Google Unveils New Nexus 4 Smarthphone, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 Tablets

Google launched its long-awaited new Nexus 4 smartphone and new Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets on Oct. 29, despite the cancellation of its originally-scheduled New York City announcement party due to the approach of the powerful Hurricane Sandy that brought heavy rain and gale force winds to the East Coast.

Instead of what was to be a fun gala on a New York City pier, Google debuted its new hardware in a post on the Official Google Blog.

"Today, we’re excited to announce three great new Nexus devices … in small, medium and large," wrote Andy Rubin, Google's senior vice president of mobile and digital content, in the Oct. 29 post. "And they all run Android 4.2, a new flavor of Jelly Bean—which includes the latest version of Google Now and other great new features."

The new Nexus 4 phone, which is built by LG, features a quad-core processor, a 4.7" display running at 320 pixels-per-inch (PPI) and wireless charging that allows it to be charged by placing it on a charging surface, according to Google.

The Nexus 4 also features the latest version of the Android Jelly Bean operating system, which is being called Android 4.2. Under Android 4.2, Google has "reinvented the photo experience with Photo Sphere, which lets you capture images that are literally larger than life," wrote Rubin. "Snap shots up, down and in every direction to create stunning 360-degree immersive experiences that you can share on Google+ with friends and family—or you can add your Photo Sphere to Google Maps for the world to see."

The Nexus 4 starts at $299 for the 8GB model, or $349 for the 16GB model and are available unlocked and without a contract starting Nov. 13 on the Google Play store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada. The 16GB version will also be available through T-Mobile for $199 with a 2-year contract.

Also included in Android 4.2 is the rumored feature, Gesture Typing, which allows users to glide a finger over the letters they want to type on the keyboard. Instead of lifting a finger, users can glide their finger from letter to letter across the screen without lifting from the surface.

Android 4.2 also adds support for wireless displays so users can wirelessly watch movies, YouTube videos and play games right on a Miracast-compatible HDTV, according to Google.

The new Nexus 7 tablets are available in several models, including 16GB of storage for $199 or 32GB of storage for $249 for the WiFi versions. A mobile version with built-in HSPA+ mobile data is also available at $299 for a 32GB model that can operate on more than 200 GSM providers worldwide, including AT&T in the United States, according to Google.

Microsoft launches Window 8 in India

Microsoft has announced the availability of Windows 8 for its customers in India and around the world.

Windows 8 has to offer a beautiful new UI, a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store, available on a variety of Windows 8 certified PCs and Tablets. With Windows 8, Microsoft wants to ensure that its new operating system runs on all form factors – desktops, notebooks and even tablets.

At first look, Windows 8 looks awesome, rich, clean and invitingly playful. Its user interface (UI) is a cluster of applications in use, all split into little rectangular tiles. Each tile can be dragged around and its positioning changed, as can each cluster of many tiles. Each cluster can also be customized to one’s tastes by adding or subtracting individual tiles in the cluster.

Presently Windows 8 PCs and Tablets will be available in India from 14 OEM partners  Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HCL, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, RP Infosystems, Sai Info System, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Wipro and Zenith Computers on a variety of form factors from Tablets and hybrids to laptops and ultrabooks  on both touch and non-touch devices. In India, over 250 Windows 8 enabled devices, including 23 completely new SKUs of Windows 8 PCs are available across 100 cities and more than 2500 retail stores.

Microsoft Surface Not Appreciated Among Early Reviewer

Microsoft's Surface – the company's first tablet computer produced in-house, and a crucial part of the software giant's strategy to survive the decline of the PC – has been given a thumbs down by reviewers.

Verdicts published overnight in the US, the first from journalists to have tested Surface at home, have praised its touchscreen interface but slated the machine for poor resolution, being too heavy, using substandard cameras, and having a narrow selection of apps which are prone to crashing.

Reviewers are not urging readers to rush out and buy the £399 tablet, which is competing for attention not only with Apple's iPad and Google's Nexus 7, but Amazon's Kindle Fire in high definition.

Wired reviewer Mathew Honan describes Surface as a tablet of both compromises and confusion, a puzzling machine which is designed both for consuming content like the iPad and for creating it like a traditional PC.

The tablet will be available worldwide on Friday after Thursday's global launch of Windows 8, the most radical redesign of Microsoft's best-selling operating system since Windows 95 a full 17 years ago.

Surface, which will only be available to buy online in the UK, runs on a version of Windows 8 called WindowsRT, and its interface is primarily designed for touch.

However, it also comes with a keyboard – starting at £99.99 for the touch version – and the basic Office software like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

"Microsoft should have cleanly pulled the band-aid off and ditched the desktop metaphor altogether," Honan says.

Surface is delightfully gesture friendly, but it does not compete with the iPad or the Kindle for reading, says Honan, because its long 10.6in screen and 1.5lb weight means it gets uncomfortable quickly.

The two high definition cameras are described as junk, with some reviews claiming their pictures are grainy. But Honan's greatest criticism is reserved for the apps, or lack of them. "You'll find a better selection of apps at your local TGI Friday's," he concludes.

