Rumor: first Windows 8 tablet will be unveiled next week

By Jeffrey Van Camp September 8, 2011

windows-8

Windows 8 may not be so far out after all. According to the AFP, which cites the Korea Economic Daily, Microsoft is working on a Windows 8 tablet with Samsung. More interesting, it may be unveiled at Mirosoft’s BUILD conference in California, which runs Sept. 13-16. ThisIsMyNext claims that the tablet may be given away to attendees at the conference and run on Nvidia‘s upcoming Kal-El quad-core processor.

The move makes sense for Samsung, which is facing stiff tablet and smartphone pressure from other Android manufacturers as well as a myriad of lawsuits from Apple, which claims that many Samsung products steal its technology and design. Google’s pending purchase of Motorola is also cause for concern for the manufacturer. Motorola products could have an edge in the market, going forward.

What doesn’t make sense is how early this device is coming. Microsoft executives, and most analysts, have pegged the release of Windows 8 around June – Nov. of 2012. Many expected Microsoft to release a beta of the OS at BUILD next week, but not a full-fledged device. Will this device simply be a beta product?

In recent days, we’ve expressed doubts about the direction of Windows 8, which is looking more and more like two disparate operating systems glued together rather than one seamless experience. We hope to be proven wrong and look forward to learning more about Windows 8 at the BUILD conference next week.

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Windows 8.1 Update 1 leaked by Microsoft, but download methods no longer work

Windows 8.1

One of the drawbacks of living in the Information Age, especially if you're a content creator of almost any kind, are leaks of said content prior to their release. From Napster, to Limewire, to torrent sites like Pirate Bay, early leaks occur often and can almost be described as inevitable.
One doesn't expect the source of the leak to be the content developer, however,r but it looks like that's exactly what happened in the case of Windows 8.1 Update 1, which was apparently leaked to the public by Microsoft itself.
A thread on MyDigitalLife, a Windows and Mac-focused form, included a how-to on where to download Windows 8.1 Update 1, via links as well as a Registry edit that, when executed, resulted in the patch showing up as a download in Windows Update. But don't bother trying to grab the new patch from the thread: both the Windows 8.1 Update 1 download links and registry tweak no longer work.
The leak comes after Microsoft allegedly released Windows 8.1 Update 1 to PC manufacturers, giving them the green light to install it on new machines set to hit the market. The full update weighs in at 761.2 MB.
Some changes expected to come via the update include the ability to pin Windows 8 apps to the desktop's taskbar, and it's possible that booting straight to the classic desktop UI will also be offered as an option, though that has yet to be confirmed. Windows 8.1 Update 1 will also lower minimum system requirements to 1GB of RAM and 16GB of hard drive space, making room for lower-end systems to use the OS, which could inject some life into its anemic adoption numbers.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

Computing

Windows 8.1 machines running Android apps to descend upon CES 2014?

google discloses another windows security bug fix out soon 8 1 review

It's no secret that consumers have been slow to warm up to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, the latter of which was released this past October. Could the sagging adoption numbers and legions of people who are clinging to Windows XP and Windows 7 be pacified by a machine that runs Windows 8.1 but is capable of supporting Android apps? It sounds like we'll soon find out.
You might hear the term "PC Plus" quite a bit during CES 2014, which will begin on January 7. PC Plus refers to the concept of a Windows 8.1 machine that also runs Android apps. We're talking about laptops here, not tablets. Aside from that (big) detail, this is not exactly a new idea.
Bluestacks, an Android emulator for Windows and Mac OS X, is able to perform the task of running Android apps on traditional desktop operating systems. While Blackstacks simply ran as a separate program within Windows and OS X, the relationship between Windows 8.1 and Android apps could work differently with PC Plus, according to Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.
"There are three [possible] implementations, including dual-boot, which would be a fast-switch mode where you press a button and within seconds you're in Android," Moore told Computer World. Another approach includes the use of a virtual machine, though software emulation is a possibility as well.
If the PC Plus Windows 8.1/Android concept takes off, it'll be interesting to see what this does for Windows 8.1 adoption numbers down the line.
What impact do you think integrating Android apps with Windows 8.1 will have? Sound off in the comments below.

Computing

Craft your next 3D printing project with 3D Builder for Windows 8.1

3d builder app windows 81 printing

Are you one of the lucky few who owns a 3D printer? Do you have a PC that's running Window 8.1? Well then, aren't you fortunate?
Microsoft just released 3D Builder, an app for Windows 8.1 that, as you might have already figured, allows you to conceive, design and print your next 3D creation using your 3D printer. As long as you have a 3D printer that's Windows 8.1-compatible, you should be good to go.
Using 3D Builder, you can create anything from toys to tools and more, according to Microsoft. 3D Builder is aimed at novice designers as opposed to seasoned veterans, sporting an interface that looks far from intimidating and appears to be newbie-friendly. Using 3D Builder, you'll be able to scale, rotate and adjust your design, add more than one item to a single project, and add multiple objects together by stacking them. You can even push one object into another during the design phase, resulting in a new design.
3D Builder is a free download and is currently available for you to snag right now from the Windows Store marketplace. Got a 3D printer? Get crackin' then!