Microsoft unveils new Windows 8 after complaints

 
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26 June 2013 Last updated at 09:59 GMT Help

Microsoft has unveiled version 8.1 of its Windows operating system at its annual developers conference in San Francisco.
A 'start' button is returning to the desktop mode's taskbar - but will personal and business users be won over?

New Windows 8 Devices at Samsung London Event: the ATIV Q is Awesome!

Samsung just announced 3 new devices that will join the ATIV family. The ATIV line from Samsung are the Windows based devices and at the reveal in London Samsung showed us two new laptops, A hybrid tablet running both Windows 8 and Android, a Windows 8 tablet and finally an all in one computer.

The ATIV One 5, Samsung's All in One Computer / © samsungmobile.com

Samsung ended up showing us 9 new devices at the London event today, some of which where Galaxy devices which you can read about here. There were a total of 4 Galaxy devices revealed at the event and a total of 5 Ativ devices.

ATIV Q

The first device to be shown to members of the audience was the Samsung Ativ Q. This device is a hybrid one running two operating systems in Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2. One really neat feature about this device is that it allows you to seamlessly switch between the Windows 8 OS and the Android Jelly Bean OS. The Ativ Q also has a screen resolution of 3200 x 1800 which is the highest screen resolution in the world at the moment. The device can be used as a normal tablet, as a laptop with a keyboard, and can be placed in a reading or viewing position. Files can be shared around the two operating systems and the battery life is also impressive at it comes in at about 9 hours.

ATIV Tab 3

Samsung's Ativ tab 3 looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy tab but this device is of course running Windows 8 and it is the world's thinnest Windows 8 tablet at well. The 10 inch tablet has a resolution of 1366 x 768 and has 64 GB of onboard storage. The storage is also expandable as the device comes with a Micro SD slot. Other features include an HDMI out port, and also a good 2 GB of RAM. This device along with the Ativ Q also includes a stylus which can be used for things like drawings etc.

ATIV Book 9 Plus

This is the flagship Windows 8 laptop from Samsung. This high end device has a wonderful design, comes in at a thickness of 13.6mm and weighs in at just over 1.3 kg's. The device has the same screen resolution as the Ativ Q at 3200 x 1800 and the same size display at 13.3 inches. Other specs include 256 GB SSD, a micro HDMI port and also 2 USB 3.0 ports. Gorilla Glass is the material protecting the screen which also boasts touchscreen functionality.

ATIV Book 9 LITE

This is the cheaper version of the Ativ book 9 range of laptops. It comes in with a lot of the things that the Ativ Book 9 has but at a more affordable price. The screen resolution is no longer the 3200 x 1800 qHD but a more humble 1366 x 768 which is a noticeable drop when you view the two side by side. On the outside though the two look very similar.

ATIV One 5 Style

This device is a desktop PC running Windows 8, with the same look and feel as the Galaxy family of devices. The machine boasts a quad core AMD A6 processor and 4 GB of RAM. As far as storage is concerned it goes all the way up to 1 TB which means you will probably not run out of storage space for all your files. Moving on to connectivity, you have 3 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0 and HMDI in and out.
It seems as if Samsung is looking to replicate the success of its Galaxy line with these Windows devices. Tell us what you think of Samsung's latest efforts by leaving a comment below.

ATIV Q: Windows and Android under the same house

At their London event, Samsung announced their ATIV Q tablet, which runs both Android and Windows that can switch seamlessly between the two operating systems. Will the battle between Android and Windows end peacefully with this merger? I’ve been testing this hybrid tablet out.

Windows left, Android right. The ATIV Q can do both simultaneously. / © AndroidPIT

A multitalented tablet

If one pops up the flat screen of the ATIV Q, a keyboard is revealed which transforms the 13.3-inch tablet into a veritable small notebook. The display can also be rotated so that it floats horizontally above the keyboard; a useful setting to be used when drawing on the screen and interchanging between using the keyboard, notes Samsung. The operation with Samsung’s S Pen (known for its use in the Samsung Note series) is fluid and smooth. The resolution on the screen is great as well: the 13.3-inch qHD+ display sports a 3200x1800 pixel resolution with a pixel density of 275.

One of the many configurations of the ATIV Q, display hovering over the keyboard. / © AndroidPIT

The ATIV Q shines not only as a high-class display, but also from its design and hardware. The processor is housed in the base of the device and connects the display with the keyboard, the battery is installed in the lower keyboard, and the display contains only the screen and sensors, making it ridiculously thin.

