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With only a few weeks remaining before the much anticipated Apple iPad is released, Microsoft is finalizing details on its own “Courier.” Microsoft’s tablet, “a book-like device with two opposing screens,” according to Engadget, will supposedly have handwriting recognition built-in, and a stylus resembling a pen seems to be a primary source of input.

Engadget also claims there will be a built-in camera and a headphone jack as well. It will also serve as an e-book device, similar to the iPad’s own “iBook” app.

There has been no more information concerning pricing for the Courier, but because of the larger amount of features it is rumored to have, it is expected to be more expensive than the iPad

The Courier is to be released prior to the holiday season this year, which means by the time it is released, the iPad will have been part of the tablet market for over half a year—meaning more rumors about future updates, such as cameras on both sides of the device, tethering, and Flash support for Safari could cause possible Courier purchasers to refrain from purchasing until an iPad refresh.

Via Money.Gather

I posted an article a week ago stating how the Windows Phone 7 Series would be the end of WinMo 6.5, to the point that I was verbally dancing on its gravesite.  Well, looks like WinMo just got some major life support, and will continue on as Windows Phone Starter.

There were hints of this before WinPho 7’s launch, with rumors of a “Windows Phone Classic”.  Whether or not this is the same as Windows Phone Starter we still don’t know.

What we do know isn’t all that groundbreaking either.  At the new OS’s core is the WinMo 6.5 we love and hate, just stripped down a bit. It is designed to be a cheaper alternative to the WinPho 7 line, targeting emerging markets in developing countries. The name and concept naturally follows Microsoft’s idea for Windows 7 Starter Edition.

However, don’t plan on ever actually getting to use a WinPho Starter phone if you live in the US or the developed world.  Microsoft posted a list of radio spectra that it is planning to support for Starter, and HSDPA 3G stands noticeably absent.  Looks like Microsoft is going to strong-arm carriers and manufacturers into using WinPho 7 in markets they can.

Another missing feature for some versions will be Office Mobile.  If you have a strong hankering for Sense UI WinMo phones, look to your favorite developing nation to buy a WinPho Starter phone.  The rest of us will just have to struggle living in a world where WinMo is being phased out.

Via Engadget.

Once upon a time, there was a highly successful PDA OS known as PocketPC, available in stores during the early 2000s.  People didn’t have mobile internet and fancy ideas such as “the cloud” and “App Stores” didn’t exist.

But then Steve Jobs came along in 2007 and ushered in what is commonly thought of as the “Mobile Web Revolution”.  Smartphones quickly spread, and PDAs began to die.  Microsoft’s response? Repackage PocketPC as “Windows Mobile” (commonly known as “WinMo”), and hope no one would complain. Unfortunately, the tech blogs did complain, and with each WinMo release there was an outpouring of disgust towards the next cruel joke that came from Redmond. Until now; Windows Mobile 6.5 will be the last WinMo version ever, and the crude monstrosity it was is dead.

Normally we don’t focus much on phones, but with the Mobile World Confrence in Barcelona, it is hard to avoid reporting on them. And frankly, the death of WinMo for a new line called the Windows Phone 7  Series is some pretty ground-shaking news in the mobile world.  Windows Phone 7 completely scraps the PocketPC core and instead takes the approach of the Zune HD in terms of user interface.  The result is a lot prettier of an UI, though the resulting effect on the user experience is debatable.

A major element that Microsoft will bring is that it has taken Android and WebOS’s approach of dynamic and live data displaying.  Rather than the iPhone which requires individual apps to access info from sources like Facebook and Twitter, WinPho 7 (I expect the nickname to catch on once we all get sick of saying Windows Phone 7 Series) integrates it all to the “People Hub”. This is what on traditional phones (smart or dumb) is called the “Contacts”.  There are other hubs as well, like Pictures, Games, Music + Video, and Office.

Another weapon in Microsoft’s arsenal is Xbox Live and its integration to WinPho 7. The iPhone has shown that mobile gaming is a very real market, and Apple took advantage of  it without much of a background in gaming. Xbox Live is the world’s largest console gaming community, and there is not much doubt that Microsoft will be using this to turn gaming on phones into more than a simple recreational activity.  Adding a Gamerscore to WinPho games will make it a highly competitive device (it might actually attract real gamers from DS and PSP) and probably cause the major names of the game development world to start investing their money onto this new platform.

