Monday, October 29, 2012
Responsive-content: This jQuery plugin lets you easily serve different HTML to different devices
12:37:00 PM
Unknown
Forked from pjax (pushState + ajax), Responsive-content is a jQuery plugin created by developer Stephan Fowler that lets you serve different content to different devices.
As Fowler explains, Responsive-content goes hand in hand with common responsive design techniques, but acts on a different level. For example, CSS media queries make it easy to resize the width of DIVs, but load the same content inside that DIV no matter what device you’re using.
This is where Responsive-content steps in, which “can be used subtly — for example to cause smaller images to be loaded on smaller devices — or to deliver radically different content to different screen widths or device capabilities.” Used hand-in-hand with media queries, this plugin lets you “dynamically replace the ‘content’ area of the page with HTML tailored to the requesting-device’s width or capabilities.” Of course, this is already possible using more complicated methods, but Responsive-content is easy to implement.
This plugin allows for the following:
You can learn more via the link below.
➤ Responsive-content (h/t: Paulo Oliveira)
Image credit: Creatas Images / Getty Images
Source: thenextweb.comAs Fowler explains, Responsive-content goes hand in hand with common responsive design techniques, but acts on a different level. For example, CSS media queries make it easy to resize the width of DIVs, but load the same content inside that DIV no matter what device you’re using.
This is where Responsive-content steps in, which “can be used subtly — for example to cause smaller images to be loaded on smaller devices — or to deliver radically different content to different screen widths or device capabilities.” Used hand-in-hand with media queries, this plugin lets you “dynamically replace the ‘content’ area of the page with HTML tailored to the requesting-device’s width or capabilities.” Of course, this is already possible using more complicated methods, but Responsive-content is easy to implement.
This plugin allows for the following:
1. Single URLs : a webpage should have an identical URL whatever device it is viewed on (though the page’s components may have device-contingent URLs.)
2. Cache Friendliness : since baseline caching arrangements use the URL of a document as its unique key, there should be no reliance on any other parameters; the approach must thus avoid User Agent detection or cookies.
3. Performance Orientation : devices with lower bandwidths should be the beneficiaries of all performance trade offs inherent in the approach.
You can learn more via the link below.
➤ Responsive-content (h/t: Paulo Oliveira)
Image credit: Creatas Images / Getty Images
Samsung Galaxy S4 specs to blow you away
9:36:00 AM
Unknown
How are you enjoying your Galaxy S3 at the moment? Is it everything you could possibly want from a smartphone, or do you expect slightly more? The handset may have only just put its foot down in the market, but we’re already hearing of a potential successor in the Samsung Galaxy S4 and it may have one or two features that will simply blow you away.
At the moment, most of the Android discussion going on right now centers around the Galaxy Note 2 which is just launching in the US, and rightly so with some really impressive hardware specs out of the box backed up by the fact that it ships with the very latest version of Android Jelly Bean – a crucial factor in decision making these days.
Interest in the current Galaxy S3 handset seems to have died down significantly as a direct result of the Note 2 hype and even those who own one are not too happy at the moment since Samsung continues to delay on the global rollout of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean that still isn’t available in many countries at the moment.
With this in mind, you can bet that a lot of consumers are already starting to think about the Galaxy S4 and early rumors suggest that it is going to be one beast of a smartphone, with mouth-watering specs such as a 4.8-inch OLED screen, Android 4.2 Key Pie Lime and edge to edge display technology, which may end up looking something like the mock up below.
Other specs that are being whispered down the grapevine include a 13 megapixel camera, 2Ghz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, a ‘Skype supported’ 1.9MP front camera and wait for it, a potential mammoth of a battery in the region of 3200 mAh. Most of you will agree with us that these are truly next generation specifications and definitely those that fall in line with the caliber of a new Galaxy S smartphone launch.
Whether these are legit though remains to be seen but it’s no secret that Samsung now favors OLED materials as their preference when manufacturing displays. You only need to pick up a PS Vita to see just what a difference OLED technology makes compared to the rest, so even if the other specifications do not turn out to be true, let’s hope that the OLED part remains as smartphones now need to make the transition into OLED.
How do these initial specifications sound to you – would it be an instant purchase or not? Let us if you would like to see OLED on the next Galaxy S4 smartphone, bearing in mind that it would most likely mean an increase in consumer price as well.
Share this story below.
Source: product-reviews.net
iPad 4 vs. Microsoft Surface by visual review
9:26:00 AM
Unknown
We have a series of videos to show you now, giving you yet another glimpse at both devices up close and personal if you have yet to see a video review of one. One key question that a lot of consumers ask when picking up a tablet, is whether it can withstand significant damage from a fall or not.
