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Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Microsoft's November security updates include critical Windows 8 and RT patches
Ease of use 8.6 Speed 8.4 Configurability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.7 Openness 6.9
PSA: Get your Windows Phone 8 from AT&T starting today
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write a reviewsee all reviews ?Windows 8 upgrade diary: gaming and performance
It's been a brisk and mostly enjoyable two weeks since the launch of Windows 8 and the start of this diary. Whereas my last entry was all about productivity, there's now been ample opportunity to relax with the new OS, play a few titles in Steam, and run some general performance benchmarks. These not-so-onerous tasks were completed using an AMD FX-based triple-monitor gaming rig upgraded from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 8 Pro, with all games running at 5,760 x 1,080 and max detail settings, and all the hardware was kept constant to allow a before-and-after comparison. You'll find the results after the break, along with a few broader impressions of what Windows 8 might mean for an early-adopting desktop gamer.
Windows 7
Ultimate
SunSpider 0.9.1 on Internet Explorer
ATTO storage read at 1,024KB (write)
Cold boot time (shutdown time)
XCOM: Enemy Unknown average fps**
*Futuremark warns that PCMark 7 may under-score Windows 8 performance, so take this figure with a sprinkle of caution. Other sites have found that PCMark 7 actually scores higher in Windows 8 with different hardware configurations.** This game -- the only game I want to play right now -- runs upside-down on Eyefinity. Aaargh.
A glance at the table will corroborate what other benchmark comparisons (see More Coverage below) have already shown: Windows 8 doesn't currently do much for gaming other than preserving it. If we ignore PCMark 7 for now, which currently comes with a health warning, then gaming-relevant performance is broadly even. Personally, I just carried on running my existing Steam games as normal, and I was pleased that my hardware -- including an ASUS Xonar sound card and Xbox 360 wired controller -- was recognized without issue. But few people will spend money on an upgrade merely to experience what they already had with Windows 7.
Of course, there was that whole Gabe Newell "catastrophe" saga recently, and it had little to do with hardware issues. The Steam founder was mainly worried about the new Windows Store potentially becoming the only way for Windows users to buy and install new games. Politics aside (at least for now), I did explore the Store and a couple of game demos, but I lost interest pretty quickly. For the time being, Microsoft is putting the emphasis on tablet games and cross-compatibility with ARM-based RT tablets, with the result that the selection of games for desktop users is limited and often inappropriate (Fruit Ninja, anyone?). When I'd finally confirmed that it's possible to have a launch-day roster of 40 Xbox Live games and yet not include classics like Fez, Braid or Super Meatboy on that list, I made a polite exit.
Microsoft is putting the emphasis on tablet games
Anyway, returning to the table, the more general indicators of performance show some significant gains as a result of the upgrade -- gains which do seem to make the system snappier when it comes to racking up a game. The FastBoot feature we've seen on some recent Windows 8 laptops was never going to work with my particular motherboard and graphics card, but the wake-up and sleep times were both significantly reduced -- and since I hardly ever switch my PC off, those two measures are more useful to me. ATTO showed a 10 percent gain in storage read and write speeds, running on a 750GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive. Internet Explorer 10 also deserves a mention for being blisteringly fast compared to IE9 -- and there's no final version of IE10 for Windows 7 coming any time soon. In large part, this brings me back to the main conclusion of my last post: Windows 8 does some genuinely good things for all-round productivity. But for other, more leisurely pursuits, I don't yet see any compelling reason why the desktop user should upgrade.
My rig, for the record: AMD FX-8350 CPU (tested at stock speeds to keep things simple), Gelid Tranquillo Rev. 2 CPU cooler, AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition graphics card (also at stock speed), ASUS CrossHair V Formula motherboard, ASUS Xonar Phoebus sound card, 8GB Corsair XMS3 RAM, 750GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive, NZXT Phantom 410 chassis, three ViewSonic VX2336S 1080p LED monitors.
Friday, November 9, 2012
New data showing Windows 8 beating Android in web traffic, but how?
If this latest data from internet traffic analytics firm StatCounter is to be believed, it appears that over the weekend the 2 week old Windows 8 somehow managed to overtake Android in total amount of web traffic. If you feel like someone’s fed you crazy pills, you’re not the only one. Keep in mind, this data represents both desktop and mobile devices (including tablets), but with the sheer amount of Android devices on the market, how could this even be possible?
