Tech Tuesday Live Twitter Chat – A look at the Windows 8 Consumer Preview #win7tech #winchat

Tech Tuesday Live Twitter Chat – A look at the Windows 8 Consumer Preview #win7tech #winchat

I’m sure that you are all now well aware of the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the preview to the next version of Windows. As you’ll notice, this is not a final product and instead represents a work in progress that allows users to experience the new operating system while helping us to get feedback from telemetry data, forums, and more. This week’s Tech Tuesday Live Twitter Chat isn’t to do any of those things, though. Instead, it’s a chance for us to talk to you about whether or not you should download Windows 8 Consumer Preview and for us begin to show you what to expect if you do.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is an exciting reimagined experience that will work on a range of devices from touch-enabled tablets, to laptops and desktops such as All-in-One PCs. We are excited about it and as such, we can’t wait to take our regular one hour session from 12-1pm PT tomorrow to chat with you about how to navigate the Start screen, using the Charms, and personalizing Windows 8 just for you.

This will not be a time to answer support questions nor will we be sharing new information. For all support questions, please visit here. Please notice that this chat also marks the introduction of a new hashtag, you can follow this chats in the future with #winchat. See you there!

To participate in the Tech Tuesday Live Twitter Chat:

1. Join us from 12-1 PT (3-4 ET) on Twitter
2. Follow the hashtag #win7tech or #winchat
3. Follow @windows, @kristinalibby, @brandonleblanc, @daniellaycock, and @windowsblog to make sure you get the whole picture.

Note we will only be talking about the outlined topic each week and we will not be answering questions outside those topics. Questions for this week may include: Should I download Windows 8 Consumer Preview? What is Windows 8 Consumer Preview? If I have a PC from 1998 will it be able to handle the download?

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

iPad 3 Is Almost Guaranteed To Arrive With 4G-LTE Support

Advertisements

With the iPad 3 launch only two days away, the rumors and speculation are rapidly increasing. While most blogs are quite sure that the iPad 3 will pack a 2048×1536 resolution retina display, an improved camera, and a new, possibly quad-core Apple A6 chipset, one item on the list of rumors that has been far more "out there" is the possibility of the iPad 3 supporting 4G LTE. Today, credible Apple blog iMore – the same site that broke the news that the iPad 3 event is on March 7th – has received word from that same source that the iPad 3 will indeed be getting 4G LTE.

Something that they are uncertain about, however, is how Apple will handle the various 4G bands utilized internationally. The Wall Street Journal did publish an article a while back that claimed AT&T and Verizon were going to receive LTE iPad 3s – additional backing for today’s report, actually -  but our earlier question about international 4G band support remains unanswered. Other significant factors at play here that definitely have influence on Apple’s decision are the cost-effectiveness of implementing a 4G LTE radio, and its impact on battery life.

M.I.C. Gadget, the site that published an alleged hands-on with the iPad 3 front glass, rear shell, and case just yesterday speculated that the iPad 3 will not include 4G LTE. They speculate – and their sources concurred – that not only is implementing 4G LTE support costlier than using the Qualcomm 3G chip, but there is also a limited market for LTE at this time.

Ultimately, with Apple’s "don’t settle" school of thought in mind, it’s unlikely that 4G LTE would be implemented if device quality – whether in terms of battery life, cost, or perhaps even industrial design or aesthetic reasons – is sacrificed in the process. Should this particular rumor prove to be correct, then these factors that we’re concerned about here would be resolved, and compromise, if any, will be minimal.

We expect iPad 3 storage options to remain the same – in today’s increments of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB – along with pricing. M.I.C. Gadget and 9to5Mac have received information suggesting that this is the case as well.

Now, while this (and many of the other rumors we publish) certainly seem to stem from a highly credible source, they should all be taken with a grain of salt. We are only two days away from the official unveiling of the device, and for all we know, Apple may have surprises up their sleeves.

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

Advertisements

Subscribe to our RSS Feed !

Like this post on Facebook

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

A Collection Of Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are always central to any Windows power user and it’s incredible how much more productive and efficient you can become once you’ve got a good handle on them. After using keyboard shortcuts for a while they become second nature to you and you’ll find yourself using them without realising it.

With Windows 8, I think that keyboard shortcuts have become more important than ever because of the new Metro UI. The Metro UI as most of you should know by now is based primarily around touch. And while Microsoft have worked hard to make it friendly for users without desktops, there’s still a bit of a learning curve with it. Microsoft have added plenty of new keyboard shortcuts to Windows 8 to try and make it easier to navigate around the Metro UI.

