paying edition, which usually offer signatures for a year at prices ranging from $40 to $90.
Windows 8 cedes the AV role to those pre-installed trials, said Davis, and will not activate Windows Defender if it detects an active antivirus program that’s receiving signature updates.
“Looking at the way they’re doing things in Windows 8, Microsoft is going to great lengths to let AV vendors keep customers,” said Davis in an interview last week.
But Microsoft didn’t take the tact to please security companies.
“It is our understanding that this was mostly because of pressures from the OEM community,” Davis said in an email replay to follow-up questions. “A large portion of their profits on PCs come from revenue associated with AV.”
Computer makers do reap revenue from the pre-installed software, including antivirus tools, that they bundle with their PCs. In the case of AV software, OEMs receive a portion of the money paid to security vendors by customers who upgrade from the trial versions to the full editions.
That practice relies on loading the PC with a range of third-party applications — not just AV products — that critics scorn as “crapware” or “bloatware.”
Windows 8 will activate Windows Defender automatically only if there is no other antivirus software on the computer, said Davis.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel invests in ultrabook touch displays
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57447118-92/intel-invests-in-ultrabook-touch-displays/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
In case you haven’t noticed, Computex is all about Windows 8 and touch. And Intel is doing its part to get the ultrabook industry geared up for touch displays.
To make sure that Windows 8 ultrabooks are not just a one-hit wonder, the chip giant is getting involved in touch display supply.
On Tuesday, the chipmaker is announcing agreements with Cando, HannsTouch, TPK, and Wintek to guarantee the supply of touch displays, as a flood of touch-enabled ultrabooks hit the market over the next 12 months.
“We’re betting so big on touch that we have invested in ensuring that the touch capacity is in place to support what we think is going to be tremendous demand for ultrabook convertibles,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oz sysadmin says Windows 8 not ready for business
Crashes, authentication problems, Metro weirdness, make Win 8 “unworkable”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/04/sysadmin_windows_8_test/
Not much seems to have changed between Windows 7 and 8’s install process: both look very similar, just a different shade of green-blue. Win 8 It was marginally quicker than Win 7 to install, so that’s always a bonus.
I was asked to either set up an account using my “Windows Live!” ID, create a new one, or to create a local only account. It’s refreshing to see that Microsoft hasn’t forced people to use Live! accounts.
I installed Office 2010, which went on without a problem. Remote Desktop worked fine, which is essential in my role as server/network support, so things were looking up.
I went through and installed various other tools, which all went through fine, although I couldn’t help but feel that the Metro interface was being wasted on these “normal” apps. It was like a whole world that Microsoft has created will not be used by a majority of power users.
I decided to try to set up my work email (Exchange) with the Metro style Mail app that ships with Windows 8. I was met with utter failure
It seems that Windows 8 is not ready for corporate environments at all. I added the laptop to the domain, which seemed to go well, I restarted and crossed my fingers.
Logging in was fine, it recognised my domain account, set up my local profile, & seemed to be running okay. That was until I tried to use a Metro app. Not a single Metro app would launch.
I suspect this is due to Active Directory accounts not being Live! accounts. It’s very odd that MS has opted for the Metro interface requiring a Live! account to be used.
So when I was joined to the domain I was limited to old style programs, yet forced to use the Metro UI to launch them as there is no Start Button. This was only the start of the problems after joining a domain. Immediately I ran into hard crashes (no blue screen, no error, just hard lock ups) every time I attempted to do more than one thing at a time.
All in all, Windows 8 is quite snappy (when not crashing) and efficient with resources, however it falls down in ways that Windows has always had as a strength: Active Directory Domains.
Shayne Retta says:
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AMD crashes Windows 8 tablet party with ultrathin hybrid
Trinity-based not-quite-ultrabooks could sell for US$500
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/07/amd_windows8_tablet_computex/
AMD struggled to make itself heard above all the Intel Ivy Bridge noise at Computex this week, but did manage to introduce new E-Series APUs for the budget notebook and desktop market and show off a solitary Windows 8 tablet hybrid prototype running its new Trinity architecture.
