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Microsoft Surface review

Microsoft Surface review

The release of the Microsoft Surface is a much bigger deal that the average consumer might perceive it to be. You see, Surface marks Microsoft's entry into the PC market. That might sound odd, but it's true--Microsoft may be the maker of Windows, but it's always been Microsoft partners who build the PCs. I'm talking about companies like Samsung, Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo, and others. Now, Microsoft is competing directly with its partners, hoping that consumers will flock to its Surface in a major way.

Similar to Apple's approach, Surface is the marriage of first-party software with first-party hardware. Microsoft controls the whole platform. If devices like the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and even Microsoft's own Xbox 360 have shown us anything, it's that when you have the ability to control the whole device as it pertains to software and hardware functionality, you can generally make a better product than you could using third-party ingredients. It's never a guarantee, but we think it puts you in a better spot to shine. That is the hope that Surface brings. Does Surface succeed in carving out its own niche, and filling a need that consumers are willing to pay to remedy? That's what we are here to discuss, so following along with us for our Microsoft Surface RT review.

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iPhone 5 GeekBench results: A6 chip is a screamer

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,

iPHone 5 geekbench scores

It appears that MacRumors has received word from PrimateLabs about the GeekBench scores for the iPhone 5. Apple's new smartphones will be available to the public when it launches on September 21st. In the words of late Steve Jobs, "It's a screamer!"

Clearly, iPhone 5 has more than doubled expected performance when compared to the iPhone 4S. It blows the doors off previous marks set by all previous iOS devices before it. Also, it remains at the top of the pack even when you include all current Android devices; that includes tablets like Google's Nexus 7, the quad-core ASUS Transformer Prime, and Samsung's new smartphone iteration, the Samsung Galaxy S III (also quad-core.)

Click to continue reading iPhone 5 GeekBench results: A6 chip is a screamer

Read More | MacRumors

Microsoft Surface for Windows RT to launch Oct. 26 for just $199?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Rumors,

Surface Tablet $199

When Microsoft revealed Surface to the world, we were pretty impressed. It looked like a highly-capable platform that, if it lived up to its promises, would be a major player in the tablet space. However, we also know that the iPad rules the roost. In fact, most consumers don't want tablets so much as they want iPads. What would Microsoft do with Surface to gain attention as a solid differentiator? It looks like it's gonna compete on price.

Click to continue reading Microsoft Surface for Windows RT to launch Oct. 26 for just $199?

Read More | Engadget

Watch this: Microsoft Surface tablet unveiling event

Microsoft Surface event video

Yesterday we told you all about the big announcements Microsoft made--the Microsoft Surface tablet was unveiled, along with the intriguing Touch Cover and Type Cover accessories. There was even an odd Surface intro video they teased us with. Now, you can watch the entire Surface event in its entirety after the jump.

Click to continue reading Watch this: Microsoft Surface tablet unveiling event


Microsoft Surface video introduction

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Videos,

Microsoft Surface White

Now that Microsoft has revealed its plan to do battle in the tablet market, Microsoft Surface (as well as its super-cool accessories, the Touch Cover and Type Cover,) we thought you'd appreciate a look at the teaser video that Microsoft put together to unveil the product. Check it out after the break.

Click to continue reading Microsoft Surface video introduction


Microsoft announces Surface tablet

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories:

Microosft Surface Tablet

The rumor mill was calling for a new Microsoft tablet to be announced today, and thats exactly what happened. Just a few minutes ago, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the Microsoft Surface tablet. The Microsoft Surface is a companion to Windows 8, with Microsoft saying that it's "a tablet that's a great PC, and a PC that's a great tablet." The hardware is 9.3mm thin with edges beveled at 22 degrees. The casing is all magnesium, which is a first for a computer, making the Surface weigh in at 1.5 pounds. Oh, and it's also got a 10.6-inch display, so it's here to compete with the big boys. As you'd expect, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are present, as is a built-in kickstand, Gorilla Glass, and an amazingly thin 3mm cover that also doubles as a keyboard for touch typing.