This could have something to do with the fact that people spend more time at home surfing the web on their Windows 8 desktops than when out and about on their Android devices. We also don’t know if StatCounter’s data is also accounting for Windows 8 release candidates that launched back in June. but even then, the data is still a bit puzzling. Any idea what this could mean? Also, what happened the first few days of November that caused Android web traffic to drop so suddenly?
[WinSource]
Microsoft outlines Internet Explorer 10 differences between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8
Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 together mark a rare confluence for Microsoft: they represent the first instance of the company's desktop and phone platforms sharing the same browser base, and that has wide-reaching implications for what developers can do. The Redmond team doesn't want anyone plunging headlong into web apps without knowing what to expect, however, and it just reminded us in a blog post that there are still a few off-limits areas for Internet Explorer 10 on the mobile side. Not surprisingly, elements that demand a truly big screen or a windowed interface won't fly -- there's nowhere to drag-and-drop from or open a new window to. A few other aspects are more likely to catch web developers off-guard, such as the lack of in-line video, a handful of touch inputs, ActiveX and the level of file access. The most important common ground stems from simply having a modern rendering engine whose HTML5 and CSS3 support will prevent any rude shocks. There's much more at the source link, although Microsoft and designers may just be happy that any Windows Phone web development is a question of finding those few things that won't work, rather than reinventing the wheel.
Windows Phone 8X, Galaxy S III Mini and Xperia J available on Three UK today
Windows Phone 8X by HTC – available now on Three.
The Windows Phone 8X by HTC is now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores.
With an exclusive built-in amp and Beats Audio™ technology offering a truly authentic studio sound the 8X is sure to please even the most musical among us. The smartphone also comes with an amazing 8 megapixel camera so you'll be able to take incredibly vivid pictures and the front-facing camera with ultra-wide-angle lens captures twice the image area to fit more in every shot.
Running on the very latest Windows Phone 8 software, the 8X by HTC allows true personalisation of the home screen with real time Live Tile updates on its large 4.3" screen and the powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor makes browsing and switching between apps a breeze.
Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, "The 8X by HTC is packed full of great features and is perfect for streaming HD and enjoying music while on the go. Coupled with The One Plan offering amazing value with All-you-can-eat data it's no surprise that Three carries over 40% of the UK's data traffic".
The Windows Phone 8X by HTC is available for £30 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges.
The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £349.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.
Additionally from today get an extra special gift with Three. Purchase the 8X by HTC and get the latest Windows 8 Pro upgrade for your home PC. *
Key features:
• Beats Audio™ technology
• Amazing 8 megapixel camera
• Windows Phone 8 software
• 16GB internal memory
• 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
• DC HSDPA (42) Enabled
* Sign up for 24 months to get this deal. Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer available to Three customers who (i) already own a PC with Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista or Windows 7 and that meets the minimum system requirements of Windows 8 Pro, and (ii) who buy a HTC 8X between 09.11.12 – 21.12.12, while stocks of credit vouchers last. Eligible customers will be provided with a credit voucher which must be used to redeem the offer and download the software from the Microsoft website. Credit will expire on 31.01.13. Full terms available at Three.co.uk/terms
Sony Xperia™ J - available now on Three.
The Sony Xperia™ J is now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores.
The large and bright 4" scratch-proof display on the Sony Xperia™ J makes watching films and viewing pictures a pleasure. This viewing experience is complimented with built-in Sony audio technologies, such as the xLoud sound enhancement, which provides crystal clear stereo and bass qualities.
The smartphone is curved in design making it comfortable to hold and a smart illuminating light notifies users of incoming Facebook and Twitter messages. With 4GB of internal memory and a whopping 50GB of online storage, people can save apps, tracks and pics without having to worry about running out of space.
Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, "The Sony Xperia™ J is ideal for style conscious social media fans and its 5 megapixel camera is perfect for Instagramming and sharing pictures on the go. With the added benefit of straightforward plans with no surprise out of bundle data charges, you'll be able to enjoy the best experience on Three".
The Sony Xperia™ J is available for £13 a month with no upfront cost on the Essential Internet 50 plan. Both the Essential Internet and Ultimate Internet plans offer a fear-free mobile internet experience with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges.