I’ve got a list of them together for you below:

New Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8
Key combination	What It Does
Windows-Space	Switch input language and keyboard layout.
Windows-O	Lock device orientation.
Windows-,	Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows-V	Cycle through toasts.
Windows-Shift-V	Cycle through toasts in reverse order.
Windows-Enter	Launch Narrator.
Windows-PgUp	Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the left.
Windows-PgDown	Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the right.
Windows-Shift-.	Move the gutter to the left (snap an application).
Windows-.	Move the gutter to the right (snap an application).
Windows-C	Open the Charms bar.
Windows-I	Open the Settings charm.
Windows-K	Open the Connect charm.
Windows-H	Open the Share charm.
Windows-Q	Open the Search pane.
Windows-W	Open the Settings Search app.
Windows-F	Open the File Search app.
Windows-Tab	Cycle through apps.
Windows-Shift-Tab	Cycle through apps in reverse order.
Windows-Ctrl-Tab	Cycle through apps and snap them as they cycle.
Windows-Z	Open the App Bar.
Windows-/	Initiate input method editor (IME) reconversion.
Windows-J	Swap foreground between the snapped and filled apps.

Now of course there’s a lot more keyboard shortcuts than that, the other ones are actually the same as Windows 7. You can have a look at our master list of Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Windows Reader, Windows 8′s Built-In PDF Reader

Windows Reader is a new program that Microsoft has developed exclusively for the Windows 8 operating system. The reader is integrated into the Consumer Preview version of the operating system, so that it can be checked out by everyone.

Windows Reader will open all pdf documents by default, regardless of their origin. The Metro UI app opens local pdf documents and those that you download from the Internet. Windows users who prefer a different pdf reader can install it on the system to associate pdf documents with the program instead. The core benefit of Windows Reader is that it adds native pdf support to the Windows operating system, so that you do not need to install a third party application anymore for that. Windows Reader on the other hand is just a document viewer, it cannot be used to modify pdf documents in any way.

The program is not added to the start page by default, which makes sense as it is opened automatically when you click on a pdf file. You can however easily add the program to the start page. When in Metro, enter Windows Reader, and right-click the result afterwards. This pins the program to the start page. You can then launch it with a click, and open pdf documents from within.

The fullscreen app displays only the opened document on the screen. A right-click displays a toolbar at the bottom that lets you open, save and find documents, switch between a one or two pages layout or rotate documents.

When you use find or open to load pdf documents, you are taken to a filtered view of My Documents where only pdf documents are visible and every other file is hidden from view.

Windows Reader is  a basic pdf reader, comparable to the built-in pdf reader of the Google Chrome browser. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially so for users who just need a program to access the occasional pdf document on their computer. The inclusion makes sense from a usability point of view, and maybe even security, considering that the most popular pdf reader, Adobe Reader, is also one of the most attacked.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

What Will Windows 8 Mean for Windows Phone

This is a Guest Post by Simon Drew. If you want to Guest Post on this site then please read our Guest Post Guidelines.

At this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft gave us more of a glimpse of its next version of Windows and a consumer preview is already available for people to download and try out.

Like the most recent version of Mac OS X, Windows 8 adopts many principles that originated in the world of smartphones, including a dedicated “app store” called Windows Store. This concept has worked well on smartphones and many hope it will serve to make desktop computing easier and more user friendly for the vast majority of people who have traditionally found computers daunting and difficult to understand.

The Windows Store has an appearance that is very reminiscent of Windows Phone with its Live Tiles, and tiles for each app will display information and update themselves when necessary. These “metro apps” will also be allowed to communicate with one another providing a more cohesive user experience where everything is shared between services and devices.

Like Apple, Microsoft is going down the route of trying to develop an operating system that will be consistent across home computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, not just through the use of cloud computing, but also by providing a similar look and design and a cross-compatibility that is currently not on offer.

But what does Windows 8 tell us about the future direction of Windows Phone? After a minor update to Tango this year, Windows Phone will become Windows Phone 8 Apollo towards the end of 2012.

One of the biggest changes to Windows 8 is the additional support for ARM processors. These are the processors used on the vast majority of modern smartphones and this development means it will now be possible for a lot of crossover between device platforms. Developers will be able to reuse content from a desktop metro app for use on Windows Phone, and vice versa.

