Skip to main content

Microsoft updates Kinect, offers sneak peak of Windows 8 running on mobile hardware

Ballmer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

CES is just beginning, and Microsoft was favored to be a high point of the event. Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer gave the opening keynote conference tonight in Las Vegas, summarizing the company’s impressive year as well as what it has to offer in the near future.

Xbox and Kinect updates

Recommended Videos

As can be expected, Ballmer directed a significant amount of attention to the success (eight million sold in the first two months according to Ballmer) and upcoming developments of Microsoft’s motion-gaming device Kinect. After singing its praises and uttering the “you are the controller” tagline one too many times, Ballmer brought up Microsoft executive Ron Forbes to introduce the next step for the product. This spring, users will be able to use Kinect’s motion detection as well as voice command to control services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Xbox Live.

And these weren’t the only updates to Microsoft’s gaming platform, as Forbes also explained bolstered Xbox Live and ESPN capabilities that center on the social element.

While these features are impressive, Ballmer also touched on Avatar Kinect, a facial recognition program coming to Kinect. After getting a glimpse at Intel’s avatar development (which is purely experimental – for now) it failed to impress. The system seems to be primarily used for group chat and social media purposes and left something to be desired.

Windows Phone 7

Microsoft took this chance to remind consumers that the Windows 7 Phone is a viable mobile option. There were no features introduced, save two updates that will add copy and paste and also significantly improve performance while loading or switching applications. These are due in the coming months and will automatically be pushed out to users. The phone will also be available to Sprint and Verizon customers at the beginning of 2011.

PCs and tablets…sort of

Of course, what we’ve all been waiting for is the mythical Microsoft tablet. Analysts have said the company needs a competent device to stay in the game, and it’s half way taking that advice. Ballmer and executive Mike Anguilo acknowledged that consumers want their technology in multiple forms of hardware, and with that in mind are delivering various products, including a fully powered Asus tablet PC with a stylus pen and handwriting recognition capabilities. Anguilo also debuted one product that got an audible reaction from the crowd: a dual screen, multi-touch PC. The two Gorilla glass screens are hinged together and users are given an optional touch pad keyboard if desired.

In homage to its original CES beginnings, Microsoft also brought back the Surface. Developed with the help of Samsung and housed in a sleeker, 4-inch-thin body, the new and improved Surface PC is made of many, many infrared sensors that use a newly-developed technology dubbed “pixel sense” to work as multiple cameras to create a “beyond touch” experience. Those excited over the idea of a giant tablet, however, be warned: it was clear this is a product Microsoft intends to keep marketing towards the corporate sector.

Windows running on ARM

Though we had a fair idea what was coming in Windows 8, we never would have guessed Microsoft would move it off the  will be compatible and run natively on ARM processors, including chips from NVIDIA, AMD, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm, utilizing SoC technology. This demo revealed a very, very early look at Windows 8 (no UI details included) and showed its high compatibility with different processor architectures.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Microsoft is working on something new, but it’s probably not Windows 12
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft appears to be working on a new major update, but if you're hoping for Windows 12, I wouldn't hold my breath. The company has confirmed that it's testing new content via the Insider program in the Dev Channel, and those changes might lead to a patch that's set to be released later this year. However, we're most likely looking at the successor to the current 24H2 build -- namely Windows 11 25H2 -- and not a whole new operating system.

This was first spotted by Windows Central. The publication cites its own sources as it claims that Microsoft is backporting some platform changes to offer better support for Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X2 chip. Those changes will allow devices that house that chip to run Germanium-based Windows 11. Germanium refers to the platform release that the current Windows 11 build is built on, and it looks like the upcoming 25H2 build might also be based on Germanium -- but nothing is fully clear at this point.

Read more
Microsoft warns users Windows 10 support ends soon, these are your options
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

Many were hoping that Windows 10 might still get another lease on life, but alas -- that doesn't seem to be the case. Microsoft has just started sending out emails to users who are still running Windows 10, and those emails make it quite clear that the end-of-life (EOL) period of the beloved operating system is coming to an end. Microsoft's advice? Upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP.

Windows Latest received an email from Microsoft, titled: "End of support for Windows -- what you need to know." This message was likely sent out to many more users, and may keep popping into people's mailboxes as Microsoft keeps rolling out the alert.

Read more
Windows 10 KB5051974 update adds a new app without asking
A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

Microsoft has released the KB5051974 cumulative update for versions 22H2 and 21H2, adding security fixes and patching a memory leak. However, as Bleeping Computer reports, the update also includes a surprise: the new Outlook for Windows app.

The update is mandatory because it includes the January 2025 Patch Tuesday security updates. Once you install it, you will notice the new app icon near the classic one in the Start Menu's apps section. Since the new app can operate concurrently, you don't have to worry about interfering with the old one.

Read more