Windows 8 Supposedly to Be Delivered to Manufacturers in July

More evidence has surfaced indicating that Windows 8 is on track for an October release. Russian Windows blogger and enthusiast “Wzor” tipped Neowin over the weekend that Microsoft is ready to release the next-generation operating system to manufacturers (known as the “RTM” version) next month.

Neowin says Wzor “has been known to leak Windows information in the past,” lending some credibility to his statement. A forum administrator from Windows message board Winunleaked shared a purported screenshot of a build of Windows 8 sitting inside a directory labeled “RTM,” allegedly taken by Wzor from Microsoft’s internal network server.

Wzor also shared that the RTM release will arrive between July 17-20, which also happens to be the dates for Microsoft’s annual MGX conference. Releasing it then makes sense, since this is an event for the company’s sales and marketing teams.

Of course, anybody can fake a screenshot or take a lucky guess based on readily available information, so take it for what it’s worth. But getting Windows 8 to partners by July is important for several reasons.

All I Want For Christmas Is Windows 8

Simply put, Windows 8 going “RTM” in July is all about getting it in our hands for the holidays. If Microsoft hits that July date for a release to manufacturers, typically the retail release comes in October (Windows 7 is the most recent example).

If Microsoft can’t ship by July, then usually the software giant misses the holiday shopping season altogether. PCs purchased during the holiday season then will run a soon-to-be-obsolete operating system, which hurts sales.

Considering PC sales have been somewhat slow lately, Microsoft’s partners don’t want this to happen. These manufacturers are depending on Windows 8 to help boost sales and make the holiday shopping season (the next biggest period for PC sales after back-to-school sales) a successful one.

Microsoft also has personal reasons for wanting Windows 8 out as soon as possible, and that’s the Surface tablet. The company is a manufacturer itself now too, so releasing Windows 8 in time for the holidays becomes even more important.

Don’t you think Microsoft will sell quite a few Surface tablets over the holidays? It seems a few industry watchers certainly do

10.6-inch Microsoft Surface tablets announced, powered by Windows 8

After days of speculation and rumors, Microsoft's major announcement has just been unveiled at a press event in Los Angeles: a Surface tablet. We suspected the company might be working on its own tablet, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed the device on stage at Milk Studios in Los Angeles today. Discussing Microsoft's history with Windows, Xbox, and Kinect, Ballmer introduced a video of the company's hardware products over the years before unveiling Windows 8's companion, the Microsoft Surface.

Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky took to the stage to describe the hardware of Microsoft's Surface tablet. There will be two options for Microsoft's Surface PC, one powered by Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge chips running Windows 8, and another Surface powered by an ARM chipset and Windows RT. The Windows RT version is just 9.3mm thin, weighs 1.5lbs, includes a built-in kickstand, and is the first PC with a vapor-deposited (PVD) magnesium case, according to Microsoft. It will ship in 32GB or 64GB versions, complete with a 10.6-inch ClearType HD display (of unknown resolution).

Microsoft's Intel-based Surface tablet will run Windows 8 Pro, with a thickness of 13.5mm, a weight of 1.9lbs, and USB 3.0 support. This particular version will also include magnesium casing and a built-in kickstand, but will ship with either 64GB or 128GB storage. Additionally, the Intel version will include additional digital ink support through a pen that magnetizes to the body of the tablet, and a 10.6-inch ClearType "Full HD" display. Both of Microsoft's Surface tablets feature optional Touch and Type keyboard covers.

Microsoft says suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. The Windows RT tablet will ship around the same time that Microsoft releases Windows 8 (expected in October), while the Intel-based Pro tablet will arrive about three months later.

Microsoft is launching its own iPad rivaling tablet nextweek

Microsoft is said to be planning to ratchet up its rivalry with Apple by introducing its own tablet device at a press event scheduled for next week, according to a report from TheWrap.

The event will see a “major Microsoft announcement” and we’ve heard speculation that it could be one of many possible stories unveiled, from the $1 billion plus acquisition of Yammer, to a partnership with RIM and Microsoft’s tablet strategy. TheWrap says that it is the latter, and a Microsoft-built iPad-rival is coming, according to “an individual with knowledge of the company”.

The new device could well be built on Windows RT, one of Microsoft’s new Windows 8 platforms, which is designed to keep ARM-powered PCs and tablets ‘thin and light’.

While details are still emerge about RT-powered devices, reports are already suggesting that cost may be an issue. The company is said to be planning to charge $85 for inbuilt support for Office, and additional fee could bump the cost of devices up and make them more expensive than their equivalents in Apple’s iPad family.

Given that Apple’s tablets dominate the sales in the space, price is an important battle ground for any would-be contender, and failing to at least match the iPad could count against Microsoft’s products.

More details will likely emerge, and we’ll keep you posted with them and their significance for Microsoft and the industry.