“Both:” instead of “either or”

Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2 are both installed on the device and run in parallel. Just tap the Home button (on the ATIV devices, it’s the Windows key) and you’re being switch between the two. Both systems can also be displayed simultaneously in a split-screen view.

Windows 8..../ © AndroidPIT

.....or Android 4.2.2. / © AndroidPIT

I was surprised at how smoothly and seamlessly you can switch between the two systems.  Whether the Intel Core i5 processor is capable of handling computational hungry programs running in the background at the same time as having two operational systems is another story, but the short time I had with the ATIV Q really impressed me.
Although Samsung advertises that you can “enjoy” Android Apps on Windows, the technology behind it is less than spectacular. Folders and data between Windows and Android an be moved back and forth, the same as that can be done via the ATIV Q and an Android Device using a service called Samsung SideSync.
Nevertheless, the concept of the ATIV Q is very interesting. As soon as we get a hold of a tester of the device here at AndroidPIT, we will be able to discuss the Windows/Android hybrid again in more detail.

HTC 8XT Announced For Sprint – Windows Phone 8 with BoomSound Speakers and Qualcomm Snapdragon 400

Today HTC and Sprint announced the HTC 8XT Windows Phone 8 handset. The device is the first Windows Phone 8 handset that will ship with HTC’s BoomSound speakers, which first debuted on the Android-powered HTC One.

The HTC 8XT features a 4.3 inch display, 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, micro SD card slot (expandable to 64GB), 8 megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash, 1.6 megapixel front facing camera, and 1,800 mAh battery.

The new Windows Phone 8 handset will launch some time later this summer for $99.99 (with $50 mail-in rebate) on a new two-year contract.

Stay tuned for more info on this sexy new Windows Phone!

Press release below

Sprint Plans Summer Launches for First Two Windows Phone 8 Smartphones to Feature Truly Unlimited 4G LTE: HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo

SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESS WIRE), June 26, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Microsoft Corp. today outlined plans to launch the first two Windows Phone 8 smartphones to offer Truly UnlimitedSM Sprint 4G LTE this summer – HTC® 8XT and Samsung ATIV S™ Neo. Customers will appreciate access to the advanced features and capabilities of these devices with the benefit of unlimited 4G LTE (available in select markets) data, text and calling to any mobile with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.

HTC 8XT will be available for $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. ATIV S Neo will be priced at $149.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. Exact availability dates and full feature lists for both smartphones will be shared at a later date. Customers can preregister for more information and email updates about Windows Phone 8 from Sprint and HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo atwww.sprint.com/windows8.

“We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today. Our customers will appreciate being able to use them all day, every day without worrying about overages or data caps.”

Windows Phone 8 won the PC Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for best mobile operating system in March 2013. The only phone with Live Tiles, Windows Phone 8 offers a truly personal smartphone experience designed to keep customers connected to the people and things that matter most. Windows Phone brings together the best of Microsoft with the same modern look and feel, including Bing, Office, Xbox and Skype, for a rich customer experience. In addition, the Windows Phone Store includes more than 160,000 apps to choose from, with hundreds added daily.

”We are excited to be bringing the most personal smartphone experience to Sprint customers this summer,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division. “With compelling hardware from HTC and Samsung, coupled with unlimited 4G LTE from Sprint, these Windows Phones will offer the complete package.”

Must-Have Features from HTC

Music-lovers will appreciate the amazing sound capability of HTC 8XT with HTC BoomSound™, introducing for the first time on Windows Phone 8 dual front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier that brings people closer to their music, videos and games they love. In addition, Beats Audio™ enables studio-quality sound, so listeners hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. And HDR recording uses advanced dual microphones and audio processing to capture clean, rich sound that is worthy of high-definition video.

“Inspired by the design that won the prestigious ‘red dot award: product design 2013,’ the new HTC 8XT brings a truly crafted smartphone with brilliant color, soft-to-the-touch texture and tapered design to be comfortable in the hand,” said Mike Woodward, president North America, HTC Corporation. “A pleasure to hold and a pleasure to hear, the front-facing stereo speakers are a first for a Windows Phone and deliver sounds that demand to be heard.”

HTC 8XT is also ideal for photo buffs with an 8-megapixel main camera with autofocus and LED flash, and a front-facing 1.6-megapixel camera. The main camera takes great photos in bright-light and low-light situations, and the ability to shoot video and take still pictures simultaneously. It also offers multishot burst mode to help capture the best picture of a moving photo subject, and a dedicated Windows Phone camera button to open the camera quickly, even when the phone is locked or sleeping, so users never miss an opportunity to capture life’s most important moments.

