Silvermont will be the first new architecture for the low-power Atom chip
platform, which is aimed at everything from smartphones to microservers.
Intel, as it prepares to unveil its next-generation Core “Haswell” chip for
tablets and notebooks in early June, is reportedly preparing to outline the new
architecture that will be the underpinning of upcoming of low-power Atom chips
that will begin appearing in devices later this year.
Intel officials are expected to talk about the “Silvermont” architecture at
an event at the company’s Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters May 6. Silvermont
represents the first new architecture for the Atom platform since it was
introduced in 2008 and targeted at the now passé netbook.
Since that time, Intel executives have rapidly expanded Atom’s reach,
making it the platform for not only many of its tablet plans and smartphones,
but also for embedded devices and even low-power microservers. Silvermont will
be the next-generation architecture for upcoming chips like the 22-nanometer
“Bay Trail” for tablets and other devices running both Microsoft’s Windows 8 and
Google’s Android operating systems, and for “Merrifield,” which will go into
smartphones.
It also will be the architecture for “Avoton,” which will succeed
“Centerton” in microservers such as Hewlett-Packard’s Project Moonshot
systems.
Silvermont is expected to bring greater performance and lower power to the
Bay Trail chips, which Intel officials are hoping will help the vendor make
inroads into a tablet market where most of the devices currently run on
ARM-designed chips made by the likes of Qualcomm, Samsung and Nvidia. The chips,
which will include higher end Intel graphics capabilities, also could be a boon
for Windows 8 tablets, which still lag far behind those devices running Android
and Apple’s iOS.
Analysts have been critical of the performance of ARM-based tablets running
Microsoft’s Windows RT OS.
Intel officials have said tablets, hybrids and convertible devices powered
by the quad-core Bay Trail system-on-a-chips (SoCs) will appear in before the
holiday shopping season and help drive down tablet prices to as low as $200.
Smartphones powered by Merrifield are expected to hit the market early next
year.
Analysts at Strategy Analytics said in an April 25 report that of the 40.6
million tablets shipped in the first quarter, 48 ran iOS, while 43 percent ran
Android. Windows held a 7.5 percent market share. The 40.6 million tablets
shipped represented a 117 percent increase over the 18.7 million shipped during
the same period in 2012.
Though Microsoft saw a 7.5 percent market share, it was hindered by limited
distribution, a shortage of top-tier apps and confusion in the market, according
to Strategy Analytics.
Not all analysts saw that number as a bad sign for either Microsoft or
Intel. Ross Seymore, research analyst with Deutsche Bank, said in a research
note April 26 that Windows 8 “did surprisingly well” considering it had no
market share a year earlier.
Seymore also noted that Intel powered more than 90 percent of all the
Windows-based tablets, and that its chip strategy has the company poised to grow
its market share against ARM. He said that Intel’s current “Cover Trail” SoCs
are helping drive tablet prices to as low as $449, and that Bay Trail will help
lower prices even more. The chips “offer comparable performance and power
efficiency” as the ARM chips and give OEMs a solid alternative to ARM SoCs,
Seymore said.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Home windows Cellular phone end users begun
Microsoft has introduced an application in the Google Enjoy retail outlet
created to get people today to halt making use of said keep and the Android
phones that hook up to it. Just identified as "Switch to Home windows Cellular
phone," it scans your Android cellular phone for all of your current put in
applications and afterwards will save the outcome using your Microsoft ID. Then,
making use of a companion app on Home windows Phone alone, you can indication in
and find out most of the equal applications in Microsoft's possess retail
outlet, tapping via to set up them each and every one-by-one. It isn't going to
show current Android buyers what all those matched applications are, but it may
very well be practical to modern switchers.
It truly is a intelligent idea, receiving people over the considerations
that applications will not be obtainable on Home windows Cellular phone,
although the execution isn't very there still. Scanning was somewhat fast and
pain-free on Android ?a the applications says it matched 87 p.c of my installed
Android applications. Nonetheless, once I logged in the companion app on Home
windows Telephone (and experienced it crash two or three periods), I identified
that a few of the "matched" applications weren't rather correct. Alternatively
of Mint, for example, Swap to Home windows Telephone presented me having a
hyperlink to Pageonce. Though Pageonce performs largely the same functions as
Mint, for many end users "close on the identical app" is just not near
sufficient. It could have been nicer if several of individuals non-exact matches
would current various alternatives, although the Quixey-powered app did not do
that. Users preferring a far more common strategy can try out Mark/Space's
desktop switcher app.
Inspite of Microsoft's ideal endeavours, it continue to does not have every significant identify application that end users on other platforms may take with no consideration ?a much to Nokia's chagrin ?a however the predicament has become having constantly superior with the system. Whether or not it doesn't get rid of each of the hassles linked to applying the third-place smartphone OS, Microsoft's app should support get new Home windows Cellular phone end users begun after they swap.
Microsoft introduced its new Skype Online video Messages feature for iOS, Android, and Mac back again in February, though the business failed to allow it to be offered originally for its individual Windows platform. Right now, Microsoft is releasing a preview of Skype Movie Messaging for Home windows desktop end users. The standard desktop app that operates on Windows 7 and Windows 8 will include the new function, letting users to trade quick online video messages (as many as 3 minutes long) with other Skype users.
The attribute is still not offered on Microsoft's Home windows 8 Skype app, however the organization is promising to help make this readily available "shortly." Skype says it is really however tests the function, and in the instant you get twenty absolutely free messages prior to you have to subscribe to Skype Top quality for $4.ninety nine a month to carry on employing Video clip Messages.
Inspite of Microsoft's ideal endeavours, it continue to does not have every significant identify application that end users on other platforms may take with no consideration ?a much to Nokia's chagrin ?a however the predicament has become having constantly superior with the system. Whether or not it doesn't get rid of each of the hassles linked to applying the third-place smartphone OS, Microsoft's app should support get new Home windows Cellular phone end users begun after they swap.