The first video we have for you gives you a straight answer to this, as there are already numerous ‘drop’ videos for the Microsoft Surface emerging online, confirming that it definitely can take a beating if you accidentally drop the device. This is due to the combination of magnesium and aluminum materials used on the Surface and although the iPad 4 isn’t out yet, we have a feeling that Microsoft could be the clear winner in this category.
Having said that, software is very important on a tablet device and certain concern has already spread among early adopters, who are unhappy with the lack of incompatible apps that don’t have support for Surface yet, with a free copy of Microsoft Office unlikely to win consumers over.
The iPad on the other hand has no such problems in this area, with millions of apps available from the get go – making it easy for those who want to pick up the newest tablet on the market that has the most content available straight away. With the innovative design for the Surface though, Microsoft has given consumers the very pleasant conundrum on whether the Surface is still better than the iPad or not.
Apple seems to be happy keeping the same design formula over and over again, but it works for them. If you are someone who likes to pick up the ‘best looking’ devices each year, then again we would have to say that the Surface looks like the more stylish out of the two – especially with all of the changeable colors available.
Take a look at the series of videos below and let us know your own opinions on which tablet is better.
Have you already pre-ordered either the Surface or iPad? If so, let us know what you chose and why you came to that decision.
Share this story below.
Source: product-reviews.net
Why You Should Hold Onto Your “Old” iPad
8:54:00 AM
valgeo
If you own a third-generation iPad, you might be feeling a little burned by Apple this week. You’re fine with the iPad Mini the company announced. You saw that one coming. The fourth-generation iPad, though? And just six months after you bought Apple’s last latest-and-greatest iPad? Not cool. Not only are you now carrying around an iPad that doesn’t have Apple’s fastest mobile processor, what used to be an innocent port for the 30-pin connector is now an ugly scar compared to the little bellybutton of a hole for the fourth-gen iPad’s Lighting connector. Oh, and the new iPad has speedier graphics and a better camera, too.
Good news: You can ignore your buyer’s remorse. Your third-gen iPad is awesome. Hell, even the iPad 2 (which Apple still sells, by the way) is still relevant. So if you’re feeling less enamored with your third-gen iPad, stop. And if you’re thinking about ditching it altogether for the fourth-gen model, don’t.
For one thing, Apple’s iOS updates traditionally run on devices at least two generations old. For example, iOS 6, which was released in September, runs on not only the new iPhone 5 but also the iPhone 4S, 4 and even 3GS. Yes, the first-generation iPad, now a little more than two and a half years old, is stuck at iOS 5. But the fact that the iPad Mini runs on the iPad 2′s A5 processor (now two generations old) is a good sign. Apple won’t leave mini users out of any software updates for at least a couple of years. So your third-gen iPad, which has newer hardware components, is even further away from obsolescence.
Another reason to skip the new iPad is Apple’s pattern of product announcements. Before this week, Apple had always launched its iPads in the spring. The first one went on sale in April 2010, the second in March 2011 and the third in March 2012. If Apple sticks with spring iPad launches, that could mean a fifth-generation iPad early next year, which would leave owners of the fourth-gen model right where you are — contemplating the upgrade game six months after purchase. And if Apple waits until next fall to update the iPad line? Then your iPad 3 will be, at most, a year and a half old. You’d still have at least a year of relevance remaining if Apple were to maintain the shelf life it gave the iPad 1. But the likelihood is that these newer iPads will be much more future-proof than the debut model. Even iPad 2 owners are probably better off skipping the fourth-generation upgrade and waiting for what comes after.
Hopefully you’re convinced by now: Unless you own an iPad 1 or no iPad at all, you can skip this one. But if you are absolutely determined to ditch your third-gen iPad for the latest Apple slate, here are a few suggestions on how to go about it.
If cost isn’t and never was an issue for you, you can take your old iPad to an Apple store and donate it to Teach for America‘s iPads for Classrooms program. Local school districts might have their own iPad donation efforts set up too, such as the Lighthouse in the Community iPad Appeal program going on in Connecticut. There are plenty of kids — and adults — who will be blown away by your hand-me-down augmented reality apps, digital-publishing tools, 3-D maps, and on-the-fly video editing.
If that doesn’t work for you, you can always hawk your iPad on eBay or Craigslist, to someone who sees the value in what you’re about to disregard. There’s also the option of businesses that will resell your gadgets for you too — such as Gazelle, NextWorth and iCracked. But even if you resell your iPad, you’ll be doing so at a loss. Even a pristine third-gen 16GB iPad, with the original box, will fetch only about $250, versus the $500 it would have cost brand new just a couple of weeks ago.
