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.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S III mini spotted in 3 new colours

We’ve known for quite sometime now that the Samsung Galaxy S III mini will come new colour options, apart from the existing White by the end of December last year or beginning 2013.

Samsung dedicated blog  SamMobile has now received some pictures of the compact Galaxy S III smartphone from a source showcasing the new colours.

These are Titan Gray, Garnet Red and Onyx Black, precisely what was expected earlier. It is needless to say that the Red and Black colour options look identical to the bigger Galaxy S III 4G LTE recently launched in Sapphire Black and Garnet Red colours in Korea.

The company has already introduced two additional colour options for the international version of the Galaxy S III as well, Amber Brown and Titanium Grey.

Samsung is indeed extending colour options across its high-end devices. More recently, the Galaxy Note II was also spotted in a Black variant. SamMobile had earlier mentioned that the Note II will also get new colours namely Amber Brown, Topaz Blue and  Ruby Wine in addition to the current Marble White and Titanium Gray.

Whether or not all markets will get to see the new colours still remains unknown.

Apart from adding new colours, Samsung is now shipping the Galaxy S III mini with the latest version of Android Jelly Bean, v4.1.2 in Vietnam and Indonesia. Other Asian regions should soon be getting the good news as well. When launched, the Galaxy S III mini devices came out with Android 4.1.1.

To recap, the Galaxy S III mini was launched in October last year and is a miniature version of the company’s current flagship smartphone the Samsung Galaxy S III. It features a 4-inch screen and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The smartphone inherits Galaxy S III’s features like S Voice, Smart Stay, Direct Call and S Beam.

The compact S III version is powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor and features a 5-megapixel camera. It has a 1500 mAh battery and 8/16GB internal storage options.

Samsung unveils Series 7 Chronos and Series 7 Ultra notebooks

The latest additions to Samsung’s Series 7 PC lineup come in the form of the Series 7 Chronos 770Z5E and the Series 7 Ultra 730U3E.

Aimed at professionals, the Series 7 Chronos sports a rather seek and elegant design in an aluminium chassis at just 20.9mm, only a little thicker than a comparable ultrabook. Though it is slightly heavy at 5.2 pounds.

The device claims to be a multimedia powerhouse with quad-core Intel Core i-series processors with up to 16GB RAM and offering up to 1TB of storage, plus discrete AMD Radeon HD 8870 graphics. The 15.6-inch display has a full 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution, which is what we’d expect from a modern multimedia laptop.

The Series 7 Chronos has a 15.6-inch multi-point full-HD (1920×1080) touch screen display and comes integrated with JBL speakers. The machine promises a battery life of up to 11 hours and quick boot times of less than 12 seconds.

The device also features a touchpad and keyboard. Connectivity ports include four USB ports (2 USB 3.0 and 2USB 2.0), HDMI, mini VGA, headphones and microphone, a LAN port and security slot to help ensure the device is securely tethered when necessary.

The Series 7 Ultra, on the other hand, is ultra slim and light at just 18.9mm thick and weighing 3.6 pounds. It also features a 13.3-inch multi-point full-HD (1920×1080) display with wider viewing angles.

Under the hood, the machine is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 processors with p to 256GB SSD storage. The device claims put to 8 hours of battery life and a 6 second boot-up time.

The Series 7 Ultra will also be available with 4G LTE connectivity for on-the-go accessibility (touch model based). The device comes with three USB ports (1 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports), HDMI, mini VGA, headphones and microphone, a LAN port and a slim security slot.

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.

Smartphones that act as secure and versatile keys

Researchers have developed a new software that makes the technology of opening car and home doors using smartphone apps more secure and versatile.

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT in Darmstadt, Germany, will be demonstrating their ShareKey software, a solution to popularise the method.

“In essence, ShareKey offers two new functions: users can issue digital keys remotely and assign these keys certain user permissions. For instance, I can grant the building superintendent access to my apartment for a short period so that he can open the door for the gas meter to be read while

I’m at work,” said Alexandra Dmitrienko from the SIT.

“The solution is built around modern security technologies and can be easily integrated into existing access control systems,” Dmitrienko said in a statement.

ShareKey sends electronic keys directly to the user’s mobile phone, in the form of a QR code attached to an e-mail or MMS.