Microsoft introduced its new Skype Online video Messages feature for iOS, Android, and Mac back again in February, though the business failed to allow it to be offered originally for its individual Windows platform. Right now, Microsoft is releasing a preview of Skype Movie Messaging for Home windows desktop end users. The standard desktop app that operates on Windows 7 and Windows 8 will include the new function, letting users to trade quick online video messages (as many as 3 minutes long) with other Skype users.
The attribute is still not offered on Microsoft's Home windows 8 Skype app, however the organization is promising to help make this readily available "shortly." Skype says it is really however tests the function, and in the instant you get twenty absolutely free messages prior to you have to subscribe to Skype Top quality for $4.ninety nine a month to carry on employing Video clip Messages.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
New iPad To Be Thinner, Lighter: Report
Apple surprised most people when it introduced the fourth-generation iPad
last fall. No one expected to see a refresh of Apple's iconic tablet until March
or April of this year, which would have fallen in line with Apple's previous,
yearly upgrade cycle. Instead, Apple introduced a fourth-gen iPad alongside the
iPad Mini that was mostly identical to the third-gen iPad. Only the processor
and the Lightning connector -- and size, of course -- make it stand out from the
previous model.
Fast forward to today, and there's no word from Apple about a fifth-generation iPad. Some had hoped Apple would stick to its yearly refresh cycle and debut a brand new device in March or April. It looks as though that's not happening.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't think we'll see the next-gen iPad until the fall. He believes production for the new product won't ramp up until August or September for a fall debut, roughly one year after Apple introduced the fourth-gen iPad. Considering Apple's silence about any new products this year, Kuo's forecast makes sense, on the surface.
If Apple is going to make people wait a full year between new iPads, the next one had better be pretty good, right? Kuo has some insight there, as well.
"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo in a report to investors. The iPad 4 measures 9.4mm thick. It is hardly chubby, but making it thinner will certainly boost the tablet's appeal.
"The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4," said Kuo. The iPad 4 weighs in at 652 grams, or about 1.44 pounds. A drop to 500 grams would put the iPad 5's weight at 1.10 pounds. The iPad 4 isn't overly heavy, but it's more than twice as heavy as the iPad Mini, which weighs a mere 0.68 pounds, about 308 grams.
Kuo said the iPad 5 will "run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4's (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad Mini's." At this point, a redesign of the full-size iPad is expected, and Kuo's predictions fall in line with those expectations.
What's interesting is how Kuo thinks Apple will be able to reduce the size and weight. First, Apple will use new screen technology that is thinner. Second, it's going to give the iPad 5 a smaller battery. Before you worry that the iPad 5 will have poor battery life, Kuo suggests that the new screen will be more power efficient. Further, the A7X processor, which uses Samsung's 28-nm processes, will be much more power efficient. Together, these will allow Apple to decrease the size of the battery without hurting battery life.
"We therefore think that iPad 5's battery capacity will be 25-30% smaller, at 8,500-9,000mAh, than iPad 4's, and the battery's thickness will be 15-20% smaller, and the number of cells will be reduced to two from three," said Kuo.
Apple has not announced any new products this year, but it will report its first quarter earnings on April 23. Perhaps some clues will emerge then.
Fast forward to today, and there's no word from Apple about a fifth-generation iPad. Some had hoped Apple would stick to its yearly refresh cycle and debut a brand new device in March or April. It looks as though that's not happening.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't think we'll see the next-gen iPad until the fall. He believes production for the new product won't ramp up until August or September for a fall debut, roughly one year after Apple introduced the fourth-gen iPad. Considering Apple's silence about any new products this year, Kuo's forecast makes sense, on the surface.
If Apple is going to make people wait a full year between new iPads, the next one had better be pretty good, right? Kuo has some insight there, as well.
"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo in a report to investors. The iPad 4 measures 9.4mm thick. It is hardly chubby, but making it thinner will certainly boost the tablet's appeal.
"The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4," said Kuo. The iPad 4 weighs in at 652 grams, or about 1.44 pounds. A drop to 500 grams would put the iPad 5's weight at 1.10 pounds. The iPad 4 isn't overly heavy, but it's more than twice as heavy as the iPad Mini, which weighs a mere 0.68 pounds, about 308 grams.
Kuo said the iPad 5 will "run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4's (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad Mini's." At this point, a redesign of the full-size iPad is expected, and Kuo's predictions fall in line with those expectations.
What's interesting is how Kuo thinks Apple will be able to reduce the size and weight. First, Apple will use new screen technology that is thinner. Second, it's going to give the iPad 5 a smaller battery. Before you worry that the iPad 5 will have poor battery life, Kuo suggests that the new screen will be more power efficient. Further, the A7X processor, which uses Samsung's 28-nm processes, will be much more power efficient. Together, these will allow Apple to decrease the size of the battery without hurting battery life.
"We therefore think that iPad 5's battery capacity will be 25-30% smaller, at 8,500-9,000mAh, than iPad 4's, and the battery's thickness will be 15-20% smaller, and the number of cells will be reduced to two from three," said Kuo.
Apple has not announced any new products this year, but it will report its first quarter earnings on April 23. Perhaps some clues will emerge then.
Much more critical however, it’s an e-mail shopper
Viewpoint on Home windows eight may very well be throughout the map, but
here’s one thing most of us ought to find a way to agree on: the greater
applications that get total benefit of the Home windows 8 interface, the higher
shape the working technique might be in. What it requirements, and hasn’t
experienced, is often a profusion of killer apps.
At yesterday’s DEMO Cell conference in San Francisco, I saw one of several first third-party Home windows 8 applications that bought me enthusiastic: TouchMail. As its title signifies, it is an e-mail customer created for contact enter.
Much more critical, however, it’s an e-mail shopper that feels like it absolutely was born to operate perfectly on Windows 8. For illustration, alternatively of the typical inbox, you get tiles which clearly show incoming messages and supply a longer-than typical snippet of text. (They are often color-coded, in order to spot messages from your boss or your husband or wife.) You'll be able to zoom out to find out far more and even more messages; should you go far more than enough, the tiles become icons representing the messages’ senders, and you also can immediately slide again to some distinct working day, 7 days or thirty day period.