Wait, though. If you bought your third-generation iPad within the last 30 days, you may want to call your local Apple store. Employees at the downtown San Francisco Apple Store told Wired that they will accept exchanges for all third-generation iPads that have been purchased within the last 30 days, as long as they’re free of dings, scratches and other signs of wear. But this departure from Apple’s normal 14-day policy doesn’t seem to be companywide. We’ve called other stores that have said they aren’t making exceptions for the third-gen iPad, which lines up with other reports.
Seriously, though, just hold on to your third-gen iPad. It’s still one of best tablets out there.
Source : wired
10 Things You Didn’t Know Dropbox Could Do
8:23:00 AM
valgeo
1. "Favorite" Files for Offline Reading
If you "favorite" images or text documents on your mobile device using the Dropbox app, you can access those files later, even if you're not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.
2. Use Dropbox as Your Default Documents Folder
To
conserve memory and time, you can save files directly to Dropbox from
your computer programs. This requires simple commands in Terminal for
Mac OS or a small settings change for Windows.
For Mac OS, open Terminal (in Utilities) and type cd Dropbox. Press enter, and then type ln -s ~/Documents /Documents. Hit enter again to complete the process.
In Windows, right-click on your My Documents folder, hit Properties and click Move. Then select your Dropbox folder.
For Mac OS, open Terminal (in Utilities) and type cd Dropbox. Press enter, and then type ln -s ~/Documents /Documents. Hit enter again to complete the process.
In Windows, right-click on your My Documents folder, hit Properties and click Move. Then select your Dropbox folder.
3. Email Files to Dropbox as Attachments
When you don't have access to Dropbox, it comes in handy to have an alternate way to upload files.
If you create an account at SendToDropbox.com, you can send files to a custom email address as attachments. The files will automatically appear in your Attachments folder in Dropbox.
If you create an account at SendToDropbox.com, you can send files to a custom email address as attachments. The files will automatically appear in your Attachments folder in Dropbox.
4. Get More Storage — For Free
If
you're a free user of Dropbox, you can immediately access 2GB of space,
but you can get more storage without having to pay for an upgrade.
Dropbox offers 500MB for every friend that you refer to the service, 250MB for completing a "Getting Started" checklist, 125MB for connecting social media and several other options to earn more space.
Dropbox Pro users can get up to 32GB of extra space, thanks to referrals.
Dropbox offers 500MB for every friend that you refer to the service, 250MB for completing a "Getting Started" checklist, 125MB for connecting social media and several other options to earn more space.
Dropbox Pro users can get up to 32GB of extra space, thanks to referrals.
5. Maintain Firefox Settings Across Multiple Computers
It's
difficult to maintain specific preferences or add-ons in Firefox when
you use the browser on multiple computers. However, you can download Firefox Portable and store it in Dropbox. Since Firefox Portable can be used anywhere, your settings and add-ons will be synced.
6. Upload Files to Dropbox via URL
URL Droplet
allows you to upload links straight to your Dropbox folders. All you
need to do is take a link (this especially works well if the link leads
to a PDF or similar document) and paste it into the URL Droplet form.
7. Download Torrents Remotely
Note: This Dropbox tip is intended for legal use only.
If you're away from your personal computer and you'd like to download bit torrent files, ready by the time you get home, Dropbox is a perfect tool.
Just adjust the settings in your torrent program (uTorrent, BitTorrent, etc.) to automatically load your torrent in Dropbox.
If you're away from your personal computer and you'd like to download bit torrent files, ready by the time you get home, Dropbox is a perfect tool.
Just adjust the settings in your torrent program (uTorrent, BitTorrent, etc.) to automatically load your torrent in Dropbox.
8. Maintain Two Dropbox Accounts (Advanced)
This one can get tricky, so it's intended for advanced users (using Mac OS).
Many people use Dropbox for both business and personal purposes, often maintaining separate accounts for each, since Dropbox doesn't support multiple users at once. This can be inconvenient when you're connected to one account but want to reach files in another.
A solution is to use an alternate home directory in the command line and create another Dropbox icon and folder, saved in a separate area on your computer. You can differentiate between the two by changing the color of one of the icons.
Learn more about this process on the Dropbox Wiki.
Many people use Dropbox for both business and personal purposes, often maintaining separate accounts for each, since Dropbox doesn't support multiple users at once. This can be inconvenient when you're connected to one account but want to reach files in another.
A solution is to use an alternate home directory in the command line and create another Dropbox icon and folder, saved in a separate area on your computer. You can differentiate between the two by changing the color of one of the icons.
Learn more about this process on the Dropbox Wiki.
9. Back Up Your Website
You
can easily back up your website and data on Dropbox, which is useful if
you've spent a lot of time and effort building your site or your're
concerned about your servers.
With a service like Backup Box or a WordPress.org plugin, rest assured that your website is backed up.
With a service like Backup Box or a WordPress.org plugin, rest assured that your website is backed up.
