Windows 8 and Jelly Bean make on odd couple. But Windows may be the odder of the two in an increasingly mobile world.
Samsung on Thursday announced the Ativ Q laptop-tablet hybrid running both Windows 8 and Android.
While it appears to be a Windows 8 laptop first and Android device second, the fact that Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) is only a tap away signals that Samsung believes consumers need a pathway out of Windows to a more mobile-centric world.
Not unlike what Hewlett-Packard has done with SlateBook x2 laptop hybrid. Though in HP's case it's an Android-only affair.
The take-away is that these aren't phones or stand-alone tablets, but capable laptops running Android.
CNET's hands-on of the Ativ Q says it's an easy toggle between the two OSes.
"Switching between the two operating systems is a simple task of hitting a tile on the Windows 8 desktop," CNET's reviewers conlcuded. "The switch takes a couple of seconds at most and thankfully doesn't require a restart."
Windows 8 and Android also share file folders, so, for example, anything you save in your Android gallery will be available in your pictures folder in Windows.
And all of this Android goodness is being offered on one of Samsung's boldest designs. Asides from its shape-shifting capabilities, the 13-inch machine boasts a 3,200x1,800-pixel resolution display, topping anything out there to date, and packs Intel's newest Haswell processor.
HP, for its part, is even more in your face about Android than Samsung. The tagline for the Android-based SlateBook x2 is "100% tablet, 100% notebook, 100% Android." No Windows 8 here.
The message is that customers are spending more time on mobile OSes like Android and less time in Windows. So putting Android on a workaday laptop becomes inevitable.
2013年6月20日星期四
2013年6月14日星期五
Carsales races onto Windows 8 with new app
The new app will work on all Windows 8 desktops, laptops and tablets, and follows a total download number of over 1.5 million individual downloads for the website's Android and iOS apps.
Ryan Svaghi, Group General Manager told iTWire Windows 8 definitely had demand for an app.
"Mobile is a increasingly important channel for carsales, doubling in the last 2 years. Windows 8 is a great alternative for consumers and one that is available across tablets, laptops and desktops”, Ryan Svaghi, Group General Manager Carsales.com told iTWire.
Svaghi also praised Microsoft’s local Windows 8 team for its role in the carsales.com.au Windows 8 app roll out.
“It is clear that the Windows 8 team is building a high quality offering for its user base,” he said.
"The carsales.com.au Windows 8 app utilises the Microsoft operating system’s unique ability to pin live search results to the desktop. In the initial release of the carsales’ Windows 8 app, priority has been given to search and viewing of cars for sale. More features will be added via regular updates including a wider suite of research tools and editorial."
“In launching a native Windows 8 app, carsales.com Ltd is again leading the marketplace,” Ajay Bhatia, CIO of carsales.com Ltd said.
“With Windows 8 devices gaining momentum in Australia, we see our new app as a key alternative for consumers,” he said.
Meanwhile Tina Flammer, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft Australia welcomed carsales.com Ltd’s launch of the Windows 8 app.
“We’re excited to welcome carsales to Windows 8 in Australia. With over 200,000 cars to choose from buyers can find the car for them with ease in this innovative Windows 8 app.”
“The Windows 8 platform has an ever-expanding number of high-quality apps that we’re incredibly proud of, and this new addition is testament to that,” she stated.
Like the carsales.com.au iOS and Android apps, the Windows 8 app is available free of charge.
Ryan Svaghi, Group General Manager told iTWire Windows 8 definitely had demand for an app.
"Mobile is a increasingly important channel for carsales, doubling in the last 2 years. Windows 8 is a great alternative for consumers and one that is available across tablets, laptops and desktops”, Ryan Svaghi, Group General Manager Carsales.com told iTWire.
Svaghi also praised Microsoft’s local Windows 8 team for its role in the carsales.com.au Windows 8 app roll out.
“It is clear that the Windows 8 team is building a high quality offering for its user base,” he said.
"The carsales.com.au Windows 8 app utilises the Microsoft operating system’s unique ability to pin live search results to the desktop. In the initial release of the carsales’ Windows 8 app, priority has been given to search and viewing of cars for sale. More features will be added via regular updates including a wider suite of research tools and editorial."
“In launching a native Windows 8 app, carsales.com Ltd is again leading the marketplace,” Ajay Bhatia, CIO of carsales.com Ltd said.
“With Windows 8 devices gaining momentum in Australia, we see our new app as a key alternative for consumers,” he said.
Meanwhile Tina Flammer, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft Australia welcomed carsales.com Ltd’s launch of the Windows 8 app.
“We’re excited to welcome carsales to Windows 8 in Australia. With over 200,000 cars to choose from buyers can find the car for them with ease in this innovative Windows 8 app.”
“The Windows 8 platform has an ever-expanding number of high-quality apps that we’re incredibly proud of, and this new addition is testament to that,” she stated.
Like the carsales.com.au iOS and Android apps, the Windows 8 app is available free of charge.
2013年5月30日星期四
Windows 8.1 detailed: 12 key changes coming in the Windows 8 update
Microsoft has detailed a huge chunk of enhancements that will be coming in the new free Windows 8.1 update - the first major update to the Windows 8 OS.