TouchMail seems like it may be a super-efficient method to blast by means of extensive quantities of mail; its creators say it’s designed for folks who get at least a hundred messages daily. It’s a little bit untimely to guage it, though: the version which happens to be live to tell the tale the Home windows Keep can be a teaser relatively thank a doing the job e-mail method. The truth is, you cannot use it to acquire your own personal mail however, only to perspective some sample messages.
At DEMO, TouchMail’s creators received questioned by a doubtful decide about why they selected to launch on Windows alternatively than other platforms. (I understood his reasoning, but I was still startled - even five years ago, I just cannot consider any person believing that Home windows was not the definitely the obvious functioning method to start a completely new product or service on.) It seems they do plan to deliver their development to other devices, starting along with the one I exploit most, the iPad.
I’m pleased to hear that - but I’ll even be tickled if TouchMail seems good ample that it can help offer a still-skeptical world within the price of Windows 8.
At yesterday’s DEMO Cell conference in San Francisco, I saw one of several first third-party Home windows 8 applications that bought me enthusiastic: TouchMail. As its title signifies, it is an e-mail customer created for contact enter.
Much more critical, however, it’s an e-mail shopper that feels like it absolutely was born to operate perfectly on Windows 8. For illustration, alternatively of the typical inbox, you get tiles which clearly show incoming messages and supply a longer-than typical snippet of text. (They are often color-coded, in order to spot messages from your boss or your husband or wife.) You'll be able to zoom out to find out far more and even more messages; should you go far more than enough, the tiles become icons representing the messages’ senders, and you also can immediately slide again to some distinct working day, 7 days or thirty day period.
TouchMail seems like it may be a super-efficient method to blast by means of extensive quantities of mail; its creators say it’s designed for folks who get at least a hundred messages daily. It’s a little bit untimely to guage it, though: the version which happens to be live to tell the tale the Home windows Keep can be a teaser relatively thank a doing the job e-mail method. The truth is, you cannot use it to acquire your own personal mail however, only to perspective some sample messages.
At DEMO, TouchMail’s creators received questioned by a doubtful decide about why they selected to launch on Windows alternatively than other platforms. (I understood his reasoning, but I was still startled - even five years ago, I just cannot consider any person believing that Home windows was not the definitely the obvious functioning method to start a completely new product or service on.) It seems they do plan to deliver their development to other devices, starting along with the one I exploit most, the iPad.
I’m pleased to hear that - but I’ll even be tickled if TouchMail seems good ample that it can help offer a still-skeptical world within the price of Windows 8.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Samsung probed for allegedly bashing rival HTC online
The Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission has reportedly launched an
investigation into Samsung on allegations that the phone-maker was paying
students to post negative online comments about HTC devices, according to AFP.
HTC is one of Samsung's most staunch rivals.
Supposedly, the South Korean tech giant hired students to both write the inflammatory comments about HTC products and also recommend Samsung cell phones. The commission says that this type of behavior is akin to false advertising. According to AFP, the Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said, "The case was set up last week after we received complaints."
For its part, Samsung has said that what happened was "unfortunate" and it occurred because there was "insufficient understanding" of the "fundamental principles" of the company's online procedures. The company also said that it has stopped all marketing that "involves the posting of anonymous comments."
Here is Samsung's official statement on the matter that was sent to CNET by a company spokesperson:
Samsung Electronics remains committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers as outlined in the company's Online Communications Credo. We have encouraged all Samsung Electronics employees worldwide to remain faithful to our Credo. The recent incident was unfortunate, and occurred due to insufficient understanding of these fundamental principles.
Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments, and will ensure that all SET online marketing activities will be fully compliant with the company's Online Communications Credo.
We regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We will continue to reinforce education and training for our employees to prevent any future recurrence.
According to AFP, the alleged campaign happened via a local advertising agency hired by Samsung. If Samsung and the agency are found to have practiced false advertising, they face a fine of up to $835,000.
This won't be the first time Samsung would be fined by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission. According to AFP, the company was fined around $10,000 earlier this year for allegedly engaging in misleading advertising about its Galaxy Y Duos. Samsung was also fined $16.2 million in January by China's National Development and Reform Commission over charges that it colluded with LG and four Taiwanese firms to fix the prices of LCD panels.
Supposedly, the South Korean tech giant hired students to both write the inflammatory comments about HTC products and also recommend Samsung cell phones. The commission says that this type of behavior is akin to false advertising. According to AFP, the Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said, "The case was set up last week after we received complaints."
For its part, Samsung has said that what happened was "unfortunate" and it occurred because there was "insufficient understanding" of the "fundamental principles" of the company's online procedures. The company also said that it has stopped all marketing that "involves the posting of anonymous comments."
Here is Samsung's official statement on the matter that was sent to CNET by a company spokesperson:
Samsung Electronics remains committed to engaging in transparent and honest communications with consumers as outlined in the company's Online Communications Credo. We have encouraged all Samsung Electronics employees worldwide to remain faithful to our Credo. The recent incident was unfortunate, and occurred due to insufficient understanding of these fundamental principles.
Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) has ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments, and will ensure that all SET online marketing activities will be fully compliant with the company's Online Communications Credo.
We regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We will continue to reinforce education and training for our employees to prevent any future recurrence.
According to AFP, the alleged campaign happened via a local advertising agency hired by Samsung. If Samsung and the agency are found to have practiced false advertising, they face a fine of up to $835,000.