Some of the changes to Windows Phone regarding hardware support will rectify what have until now been the biggest drawbacks for phones running Windows Phone. Windows Phone 7 only allows the support of single core processors and does not support microSD memory expansion. Windows Phone 8 will add support for multicore processors, support for microSD and also allow manufacturers to use one of four different screen resolutions.

Windows Phone 8 will also add support for near field communication (NFC). This will be implemented with a tap-to-share system, much like Android Beam on Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which will allow users to easily share things between smartphones, computers and tablets just by tapping them together. NFC support will also allow mobile payment apps to become available for Windows Phone users.

With cloud support through SkyDrive, you will be able to instantly access music content from your Windows 8 PC when purchasing a new Windows Phone without the need to sync the two devices.

Following the design of the new Metro App system from Windows 8, apps on Windows Phone 8 will be able to communicate with each other by using “contracts”. Microsoft expect there to be about 100,000 apps in Windows Marketplace by the time of Windows Phone 8's launch later in the year, and the addition of native code support means that developers will more easily be able to port apps they have designed for Android or the iPhone.

Windows Phone was first launched towards the end of 2010 but so far has never managed to obtain more than a 5% share of the smartphone market. It has only featured on a relatively small number of handsets from HTC, Samsung and Nokia, and it has not really had to time to fully find its feet.

By comparison, it is only now around four years after its first appearance that Google’s Android is starting to feel like a polished and well-oiled operating system. Windows Phone 8 is likely to be Microsoft’s Ice Cream Sandwich – it will successfully iron out all of the limitations that have until now held the OS back. The support for multicore processors, expandable memory, larger screen resolutions as well as a host of other features will allow Windows Phone to really compete against Google and Apple of an even level.

As more people switch over to Windows 8 on their home computers they will feel more comfortable using a Windows Phone due to shared UI and services that will be on offer with Windows Phone 8. As it is not due to appear until the end of this year it will most likely be 2013 when Windows Phone really starts to make its mark in the popular imagination.

About the author: This post was written by Simon from Best Mobile Contracts, a leading UK mobile phone comparison website.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

How Windows 8 won me over

For those of you who know me and who follow me on Facebook especially, you might know that up until now I’ve been far from the biggest and most loyal supporter of Windows 8.  I have found this difficult at times being a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) awardee for two years now in the Windows category.  MVPs are independent experts but we’re always watched carefully by Microsoft, well I am anyway, and they take an interest in what we say and write.

Until now I’ve been a big supporter of Microsoft’s products.  After the unveiling of the Windows 7 beta just over three years ago I’ve felt that the company had got its mojo back, and was finally headed in the right direction.  The quality of the products they have released the last three years including the Live Essentials Suite, SkyDrive, Kinect, Windows Server 2008 and especially Windows Phone gave me confidence that they had put years of stale development behind them.

I completely understood when the company unveiled a tablet interface for Windows 8 and also understood why they talked about this and nothing else.  Alter all, in order for this new Metro platform to succeed at all it has to be popular straight off the bat with huge volumes of high-quality apps and hardware manufacturers all across the world throwing their weight behind it.  So when Microsoft chose not to talk about the desktop or features for IT Pros and businesses I wasn’t concerned.

This doesn’t mean that IT Pros and businesses haven’t had their own concerns and my mailbag has been consistently full of queries and requests to give talks on the subject.  All I’ve been able to say is “it’s not finished” and “there’s still a lot more to come”.  Well it’s now here and initially I was terribly disappointed.  There was no Group Policy setting to set the desktop as the default UI, it was seemingly difficult to find and access some of the administration tools and then the company announced that those tools were being left out of the ARM edition completely.  With my head in my hands I wondered if the bad old days were back and if Microsoft wasn’t shooting itself in the foot.

Now I’ve spent some time living and working with Windows 8 and it’s really won me over.  What’s more it’s done it entirely on its own merits.  So what is it that has won me over and why?  Well I want to start from the basic premise that it isn’t perfect, but neither was Windows 7, which I really love.  Windows 7 was a half-way house for me and neither part was done properly.  The old Start Menu still existed but it was now alongside a new way to launch programs, the Taskbar.  Why did we need both methods, it made little sense to me.  What was really needed was an expansion of jumplists to hold software buckets, with the Taskbar icon itself being the containing folder for a program in the same way folders exist in the Start Menu, and for the jumplist to contain recently accessed files alongside the other sub-programs that appear, and for the Taskbar icon to be programmable to launch one of those programs (ie, the main one).  This always struck me as a far more sensible way to move forward.  With this in place the Start Menu could be removed completely.