Inside the beautiful HTC 8XT is a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor with 1.4GHz dual-core CPUs supporting 4G LTE and 1080p video capture, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM memory, microSD™ memory card slot with support for up to 64GB memory cards, a crisp 4.3-inch display, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, GPS support and 1,800mAh lithium-ion battery.

Advanced Features from Samsung

ATIV S Neo will offer a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD memory card slot, international roaming, 4.8-inch high-definition display, Wi-Fi and 2,000mAh lithium-ion removable battery. Sharing is easier than ever with ATIV S Neo featuring ATIV Beam using near field communication (NFC) to share photos, music and video with other Windows Phone 8 and select Android™ devices. ATIV S Neo includes the Samsung exclusive Now feature, which highlights top news, weather and relevant information at a single glance.

“Samsung is committed to offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the rich Windows Phone 8 experience on the ATIV S Neo is a testament to this effort,” said Kevin Packingham, Samsung Mobile chief product officer. “The ATIV S Neo makes it easy to stay in-the-know while connecting with friends, family and colleagues, through new sharing features and powerful productivity applications.”

Having ATIV S Neo in your pocket means users can do more with their smartphone camera. It will offer an 8-megapixel main camera with LED flash and a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera for video chat. It will include a variety of camera apps preloaded, including the Beauty Shot mode for smoother looking skin in headshots, Manga Camera to give pictures a fun twist by turning friends and family into cartoons, and built-in Photo Editor that allows the user to edit, color, effect, decorate or share their pictures quickly and easily.

These smartphones also make it easy for customers to stay productive with Office Mobile for Windows Phone. With Office Mobile, people can access, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from anywhere. Plus, customers can count on Office Mobile to keep content and formatting intact so documents still looks great when back on a PC, Windowstablet or Mac.

Microsoft Office 365 offered by Sprint is available for small and mid-sized businesses. It includes Sprint’s unique Carefree Cloud migration and onboarding assistance, end-user level support, predictable monthly costs with no up-front infrastructure expenses, pay-as-you-go plans, savings by bundling all of the necessary tools and advanced options to simplify management further, all with a single bill and single point of contact. Sprint recently announced expanded plans available with Office 365, including enhanced audio conferencing and availability at select Sprint retail stores.

Sprint offers 4G LTE in top summer destinations like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sprint offers 4G LTE service in 110 markets nationwide and expects to provide 200 million people with LTE by the end of 2013.

For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/network.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Specifications and features subject to change.
HTC, the HTC logo and HTC BoomSound are trademarks of HTC Corporation. Beats Audio is a trademark of Beats Electronics, LLC. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Samsung and ATIV S are both registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 4G LTE when used in connection with Samsung devices refers to the fact that the devices are capable of operating on Sprint’s 4G LTE network.

1The American Express Prepaid Reward Card (“Card”) provided in connection with this Rebate offer is a prepaid Card that is usable at U.S. merchants that accept American Express Card. Some limitations apply. The Card is not redeemable for cash (except where required by law) and does not provide ATM access. Use of Card constitutes acknowledgement that it is given as a reward and no consideration, value, or money has been paid by the holder to American Express in exchange for this Card. USE OF CARD IS SUBJECT TO THE CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT. SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, A $3.00 MONTHLY FEE WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST CARD BALANCE, STARTING SIX MONTHS AFTER CARD ISSUANCE, UNLESS FUNDS ARE EARLIER DEPLETED. For BALANCE, customer service and Cardholder Agreement, visit americanexpress.com/sprint or call 866-608-3756. Card issued by American Express Prepaid Card Management Corporation.

Telefonica To Give Windows Phone 8 An Extra Push To Try To Dilute Android, iOS

Microsoft continues to throw money down the Windows Phone well, perhaps buoyed by signs its ongoing marketing and platform support efforts are shifting the needle a few fractions. Today more evidence — presumably— of Ballmer’s money-throwing commitment to make its smartphone OS stick: carrier Telefonica has announced it will be collaborating with Microsoft to “promote and foster sales” of Windows Phone 8.

Microsoft has been shelling out to pay developers to port their apps to WP8, as it plays app catch-up with the rival Android and iOS ecosystems. It’s unclear exactly how much cash Redmond has paid out on this, or on WP8 marketing in general, but it’s currently running a promotion for which developers can get $100 per app submitted up to a maximum of $2,000 each if they submit a stack of apps.

Flagship apps — such as Angry Birds — are likely to have commanded much larger payouts to be ported over of course. WP8′s lowly marketshare means it’s likely not worth such developers’ while to support the platform. Or at least not without the sweetener of a substantial cash incentive.

