Microsoft is scrambling to preserve what's left of its kingdom.
Since the company released its Windows operating system in 1985, most of the sequels have been variations on the same theme. Not that it mattered much. Regardless of the software's quality, Microsoft managed to remain at the center of the personal computing universe.
The stakes are much different as Microsoft Corp. puts the finishing touches on Windows 8 — perhaps the most important piece of software the Redmond, Wash. company has designed since co-founder Bill Gates won the contract to build the first operating system for IBM Corp.'s personal computer in the early 1980s.
A test, or "beta", version of the revamped operating system will be unveiled Wednesday in Barcelona, nudging Windows 8 a step closer to its anticipated mass market release in September or October. The company will offer the most extensive look at Windows 8's progress since it released an early version of the system to developers five months ago.
Microsoft designed Windows 8 to help it perform a difficult balancing act. The company hopes to keep milking revenue from a PC market that appears to be past its prime, while trying to gain a stronger foothold in the more fertile field of mobile devices. It's a booming market that, so far, has been defined and dominated by Apple Inc.'s trend-setting iPhone and iPad, and Google Inc.'s ubiquitous Android software.
"Microsoft's future path is riding on Windows 8 and its success," said Gartner Inc. analyst David Cearley. "This is a chance for Microsoft to re-establish itself in a market where it's becoming increasingly irrelevant."
If Windows 8 is a hit, it could also help lift the fortunes of struggling PC makers, including Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. Besides giving businesses and consumers a reason to consider new PC purchases, Windows 8 is expected to spawn a new breed of hybrid machines that will be part computer tablet, part laptop computer.
If Windows 8 is a flop, however, it will increase the pressure on Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. His 12-year reign has been marred by the company's troubles adapting to an Internet-driven upheaval. As Microsoft has stumbled, faster-innovating companies such as Apple and Google have elbowed their way into a position to steer the direction of computing for the next decade or two.
Ballmer, known for his zealous faith in Microsoft, hails Windows 8 as the catalyst for an exciting — and lucrative — new era at the 37-year-old software maker.
Investors seem to be believers, too. Microsoft's stock has recently been trading its highest levels since April 2008, closing at $31.35 on Monday. The stock has gained about 21 percent so far this year. By comparison, Apple's stock has surged 30 percent during the same period, while Google's shares have dropped 6 percent.
Microsoft's financial performance traditionally improves when it releases a new version of Windows. The last upgrade came in October 2009 when Windows 7 hit the market. The company has sold more than 525 million copies of Windows 7 since then. Part of Window 7's success stemmed from pent-up demand; the previous version, Vista, was so clunky and buggy that many PC users stuck with the system they already had on their machines or switched to Apple's technology on Mac computers.
Windows 8 is radically different from its predecessors. The system won't even have Microsoft's familiar "Start" menu. All applications are spread across a mosaic of tiles, as part of a design Microsoft calls "Metro." The tiles, which resemble road signs, can be navigated with a swipe of the finger on the display screen or with a keyboard and a computer mouse. The tiles also provide a glimpse at the activity occurring in applications connected to the Web, such as email.
The system also is expected to enable users to easily back up their pictures, movies, music and other files on a Microsoft storage service called SkyDrive, which will compete against Apple's iCloud.
The operating system's versatility means it can be used to power computer tablets, as well as traditional PCs.
Microsoft badly wants a piece of the tablet market that has been cutting into PC sales since Apple introduced the iPad two years ago.
In the quarter that included the holiday shopping season, Apple shipped 15.4 million iPads, more than doubling the volume from the same time in the previous year. Meanwhile, worldwide personal computer sales dipped slightly, and Microsoft's revenue in its Windows division declined 6 percent. It marked the fourth time in the past five quarters that Microsoft's Windows revenue has fallen from the previous year.
Reversing or slowing that trend is critical for Microsoft. It still relies on the PC industry for about 55 percent of its revenue, according to Nomura Equity Research analyst Rick Sherlund. "The launch of Windows 8 should provide a few years of robust growth and opportunity for Microsoft to reposition itself to better defend its position against challengers," Sherlund wrote in a note after Microsoft reported the latest erosion in its Windows division.
Besides spurring more sales of the new operating system, Windows 8 is likely to drive demand for the next generation of the Office suite, another major moneymaker for Microsoft.
Windows 8 could inspire more PC makers to design machines that combine the convenience of computer tablets with the utility of a notebook computer. These devices would be similar to the so-called "Ultrabook" computers that offer a Windows-based version of Apple's lightweight MacBook "Air" machines. Once Windows 8 is available, the Ultrabook line could be expanded to include machines equipped with screen that swivels off the keyboard to take advantage of the system's touch controls and provide a tablet-like experience.
Microsoft clearly envisions Windows 8 becoming the foundation for pure tablets, too. That's why it's developing a version of Windows 8 that can run on the more tablet-friendly microprocessor technology licensed by ARM Holdings. That version will complement the Windows 8 design that will run on the Intel Corp. chips that power most PCs.