10. Host Web Pages
Want a website, but don't want to pay for a domain? Want an online portfolio, but don't know HTML? Dropbox can help.
By using services like DropPages or Pancake.io, you can create a small and simple website with minimal effort.
With Pancake.io, all you need to do is save plain text files in Dropbox, and you can edit them at any time the same way. DropPages is a little bit more complex, letting you add themes and custom URLs. Both services allow you to use Markdown or HTML.
By using services like DropPages or Pancake.io, you can create a small and simple website with minimal effort.
With Pancake.io, all you need to do is save plain text files in Dropbox, and you can edit them at any time the same way. DropPages is a little bit more complex, letting you add themes and custom URLs. Both services allow you to use Markdown or HTML.
We live in an age when we want (and sometimes need) to access information at all times. This includes our own data and files — text documents, photographs, videos, music and more. That’s why services like Dropbox and the cloud are so popular with the connected generation.
Free of charge (with a paid upgrade option), Dropbox lets you upload your files to folders accessible anywhere there’s an Internet connection. It eliminates the hassle of emailing yourself attachments and running into size limits. People can use Dropbox through the desktop app, mobile apps or via the web.
Check out the gallery above for some useful ways you can get more out of Dropbox. Do you use the service? Share your own tips and tricks in the comments below.
Source : mashable
I love Windows 8, but Surface RT is for early adopters and developers
8:18:00 AM
valgeo
Windows 8 has now been unleashed on the world. Many of us have been using it for up to a year in pre-release form, watching Microsoft's latest OS evolve into a finished product.
I was wary at first of the sweeping changes that Microsoft was introducing all at once. I even had some legitimate concerns that the Redmond software giant was setting itself up for failure because what it was attempting to do was simply just too radical.
Obviously, if you've been reading any of my most recent material, I've mellowed out since writing these pieces.
I've had a lot of time to test Windows 8, to put the desktop operating system through its paces, to make sure that legacy Win32 software runs on it just as well as Windows 7, and to verify that it performs even better than its predecessor and even represents significant value-add.
And I've also made the argument that if you are running an older version of Windows on your PC today, the time to upgrade is now.
So I fully endorse Windows 8 for personal and business use, I believe the product represents a significant milestone in Microsoft's history, and it is a very worthwhile upgrade.
But what about Windows RT and the Surface, the ARM-based little brother to the x86-based Windows 8 and the answer to Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems on tablet computers?
Well, I'm not gonna sugar coat this. I got issues. Very conflicting issues.
In one sense, Windows RT is an important step that Microsoft needs to take because the future is in low cost, commodity computing devices with heavy cloud enablement rather than expensive PCs and "Fat Clients". I've said this in numerous articles over the past few years and I'm not going to change my view on this anytime soon.
Microsoft also had to introduce the WinRT APIs and a "Modern Windows User Interface" (what we previously referred to as "Metro") because the Win32 programmatic model was 20 years old.
They desperately needed an environment that was better suited towards rapid application development and embraced more modern software development methodologies, with lightweight and Cloud-enabled apps that more resembled what Apple was doing with iOS and Google was doing with Android.
The introduction of "Metro", or "Windows Store Apps" was a necessity in order for the company to move forward and not get mired in the past.
Similarily, porting the Windows kernel and core operating system to the ARM architecture was also something that needed to be done.
The future for the Intel platform as it applies to desktop and personal computing is a grim one. It has an expiration date, and there is no denying this.
I said just over a year ago that legacy Windows applications written in Win32 would not be able to be simply recompiled and run in Windows RT. The new ARM-based port of Windows 8 would only run "Metro" or "Windows Store" apps.
Few people wanted to believe me back then. I was mocked for even suggesting it.
Well, I was mostly correct. Windows RT can run recompiled Win32 apps, but only Microsoft has access to that programmatic environment. The Surface RT and OEM Windows RT tablets come preloaded with Microsoft Office 2013 Home and Student Edition which runs on the "Desktop" UI and shares a lot of Win32 code with the x86 version that runs on Windows 8.
For software developers, the Windows RT Desktop UI represents a sealed box that nobody but Redmond can touch. It's unobtainium.
My friend and ZDNet colleague David Gewirtz wrote an excellent summary of what this means for the average end-user who goes out and buys a Windows RT-based system today. Like David, it's jarring and it's ugly. Unfortunately, it's also completely on the mark.
There are a lot of reasons why I would like to own a Microsoft Surface RT or another competing Windows RT device, such as Lenovo's IdeaTab Yoga 11, the Samsung ATIV Tab or the Dell XPS 10.
I love the idea of embracing a new, power efficient systems architecture for Windows PCs, experiencing the new Windows Store apps, and running real Office on an ARM platform. And the Surface RT is definitely one sexy and very well-engineered piece of hardware, made out of a strong magnesium casing that can even endure abuse from software company executives masquerading as skateboarders.
