Steve Ballmer is “Super-Glad” Microsoft Built Surface, Thinks Windows 8 Adoption is “Perfect”

Steve Ballmer sat for a spell with MIT Technology Review to discuss the Windows 8 ecosystem.

It’s no easy task to gauge the impact Windows 8 is having on the industry, in part because the industry is changing. The traditional desktop is taking a backseat in popularity to mobile form factors, like notebooks,tablets, and hybrids. Windows 8, as you know, is an attempt to bring all these devices together, along with smartphones, under a unified user interface. IsMicrosoft happy with its strategy up to this point?

Jason Pontin, MIT Technology Review’s Editor-in-Chief, had a chance to speak with Steve Ballmer about Windows 8 and related topics. One of the questions he asked is what Ballmer feels is a reasonable adoption period for a new version of an operating system that’s to be used by a billion people.

“Well, it’s a complex question. You’ll need to define what you mean by adoption rate. It’s affected by three things: How many do we sell? How quickly do people retire the installed base that they own? And what are the similarities and differences between the consumer market and the corporate market?,” Ballmer said. “In the first 10 weeks, we sold 60 million copies. All new consumer PCs are now Windows 8 based. So in that sense, I would say that here the adoption rate is perfect.”

Ballmer pointed out that consumers upgrade PCs less frequently than phones but upgrade them more frequently than TVs and game consoles. And in the corporate world, “adoption is always a little slower.”

And what of Microsoft’s Surface strategy?

“I’m super-glad we did Surface,” Ballmer said. “I think it is important — and not just for Microsoft, but for the entire Windows ecosystem — to see integrated hardware and software….Surface is a real business. In an environment in which there’s 350 million PCs sold, I don’t think Surface is going to dominate volume, but it’s a real business.”

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview Available Now

Well that was fast. Canonical, the parent company behind Ubuntu, recently announced itsintentions to provide Ubuntu for tablets, in addition to its goal to launch Ubuntu smartphones in 2014. Good news, tinkerers: the developer preview of Ubuntu Touch is now available for download.

Ubuntu promises the software, which is available for the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, will provide support for WiFi, GSM network connections, functional cameras and the shell and core applications needed to experience the software in full. You’ll need to have some coding chops to get started, however, since there are a few commands required. You also have to make sure your device is unlocked so that Ubuntu can access the bootloader.

Thankfully, if you don’t dig the experience and want Android back, it’s as easy as downloading the factory image and reflashing it to your device. If you run into troubles along the way, you can join the company’s mailing list or head over to its IRC channel at irc.freenode.net and joining the #ubuntu-phone channel.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Google Nexus 7 and 10 first to try new Ubuntu tablet OS

Ubuntu for tablets is a new operating system for slates, joining Ubuntu for phones -- and you can try out features such as phone apps sharing the screen with tablet apps on your Google Nexus 7 or Nexus 10.

Although it's optimised for the ARM chips that power tablets, the tablet version of the OS shares most of its code with desktop Ubuntu. That means you should be able to dock your phone or tablet with TV, computer or keyboard and the interface will adapt accordingly.

With Side Stage, you can put phone and tablet apps side-by-side on your tablet screen to multi-task to your heart's content. Maybe you need to consult a website and a map or note app at the same time -- or maybe an app doesn't come in tablet form yet and you want to pair it with another app.

You navigate with gestures at the edge of the screen, so there's no physical buttons and no home button required. The software is based around a universal hub for search, apps and your music and movies and other stuff, with a notification centre that uses sideways swipes to access your email, tweets and settings.

There's support for multiple users so you can share the tablet round the family and visitors, and there's voice control using the Ubuntu HUD interface.

