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

Yammer and Microsoft, Next Steps After the Acquisition

Ok news finally broke: Yammer is bought by Microsoft for $1.2bn. After the close of the deal, Microsoft will continue to invest in Yammer’s freemium, stand-alone service, and the team will remain under David Sacks’ direction within the Microsoft Office Division.  Now what’s next with this acquisition, what are the changes we will see in the next few months and in what areas will Yammer put itself (or be put by Microsoft).

Office as the center

Yammer is now placed in the Microsoft Office Division, which means that integration with Office(including Office 365) in general is a likely first step. A logical next step since collaboration on documents and pages in Yammer has been poor over the few years. The first victim will be most likely Crocodoc that offered a bit of an integration, but is likely to either remain unsupported as optional third-party integration while there will be tight integration with a connector for Office to collaborate on documents, but also to upload them directly into Yammer. Which also means that Microsoft and Yammer might go head to head with Jive who was already offering a strong integration with Office and their social business suite.

SharePoint, though not as you think it would

Another logical step at first sight would be SharePoint. Since SharePoint is often positioned as the social piece within Microsoft’s suite. However the main design principle around SharePoint is documents, while Yammer’s main design principle is people. Those two won’t mix, unless SharePoint 2013 is such an overhaul that the basic design principles has changed. However I don’t believe that to be true, since it would be too radical for most of Microsoft’s customers. What I do believe is that the integration with Office as mentioned before could help SharePoint in making sharing documents easier and making collaboration a bit more human.

Skype and Lync

Even though not directly in the Office suite, Skype is interesting, just as Lync. Yammer already has a way in which it shows presence (who’s online), it would be just a small step to integrate Skype with it, especially in the same way Microsoft did it with Skype in Facebook. Of course a link integration can be a premium for paid Yammer networks.

Azure

The downside for some organisations is that Yammer is only available as a full SaaS solution, hosted in the US. Microsoft has a big play with Azure where it could create an optional private cloud in which Yammer could be deployed in a managed way. Also since Microsoft has many data centers, hosting in Europe or in Asia could help in adding extra performance and lower response times.

Dynamics CRM, head on with SFDC

Dynamics CRM would be a very strategic play of both Microsoft and Yammer. Nowadays SFDC put Chatter as the social glue in the service and sales cloud offerings. And it doesn’t have to be said that Chatter was inspired by Yammer at least. By integrating not only Yammer into office, but also by integrating it more with Dynamics CRM it could eat a big part of the pie that SFDC is looking at. Especially since it is to be expected that Microsoft should be able to integrate enterprise social networking a lot better in Office than SFDC is able to.

Surface

Microsoft has an enterprise footprint which is huge and Microsoft is introducing the Surface as a new important part of their overall mobile and Windows 8 strategy. Having a good and tight integration with their productivity tools that go beyond Office and therefore include Yammer could be important. On the other hand, is the Surface so important that just for this Microsoft is willing to pay $1.2bn? I don’t think it is that important.

Rise of the suites

After the latest acquisition of IBM, SFDC, Oracle, Adobe and SAP it is clear that we are at the start of an acquisition spree in the social business space and particular the enterprise space. It is the rise of the suites and none of them focuses on enterprise collaboration and productivity, now Microsoft does and let the other guys to fight about the social marketing and analytics space. Smart move, now a smarter execution is required to stay ahead.

Just carry on with Yammer

Why would things all of a sudden have to change? We all might think that Microsoft might try to push Yammer in certain directions it shouldn’t be going, however will they? One of the best kept secrets of Microsoft is that they are a good supporter of open source. Microsoft is also big enough to just add a complete product without having to integrate it all and let it grow more organically and by allowing it to integrate with many things and not just Microsoft products and platforms.

Not so big of a deal

Of course $1.2bn is a lot of money, especially when you are acquired in cash. However for Microsoft it is not that much of a deal. It is just as much money as they paid for Visio, Navivision, Fast Search which are not really flagship products. Plus it is a lot less than de $8.5bn Microsoft paid for Skype and to put more perspective to it the net income of the record-breaking Q1 of 2012 was nearly $6bn. So it might even be that Yammer is just a strategic asset for them on the long run as a differentiator or as something that makes certain products more complete, instead of something that is driving change in the short run.

Microsoft Requests Removal of Leaked XBox 720 Documents

It seems the Xbox 720 rumors are true

Last weekend a 56-page document leaked solid information about Microsoft's successor to the Xbox 360, popularly known as the Xbox 720.  While the legitimacy of the document is still in question, Microsoft's law firm contacted several sources that leaked the info on the document asking them to remove it ASAP.

Scribd opened the leak on the upcoming Xbox 720 and reportedly was asked by Covington & Burling LLP to remove any documents or information.  A site in the Czech Republic and Dropbox were also contacted by Internet investigator Alan Radford to remove any material on the Xbox 720.

There's even an ad for it in the stadium shown during the movie "Real Steel", although most people probably made nothing of it.