I was initially angry at the company for throwing its OEMs under the bus, but now I'm starting to understand a bit more why Microsoft did what it did. It wanted to create a reference standard for platform excellence that it expected its partners to emulate.
Whether these partners can compete on pricing, build quality and features when Microsoft has a home court advantage is going to be the big question, one which only market dynamics can truly answer.
But my problem with Windows RT is not with Microsoft going into the hardware business. It's that at this juncture it's really just for early adopters and software developers.
The bottom line is that there just isn't enough Windows Store applications to go around. At launch, there are about 5000 applications that can run on the new UI. That's not a whole lot to choose from.
While there are a few key developers on board such as Amazon and Netflix who have already ported some popular applications to the OS, Microsoft has a very, very steep hill to climb before there is enough software to make the platform attractive as well as useful to the majority of end-users who already have two compelling tablet OSes to choose from in the form of iOS and Android. And that group of end-users includes myself.
The situation isn't that dire. Many of the existing Windows Phone apps, of which over 120,000 exist, can be quickly ported to the new UI because the code is easily re-useable, as it shares many similarities with the APIs in Windows RT.
Games which are written in native C++ for other mobile OSes like Android and iOS can also be ported fairly quickly, since they execute as native code and won't need to be optimized much for launching in the Windows RT environment.
I expect that within a year, there will be something on the order of 30,000 to 50,000 apps for the platform. If development accelerates, and adoption of Windows Store apps on Windows 8 becomes popular, it might even reach 100,000. That's a good amount.
These are good reasons for an early adopter or a software developer to buy Surface RTs. They aren't good reasons, however, for the average consumer and business user.
As an end-user, if I want to watch the progression of how native Windows Store apps evolve, I can simply run them on my existing laptop and my desktops that I recently upgraded to Windows 8, which has the benefit of being completely backwards compatible with existing x86 Windows software.
Next year, there will be much better, updated, and perhaps even more price competitive Windows RT hardware for me to run those apps on.
And I really want to see how this entire Office on ARM licensing issue shakes out with the general public. Today, as it stands, if I want to use Windows RT at work, I need to purchase a dedicated, full-retail license of Office 2013.
I can't re-use or extend the license of Office 2010 running on my existing home PCs. I'm also a little leery of a BYOD situation where I bring a Surface RT to work, and then ask that my employer or custormer extend a volume licensing agreement to me so I can use my tablet for business purposes. I don't see how that's gonna fly.
So we're talking an additional $210 premium. I might as well buy a new, full-blown x86 Windows 8 touchscreen ultrabook or convertible, transfer an existing copy of Office 2010 to it, and buy a cheaper upgrade license to bring it up to date.
I could also use Office RT in a business environment under violation of Microsoft's EULA. Not.
Or, I can just use iWork on my iPad. It isn't "real" Office, but it gets the job done. Apple has no such restrictions on where you use their productivity suite with their tablets, and it only costs $30. I don't see how Microsoft can let Apple eat their lunch indefinitely, they are going to need to find a better solution.
So for now, I'm going to pass on the Surface RT and Windows RT. Next year, when there's more apps and some sense is made out of the BYOD quagmire, I might jump on a ARM-based Windows tablet.
But Windows 8? I'm all on board. Sign me up.
Are the limitations and lack of applications giving you pause in a purchase of a a Surface or other Windows RT tablet?
Source : zdnet
Friday, October 26, 2012
Where do I click, again? A guide to Windows 8
3:46:00 PM
Unknown
Friday, October 26, 2012 8:46 AM GMT
NEW YORK (AP) — With the launch of Windows 8, buyers are about to discover a computing experience unlike anything they've seen before. Here's a guide to getting past some of the hurdles.
The main thing to know is that Windows 8 is designed especially for touch-screen computers, to make desktops and laptops work more like tablets. It is Microsoft's way of addressing the popularity of tablets, namely the iPad. But Windows 8 will work with mouse and keyboard shortcuts, too. It'll take some getting used to, though.
There are two versions of Windows 8, or more precisely, there's Windows 8 and there's Windows RT. They look the same, but they run on different processing chips. Windows 8 runs on standard chips from Intel and AMD and is the version you'd get if you're upgrading your home desktop or notebook PC. Windows RT is the version for light, small tablets and laptop-tablet hybrids.
Windows 8 will run programs written for older versions of Windows. Windows RT won't. It's limited to applications specifically written for it and available through Microsoft's store. (As a consolation, a version of Microsoft Office is included free on Windows RT devices).
Here are some tips on how to navigate the new Windows:
— When you start a Windows 8 machine, you're greeted with a screen that shows the time and a pretty picture. To get past it with a touch-screen device, swipe upwards with your finger from the bottom edge of the screen. If you have a keyboard, hit any key.