Microsoft has killed its old app platform, which was viewed by many as a monstrosity in WinMo 6.5.x. Of course this will naturally cause many unsatisfied developers in the beginning, but it is almost undoubtedly guaranteed that the new API will be vastly better.  Another issue Microsoft will have to face is that WinMo was a heavily corporate OS, with a focus on productivity, while WinPho is essentially a Zune + Social phone, with the productivity getting pushed back.

Microsoft still intends to keep the Office hub, so they will likely not lose much of their consumer-base.  Still, WinPho is a product that may already be too late – it will not even hit the market until Q4 2010.  Whether or not it can save Microsoft’s dismal mobile prospects remains to be seen, but this writer is glad to welcome Microsoft back to 2010.

Via Gizmodo

October 25, 2001 – A Microsoft operating system was released as the Internet revolution entered the everyman’s home.  Only one year after the absolute fiasco known as Windows ME (in a time before Vista was known as possibly the worst operating system of all time), Windows XP was released, and with it came hopes of a new stable Windows OS. Combining the new technologies of ME with the stability of Windows 2000, XP became the world’s number one OS, and sits on that throne to this day. It heralded the modern internet era, and until recently was the OS of choice for OEMs.

Now, we can finally see what a horrible, horrible mistake keeping it alive was.  Since the appearance of a 17-year old DOS exploit, followed by an update that has created countless BSODs and endless reboots, Windows XP looks unlikely to be able to weather the coming years.  Microsoft believes they have discovered the primary cause of the current maladies:

“In our continuing investigation in to the restart issues related to MS10-015 that a limited number of customers are experiencing, we have determined that malware on the system can cause the behavior. We are not yet ruling out other potential causes at this time and are still investigating.” (emphasis added)

People attacked Windows Vista for performance flaws and pricing, but at least Microsoft began to clean up its act regarding internet security with Internet Explorer 7 and the improved Windows Firewall.  User Account Control, a feature Unix systems have had for quite a while, was a step in the right direction (despite its dreadful implementation).  And Windows 7 finally comes with performance improvements and most modern hardware is capable of handling it.

The only market that really had any justification in using XP was netbooks, but even they have moved on to Windows 7 Starter Edition.  While XP may have extended support till 2014, users should realize that they need to upgrade far before that.

There are essentially three routes. If you have anything with higher performance than a netbook, it is safe to move on to Windows 7.  “Vista-capable” PCs should not still have Windows XP on them. It is an insult to their hardware, and these recent episodes have shown that it is no longer safe.

If for some reason you are still using a 800 MHz Celeron with 128 MB RAM, then it is either time to get a new computer (anything from any brand with any operating system circa 2010) or to install Linux.  For the majority of users, the latter seems like too difficult of an option, but Ubuntu is a usable and user-friendly introduction to Linux.

As for netbooks, which is the only platform where new machines still have this abomination,  please get Windows 7 or Linux or even a Hackintosh.  Microsoft has directions for those of you who don’t know how to set up an ISO to install from a USB. And while I am sure there will be many of those hesitant to move forward from XP, I beseech you: at least take this as a wake up call.

Via Engadget.

Microsoft, after receiving blistering criticism for the apparent abject failure of Vista, has rebounded and achieved startling sales gains in recent months.  Windows 7 currently holds 10% of the OS market after only 5 months, while Vista has managed to crawl up to 20%.  Stunningly, XP still dominates at 60-70% of users, showing that until recently, most people have been wary of upgrading.

Microsoft is not content to stop here, however: Windows 8 is already in development.  On the MSDN blogs, Chris Green, a former Microsoft employee, posted a chart that shows support dates for current and future products, posted above (dates are in dd/mm/yy). The date to look for is July 1st, 2011, the apparent time of public release.  Of course, if you are like this blogger who participated in the Windows 7 beta, that means you can expect to see what’s coming in a future not so distant.

Microsoft furthermore finally seems to be defeating the scourge that is Internet Explorer 6, arguably deemed the worst web browser of all time.  After multiple security flaws were revealed for Internet Explorer 6 and 7, Microsoft has started to push its first not-despised browser in a long time, Internet Explorer 8, which has finally overtaken IE 6 as the number one browser in the world.

