On Display at CES: Latest Showcase of Stunning New Windows 8 Hardware

Touch and other new capabilities in Windows 8 are powering the latest hardware innovations coming from our OEM partners. Together we are delivering interactive new experiences through devices and services that deliver on customers’ need for constant connectivity, mobility and flexibility.

This new world of computing is on display this week at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from chipsets, to materials, hinges, touch panels, rotating displays, beautiful new designs and new capabilities in Windows 8.

The PCs and devices we’re seeing come to market are increasingly mobile and much more powerful. When Windows 8 launched in October, we talked about 1,000 PCs and devices that had been certified for Windows 8. There are now more than 1,500 with more expected in the weeks and months to come. The breadth of innovation continues as our hardware partners deliver new Windows 8 devices and experiences that are tuned for play and work.

With that, let’s take a look at some of the incredible new Windows 8 PCs that are being announced and garnering attention on the show floor this week.

This is the Transformer Book TX300CA from ASUS, a lightweight ultraportable with a 13” full HD (1920×1080) IPS display and multi-touch capabilities. Imagine the portability of a tablet but will have access to a more familiar Ultrabook design for productivity. The Transformer Book TX300CA delivers performance and an excellent user experience thanks to the latest Intel Core i7 processor with HD4000 graphics and Windows 8.

Another brilliant touch laptop: Sony’s VAIO T Series 15. This is the 15-inch version of the popular T13 that features built-in HD web cam, which if you haven’t seen it in action is really impressive. The built-in web camera features image sensor that not only provides crisp, bright pictures, but you can use the camera and hand gestures to skip a song, adjust volume, and navigate webpages with VAIO Gesture Control.

For more on Sony, see this video featuring Sony’s VAIO Tap 20 and LL Cool J:

New to the PC market this year, TV-leader Vizio has come on strong with a beautiful line of notebooks and all-in-ones. Now they’ve enabled their Thin + Light series with touch, making them even more attractive for the Windows 8 world.

 

Samsung will be refreshing its Series 7 Ultrabooks this spring with the Series 7 Chronos and Series 7 Ultra Touch. Both models will feature a full HD (1920 x 1080) display, longer battery life and Samsung’s trademark sleek aesthetics. Slightly thinner, the Series 7 Ultra Touch boasts a JBL sound system and is a great multimedia PC, while the Chronos offers premium performance and is still less than one-inch thick.

Here’s creative take on an all-in-one PC: Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Horizon table PC. This device from Lenovo combines an all-in-one desktop and table PC into one design. It can be used as an HD display or laid flat for a fun new gaming experience. It’s as thin as two DVD cases, and can be outfitted with an Intel Core i7 processor and, of course, Windows 8. We think this kind of design is a game changer for family computing.

Another innovative design from Lenovo, the ThinkPad Helixis a premium convertible that features the company’s groundbreaking “rip and flip” design, giving people absolute mobile freedom and versatility. Use it as a tablet, a laptop, a table-based tablet PC or even a mini movie theater with this flexible new design. Furthering the Helix’s “groundbreaking” label, the new model features optional 4G high-speed wireless and Near Field Communications (NFC) technology that makes sharing files with other devices a easy as tapping them together.

Take a look at both the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix and IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC:

For fans of traditional notebook designs there are plenty to choose from this year. Dell’s Inspiron 14R, 15R and 17R are getting a refresh with a sleek new design that is not only easy on the eyes, but easy to keep at your side. Nearly 5 mm thinner than the previous generation, the laptops include a built-in optical drive, stunning graphics options and fast processors.

LG’s impressive monitor selection comprises of the UltraWide, ColorPrime and Touch 10, all matched for entertainment, professional applications and touch-based interaction, respectively. All three models employ IPS technology for exceptional next generation picture quality.

HP’s Sleekbook line – featuring the latest technologies from AMD – is a great mix of functionality and affordability. Sporting a 15.6-inch diagonal HD display, 1 terabyte of storage and exclusive innovations including HP Connected Photo powered by Snapfish, this is a great Windows 8 PC for photographers.

For gaming and movie enthusiasts, Toshiba’s new Qosimo X875features all the horsepower you’ll need plus a new 1 terabyte hard drive – all in a laptop!

Panasonic has announced its “fearless business tablet” the Toughpad FZ-G1 with Windows 8 Pro. The toughness, thinness and light weight are optimized for field operations and the high brightness screen is tuned for outdoor use.  It’s an enterprise level tablet equipped with Windows 8 Pro and a high-performance processor.