— Next, you'll see a mosaic of Live Tiles, each representing an application. Programs specifically written for Windows 8 will run in this new environment, which is unofficially nicknamed Metro. Each application fills the screen when you run it. Applications written for older Windows versions will open up in something that looks very much like the old Windows Desktop environment. You can switch back and forth between Metro and the new Desktop, though Microsoft wants people to eventually use only Metro.
— The Desktop screen lacks a Start button, so it's hard to start programs from there. Microsoft's idea is that users should learn to go to the Metro tiles to start programs or access settings, even if many programs, including some Windows utilities, will open up in Desktop. To get back to the tiled Start screen with a mouse or touchpad, move the mouse cursor to the top right corner of the screen, then swipe it down to the "Start" icon that appears. If you have a touch screen, reveal the Start icon by swiping in from the right edge of the screen.
— In the Desktop environment, you can glance at the Taskbar to see which Desktop programs are running. If you're a mouse or touchpad user in Metro and want to see what's running, you have to know this trick: Move the cursor into the top left corner of the screen, then drag it down along the left edge of the screen. If you have a touch screen, swipe in from the left edge, then quickly swipe back in.
— Neither environment will show you programs that are running in the other environment, but if you have a touch screen, swiping in from the left side of the screen lets you jump between open applications. The "Alt-Tab" combination does the same thing with a keyboard, in case you aren't using a touch screen.
— There are two versions of Internet Explorer, one for each environment. A Web page you open in one doesn't appear in the other, so if you're trying to find your way back to a page, it helps to remember which browser you were using.
— When using Metro on a touch screen, you close a program by first swiping your finger down from the top edge of the screen. That shrinks the window. Then you swipe your finger down to the bottom edge of the screen. Don't stray to the right or left edges of the screen, or the app will end up "docked" in a column along that edge. You can perform the same action with a mouse cursor by clicking and dragging from the top edge of the screen, but using the old "Alt-F4" command is easier.
— In the Desktop version of Internet Explorer, you can see at a glance which pages you have open in "tabs." In Metro, each Web page fills the screen, leaving no room for tabs.
To see which other pages are open on a touch-screen computer, you swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to reveal thumbnails of the other windows. Don't sweep too far, or you'll shrink the window instead.
If you're using a mouse in Metro, you right-click anywhere on the screen to reveal the tabs. Of course, this means right-clicking no longer does any of things it can be used for in previous versions of Windows, such as letting you open a link in a new tab.
— When Microsoft introduced Windows 95, some people thought it was amusing and counterintuitive that the procedure for shutting down the computer began with the "Start" button. In Windows 8, that incongruity is gone along with the Start button, but shutting down with a mouse or touchpad isn't obvious either. Move the cursor into the top right corner of the screen. A menu will pop out. Sweep down to the "Settings" button that appears, and click it. Then click "Power," then "Shut down." If you're on a touch screen, start by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, then tap "Settings."
Source: news-republic.com
16GB iPad mini shipping date slips
2:32:00 PM
Unknown
We managed to get a pre-order in right away for the iPad mini, but the
shipping date has since slipped to 2 weeks for the 16GB model. This
happened within an hour of the UK pre-orders going live, although it
seems to be only this size affected for the Black and Slate model. We
can confirm that the White and Silver iPad mini has also seen the
shipping date slip, which is now set to 2 weeks for shipping and then a
few days after this for the product to arrive with you.
You can see how smooth the pre-order process went for us here, which had been published moments after the UK iPad mini pre-order went live, so this is normally expected if you get in soon enough. The same cannot be said for everyone, which has been seen in the comments from that article.
Some people have experienced payment authorization problems and others ordered the iPad mini just after 8am, but once their payment went through had seen a shipping date of Nov 15. Did you have any problems like this with your order, and if you ordered in the United States feel free to share your experience?
The image above shows what the current dispatch time is for new 16GB iPad mini pre-orders, which currently states “2 weeks” rather than a “deliver 2/11” like when we ordered first thing this morning. You can also see another image below, and that shows the iPad mini shipping date for the White and Silver model. We can see the White version has seen shipping dates slip to 2 weeks for all storage sizes.
Do you think the slipping of these dates shows that the White iPad mini is more popular than the Black? Feel free to share what color you went for and why in the comments.
Share this story below.
Source: product-reviews.net
Microsoft Windows 8 A Big, Beautiful, Slightly Shaky Step Forward
12:53:00 PM
valgeo
The new version of Windows, which is available Friday, sees Microsoft tucking the old, desktop-focused Windows skin into its back pocket, and instead donning a colorful, touch-friendly suit of tiles. It’s such a grand departure from Redmond’s legacy Windows software that most users won’t recognize it as Windows at all. And that’s a beautiful thing.
