Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Windows 8.1 Out Now



A few additional highlights:

·         Refined features: Windows 8.1 delivers a host of increased customisation refinements, functional improvements and new innovation, offering more ways to create an experience that is personal, mobile expressive and keeps pace with your life.
·         Windows Store open for app developers: App developers can now submit apps for Windows 8.1. For information on building and submitting Windows 8.1 apps, please visit the Windows Dev Centre.
·         New devices: Customers can go to http://www.windows.com/shop to learn about the wide variety of new Windows devices available now and coming throughout the holiday season to find the one that best fits their needs, and their budget.
·         Windows Embedded 8.1: Microsoft is simultaneously making Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry generally available today, offering Windows 8.1 technologies across a wide array of hardware, including specialised industry devices.
·         Windows Store Gift Card Availability: Also today, Microsoft began rolling out Windows Store Gift Cards to all Australian retailers to increase developer monetisation in the Windows Store and provide Windows users with more ways to purchase apps. Windows Store Gift Cards are a new way to buy apps, games and more in the Windows Store. Consumers can purchase Windows Store Gift Cards as digital codes online and at local retailers. For more information, please visit: www.microsoft.com/giftcard

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Windows 8.1 hits on October 18th

windows8-1_date

I know a lot of folks are eager to find out when they will be able to get Windows 8.1. I am excited to share that starting at 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand or 10:00pm October 17th in Australia , Windows 8.1 will begin rolling out worldwide as a free update for consumers on Windows 8 through the Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available at retail and on new devices starting on October 18th by market. So mark your calendars!



Check the Windows Blog for more details on whats coming to Windows 8.1

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Halo Spartan Assault - Classified "M" in Australia





Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Microsoft demonstrates Windows as a platform for small tablets, touch and mobility at COMPUTEX 2013


TAIPEI, Taiwan — June 5, 2013 —
 In his first COMPUTEX keynote address as head of Microsoft’s OEM Division, Corporate Vice President Nick Parker had plenty to talk about. Just over seven months after the launch of Windows 8 last fall, Parker hosted an impressive lineup of new tablets and PCs from leading manufacturers as well as smartphones, servers and embedded industry devices to demonstrate a consistent Windows experience across screens. He also spoke at length about the growing opportunity for partners to bet their business on Windows by building devices, services and apps that deliver new capabilities and experiences to customers.