Surface will be available in the model we just detailed, as well as a Pro model that supports a higher resolution display. It's got the same chassis, same kickstand, and supports the same accessories, but this model wuns full Windows 8 Pro rather than just Windows RT. It also supports digital ink by way of a stylus. When the Surface detects the pen, it stops accepting touch input, making it easy to write on. The upgraded model also has a DisplayPort, allowing you to plug it in to a larger monitor, this giving you the regular, full PC experience.


2012: The Year everything gets disrupted

Normally at this time of the year, I predict tech trends for the New Year.  As I think about 2012, I realize that over the next 12 months, the personal computing and consumer electronics industries are poised to see some big disruptions that could change their course for the next five years.

In fact, I believe that when we end 2012, we will look back and realize that it was the most disruptive year we will have had in personal computing in over a decade. In the next 12 months, the market for personal computers of all shapes and sizes will have changed dramatically.

So, what will be the major forces that could reshape the PC business in 2012? There are four technologies and trends in the works that I believe will force the computer industry in a new direction.

The first will be Intel's huge push to make ultraportables 40 percent of its laptop mix by the end of 2012. Although I don't believe it will achieve that goal, especially if ultrabooks are priced above $899, the fact is that ultrabooks are the future of portable computing. Instead of thin and light laptops driving the market as they are now, ultrabooks, which are thinner and lighter, with SSDs and longer battery life, will eventually be what all laptops will look like in five years. The heavier and more powerful laptops that exist now won't go away completely since there are power users who will still need that kind of processing power. But ultrabooks will be the laptops of the future and 2012 will be the first year of their major push to change the portable computing landscape.

There is an interesting twist with ultraportables that could be even more important starting next year: the introduction of ultraportables with detachable screens that turn into tablets. In the past, this hybrid, as it is called, ran Windows when in laptop mode and Android when in tablet mode. But this approach was dead in the water from the start. With Windows 8 tablets ready to hit the market next fall, you will see ultraportables with detachable screens that will run Windows 8 with the Metro UI both on the laptop and in tablet mode. This will bring a level of OS consistency across both device modes and I think that this concept is a sleeper. In fact, if done right, this alone could reshape the traditional PC market in the near term.

Click to continue reading 2012: The Year everything gets disrupted


Nvidia launches Tegra 3, a “PC-class” mobile CPU

Nvidia Tegra 3

Nvidia has officially launched the Tegra 3 quad-core mobile chipset. It will be the first quad-core ARM-based chipset to appear in shipping products when it comes to market in the Asus EEE Pad Transformer Prime tablet.

Nvidia marked the official announcement by releasing a bunch of screen shots and performance details showing how Tegra 3 improves Web browsing, battery life, and—most importantly for Nvidia—gaming.

"Tegra 3 is about five times the performance of Tegra 2," said Matt Wuebbling, Nvidia Tegra's director of product marketing.

The gaming improvements are striking, and Nvidia spent a lot of time showing them off. You get more realism and more special effects on Tegra 3: much more realistic water simulations, blur effects, smoke, damage, textures and dynamic lighting. That comes in part from the chipset's new 12-core GPU, with triple the performance of Tegra 2's unit, Wuebbling said.

Click to continue reading Nvidia launches Tegra 3, a “PC-class” mobile CPU


ARM Processors Improve Look of Games

Project Gotham RacingRemi Pedersen, a graphics product manager at ARM, says that by this winter the Mali-200 and Mali-400 processors will allow you to play what looks like an Xbox 360 game on your lowly cell phone. On display at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week, he will be running Project Gotham Racer, an Xbox 1 title, in Open GL ES, which performs like the original but feature-wise looks like a 360 title.

Read More | Yahoo News

CES 2008: Chair Mount Means Never Having to Get Up

Easy Chair MountDesigned for the couch potato set, the Easy Chair Mount is a great excuse for not needing to stop computing or gaming until you need another beer. Mount a flat panel LCD monitor to your sofa or La-Z-boy, connect the optional arm, and attach to the legs of your furniture. The arm has a 13-inch vertical range, a 22.75-inch horizontal range, rotates, and folds into 3-inches of space. We’re not exactly sure why the arm is sold separately as we don’t know anyone who has a spare lying around. The two parts are available at a price of $285.00, while the mount alone will set you back $119.00.

Read More | CES Planner

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