Secret funds case: List of 282 journalists made public

ISLAMABAD: The list of the 282 journalists who received payments and gifts from the secret fund of the information ministry was made public following a Supreme Court order.

Jasmeen Manzoor, Arif Nizami, Saleh Zafar, Munizhe Jehangir, Rameeza Nizami, Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, Asma Chaudhry, Sherbano Taseer, Raza Rumi, Amir Mir, Sohail Warraich, Nazir Naji and Baqir Sajjad Syed feature on the list, among others.
According to the rules and regulations, the purpose of the secret fund is only to obtain or uncover sensitive information necessary to protect ‘national interest/national security’.
It cannot be used for any other purpose, such as emergencies or incidental expenses. All withdrawals are supposed to come under specific heads and justifications.
Another list of 155 journalists who took gifts and payments from the information ministry will also be made public later.
A spokesman of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that secret funds have no link with Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), tweeted Radio Pakistan.
Background
SC Judge Jawwad S Khawja remarked during the April 11 hearing of the information ministry secret funds case that Rs300 million was apparently given away to a private television channel.
Journalists and members of the civil society demanded the Supreme Court make public the names of the private TV channel that received Rs300 million from the information ministry and of all those journalists who allegedly received huge payments from the ministry.

Secret funds case: List of 282 journalists made public

Top 5 Cydia Tweaks iPhone 5,4S, iPad Mini, 4, iPod Touch After 2013 Jailbreak 6.1.3 & iOS 6.1.2

CNET Analysis: NEW TOP 5 Cydia Tweaks for the iPhone 5, 4S, 4, 3GS, iPad 4, iPad Mini and the iPod Touch 5G & 4G. Awesome new Tweak List for iOS 6.1.3, the Evasi0n Jailbrea…

Twitter, BBC America team up on branded video advertising

CNETAnalysis: Not content to just launch a music discovery service and companion iOS app this week, Twitter has paired with BBC America to provide video ads embedded into tweets. AllThingsD reported Thursday that BBC America and Twitter have inked an advertising deal, only days after the real-time communications service was rumored to be in similar talks with NBCUniversal and Viacom. Best known for shows like Doctor Who and Top Gear, BBC America confirmed the deal with a tweet of their own, while promising more “details to come” on its Tumblr page . The tweet describes the deal as the first to offer “in-Tweet branded video synced to entertainment TV series” following an earlier Twitter experiment with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) March Madness basketball. How it works As described by AllThingsD , the advertising model allows content owners to post a brief video clip via Twitter, who is paid up-front for its distribution and promotion services. Revenue generated by the ads are then split between Twitter and the content owner, offering the microblogging service a far more lucrative slice of the television advertising pie. Of course, there’s nothing preventing TV networks from posting video content to Twitter even without a deal in place, but the social network may have at least one trump card up its sleeve. As part of a $90 million purchase of data startup Bluefin Labs earlier this year, Twitter can now provide advertisers with valuable consumer data on which TV shows are hot, which can then in turn be used to better target those advertising dollars on the same service.

Microsoft bigwig quits as Windows sales stagnate, but Xbox is doing just fine

CNETAnalysis: Peter Klein, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer, has announced he will be leaving the company at the end of June. The announcement is obviously bad news for Microsoft. Although Redmond just posted a 18 per cent revenue jump in its third-quarter results , that doesn’t change the fact that global PC sales are on a major down right now. The released numbers might also fail to turn around general opinion of Microsoft right now, with Forbes reporting last week that Goldman Sachs has downgraded its stock rating for the company. CF-Go “The bold bets we made on cloud services are paying off as people increasingly choose Microsoft services including Office 365, Windows Azure, Xbox LIVE, and Skype,” said Steve Ballmer in a statement on the website. “While there is still work to do, we are optimistic that the bets we’ve made on Windows devices position us well for the long-term.” When it comes to its Entertainment and and Devices Division, however, Microsoft is doing pretty well, seeing a 56 per cent increase over the same period last year. The Xbox Live userbase has also had a 18 per cent jump in the same time. A new CFO will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stats point to Chromebook failure