I’ve been testing Windows 8 over the last few months, and I’ve come to really enjoy using it. Yes, it took a lot of re-learning and adjustment. Yes, I felt lost and baffled at first. And sure, I was a bit sad to see the Start Menu vanish. (There are others who feel the same way and have solutions.) Several small annoyances remain for Microsoft to work out. But if you’re willing to put in a little bit of initial effort to learn the ropes, Windows 8 is definitely worth the upgrade.
The learning curve isn’t too steep. The operating system is fun to use right out of the box, and it doesn’t skimp on the key functionality you expect from the Windows brand. If you’re buying a new computer this fall, or upgrading a recently purchased PC by installing Windows 8, you should expect something equal parts drastically new and comfortingly familiar.
Microsoft has two key goals for Windows 8. First, the company wants to regain its cool. Windows has long been synonymous with a mundane experience centered on “productivity.” While Apple offers a visually slick, intuitive, user-friendly experience on the desktop, Microsoft has stuck to the Windows Way. For over a decade, it’s been serving scoops of vanilla to compete with Apple’s waffle cones of mint chocolate chip with rainbow sprinkles. This strategy has helped Microsoft maintain its stronghold on the PC market, especially among business customers reliant on legacy apps and the host of OEM partners who crank out the devices for their consumption. But Apple simply has more mojo. Walk into any college dorm, tech startup, or big-city coffee shop, and you’ll see an ocean of MacBooks, all running OS X. Younger users and creative types favor Apple’s computing environment. It’s undeniable.
The other thing Microsoft needs to do — desperately — is catch up in mobile computing. Its Windows Phone OS for smartphones is lagging, but it’s expected to gain more traction as better devices and apps are released. The bigger worry here is tablets.
As we move further into the “post-PC era,” the iPad is still held up as the gold standard for mobile computing, and Android is the scrappy alternative. Windows 7 was a total bust on tablets. It just didn’t translate well to the touchscreen world. Redmond’s plan for Windows 8, therefore, is to develop a fun and colorful OS that straddles the PC and the post-PC worlds. Windows 8 can run both on tablets and on traditional computers, it can be fully controlled with touches, swipes and gestures, and it still gives users full access to all the good old Microsoft stuff: docs, spreadsheets, and the myriad legacy apps they use every day. With Surface, it’s even diving into tablet hardware to prove how well its dual-use approach can work.
My Windows 8 testing took place on both on a touch tablet and a non-touch notebook. I’ll often connect a keyboard and mouse or touchpad to the tablet in order to mimic the “convertible” experience. While I definitely prefer Windows 8 in a touch environment, it’s almost as easy and pleasant to use with a gesture-enabled trackpad. By far, my least favorite method of using Windows 8 is touchless, with only a standard mouse and keyboard. But even then, it’s not a bad experience.
The main factor for such varying experiences lies in the new Start Screen. The gorgeous spread of colorful tiles makes total sense with touch, and will look familiar to anyone who has used a Windows Phone device, as Microsoft’s new mobile OS sports the same interface. We’ve covered the new environment thoroughly in our hands-ons of the Consumer Preview, Release Review and Release to Manufacturer versions of Windows 8.
If you’re a veteran Windows user, the new Start Screen will definitely take some getting used to. But the familiar Windows desktop of yore remains, and is easily accessible as a tile (just like any other app) on the Start Screen. Microsoft is taking a significant risk here, since users who have been loyal to Windows might get very confused or feel betrayed until they find that magic button to take them to the desktop. Whether these people can adjust to Windows 8 will depend heavily on Microsoft’s messaging and instructions. If that goes wrong, Windows 8 could fail entirely.
The same old Windows desktop is still there if you want it.
Even more confusing than a bunch of tiles: There are several versions of Windows 8. Most importantly, Windows RT, which comes built-in on the Surface RT tablet and other devices, is far less capable than Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For more details on the difference, read our overview and Wired’s review of the Surface RT tablet. In short, Microsoft will need to clearly explain that Windows RT is a mobile OS that shares the same skin as Windows 8, but is not a fully capable PC. It cannot run the same desktop programs as full Windows 8, only apps downloaded from the Windows Store.
The ambiguity between x86, or desktop, applications and Windows Store apps can also add to the overall confusion. Windows 8 can run them both, but they’ll open in different environments. Pin a desktop app to your Start Screen and it blends in nicely, as its tile looks no different than a Windows Store app. But tap it and — surprise! — you’re thrown into the desktop space. Microsoft should consider a stronger visual cue to help us distinguish between the two kinds of programs.