Windows 8 Catalog

There will be four different editions of Windows 8, Microsoft has informed us and posted on its blog. The four editions will be Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows Enterprise and Windows RT.

The differences between the editions are based on the platforms and features that each will contain. Windows 8 is the standard edition, likely to be found packaged with many OEM systems and will be the default recommendation for ‘many consumers’, says Microsoft.

Windows 8 Pro will “ help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies.” This version includes everything in the standard version plus encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Pro will have to have Media Center added on to it as a ‘media pack’ that Microsoft says will be economically priced. Windows 8 Pro has a bunch of exclusive features listed like BitLocker, Boot from VHD, Client Hyper-V, Group Policies and hosting Remote Desktops.

The third version will be called Windows RT and it will be installed on PCs and tablets that contain ARM-based processors. This will help these systems stay ‘thin and light’ and have better battery life than more power-hungry x86 processors.

Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Microsoft says that new applications based on the WinRT programming model will be revealed soon, calling them a ”new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps.”

There will also be an enterprise version of Windows 8. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus tools for PC management, advanced security, virtualization and deployment.

You can see a full list of the differences between the features that come with the various versions of Windows 8 at Microsoft’s Windows Team Blog here.

Microsoft planning "major announcement" for June 18th

The hubbub we’re hearing right now says that Microsoft is sending out an event invitation to something that it says will be “a major Microsoft announcement”. With the company on the cusp of a few major products, it’s hard to venture a solid guess as to what the event might be, but I’ll give it a shot.

Our choices look like this – The RTM of Windows 8, Office for iPad or perhaps something about the rumored Yammer acquisition. Neowin takes another route, saying that it could be all about a strategic partnership with RIM, while "All Things D" believes that the topic of the moment is going to be Microsoft’s tablet strategy.

None of these items in and of themselves would make me think “major” when it comes to Microsoft. The company has far too much money in the bank for small potatoes. A Yammer acquisition would be big news, but I don’t see the company calling a press conference about it.

That leaves us, perhaps, with another option – mobile.

If I were a betting man, I’d think that we’re going to see a mobile-focused conference, where there’s lots of talk about Windows 8′s RTM, the company’s push for Windows-based tablets and perhaps more explanation of what’s going on with Nokia. Oh, and if you add Office for iPad into the mix, then you’ve got the makings of a press event.

We’ll have to wait and see, but June 18th is only a few days off. Until then, venture your guesses in the comments.

Cronus USB Adapter Makes Your Controller the Controller for All

Cronus' new USB adapter allows your PS3 or Xbox 360 controller to function on the opposite system.

If you've ever been so picky about a controller, as in the way it feels, or the button mapping, etc., then Cronus' new USB controller adapter may just be for you.

THe new adapter, currently being displayed and demoed at E3, is a small USB stick with both a male and female port, that allows you to mix and match controllers and consoles as you see fit.  The adapter gets plugged into the console, with the controller's USB plugged into it from behind, and from the said position, Cronus emulates the system's native contorller based on the input from the one plugged into it.

The controller emulation means that no longer will you have to have multiple controllers for your friends that have "the other system'" and it'll also allow for users to remap buttons, adding another level of customization for games.

It's currently being focused on the PS3 and Xbox 360, however a Wii version is on it's way.  It'll cost around $50 ( N8,150 ) - $60 ( N9,780 ) once it hits the market in a few months, however it's this or just another controller.  Might end up saving you a few bucks possibly.

Why IDC Predicts Windows Phone Will Surpass iOS by 2016

In four years, Windows Phones will be more popular than iPhones, according to IDC. 

Not only will Windows Phone outshine BlackBerry in the worldwide smartphone market, it will surpass Apple’s iOS and become the second-most popular smartphone platform by 2016, states a forecasting report released by IDC on Wednesday.

It’s a lofty prediction considering that Windows Phone had a mere 2.2 percent market share in Q1 2012 smartphone shipments. That’s significantly behind BlackBerry’s 9.7 percent share, let alone the 23 percent owned by iPhones. But despite a slow start, IDC analysts maintain that Windows Phone will see huge growth in the coming four years. And it has a lot to do with pricing and emerging markets.

IDC’s report forecasts that Windows Phone market share will grow from its current total market share of 5.2 percent to a whopping 19.2 percent in 2016. iOS, however, will maintain relatively unchanged, with its total 20.5 percent market share dropping to 19 percent. As for other platforms, Android will remain the leader, though it will see a drop from its current 61 percent lead to a more modest 52.9 percent market share.

What factors will make Windows Phone a breakout success? IDC analysts peg a lot of Windows Phone success to Nokia’s strength in emerging markets. Because Nokia is championing Windows Phone devices, emerging markets like Asia, Latin America, and Africa will more likely gravitate to Windows Phones.

“It really comes down to this: We can easily point to Nokia being one of the biggest leaders over there [in emerging markets],” Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team, told Wired. “Apple is making hay in China and Europe, but there are still other markets out there. I look at it and see that Apple is not shipping as much volume there.”