This won't be the first time Samsung would be fined by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission. According to AFP, the company was fined around $10,000 earlier this year for allegedly engaging in misleading advertising about its Galaxy Y Duos. Samsung was also fined $16.2 million in January by China's National Development and Reform Commission over charges that it colluded with LG and four Taiwanese firms to fix the prices of LCD panels.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment
Microsoft nowadays launched updates for 5 out of its 6 Bing Apps
for Home windows 8. Using this type of update, the Information, Finance,
Athletics, Travel and Maps apps - all of which are put in by default on
Home windows eight programs - now all sport a variety of new
capabilities and improvements that, as Microsoft places it, “make it
less difficult to customise and personalize them to best match your
desires.” The organization also announced an update into the Bing
Temperature Application, but this new edition will not be offered
however.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment, but all of these are welcome additions, especially since they usually felt considerably constrained inside their early iterations.
Those of you who are even now coming to grips with the forthcoming demise of Google Reader, for instance, will respect the fact that the Bing Information app now supports RSS feeds and offline reading through. On top of that, the application now also options extra customization solutions so that you can “keep tabs on unique story types, topics, or information resources that matter for you.”
The Maps app now involves visitors incident notifications and enhanced driving, transit and strolling directions. Buyers may now bookmark areas they check out routinely to their start display.
The Finance app now involves an updates check out listing and real-time U.S. stock updates, as well as Sports application provides 29 new leagues. The Travel application now consists of content material from Lonely Planet and Frodor’s, also as Frommer’s, which the first proprietors just purchased again from Google.
The Climate application also acquired several appealing new tools, together with the power to acquire weather conditions at ski resorts in 24 countries throughout the earth (just in time with the close of the ski time), also as superior going weather conditions maps.
Not one of the updates will rock your environment, but all of these are welcome additions, especially since they usually felt considerably constrained inside their early iterations.
Those of you who are even now coming to grips with the forthcoming demise of Google Reader, for instance, will respect the fact that the Bing Information app now supports RSS feeds and offline reading through. On top of that, the application now also options extra customization solutions so that you can “keep tabs on unique story types, topics, or information resources that matter for you.”
The Maps app now involves visitors incident notifications and enhanced driving, transit and strolling directions. Buyers may now bookmark areas they check out routinely to their start display.
The Finance app now involves an updates check out listing and real-time U.S. stock updates, as well as Sports application provides 29 new leagues. The Travel application now consists of content material from Lonely Planet and Frodor’s, also as Frommer’s, which the first proprietors just purchased again from Google.
The Climate application also acquired several appealing new tools, together with the power to acquire weather conditions at ski resorts in 24 countries throughout the earth (just in time with the close of the ski time), also as superior going weather conditions maps.
Friday, 12 April 2013
Twitter's music site goes live, kinda
Twitter's new music site went live this morning.
Well, almost. Users can currently log in with their usual Twitter credentials, but there are no features as of yet.
According to AllThingsD, only a select few will get access to the service over the coming days, with Twitter planning a more extensive rollout after that.
Reports that the service was set to go live began circulating last night, and were fueled earlier in the week by celebrity Ryan Seacrest, who bragged about having access to it in a series of tweets.
Twitter yesterday confirmed that it had purchased music discovery service We Are Hunted. CNET first reported the buy of the service, which tracks what music is trending on blogs, message boards, and other social media.
Twitter declined to comment on when it would be available to the unwashed masses. In the meantime, you can just listen to this in eager anticipation.
Update at 11:15 a.m. PT: And the virtual velvet rope goes up. The Twitter Music page now notes that its "invite only."
Update at 3 p.m. PT: Okay, how about something interesting? Designer Youssef Sarhan dug through the CSS file on the Twitter Music login page and came up with a handful of tidbits (via The Next Web). That includes the fact that the service will plug into iTunes, Spotify, Rdio, Soundcloud, Vevo and Youtube. It will also have this snappy looking playback interface:
Well, almost. Users can currently log in with their usual Twitter credentials, but there are no features as of yet.
According to AllThingsD, only a select few will get access to the service over the coming days, with Twitter planning a more extensive rollout after that.
Reports that the service was set to go live began circulating last night, and were fueled earlier in the week by celebrity Ryan Seacrest, who bragged about having access to it in a series of tweets.
Twitter yesterday confirmed that it had purchased music discovery service We Are Hunted. CNET first reported the buy of the service, which tracks what music is trending on blogs, message boards, and other social media.
Twitter declined to comment on when it would be available to the unwashed masses. In the meantime, you can just listen to this in eager anticipation.
Update at 11:15 a.m. PT: And the virtual velvet rope goes up. The Twitter Music page now notes that its "invite only."
Update at 3 p.m. PT: Okay, how about something interesting? Designer Youssef Sarhan dug through the CSS file on the Twitter Music login page and came up with a handful of tidbits (via The Next Web). That includes the fact that the service will plug into iTunes, Spotify, Rdio, Soundcloud, Vevo and Youtube. It will also have this snappy looking playback interface:
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant
Laptop income are plummeting since people are puzzled and disappointed with
Windows eight, and there is no end in sight. So concludes an IDC report, which
claims the sinking profits are the worst it really is ever witnessed.
The IDC report uncovered that around the globe Pc shipments had been seventy six.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from a calendar year prior, and in some cases even worse in comparison to the seven.7% decrease that IDC had forecast. The drop could be the worst that IDC has at any time observed since it started tracking the Laptop sector every single quarter in 1995. It is really also the fourth straight quarter that Personal windows 7 home premium product key computer profits have declined year-on-year.
That is just the get started of the negative news for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease has become fueled via the very poor design and failure of Windows 8, not merely by the rising popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC System Vice president, Customers and Shows experienced these harsh phrases for Home windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this level, regrettably, it seems apparent the Windows 8 launch not only unsuccessful to deliver a optimistic enhance towards the Laptop industry, but seems to get slowed the market. Whilst some individuals take pleasure in the new variety aspects and touch capabilities of Windows eight, the radical alterations to the UI, elimination on the common Start button, as well as the costs related with touch have designed PCs a a lot less eye-catching alternate to devoted tablets and other aggressive units. Microsoft must make some extremely tough choices relocating ahead if it wants to enable reinvigorate the Computer system current market."