Formerly known as Windows Blue, we've been hearing an awful lot about Windows 8.1 over the last 24 hours, with huge fuss over whether it will introduce a Start button to Windows 8 or not.
The "first look" blog post by Microsoft's Antoine Leblond doesn't talk about a Start button. It does, however, say that the Start "tip" will change to "be the familiar Windows logo".
That's pretty much the same as before - so, sorry people, you won't be getting a proper Start menu. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop," says Leblond.
We've also learned that a public Windows 8.1 preview will be available to download from June 26 during the Microsoft Build developer conference.
Leblond is Head of Windows Program Management and references the marked change of tune that TechRadar detected earlier this year: "Not only will Windows 8.1 respond to customer feedback, but it will add new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing's potential." The feedback he's talking about is surely the mellowing of the Start screen dream and the reintroduction of a Start button of some sort.
"We're only a bit more than seven months into [a] new, bold approach to computing," continues Leblond. "The response to Windows 8 has been substantial - from new devices to strong app growth to key enhancements to the OS and apps. We've learned from customers in how they are using the product and have received a lot of feedback. We've delivered hundreds of updates to the product and to apps. We're just getting started, and the potential ahead is tremendous.
"We've been watching, we've been listening"
We've picked out the top 10 enhancements in Windows 8.1 along with some quotes from Leblond about each one.
1. Lock screen slideshow
"As people started using Windows 8, we found that people were using their Lock screens to show pictures of their families," Leblond says. So in Windows 8.1, you can turn your PC or tablet into a picture frame by making your Lock screen a slide show of your pictures - either locally on the device or photos from Microsoft SkyDrive. "We also added the ability to take pictures with the built-in camera right from the Lock screen without having to log in."
2. More backgrounds
Windows 8.1 offers more colours and backgrounds for the Start screen - including some with motion. You can also choose your desktop background as your Start screen background.
3. Different tile sizes
As in Windows Phone 8, the Windows 8.1 Start screen features a variety of tile sizes including a new large and new small tile. It's also even easier to name groups and rearrange tiles, says Leblond: "We found people were accidentally moving tiles on their Start screen so in Windows 8.1, you press and hold (or right click) to move things around." You can now select multiple apps all at once, resize them, uninstall them, or rearrange them: "View all apps just by swiping from the bottom to view all apps, and we've added the ability to filter your apps by name, date installed, most used, or by category. You want the Start screen to be about all the things you love. So when you install a new app from the Windows Store, we no longer put that app on your Start screen. Instead, you'll find these apps under apps view as mentioned above and marked as 'new' where you can choose to pin the apps you want to your Start screen."
4. Aggregated search
Instead of having to select an app and then search when you go to the Search charm, Bing now powers an aggregated search system from the web, your files, SkyDrive and elsewhere. Leblond says: "We think this will really change the way you interact with the Web and with Windows making it quicker and easier to get things done. It is the modern version of the command line! Results from local files, apps, and settings are easily accessed in the same convenient view by scrolling to the left."
5. Enhanced apps
New app enhancements are also promised to all the built-in apps. According to Leblond: "The Photos app now has some new editing features that let you quickly edit or adjust photos when you view them in the Photos app or open them from other places like the Mail, SkyDrive, and Camera apps. And our Music app has been completely redesigned to help pick and play music from your collection. We plan to talk more about updates to the built in apps in Windows 8.1 and some brand new apps we will be introducing in [the] future. We're also making improvements for using multiple apps at once in Windows 8.1."
6. More snap views
If, like us, you use Windows 8 a lot, you'll have been frustrated by the lack of 50:50 split snap views. This is the game-changer for Windows 8 apps. "You will have more ways to see multiple apps on the screen at the same time," says Leblond. "You can resize apps to any size you want, share the screen between two apps, or have up to three apps on each screen if you have a multiple displays connected, you can have different Windows Store apps running on all the displays at the same time and the Start Screen can stay open on one monitor (yes!). This makes multi-tasking even easier. Also in Windows 8.1, you can have multiple windows of the same app snapped together - such as two Internet Explorer windows." We're really looking forward to that.
7. An enhanced Windows Store
App updates will now install automatically in the background as they come through the Store. And search is available in the upper right hand corner for finding the apps you want. Leblond elaborates: "The improved Windows Store is designed to show more info than before in Windows 8 with detailed lists of top free apps, new releases, and picks for you on the homepage. The app listing is more descriptive and informative and includes an area for related apps to help with app discovery."
8. Save direct to SkyDrive, plus offline files
In Windows 8.1 your files can be saved directly to SkyDrive. The SkyDrive app will also get a new update so that files are available even when offline - as in the desktop version.
9. You no longer need the desktop Control Panel
The updated PC Settings in Windows 8.1 gives you access to all your settings on your device without having to go to the Control Panel on the desktop. "You can do things like change your display resolution, set power options, see the make and model of my PC, change the product key, let me do Windows Update, and even join a domain – all from PC Settings," says Leblond. You can also manage SkyDrive from PC Settings as well.