Lastly, expect Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to come out in beta in June and final release in September.  One of the most notable features of SP1 will be out of box USB 3.0 support.

Via DailyTech.

When Windows 7 was still in the works, many in the tech industry were eagerly anticipating a Netbook Edition of the OS. We were dismayed to see that Microsoft had ditched its plans in favor of the crappier Windows 7 Starter. However, it looks like many netbook users’ dreams have come true – a new, tweaked version of Windows 7 has been making its rounds on the Web under the moniker of Windows 7 Netbook Edition.

The OS is a customized version of Windows 7 Ultimate, ditching a lot of extraneous drivers, language packs, and additional features. It’s not made by Microsoft, but it’s expected to run on just about any netbook – even the oldest of the old.

Windows 7 Netbook Edition may be based on a pre-release version of Windows 7, so don’t be surprised if it implodes on you or kicks you out for not having a valid product key.

Via Liliputing.

Google’s Android OS is becoming so successful that it is stealing the spotlight from Microsoft’s Windows Mobile OS. There is strong evidence that the next major release of Microsoft’s OS, Windows Mobile 7, has been delayed yet again. Windows Mobile 7 was supposed to be released this year, but now analysts are saying that there is evidence that it has been delayed until 2011 due to Android’s increasingly popularity with manufacturers. Android is open-source and free to use – a stark contrast to Windows Mobile.

Steve Ballmer’s keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) did not mention anything about Windows Mobile 7. Only the current version of the OS was mentioned. Microsoft may offer more details at the Mobile World Congress next month in Barcelona, but no one is certain if this will happen.

Windows Mobile 7 has already been delayed. It was originally supposed to come out in 2009, but then the release date was pushed to 2010 because Microsoft was allegedly working on some big changes. If Microsoft delays Windows Mobile 7 again, users and manufacturers could become frustrated, if they aren’t already. Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves – at this point, Microsoft has not confirmed any delay.

Via PC World.

I’m a Mac user, so I know how we Mac users can be sometimes: we love our Macs, and we go on and on extolling the virtues and amazing features of our Macs, sometimes to a ridiculous extent. But inevitably, there is always some program that’s available for Windows and isn’t available for Mac. That’s where VMware Fusion 3 comes in.

VMware Fusion 3 is a very clever piece of software that allows you to run programs on your Mac that are not yet available for the Mac operating system. It also allows for virtualization: you can run the entire Windows operating system on your Mac, if you want.

To install Windows on your Mac, you can import it across a network, from a Microsoft installation disk, or from Boot Camp. Once this is done, you can run both Mac and Windows simultaneously. This is VMware Fusion’s major advantage over Boot Camp: not having to restart the computer to use the other operating system. Since the Mac OS and Windows OS run simultaneously, you can even drag files between the two systems.

VMware Fusion 3 can also be used to install Linux on a Mac, though the Windows scenario seems more common due to the ubiquitousness of Windows.

VMware Fusion 3 is an excellent choice for Mac users who want to run Windows without the hassle of having a Windows computer.

Via PC Magazine.

HP revealed its Pro MS200 PC this Monday in hopes of reaching out to small business owners in need of more compact desktop computers. This all-in-one PC is perfect for the growing number of small businesses who are tight on space but still need the capability of a bulky desktop.

The PC is packaged as an 18.5 inch screen that houses a DVD player and webcam. The device is also appropriate for the environmentally conscious business, as it satisfies Energy Star 5.0 standards.

This isn’t HP’s only product aimed at the small business market. It has long created PCs, laptops, printers, scanners, fax machines and more for consumers in this market. Each of these business-oriented laptops and PC’s has been manufactured to be a perfect pairing for Microsoft Windows 7 Professional.

The features of the HP Pro MS200 are as follows:

• DVD Burner
• Webcam
• Athlon dual-core processor
• ATI Radeon 3200 graphics card
• 250 GB hard drive
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional.

The all-in-one PC will be priced from $699.