“Recently, users of parcel stations have fallen victim to phishing attacks. Equally, hackers continue to target their efforts on smartphones. In light of this, the big challenge was to protect the electronic keys without compromising the intuitive operation of such devices,” said Dmitrienko.

ShareKey works using the Near Field Communication (NFC) transmission standard, which allows data to be exchanged wirelessly over short ranges of up to a few centimeters.

“To open a door, all you need to do is hold your mobile phone close to the lock,” said Dmitrienko.

NFC interface and door locks only operate within a narrow bandwidth and have limited computing power.

Scientists at the SIT have equipped ShareKey with particularly resource-efficient communication protocols.

Electronic keys are reliably protected on the smartphone from malware and unauthorised access. This is achieved by leveraging advanced technologies which keep sensitive data on the smartphone separate from other data and apps.

Communication between the mobile phone and a central server is protected by established security protocols.

“And even if this communication is hacked into, it’s impossible for unauthorised people to gain access to the digital key,” he said.

China fines LG and Samsung for fixing prices of flat panel displays

China fined South Korean and Taiwanese makers of LCD display screens $56 million Friday for price-fixing, joining the United States and Europe in a crackdown on the industry.

Suppliers have been hit by American and European regulators with penalties totaling more than $3 billion for colluding to push up slumping prices of display screens in 2001-06. US courts have sentenced 12 executives to prison.

In China, the display-manufacturing arms of Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc, along with four Taiwanese companies, were ordered to pay $22.8 million in penalties plus repayment to Chinese customers and other charges, according to China’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.

Envoys from LG Display, Samsung Display and the Taiwanese suppliers met every quarter in 2001-06 to set prices of screens at a time when supply outstripped demand, pushing down market prices, according to Western and Chinese regulators.

Samsung owns 85 percent of Samsung Display, the biggest display manufacturer. LG Display is a publicly traded company in which LG owns a 38 percent stake.

Nearly all the world’s mobile phones and personal computers are assembled in China, making it a major market for display screens and other components imported from South Korea, Taiwan and other Asian economies.

The display makers “manipulated market prices and damaged the lawful interests of other companies and consumers,” said an NDRC statement.

US prosecutors say some $74 billion in global sales of display screens were affected by the conspiracy. Customers included Apple Inc, Dell Inc and other producers of TVs, notebook computers and other electronics.

The Chinese penalties totaled 100 million yuan ($15.9 million) for Samsung Display and 118 million yuan ($18.7 million) for LG Display.

The Taiwanese companies and their fines were Chi Mei Corp, 94 million yuan ($14.9 million); AU Optronics Ltd, 21.9 million yuan ($3.5 million); Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd, 16.2 million yuan ($2.6 million); and HannStar Display Corp, 240,000 yuan ($38,000).

The US Department of Justice says it has been awarded $1.4 billion in fines by courts while EU officials have imposed a total of 1.3 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in penalties.

China’s fines were smaller because Beijing acted under its pricing law, which bases penalties on the improper income from individual sales, according to an NDRC statement.

It said Western anti-monopoly laws base penalties on the much larger amount of a company’s total revenue but Beijing could not do that because its first anti-monopoly law was not enacted until 2008 and cannot be applied retroactively.

Samsung reportedly rolls out Android 4.1.2 update for Galaxy Camera

Samsung‘s unique Android-running camera, Galaxy Camera, is now receiving the Android 4.1.2 update (firmware BLL7). Some users in the UK have reportedly received this update, and it’s expected that users in other countries should get the update on their Galaxy Camera pretty soon.

This update reportedly brings a revamped Gallery app, which is similar to the one in the Galaxy Note II. It’s not clear what other changes the update brings, but it is likely that Samsung has included miscellaneous bug fixes and performance improvements.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera was first unveiled at IFA Berlin back in August. It features a 16-megapixel sensor with a f/2.8 aperture and 23mm-480mm lens that has 21x optical zoom. Under the hood, the camera is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, as found in the Galaxy S III smartphone. It features a 4.8-inch S-LCD display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels translating into 308 ppi. The camera also supports 3G connectivity via a micro-SIM but does not have calling features.