These juggling will cause some head-scratching among legacy Windows users when they upgrade. But the first few hours with Windows 8 will likely be more sweet than sour, as there are plenty of goodies: Live Tiles that show animations, a fully integrated search tool, and easy-to-adopt gestures for touchscreens and trackpads. These enhancements, and a host of other new features, are what make Windows 8 worth the upgrade.
Each app’s Start Screen tile is alive, in a sense. The tiles display bits of information about whatever’s happening within the app, sort of like notifications in a mobile OS. If you get a new e-mail, the Mail app will show the sender and subject. The Calendar app can display your day’s meetings.
Two ‘snapped’ apps can share the same screen.
“Snapping” apps next to one another is a great multitasking feature. Every Windows 8 app is a chromeless, full-screen app by default, which is great for focusing on a single task and making the most of your screen’s real estate. But when you want to do more than one thing at the same time, you can simply pull in another app and drag it somewhere on the screen. It will snap into a secondary portion of the screen, where it serves as sort of a sidebar. It’s incredibly useful for when you want to keep the Messaging app open while browsing the web, or to check Twitter while watching a movie.
There is one slight flaw in the snapped app experience. When you’re using a mouse or a trackpad and you want to scroll up or down in one of the snapped apps, it’s not enough to just hover your mouse over the window. You have to actually click within that window before you can scroll it. If you’re using touch, you can just reach up and swipe to scroll, since Windows recognizes a touch as a click.
It’s a minor detail, but one that shows the need for additional polish. Mac OS X, by contrast, recognizes the intended focus when you just hover over a window with the mouse pointer, no click required. It should be that simple in Windows 8 when you’re not using touch.
Multitasking in full-screen: chatting while catching up on the day’s news.
It’s when you reach up and touch the screen that Windows 8 truly shines. Once I learned the Windows 8 gestures, I found it easier than even iOS to navigate. Swiping in from the left to flip through open apps is seamless. Semantic zoom, which lets you zoom in and out of your onscreen elements with a pinch gesture, worked consistently well in various apps. Trackpad gestures are also incredibly easy to use.
I also really like the so-called charms menu that you bring up by swiping in from the right or pointing to the lower right corner. There are five “charm” icons: Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings.
Search is the biggest enhancement, and you don’t even need to go into the charms to access it. When you’re in the Start Screen, you can just start typing to search for an app, setting, or file. Scroll down the Search Charm menu and you’ll be able to search within specific apps, like the Windows Store or Bing.
Annoyingly, this automatic type-to-search feature doesn’t work in desktop mode, even if you have no windows open. It’s in these tinier details where Windows 8 struggles the most. Another example: If you’re using the desktop in Snap mode, all of your windows will shrink to accommodate the smaller, snapped app window — but once you expand back to full screen, none of the windows grow back to fill the screen. Also, if you sign in to Gmail using the bundled Mail app, it won’t be aware of your most-used contacts unless you’ve entered them directly into the address book, or unless they also happen to be in your People hub. Those addresses should be recognizable based on all of the e-mails that the app has synced, but they’re not.
The bundled Messaging app will let you chat with Facebook and Windows Live friends, but it won’t allow you to sign in to AIM or Google Talk, arguably two of the most popular messaging systems. And the Messaging app itself is strange as a full-screen app, which is the default state for all apps. Chat is supposed to take place in little floating windows, not on a giant screen.
Most bizarre to me, though, was the fact that the OS only lets you use one browser (whichever one you’ve chosen as the default) as your Start Screen browser. If you download Chrome for Windows 8, you’ll need to set Chrome as your default browser for it work in the Start Screen environment. The same goes for Internet Explorer. If you want to use an alternate browser that happens to not be your default option, Windows will open in Desktop mode, which is jarring.
Just like any new software release, there are many little annoyances — things that you’d expect to work one way, but don’t. If these bumps sound minor to you, then yes, upgrade to Windows 8. Overall, I’d say it’s worth the effort of learning your way around the various quirks and wrinkles just to experience this entirely new way of interacting with a Windows machine. The touchscreen actions are a huge gain for usability, and the interface is gorgeous. I wouldn’t go back to Windows 7 after using Windows 8; I’d miss the touch controls too much. I even caught myself trying to touch my MacBook Air’s screen last night.
WIRED Touch and trackpad gestures are intuitive and make navigating the Windows 8 environment a breeze. Snapping apps is useful for multitasking. Desktop gets its own improved tools like Task Manager and File History. Windows 8 is pushing touch and all sorts of new hardware experiences, which is good for consumers. Good price for online upgrades.TIRED Windows Store is still relatively low on apps. Ambiguity between x86 and Windows Store apps in Microsoft messaging and when pinned on Start Screen. Windows 8 will take effort to get used to, and not all users want to learn a new operating system and interface. Microsoft risks alienating legacy users. Several feature details still need polish.
Source : wired