“We want to be the best partner to all hardware manufacturers, from the way we engage and invest on new product designs to the experience we jointly deliver to customers,” Parker said. “This new wave of Windows devices from our partners, combined with our software, apps and services, reflects that commitment.”
Most notable of the devices Parker showed were the new 7-inch and 8-inch Windows tablets: the Acer Iconia W3 that launched on June 3 in Taipei, and three other small tablets from top original device manufacturer (ODM) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners expected to ship for the holiday season. These small tablets provide a Windows experience with Office Home & Student 2013 delivering even more options to experience all that Windows can offer in a smaller form factor. Some of the other hardware innovation showcased including fourth generation Intel® Core™ processors available now, beautiful high-definition displays, rotating touch panels, near-field communications (NFC) for file sharing between devices and ultrathin notebooks. The breadth of innovation coming from the Windows ecosystem continues to expand and provide new ways for customers to interact with devices at home, on the road or in the office.
Tami Reller, chief financial officer and chief marketing officer of Microsoft’s Windows Division, joined Parker onstage to discuss how the company is building on Windows 8 and accelerating the delivery of innovation starting now with the upcoming update of Windows 8.1. This approach enables increased agility and quicker response to customer and partner needs. “Windows 8.1 furthers the bold vision of Windows 8 by responding to customer feedback and adding new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing’s potential,” Reller said.
As part of this commitment, Reller announced that Outlook 2013 RT will be available on Windows-based ARM tablets with the Windows 8.1 update later this year. “Windows on ARM is a core part of our strategy today and moving forward, and the addition of Outlook further enriches this world of new on-the-go opportunities for partners and customers,” Reller said.
Reller was joined onstage by Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president of Windows Program Management, who shared the first public demo of Windows 8.1, highlighting enhancements in key areas such as personalization, search, the apps and Windows Store experience, cloud connectivity, and the new Internet Explorer 11. Leblond also described how working closely with partners has enabled the creation of richer and more unique experiences with hardware innovation in areas such as smaller form factors, touch pad, wireless networking, larger screens and higher DPI.
Later, Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Developer Platform Evangelism group, took the stage to discuss the growing universe of Windows 8 apps and how apps are increasingly the key to bringing new computing experiences to life. He talked about how the Windows ecosystem provides symmetry for app builders across client, device, server and cloud, and showed an array of popular apps for consumers and business including “Temple Run: Brave,” Twitter, Foursquare, LINE, Adobe Illustrator and more.
Parker closed the Microsoft keynote address by showcasing a broad range of devices and demonstrated how the Windows platform and services work seamlessly across screens:
• Windows Phone 8. Park demonstrated the recently announced Nokia Lumia 925, which features advanced lens technology and next-generation imaging software to capture clearer, sharper pictures and video, including the best low-light images.
• Office 365 and Office 2013. These applications were demonstrated across Windows devices, using touch capabilities that enable rich productivity scenarios.
• Windows Server 2012. Western Digital Sentinel server showed continued hardware innovation on servers to support access to cloud services across devices and expanding business needs in areas such as storage.
With the support of products and services such as Office 365, Skype, Outlook.com, SkyDrive, and Xbox Music and Xbox Video, Microsoft and its OEM partners can deliver a great experience across Windows devices from the enterprise to the classroom to the home.
COMPUTEX Taipei is the second-largest computer exhibition in the world, drawing a range of manufacturers and developers each year for a look at the latest upcoming devices and technologies. Microsoft products and OEM devices can be seen on display in the Microsoft booth in Nangang Exhibition Hall, L0110. More information is available athttp://www.computextaipei.com.tw/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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The Acer Aspire P3 Ultrabook provides fast performance and Windows 8 in a unique design that easily transforms into tablet mode. Weighing only 3.06 pounds and measuring 0.77 inches thin, the new P3 is incredibly portable. It is ideal for both work and play, as it is powered by Intel Core processors for fast performance and provides up to six hours of battery life. The 11.6-inch, touch-screen, in-plane switching (IPS) display and Dolby Home Theater audio make viewing presentations, Web browsing and enjoying videos more enjoyable. It runs Windows 8, so it supports legacy Windows programs that are important for many businesses and schools.
Acer Aspire P3 Ultrabook
June 05, 2013
The Acer Aspire P3 Ultrabook provides fast performance and Windows 8 in a unique design that easily transforms into tablet mode. Weighing only 3.06 pounds and measuring 0.77 inches thin, the new P3 is incredibly portable. It is ideal for both work and play, as it is powered by Intel Core processors for fast performance and provides up to six hours of battery life. The 11.6-inch, touch-screen, in-plane switching (IPS) display and Dolby Home Theater audio make viewing presentations, Web browsing and enjoying videos more enjoyable. It runs Windows 8, so it supports legacy Windows programs that are important for many businesses and schools.
Image: Web


New Features for Windows 8.1

Monday, 8 October 2012

Built-in apps for Windows 8

So with Windows 8 only a few weeks away, more and more details are being uncovered.

Take a look at the applications that will come built in with Windows 8


Across the board, you’ll see performance and reliability improvements in the apps, but there are some great new capabilities as well. Here are some highlights of the changes you’ll see:
Skydrive app tile
SkyDrive
  • Search within SkyDrive
  • Rename and move folders and files
  • New first-run experience
  • Custom sort order
App tiles for Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging
Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging
  • Conversation view of your inbox
  • Complete IMAP account support
  • Accepting and declining invitations in email
  • Capturing and updating your account picture
  • Improved search
  • Search for a contact within the Messaging app
Photos app tile
Photos
  • Crop and rotate photos
  • New auto-curated collage slideshows
  • View photos and videos on network locations in your Pictures Library such as Windows Home Server, network shares, and HomeGroups
  • Move through photos in your Pictures Library even when you open them from the desktop
Maps app tile
Maps
  • Bird's eye view
  • 3,000+ indoor venue maps
  • Driving directions hints
  • Improved navigation and layout
  • Improved customization, including custom pushpins and roaming options
  • Integration with Bing and Travel apps
Bing app tile
Bing
  • Richer search results for local content and images
  • Bing rewards integration
  • Use zoom on your search results to see related queries
  • Use the file picker to select an image from Bing to use on your lock screen or in your other apps
Finance app tile
Finance
  • Additional news and magazine content
  • More market exchanges enabled
  • Finance videos
News app tile
News
  • Additional news content from partners such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal
  • Enhanced article reader, including font customization, zoom, pagination, and more
  • Improved offline reading experience
  • News videos
  • Slideshows
Sports app tile
Sports
  • Additional news and magazine content
  • Sports videos
  • Slideshows
  • New soccer leagues, including MLS, J. League, and Brazilian League
Travel
Travel
  • Additional news and magazine content
  • Improved flight search and new flight progress indicator
  • Improved hotel listing page
  • Interactive 360-degree panoramas (gyroscope supported)
Weather
Weather
  • Improved default location usability
  • Hourly weather forecasts, up to 10 days
  • Day & evening high/low temperatures
Video
Video
  • Purchasing in local currencies
  • Closed captioning
  • Search by actor or director
Music
Music
  • Expanded music services
  • Rich "Now Playing" experience
  • Discover more music with SmartDJ
Games
Games
  • Exciting new games
  • In-game purchasing
  • Invites and turn notifications



Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Sony unleash a new range of Windows 8 Pc's


Vaio Duo 11


Sydney, 30 August 2012 – The new VAIO line-up from Sony puts touch right at the heart of your personal computing experience. Purpose built to make the most of the new Windows 8 interface, Sony’s industry-leading touch range includes the VAIO Duo 11, Tap 20, T Series 13, E Series 14 and L Series.

Showcasing the power of Windows 8, the brand new VAIO models make work and play beautifully intuitive – whether you’re relaxing at home or on the move. Stylish notebooks, an innovative slider hybrid, a family-friendly PC and an elegant Ultrabook, make up the 10-point multi-touch screens in the new VAIO collection.

“Windows 8 is a significant step change for personal computing, and this new operating system has allowed Sony to do what we do best with our VAIO range – focus on design, performance and the user experience,” said Jun Yoon, Marketing Manager of VAIO, Sony Australia. “With new ways to combine work and play, each of our new VAIO touch models have been built to make it easy to switch from a productive work day to pure entertainment.”

“It’s great to see Sony embracing touch on their upcoming Windows 8 PCs,” said Nick Parker, Corporate Vice President, OEM Division, Microsoft.  “The engineering partnership between Microsoft and Sony combined with their innovative new hardware designs will bring rich new touch experiences to customers including interactive applications, family computing and mobile productivity.”

VAIOTM Duo 11
  • Surf Slider™ design transforms from a full-function Ultrabook™ PC into a tablet operating mode for on-the-go computing
  • Slim and light: weighs approximately 1.3kg and under 18mm thin
  • 29.4cm (11.6”) wide view Full HD touchscreen
  • Digital stylus allows you to write with the precision of a pen
  • Hand-built in Japan with quality craftsmanship that only Sony can deliver

Sony redefines the portable PC experience with the new VAIO™ Duo 11 which is a high-performance, hybrid Ultrabook with a sliding LCD display that switches effortlessly between slate and keyboard mode.

Pick up the VAIOTM Duo 11 in one hand and use in tablet mode to browse the web or enjoy music and videos while you’re travelling. In the office, slide out the keyboard and maximise your productivity with a fully-featured PC powered by the latest 3rdgeneration Intel® Core™ processors.

The VAIOTM Duo 11 puts touch and handwriting right at the heart of your Windows 8 computing experience. Write, sketch and interact with media and applications on the responsive, touch capable, super-bright, and Full HD OptiContrast™ Panel. A unique pressure-sensitive digitial stylus gives the satisfying, expressive feel of handwriting directly on the touchscreen. Make notes, sketch diagrams or highlight key points on your PowerPoint presentation with accuracy and speed. Smart text recognition even lets you quickly convert handwritten notes to text for easy archiving and searches.

Despite its compact size, the VAIOTMDuo 11 is ready for business use with a full complement of ports and interfaces including Bluetooth® Smart Ready, USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, VGA video ports and NFC. You won’t be slowed down when you’re in a hurry with Quick Boot that gets you up and running in seconds. When you need a break, the VAIOTM Duo 11 powers down into a deep energy-saving sleep mode, keeping your documents safe and with RapidWake + Eco, everything’s ready for instant wake-up, just as you left off.