Meanwhile Instagram, another big name app that still stands aloof of the Windows Phone ecosystem, has apparently been offered millions of dollars to port the app by Microsoft and Nokia. For whatever reason, it’s one app WP8 still lacks however.

Returning to the Telefonica-Microsoft love-in, the pair say this new “enhanced” marketing effort will initially run for a year, and will be targeted at six markets where Telefonica carrier brands operate: namely the U.K., Germany, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Chile. These markets appear to be ones where Microsoft’s OS has already managed to generate a little marketshare momentum. According to earlier Kantar data, for the three-month period ending February 2013, Windows Phone had a 6.7% share in the U.K., 6.8% in Germany and 5.9% in Mexico, for instance.

Telefonica declined to answer questions about how much money — its own and/or Microsoft’s — will be poured into this enhanced marketing effort, saying the information is confidential. The only question it would answer is which Windows Phone device is the biggest seller in most of its markets — and that device is the Nokia Lumia 920. Microsoft also declined to comment further.

It’s possible Microsoft is bankrolling the entire enhanced marketing program itself, although Telefonica says its motivation in helping to promote WP8 is to diversify the devices it offers to consumers and “improve the current balance of mobile operating platforms on the market, encouraging it to be more diverse and less of a duopoly”. For duopoly read: Android and iOS.

Why would a carrier want to encourage more diversity? Surely that just means creating more work and outlay for itself as it has to train its staff to sell different types of phones? There are plenty of reasons. With Android so dominant, power over development and direction of the mobile landscape is increasingly concentrated in Google’s hands. Carriers would obviously prefer they hold more of the cards, so that they can push their own over-the-top services to build the new revenue streams they need to as their traditional moneyspinners (talk and text) continue to decline.

Plus, if most of the phones run the same OS, there’s less incentive for consumers to buy a new device. Pushing customers to switch to something new is arguably a more compelling upgrade sell for carriers to foist on their customers now that smartphone hardware has become so similarly capable. A different OS — and WP8 does certainly look different to the two market leaders — gives them something new to try to pull the punters in. This is especially important in saturated markets like Europe where smartphone penetration (and Android usage) is so high.

Telefonica said it will be working with suppliers and WP8 mobile makers to “ensure the availability of high-quality devices” and “make their commercial offering available throughout the duration of this enhanced marketing effort with Microsoft”.

Smartphone market figures for Q1 released by analyst IDC yesterday named Windows Phone as now the third biggest smartphone OS in Europe, behind Android and OS, with a two percentage point increasing taking its share from 4% in Q1 2012 to 6% in Q1 this year. Despite being third, it is still very far behind, with Android hugely dominant — with a massive 69% share — while Apple’s iOS share shrunk to a fifth (20%).

After years of competition, Oracle teams up with Microsoft to bring its database software to the Windows cloud

Microsoft and Oracle announced a significant partnership on Monday to bring Java, Oracle Database, and other Oracle software to Microsoft's Windows Azure platform. The unusual collaboration will allow developers to simply spin up an Oracle Database on Microsoft's cloud platform with full support from Oracle. Java developers and businesses will benefit from the integration, allowing them to move legacy software that runs on a desktop straight into a cloud-based system.

The news is unusual as the two companies have been fierce competitors for years, with Oracle's Database software going head-to-head with Microsoft's SQL server. Oracle also hired private investigators back in 2000 to look through the trash contents of Microsoft supporters, with many branding the episode as "trashgate" at the time. It's clear that traditional software vendors are increasingly looking to the cloud as the future platform, and Oracle isn't afraid to bury old grudges to get there. The announcement comes just days before Microsoft kicks off its Build conference in San Francisco, where the company is expected to detail its latest developer offerings and improvements to Windows 8.1.

Microsoft’s new Windows Phone ad tells Apple and Samsung fans to stop fighting

Microsoft has created what I consider a brilliant new Windows Phone ad that tells Apple and Samsung followers to stop arguing with each other all the time. It’s true that the Android vs. iOS battle has evolved nowadays into an Apple vs. Samsung battle. Microsoft says, “Don’t fight. Switch.” and just buy a Windows Phone handset instead.

The ad takes place at a wedding. The groom’s side of the wedding all own Galaxy phones and the bride’s side all have iPhones. When someone with a Galaxy phone takes a picture, an iPhone user on the other side makes a snarky comment about how big it is. They start going back and forth until everyone at the wedding is throwing fists. Two people who seem to be working at the wedding stand calmly together as they use their Nokia Lumia 920 phones.