The most interesting feature of Galaxy Camera is the fact that it is powered by Android 4.1, so you can run virtually any Android app on this camera. The camera comes with 8GB of internal storage with the option to add another 32GB via microSD card. Connectivity options include 3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps), HDMI 1.4, WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. Apart from this, the camera also has 1,650 mAh battery that Samsung claims can last up to seven hours.

The camera was  launched in India in November last year carrying a price tag of Rs. 29,900

Samsung Galaxy M Pro successor images leak online

The successor to Samsung‘s Galaxy M Pro, GT-B7810, has been leaked online. A few pictures of this device have been posted on the Japanese website ameblo.jp.

From the pictures posted on the website, it seems that the handset sports a full QWERTY keyboard, and is expected to run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The physical appearance of GT-B7810 looks resembles Samsung Galaxy M Pro.

Other features that are expected to be on-board GT-B7810, include Wi-Fi, HSDPA, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and 3.5 mm headset jack. The GT-B7810 seems to have a 3-inch (480×360) screen, which makes us believe that it might be a budget phone made for the emerging markets. The device also has a microSD card slot and 1200 mAh battery. Surprisingly, the FCC approved the phone way back in June, 2012.

Other than this, nothing is known about the device’s launch date, price or processor. Samsung has launched a number of QWERTY Android handsets like Galaxy Y Pro Duos, Galaxy Pro etc. With CES around the corner, this Korean giant could unveil a few pocket-friendly smartphones, without touching its high-end flagship series.

Samsung has been doing well in the mobile phone category for the past three years. It recently dethroned Nokia to become the company with highest number of phones shipped. While its Windows Phone lineup is yet to stir many, it’s the company’s Android series and feature phones that are capturing the consumers’ attention. Not many Android OEMs come out with Android handsets that have QWERTY keyboards. Yes, there are users out there who want a QWERTY keyboard on their smartphone; be it for emailing or texting and this phone when launched can help address that segment of the market.

Apple looks at Taiwan's TSMC as chip supplier to reduce Samsung dependency

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co will soon start making microchips for Apple as the US tech giant reduces manufacturing contracts with its South Korean rival Samsung, reports said Wednesday.

The Taiwanese company has been contracted to manufacture the A6X chip, which drives Apple’s 4th generation iPad, with trial production set for the first quarter of this year, Taiwan‘s Commercial Times reported.

The move is the latest in a strings of efforts by Apple to switch mass manufacturing contracts away from Samsung, it said.

The South Korean firm, the world’s top mobile phone maker and Apple’s leading competitor in the smartphone market, produces microchips and a range of other products for its American rival.

Both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Bravo, a Taiwanese PR company handling Apple’s media relations, declined to comment on the report.

Apple and Samsung have been locked in a series of patent lawsuits.

Samsung was ordered by a US jury in August to pay Apple $1.05 billion in damages for illegally copying iPhone and iPad features for its flagship Galaxy S smartphones. Samsung has appealed the ruling.

Samsung unveils full-HD touch-screen monitor optimised for Windows 8 ahead of CES

Samsung has unveiled the Series 7 SC770 Touch Monitor optimised for Windows 8, days before CES.

The 24-inch Series 7 SC770 Touch Monitor is Samsung’s first multi-touch display optimised for Windows 8. It supports up to 10 points of simultaneous multi-touch, letting users drag, rotate or select objects on the monitor using their fingers.

The full-HD monitor provides a contrast ratio of 5000:1 and viewing angles of 178 degrees/ 178 degrees. It also comes with a USB hub and in-built speakers (3W x 2).

Samsung also announced 27-inch Series 7 SC750 that focuses on design and performance, minus the frills like touch-screen, speakers and USB hub. At 300 cd/m2, it is rated brighter than the SC770 (250 cd/m2).

“We are committed to serving an expanding market of aspiring young professionals with the professional-grade monitors that match their needs,” said Junghhwan Kim, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As the industry leader for seven consecutive years, Samsung is exploring new technology that provides discerning users with affordable, cutting-edge monitors that deliver a differentiated user experience.”

As per Samsung, both monitors will be available worldwide in Q1 2013. It will also be showcasing the two monitors later this month at CES 2013 , alongside the Series 9 SB970 monitor, that was released in the US second half of 2012.