The smartphone is also available on Pay As You Go for £149.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to All-You-Can-Eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers All-You-Can-Eat data, 500 minutes and 3,000 texts and for a 30-day period.
Key features
Large 4" scratch-proof display
Illumination light for social media alerts
5 megapixel camera with LED flash and video recording
4GB internal memory and 50GB online storage with Box
Sony audio technologies for crisp sound quality
Samsung Galaxy S III Mini - available now on Three.
The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is now available in all Three stores and, from 16th November, will be available online at www.three.co.uk.
The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is the new compact version of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Featuring a large 4.0" display, the S III Mini is great for viewing more content on one screen, reducing the need for scrolling and zooming out. Its HD Super AMOLED technology also means that videos and pictures come to life in amazingly clear, crisp colours.
This elegant but minimal smartphone comes with a fast 1GHz dual core processor that allows apps and games to load quickly, enabling people to enjoy seamless browsing, gaming, viewing and downloading. Perfect for budding Instagrammers, the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini delivers great images using a 5 megapixel camera, which also has Best Shot mode that takes a burst of photos and then cleverly selects the best one.
Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three, said, "Not only is the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini a top performing phone but it's also full of innovative touches like the notification light, which can be customised to flash a different colour to alert users to new messages or calls."
The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is available with no upfront cost on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan for £28 a month, and on The One Plan, which offers a fear-free mobile internet experience with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges, for £32 a month.
The smartphone is also available on Pay As You Go for £269.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to All-You-Can-Eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers All-You-Can-Eat data, 500 minutes and 3,000 texts and for a 30-day period.
Key features
• Large 4.0" WVGA Super AMOLED display
• Fast 1.0 GHz dual core processor
• 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash
• Notification light
• VGA front camera
• 1500mAh battery
• Up to 8GB internal memory
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Operating System
• NFC
HTC Windows Phone 8X for AT&T: what's different?
We recently reviewed the global (HSPA+) version of HTC's Windows Phone 8X, the first handset to cross our desks running Microsoft's newly minted mobile OS. Starting today you'll be able to purchase HTC's 8X for AT&T, which features the same exquisite design but adds LTE and a dash of carrier flavor. Pricing with a two-year commitment is $100 for the 8GB model (available in California Blue and Limelight Yellow) and $200 for the 16GB version (blue only) -- in comparison, the global (HSPA+) phone sells for about $560 unsubsidized and unlocked. We spent a few days with the 8X for AT&T and while it's pretty much identical to its global sibling, there are a few differences worth mentioning. Hit the break to find out more.
Cosmetically, the only changes between the two models are in the branding. There's no silver HTC logo below the earpiece on AT&T's phone anymore, but it gains the carrier's signature globe in the back where the Beats symbol used to be, the latter being repositioned right below the embossed HTC logo. Otherwise, you'll be enjoying the same solid construction and high-end specs in a relatively compact and delightfully colorful package.
While the gorgeous 4.3-inch, 1,280 x 720 Super LCD 2 display, impressive 8-megapixel autofocus camera (with BSI senor, f/2.0 lens and LED flash) and snappy 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 SoC (with 1GB of RAM) remain, a few things are different under the hood. The 8X for AT&T gains a quadband (700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900MHz) LTE radio and the existing UMTS / HSPA+ radio loses the 900 MHz band (now 850 / 1900 / 2100MHz).
Performance is almost identical between both handsets as reflected in our benchmark table below. Battery life decreases slightly in WPBench's CPU-intensive battery rundown test -- presumably from having to power that additional LTE radio -- but this makes very little difference in normal day-to-day use. Networks speed tests yielded about 10 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up (on average) with three out of five bars of signal, which matches what we've observed with other AT&T LTE devices in San Francisco.
HTC 8X for AT&TGlobal HTC 8XNokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 900Nokia Lumia 800SunSpider (ms, lower numbers are better)There's little room to customize Windows Phone 8 other than bundling some applications and settings. As such, the 8X for AT&T includes the same pre-installed (and removable) HTC apps as the global version (HTC, Flashlight, Photo Enhancer and Converter) plus the Beats Audio switch and the "attentive phone" toggles. The Connection Setup app is missing, since the device is pre-configured for AT&T's APNs. You'll also find a bunch of carrier apps on board: AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T Family Map, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, AT&T U-verse Live TV, myAT&T and YPmobile -- all pre-loaded but easily uninstalled.