The firm said its 2012 E-Series APUs – the chips formerly known as ‘Brazos 2.0’ – were designed with the sensible combination of long battery life, basic performance needs and accessible price point in mind.
The dual core E2-1800 (1.7GHz) and E1-1200 (1.4GHz) deliver 11 hours of resting battery life and the kind of enhanced Radeon graphics performance and gaming capabilities AMD usually touts for its CPU-GPU mash-up designs as well as faster data transfer.
More interesting for the assembled masses was the run out for the firm’s recently announced second generation A-series Trinity APUs, in a prototype Windows 8 tablet.
“We can take Trinity and put it in a 17W VGA and it can give us over 10 hours of battery life … You’ll see a number of OEMs announcing systems with Trinity over the weeks to come together with Windows 7 as well as Windows 8 and it really allows us to change the game,” said Su.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Qualcomm expands into Windows 8 devices
Announces chips for tablets and laptops as well as TVs
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2182573/qualcomm-expands-windows-devices
CHIP DESIGNER Qualcomm has announced that it will expand beyond the mobile phone business, revealing a Snapdragon S4 processor this week at the Computex convention in Taiwan.
In the announcement, the San Diagan firm said there will be four different varieties of its fresh chip designs, one of which will power Windows 8 tablets and laptops.
Qualcomm said its Snapdragon S4 Pro chips have been designed especially for the upcoming Windows 8 RT operating system for tablets and notebooks and will feature the Adreno 320 GPU in order to provide “support for higher resolution displays, as well as hardware and software compatibility with the S4 class”.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Opinion
Windows 8: Not even Microsoft thinks businesses will use it
An entire enterprise cycle binned in Metro madness
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/06/07/win8_enterprise_yesno/
Last week the latest Windows 8 public preview confirmed what many had expected and feared: there will be no compromise on the schizophrenic user interface behaviour Microsoft is forcing on users.
As I wrote in March, the problem isn’t the tablet-friendly Metro layer per se. It’s the severe disruption to the everyday experience caused by integrating Metro front and centre. The start menu has gone, but pressing the Windows key now throws the user into a radically different environment with a completely different design, behaviour and even scaling.
This shotgun marriage of two completely different platforms, suited to completely different devices, is completely disorientating.
Having encouraged us to hit the Windows key much more often in Windows 7, Microsoft now punishes us every time for it.
“This will end same as Vista. Nobody will want this. Nobody will want to have their PC look like a mobile phone which nobody wants,” writes another.
“I believe that the software giant is taking a pass on businesses for this release, a calculated risk that enables it to more firmly focus on the consumer market that’s on the cusp of slipping through its fingers thanks to Apple and, to a much lesser extent, Android,”
“The fact that managing Win 8 is essentially the same as managing Win 7 doesn’t matter… the Windows 8 Metro UI is completely unfamiliar, and for us would be a support nightmare,”
Much of the rest of Windows 8 has been well received. It’s pretty good news for many users, being leaner and faster than before. If you want your OS to be a minimal run-time for your applications – this is a step in the right direction.
Time to bet on an “Enterprise Edition” sometime early next year, perhaps?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why should ARM be treated as a second class citizen?
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/7/3071605/why-should-arm-be-treated-as-a-second-class-citizen
Microsoft seems to be of the opinion that ARM is not good enough for main stream computing but, considering the plethora of transformer type prototype devices shown at Computex, and that ARM processors are already being used as nodes in supercomputers it would appear that the industry disagrees.
Apple has already proven it is possible to transition to a new architecture, and while clearly x86 is not going to be supplanted in the short term if at ever, somewhat complicating the situation, it would not appear that consumers are completely incapable of understanding the implications of an architecture change.
Why then are developers forbidden from producing software for the desktop on Windows RT? It might make sense if all WRT devices were to be tablets (although I personally would appreciate the ability to run proper desktop applications even on a tablet in a pinch) but the industry has already made it clear they expect a significant proportion of the market to be of the transformer type so why restrict functionality when in laptop mode? While legacy software would clearly not work without some sort of emulation layer, any currently maintained (userland) program could be transitioned with minimal effort.