10. A new Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 11 will ship with Windows 8.1. "IE11 will offer even better touch performance, faster page load times and several other new features we think you will enjoy," says Leblond. "For example, you can now adjust the appearance of modern IE11 to always show the address bar and you can have as many open tabs as you like. And you can access your open tabs in sync across your other Windows 8.1 devices."
11. Better with a mouse and keyboard
For devices without touch, Windows 8.1 features a number of improvements for easier navigation using a mouse and keyboard. "PCs today are evolving for a world of mobile computing where people interact with their devices through touch, and we designed Windows 8 for this," explains Leblond. "But we also recognize there are many non-touch devices in use today - especially in the commercial setting."
12. A change to the Start 'tip'
You've already heard about this one, right? Leblond adds that there are also options to change what the corners do, and options to boot into alternate screens: "For example, if you prefer to see the Apps view versus all the tiles, you can choose to have the Start screen go directly to Apps view."
Microsoft says it will be releasing more Windows 8.1 details "in the coming weeks. As you've heard us talk about before, Windows 8.1 will be available later this year as a free update."
Microsoft also says that it will also be sharing more about Windows Embedded at Build. Embedded will be "updated in the same timeframe as Windows 8.1. We're aligning the platforms even more to bring Windows to form factors of all types, including not only tablets and PCs, but also the growing category of devices such as ATMs, point of service (POS) terminals, and kiosks."
Formerly known as Windows Blue, we've been hearing an awful lot about Windows 8.1 over the last 24 hours, with huge fuss over whether it will introduce a Start button to Windows 8 or not.
The "first look" blog post by Microsoft's Antoine Leblond doesn't talk about a Start button. It does, however, say that the Start "tip" will change to "be the familiar Windows logo".
That's pretty much the same as before - so, sorry people, you won't be getting a proper Start menu. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop," says Leblond.
We've also learned that a public Windows 8.1 preview will be available to download from June 26 during the Microsoft Build developer conference.
Leblond is Head of Windows Program Management and references the marked change of tune that TechRadar detected earlier this year: "Not only will Windows 8.1 respond to customer feedback, but it will add new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing's potential." The feedback he's talking about is surely the mellowing of the Start screen dream and the reintroduction of a Start button of some sort.
"We're only a bit more than seven months into [a] new, bold approach to computing," continues Leblond. "The response to Windows 8 has been substantial - from new devices to strong app growth to key enhancements to the OS and apps. We've learned from customers in how they are using the product and have received a lot of feedback. We've delivered hundreds of updates to the product and to apps. We're just getting started, and the potential ahead is tremendous.
"We've been watching, we've been listening"
We've picked out the top 10 enhancements in Windows 8.1 along with some quotes from Leblond about each one.
1. Lock screen slideshow
"As people started using Windows 8, we found that people were using their Lock screens to show pictures of their families," Leblond says. So in Windows 8.1, you can turn your PC or tablet into a picture frame by making your Lock screen a slide show of your pictures - either locally on the device or photos from Microsoft SkyDrive. "We also added the ability to take pictures with the built-in camera right from the Lock screen without having to log in."
2. More backgrounds
Windows 8.1 offers more colours and backgrounds for the Start screen - including some with motion. You can also choose your desktop background as your Start screen background.
3. Different tile sizes
As in Windows Phone 8, the Windows 8.1 Start screen features a variety of tile sizes including a new large and new small tile. It's also even easier to name groups and rearrange tiles, says Leblond: "We found people were accidentally moving tiles on their Start screen so in Windows 8.1, you press and hold (or right click) to move things around." You can now select multiple apps all at once, resize them, uninstall them, or rearrange them: "View all apps just by swiping from the bottom to view all apps, and we've added the ability to filter your apps by name, date installed, most used, or by category. You want the Start screen to be about all the things you love. So when you install a new app from the Windows Store, we no longer put that app on your Start screen. Instead, you'll find these apps under apps view as mentioned above and marked as 'new' where you can choose to pin the apps you want to your Start screen."
4. Aggregated search
Instead of having to select an app and then search when you go to the Search charm, Bing now powers an aggregated search system from the web, your files, SkyDrive and elsewhere. Leblond says: "We think this will really change the way you interact with the Web and with Windows making it quicker and easier to get things done. It is the modern version of the command line! Results from local files, apps, and settings are easily accessed in the same convenient view by scrolling to the left."
5. Enhanced apps
New app enhancements are also promised to all the built-in apps. According to Leblond: "The Photos app now has some new editing features that let you quickly edit or adjust photos when you view them in the Photos app or open them from other places like the Mail, SkyDrive, and Camera apps. And our Music app has been completely redesigned to help pick and play music from your collection. We plan to talk more about updates to the built in apps in Windows 8.1 and some brand new apps we will be introducing in [the] future. We're also making improvements for using multiple apps at once in Windows 8.1."
6. More snap views
If, like us, you use Windows 8 a lot, you'll have been frustrated by the lack of 50:50 split snap views. This is the game-changer for Windows 8 apps. "You will have more ways to see multiple apps on the screen at the same time," says Leblond. "You can resize apps to any size you want, share the screen between two apps, or have up to three apps on each screen if you have a multiple displays connected, you can have different Windows Store apps running on all the displays at the same time and the Start Screen can stay open on one monitor (yes!). This makes multi-tasking even easier. Also in Windows 8.1, you can have multiple windows of the same app snapped together - such as two Internet Explorer windows." We're really looking forward to that.
