Tag Archives: metro

Switched On: Surface tension

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Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

DNP Switched On Surface tension

If you hadn't been paying too much attention to the wide swath of tablets and clamshells (and mashups of the two) that Microsoft is targeting with Windows 8 and Windows RT, then the announcement of Surface contained many surprises. If you have, then there were probably far fewer surprises. But even if you knew just about everything about Windows 8 and Windows RT, you were probably a bit surprised to see Microsoft jump in with its own pair of devices to support the flavors of the imminent Windows upgrades supporting Intel and ARM processors.

After all, the fundamental business model of Windows has relied upon licensing to third parties. Ballmer himself has noted in the past that products that ship in the hundreds of millions (or more) of units per year lend themselves well to the licensing model as opposed to the vertical integration model most notably pursued by Apple among Microsoft's main competitors.

Continue reading Switched On: Surface tension

Switched On: Surface tension originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 8

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Editorial Engadget on Windows Phone 8

Another day, another major announcement from Microsoft -- and yes, another round of opinions from your humble team at Engadget. Today it's Windows Phone 8, the (finally) formally announced successor to the company's mobile platform. Rather tragically, there's no upgrade path from any current Windows Phone device (the 7.8 stopgap notwithstanding). Your hot new cerulean blue Lumia 900? It'll be obsolete this fall. Join us after the break to get our thoughts on that and all the other bits of information gleaned today -- right after you read our initial thoughts from the original Windows Phone 7 Series, to see just how far we've come.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 8

Editorial: Engadget on Windows Phone 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview

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Windows 8 inapp advertisements get their own preview

Microsoft's own advertising blog (yes, it exists) has revealed how its going to frame ads inside incoming Metro-themed apps. While announcing partnerships with six different ad design teams, Microsoft threw up an example, above, that ties together a Seattle Sounders FC app with a panel showing off a pair of Adidas' latest Predator cleats. The adis located at the far edge of the apparently scroll-able app and clicking / tapping on the side will launch into a dedicated page, with a back button visibly ready to swing you back. While it looks relatively unobtrusive at the moment, the background of the app will also be up for advertising grabs, able to integrate videos, text and other media. Let's hope it doesn't ruin those delicate Metro lines when Windows 8 finally arrives.

Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Neowin  |  sourceMicrosoft Advertising  | Email this | Comments

Live from Microsoft’s ‘sneak peek’ at Windows Phone!

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Live from Microsoft's 'sneak peek' at Windows Phone!

Can the days of Apollo's reign finally be upon us? Microsoft's Joe Belfiore -- along with a select entourage of other speakers -- will soon take the stage to show us a sneak peek at Windows Phone, and we're hoping it's everything dreams are made of and more. Join us as we bring the news straight to you as it happens!

June 20, 2012 12:00 PM EDT

Live from Microsoft's 'sneak peek' at Windows Phone! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

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Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet meet the new Surface for Windows RT

Here at its mysterious, last-minute press event in Los Angeles, Microsoft just confirmed it will sell its own Microsoft-branded Windows 8 RT tablet under the Surface badge. Measuring just 9.3mm thick, the Surface for Windows RT is built around an angled, all-magnesium VaporMg case that weighs just under 1.3 pounds, with an NVIDIA-made ARM chip powering the whole affair. Microsoft's hardware partner has also gone all-out on extra touches, such as a built-in stand, twin 2x2 MIMO antennas for WiFi, and a 10.6-inch optically-bonded, Gorilla Glass 2-covered HD display. Not unlike Apple's last two generations, there's a magnetically attached cover, but it's more than just a protector: here, it includes a full multi-touch keyboard and trackpad. As for expansion, you'll get one each of HDMI, microSD and USB 2.0 (sorry folks, no 3.0) as well as either 32GB or 64GB of storage, while software includes the usual Windows 8 accoutrements and a newly Metrofied version of Netflix. The Surface for Windows RT should arrive roughly in step with Windows 8, but Microsoft is only promising pricing "competitive" with similar ARM tablets -- and you're looking for a tablet with more grunt, you can spring for the Intel-packing Surface for Windows 8 Pro.

