The notebook market is becoming a very blurred environment, with touchscreen options and detachable keyboards crossing over with the tablet market on a frequent basis. These tablet-notebook devices are often referred to as hybrids, but Samsung has come through with an alternative kind of concoction by announcing a convertible that can dual boot Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2. Moreover, the ATIV Q packs in a fantastically sharp 3200x1800 13.3-inch display, and with an S Pen Stylus also a part of a device just 0.55 inches thick, this might just be the all-in-one you've been holding out for.
The introduction of USB to the computing world could be such a huge technological marvel, it’s hard to fathom that the early adopters of the interface would’ve imagined that when they introduced it to the market. Yet today, we have everything running on USB – from speaker systems to input/output devices to rechargeable batteries and whatnot. So much so that the USB port has become a standard electrical supply for a lot of non-computing gadgets as well.
Apple has just updated its iTunes app with a couple of rudimentary improvements and bug fixes. Notably, the bug that would previously cause iTunes to quit unexpectedly when syncing switched from wired and wireless has now been plugged, and a further issue which meant users would need to sign in repeatedly to the iTunes Store has also been sorted out. More details after the break.
Microsoft recently revealed all of the key details pertaining to the forthcoming Windows 8.1, but aside from a few screenshots, we haven't yet been dealt a proper, close-up insight of what the newly updated OS will look like when in action. Today, however, the Redmond dropped a short video clip offering the world its first significant look at Windows 8.1, and although the numbering suggests the update is actually minor, together, these rather small little tweaks make for a wholly rather significant change from the Windows 8 platform preceding it.
Having announced the complete set of changes for Windows 8.1 last week, Microsoft has taken another bold step and made the Windows 8.1 Preview page live for everyone to see. More details can be found right after the jump.
Microsoft has officially lifted the lid off the first major update to their Windows 8 desktop operating system and we can confirm that it is a fairly substantial point upgrade for those using the platform. Rather than the usual small incremental changes that we sometimes see with OS upgrades, Microsoft clearly had their serious hat on when developing the Windows 8.1 update. In addition to the expected and surprising amendments the Redmond based company has also taken the opportunity to update a number of their native apps as well as introduce some new apps with the 8.1 update that will definitely be well received by users. Carry on reading to find out what's new in Windows 8.1.
It may have taken twelve months from announcement to reality, but Microsoft's Surface Pro has finally gone on sale in the UK today. Microsoft announced a few weeks ago that a collection of countries would see the Surface Pro arrive by the end of May. Today, it was the UK's turn and Microsoft is celebrating by devoting the company's UK website's home page to the new tablet.
Microsoft has really been on the offensive over the past few weeks in the tablet world, having taken a series of swipes at Apple's iPad in an attempt to rejuvenate the Surface's flagging start in the Cupertino-dominated market. With the company chairman, co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates having already stepped out recently to note of the iPad's frustrating interface, the Redmond company is currently running an ad campaign in an attempt to point out the exact reasons why consumers should choose Windows 8 tablets over iPad. Just a short while ago, we saw the Windows maker use Apple's Siri voice recognition software to poke fun at the market leader, and following on from that is another ad showing just how much more productive one can be when using Windows.
Earlier this year, we caught a glimpse of the technologies of Leap Motion, one of a number of companies looking to take the world of gesture-based research by storm. One of the more intriguing insights we've had into how this kind of tech could significantly broaden the horizons in the gesture-filled landscape, Leap Motion offered a very enticing introductory video back in February illustrating how its peripheral could turn almost any computing setup into an effortless, three-dimensional realm of pinching and swiping elegance, enhancing the general user experience on all kinds of different levels. To whet the appetites further, Leap has come through with yet another video clip, and if you were somewhat unmoved by the initial demonstration clip, prepare to be wowed!
Users of Windows 8 have been sitting on the edge of their seats in the last week or so when Adobe eventually announced the changes that they are making to their creative software packages. They may still be waiting for the Adobe to introduce a redesigned version of Photoshop that takes full advantage of Microsoft's new Modern interface and navigation methodologies, but it seems that they can at least be temporarily appeased with the release of the Photoshop Express app on the Windows Store.