7. An enhanced Windows Store
App updates will now install automatically in the background as they come through the Store. And search is available in the upper right hand corner for finding the apps you want. Leblond elaborates: "The improved Windows Store is designed to show more info than before in Windows 8 with detailed lists of top free apps, new releases, and picks for you on the homepage. The app listing is more descriptive and informative and includes an area for related apps to help with app discovery."
8. Save direct to SkyDrive, plus offline files
In Windows 8.1 your files can be saved directly to SkyDrive. The SkyDrive app will also get a new update so that files are available even when offline - as in the desktop version.
9. You no longer need the desktop Control Panel
The updated PC Settings in Windows 8.1 gives you access to all your settings on your device without having to go to the Control Panel on the desktop. "You can do things like change your display resolution, set power options, see the make and model of my PC, change the product key, let me do Windows Update, and even join a domain – all from PC Settings," says Leblond. You can also manage SkyDrive from PC Settings as well.
10. A new Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 11 will ship with Windows 8.1. "IE11 will offer even better touch performance, faster page load times and several other new features we think you will enjoy," says Leblond. "For example, you can now adjust the appearance of modern IE11 to always show the address bar and you can have as many open tabs as you like. And you can access your open tabs in sync across your other Windows 8.1 devices."
11. Better with a mouse and keyboard
For devices without touch, Windows 8.1 features a number of improvements for easier navigation using a mouse and keyboard. "PCs today are evolving for a world of mobile computing where people interact with their devices through touch, and we designed Windows 8 for this," explains Leblond. "But we also recognize there are many non-touch devices in use today - especially in the commercial setting."
12. A change to the Start 'tip'
You've already heard about this one, right? Leblond adds that there are also options to change what the corners do, and options to boot into alternate screens: "For example, if you prefer to see the Apps view versus all the tiles, you can choose to have the Start screen go directly to Apps view."
Microsoft says it will be releasing more Windows 8.1 details "in the coming weeks. As you've heard us talk about before, Windows 8.1 will be available later this year as a free update."
Microsoft also says that it will also be sharing more about Windows Embedded at Build. Embedded will be "updated in the same timeframe as Windows 8.1. We're aligning the platforms even more to bring Windows to form factors of all types, including not only tablets and PCs, but also the growing category of devices such as ATMs, point of service (POS) terminals, and kiosks."
2013年4月24日星期三
Windows 8 bringing back Start button, say reports
Let's go back to the Start. Microsoft is reported to be bowing to popular opinion and reinstating the Start button to Windows 8.
But in the expected Windows 8.1 update, the Start button is reported by the Verge to call up the Start screen rather than the familiar Start Menu of shortcuts to apps.
Microsoft ditched the Start button in Windows 8 to encourage people to pin apps and shortcuts to the home screen. But in the face of disappointing sales for Windows 8, it seems Microsoft wants to make its operating system feel less of a jarring transformation.
It's not the only forthcoming change that draws on older versions of Windows. Microsoft is also reported to be considering a more traditional desktop instead of the grid of coloured squares, or live tiles, that access and display information from apps.
I'm not surprised Microsoft has decided to hark back to a more familiar version of Windows. The colourful new look for Windows 8 may have been a bold and exciting move, but it's proved less than popular for customers and businesses, even seeing PC sales plummet.
Start Me Up
The Start button first arrived in Windows 95, complete with Rolling Stones-soundtracked adverts. Ironically, it attracted some stick -- what if you're not actually starting anything? -- which just goes to show you don't know what you got 'till it's gone.
Windows 8.1, known as Windows Blue during development, is set to be the first annual update to Windows. It's expected to include adjustable live tiles, letting you resize the colourful squares on the home page. There'll be an official preview at developer conference Build in June, and the real thing will arrive later this year.
Check out our 50 Windows 8 tips, how to personalise Windows 8 ideas, and -- yes -- how to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 guide.
Should Microsoft make Windows 8 look more like the Windows of old, or should we all stop moaning and embrace the change? Start me up in the comments or start an argument on our Facebook page.
But in the expected Windows 8.1 update, the Start button is reported by the Verge to call up the Start screen rather than the familiar Start Menu of shortcuts to apps.
Microsoft ditched the Start button in Windows 8 to encourage people to pin apps and shortcuts to the home screen. But in the face of disappointing sales for Windows 8, it seems Microsoft wants to make its operating system feel less of a jarring transformation.
It's not the only forthcoming change that draws on older versions of Windows. Microsoft is also reported to be considering a more traditional desktop instead of the grid of coloured squares, or live tiles, that access and display information from apps.
I'm not surprised Microsoft has decided to hark back to a more familiar version of Windows. The colourful new look for Windows 8 may have been a bold and exciting move, but it's proved less than popular for customers and businesses, even seeing PC sales plummet.
Start Me Up
The Start button first arrived in Windows 95, complete with Rolling Stones-soundtracked adverts. Ironically, it attracted some stick -- what if you're not actually starting anything? -- which just goes to show you don't know what you got 'till it's gone.