HP, the world's largest PC maker, is already counting on Windows 8 to deliver better times. The company's division that includes desktop and laptop computers suffered a 15 percent drop in revenue during its more recent quarter ending in January. CEO Meg Whitman, last week, said HP expects to release PCs and tablets running on Windows 8 in time for the holiday shopping season. HP's Windows 8 product line will include a tablet designed for corporate customers.
The biggest question hanging over Windows 8 is whether the long wait for the software will leave Microsoft hopelessly behind Apple and Google in mobile computing.
Whatever headlines Microsoft grabs during Wednesday's preview are likely to be quickly overshadowed when Apple shows off the iPad 3 — a hotly anticipated event, expected to occur in early March.
Meanwhile, Google says more than 300 million smartphones and tablets are already running on its Android software, with another 850,000 devices getting activated each day. At that rate, another 155 million to 180 million devices could be running on Android by the time Windows 8 comes out in September or October. As it is, a version of Android is already running the second hottest-selling tablet, Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire.
"Microsoft is late to the game and this is a different game than they have been playing," Cearley said. "But if they hit a home run with Windows 8, it could still turn some things around."
Source: Certcollection
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Cheapest & Smallest PC (Palm Size)
The Raspberry Pi is a basic mini-computer that has been developed by a network of volunteers over the last six years with support from the Cambridge University. It was created in an effort to increase the programming skills in children and young adults.
“The decline in core computing skills is something we really want to address with Raspberry Pi. Overcoming students’ fear of programming for the first time is a critical step in unlocking the full potential of the smartest people in any industry,” said Eben Upton, co-founder of Raspberry Pi.
The device is sold without a keyboard, mouse or monitor and uncased, the chip motherboard is the size of a credit card. At 22 Pounds (Rs 1,700) the cheap computer sold out within hours of its UK launch.
The unit can be plugged into any TV, needs a keyboard and needs a LAN connection for the Internet.
Demand for the device caused problems for Web sites selling it, forcing The Raspberry Pi Foundation, which developed the device, to replace its site with a static page offering links to its sales partners.
“It has been a phenomenal morning. We have had a huge amount of traffic, almost half a million hits in 15 minutes at one point. Clearly there were a few issues but we are resolving them. This device is a phenomenal opportunity. It is a hugely powerful device; we are so excited about it,” said a spokesman for Premier Farnell, one of the sales partners.
The foundation said on their Web site that any profits it made from sales would be given to charity.
The Model B version which went for sale can be used for various purposes with two USB slots, an HDMI slot, an SD memory card slot and an Ethernet port. The PC uses an SD card as a hard drive and you can install linux on the device which is powered by a 700MHz processor. Raspberry Pi can also output full HD video and will have a version of the popular media centre software XBMC available for download.
“This is a fantastic concept – reuniting children’s creativity with technology. It’s a masterly stroke for and a great device to inspire and teach the younger generation about computer science and encourage them to learn about electronics and computing,” said Tilly Blyth, Curator of Computing & Information, Science Museum. “It’s an excellent opportunity to get young people into engineering, and programming – who knows it might inspire the next Alan Turing or Steve Jobs out there."
A cheaper 16 Pound (Rs 1,250 approx) version will go on sale later in the year.
The machine, which runs on open-source operating system Linux, can be hooked up to a typical computer monitor – with additional ports used to attach a keyboard, mouse and other peripherals.
Future versions will have an 8 core processor, improved GPU and WiFi amongst other significant improvements.
Under the Hood
» 700MHz ARM processor
» GPU can output 1080p
» 256MB RAM
» Ethernet socket
» HDMI socket
» Dual USB 2.0
» RCA video socket (for TV output)
» SD card socket, device boots from SD
» Powered from microUSB socket
» 3.5mm audio jack
Mozilla Boot2Gecko platform
As the smartphone world matures, revolutionary ideas get harder and harder to come by. Yet, this’s exactly what the Mozilla Foundation brought to the MWC 2012 with its Boot2Gecko platform – a cloud based open-source mobile OS, which looks cool and should perform great on even very modest hardware.
Boot2Gecko is using the latest open web standards for its apps, which means that apps written for it will be compatible with just about any smartphone running the OS, or even every device with an HTML5-enabled browser. And don’t worry – even though the OS itself is cloud-based, you might still use your phone offline and even run apps and games on it – offline caching is a technology already supported by the web standards.
The Mozilla team had the platform installed on a Samsung Galaxy S II and were doing all the demoes on the Samsung former flagship, but the company is actually looking to release a completely different device. Its aim is to produce an ultra-cheap smartphone, powered by a 600 MHz CPU and packing just 256MB of RAM.
According to the guys over at the Mozilla booth, those specs should be perfectly adequate and the performance shouldn’t suffer even one bit. The company is partnering with Telefonica and T-Mobile for the development of that phone and if it has its way, the device should be on the market before the end of the year.