So, if you reside in the US, should you purchase HTC's 8X AT&T with LTE and commit to a two-year agreement? Or should you buy the unsubsidized and unlocked global (HSPA+) model? Unless you can live with minimal storage, we don't recommend the 8GB version of HTC's 8X since there's no microSD expansion -- sadly, this means passing on AT&T's fabulous yellow hue for $100. The Graphite Black and Flame Red colors are exclusive to Verizon in the US, so for AT&T we recommend the carrier's blue handset with 16GB for $200 (or wait for off-contract pricing).
If you absolutely despise blue, don't need LTE and can afford the extra cost, then by all means pick the global phone. Of course, at $100 on contract with 32GB of storage and a choice of hues, we think the Lumia 920 for AT&T offers better value.
Toshiba Satellite U925t review: with its first Windows 8 convertible, Toshiba bets big on the slider
You can't see our New York City office right now, but it's something of a laptop menagerie. We just finished reviewing a laptop whose screen flips inside its hinge, and now we're testing an Ultrabook with a touchscreen, along with a notebook whose screen folds all the way back. The Toshiba Satellite U925t ($1,150) is yet another breed of Windows 8 hardware. It's a slider, to be exact, which is to say its 12.5-inch screen slides out and up to reveal a full-sized keyboard. It's nice, in theory, because you can use it as a tablet without having to worry about packing a separate keyboard. But unlike the Dell XPS 12 or Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, which can also be used in tablet mode, the screen here is always exposed. As you can imagine, too, that propped-up display has a very real effect on the typing experience. Given all that, is there any reason to consider this over other, similarly priced Windows 8 convertibles? Could there perhaps be any performance benefits, or advantages in screen quality? Meet us after the break where we'll hash it out.
It's as if Toshiba gave up midway through the design process.
Back in June, if you recall, Toshiba announced an Ultrabook called the Satellite U845W. You might remember it as that funky-looking notebook with a 14.4-inch, 21:9 display, but we think of it a bit differently. To us, it's simply the prettiest, most understated PC Toshiba has put out in a long, long time. It was the mix of materials that sealed the deal: a machined aluminum lid, soft-touch accents, a backlit keyboard and even a metal FCC plate. It was tactile, inviting and, most importantly, subtle.
The U925t isn't an exact copy (it doesn't even have a lid) but it does borrow some key design elements. This, too, has a textured, rubbery finish both on the underside and on the palm rest. As on the U845W, Toshiba went with an inoffensive shade of dark brown. These are also the same flat, chiclet-style keys, just shrunken down to fit a smaller deck. That said, this seems to be a clear step down in build quality. The whole thing is made of plastic, and while the soft-touch materials do a good job masking that, you can still feel it in the keyboard panel, which exhibits some noticeable flex. Also, Toshiba didn't give much thought to how the back of the device looks once you slide out the display and prop it up. That backside has a bare, almost unfinished look -- it's as if Toshiba gave up midway through the design process. On another machine it might pass for industrial; here, it just doesn't match the rest of the design.
As for that display, it's coated in scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, which is a fortunate thing since the screen is constantly exposed (unless you buy a sleeve for it, of course). We didn't really consider this when we first got hands-on: at the time, we were more concerned with how sturdy the sliding mechanism was (pretty sturdy) or how comfortable the typing experience would be (just okay). It's once you find yourself in possession of an $1,150 machine that you start to feel a bit nervous about sticking it in a bag with other items. As we've found on phones, tablets and other devices, though, the Gorilla Glass does a good job of keeping the screen pristine. So after spending a little time with it, we were able to relax and trust the panel wouldn't get ruined.
One nice thing about this form factor is that you can set it in your lap with the display propped-up and not have to worry about the whole thing toppling backward. The hinge on the backside anchors the display in such a way that you needn't worry about the weight distribution, as you might with a dockable tablet. Of course, too, that slider form factor means you can use the U925t as a tablet when you want to. As we said with the XPS 12, though, you wouldn't want to use a 3.35-pound, 12-inch tablet for long periods of time. Your arms would get tired. If you're hanging out on the couch, however, and can rest the PC against your legs, it makes for a nice lean-back sort of device.