Via InformationWeek

After scrapping its Larrabee graphics processor, Intel has now decided to switch its focus to a different generation of graphics cards.  The new card will be added to a laptop’s CPU instead of standing alone as a separate component.  Consumers have already shown a preference for Intel’s lower priced graphics options, so this new line of cards will likely be favored over those of other manufacturers. “Pine Trail” will be the first line of graphics cards to make use of this advancement. It will likely be unveiled in late December. “Pine Trail” will be immediately followed by the “Arrandale” line, which will be displayed to the public next month.

More efficient transcoding of video files from PC to iPod format and the ability to use DirectX-11 multimedia acceleration technology, each on Windows 7, are features that will be supported by the card later on in its production.  Intel assures that this does not signify the end for advancements on its more traditional graphics technologies.

Via Cnet

Ad-hoc network sharing wasn’t originally a function of the Windows 7 Starter Edition OS, but lo and behold, you can find such a feature by typing the right phrase into the Start Menu search — it doesn’t get much easier than that.

As the dialog that normally starts the ad-hoc networking process is disabled in the Windows 7 Starter Edition software, a simple search for adhoc is all it takes for you to start it up on your netbook. Viola! You’re now able to connect to other Wi-Fi enabled devices when your netbook has a network connection.

Of course this may not be as convenient as Virtual Wireless Networking, but hey, at least it works.

Via LifeHacker.

Acer recently showed us their new laptop with a multi-touch display. The Acer Aspire 5738PzG series gives us a 15.6 inch screen with a multitude of Windows 7 gestures that will be supported by the laptop. Because they also included an All-In-One PC featuring this multitouch technology, they decided to follow a minimulist design scheme, which comes with Microsoft’s TouchPack.

Their laptops will not only come loaded with Windows 7, but will have touchscreen support that allows users to perform simple everyday tasks like printing, sharing information, emailing, and taking pictures, all with simple gestures that better allow a user to interface with their devices. The laptops being a whole new definition to the words “user friendly.”

While it may not be as bad as it sounds for most Windows users, it’s still not a step in the right direction for Microsoft.  Many people (not just Windows 7 users) have been reporting a black screen which appears following a successful log-in. Once the black screen appears, systems reportedly lock up to the point where theres nothing you can do.

Although some users have claimed that they will have access to My Computer after getting the black screen, the operating systems still slow down to a crawl. Microsoft claims that their recent security update is the most likely suspect and is investigating further to narrow down the issue and eventually solve the problem.

So what should you do in the meanwhile? If affected, its suggested that you look up Prevx, a UK developer of anti-malware software. They’ve claimed to put together a fix that’ll fix the issue. We can’t promise that the fix won’t screw everything up further, so it may be worth your time to research them further. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more from Microsoft.

Via: Engadget.

If you weren’t able to get in on all the Black Friday netbook action, here are some Cyber Monday Windows 7 netbook deals to check out.

Dell Insprion Mini 10v – Touting the standard 10.1″ screen display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, and 1 GB of RAM, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10V netbook is available on Dell.com for $299, a $98 discount from the original price of $398.

Dell Inspiron Mini 10 - Also equipped with a 10.1″ screen display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, and 1 GB of RAM, in addition to a 1.3 megapixel webcam and HD TV tuner, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook will be available at Walmart.com for $398 with free shipping. In comparison, it sells for $499 on Dell’s website.

Toshiba Mini NB205 – This 10.1″ netbook boasts 1 GB of RAM, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor, and a battery that can last up to 9 hours. You can grab your very own Toshiba Mini at Amazon.com for $329, which includes a $50 discount from the original price of $379.

Acer Aspire One AOD250 – Available at Walmart.com for $328 (with free shipping), this netbook’s tech specs are no deviation from the standard. It has a 10.1″ screen display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, and 1 GB of RAM. At least it has a 6 hour battery.

HP Mini 110 – Equipped with a 10.1″ screen display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, and 1 GB of RAM, this Mini is available at Kmart.com for $309.99. That’s only $20 off the original price, but a discount nonetheless.

This year, netbooks are on fire and Windows 7 is hot hot hot, so if you’re interested you’d better get to these sizzling deals before they’re gone. Otherwise, if none of these netbooks tickle your fancy, check out some of our previous Cyber Monday articles for more great deals. Happy (online) shopping!