Tomi Engdahl says:
What happened to the W8 USB hardware requirement?
http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/7/3071324/what-happened-to-the-w8-usb-hardware-requirement
So a while ago Microsoft announced the hardware requirements for Windows 8 tablets. One of those requirements was that they had to have at least one full USB port. So far I don’t think any of the announced Windows 8 tablets at Computex have had a full USB port on the actual tablet devices themselves.
They all appear to have USB ports on the keyboard dock sections but this shouldn’t count; it isn’t very practical if you have to dock with the keyboard section just to plug a USB stick
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chrome For Metro Set To Arrive In Next Dev Channel Release
http://techcrunch.com/2012/06/07/chrome-for-metro-set-to-arrive-in-next-dev-channel-release/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft Office first desktop app to hit Windows 8 store
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57448966-75/microsoft-office-first-desktop-app-to-hit-windows-8-store/
Company’s own suite has been given the honor as the first desktop program, or non-Metro app, to grace the Windows 8 Store.
Dominated by Metro apps, the Windows Store has landed its first desktop program.
Office 2010 is now available through the online store, making good on Microsoft’s promise that it would offer both desktop and Metro apps for Windows 8 users. But there is a key difference between the two.
Users can download both the free and paid Metro apps directly from the store. A simple Install button downloads and then installs the app in the background. An alert flashes on the screen once the app is fully installed.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Final thoughts on Windows 8: A design disaster
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/final-thoughts-on-windows-8-a-design-disaster/20706
Summary: The biggest problem with Windows 8 is that it wasn’t born out of a need or demand. Its design failures, particularly with ‘Metro UI’ will likely be its downfall. Here’s why.
I’m now ready to sum up my Windows 8 experience with a single word: awful.
I could have chosen a number of other words — terrible, horrible, painful and execrable all spring to mind — but it doesn’t matter, the sentiment is the same.
But despite being rock-solid, snappy and responsive, as a platform to do work on Windows 8 feel utterly unusable, and that’s down to one thing — the “Metro UI” user interface.
On the face of it, Metro UI looks good. It’s new and shiny and refreshing, and it looks like it could actually be quite usable. If you’ve used Windows Phone then the interface feel familiar. Things feel good.
And then you start to use it.
The first problem comes when you try to find the application you want to run.
adopted a system called the Start Screen where the links to all your apps are spread across the screen.
As a result, rather than keeping your attention focused on a small part of the screen, you’ve now got to scan through the entire screen.
The last think I want is for my PC to force me into playing “hunt the app” every time I want to get something done.
Bolting on a new user interface is one thing, but when that user interface is incomplete, it makes you question the value of having it in the first place.
But it gets worse.
The Ribbon toolbars, which we first saw in Office 2007, weren’t developed with touch in mind, but it appears Microsoft decided to adopt them as a cheap alternative to spreading the Metro user interface across the whole of Windows 8. Not only do the not work with touch, they’re also terribly cluttered.
Another problem is what’s called ‘mystery meat navigation’ where you’re really not sure what anything is or what it does.
How many users have the patience for that, particularly in a productivity-centric environment?
There are too many hidden and invisible user interface elements in Windows 8.
And that’s how Windows 8 feels to me: clumsy and impractical.
It’s not just a massive gamble — it’s too much of a gamble.
The bottom line
There’s a palpable fear that Windows 8 will stumble out of the door. I’m hearing this from people within Microsoft, from the OEMs and vendors, and from others in and around the industry. The OEMs and vendors feel especially vulnerable, and if Windows 8 does become ‘another Vista’ then there will be an industry-wide bloodbath. Analysts are already cutting price targets on Dell and HP, and Windows 8 is only a few months away.