It’s not very often you hear the terms “Microsoft” and “brilliant new advertisement” together in one sentence, but this Windows Phone ad is really just quite well done. It gives off a good impression that Windows Phone is superior while all the inferior little brats argue, so to speak. I’m reminded of the “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” episode of the Twilight Zone when the humans destroy themselves with their own fighting and finger-pointing while the aliens end up getting to sit back and watch effortlessly.

But enough chit chat. You can watch the Windows Phone ad in its entirety right here.

YouTube Windows Phone 8 app updated, brings new pinning feature and Kids-corner support

Finally, the official Windows Phone 8 YouTube app receives a new major update that brings lots of much-needed improvements. Features such as the ability to pin videos, playlists, and channels; support for Kids-corner is also added to the list.

Speaking of the list, here is the rest of the new application features:

• Pin videos, playlists, channels, and even search queries to Start as Live Tiles for fast access.
• The tile flips to show either the latest video from your subscriptions or the most popular one.
• A filmstrip view of playlists.
• Background playback of video.
• You can share videos to popular social networks, and via email and text.
• Kids-corner enabled for parental control

Who out there is loving the new YouTube?

Uh-oh: Windows Phone Store just passes 145,000 apps with sluggish growth

Windows Phone news is always a mixed bag because you never know if you’re going to see something positive about how the OS is doing or something suggesting Microsoft has a problem on its hands. In this case, unfortunately, it’s the latter. As part of theofficial unveiling of the Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon this morning, the folks in Redmond slipped in some revealing stats about the Windows Phone Store: it now has 145,000 apps in it.

Worded in that way, that sounds like a pretty decent accomplishment. It’s a relatively new platform and it has 145,000 apps available to its users. Sweet. The problem arises when you look at past milestones and when they occurred. The Windows Phone Store hit 100,000 apps last June. That means in the 11 months that have gone by, the store has gained only 45,000 new apps.

Before the 100,000 milestone, Windows Phone was able to double its number of apps in 6 months. Now in the 11 months that have passed afterward, the number of apps have increased by 45 percent. That’s a real slow-down in growth.

The good news is Windows Phone 8 seems to gain a tiny bit more spotlight every day, so Microsoft is doing something right. However, smartphones nowadays are all about apps, and lacking developer interest could pose a significant threat to Windows Phone’s future. I’m sure Microsoft is not naive to this possibility, so we’ll have to keep an eye out for any initiatives the company might take to increase the number of Windows Phone apps

Windows Phone market share now in third place worldwide as BlackBerry slips

According to new market share numbers from IDC, the International Data Corporation, Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system is now in third place worldwide. It snatches the position previously held by BlackBerry which is now in fourth place; or in other words, the land of mediocrity.

This past quarter, IDC reports that Windows Phone accounted for 3.2 percent of worldwide phone shipments. BlackBerry accounted for 2.9 percent. That’s pretty sad for a company that practically dominated the industry not too many years ago. Windows Phone growth is slow, but hey, at least it’s growth. In fact, it’s better than what IDC predicted. Behind BlackBerry is Linux with 1 percent market share and Symbian with 0.6 percent.

Meanwhile Android and iOS continue to run the world. Combined, they add up to 92.3 percent of the market share. Android, of course, has a wide lead internationally, claiming 75 percent of all smartphones sold last quarter, leaving iOS with the remainder of 17.3 percent.

Symbian actually saw the greatest decline percentage-wise. In the first quarter of 2012 (the year-ago quarter) it held at 6.8 percent share. Technically, Windows Phone actually saw the most growth by percentage, because it grew 133 percent. However that’s only moving from 2 percent to 3.2 percent. The biggest overall leap made was by Android — from 59.1 percent to 75 percent. Though iOS shipment volume increased, market share decreased from 23 percent to 17.3 percent.

Canalys: BlackBerry and Windows Phone lacking top apps

This something Windows Phone and BlackBerry users don’t want to admit – their beloved platforms are lacking some important apps (and few awesome games). The sheer number of apps doesn’t matter much if you can’t have what’s popular out there (presuming that popularity also includes some quality).

According to Canalys‘ report, of the top 50 free and top 50 paid apps in Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store in the US, just 34% are available in either the Windows Phone store or BlackBerry World. This is despite “substantial efforts” from Microsoft and BlackBerry to improve their positions.

The picture can be made “a little more optimistic” by taking into account apps that are specific to a particular ecosystem, or where similar alternatives are available (think – utility apps).