War of Tablets: Samsung Galaxy 620
here are a number of Galaxy Tabs in the market at the moment. And in a few months, there are likely to be more. The original Galaxy Tab, the 7-inch device that launched last year, can still be found if you search in earnest. Then, there is Galaxy Tab 750 with 10.1-inch screen, Galaxy Tab 730 with 8.9-inch screen and Galaxy Tab 680 with 7.7-inch SuperAMOLED screen.
The list is completed by Galaxy Tab 620, which we are reviewing today. Samsung says consumers need so many different Tabs to choose from "because no one size fits all", a subtle dig at the fruity company that sells just one tablet - iPad.
The classic argument on quality vs quantity aside, today we are going to find out what Tab 620 - called Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus in international market - packs in its slender and sleek body. Read on to know if this is the tablet for you.
Smaller than iPad Ok, this goes without saying. With a screen size of 7 inches, Tab 620 is definitely lot smaller and lighter than iPad or iPad2. This is good as well as bad. Good because the compact frame and a weight of 345 grams makes Tab 620 easier to use on the go or for longer durations. It's more portable. More handy to use. Bad because the smaller screen has disadvantages if you want to browse for longer durations or watch videos on it.
It typical Samsung fashion, Tab 620 is built using lots of glossy plastic. But the design is good. Rounded edges, sides that gracefully slope and a thin aluminum frame around the screen, give Tab 620 a premium finish. The back cover can't be removed, something that is common to almost all tablets nowadays. Slots to load SIM and MicroSD are on the left of the tablet while power button and volume rocker are on the right.
Overall, Tab 620 looks like a smaller replica of Tab 750. However, in terms of core hardware, it is somewhat better than its bigger sibling. Unlike the 1Ghz Tegra 2 processor in Tab 750, Tab 620 has a 1.2Ghz Exynos processor, which in our opinion is better. There is 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage with support for up to 32GB micro SD card.
The 7-inch PLS (plane-to-line switching panel) is decent. The resolution of 1024 x 600 is adequate. Viewing angles are good but brightness is somewhat lacking. Though in day-today usage it hardly makes any difference.
The primary camera has a 3 mega-pixel sensor while the front camera supports a resolution of 2 mega pixels.
The good
Tab 620 is powered by Honeycomb (Android 3.2). The user interface and performance is largely smooth. Largely because sometimes there is a perceptible lag in animations, most likely due to Samsung's TouchWiz interface that sits atop the Honeycomb.
Despite their popularity, tablets continue to be special-purpose devices. They are not yet as functional as a laptop or desktop. Though there are certain things - like casual web browsing - that tablets do better.
When it comes to Tab 620, it has two big advantages over the competitors, including iPad 2. One is web browsing.
The browser bundled with Honeycomb is very good, complete with a functional multi-tab browsing. The second advantage is the tablet's stellar media playback capability. The Exynos processor used in Tab 620 has very good media playback support. Result: Tab 620 will likely play anything you throw at it. In our tests full HD (1080P) videos were no trouble. Similarly, the device handled AVI, MKV, MP4 and several other formats with ease.
Unlike iPad and Blackberry Playbook, Tab 620 can utilize SIM card for making calls. Of course, users are not going to hold the tablet to their cheeks and shout into it. But if you are comfortable using a Bluetooth headset, making and receiving calls is possible with Tab 620.
Honeycomb, flawed as it is, does offer a compelling suit of Google apps. Navigation, which relies on Google Maps, will appeal immensely to commuters. Gmail app is fantastic and if it matters to you, could be the single biggest reason for preferring Tab 620 over non-Android tablets.
Battery life is also good. Tab 620 comes with a battery rated for 4000 mAh. In daily life, this translated to nearly 13 hours when the tablet was used for moderate browsing, emails, social networking on Twitter and Facebook and playing some videos.
The bad
Apps! Apps! Apps! Or the lack of them. Honeycomb debuted last year as tablet-only version of Android. But despite a fair number of Honeycomb devices in the market, not many tablet-specific Android apps have arrived.
This is the biggest problem with Tab 620. Samsung has tried to alleviate the issue by bundling a fair number of customizable widget and apps but that is not enough to address the problem.
As we said earlier, tablets are not general-purpose computing devices. This means that unless apps are not available, their utility is limited. This is one area why iPad has been so successful and why iPad can do so much more than a device like Tab 620 or Playbook.
Worth its price?
Should you choose Tab 620 over competitors? The answer depends on why you want to buy a tablet. With a price of Rs 26,499, Tab 620 is a very good device. In fact, it is the best 7-inch tablet you can buy in the market. But you should consider it only if you know what you want to do with it.
Tab 620 is a good tablet for accessing Gmail, reading ebooks, watching videos, browsing on the go and jotting down notes. In sum, it's a solid gadget. But it's not the tablet if you want to play games on it. Similarly, it's not a tablet that is going to amaze and surprise you by introducing you to some beautifully designed apps, the way iPad can do.
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With the help of Times group
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