My predictions are that after the initial fanfare following the release, things will play out as follows:
Enterprise will continue to demand Windows 7, because to roll out Windows 8 ‘properly’, the costs will rocket through mass purchase of touch-enabled hardware and additional user interface training;
OEMs will sell Windows 7 PCs alongside Windows 8 systems because they will find it almost impossible to present the benefits of Windows 8 on desktop systems;
Microsoft will once again find itself in a position where it has to offer longer-term support for the older operating system;
Windows 9 will look significantly different to Windows 8, and likely switch back to the ‘traditional’ Windows interface;
Depending on how Windows RT tablets sell, Metro could well be on life-support come Windows 9.
servis laptopova says:
servis laptopova…
[...]Windows 8 on ARM « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog[...]…
Tomi Engdahl says:
Analysis: Stakes high as “Wintel” puts all its chips on Windows 8
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/11/us-computex-wintel-idUSBRE85905120120611
(Reuters) – The world of Wintel – Microsoft, Intel and the Taiwan-based companies that build the computers their products power and run on – is taking a huge collective bet on Windows 8.
At stake is the future of the world’s largest software developer, whose new operating system is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter, and it largest chip maker, as well as an island-wide industry of computer makers and parts suppliers.
In one corner you have Microsoft Corp, which is porting its tiled Metro interface used in Windows Phone to tablets, laptops and the desktop.
In another corner you have chip maker Intel Corp, long Microsoft’s partner in personal computers.
“Is this going to be a major resurrection? Well, at least it’ll help stop tablets from cannibalizing the PC laptop sector,” said Jonah Cheng, an analyst with UBS.
“Microsoft will live and die on how well the OEMs implement the features of Windows 8,” says Forrester principal analyst Frank Gillett.
Intel, too, is trying to push the OEMs to add touch screens and other whizz-bang features to help to push the Ultrabook up-market and differentiate it from the MacBook Air.
Intel has even gone so far as to sign agreements with touchscreen suppliers undertaking to buy up excess capacity to ensure there are adequate supplies for the OEMs, who make much of the world’s computer hardware for global vendors and, increasingly, their own brands.
While Computex was show time for Windows 8 and the devices running the system, there is still some way to go until the software’s launch. And there are plenty of issues still to hammer out.
Analyst Serene Chan of Frost and Sullivan said that Microsoft plans to charge $100 for each Windows 8 licence – a significant increase over what it charged for Windows 7 running on mobile devices, especially when compared with Google’s Android operating system, which manufacturers can use for free.
“The cost of the licence that OEMs have to pay Microsoft will be a major drawback,” she said.
Computex 2012 marked a divergence of interests as Microsoft is now also working closely with ARM, offering a version of Windows 8 called Windows RT that will work on its less power-hungry processors in tablet devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Acer’s Iconia W700 Ivy Bridge Windows 8 Tablet: The Start of Something Big
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5968/acers-iconia-w700-tablet-windows-8
The W700′s build quality is excellent, however the handful of devices that exist in the world today were all hand built. I was surprised to find fairly polished Windows 8 tablets at Computex, and it turns out I was right to be surprised. Everyone worked overtime to get devices ready by Compute
Performance: Much Better than an ARM Tablet
The W700 is understandably fast. Intel isn’t talking about CPU specifics, likely because the final configuration isn’t decided yet. There’s clearly an ultra-low voltage Ivy Bridge inside but I suspect this is more than just another Ultrabook chip.
Even running a well underclocked Ivy Bridge it’s far smoother and more capable than any ARM or Atom based tablet. As Metro is designed to be responsive on much slower hardware, it simply flies on Ivy. There are still a number of rough edges that Microsoft needs to work on. The Windows 8 release preview isn’t as polished and consistently smooth as iOS is, but I suppose that’s why it’s a release preview and not a final build of the OS. As long as Microsoft focuses on delivering consistent UI behavior (not just frame rate) across the board I see no reason Windows 8 can’t do exactly what iOS has done.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft improves media playback in Windows 8
To support adaptive bitrate streaming and HD video calls
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2183345/microsoft-improves-media-playback-windows
Microsoft has announced a list of media streaming features that it will integrate into its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.
The software house said in a post on the Building Windows 8 blog today that its Windows 8 Media Platform will maximise performance and keep media playback fast and responsive by enabling the power of the hardware.
“Video decoding for common media formats will be offloaded to a dedicated hardware subsystem for media,” said Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft’s president of Windows.