However, the conclusion is that the “presence of clear gaps in their inventories cannot and should not be masked.” Canalys’ Tim Shepherd goes on to add that the availability of key apps is a “factor in motivating consumers’ initial mobile device purchasing decisions, and it will only become more so.”

As a reminder, the Windows Phone Marketplace has recently surpasses 145,000 apps, while BlackBerry has managed to pass the 120,000 mark. But does it matter?

Vimeo for Windows Phone 8 updated with voice controls

The official version of Vimeo for Windows Phone 8 has been updated. In version 2.1 users get the ability to do search or pause their video playback with voice commands. The Vimeo WP8 does much more than voice commands, as it lets folks watch and manage their existing Vimeo videos, use NFC Tap-to-Share to share your videos, search for videos, upload footage in High Definition.

The new voice command feature is a bit buggy, but we’re sure the kinks will be worked out in the next version. For all those interested in trying out the new Vimeo app for Windows Phone 8, can grab it for free here in the Windows Phone Store. Other features come at a cost once you sign up for the video services’ subscription.

HTC One with Windows Phone launching this fall?

It looks like HTC is working on an HTC One variant that would run Windows Phone 8 rather than Android. The information comes from Neowin, which claims that such a device could be launched at some point in the fall, featuring a 4- to 5-inch screen, “a mostly metal body,” and Windows Phone 8 GDR3. An Ultrapixel camera may also be included, but that’s still not confirmed.

The HTC One is the second best-selling high-end Android smartphone (after Samsung Galaxy S4) and it makes perfect sense for the Taiwanese company to rely on the popularity of its existing product to expand to other markets.

At present, HTC sells two Windows Phone devices, 8S and 8X, which sit in the shadow of Nokia’s Lumia range. The HTC One running Microsoft’s mobile platform could help shift the tide in HTC’s favor while at the same time helping the Redmond giant expand its market share…

Windows Phone voice recognition improved, Microsoft claims it's 'twice as fast' with increased accuracy

Microsoft has been working on improving its Bing voice recognition in Windows Phone recently. We saw some early advancements debut in a leaked video earlier this year, but the company now appears to be ready to launch some of those changes this week. The processing part of the voice recognition in Windows Phone, powered by Bing, has been improved for searches and composing text messages. Microsoft claims the tweaks mean results return twice as fast and the accuracy of picking up words has been increased by 15 percent.

The improvements all come thanks to some Microsoft Research work known as Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). The software giant claims the system can detect patterns in a similar way that biological systems analyze huge sets of data and recognize similar patterns. While Microsoft previously revealed a "streaming mode" for Windows Phone voice recognition in private, that lets users search while they speak, the updated improvements simply improve the speed and accuracy for now.

Huawei 'open-minded' on Nokia acquisition, chairman calls Windows Phone 'weak' (update)

A Nokia Lumia smartphone brought to you by Huawei? The idea might seem preposterous, but Richard Yu — chairman of the Chinese manufacturer's consumer business unit — says his company is "considering" such acquisitions. "Maybe the combination has some synergies," Yu told The Financial Times. Of course, he quickly clarified that any deal hinges on Nokia's willingness to be bought out. "We are open-minded," Yu said. Nokia's stock jumped upward as news of the executive's unprompted remarks spread. The struggling handset maker has given no indication it's for sale, however. In fact, Nokia is in the midst of a significant hardware push, having just released the Lumia 925 and Lumia 928; an "EOS" Windows Phone featuring a 41-megapixel camera is also reportedly in the pipe.

Still, Yu suggests Nokia shouldn't be dismissive of a potential buyout. "Whether Windows Phone [will be] successful is hard to say," he said, going on to describe the third-place OS as "weak." One likely reason for this, the chairman suggested, is the fee associated with licensing Microsoft's Windows Phone software, highlighting out Android's "free" nature as a significant differentiator between the two.

Update: Huawei has told Reuters that it "has no plans" to acquire Nokia, though the company stops short of denying it's considered the idea.

Samsung unveils world’s thinnest Windows tablet

ATIV Tab 3 one of two new tablet devices unveiled by the manufacturer during star studded launch event in London yesterday evening (June 20)

Samsung has added two new tablet devices to its portfolio, unveiling the ATIV Tab 3 and ATIV Q in London’s Earls Court venue last night.

The ATIV Tab 3 (pictured in white) is Samsung’s first tablet to run on Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system – and is said to be the world’s thinnest at just 8.2mm, and weighing 550g.

The device features a 10.1 inch HD screen (1366×768), 64GB memory, 10 hour battery and comes preloaded with Microsoft’s  Office Home & Student software. 