"While people like the general look and come to feel of the tiles, they?ˉre also extremely bewildered and frustrated via the lack of get started menu and invest a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop mode. So the bottom line is I believe they've established a predicament where it?ˉs quite challenging for people and folks which have a Computer that works just great are saying it?ˉs baffling, it expenses more funds and that i don?ˉt seriously want it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC imagine that unless of course Microsoft makes serious changes to Windows 8 to create it additional common and consumer-friendly, factors will only worsen. Jay Chou, senior investigate analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Personal computer monitoring support, mentioned:
"Although IDC experienced not predicted Windows 8 being an important driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity drop, it now seems that without a study course correction from Microsoft, the Computer marketplace is headed toward an excellent worse contraction for 2013 than formerly believed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant gamble in building Home windows eight as an working procedure developed extra for tablets and touch than for traditional PCs, and in offering it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing individuals with the contact interface would spur folks to acquire Home windows eight and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't took place. Now it appears that Windows eight is helping to significantly depress product sales of regular PCs also.
The IDC report uncovered that around the globe Pc shipments had been seventy six.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from a calendar year prior, and in some cases even worse in comparison to the seven.7% decrease that IDC had forecast. The drop could be the worst that IDC has at any time observed since it started tracking the Laptop sector every single quarter in 1995. It is really also the fourth straight quarter that Personal windows 7 home premium product key computer profits have declined year-on-year.
That is just the get started of the negative news for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease has become fueled via the very poor design and failure of Windows 8, not merely by the rising popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC System Vice president, Customers and Shows experienced these harsh phrases for Home windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this level, regrettably, it seems apparent the Windows 8 launch not only unsuccessful to deliver a optimistic enhance towards the Laptop industry, but seems to get slowed the market. Whilst some individuals take pleasure in the new variety aspects and touch capabilities of Windows eight, the radical alterations to the UI, elimination on the common Start button, as well as the costs related with touch have designed PCs a a lot less eye-catching alternate to devoted tablets and other aggressive units. Microsoft must make some extremely tough choices relocating ahead if it wants to enable reinvigorate the Computer system current market."
"While people like the general look and come to feel of the tiles, they?ˉre also extremely bewildered and frustrated via the lack of get started menu and invest a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop mode. So the bottom line is I believe they've established a predicament where it?ˉs quite challenging for people and folks which have a Computer that works just great are saying it?ˉs baffling, it expenses more funds and that i don?ˉt seriously want it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC imagine that unless of course Microsoft makes serious changes to Windows 8 to create it additional common and consumer-friendly, factors will only worsen. Jay Chou, senior investigate analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Personal computer monitoring support, mentioned:
"Although IDC experienced not predicted Windows 8 being an important driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity drop, it now seems that without a study course correction from Microsoft, the Computer marketplace is headed toward an excellent worse contraction for 2013 than formerly believed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft designed a giant gamble in building Home windows eight as an working procedure developed extra for tablets and touch than for traditional PCs, and in offering it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing individuals with the contact interface would spur folks to acquire Home windows eight and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't took place. Now it appears that Windows eight is helping to significantly depress product sales of regular PCs also.
Monday, 8 April 2013
From strip clubs to theaters, Google Glass won't be welcome everywhere
Google's futuristic Glass headgear will be available before year's end. The device may well be the final step before human-machine interaction moves under our skin
— but its wearers may trigger some undesired social reactions from
friends and family members, and it may not go over too well at your local watering hole, either. In fact, judging from our early look, Google Glass won't be welcome in lots of places.
Google Glass consists of a small display situated on a frame that resembles eyeglasses. It is connected to a camera, microphone and bone-conducting speaker. Glass pairs with your smartphone wirelessly using Bluetooth, but also can use Wi-Fi to access the Internet. You can use your voice or your finger to get it to take photos, record video, initiate video or voice chats, send messages, search Google and translate words or phrases. Google's being a bit coy about the ship date for this groundbreaking wearable computer. However, while qualifying early adopters are paying $1,500 a pop for the privilege of owning it first, we're told that it will become more widely available by year's end — with a slightly more affordable price tag.
One of the reasons Glass will find itself unwelcome in places is because its camera lives at the wearer's eye level. It takes photos or record videos without a red blinking light telling others it's happening. Anywhere cameras and other recording devices are unwelcome, the same would most certainly go for Google Glass.
For starters, you can forget about taking Glass to Las Vegas.
"We've been dealing with the cellphone videoing and the picture taking over the years and we are quick to make sure that that doesn't happen in the club," Peter Feinstein, managing partner of Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas, told NBC News, explaining that hosts check in any electronics a patron brings that could be used for filming.
"As the sale of [Google Glass] spreads, there'll be more people using them and wanting to use them at places such as a gentlemen's club," Feinstein explained. "If we see those in the club, we would do the same thing that we do to people who bring cameras into the club."
And if somebody refuses to doff his or her headset? "If they don't want to check it, we'd be happy to give them a limo ride back to their hotel," Feinstein says.
Casinos are another place where surreptitious recording equipment won't be welcome.
"Picture-taking is frowned upon, and security officers on duty ask individuals not to take pictures for the privacy of others in the casino," a spokesperson for MGM Resorts said. "This new product is nothing new in terms of a challenge for us, because for so many years, the very tiniest of portable lipstick and pinpoint cameras have been around."
She added that "resort security officers are trained to monitor for, and detect, anything that they suspect might be a filming device, and will ask the patron to discontinue shooting photos or filming."
We spoke to several other casinos and adult entertainment establishments — in and out of Las Vegas — and found a general consensus: You are welcome, but your Google Glass must stay outside.
How about movie theaters?
"No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility," the admittance procedures for the Regal Entertainment Group plainly state.
While a spokesperson for the group — as well as one for AMC Theaters — looked into the particular methods that may be used for dealing with Glass, no definitive answer was available.