Windows 8.1, known as Windows Blue during development, is set to be the first annual update to Windows. It's expected to include adjustable live tiles, letting you resize the colourful squares on the home page. There'll be an official preview at developer conference Build in June, and the real thing will arrive later this year.
Check out our 50 Windows 8 tips, how to personalise Windows 8 ideas, and -- yes -- how to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 guide.
Should Microsoft make Windows 8 look more like the Windows of old, or should we all stop moaning and embrace the change? Start me up in the comments or start an argument on our Facebook page.
2013年4月11日星期四
Laptop sales: Windows 8's loss is your gain
Despite Microsoft's best efforts, it seems that Windows 8 isn't meeting expectations. According to research firm Net Applications, Microsoft's latest OS hasn't even been able to match sales of Vista (which, if you recall, was a major fail for the company). Making matters worse, Microsoft has a long line of unhappy manufacturers — including HP, ASUS, Fujitsu, and Samsung — upset with Windows 8's failure to revitalize an already-sluggish PC market.
In response, Microsoft is discounting Windows 8 licenses to its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners; licensing fees have fallen from $120 to just $30. And while the discount is intended to help move 11" ultraportables, our deal data suggests that the cut — in addition to the low adoption rate — is affecting prices on all Ivy Bridge Windows 8 systems, including mainstream 15" configurations.
Windows 8 Drops Ivy Bridge Laptops to Better-Than-Black Friday Prices
Although Intel debuted its Ivy Bridge line of processors only 10 months ago, our deals suggest that Windows 8's troubles are prematurely driving prices down on systems sporting these CPUs. In fact, just last month we saw a 15" Ivy Bridge laptop sell for an all-time low of $299. The laptop, which was equipped with 6GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, was a full $100 under our best Black Friday deal.
Conversely, laptops with previous-gen Sandy Bridge CPUs and Windows 7 didn't see such swift price cuts over the same time period; when Sandy Bridge-based laptops hit their 10-month mark, mainstream 15" Core i5-based laptops had dropped to $400 — a 34% discount from their debut price. By comparison, after 10 months on the market, today's mainstream 15" Windows 8 Core i5 Ivy Bridge-based laptops have fallen 46% from their debut price, to a rock-bottom $299.
In addition to a poor reception to the OS, there are still plenty of flavors of Windows on the market, a factor which may be contributing to a lag in current Windows 8 sales. In fact, some of our own readers have expressed seeking out older systems just to avoid Windows 8. This hesitation to adopt — and adapt — to the touchscreen-happy UI of Windows 8 may also explain why we're seeing such steep discounts on Windows 8-equipped Ivy Bridge laptops.
Buy Now, or Look for Bundles Later
Rumors indicate that Microsoft has an update to Windows 8 in store for August. Codenamed Windows Blue, the refresh will add new features and more customization options. It's possible that when it debuts, we might even see further deals and discounts on Windows 8 Ivy Bridge systems especially since Windows Blue is set to launch just as back-to-school sales are in full swing. While we don't think rock-bottom prices will drop much from their current low of $299, savvy shoppers might be able to score a laptop bundle this summer, as is typical with many back-to-school laptop deals.
If you don't want to wait that long to buy a Windows 8 deal, we recommend looking for mainstream 15" configurations priced at around $299. For a larger 17" Windows 8 Ivy Bridge-equipped desktop replacement, we've seen prices fall to as low as $400 on several occasions in recent months. And if you decide to bump up the specs on that 17" system to include a high-end i7 CPU (which will likely come with more RAM and storage), you can expect to pay about $600.
In response, Microsoft is discounting Windows 8 licenses to its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners; licensing fees have fallen from $120 to just $30. And while the discount is intended to help move 11" ultraportables, our deal data suggests that the cut — in addition to the low adoption rate — is affecting prices on all Ivy Bridge Windows 8 systems, including mainstream 15" configurations.
Windows 8 Drops Ivy Bridge Laptops to Better-Than-Black Friday Prices
Although Intel debuted its Ivy Bridge line of processors only 10 months ago, our deals suggest that Windows 8's troubles are prematurely driving prices down on systems sporting these CPUs. In fact, just last month we saw a 15" Ivy Bridge laptop sell for an all-time low of $299. The laptop, which was equipped with 6GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, was a full $100 under our best Black Friday deal.
Conversely, laptops with previous-gen Sandy Bridge CPUs and Windows 7 didn't see such swift price cuts over the same time period; when Sandy Bridge-based laptops hit their 10-month mark, mainstream 15" Core i5-based laptops had dropped to $400 — a 34% discount from their debut price. By comparison, after 10 months on the market, today's mainstream 15" Windows 8 Core i5 Ivy Bridge-based laptops have fallen 46% from their debut price, to a rock-bottom $299.
In addition to a poor reception to the OS, there are still plenty of flavors of Windows on the market, a factor which may be contributing to a lag in current Windows 8 sales. In fact, some of our own readers have expressed seeking out older systems just to avoid Windows 8. This hesitation to adopt — and adapt — to the touchscreen-happy UI of Windows 8 may also explain why we're seeing such steep discounts on Windows 8-equipped Ivy Bridge laptops.