Check out Jenn Brown from ESPN putting the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 to the test:

Microsoft and our OEM partners are working closely together to delight customers with hardware, software and services that create immersive new experiences and computing scenarios. The hardware innovation from our partners continues with amazing new PCs and devices coming into the Windows 8 ecosystem. Momentum for the platform is also strong with consumers, commercial customers and developers: we’ve crossed the 40 million mark for Windows 8 licenses ,  crossed the 60 million mark for Windows 8 licenses there are more apps coming online every day, and cloud services to unify media and content across devices.

 

 

HP unveils USB-powered 15-inch U160 monitor at CES 2013

HP seems to be focusing mostly on monitors at CES 2013. The company took the wraps off its HP U160 monitor. This is first HP monitor to come with USB-powered monitor.

HP U160 monitor features a 15-inch screen with 1,366 x 768 resolution and is expected to appeal to the customers who are usually on the go. It weighs just 1.5kgs and will be available with a foldable carrying case. It is expected to start retailing from end of January for $179.

HP x2401 24-inch LED Backlit Monitor is a 24-inch monitor that comes with LED display. This is Beats Audio powered monitor, which is not expected to hit the shelves any time before November and is expected to cost $249. HP x2401 comes with Multi Vertical Alignment (MVA) panel.

Next up is the HP ProDisplay line of monitors. These monitors are targeted at the office personnel and come in four different variants – P191 (18.5-inch), P201m (20-inch) and P221 (21.5-inch). These monitors will be available starting February and will range between $129 to $179. The only notable feature for these monitors is that they come with an LED backlight.

The 27-inch HP Envy 27 Monitor features built-in Beats Audio stereo speakers, and a full 1920x1080p HD resolution. It is expected to be available in February for $499.

HP ZR2330w is a 23-inch IPS monitor, which features an LED backlit screen, a 14ms screen refresh rate and a full HD resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It is being touted s budget monitors and will be available in the market for $259

CES 2013 promises new generation of "smart" gadgets

At the world’s largest technology conference that kicks off on Monday, the most intriguing innovations showcased may be gadgets and technology that turn everyday items into connected, smarter machines.

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas promises a new generation of “smart” gadgets, some controlled by voice and gestures, and technology advancements in cars, some of which already let you dictate emails or check real-time gas prices.

Pundits have long predicted that home appliances like refrigerators and stoves will be networked, creating an “Internet of things.” With advancements in chips and the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, it’s now happening.

“We’ve been talking about this convergence of consumer electronics and computers and content for 20 years. It will actually be somewhat of a reality here, in that your phone, your tablet, your PC, your TV, your car, have a capability to all be connected,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Despite the absence of tech heavyweights Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp, CES still draws thousands of exhibitors, from giants like Intel Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to startups hungry for funding.

Wireless chip maker Qualcomm Inc’s CEO, Paul Jacobs, opens the festivities with a keynote speech on Monday, taking a spot traditionally reserved for Microsoft, which decided last year to sever ties with the show.

Jacobs said in a recent interview on PBS that he will show how wireless technology will be pushed way beyond smartphones into homes, cars and healthcare.

Smarter smartphones
With venues spanning over 32 football fields across Las Vegas more than 1.9 million sq. ft. (176,516 sq. metres) CES is an annual rite for those keen to glimpse the newest gadgets before they hit store shelves. The show, which started in 1967 in New York, was the launch pad for the VCR, camcorder, DVD and HDTV.

While retailers prowl for products to fill their shelves, Wall Street investors look for products that are the next hit.

Intel and Qualcomm are expected to highlight improvements in “perceptual computing,” which involves using cameras, GPS, sensors and microphones to make devices detect and respond to user activity.

“The idea is that if your devices are so smart, they should be able to know you better and anticipate and react to your requirements,” said IDC analyst John Jackson.

This year, snazzier TVs will again dominate show space, with “ultra high-definition” screens that have resolutions some four times sharper than that of current displays. The best smartphones will likely be reserved for launch at Mobile World Congress in February.

There will also be a record number of auto makers showing the latest in-vehicle navigation, entertainment and safety systems, from Toyota’s Audi to Ford, General Motors and Hyundai. The Consumer Electronics Association has forecast the market for factory-installed tech features in cars growing 11 percent this year to $8.7 billion.