VAIOTM Tap 20
  • New-style PC for the entire family with multi-touch panel
  • Unique adjustable stand for comfortable computing in any position: lay-flat, tilting or desktop-style
  • Unique multi-user apps such as Family Paint which lets two people draw and sketch simultaneously from opposite sides of the large 20 inch multi-touch screen
  • Built-in battery gives portability around the home


Marrying the tablet and conventional desktop PC, the new VAIO™ Tap 20 from Sony transforms home computing into a fun, engaging experience. Featuring a large, fully-adjustable 20” touchscreen and integrated battery, the VAIO™ Tap 20 offers new usage opportunities for individuals as well as the entire family.

The versatile VAIOTM Tap 20 is designed to leverage the intuitive ease of Windows 8, opening up exciting new possibilities to interact with apps and your media collection.

The portable, battery-powered VAIOTMTap 20 fits right into any living space from bedrooms and kids’ play areas to the kitchen or garden. Lay it flat on a coffee table and let everyone join in using the large multi-touch screen. Flip out the in-built stand and tilt the VAIOTM Tap 20 at a comfortable angle for ‘lean back’ photo and movie editing by touch, or stand it upright and use as a fully-functioning desktop PC. It’s easy to work on documents, surf the web or check emails with the supplied wireless keyboard and mouse.

The 20” IPS LCD panel offers clear, bright images with a wide viewing angle, while the responsive 10-point multi-touch operation which lets all the family join in simultaneously with multi-player games. Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 by Sony ensures crisp, natural movie viewing with fine details and fluid on-screen movement.

The VAIOTM Tap 20 also comes with a choice of pre-installed apps that are optimised for the powerful multi-touch capabilities of Microsoft Windows 8.

Both the VAIOTM Duo 11 and VAIOTMCap 20 provide rich networked entertainment experiences. Both are one of the first PC’s to incorporate Near Field Technology (NFC), through Sony’s One-touch function, you can easily and instantaneously enjoy your music and photos across an array of NFC enabled Sony devices. Simply touch one to another and instantly establish a wireless connection without the need for any Bluetooth or Wi-Fi set up. This means that you can continue listening to music stored on your VAIO through your Bluetooth® headphones or speakers, with One-touch. You can also enjoy access to millions of songs and themed radio channels at any time via Sony Entertainment Network’s Music Unlimited service.

The rest of Sony’s new range of touch-enabled VAIO PCs:
VAIOTM T Series 13
  • The VAIO T Series 13 features premium materials including magnesium and aluminium
  • Now touch-enabled, this stylish Ultrabook teams a responsive 13.3" touchscreen with the latest-generation Intel® Core™ processors and speedy SSD storage
  • Work and entertain easily and intuitively by scrolling effortlessly through web pages, navigating documents and exploring your media collection – all enhanced by the supple touch experience of Windows 8
  • Be even more efficient with Rapid Wake + Eco, simply open the notebook lid and you’re up and running in seconds

VAIOTM E Series 14
  • Touch comes to the smart, easy-to-use VAIO E Series
  • Enjoy games, applications and your media collection on the 14” touchscreen, there’s no bezel around the full flush screen, enhancing its premium looks
  • With the latest Intel® processors, generous storage and smooth graphics, there’s all the power you need to breeze through the day
  • Signature styling features including a soft-edged ‘wraparound’ design in silver with distinctive purple accents and a diamond-cut VAIO logo on the aluminium display lid

VAIOTM L Series
  • Touch enhances your ultimate all-in-one computing experience with new VAIO L Series
  • Thanks to the X-Reality processing engine found inside BRAVIA TVs, you’ll enjoy impressively clear, natural pictures on the beautiful 24” multi-touchscreen
  • For an even more satisfying entertainment experience, S-Force Front Surround 3D assures room-filling audio from the 2.1 ch speaker system with dedicated subwoofer. Selected models feature latest-generation ‘glasses-free’ 3D technology
  • You don’t need glasses to enjoy 3D-ready apps like PlayMemories Home and 3D Family Paint. You can also touch a button to instantly convert Blu-ray Disc™ and other 2D video content to 3D*.

The new range of touch-enabled VAIO PCs from Sony are available in Australia from the end of October 2012. Register your interest at www.sony.com.au/vaiotouchto ensure you are first to find out more details.

*On 3D enabled model only