At 3.35 pounds, the U925t is naturally a bit heavier than 12-inch machines that don't have a touchscreen, but it's the exact same weight as the XPS 12, which can also be used as a tablet. Size-wise, the chassis measures 0.78 inch thick, which is just wide enough to accommodate an HDMI socket and two USB 3.0 ports, one of which supports Toshiba's Sleep and Charge technology. Poke around further and you'll find a volume rocker, a key for enabling screen auto-rotation, the power button, a volume rocker and two vents around back. There's even an SD card reader, something you won't find on the Dell XPS 12 Windows 8 convertible. Finally, being a PC you can use as a tablet, this has not one, but two cameras: an HD webcam up front, and a 3-megapixel, autofocusing shooter on the back.
We're grading on a curve here. When we first got hands-on with the U925t, we said it had a roomier keyboard than most sliders we've seen. And that's true; an inherent problem with this form factor is that when the display is propped up, the hinge 'round back eats into the usable deck space, leaving the keyboard area unusually cramped. We still say the U925t has a better keyboard than the new MSI Slider S20, but that isn't saying much. The layout here still feels crowded compared to the XPS 12, or any other ultraportable with a fully usable keyboard deck.
All told, we were able to type the brunt of this review on it, but we did make plenty of typos along the way. It's a shame the propped-up display takes up so much space, because with a little more room this would have been a great typing experience. Though the keys are a bit shallow, they have a soft finish that feels nice under the fingertips, and we like how the keyboard makes relatively little sound, even when you're typing furiously. The gentle backlighting, too, is a nice touch. (You can turn it off at any time by pressing Fn-Z.)
If you thought the keyboard was crowded, imagine how squat the touchpad is. To its credit, it's wide; it's just not very tall. That's mainly an issue when you're trying to click the built-in touch button (which you might resort to if you're in File Explorer or some other desktop app where precision is needed). In that scenario, it's tough to fit both your thumb and index finger on the trackpad at the same time; your index finger might well brush up against the top of the touchpad, and hit the spacebar.
Fortunately, the touchpad is big enough so that you can comfortably do two-finger scrolling, which works smoothly on this device. You probably won't need the touchpad for pinch-to-zoom because, you know, you can just reach up and use the touchscreen for that.
In addition to Gorilla Glass protection, the 12.5-inch display offers some good viewing angles, thanks to in-plane switching (IPS) technology. Given that this isn't the sort of machine you're likely to crowd around with friends, you might appreciate the viewing angles most when using the PC in your lap. Using it that way, we had plenty of leeway when adjusting the screen. As for the 1,366 x 768 resolution, that's quite standard among Windows machines, especially models with small screens. It's perfectly adequate for watching movies and getting work done, but it's worth noting that there's a growing number of 1080p offerings out there, including the Dell XPS 12 and the Acer Aspire S7, a 13-inch Ultrabook with a touchscreen. Indeed, we happen to have both of these other machines lying around, and as you'd expect, their screens look crisper, and the difference is noticeable in both the desktop and in Microsoft's Modern UI.
The U925t's two speakers are located on the bottom side of the device, just underneath the palm rest. As you might expect, given the size of the laptop and also the location of the speakers, the sound never gets very loud, even at max settings. Like so many other laptops, too, the sound is decidedly tinny, with clipped bass notes. Those low tones sound especially distorted at top volume, so you might want to keep the volume at a more moderate setting, even if it means making do with a more subdued audio experience.
PCMark73DMark063DMark11ATTO (top disk speeds)Toshiba Satellite U925t (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)521 MB/s (reads); 265 MB/s (writes)Dell XPS 12 (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)516 MB/s (reads); 263 MB/s (writes)Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)278 MB/s (reads); 263 MB/s (writes)Acer Aspire S7 (2.4GHz Core i7-3517U, Intel HD 4000)934 MB/s (reads); 686 MB/s (writes)
This might be the most straightforward performance comparisons we've ever published. Each of the Ultrabooks listed in that table up there runs Windows 8, and three of them have the same Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor. All have Intel's latest integrated graphics solution, the HD 4000 chipset. Appropriately, then, benchmark scores in PCMark 7, 3DMark06 and 3DMark11 are all on par with one another. The one exception is the Acer Aspire S7, which we tested with a Core i7 CPU and RAID 0 SSD setup. So, there aren't many indications that the U925t is either faster or slower than its competitors. Its max disk speeds, as measured by ATTO, were very close to what we got with the XPS 12. Its read speeds are considerably faster than the Yoga 13's (521 MB/s versus 278 MB/s), but that seems to say more about the Yoga, since the XPS 12 also notched read speeds in the 500 MB/s range.