Unfortunately software developers didn’t agree and you still don’t find software with a “Pin to Taskbar” option when you install it.  They still all still offer the old “Pin to Quick Launch Area” option though when there is no reason in Windows 7 to use the Quick Launch area at all.  With Windows 8 I wasn’t expecting these concerns to be addressed but I was very pleased when the Start Menu was removed.  What really annoyed me though was  that there was no real alternative in place to it.  No expanded Jumplists, no way auto-pinning of installed desktop software to the Taskbar, no joined-up thinking.

Coupled with the new Start Screen being locked as the default UI and I was beginning to lose hope.  Having actually used Windows 8 for a while now though I can confirm that it really is much easier to stay and work on the desktop than you might think.  In a computing session there really is no need to go to the Start Screen and, when you do if you’re not the type of user who would want to use Metro apps, there’s no real incentive to stay there.  Currently I am using my Start Screen as a series of desktop widgets, rather like the widget view on the Mac desktop, to just give me live and up to date information on a wide range of things at the push of a single button.  Again that single button-push gets me back to where I need to be.  Used this way the Start Screen is really rather elegant.

Metro itself is an excellent way forward and for consumer users for the coming years I’m not really going to criticise it much.  Sure it’s not perfect but Windows 7 wasn’t perfect either (in fact I’d challenge you to ever point to any operating system on any platform that was).  It’s easy to see where some things can and will be improved over time, or where there is scope to do so.  Full-screen apps being the default is one area where we might see significant change for example and the expansion of menus and the inclusion of the Ribbon interface are others.

Once you get past the fact that Windows 8 isn’t perfect you try to find a way to use it that best suits you.  I rather like the widget approach and can see it being very useful to me in the future.  My concerns about getting to the administrative tools have been completely allayed and I’m being every bit as productive in the OS and on the desktop as I am in Windows 7.

So the time has come for me to admit not that I was wrong, but that I judged Windows 8 far too harshly.  It is every bit as good as Microsoft could make it given the time available.  It’s not perfect but nothing else is either, and while it might not be for everybody, I can certainly find a place for it in my world.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

iOS Smokes Android When It Comes To HTML5 Gaming, Delivers Up To 3 Times More Performance

Advertisements

When it comes to mobile operating systems, most of the talk is centered around iOS and Android, with Apple and Google’s OSes generally considered to be the two most advanced offerings out there. That isn’t to say that the competition doesn’t have something to bring to the table, with the likes of Windows Phone gaining a small amount of traction in the marketplace and definitely looking likely to feature heavily in the future.

With the growing popularity of HTML5, a lot of people are making murmurings of it being a threat to Apple’s crown in the long-term future, but it would seem that at the present moment, Apple produced devices do the best job of rendering HTML5-based content. A recent study by Spaceport.io into the web standard has shown that the iPhone and iPad regularly perform up to three times better than smartphones and tablets which are powered by Google’s Android operating system.

The comparison was run against a variety of tried and tested benchmarks, with iOS devices performing notably better, and the performance of hardware powered by Android being sporadic at best. The one Android smartphone which did stand out, although was still trailing behind the iPhone and iPad, was the Galaxy Nexus.

A lot of people don’t seem to know a great deal about the power that is HTML5, ignorant to the fact that it actually refers to a collection of different web technologies and provides how developers will one day write applications using HTML5 and have them run perfectly across a number of mobile operating systems. If this was to be the case, it would certainly go somewhere, bridging the gap between the likes of iOS and Windows Phone which is currently getting larger. The test which were carried out shows that devices running newer versions of the Android and iOS software performed a lot better, showing that Apple and Google are both releasing updates which vastly improve HTML5 rendering.

The adoption of HTML5 by large companies, such as Facebook and Mozilla could give the technologies the traction it needs for mass take up. Mozilla have already announced their intentions to create an HTML5 application marketplace with Facebook also jumping onto the HTML5 bandwagon by calling for cooperation from the industry as a whole on HTML performance standards.

(via AllThingsD)

You may also like to check out:

• Chrome Is The Fastest Desktop Web Browser, Safari On iPad 2 Is The Fastest On A Mobile Device, According To Tests
• iPhone 4S vs. Nokia Lumia 800 vs. iPhone 4 – Benchmarks-Based Web Browser Speed Test [VIDEO]
• Desktop Web Browser Speed Test: Chrome 17 vs Firefox 10 vs IE9 vs Opera 11

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

Advertisements

Subscribe to our RSS Feed !

Like this post on Facebook

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.