We encountered a lot of that as we made calls for this piece: From the TSA to Bank of America, spokespeople were not yet ready to speak to the particulars of Google Glass, but reiterated general statements about protecting the privacy and personal information of staff and customers alike.
And while businesses and agencies have an interest in controlling what goes on within their boundaries, a whole other area of Google Glass concern has to do with what happens in public places, where people of all ages congregate.
"My immediate concern for [Google Glass] was from a sexual predator view point," Drew Donofrio, a private investigator who previously ran a computer crimes unit for 12 years at the Bergen County, N.J., police department, told NBC News. "Locker rooms, bathrooms, playgrounds ... all [Glass] requires is a line of sight."
"You can look innocent enough in line of sight, when you're not holding up a camcorder," Donofrio explained. "When you have this type of technology, it looks innocuous."
We reached out to parks and recreation departments across the country to see if they would treat Glass any differently than existing recording devices. Like others, park management was not ready to make any official calls. Many did say that they will monitor the gadget's development and adjust policies if necessary in the future.
Google Glass consists of a small display situated on a frame that resembles eyeglasses. It is connected to a camera, microphone and bone-conducting speaker. Glass pairs with your smartphone wirelessly using Bluetooth, but also can use Wi-Fi to access the Internet. You can use your voice or your finger to get it to take photos, record video, initiate video or voice chats, send messages, search Google and translate words or phrases. Google's being a bit coy about the ship date for this groundbreaking wearable computer. However, while qualifying early adopters are paying $1,500 a pop for the privilege of owning it first, we're told that it will become more widely available by year's end — with a slightly more affordable price tag.
One of the reasons Glass will find itself unwelcome in places is because its camera lives at the wearer's eye level. It takes photos or record videos without a red blinking light telling others it's happening. Anywhere cameras and other recording devices are unwelcome, the same would most certainly go for Google Glass.
For starters, you can forget about taking Glass to Las Vegas.
"We've been dealing with the cellphone videoing and the picture taking over the years and we are quick to make sure that that doesn't happen in the club," Peter Feinstein, managing partner of Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas, told NBC News, explaining that hosts check in any electronics a patron brings that could be used for filming.
"As the sale of [Google Glass] spreads, there'll be more people using them and wanting to use them at places such as a gentlemen's club," Feinstein explained. "If we see those in the club, we would do the same thing that we do to people who bring cameras into the club."
And if somebody refuses to doff his or her headset? "If they don't want to check it, we'd be happy to give them a limo ride back to their hotel," Feinstein says.
Casinos are another place where surreptitious recording equipment won't be welcome.
"Picture-taking is frowned upon, and security officers on duty ask individuals not to take pictures for the privacy of others in the casino," a spokesperson for MGM Resorts said. "This new product is nothing new in terms of a challenge for us, because for so many years, the very tiniest of portable lipstick and pinpoint cameras have been around."
She added that "resort security officers are trained to monitor for, and detect, anything that they suspect might be a filming device, and will ask the patron to discontinue shooting photos or filming."
We spoke to several other casinos and adult entertainment establishments — in and out of Las Vegas — and found a general consensus: You are welcome, but your Google Glass must stay outside.
How about movie theaters?
"No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility," the admittance procedures for the Regal Entertainment Group plainly state.
While a spokesperson for the group — as well as one for AMC Theaters — looked into the particular methods that may be used for dealing with Glass, no definitive answer was available.
We encountered a lot of that as we made calls for this piece: From the TSA to Bank of America, spokespeople were not yet ready to speak to the particulars of Google Glass, but reiterated general statements about protecting the privacy and personal information of staff and customers alike.
And while businesses and agencies have an interest in controlling what goes on within their boundaries, a whole other area of Google Glass concern has to do with what happens in public places, where people of all ages congregate.
"My immediate concern for [Google Glass] was from a sexual predator view point," Drew Donofrio, a private investigator who previously ran a computer crimes unit for 12 years at the Bergen County, N.J., police department, told NBC News. "Locker rooms, bathrooms, playgrounds ... all [Glass] requires is a line of sight."
"You can look innocent enough in line of sight, when you're not holding up a camcorder," Donofrio explained. "When you have this type of technology, it looks innocuous."
We reached out to parks and recreation departments across the country to see if they would treat Glass any differently than existing recording devices. Like others, park management was not ready to make any official calls. Many did say that they will monitor the gadget's development and adjust policies if necessary in the future.
The organization it states doesn't recognize tablets
Sector observers have painted a critically unfavorable photograph to the
Windows eight OS this week. All of it begun with Dell casting out a
predominantly unfavorable outlook in its SEC submitting very last 7 days. Noting
that the market for PCs has been cannibalized by tablets and smartphones,
amongst other elements, the Computer system maker also manufactured a press
release regarding the uncertainties that goes together with the adoption in the
Home windows eight OS. The company even further noted there are adverse
developments in tandem by using a commonly weakening desire for PCs throughout
the world and also unfavorable margin costs for PCs.
In its examination of your current industry scenario, CNET mentioned that it is not a lot of that Home windows eight is unappealing as much as it really is that the OS finds itself below strain from other industry aspects at do the job. As Dell have mentioned, for instance, you can find a common slowdown of Pc development while in the world wide market arena, which provides us to your agonizing reality which the demand for your OS, for that reason, can even select these kinds of a slowdown.
Additionally, there are speculations concerning what could be the explanation driving Microsoft is the latest moves to supply individuals a drastic price tag slash for a few items in the Microsoft Shop. The company is transfer to cut its charges can either become a technique to transfer goods that are fundamentally trapped, or it could be an indication revealing a matter of much more really serious nature. It ought to be noted with this regard that as per IDC is observation, sales for Windows 8 Computer system has come to a stall. Which can make it simple to understand why Microsoft and its Personal computer partners were forced to cut down prices on laptops and hybrids.