In real-world use, the U925t boots up quickly: eight seconds to the log-in screen, and then another two seconds to load the Start screen. That's even faster than the XPS 12, which took 12 seconds to boot. We did notice that certain Windows 8 apps such as the Windows Store were slow to load, but we didn't notice any lag as we toggled through open apps and browser tabs. If anything, the biggest red flag was fan noise: the machine gets awfully loud, particularly while running games. At one point, the sound coming from the fans was so loud that we worried we were annoying other people in the office. That's a subjective measure, of course. So here's a more practical question: will that fan noise annoy you while you're trying to concentrate?
Samsung Series 9 (15-inch, 2012)Samsung Series 9 (13-inch, 2012)Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook (14-inch, 2012)Samsung Series 9 (13-inch, 2011)When it comes to testing battery life on Windos 8 laptops, we're in the middle of a disappointing streak: the U925t lasted little more than five hours in our standard rundown test, which involves looping video with WiFi on and the brightness fixed at 65 percent. As taxing as that test is, we've seen some non-touch-enabled Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks last upwards of six hours, if not seven. And yet, the best showing we've seen so far from a touchscreen Windows 8 Ultrabook is the Lenovo Yoga Ideapad 13, which lasted five hours and 32 minutes in the same test. (Full review coming soon, promise!) Likewise, the Dell XPS 12 lasted five hours and 30 minutes. By those standards, the U925t's battery life isn't surprising, per se, but it still isn't great.
Compared to some other PC makers, Toshiba included quite a bit of bloatware, including: Netflix, eBay, Amazon, Vimeo, Encyclopedia Brittanica, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, iHeartRadio, iCookbook, Origin (EA's game store) and a 30-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2013. Toshiba also threw in some items of its own, including Book Place, News Place and a support guide. Fortunately, at least, crapware in Windows 8 takes the form of an extra cluster of Live Tiles on the Start Menu; none of this will litter the desktop. Annoyingly, some of these programs come pinned to the Taskbar, but you can of course un-pin them if you so choose.
Like most consumer laptops, the U925t comes with a one-year parts-and-labor warranty. The battery also has one year of coverage.
With so many other Windows 8 convertibles available or arriving soon, we suspect your money would be better spent elsewhere.
The U925t is sold in one configuration on Toshiba's site: the same $1,150 model we tested with the Core i5-3317U processor, 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. Those are fairly typical specs, as far as Ultrabooks go, though some power users might lament that they can't configure it with a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM or 256 gigs of storage.
We've already mentioned the U925t's most similar competitors: the Dell XPS 12 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13. Why do we choose these? Well, we were looking for Ultrabooks that could be used as tablets -- specifically, Ultrabooks with 12- or 13-inch screens. Anything bigger would mean making some serious compromises in mobility. For the purposes of keeping things brief, we also won't dwell on regular old touchscreen notebooks, because you can't really use those as tablets, even if you are tapping the display with your finger. So, that leaves us with a fairly small group of machines, with the XPS 12 and Yoga 13 being the most prominent.
If you can get past the XPS 12's odd form factor (that's the one whose screen flips inside the hinge) it's actually a solid little touchscreen Ultrabook. At $1,200 and up, it costs about the same as the U925t, and comes with nearly the same specs, including 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and that Core i5-3317U processor. The big difference is the display: the XPS 12 comes standard with a 1080p IPS panel and yes, it is as lovely as it sounds. The XPS 12 offers nearly identical battery life to the U925t and weighs the same. It can also be configured with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Its design and build quality are excellent too, but there is one catch: it's missing an SD reader.
As for the Yoga 13, we need to tell you up front that we're still testing it, and aren't ready to weigh in decisively. That said, we're enjoying its comfortable keyboard and solid build quality. As you can see in the above performance tables, its battery life is slightly better than the U925t's, and on par with the XPS 12's. The performance across these three machines seems to be comparable. As for specs, it currently starts at $1,000 with a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and a 1,600 x 900 display. To get the same Core i5 CPU offered in the U925t and XPS 12 you'd have to pay $1,100, which is still slightly less expensive than the Toshiba model.