The text of the complaint sent to the Czech site ihned.cz reads: "Microsoft has received information that the domain listed above, which appears to be on servers under your control, is offering unlicensed copies of, or is engaged in other unauthorized activities relating to copyrighted works published by Microsoft. 1. Identification of copyrighted works: Copyrighted work(s): IEB Roadmap Copyright owner: ? Microsoft Corporation 2. Copyright infringing material or activity found at the following location(s):"

While most people probably considered the leak to be a hoax of sorts, the fact that Microsoft has taken legal action to remove any such information on the upcoming next-gen console might actually say otherwise about what was said on the 56-page document.

That said document, for those just catching up now, describes the Xbox 720 as offering four to six times more visual horsepower, backwards-compatibility, an updated version of Kinect, (dubbed Kinect 2.0) adding support for up to four players and an improved voice recognition feature.  It'll also include blu-ray support, USB 3.0, HDMI and built-in WiFi, along with the rumored Fortaleza AR glasses.  All for just $299 late next year.

Leaked ‘Xbox 720′ document alleges 2013 launch, augmented reality glasses and more

Microsoft left a lot of people hungry for details about its next-generation console system at this year's E3. This past weekend, however, those people had plenty to chew on, courtesy of a leaked document that purports to offer plenty of previously unannounced details on the system.

The 56-page document, which first surfaced in the popular NeoGAF forums, presents itself as a road map for the Xbox system through 2015, including alleged details on the so-called Xbox 720, a unique glasses display, and a focus on cloud gaming.

It's critical to note, however, that no sources have corroborated the information in the document, which seems to come from a 2010 internal planning meeting. Still, it packs quite a wallop.

Many of the tech revelations are fairly standard and have been mentioned by developers currently working with early versions of the hardware. 2013 launch? Check. 3D support? It's in there. "Always connected" internet connection? Blu-ray drive? Lofty sales goals? Yes, yes and yes.

The document goes several steps further, however. Running on a Windows 8 foundation, the new box aims to be even more of a living room staple than the current Xbox console, allowing users to record TV content in the background like a DVR. It also details improvements to Microsoft's Kinect camera system: better accuracy, improved voice recognition, and support for motion tracking for up to four players.

That's not all for Kinect. Initially spotted in May by Nukezilla, the alleged roadmap discusses a "glasses for Kinect" initiative called "Project Fortaleza," a pair of Wifi-enabled, augmented reality glasses, according to the document. Marked for a 2014 launch, they would allegedly be radio/4G-based mobile devices that users could take with them, much like Google's Project Glass. Via Xbox Live, the document says, the glasses would offer "real-time information on people, places and objects."

In 2015, claims the document, Microsoft plans to shift focus to cloud gaming -- a move that could signal the next Xbox (or a smaller set top box afterward) as the final hardware product from the group, as the document says consumers will "never need to upgrade hardware again."

Of course, this could all be an elaborate hoax put together by someone with too much time on their hands. Microsoft, while refusing to comment about the document, did have it taken down from the sharing site Scribd via Covington & Burling LLP, a major IP law firm that represents Microsoft. That move, of course, has given the rumors springing from the document more traction.

Microsoft has experienced these sorts of next-gen console leaks before. In the days before the Xbox 360 was announced, details from a market research company study leaked out, showing some of the ideas the company was considering for its next-generation system. Ultimately, the company decided to go in a different direction.

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.

Yammer agrees to sell to Microsoft for $1.2billion

The speculation has been ongoing for the past week and Microsoft is now reportedly set to buy business-focused social network Yammer for $1.2 billion, according to a Wall Street Journal article that cites sources close to the deal.

The report says that the company has agreed to sell to Microsoft, which it is said to have held extensive negotiations with, according to an earlier report from Bloomberg.

The suggested price range is consistent with the figures that have been put forward within the media, although the WSJ’s source said that “it is unclear when the acquisition will be completed and announced.”

Bloomberg suggested that the deal could be completed by the end of Friday (June 15), and some are suggesting that an upcoming press conference taking place next Monday — where it will reveal “a major Microsoft announcement” – could see the Yammer acquisition made official a few days sooner.

Other suggestions about the content of the event have put forward a possible partnership with RIM or the unveiling of Microsoft’s tablet strategy. Our own Brad McCarty believes that it could be something else, however:

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.

A deal to buy Yammer makes plenty of sense for Microsoft as it could integrate the popular business-focused social network into its products, and provide a more social experience for its users.

A number of enterprise and business focused sites have made acquisitions to improve their social clout, Salesforce.com recently picked up YC company Stypi, although a Yammer acquisition would be one of the most significant to date, both in terms of users and price.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft and Yammer for comment.

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.

Xbox 9mm buttons

 DieselLaceDesign is selling a set of wireless Xbox 360 controllers which use 9mm bullet shells as the buttons. They're also selling Do-It-Yourself kits so you can achieve the same effect on your own.

Although it won't make you any better at shooters, the limited edition customized controllers would make a great gift for the shooter fanatic in the family.

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