About the other hand, an investigation by SemiAccurate boldly proclaimed that Microsoft is endeavours to provide value cuts on its products won't be of any assistance to avert a death spiral. The organization, it states, doesn't recognize tablets from the very first place, with the windows 7 product key consequent end result that it cannot hence develop a cell products that may stay aggressive. It more notes that Microsoft has anti user-views in relation to computing, and calls Home windows 8 as yet another debacle. Furthermore, it points out that Microsoft Area is unreasonably priced when compared with rivals in the marketplace, which both equally Home windows RT and Surface area RT possess a nil possibility of surviving within the marketplace that it promises the business doesn't have a clear comprehension of.
Irrespective of all of this destructive publicity, Microsoft is apparently not bugged down. It is stated to get on its approach to developing with Home windows eight.one, which the marketplace has however to view no matter if it is going to fare improved or even worse than its seemingly ill-fated Windows 8 predecessor.
In its examination of your current industry scenario, CNET mentioned that it is not a lot of that Home windows eight is unappealing as much as it really is that the OS finds itself below strain from other industry aspects at do the job. As Dell have mentioned, for instance, you can find a common slowdown of Pc development while in the world wide market arena, which provides us to your agonizing reality which the demand for your OS, for that reason, can even select these kinds of a slowdown.
Additionally, there are speculations concerning what could be the explanation driving Microsoft is the latest moves to supply individuals a drastic price tag slash for a few items in the Microsoft Shop. The company is transfer to cut its charges can either become a technique to transfer goods that are fundamentally trapped, or it could be an indication revealing a matter of much more really serious nature. It ought to be noted with this regard that as per IDC is observation, sales for Windows 8 Computer system has come to a stall. Which can make it simple to understand why Microsoft and its Personal computer partners were forced to cut down prices on laptops and hybrids.
About the other hand, an investigation by SemiAccurate boldly proclaimed that Microsoft is endeavours to provide value cuts on its products won't be of any assistance to avert a death spiral. The organization, it states, doesn't recognize tablets from the very first place, with the windows 7 product key consequent end result that it cannot hence develop a cell products that may stay aggressive. It more notes that Microsoft has anti user-views in relation to computing, and calls Home windows 8 as yet another debacle. Furthermore, it points out that Microsoft Area is unreasonably priced when compared with rivals in the marketplace, which both equally Home windows RT and Surface area RT possess a nil possibility of surviving within the marketplace that it promises the business doesn't have a clear comprehension of.
Irrespective of all of this destructive publicity, Microsoft is apparently not bugged down. It is stated to get on its approach to developing with Home windows eight.one, which the marketplace has however to view no matter if it is going to fare improved or even worse than its seemingly ill-fated Windows 8 predecessor.
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Europe continues privacy tussle with Google
Google's 2012 rewrite of its privacy policy, which gave the company the
right to "combine personal information" across multiple products, is still
ruffling feathers in Europe.
France's privacy watchdog, the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL), said today that six European countries are launching "coordinated and simultaneous enforcement actions" because Google "has not implemented any significant compliance measures," despite a request for changes to the policy. The countries are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.
It all dates back to early last year, when Google announced it would be rolling out a simpler privacy policy that would cover many of its different products and would, in some instances, "combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services."
The planned change raised concern in the U.S. Congress, prompted EU officials to ask Google to postpone the overhaul till its privacy implications could be examined, and led to lawsuits from the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, among others.
In March of 2012, the same month the new policy kicked in, the CNIL began an inquiry into the legality of the changes, and in October it asked Google to amend the policy within four months to better inform users on how their data would be used and set more precise limits on how long data would be retained, among other things.
This past February, the CNIL said Google would face a coordinated crackdown if it failed to adjust the policy. The CNIL said today that it met with representatives from Google on March 19 but that since that meeting "no change has been seen."
"It is now up to each national data protection authority to carry out further investigations according to the provisions of its national law transposing European legislation," the CNIL said in its statement today. "Consequently, all the authorities composing the taskforce have launched actions on 2 April 2013 on the basis of the provisions laid down in their respective national legislation."
The Wall Street Journal noted today that the enforcement actions on the part of the six countries could lead to millions of dollars in fines for Google but that "with a fragmented set of regulators across each country and efforts still in the works to draw up a unified European privacy law that could levy unified fines, it's unclear how coordinated the authorities can be -- or how powerful they can become in pushing changes at big companies like Google."
Google, for its part, has maintained that its privacy policy isn't illegal and that the company has consistently cooperated with investigators. A Google rep told CNET today that the company's privacy policy "respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the DPAs [data-protection agencies] involved throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so going forward."
http://www.windowsanyway.com/microsoft-office-for-mac-home-and-business-2011-product-key-p-3551.html
France's privacy watchdog, the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL), said today that six European countries are launching "coordinated and simultaneous enforcement actions" because Google "has not implemented any significant compliance measures," despite a request for changes to the policy. The countries are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.
It all dates back to early last year, when Google announced it would be rolling out a simpler privacy policy that would cover many of its different products and would, in some instances, "combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services."
The planned change raised concern in the U.S. Congress, prompted EU officials to ask Google to postpone the overhaul till its privacy implications could be examined, and led to lawsuits from the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, among others.
In March of 2012, the same month the new policy kicked in, the CNIL began an inquiry into the legality of the changes, and in October it asked Google to amend the policy within four months to better inform users on how their data would be used and set more precise limits on how long data would be retained, among other things.
This past February, the CNIL said Google would face a coordinated crackdown if it failed to adjust the policy. The CNIL said today that it met with representatives from Google on March 19 but that since that meeting "no change has been seen."
"It is now up to each national data protection authority to carry out further investigations according to the provisions of its national law transposing European legislation," the CNIL said in its statement today. "Consequently, all the authorities composing the taskforce have launched actions on 2 April 2013 on the basis of the provisions laid down in their respective national legislation."
The Wall Street Journal noted today that the enforcement actions on the part of the six countries could lead to millions of dollars in fines for Google but that "with a fragmented set of regulators across each country and efforts still in the works to draw up a unified European privacy law that could levy unified fines, it's unclear how coordinated the authorities can be -- or how powerful they can become in pushing changes at big companies like Google."