If Toshiba got one thing right with its first Windows 8 flagship, it's this: there is indeed a market for PCs that can be used as tablets. It's convenient to tuck your Ultrabook's keyboard away when the moment strikes, and turn it into a slate (a big, heavy slate, but a slate nonetheless). That's a nice option to have when you're hanging out on the couch, half-watching TV: you might want to glance at your email or stream Netflix, but you probably aren't going to make much use of the keyboard. Not when you're acting like a couch potato, anyway.
The more we use the Satellite U925t, though, the more we're convinced Toshiba took a gamble on the wrong form factor. That propped-up display eats into the available deck space, making for a compromised typing experience. The trackpad, too, is unnecessarily small, which might bother folks who are trying to get work done on the desktop and can't really get by on finger input. Meanwhile, the Dell XPS 12 and Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 cost about the same and weigh about the same, except they approach that tablet transformation in such a way that you never lose out on keyboard space.
There are other issues with the U925t, too. Battery life is shorter than on those two competing models we mentioned, and the build quality isn't as robust. What's more, the XPS 12 comes standard with a 1080p screen, while the Yoga 13 has a 1,600 x 900 panel. The display would have been one of the few saving graces for the U925t, but it has lower resolution (1,366 x 768). And while the viewing angles are good, they're no better than what other machines are offering. That's not to say the U925t has no redeeming qualities in its own right, but with so many other Windows 8 convertibles available or arriving soon, we suspect your money would be better spent elsewhere.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Engadget Giveaway: win an ASUS S400 Windows 8 Ultrabook, courtesy of TigerDirect!
Microsoft's finally released the Windows 8 hounds, and retailers aren't skipping a beat on stocking up on pre-loaded hardware. TigerDirect is one such outlet eager to get you hooked up with a Windows 8 device, and to prove it, it's provided us with an ASUS S400CA-DH51T Ultrabook (currently an $899 value)! All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter, but you should definitely take a few minutes out of your day to check out TigerDirect's website for some great online deals!
Note: specs for the Ultrabook include a 3rd generation Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD + 24GB SSD Cache, 14.1" Touchscreen and Windows 8 64-bit. Head to the above link for more details.
The rules:
Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. Duplicate entries will be filtered out and discarded, so adding additional comments won't increase your likelihood of winning.Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers contest laws if you have to be mad.Winners will be chosen randomly. One winner will win one (1) ASUS S400CA-DH51T Ultrabook.If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes a contact email. Social media contact details are not carried over into our system.This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. TigerDirect / ASUS offers a full warranty with the prize, but is not held liable to honor exchanges. Microsoft and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.Entries can be submitted until November 8, 2012 at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!HTC Windows Phone 8S hits the FCC with North American 3G, gives the US a horrible tease
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write a reviewsee all reviews ?ZTE Testing Windows Phone 8 Phablet With 5.9-inch Full HD Display
ZTE might launch a Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone with a 5.8-inch display that supports full HD resolutions and that is optimized for multimedia.
The information was unveiled in a Weibo post (the Chinese equivalent of Twitter microblogging platform) by Lu Qian Hao, head for marketing strategy division within at. Still, the detail saying that the 5.9-inch display is capable of supporting full HD resolution raises some question marks over this product, as Microsoft didn’t announce that Windows Phone 8 will include support for this resolution in the current version of its mobile operating system.
Next to the full HD display with a record-size for the smartphone segment, the new Windows Phone 8-powered ZTE smartphone might also come with support for DTS, the audio technology used for the movies distributed on blu-ray platform. For the time being there are no details regarding the chipset underpinning the WP8 phablet. Even though there’s no info about its technical specifications, judging by the looks of the body case, the ZTE smartphone doesn’t seems to be a ready-to-launch product.
ZTE also confirmed the existence of another Windows Phone 8 smartphone, but didn’t revealed any of its technical specs.
If the rumors are accurate and the ZTE full HD 5.9-inch phablet will see the light of day, the product will hit the store shelves sometime in the spring, probably running an updated version of Windows Phone 8, with a user interface optimized for 1,920 x 1,080 pixel displays.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Windows Phone 8 Late to Ball but Dressed to Kill
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Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 'still small', but will 'really ramp quickly'
Following its launch event in San Francisco and the appearance of its first devices last week, Windows Phone 8 is hoping for big things in the future. Microsoft's chief exec Steve Ballmer said that its work with Nokia, HTC and Samsung offered them the chance to create a "really strong third participant in the smartphone market." He admitted that they weren't there quite yet and told the audience at a Windows 8 launch event in Israel that Microsoft's mobile OS was "still relatively small", but that he expects "the volumes on Windows Phone to really ramp quickly." The company will be lavishing more on marketing and advertising around Windows 8, Window Phone 8 and Surface than it has on anything previous -- which sounds good, as its new mobile OS might need the help.
