With the release of Windows 8 and its brand spanking new Metro interface, Microsoft will all-but get rid of the Start Menu off for good. At least, that's the plan.
Despite having something of a terrible last couple of weeks what with the San Jose court case, today's press regarding Samsung has been all positive thanks to the company doing what it does best - talking new gadgets. As well as the Galaxy Note II and the ATIV S Windows Phone 8 smartphone, which we discussed in an earlier post, the Korean outfit has also showcased a couple of new tablets, and here, we give them the once-over.
You may have thought, with the San Jose court ruling, Samsung has to pay Apple in excess of a billion dollars for infringing on its patents and keeping it cool for copying its ideas - at least for a bit. The video of Samsung's new Sydney retail store made us all chuckle a couple of days ago for its almost inch-by-inch emulation of an Apple retail store, and now, it looks as though the Korean outfit is after snippets of Apple's desktop operating system.
Samsung's IFA gathering in Berlin, Germany, is fast-approaching, and as is usually the case in the run-up to a media event, the rumors and speculation regarding what'll be revealed are arriving thick and fast.
If you happen to be the owner of a touch-screen tablet like the iPad or something similar, and also a big fan of Microsoft's Office suite of programs, then you probably live under an umbrella of disappointment and are aware of the fact that the Redmond software giants don't offer any native Office apps for the iPad. There's been talk of the iPad App Store receiving some official apps from Microsoft, but up until now nothing has come to fruition, leaving some users extremely disappointed and having to look for alternative solutions to satisfy their need to create and edit documents on the go.
If you are dicing with the idea of going out and purchasing the fabulous new Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft, then it could be worthwhile getting on board with it earlier rather than later. Microsoft is planning on offering the Windows 8 Pro version at an initial promotional price point of $69.99 for early adopters, with the price finally increasing to $199 when that promotion comes to an end on January 31st 2013.
If you are the owner and operator of a Windows based PC then the chances are that you might have taken the plunge and downloaded the Windows 8 release-to-manufacturing (RTM) build that has recently been made available by Microsoft to subscribers of MSDN and TechNet. The Windows 8 operating system has gained some significant traction during the course of the testing phase and there is definitely quite a buzz surrounding the official release with Windows fan desperate to get their hands on Microsoft's latest creation.
Microsoft is now offering a 90-day trial of Windows 8 Enterprise edition for development and evaluation purposes. Earlier today, Microsoft released the final bits of Windows 8 RTM to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
Windows RT - based on Windows 8 - is the first desktop operating from Microsoft that has been developed from the ground up for touch-screen devices i.e. tablets. It replaces the traditional desktop interface in favor of a Windows Phone-like start screen, made for touch-input apps, a Windows Store for downloading them, multi-touch gestures and more! With Windows RT and OEMs like Samsung, ASUS, Lenovo, HP etc., Microsoft aims to directly compete with Apple’s iPad in the tablet market.
As minor a detail as it may seem, it'll be the packaging you see at every electronics store for the next 3-4 years, and images of the retail Windows 8 packaging have leaked into the wild courtesy of TheVerge. In-keeping with the general theme of the operating system as a whole, the boxing of Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro both have a clear reference to the Metro interface, with the Pro edition coming in a charcoal gray color contrasting the whiteness of the standard edition.