The ATIV Q, includes the world’s highest resolution screen (3200×1800) and can run on either Windows 8 or the latest Android operating system, Jellybean 4.2.2.

Features include a larger 13.3 inn screen, 13.9mm thick, 1.29HG weight, 128GB memory, up to nine hours battery, and Intel HD Graphics. 

Each devices includes a full QWERTY bluetooth keyboard, which adjusts depending on your needs and usage. Samsung said the devices have been designed to accommodate different user needs, such as the inclusion of a hinge to help recreate the feel of a laptop when typing. There is also a ‘stand mode’ for when watching movies. 

In addition, Samsung has launched a new product called SideSync, which enables users to control their device, including responding to texts and emails and view photos taken from their handset, from their computer.

Both device will be available before the end of the year. Pricing details and launch partners have yet to be confirmed. 

Samsung Electronics VP of IT and mobile division for the UK and Ireland Simon Stanford said: “We’re committed to offering our customers choice and convenience in personal computing, and the convertible nature of both these new tablets delivers the freedom and versatility our customers demand.

“These innovative devices have been designed with busy people in mind, and the adaptability they offer is better suited to busy lives than any tablet on the market.”

The event concluded with a live performance from British female singer Emeli Sandé.

HTC Reportedly Pulls The Plug On A 12-Inch Windows RT Tablet, But A Smaller Tab Lives On

HTC is currently sailing through a patch of rough seas, and it seems as though the company is starting to rethink its tablet strategy. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, HTC was planning to put together a 12-inch Windows RT tablet for release later this year before scrapping it due to cost and anemic overall demand for Windows RT.

That’s not to say that the beleaguered Taiwanese OEM is ditching Windows RT completely — there’s reportedly still a 7-inch RT tablet in the works, as well as another Android tablet. Bloomberg’s unnamed source goes on to note that demand for RT-powered tablets in general has been lackluster, so it made sense for HTC to pick its battles more carefully. After all, recent (albeit unconfirmed) Surface RT sales figures from back in March purport that Microsoft had only sold about a million units at the time — for a device meant to be the RT flagship, such numbers probably weighed heavily into the machinations of OEMs considering entering the RT fray.

Long time HTC watchers will know that focusing on a smaller number of quality devices is a tablet tactic the company has leaned on before. HTC’s recent history with tablets has been, well, pretty spotty. It’s first notable Android tablet in 2011 relied heavily on a smart stylus (a formula that Samsung would later turn into a winner) and just didn’t sell all that well, and its larger-screened followup saw similarly poor sales in the U.S. thanks to its incredibly high price tag — $699 with a contract. Clearly, things had to change.

HTC UK chief Phil Roberson said early last year that the company would be dialing back its focus on tablets, and true to his word HTC company spent much of 2012 trying to perfect its smartphone formula while facing ever-stiffer competition from rivals Samsung and Apple. Arguably the OEM has finally managed to hit its stride with the widely acclaimed One smartphone, but a single well-received device almost certainly won’t be enough to turn things around alone. It’s tough to say just how much of an impact a small Windows RT tablet will have on HTC’s flagging fortunes (I’m guessing it won’t move the needle much), but the company could use any boost it can get at this point. A quick look at HTC’s recently released fiscal Q1 2013 financials reveals a business that has definitely seen better days — it reported a mere $2.8 million in unaudited net income, down drastically from the year-ago quarter.

Samsung’s Shape-Shifting Ativ Q Isn’t Pretty, But Running Windows 8 And Android May Make It A Worthy Workhorse

Samsung just pulled back the curtain on a new line of Ativ Windows notebooks, but perhaps the most interesting of the company’s new Ativs is a 13.3-inch convertible tablet it hopes will appeal those prepping to head back to school. The shape-shifting Ativ Q sports a tablet mode, a video-friendly formfactor with the screen held near vertical, and a more traditional notebook configuration that reveals its built-in QWERTY keyboard, but it’s got an even niftier trick up its sleeve.

While the Ativ Q boots into Windows 8 there’s also a dual-OS mode that allows the users to switch to stock Android 4.2.2, thereby allowing for Microsoft productivity staples such as Office to live in close proximity to the Google Play Store and the usual gamut of Android apps. It’s a cake-and-eat-it-too tablet. Or a tablet for someone who just can’t decide between Windows or Android.

The Ativ Q also supports the classic Windows desktop mode – and since the tablet includes Samsung’s S Pen stylus (which pulls out from a slot in its side) the tiny menus of classic Windows aren’t as fiddly as they would otherwise be to navigate on such a device.