Microsoft's late arrival in the tablet space means few programmers have created content for the Windows 8 interface.

There are just under 4,000 apps worldwide, compared to 275,000 for the iPad. Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Angry Birds are all missing from the US store, according to the New York Times.

The paper's reviewer, David Pogue, says: "Surface is a brilliantly conceived machine whose hardware will take your breath away – but whose software will take away your patience."

He describes the device as a compromise: "[Like] a stunning mansion on a bluff overlooking the sea – in Somalia". The screen resolution does not compare with the new iPad's, (1,366 by 768 pixels compared to 2,048 by 1,536 pixels for the Apple product), making small type harder to use.

There was also disappointment at the lack of a 3G or 4G connection – Surface connects to the internet via Wi-Fi only.

Pogue complains about what he calls the tablet's insanely confusing split personality, moving back and forth between the fast, fluid and fun to use touch interface of the start screen to the old Windows desktop whenever the user fires up the Office programs.

At technology site The Verge, Joshua Topolsky that complained the kick stand, which pops out from the back of the machine to prop it upright like a picture frame, was sharp and scratched wooden surfaces.

He was unimpressed with the Microsoft designed email service, describing it as slow to update and unresponsive to touch on a regular basis. Other apps, made by Microsoft and by third parties, could be slow to open, then stall or crash altogether.

On balance, reviews of the touch interface were generally glowing, and battery life was not an issue – Microsoft's claim that Surface gives eight hours of intensive use was mostly exceeded.

The Verge's conclusion: "There may be a time in the future when all the bugs have been fixed, the third-party app support has arrived, and some very smart engineers in Redmond have ironed out the physical kinks in this type of product which prevent it from being all that it can be.

Top 5 Reason To Upgrade to Window 8

Much has been written about Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, which will be available this Friday. Although the spotlight has been on its new Metro-style user interface (UI), let's not forget that many consumers probably aren't rushing out to buy a new PC bundled with Windows 8.

For those on older (and most likely non-touchscreen) hardware, or others who don't intend to touch Metro apps with a ten-foot pole, is it still worth upgrading to Microsoft's latest OS? Here are five reasons why we think you should.

Windows 8 is relatively cheap
Perhaps the inexpensive Mac OS X upgrades--Mountain Lion was priced at just US$20--set a benchmark, but the price of upgrading to Windows 8 has never been lower at US$39.99 for the digital copy (the retail DVD, however, is US$69.99). This offer is valid till the end of January 2013. Consumers who purchase a new Windows 7 computer between now and January 31, 2013 can get the upgrade at an even lower price: US$14.99.

In comparison, the Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade costs US$50, but that was only if you had preordered. The original price was US$119.99 for the retail DVD.

Windows 8 is faster
Microsoft talked about the fast boot times in Windows 8, and from our own experiences, it has delivered the goods. Windows 8 can be really quick during boot up, while shutting down is practically greased lightning, especially when paired with the SSDs found on Ultrabooks. During our test of the Toshiba Satellite U920t, this Windows 8 convertible started up almost twice as fast as our best-performing Windows 7 Ultrabook.

Even with a normal HDD, you'll notice a significant improvement. CNET has published some benchmarks about Windows 8 performance compared with Windows 7, concluding that "Windows 8 lives up to its promise". Beside faster boot up and shut down speeds, Windows 8 produced better performance in Microsoft Office and also took less time to complete a multimedia test.

Microsoft Office coming to Apple's iOS, Google's Android after March 2013

A Microsoft product manager in the Czech Republic has reportedly indicated that native versions of Office for iOS and Android will arrive next year.

Microsoft's Petr Bobek told IHNED (via The Verge) that his company's market leading productivity suite will make its way to Apple's devices, as well as those running Google Android, sometime after March of 2013. The details came from a press release issued by Microsoft's Czech Republic Team.

"In addition to Windows, Office will also be available on other operating systems: Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian," the company's statement said.

The press release separately noted that a new version of Office Web Apps will also be available. In a statement, Microsoft's U.S. arm noted that the company previously indicated Office Mobile will be available on iOS and Android, in addition to Windows Phone.

Rumors of a version of Microsoft Office for iPad have swirled for the past year, and tablet publication The Daily even showed a screenshot of the rumored application. One report from late May pegged a specific release date for Office for iPad: Nov. 10, 2012.

However, Wednesday's statements from Microsoft's Czech team would suggest that date will not be met, with a launch instead coming in early 2013.

AppleInsider also learned earlier this year that Microsoft was working on a new native iOS application for Outlook Web App, called "OWA Mobile Client for iOS," that will offer compatibility with Exchange 2012 mailboxes. It, along with a new version of the Lync application for iOS, will reportedly feature Microsoft's Metro interface, just like Office for iPad is expected to do.

Rumors have said that Office for iPad will allow users to create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Dedicated Outlook functionality is not expected to be included in Office for iPad.

While earlier reports focused on Office support for the iPad, the mention of iOS in the overseas Microsoft press release suggests that the productivity suite could also be coming to Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. Apple's own iWork suite, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote, offers universal support across portable iOS devices.