“This allows us to significantly lower CPU usage, resulting in smoother video playback and a longer battery life, as the dedicated media hardware is much more efficient than the CPU at media decoding. This improves all scenarios that require video decoding, including playback, transcoding, encoding, and capture scenarios.”
“We designed the media platform to support both playback-optimised and communication-optimised scenarios. The media infrastructure can switch between a playback mode (high buffering, more tolerant of varying conditions) and a communications-optimized mode (low delay),” Sanofsky added.
“with added support for H.264 cameras, users will be able to communicate with friends and family in high-fidelity HD video.”
Microsoft said it has also enhanced adaptive bitrate streaming functions, for movies on Youtube for example
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft Answers Coder Cries Over New Development Kit
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/06/visual-studio-pricing/
After developers complained that the free version of Microsoft’s new Visual Studio programming kit would only let them build Windows applications if they use Microsoft’s new touch-happy Metro interface, the software giant has changed its tune. The company will now offer a free version of Visual Studio that lets them build ordinary Windows desktop applications as well.
Announced with a post from Microsoft corporate vice president of developers, Soma Somasegar, Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop will officially arrive this fall, alongside the new Windows 8 operating system and other versions of Visual Studio.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2012/06/08/visual-studio-express-2012-for-windows-desktop.aspx
With Visual Studio 2012, we strive to provide the best development experience across all Microsoft platforms. This includes enabling developers to bring to life the richness of Windows desktop applications – whether you are learning to build your first app or whether you’ve been developing on Microsoft platforms for many years.
A few weeks ago, we shared our plans for the Express editions of Visual Studio 2012. As we’ve worked to deliver the best experience with Visual Studio for our platforms with Windows 8, Windows Phone, and for Web and Windows Azure, we heard from our community that developers want to have for Windows desktop development the same great experience and access to the latest Visual Studio 2012 features at the Express level.
Today, I’m happy to announce that we will add Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop to the Visual Studio 2012 family. This will bring to the Visual Studio Express family significant new capabilities that we’ve made available in Visual Studio 2012 for building great desktop applications.
Planned for release in the fall, Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop will provide a great learning environment for students and other new developers getting started. It will enable a friction-free solution for existing developers to bring their desktop apps forward with the latest toolsets. And it will enable developers working on open source applications to target existing and previous versions of Windows.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft claims Windows RT is the ‘most compatible’ ARM OS
Says ARM laptops will see Windows RT
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2183844/microsoft-claims-windows-rt-compatible-arm
SOFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft has said its upcoming Windows RT will be loaded on laptops and tablets, claiming it is the “most compatible” ARM operating system.
Microsoft’s Windows 8 will be the first time the firm has launched a desktop operating system that supports the ARM architecture, albeit with the Windows RT branding. Now the firm has said that laptops and tablets will feature Windows RT and called it the most compatible ARM operating system.
Windows RT devices in tablet and laptops will run all the apps from the Windows store. It will also include [Microsoft] Office components like Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Onenote and support a large amount of PC peripherals through in-box class drivers. Relative to other ARM offerings in the market, Windows RT will be the most compatible ARM offering on the market.”
“All the Windows 8 apps that run on x86 will also run on Windows RT.” Visser also cited inclusion of in-box drivers for PC hardware, something that is largely missing from both Android and IOS devices.
Visser also said users can side-load applications on Windows RT devices, meaning the Windows Store isn’t the only source of applications. When we asked whether this could be a security risk Visser said, “In the case of side-loading apps, the app will be certified through the enterprise IT organisation.”
As for why Microsoft will allow side-loading applications in Windows RT, apparently that is what big business wants.
Microsoft’s history of not relying on a central app store in its operating systems could be just the flexibility firms want rather than being shackled to app stores run by Apple or Google.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft charges Tablet OEMs a whopping $85 for Windows RT
http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-charges-tablet-oems-a-whopping-85-for-windows-rt/16250.html
During our meetings with multiple vendors on the Computex Taipei, we were talking about pricing options for taking the Windows RT route instead of (free) Android from Google. While it was rumored that Microsoft decided to change their ways and offer a price of about 35 dollars – the reality is that Windows RT will cost staggering USD$80-95 dollars, with $85 being the most commonly quoted price.