Be sure to check out our hands-on with the Surface!

[Thanks to everyone for the product link]

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Unveiled

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Glamour Shots

Continue reading Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metro-style Hotmail turns up in leaked screenshots

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Metrostyle Hotmail turns up in leaked screenshots

It certainly wouldn't come as much of a surprise that Microsoft would finally bring Hotmail into the Metro fold, but until now we haven't had much evidence that such a change was actually in the works. If a set of leaked screenshots obtained by WinFuture are any indication, however, it looks like the nearly sixteen-year-old email service could soon be getting one of its biggest redesigns to date. As you'd expect, it all looks very Metro, but also very unfinished, with a number of features reportedly still missing or not working properly. Of course, there's no indication when or if it'll actually roll out to the millions of Hotmail users (though the Windows 8 launch would provide a convenient fit), but there's plenty more screenshots where this one came from at the source link below.

Metro-style Hotmail turns up in leaked screenshots originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 07:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceWinFuture  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Office becomes first non-Metro application within Windows Store

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Microsoft Office becomes first nonMetro application within Windows Store

You knew it was going to happen, but Microsoft Office 2010 has officially taken roost in the Windows Store, which is part of Microsoft's next-gen OS known as Windows 8. What makes its arrival noteworthy, however, is the fact that the productivity suite marks the first of the traditional desktop applications available in the digital storefront. Integration leaves much to be desired, however, as you can't actually make the purchase within the Windows Store. Instead, users are kicked over to Microsoft's website, where they're prompted to choose between different editions of Office, which range in price between $119 and $499. In other words, the latest "inclusion" is little more than a shortcut rather than a cohesive shopping experience. Still, if you like the idea of a full-fledged desktop productivity suite and LibreOffice simply won't cut the mustard, it's yet one more opportunity to plunk down some cash.

Microsoft Office becomes first non-Metro application within Windows Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google gives a sneak peek at Chrome for Windows 8’s Metro UI, plans a test release soon

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Google gives a sneak peek at Chrome for Windows 8's Metro UI, plans a test release soon

Google vowed that it would adapt Chrome to Metro back in March, and it's just now providing its first real look at the Windows 8 revamp. Don't expect a radical remake: it's Chrome, just in Metro. Even so, the very first test releases will support charms for sharing and other cross-OS features, and they will obey Snap View for tablet-friendly Windows 8 multitasking. Metro support will come in the next Dev channel release for those using the Windows 8 Release Preview. Those of us leery of running a pre-beta web browser on top of a beta OS will have to wait some months to see the finished result. That patience should be rewarded through better touchscreen support and refinements to the overall interface, so by the time the dissenting among us are ready to toss Internet Explorer 10 aside, Chrome will be waiting with open arms.

Google gives a sneak peek at Chrome for Windows 8's Metro UI, plans a test release soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft details Windows Store changes, adds desktop apps, better navigation

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Microsoft is opening up about the changes its made to the Windows Store as the premiere date for the new OS draws near. It'll be available in 26 markets (so far) and Redmond's listened to concerns consumers had about getting around. In response, it's added a navigation bar that also links users directly to the apps they already own. Desktop apps will appear from June 1st (today), although when clicking a link, you'll be redirected to the developers own website to make the purchase.

The company has tweaked the terms and conditions to insist that app-builders make the primary experience take place "within the app," rather than merely linking elsewhere. Additionally, everything submitted must fully support keyboard / mouse and touch controls, so people can switch controls if necessary. The company's also mandating that apps must rely upon mechanisms provided by Windows 8, such as process management and using swipe-implemented menus.

Microsoft details Windows Store changes, adds desktop apps, better navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMSDN, (2)  | Email this | Comments