Google, for its part, has maintained that its privacy policy isn't illegal and that the company has consistently cooperated with investigators. A Google rep told CNET today that the company's privacy policy "respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the DPAs [data-protection agencies] involved throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so going forward."
http://www.windowsanyway.com/microsoft-office-for-mac-home-and-business-2011-product-key-p-3551.html
Windows 8 with its blend of touch-enabled functions
Five months right after its formal launch, Windows eight now accounts for
more than 3 % on the desktop functioning procedure marketplace, according to Web
site visitors analytics business Net Applications.
In March, Home windows 8 driven 3.seventeen % from the PCs on line, or 3.31 per cent if Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets are also taken into consideration. At this charge, Home windows 8 is about 3 to four months far from eclipsing the unpopular Home windows Vista functioning program and years faraway from catching as many as Windows seven, if ever.
Home windows seven nevertheless prospects the OS race with forty four.73 p.c of your marketplace, and in a testomony to its enduring acceptance, it really attained market share final thirty day period. By comparison, the OS accounted for 44.fifty five per cent of the PCs that ventured online in February.
Microsoft statements the charge of Windows eight adoption closely matches that of Home windows seven, the company's hottest running procedure.
Windows seven was a big moneymaker to the program large. Soon after its release, it served boost revenues for a number of consecutive quarters, notably following enterprises finally warmed for the OS.As just lately as the quarter that ended Dec. 31, 2012, Windows seven dominated the enterprise desktop sector. Throughout an earnings get in touch with, Microsoft CFO Peter Klein reported, "Windows 7 momentum in the enterprise carries on and currently, above sixty % of organization desktops throughout the world are on Windows 7."
Windows 8 also faces a problem from Microsoft's other venerable operating system: Windows XP. The 11-year-old operating method clung to 38.73 per cent of the OS market in March, Internet Applications' information reveals. While arguably previous its primary, XP reveals small signal of providing up its put in the OS hierarchy. From February to March, XP drop just 0.26 share details.
Microsoft's most recent OS not just has to compete against its past, it's to cope with dwindling Computer gross sales plus the rising recognition of tablets this kind of as Apple?ˉs iPad and products that run Google's Android cellular OS.
From uninspiring hardware to sluggish company replacement cycles, many things are main towards the decline in the Computer. Incorporate powerful opposition with the pill makers, and Computer system makers deal with an uphill battle to acquire about shoppers and obtain enterprises to take a position in their wares.
Windows 8, with its blend of touch-enabled functions and Home windows 7's desktop program heritage, was intended to bridge the worlds of Computer and pill computing. Early end users scoffed at Windows eight, and even with some preliminary buzz, sales of Microsoft's Home windows 8- and RT-powered Area tablets happen to be underwhelming.
However, Microsoft is undeterred. Inside a split from past computer software update strategies, the corporate is readying its Windows 8 Blue improve to get a launch when this summer season.
Established to make an visual appeal at Microsoft's impending Create developer convention, Blue is re-energizing Home windows eight. Previously, the business is anticipating the enhancements and optimizations that will accompany its launch. If they show persuasive, enterprises may well finally start out to present up their wait-and-see frame of mind toward the OS and start snapping up Home windows eight PCs and tablets.
In March, Home windows 8 driven 3.seventeen % from the PCs on line, or 3.31 per cent if Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets are also taken into consideration. At this charge, Home windows 8 is about 3 to four months far from eclipsing the unpopular Home windows Vista functioning program and years faraway from catching as many as Windows seven, if ever.
Home windows seven nevertheless prospects the OS race with forty four.73 p.c of your marketplace, and in a testomony to its enduring acceptance, it really attained market share final thirty day period. By comparison, the OS accounted for 44.fifty five per cent of the PCs that ventured online in February.
Microsoft statements the charge of Windows eight adoption closely matches that of Home windows seven, the company's hottest running procedure.
Windows seven was a big moneymaker to the program large. Soon after its release, it served boost revenues for a number of consecutive quarters, notably following enterprises finally warmed for the OS.As just lately as the quarter that ended Dec. 31, 2012, Windows seven dominated the enterprise desktop sector. Throughout an earnings get in touch with, Microsoft CFO Peter Klein reported, "Windows 7 momentum in the enterprise carries on and currently, above sixty % of organization desktops throughout the world are on Windows 7."
Windows 8 also faces a problem from Microsoft's other venerable operating system: Windows XP. The 11-year-old operating method clung to 38.73 per cent of the OS market in March, Internet Applications' information reveals. While arguably previous its primary, XP reveals small signal of providing up its put in the OS hierarchy. From February to March, XP drop just 0.26 share details.
Microsoft's most recent OS not just has to compete against its past, it's to cope with dwindling Computer gross sales plus the rising recognition of tablets this kind of as Apple?ˉs iPad and products that run Google's Android cellular OS.
From uninspiring hardware to sluggish company replacement cycles, many things are main towards the decline in the Computer. Incorporate powerful opposition with the pill makers, and Computer system makers deal with an uphill battle to acquire about shoppers and obtain enterprises to take a position in their wares.
Windows 8, with its blend of touch-enabled functions and Home windows 7's desktop program heritage, was intended to bridge the worlds of Computer and pill computing. Early end users scoffed at Windows eight, and even with some preliminary buzz, sales of Microsoft's Home windows 8- and RT-powered Area tablets happen to be underwhelming.
However, Microsoft is undeterred. Inside a split from past computer software update strategies, the corporate is readying its Windows 8 Blue improve to get a launch when this summer season.
Established to make an visual appeal at Microsoft's impending Create developer convention, Blue is re-energizing Home windows eight. Previously, the business is anticipating the enhancements and optimizations that will accompany its launch. If they show persuasive, enterprises may well finally start out to present up their wait-and-see frame of mind toward the OS and start snapping up Home windows eight PCs and tablets.
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