Microsoft and Intel both took the Ultrabook route and charge “an arm and a leg” for the RT-powered tablet. Given that NVIDIA’s BoM (Bill of Materials) sped past the $100, there isn’t a lot of room for sub $500 tablets.
Read more: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-charges-tablet-oems-a-whopping-85-for-windows-rt/16250.html#ixzz1xebjEc3J
Rosa Krucke says:
This is the wonderful seo blog filled with exclusive written content!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Linus Torvalds on Windows 8, UEFI, and Fedora
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/linus-torvalds-on-windows-8-uefi-and-fedora/11187
Summary: Microsoft has made it so that Windows 8 approved PC can only run Windows 8. Fedora Linux has forged a way around it, but not everyone like their approach. Torvalds gives his thoughts on the issue.
All Windows 8 licensed hardware will be shipping with secure boot enabled by default in their replacement for the BIOS, Unfied Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). So far, so good, who doesn’t want more security? The fly in the soup is that by default only Windows 8 will run on these systems, so no Linux, no BSD, heck, no Windows XP for that matter.
Fedora Linux, Red Hat’s community distribution, has found a way: sign up with Microsoft, via Verisign to make their own Windows 8 system compatible UEFI secure boot key. A lot of Linux people hate this compromise.
“An alternative was producing some sort of overall Linux key. It turns out that this is also difficult, since it would mean finding an entity who was willing to take responsibility for managing signing or key distribution.”
Torvalds doesn’t think Microsoft’s spin on Windows 8 UEFI secure boot is really going to do for security. “The real problem, I feel, is that clever hackers will bypass the whole key”
Torvalds concluded, “Signing is a tool in the tool-box, but it’s not solving all the security problems, and while I think some people are a bit too concerned about it, it’s true that it can be mis-used.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 on the Retina Display MacBook Pro
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6008/windows-8-on-the-retina-display-macbook-pro
After getting both Windows 7 and Windows 8 running on the machine, here are some quick thoughts.
Windows 7 won’t expose any resolutions higher than 1600 x 1200 without an actual NVIDIA driver, while Windows 8 will let you select the full 2880 x 1800 panel resolution.
The problem is Apple doesn’t provide a Boot Camp driver set for the Retina MacBook Pro yet. I had to use the Broadcom wireless driver from my SNB MacBook Pro to get WiFi working under Windows. Unfortunately, NVIDIA doesn’t offer a downloadable GeForce GT 650M driver for either Windows 7 or Windows 8 just yet.
Even without a working NVIDIA driver, I was able to get a feel for what a 2880 x 1800 setting would look like on a traditional desktop under Windows 8. If you remember back to our scaling and display analysis articles, Apple doesn’t offer a desktop resolution equivalent higher than 1920 x 1200 under OS X. The thinking being that unscaled 2880 x 1800 would just be too small for the desktop, icon text and default UI elements. The screenshot below shows the Windows 8 desktop at default (no DPI scaling) settings at 2880 x 1800
Text is indeed very small, but I suspect those with very good eyesight could actually be ok with this.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft Schedules L.A. Event for Some Windows Tablet Talk
http://allthingsd.com/20120614/microsoft-schedules-la-event-for-some-windows-tablet-talk/
After months of being secretive about its work to bring Windows 8 to ARM-based tablets, Microsoft is about ready to raise the veil.
The company has scheduled an event on Monday in Los Angeles where it is expected to show devices running the software as well as highlight some of the kinds of programs and services that will run on the products, according to sources outside the company.
Microsoft is confirming the L.A. event but is not offering any details on what will be covered.
Microsoft Manufacturing Tablet to Rival Apple iPad, Says Insider (Exclusive)
http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/microsoft-go-after-apple-new-tablet-says-insider-44271
Microsoft is set to unveil a tablet next week that will mark its entry into rival Apple’s territory with its own branded product, TheWrap has learned.
But an individual with knowledge of the company said that Microsoft would introduce a Microsoft-manufactured tablet at the event, marking a foray into a new hardware category that would put the company in direct competition with giant rival Apple.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rumors have surfaced that Microsoft’s new tablet will run on Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 that uses an ARM microprocessor.