Buy Now, or Look for Bundles Later
Rumors indicate that Microsoft has an update to Windows 8 in store for August. Codenamed Windows Blue, the refresh will add new features and more customization options. It's possible that when it debuts, we might even see further deals and discounts on Windows 8 Ivy Bridge systems especially since Windows Blue is set to launch just as back-to-school sales are in full swing. While we don't think rock-bottom prices will drop much from their current low of $299, savvy shoppers might be able to score a laptop bundle this summer, as is typical with many back-to-school laptop deals.
If you don't want to wait that long to buy a Windows 8 deal, we recommend looking for mainstream 15" configurations priced at around $299. For a larger 17" Windows 8 Ivy Bridge-equipped desktop replacement, we've seen prices fall to as low as $400 on several occasions in recent months. And if you decide to bump up the specs on that 17" system to include a high-end i7 CPU (which will likely come with more RAM and storage), you can expect to pay about $600.
How to use Windows 8 File History: Time Machine backup for Windows
A friend of mine recently bought a Mac for the first time and then told me that he’d never switch back to using Windows until it had something like Time Machine – the automatic backup program built into Mac OS X. See also: Windows 8 vs OS X Moutain Lion Windows 8, although most people don't realise it, has a new File History back up feature which offers something like the simplicity and ease of use of Time Machine. It lacks only the intergalactic eye-candy that adorns Time Machine’s graphical interface.
If truth be told, File History is really just a refinement of the Windows Backup feature that was built into Windows 7 (and which is still buried in the depths of Windows 8 if you want to carry on using it).
Like Windows Backup, File History allows you to make automatic back-up copies of your files onto an external hard disk or network drive. It works with folders and files stored in your Windows libraries – which include your Documents, Music, Photos and Videos folders – as well your Favourites and Contacts and files on your Windows Desktop.
Windows Backup was quite limited as it only allowed you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but File History works more like Time Machine and performs continuous incremental backups that allow you to save multiple versions of a file or document.
If you accidentally delete a file, or need to revert to a previous version of that file, you can easily step back through the various saved versions of that file in order to locate the version that you need.
By default, File History makes hourly back-ups, but you can specify the frequency yourself, choosing anything from 10 minutes to a single daily back-up. You can also specify how long you want File History to keep old versions of your files.
File History isn’t quite as intelligent as Apple’s Time Machine, as Time Machine will allow you to restore anything from a single file to your entire operating system. Windows still splits those two tasks rather awkwardly between File History and System Restore, while individual PC manufacturers may also include system recovery options of their own.
However, File History is very easy to use, and once you’ve set it up you can forget all about it, secure in the knowledge that your important files will always be backed-up in the event of disaster.
How to configure Windows 8 File History
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.
Step 1. Just search for ‘file history’ on the Windows 8 Start screen and you’ll find it listed under ‘Settings’. If you’re not a fan of the new Start screen you can also find File History in the ‘System And Security’ section of the main Control Panel.
Step 2: File History will automatically detect an external drive connected to your PC, but you can select a different location – such as a network drive – by clicking on ‘Select Drive’ in the left-hand panel. Click ‘Turn On’ to get started.
Step 3: File History will now back-up all your libraries – including Documents, Music, Photos and Videos – along with the contents of the Desktop, Contacts and Favourites folders. However, you can prevent any folder from being backed-up by using the ‘Exclude Folders’ option.
Step 4: You can click on ‘Advanced Settings’ to modify the way that File History works. The default setting is for hourly back-ups – which is probably fine for most people – but you can vary this period from 10 minutes to 24 hours.
Step 5: Your backups shouldn’t take up too much space as File History only makes ‘incremental’ back-ups of files as they actually change. However, the ‘offline cache’ option’ allows you to set a limit on the amount of disk space used for back-ups.
Step 6: You can also specify how long you keep old versions of your files. You can keep them forever, or for a specified number of months or years. Or, to free up some space on your back-up drive, just select ‘until space is needed’.
Step 7: To restore files just click on ‘Restore Personal Files’ in the File History control panel. Here’s our most recent back-up – 08:23 on 13th March – so we can just select the folder or file that we need and hit the green Restore button.
Step 8: It’s not explained very well, but you can step back through older saved versions of your files by clicking on the panel on the far left of this window. Let’s go back to the 12th March and locate a file that we need to recover.
Step 9: Right-clicking on a file or folder provides two options. If you select ‘restore’ then the old version of that file will completely replace the current version. However, ‘restore to’ will restore the old version of the file to a different location, leaving both versions intact.
If truth be told, File History is really just a refinement of the Windows Backup feature that was built into Windows 7 (and which is still buried in the depths of Windows 8 if you want to carry on using it).
Like Windows Backup, File History allows you to make automatic back-up copies of your files onto an external hard disk or network drive. It works with folders and files stored in your Windows libraries – which include your Documents, Music, Photos and Videos folders – as well your Favourites and Contacts and files on your Windows Desktop.
Windows Backup was quite limited as it only allowed you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but File History works more like Time Machine and performs continuous incremental backups that allow you to save multiple versions of a file or document.