Llamas pointed out that in price-conscious markets like Africa, the iPhone has limited appeal. Only the “urban elite” can afford Apple’s smartphone. Windows Phone devices, however, come at various price points and will gain traction with cost-conscious consumers.

“What I see from Windows Phone so far is that they’re starting to roll out entry-level mass market smartphones,” Llamas said. “What’s iOS doing? They’re going to bring you an older iPhone for less expensive. Which one would you rather have: This year’s model or last year’s model?”

On the stateside, Windows Phone will get most of its boost from carriers and the release of Windows 8. Since Microsoft has such a vast lead in the PC market, with more than 84 percent of PCs running some form of Windows, Windows 8 could have a huge impact on Windows Phone adoption. (That is, if people actually like the Metro UI in Windows 8.)

And the fact that major carriers like AT&T and Verizon are standing behind Windows Phone is a good sign, too.

“The name of the game is going to be distribution,” Llamas said. “Windows Phone is still a couple paces behind, but it’s getting some rather critical winds to ensure its growth. AT&T and Verizon are very publicly saying that Windows Phone is for us.”

But even with all of these factors, can Windows Phone really surpass the iPhone? Aren’t these numbers a bit too optimistic?

IDC thinks not. Well i agree, The smartphone market is one where anything can happen, even Windows Phone going from a little-used platform to second in line.

“We’re still in the embryonic stages of the smartphone market,” Llamas said. “We’re seeing some players coming in and out. This market is very fluid. Anything could just about happen, that could put a dent in any player.”

WP7 - How to speed up application certification

WP7 How to speed up Application Certification process

Accelerate Application Certification

Want to know where to focus your attention before submitting an application for Windows Phone 7 certification testing? Following are the top seven areas to pay close attention, which will help shorten the time for your application to pass certification and be published in the Marketplace:

1. Technical Support Information. Include technical support contact information, such as an email address or URL, within the application along with the application version number.

2. Content Validation. Be sure that application visual elements are visible and legible in both Windows Phone 7 light and dark themes. The application description, the UI text, and media within the application must be in the corresponding target language the XAP supports.

3. Application Termination. Applications must provide a user-friendly error message when an application terminates unexpectedly.

4. Application Screenshot. Screenshots must not include any emulator chrome, be graphically enhanced, or use transparent PNG image files.

5. Windows Phone Marketplace Iconography. Icons must closely match the icon provided in the XAP package.

6. Declaring Application Capabilities. Use the method documented on MSDN regarding How to: Use the Windows Phone Capability Detection Tool. Pay close attention when referencing the WebBrowser control and be sure to access it from code-behind.

7. Application Localization. Follow globalization and localization best practices on MSDN and test applications using multiple regional and language settings

Windows Metro

Windows Metro Design 
            
      Metro is an internal code name for a typography-based design language created by Microsoft, originally for use in Windows Phone 7. Early uses of the Metro principles, such as the typography, began as early as Microsoft Encarta 95 and MSN 2.0, and later evolved into products such as Windows Media Center and Zune. Later the principles of Metro were included in Microsoft's mobile operating system, Windows Phone, the Xbox 360 dashboard update, and Windows 8. A specially-made version of Microsoft's Segoe font family, Segoe WP, is used as the main font family for all typographical elements.It was confirmed by Microsoft at Computex that Windows 8, the successor to Windows 7, takes inspiration from Metro. Microsoft also added the Metro design principles to other products and services, like the Xbox 360 and Windows Live, in order to create a unified and distinctive look across its consumer products and services.


       "Metro" is based on the design principles of classic Swiss graphic design. Early glimpses of this style could be seen in Windows Media Center for Windows XP Media Center Edition, which favored text as the primary form of navigation. This interface carried over into later iterations of Media Center. In 2006, Zune refreshed its interface using these Metro principles. Microsoft designers decided to redesign the interface and with more focus on clean typography and less on UI chrome.The Zune Desktop Client was also redesigned with an emphasis on typography and clean design that was different from the Zune's previous Portable Media Center based UI. Flat colored "live tiles" were introduced into the Metro design language during the early Windows Phone's studies.Microsoft has begun integrating these elements of the Metro design language into its other products, with direct influence being seen in newer versions of Windows Live Messenger and Live Mesh.

        The Metro design language was designed specifically to consolidate groups of common tasks to speed up usage. This is accomplished by excluding superfluous graphics and instead relying on the actual content to also function as the main UI. The resulting interfaces favour larger hubs over smaller buttons and often feature laterally scrolling canvases. Page titles are usually large and consequently also take advantage of lateral scrolling.

Animation plays a large part, with transitions, and user interactions such as presses or swipes recommended to always be acknowledged by some form of natural animation or motion. This is intended to give the user the impression that the UI is "alive" and responsive, with "an added sense of depth."Internally, Microsoft has compiled a list of principles as core to the Metro design language