Via RedmondPie.

Look out iPhone,  there’s a new world of multi-touch devices available to consumers this holiday season. One such is the newly unveiled Eee PC T91MT which stands to be the worlds first convertible tablet notebook which features a multi-touch screen and fully supports Windows 7 Multi-Touch gestures that we’re sure you’re already familiar with. Those who have finished wiping the drool from their faces will be pleased to hear that the the slim Eee PC, which measures one inch thick and a paltry 0.96kg is designed for mobility – it sports a shockproof 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD) and comes with an additional 500GB of online ASUS WebStorage. Gadzooks!

The Eee PC T91MT puts users in touch with their creative sides:

• Multi-touch functionality makes interaction with the computer fun, it encourages users to be creative.
• Virtually all tasks can be performed with a tap, drag, punch, or twist – get your fingers ready!
• Photos are viewed, positioned, and edited seamlessly.
• Reading a Document is like flipping through pages in a real book.
• Taking Notes and Memos with the included package TouchSuite is intuitive and easy.
• The touch pad boasts a 256-level pressure sensor, the Eee PC™ T91MT’s crisp and responsive 8.9″ multi-touch screen reproduces handwriting beautifully and accurately, regardless of whether a finger or the bundled ergonomically-designed stylus is used.

Specifications

According to Retrevo.com, an online consumer comparison shopping site, most netbooks sold on Amazon.com (23 out of 28) come with Windows 7 Starter pre-installed. Unfortunately, most people in the market for a netbook aren’t really digging the Windows 7 Starter OS.

Here are some thoughts that Retrevo collected on what consumers think about this new software. Out of the 1,100 consumers that responded to the survey:

• 56% would be dissatisfied if a new netbook were to be pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter.
• 61% did not realize that Windows 7 Starter lacks some features that come standard with Windows XP (dual-screen capability, personalization of desktop, DVD playback capabilities, etc.)
• 54% knew the difference between the various editions of the Windows 7 operating systems.

Microsoft is trying to transition consumers from Windows XP to Windows 7, but among netbooks Windows XP has continued to remain popular. The company has not yet disclosed how much profit they make from each copy of Windows 7 Starter sold, but executives have said that the profit margin is greater than that for Windows XP.

Via InternetNews.

Keeping competition hot with Apple, Dell has released the details of its Adamo XPS laptop as an attractive alternative to the Macbook Air.  The Adamo XPS boasts a number of unique badges, such as being the thinnest laptop ever (accomplished by a special hinge allowing the keyboard to be folded into the screen), weighing a mere three pounds, and possessing a special touchstrip required to open the laptop.

The specs for the Adamo XPS include a 13.4-inch 1266 x 768 display, a dual-core 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive with Windows 7.  Unfortunately, the laptop only nets two hours of battery life.  It will start at $1,799, the same price as the Macbook Air.

Here’s a video preview of the Dell Adamo:

Via SlashGear.

The ASUS Eee PC 1005HA netbook is listed as the top-selling netbook on Amazon. Furthermore, the top four best-sellers in this category on Amazon consist of some form or other of the ASUS 1005HA netbook.

In first place is the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK (with Windows XP) that sells for $358.99. In second place is the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA-PU17-BU (with Windows 7 Starter) that sells for $382.99. In third and fourth place respectively are the blue ASUS Eee PC 1005HA (with Windows XP) and the black ASUS 1005HA (with Windows 7) netbooks. It’s interesting that netbooks with Windows XP still outsell those with Windows 7, but then again Windows 7 was just recently launched.

The first non-ASUS netbook on the list of top-sellers is the Toshiba Mini, at #5 on the list.

Via I4U.

Walmart has a super cheap Windows 7 laptop that you will be able to buy on Black Friday.  Customized for Walmart by HP, this notebook will not have you playing World of Warcraft at mind-numbing resolutions everywhere you go, but it should suffice for your daily email, internet, and word processing needs.

Specs include a 15.6” Brightview display at 1366×768 resolution, integrated graphics, 250 GB of hard drive space, 3 GB of RAM, and a 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron processor.  The real shining point of the system is the $298 price tag.  With these kinds of prices for laptops, competition continues to intensify between the netbook and laptop industry.

Via I4U News.