If you accidentally delete a file, or need to revert to a previous version of that file, you can easily step back through the various saved versions of that file in order to locate the version that you need.
By default, File History makes hourly back-ups, but you can specify the frequency yourself, choosing anything from 10 minutes to a single daily back-up. You can also specify how long you want File History to keep old versions of your files.
File History isn’t quite as intelligent as Apple’s Time Machine, as Time Machine will allow you to restore anything from a single file to your entire operating system. Windows still splits those two tasks rather awkwardly between File History and System Restore, while individual PC manufacturers may also include system recovery options of their own.
However, File History is very easy to use, and once you’ve set it up you can forget all about it, secure in the knowledge that your important files will always be backed-up in the event of disaster.
How to configure Windows 8 File History
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.
Step 1. Just search for ‘file history’ on the Windows 8 Start screen and you’ll find it listed under ‘Settings’. If you’re not a fan of the new Start screen you can also find File History in the ‘System And Security’ section of the main Control Panel.
Step 2: File History will automatically detect an external drive connected to your PC, but you can select a different location – such as a network drive – by clicking on ‘Select Drive’ in the left-hand panel. Click ‘Turn On’ to get started.
Step 3: File History will now back-up all your libraries – including Documents, Music, Photos and Videos – along with the contents of the Desktop, Contacts and Favourites folders. However, you can prevent any folder from being backed-up by using the ‘Exclude Folders’ option.
Step 4: You can click on ‘Advanced Settings’ to modify the way that File History works. The default setting is for hourly back-ups – which is probably fine for most people – but you can vary this period from 10 minutes to 24 hours.
Step 5: Your backups shouldn’t take up too much space as File History only makes ‘incremental’ back-ups of files as they actually change. However, the ‘offline cache’ option’ allows you to set a limit on the amount of disk space used for back-ups.
Step 6: You can also specify how long you keep old versions of your files. You can keep them forever, or for a specified number of months or years. Or, to free up some space on your back-up drive, just select ‘until space is needed’.
Step 7: To restore files just click on ‘Restore Personal Files’ in the File History control panel. Here’s our most recent back-up – 08:23 on 13th March – so we can just select the folder or file that we need and hit the green Restore button.
Step 8: It’s not explained very well, but you can step back through older saved versions of your files by clicking on the panel on the far left of this window. Let’s go back to the 12th March and locate a file that we need to recover.
Step 9: Right-clicking on a file or folder provides two options. If you select ‘restore’ then the old version of that file will completely replace the current version. However, ‘restore to’ will restore the old version of the file to a different location, leaving both versions intact.
Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx review: a decent Windows 8 tablet, but not Lenovo's best
If Windows 8 tablets with Intel's Clover Trail silicon under the hood were once a curiosity, well, they're certainly not novelties anymore. We've seen lower-powered hybrids from virtually every PC maker, providing a cheaper counterpoint to Core i5 and i7 systems, but still offering useful accessories like keyboard docks. In addition to one of our favorite Atom-powered slates, the ThinkPad Tablet 2, Lenovo is shilling the IdeaTab Lynx (also known as the IdeaTab K3011) for $549 and up. So how does this system stack up? Click through to find out.
The IdeaTab Lynx is a straightforward slab of black tablet -- a thin and light one, at that. At 1.41 pounds and 0.37 inch thick, it won't weigh your hands down. It feels good in your palms, too, thanks to a pleasantly grippable textured backing. The Lynx may be comfortable in the hand, but the overall look is hardly high-end; the whole package feels plasticky and chintzy, and the backing seems like it could come off without too much effort (though, to be fair, it never did). The front of the device is completely bare save for Lenovo branding and a 2-megapixel front camera sitting above the 11.6-inch display. Of course, the front side is also home to the physical Windows 8 Start button, which sits in its typical spot below the screen and responds well to our presses.
Along the left edge of the device sit a button for toggling auto-rotate on and off, the volume rocker and a skinny speaker grille. The top of the device sports the power button and a microSD card slot, which is accessible by removing the plastic cover. On the right side, you'll find a headphone / mic jack, a micro-HDMI port and another small speaker, while the bottom edge has the micro-USB port along with slots for connecting the optional keyboard dock. On the back of the device, Lenovo's name is spelled out in silvery, reflective letters, and the diamond pattern invites your fingers to give it a scratch. One extra tidbit comes bundled: a micro-HDMI-to-VGA converter, which lets you connect the Lynx to compatible monitors and projectors.
The optional keyboard dock ($199) supplements the Lynx with two USB 2.0 ports, a built-in battery and a charging port in addition to a set of chiclets. The dock is made of plastic with a slate-grey finish, and the hinge with the docking connectors can fold down for more compact storage. It adds 1.45 pounds to the tablet, bringing the total weight to 2.86 pounds. The IdeaTab branding sits at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard deck, and a very petite touchpad is below the spacebar. Like several other dockable devices we've tested, the Lynx locks into place when you press the button at the top of the dock (this is also how you remove the tablet). This system works seamlessly -- no complaints there.