Microsoft posts Build 2012 session videos for eager Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 coders
Not every developer had the luxury of putting a flight to Redmond on the corporate tab so that they could attend Microsoft's Build 2012 conference in person. Much to their delight, they won't have to. The company has posted streaming video for every session addressing Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and beyond, ranging from the two keynotes through to nuts-and-bolts framework talks. Be warned: most programmers will want to know Visual Studio and similar tools like the back of their hand before tackling some of these sessions. If they emerge unscathed, though, they'll be well-equipped to live in Microsoft's Windows Store world.
Microsoft explains the origins of Windows Phone 8's home and lock screens
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write a reviewsee all reviews ?Taking the Windows 8 Plunge
If you're used to Microsoft's stratospheric pricing email program -- Outlook alone is US$139.99 estimated retail -- take a look at the small print at Microsoft's Windows 8 website, and you'll see that a Windows 8 Pro upgrade can be downloaded for a limited-time at the measly price of $39.99.
This is a surprising bargain from the monolith -- and a significant change in direction from the $100-plus upgrades we've been used to.
So, grab that bank card and jump in. Here's how to approach an install.
Browse to the Microsoft Upgrade to Windows 8 website. Then run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant on the computer that you intend to use.
Tip: If you've recently bought a new Windows 7 PC, the $39.99 deal probably is not for you. You're likely eligible for a $14.99 deal from Microsoft instead.
Allow the Upgrade Assistant to run and check applications -- now called "apps" -- and devices for compatibility. Then click on the "See Compatibility Details" link and review the list.
Start researching items shown by performing a Web search. Find out what drivers and software updates, if any, are available for legacy gear.
A printer driver that's marked "not compatible" could end up costing you the price of a new printer. Printers are cheap these days, so it may not matter. However, this is a good time to bail if the list is long and you get cold feet.
Tip: Print the list before closing it -- it may be the last time your printer works.
Choose the prior OS files you want to keep. The Upgrade Assistant will prompt you to choose between Windows settings, personal files and apps, personal files and nothing.
Windows 7 PC apps will easily transfer to Windows 8. In the case of a Vista or XP upgrade, you will need to manually install apps after the operating system installs.
Click on the "Next" button and choose the 2 GB digital download. Allow the processes to take place and follow the prompts.
Determine the version that you are going to need:
Windows RT is only available pre-installed on ARM-processor tablets and PCs. Choose Windows 8 Pro if you want an OS oriented to data protection, remote desktop connection or corporate network connections.
Tip: All of the Windows 8 operating systems are touch-enabled, although you need a PC that supports multitouch to use it.
Microsoft provides enterprise versions of Windows 8, too. Software Assurance customers can obtain the OS from Microsoft's Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) where you can download products and keys. Access the VLSC center with a Microsoft Live ID and password.
Other methods for obtaining Windows 8 Enterprise are through a Technet Professional subscription, or Microsoft developer network (MSDN) subscription. Technet subscriptions include courses, start at $199, and help IT people plan deployments.
MSDN can be accessed with a Live ID, and subscriptions start at $699. A subscription provides software for development and testing, support via forums, SDKs and other tools.
If none of the IT and developer solutions sound particularly attractive and you're not sold on the $39.99 single-PC upgrade, you can download a 90-day evaluation copy in either 32-bit or 64-bit from the TechNet Evaluation Center.
The program is called "Springboard Series." Click on the link to the version that you need.
Large-scale deployment?
Helpful deployment resources include the Microsoft Development Toolkit for 2012, which includes Windows 8 support. This tool assists in deployment of Windows 8 across multiple desktops and servers.
Download the app and choose Getting Started from the Information Center within the Deployment Toolkit to get started on the considerable learning curve and prepare an MDT infrastructure.
Is there a piece of tech you'd like to know how to operate properly? Is there a gadget that's got you confounded? Please send your tech questions to me, and I'll try to answer as many as possible in this column.
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