BMW, for one, already provides speech recognition that is processed instantly through datacenters, converted into text and emailed without drivers taking their hands off the wheel. The luxury carmaker also offers data about weather, fuel prices and other items.

“Automotive has been this backwater of technology for a long time. Suddenly, we’re seeing a lot of real innovation in automotive technology,” Scott McGregor, CEO of chipmaker Broadcom, told Reuters ahead of the show.

Taiwan city to appeal in Google app refund case

The Taipei city government said Friday it will appeal a court ruling which revoked a fine it imposed on the US Internet giant Google in a dispute over its mobile phone apps.

The city government in 2011 fined Google Tw$1 million ($34,000) for refusing to grant customers a seven-day trial period on its mobile phone apps, in accordance with Taiwan‘s consumer protection law.

The decision was upheld when Google appealed to the economics ministry last year but the Taipei High Administrative Court last week decided to revoke it, saying the city government should not interfere in a dispute between a firm and consumers.

“We do not wish to see Google exit the Taiwan market but we urge Google to respect and protect consumers’ rights. We will appeal the court ruling,” said an official at the government’s consumer protection division.

The capital city’s government in 2011 said that Google and Apple had violated the law and ordered them to amend their trading rules. Apple later complied with the law while Google refused, it said.

Under the terms of service for Google’s Android Market, consumers are entitled to a refund only within 15 minutes of purchasing a product online.

Google has suspended the sale of its paid apps in Taiwan since the dispute.

Blekko aims to offer tablet users a Google alternative

The makers of Blekko believe they’ve built a great alternative to Google, but they’re also realistic. They know their two-year-old Internet search engine won’t ever supplant Google as the most popular place to search on laptop and desktop computers.

But Web surfing on tablet computers is a different matter, creating an opportunity that Blekko hopes to exploit with a new product called Izik – a search engine designed especially for Apple Inc.’s iPads and tablets running Google’s Android software.

Izik, whose name is a riff on 17th-century scientist Isaac Newton, debuted Friday with the release of free apps for the iPad and Android tablets.

To cater to the more visual format of tablets, Izik displays search results in rows of information capsules that can be easily scrolled with a swipe of a finger. Users scroll vertically to look at different categories related to a search request. Scrolling horizontally displays more capsules within each category, which vary depending on the request.

Blekko CEO and founder Rich Skrenta likens the experience to a hybrid service that is part search engine, part magazine and part discovery tool. Izik also shares some similarities to a tablet search app called Axis that longtime Google rival Yahoo Inc. released last May in an attempt to shake up the market. Like Izik, Axis also relies on visual thumbnails to list search results.

Izik’s system is much different from Google’s.

Entering “Apple” into Izik on Friday produced a set of results sorted into these easily navigable categories: “Top Results,” “Images,” ”Recipes,” ”News,” ”Reviews,” and “Tech.” Most of the information and pictures either pertained to Apple the company or the fruit.

Searching for the term at Google generated a map pinpointing the location of several nearby Apple stores. The rest of the results page was mostly devoted to a stack of blue links to other websites – a familiar format that has become the industry standard.

But Skrenta believes search will have to change as more people become tablet owners and start to use them more frequently than their laptop computers. With more than 100 million of the devices already sold since the iPad’s April 2010 debut, tablets already have contributed to declining sales of traditional PCs and printers.

Skrenta is betting it’s only a matter of time before the technological upheaval triggered by tablets hits the search market and people start to break their Googling habits.

Google so far has been able to extend its dominance to tablets, largely because its search engine is the built-in option on the iPad and most Android devices.

But the algorithms and format that Google uses on tablets and laptops are basically the same. Skrenta doubts Google will switch to a format as dramatically different as Izik’s approach because it still makes most of its money from online advertising displayed on traditional PCs. The tendency to stick with a long-established product that is still bringing most of a company’s money while challengers are introducing breakthroughs that threaten the status quo is sometimes referred to the “innovator’s dilemma.”

Blekko’s namesake search engine also sought to address a problem that Skrenta didn’t think was being adequately addressed by Google. By relying on humans to highlight the most useful information under frequently searched topics, Blekko, which is based in Redwood Shores, Calif., tries to remove the rogue websites that have learned to how to manipulate search formulas to gain a prominent ranking in search results.

Although Blekko began working on its technology five years ago, its search engine didn’t debut until late 2010. About four months after that, Google unveiled sweeping changes to its search algorithm in an effort to reduce the rubbish showing up in its results.