Microsoft to take on Apple with own Windows 8 tablet?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57453729-92/microsoft-to-take-on-apple-with-own-windows-8-tablet/
Tech titan is doing something highly unusual — making its own device. And thereby taking on Apple directly, according to reports.
Microsoft will announce its own tablet next week at an event in Los Angeles, according to reports, taking a page from Apple’s playbook.
If true, this is not the typical Microsoft business model; usually it leaves device announcements to device makers. The PC industry is the classic example of this.
And, so far, that has been the case for Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets. Companies like Acer and Asus demonstrated Windows 8 tablets and hybrids at Computex last week, for instance.
But a report at The Wrap and another at AllThingsD say Microsoft has other plans.
Microsoft reportedly concluded that it must have its own tablet and is involved in the hardware design too. The Wrap reported it is a “Microsoft-manufactured tablet,” that would “put the company in direct competition with giant rival Apple.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft plots entry into tablet trade
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/06/15/microsoft_plots_own_branded_entry_into_tablet_trade/
Microsoft will launch its own tablet device next week, entering the booming slate market without the help of a separate hardware manufacturer, it has been claimed.
The company has promised to make a major announcement at an event on Monday, 18 June said to be related to its tablet strategy. Sources close to the matter say Microsoft will unveil an own-brand iPad rival, The Wrap reports.
Whisperers reckon Microsoft’s forthcoming fondleslab will front Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 coded to run on Arm microprocessors.
Tomi Engdahl says:
TI Demos Windows RT UI Performance on OMAP 4470
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6010/ti-demos-windows-rt-ui-performance-on-omap-4470
Last week at Computex, TI showed Anand Windows RT running on one of their own reference tablets.
Today, at TI’s Media day, I was given a video (in addition to shooting some of my own, which is the second one below) of Windows RT performance being demonstrated on one of Toshiba’s upcoming Windows RT devices. This runs on an OMAP 4470 SoC (which consists of two ARM Cortex A9s and PowerVR SGX544MP1) at final clocks. I’m told that Windows RT will not utilize the 2D composition engine on OMAP 4470 at launch, but may at a later date.
Tomi says:
Microsoft tries to promote Windows 8 without hurting Windows 7 sales
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/061312-microsoft-tries-to-promote-windows-260127.html?source=nww_rss
With Windows 8′s commercial availability expected before the end of this year, Microsoft finds itself in the tricky position of generating enthusiasm for it without affecting Windows 7 sales.
The difficulty in striking this delicate balance became evident on Tuesday, when Microsoft officials spent the day at TechEd North America promoting Windows 8 in speeches, press conferences and demo sessions, while telling the 10,000 IT pros in attendance that their organizations, if they haven’t done so already, should upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.
“Windows 8 is a bold new bet, and it’s a generational change in Windows,” said Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president of Windows Web Services. “Windows 8 first and foremost is a better Windows than Windows 7.”
Leblond said Windows 7 is the last in a line of OSes that began with Windows 95, designed primarily for desktop PCs that are always connected to a power source and act as the main repository for users’ applications, data and content.
On the other hand, Windows 8 is designed for the world’s shift to mobile devices that run on batteries and to applications and content that live dispersed in a variety of web sites and must be constantly available.
Windows 8 computers based on x86 chips from Intel and AMD will run Windows 7 applications, and will co-exist with Windows 7 machines on enterprise environments, Visser said.
“The investments [enterprise customers] are making today on Windows 7 from a hardware infrastructure and also in application compatibility carry forward into Windows 8,” Visser said.
At the same time, Microsoft is “very proud and bullish” about the value of Windows 8 for enterprises, so it expects to see customers upgrade to it from Windows 7, he said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Developing for Windows on ARM
http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Developing-For-Windows-on-ARM
In this video Jason Zander, Corporate Vice President of Visual Studio, walks us through the process of developing an application for Windows on ARM (WOA). Find out how you can use Visual Studio 2012 RC to do remote debugging, unit testing, and remote profiling on a Windows tablet.