[Source: CNET - Click here to read the full story]

Microsoft sells out of 128GB Surface Pro models online and in some stores

If you were wondering how well the public would take to a Microsoft-made tablet costing $899 or more... quite well, at least from initial impressions. The 128GBSurface Pro has sold out at Microsoft's US online store, and checks suggest a lack of stock at both the company's retail stores as well as Best Buy and Staples. Canada is facing similar shortages at Best Buy and Future Shop. Not surprisingly,storage worries (since partly alleviated) have left the 64GB tablet as the only one in consistent supply, and we suspect that the 128GB model in Microsoft's Canadian store won't last for much longer. We'd be cautious before declaring the Surface Pro a runaway hit, however -- there's no word on how many units each store had, and Microsoft has refrained from reporting Surface sale numbers to date. Still, the early uptake is good news for Microsoft's first foray into designing an x86 PC, and it shows that many early adopters aren't hung up on the price.

[Source: Engadget]

Galaxy Note 8.0 Will Reportedly Come in Three Different Iterations

When Samsung releases the Galaxy Note 8.0, it should arrive in three iterations: Wi-Fi-only, Wi-Fi + 3G and Wi-Fi + 3G + LTE. And, according to Bluetooth SIG information, the devices will at the very least arrive in Europe. Of course, we’d expect such a big name Android device to also come to North America and Asia as well, though no such announcement has been made for any continents.

The alleged device has shown its 8-inch face on more than one occasion, so it’s safe to say the device is coming. And the likely platform Samsung will use to introduce the device will be Mobile World Congress, which begins at the end of this month. Specs are still cloudy, but reports suggest we can expect the device to come with Jelly Bean, an S Pen, quad-core processor, 5-megapixel camera and  a1280 x 800 display.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Nexus 10 launches in Japan

Some two and a half months after the original launch, Google and Samsung's Nexus 10 is now available in Japan. The high-resolution, 10-inch Nexus tablet is on sale through the Japanese Google Play Store, where it's priced at ¥36,800 (around $400) for the 16GB model, and ¥44,800 (around $480) with 32GB.

[Source: AndroidCentral]

RIM Basically Confirms New BlackBerry 10 Tablets Coming

RIM just announced that it’s going to run an ad during the Super Bowl. That’s great, but buried in the release the company also re-confirmed that BlackBerry 10-powered tablets are in the pipeline. Here’s the clip that stands out most:

RIM confirms that BlackBerry 10, its new mobile computing platform that will power the next generation of smartphones and tablets, will be featured in a commercial during Super Bowl XLVII.

We haven’t heard of any news on when RIM will launch a follow-up to the PlayBook, but we hope it doesn’t botch this tablet launch as badly as it did that one.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Surface Pro out on 9 February for $899, UK may have to wait

Microsoft's Surface Pro -- the version of its Surface tablet that runs fullWindows 8 -- will be on sale in a matter of weeks in the US and Canada.

The powerful tablet will cost from $899 -- £570 -- when it goes on sale on 9 February, but other nations may be left waiting, as the Verge reports that additional countries will "follow in the coming weeks and months".

That means Brits keen to get their mitts on Microsoft's kit may be waiting a while longer. That's frustrating news for UK gadget fans who may have held off buying the already-released Surface RT tablet, in the hope of snapping up the full-fat model.

The first Surface, which was released in November to faint applause, can only install software via Microsoft's own app store, which makes it a poor laptop replacement (though it does cost a more palatable £399).

The Surface Pro, on the other hand, will let you install anything you like, and also packs an Intel Core i5 processor and a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen. It's heavier than the Surface RT though, and a little thicker at 13.5mm.

While Windows 8 has an attractive new interface, it's fair to say it hasn't set the world on fire since it was released towards the end of last year. Microsoft annoyed some of its hardware partners by deciding to make its own tablet, and Samsung canned its Ativ Tab device, blaming Microsoft for not explaining Windows RT properly. Acer has also stuck its Windows RT tablets on hold.

In other words, Microsoft could probably use a big win right now, and perhaps a cuddle too. Neither are likely to be forthcoming if shoppers have to wait ages before they can snap up the Surface Pro, however.