Although its search engine has yet to undercut Google’s dominance, Blekko has attracted a loyal following. It draws about 12 million monthly visitors and has raised about $50 million in venture capital from a group of investors that includes actor Ashton Kutcher and Yandex, a Russian search engine that is more popular in its home country than Google.

Byond unveils 7-inch Mi-Book Mi7 Android 4.0 tablet for Rs. 11,499

Pune-based Byond tech has launched a seventh tablet in the Mi-Book series dubbed as the Mi-Book Mi7 priced at Rs. 11,499. The tablet will be available with online retailers like Flipkart and other distributors across the country.

The Mi-Book Mi7 sports a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with a 1024×600 pixel resolution and runs on Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). It features a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera as well. It supports 1080p video recording.

The tablet is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with 512MB RAM. It has 4GB of internal storage with external expansion options of upto 32GB.

The device comes with various pre-installed applications like Facebook, Angry Birds, Temple Run, Adobe Reader and more. Connectivity options on the tablet include Wi-Fi (with hotspot) and Bluetooth apart from 2G and 3G calling support. The tablet comes with a 3,200mAh battery.

In October last year, Byond had launched 3D-based Android tablets with 7-inch, 9-inch and 10-inch screens priced between Rs. 4,300 and Rs. 11,000. These tablets pertain to the Mi-Book series, which include the Mi1, Mi2, Mi3, Mi5, Mi7 and Mi9.

Just a week ago, the company entered the phablet category with its 6-inch Phablet PIII. The dual-SIM device comes with Android 4.0, an 8-megapixel rear and a VGA front camera, 1GHz dual-core processor and a 2,500mAh battery . It is priced at Rs.14,999 and is now available across India.

Mi-Book Mi7 key specifications

• 7-inch (1024×600) capacitive touch screen
• 2-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front camera
• 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB of internal storage expandable upto 32GB
• 2G/3G calling support
• Android 4.0.4

Indian tablet market expected to double in 2013; Samsung leads the pack

The year 2012 was an interesting year for the tablet market. There were plenty of new Indian players that entered this market such as Micromax, Karbonn and Lava. According to India Quarterly Media Tablets Market Review for 3Q 2012, the India tablet market recorded sales to the tunes of 1.1 million units in 3Q (July-September) 2012.

This is a huge jump considering that only 98,135 tablets were sold in the same quarter last year.

Furthermore, the India’s tablet market is expected to double to around six million units in 2013, led by increased enterprise adoption and availability of Windows 8-based devices, as per research firm CyberMedia.

The research also indicates that there were about 135 vendors that have launched their tablets in India till 3Q 2012. It is expected that keeping the current trends in mind a few more vendors might be tempted to join the bandwagon soon.

Another interesting facet that gets highlighted in the research report by CyberMedia is that the Average Sales Value of tablets in India during 3Q 2012 was approximately Rs. 13,200, while 63.5 percent of all tablet sold were below the Rs. 10,000-mark.

In terms of ranking, CyberMedia research pegs that Samsung is currently the market leader in the tablet market with a market share of 23.9 percent, followed by Micromax at the second position with 15.3 percent share and Datawind (manufacturer of the controversial Akash tablet) at third position with a 12.3 percent share, in terms of sales during 3Q 2012. However, sales of Aakash tablet have not been taken into consideration for the compilation of this data.

The total shipments for the tablet market are expected to close at 3 million units in 2012, as per this report

Commenting on the trends for 2013, CyberMedia says 2013 will see markets crystallise around three price points, which include Rs. 5,000-10,000; Rs. 15,000-20,000 and over Rs. 35,000. The research firm believes that some vendors might have to undertake price corrections to fit their devices within these three price segments, to serve the market aptly and participate in these high-volume price levels.

The analysts at CyberMedia also feel that will be at least a few Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who will announce LTE / LTE-ready Tablets for the India market in 2013. According to Faisal Kawoosa, Lead Analyst, CMR Telecoms Practice, “A majority of the Tablets currently on offer have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity with 3G access enabled through a USB dongle. However, going forward, increased penetration of 3G networks, declining ASVs of 3G-enabled Media Tablets and launch of BWA (4G / WiMax / LTE) services in the country is likely to see a rise in 3G-only Tablet devices with larger screen sizes. This trend is expected to give a fillip to new types of data services and content being demanded and consumed by subscribers, which in turn will drive a further increase in adoption of Media Tablets in India.”