We do have some grumbling to do when it comes to the keys. These chiclets are the same U-shaped smile keys we've seen on the Yoga and other Lenovo devices, and while they're roomy and well-spaced, the deck itself exhibits a disturbing amount of flex. If you, like us, associate this brand with high-caliber keyboards, you're likely to feel a bit let down by this layout -- it's definitely not ThinkPad-level quality. On a typing test, we notched about 45 words per minute, which is significantly lower than our usual score, and our error rate was higher than usual. The dock also includes a small touchpad, which we found to be very finicky. It often had trouble distinguishing our left and right clicks, which meant clicking on an icon could take several more seconds than it should.
Like other Atom-based slates, the Lynx sports a standard resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. That doesn't mean image quality is run of the mill, though. Movies and YouTube clips streamed on the 11.6-inch panel look crisp, with accurate tones and good detail. Also like competing Clover Trail machines, the Lynx benefits from IPS technology, which allows for wide viewing angles. We had no trouble making out images and on-screen text even from the far right and left of center. As a touchscreen, the capacitive, five-touch panel works seamlessly, recognizing every swipe and tap we throw at it. Executing common Windows 8 gestures such as pulling in from the right to bring up the Charms bar register without a hitch. We'd even venture to say that this screen is more responsive than some others we've tested, as we don't recall a single instance of having to repeat a gesture on the Lynx.
We pumped the volume up to 100 percent and threw a few top-40 hits at the Lynx's tiny side-mounted speakers, and the results were as expected: audio is strong enough to fill a small room, and it sounds a bit canned, but not noticeably warped or overly tinny. We appreciate that the grilles aren't located on the rear side of the tablet, which leads to more muffled sound.
The IdeaTab Lynx is a straightforward slab of black tablet -- a thin and light one, at that. At 1.41 pounds and 0.37 inch thick, it won't weigh your hands down. It feels good in your palms, too, thanks to a pleasantly grippable textured backing. The Lynx may be comfortable in the hand, but the overall look is hardly high-end; the whole package feels plasticky and chintzy, and the backing seems like it could come off without too much effort (though, to be fair, it never did). The front of the device is completely bare save for Lenovo branding and a 2-megapixel front camera sitting above the 11.6-inch display. Of course, the front side is also home to the physical Windows 8 Start button, which sits in its typical spot below the screen and responds well to our presses.
Along the left edge of the device sit a button for toggling auto-rotate on and off, the volume rocker and a skinny speaker grille. The top of the device sports the power button and a microSD card slot, which is accessible by removing the plastic cover. On the right side, you'll find a headphone / mic jack, a micro-HDMI port and another small speaker, while the bottom edge has the micro-USB port along with slots for connecting the optional keyboard dock. On the back of the device, Lenovo's name is spelled out in silvery, reflective letters, and the diamond pattern invites your fingers to give it a scratch. One extra tidbit comes bundled: a micro-HDMI-to-VGA converter, which lets you connect the Lynx to compatible monitors and projectors.
The optional keyboard dock ($199) supplements the Lynx with two USB 2.0 ports, a built-in battery and a charging port in addition to a set of chiclets. The dock is made of plastic with a slate-grey finish, and the hinge with the docking connectors can fold down for more compact storage. It adds 1.45 pounds to the tablet, bringing the total weight to 2.86 pounds. The IdeaTab branding sits at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard deck, and a very petite touchpad is below the spacebar. Like several other dockable devices we've tested, the Lynx locks into place when you press the button at the top of the dock (this is also how you remove the tablet). This system works seamlessly -- no complaints there.
We do have some grumbling to do when it comes to the keys. These chiclets are the same U-shaped smile keys we've seen on the Yoga and other Lenovo devices, and while they're roomy and well-spaced, the deck itself exhibits a disturbing amount of flex. If you, like us, associate this brand with high-caliber keyboards, you're likely to feel a bit let down by this layout -- it's definitely not ThinkPad-level quality. On a typing test, we notched about 45 words per minute, which is significantly lower than our usual score, and our error rate was higher than usual. The dock also includes a small touchpad, which we found to be very finicky. It often had trouble distinguishing our left and right clicks, which meant clicking on an icon could take several more seconds than it should.
Like other Atom-based slates, the Lynx sports a standard resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. That doesn't mean image quality is run of the mill, though. Movies and YouTube clips streamed on the 11.6-inch panel look crisp, with accurate tones and good detail. Also like competing Clover Trail machines, the Lynx benefits from IPS technology, which allows for wide viewing angles. We had no trouble making out images and on-screen text even from the far right and left of center. As a touchscreen, the capacitive, five-touch panel works seamlessly, recognizing every swipe and tap we throw at it. Executing common Windows 8 gestures such as pulling in from the right to bring up the Charms bar register without a hitch. We'd even venture to say that this screen is more responsive than some others we've tested, as we don't recall a single instance of having to repeat a gesture on the Lynx.
We pumped the volume up to 100 percent and threw a few top-40 hits at the Lynx's tiny side-mounted speakers, and the results were as expected: audio is strong enough to fill a small room, and it sounds a bit canned, but not noticeably warped or overly tinny. We appreciate that the grilles aren't located on the rear side of the tablet, which leads to more muffled sound.
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