[Source: CNET]

Sony announces the quad-core, 10-inch Tablet Z

Sony Mobile has announced the Android 4.1-powered Xperia Tablet Z, right as we expected them to do so. The specs also match last week's rumors, with a few extra surprises thrown in. The Tablet Z comes equipped with a 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display complete with the Mobile Bravia Engine 2, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of on device storage, a microSD card slot, NFC, and an 8.1 MP Exmor R camera. Providing the juice for all this is the Qualcomm quad-core APQ8064 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, with an LTE modem on board for the ride. As rumored, the Tablet Z is also extremely thin (6.9 mm) as well as water and dust proof like it's slightly smaller cousin the Xperia Z.

What we don't know is pricing and availability. Hopefully we get word at Mobile World Congress next month if not earlier. We'll keep an eye out and let you know when Sony has anything further to tell us all. We've got a picture of the rear after the break.

[Source: AndroidCentral]

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Expected to Launch in Japan on NTT DoCoMo

We recently caught wind of a new Sony tabled dubbed the “Xperia Tablet Z” and now there’s already word that the device may be unveiled in Japan in the coming days. NTT DoCoMo recently listed the slate on a product page, but has since pulled any mention of the tablet. Sure, it may have been mentioned, but we have a feeling this is a product that will make its official debut during Mobile World Congress next month.

What can you expect when it finally does hit store shelves? Leaks suggest it will pack a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, a full HD 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution display, 32GB of storage,a large 6,000mAh battery and 2GB of RAM. 

Those specs are all competitive with high-end tablets, so don’t expect a budget price point.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Tegra 4 Likely to Power Next-Gen Surface RT Tablets

NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor powers the current generation Microsoft Surface RT, so it seems like a natural fit for Microsoft to sign NVIDIA on again for the next-generation Surface. Digitimes expects NVIDIA to become a go-to player in the Surface RT market, and believes that the firm’s next-generation Tegra 4 chip will indeed be tapped to power the second-generation Surface RT.

“Since Nvidia has a long history of cooperation with Microsoft in terms of graphics and GPGPU computing technologies, while demand for GPU computing has started to weigh heavier, these advantages are all expected to help Nvidia become competitive in the Windows RT market,” Digitimes Research analyst Eric Lin said.

Lin believes NVIDIA may also struggle to build and ecosystem for the NVIDIA Project Shield gaming device, however, which is a bit bizarre since it will run PC games and Android games. In other words, a media ecosystem is already well established.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

CES 2013: Archos FamilyPad 2 hands on

Well that was quick. Just a few months after Archos introduced their behemoth, family-sized FamilyPad to the UK, the company is here in Las Vegas showing off their follow-up, the FamilyPad 2. Archos was tight-lipped on specs and specifics, but recent rumors suggest the FamilyPad 2 will feature a minor processor bump with a 1.6 GHz Cortex A9-- up from the original's 1 GHz A8. The other major improvement is in onboard storage-- look for 16GB here rather than eight. Based on what we saw today, it looks like the FamilyPad 2 will ship with Jelly Bean, a welcome addition.

Aside from the minor bumps, the rest of the specs look to be the same, including 1 GB of RAM and that behemoth 13.3-inch IPS display. It's a beauty, despite its relatively low 1280 x 800 resolution. As you can see in the video below, handling this thing takes some flexibility, as the sheer size and weight make one-handed operation downright impossible. Make no mistake about it: this thing is a beast, and puts on no airs about being portable or lightweight.

The upside of its huge size is its multimedia capabilities-- watching videos, movies, and streaming content will look gorgeous, and the FamilyTab 2 is large enough for multi-person viewing. As you can see, Archos had it on a nice stand, which in your home would make the FamilyTab 2 a nice small television replacement.

Performance wise, everything seems up to snuff, though we would have loved to test out some games, which this tablet will certainly be ideal for. With Jelly Bean onboard and a more-than-capable processor, I wasn't able to find any lag or serious problems with the basic UI, though we'll reserve judgment until we get one in our home.

As always, we'll keep our eyes peeled for a proper spec sheet, release and pricing information. More photos and a hands-on video can be found after the break.

[Source: AndroidCentral]