Samsung said photos and files can be shared between the Windows and Android OS modes. Switching between the different OSes seemed fast during my brief hands on, although it’s relatively easy to accidentally revert to Windows. The Ativ Q is not a native Android device, being as it’s not booting directly to Android, but Samsung made a point of demoing a handful of Android games, including Angry Birds, running on the Ativ Q to show it is capable of handling such apps without a significant dip in performance.

The touchscreen display is QHD with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,800, which works out to a pixel density of about 275 PPI. The aspect ratio of the screen means the device feels quite long and narrow (not unlike plenty of other Windows convertibles). The entire device also feels very hefty – it’s not a tablet you want to hold in your hands for long — and it’s relatively thick, at 13.9mm wide. It is a serious bit of kit to lug about, but if you consider it as a laptop replacement rather than an iPad competitor then that’s perhaps to be expected. It’s certainly not the world’s most elegant slice of portable computing but Samsung is obviously hoping its flexibility is what will make it stand out.

Pulling up on the side of the screen when the device is in tablet mode lifts it out on a built-in hinged stand so it can be angled in a variety of ways, including a so-called “floating” mode suitable for presentations when a standing speaker needs to look down at the screen. The display can also be angled steeply up, with the keyboard entirely out of sight, to view videos. And it can be moved into a typing mode where the display is tucked behind the built-in keyboard.

This keyboard felt unpleasantly plasticky to my fingertips but it was relatively roomy, despite taking up less than half the width of the device. There’s no space for a trackpad but Samsung has added in an optical nav key in the centre of the keyboard if you prefer not to use the touchscreen, plus three physical selection keys at the edge of the keyboard to act as mouse keys.

Samsung has sited the device’s CPU and components inside the flexible stand portion of the device, rather than inside the screen or under the keyboard. It said it wanted to keep the hot parts away from the bits the user touches. Whether that’s a huge advantage remains to be seen, but it does mean the screen is thinner than it might have been otherwise, so probably a little easier to move around.

The screen has a Windows touch-key on the front which returns the user to the Windows 8 homescreen, There’s a tile on that interface for switching to the Android OS (and another for Windows Classic). When using the device in the Android scenario, there are additional nav keys along the bottom of the screen for switching back to Windows. The device being demoed during my hands on was running stock Android 4.2.2, rather than having any TouchWiz overlay.

Samsung said pricing for the Ativ Q will be confirmed later, and the price tag is likely going to be the deciding factor on whether this hybrid beast flies. It’s not what you’d call stylish or elegant, and its weight puts its portability in doubt, but it has the potential to be a bit of a workhorse -– with both Windows and Android, and tablet and QWERTY functionality on tap.

Windows 8 vies with Vista, but Windows 7 gains

Windows 8 is making slow but steady gains.

(Credit: Net Applications)

Pop open the champagne. Windows 8 may be on the verge of claiming installation share victory over Vista.

The latest figures from Net Applications show Windows 8 with a 4.27 percent share of PCs installed worldwide in May (up from 3.84 percent in April) versus 4.51 percent for Vista.

Vista, one of Microsoft's least popular OSes, was introduced in November of 2006.

Then again, maybe we're breaking out the champagne too soon. Windows 7 still leads by a long shot at 44.85 percent and it actually made gains in May, up from 44.72 percent in April.

And Vista was up in Steam's rankings to 7.25 percent in May from 7.06 percent in April.

Windows XP installations were down in May to 37.74 percent from 38.31 percent in April.

The entire history of Windows in one video

Windows has come a long way over the decades from the now antiquated-looking boxes of Windows 1.0 to the layers upon layers of desktops, start screens, charms, tiles, and whatever that bar on the left is in Windows 8.

Now, you can spend a little over an hour watching the entire evolution of Windows unfold in the video below. For some reason, someone spent what looks to be a few hours (the video seems to have been sped up) upgrading Windows using a virtual machine all the way from Windows 1.0 to the latest Windows 8 Pro.

The result is an hour and seven minutes of pretty comprehensive history for the world's most famous graphical user interface (GUI). Along the way, we get treated to a few quick games of classic Reversi and Doom, which launch easily from the early versions of Windows. However, Doom has some real problems launching from a version of Windows 1.0 running within Windows 8. How deliciously uber-meta-nerdy...

Most hilarious: how quickly the earlier versions of Windows install, and how much of the video is basically waiting for Windows 8 to load. This is to be expected of course, but for someone with distant memories of fumbling for hours with the more than 15 floppies needed to install Windows 95, it's satisfying -- and a little maddening -- to see the process fly by.