CNETAnalysis: Some first usage figures for the Chromebook have surfaced, suggesting that Google’s netbook has failed to resonate in the post-PC age. NetMarketShare reported that during the first week of monitoring Chomebook web activity, only 0.02 per cent of overall traffic came from the Google OS system. The Chromebook first began shipping in June 2011, with talk that it would see off Windows and shake up the post-PC market. But it looks like the device might have hit at the wrong time, with the netbook category ailing rapidly. But wait… However, this might not be the whole story. Stephen Baker, industry analyst with the NPG Group in the US, told PCWorld that despite these poor figures the Chromebook still owns over 20 per cent of clamshell notebook sales below $300 (£195/AUS$290). “In terms of sales volume, we have been extremely impressed with how the new Chromebooks are doing at retail,” he said. “It’s selling at a pretty decent rate for a product that retailers have been reluctant to support.” So is it or isn’t it? The Chromebook’s internet-only approach has been very divisive, with the popular belief that the device is still too ahead of its time. Perhaps when we finally find ourselves in a world of constant internet access, the Chromebook might not seem such a bad idea to a lot of people. We’ve contacted Google to ask them to comment on this information and will update as and when we hear more. Related Stories RIP netbooks, set to fade away completely in 2015

Microsoft bigwig quits over PC woes, but Xbox is doing just fine

CNETAnalysis: Peter Klein, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer, has announced he will be leaving the company at the end of June. The announcement is obviously bad news for Microsoft. Although Redmond just posted a 18 per cent revenue jump in its third-quarter results , that doesn’t change the fact that global PC sales are on a major down right now. The released numbers might also fail to turn around general opinion of Microsoft right now, with Forbes reporting last week that Goldman Sachs has downgraded its stock rating for the company. CF-Go “The bold bets we made on cloud services are paying off as people increasingly choose Microsoft services including Office 365, Windows Azure, Xbox LIVE, and Skype,” said Steve Ballmer in a statement on the website. “While there is still work to do, we are optimistic that the bets we’ve made on Windows devices position us well for the long-term.” When it comes to its Entertainment and and Devices Division, however, Microsoft is doing pretty well, seeing a 56 per cent increase over the same period last year. The Xbox Live userbase has also had a 18 per cent jump in the same time. A new CFO will be announced in the coming weeks.

T-Mobile iPhone 5 Unboxing and Speed Test

CNET Analysis: iReignTech’s Eray Dursun unboxes his T-Mobile iPhone 5 and shows off his great 4G speeds!

Smaller Windows 8 touch devices are on the way

CNETAnalysis: Smaller Windows 8 devices are arriving in the coming months. How do we know? Well, Microsoft basically just said as much. During its third quarter fiscal year 2013 earnings call today, CFO Peter Klein talked about Microsoft’s plans to offer more devices through its OEMs that hit more attractive price points as the year unfolds. “As part of this, we are also working closely with OEMs on a new suite of small touch devices powered by Windows,” he said. “These devices will have competitive price points partly enabled by our latest OEM offerings designed specifically for these smaller devices, and will become available in the coming months.” Klein didn’t talk about Microsoft’s own plans for a smaller, touch-enabled device, though with the recent reports that have surfaced about a 7-inch Windows tablet cooking, there’s a good chance we’re only months away from a smaller Surface hitting store shelves. Staying Surface strong Last month, Microsoft revised its display resolution requirements for OEMs , taking the number from 1366 x 768 to 1024 x 769, meaning a 7- to 8-inch Windows 8 device could be built with the proper res. Microsoft readily admitted during the call that it was affected by the decline in the PC market, but Klein said it’s also “working to increase our share in tablets.” There are more niches for Microsoft to fill in the tablet space, so we expect some new-sized models to land before long. Now, we’re taking small to mean 7 inches or so, but what about something even smaller, like say, a watch ? That’s likely a ways from release, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. The company did report a growth of revenue, racking in an adjusted US$18.8 billion, though the Windows division stayed flat. Net income sate at US$6.06 billion. Looking ahead, Klein spoke about the release of Windows Blue , which he said “further advances! the vision of Windows 8 as well as response to customer feedback.” The company also plans to improve the user experience of Windows 8 across not just Surface as well as a broad array of price points going forward. Later this year will also bring competitively priced Intel Bay Trail-based products, Microsoft said. Related Stories Galaxy Tab 3 Plus ‘Roma’ specs are more impressive in latest leak

Samsung flexible screens reportedly warbled by delay

CNETAnalysis: There’s been a lot of hubbub surrounding flexible displays this past year, but now it looks like one of the technology’s main advocates may have hit a snag. According to the Korean site etnews , Samsung Display’s efforts to get flexible displays out to market have been stalled by problems with the displays’ encapsulation technology. Encapsulation technology helps protect displays from damage from moisture and air, but the encapsulation process patent that Samsung purchased from a company called Vitex Systems in 2011 reportedly takes too long in the manufacturing stage. Samsung is looking to replace the technology with a more efficient process, etnews said this week, which means it could still be a while before flexible displays take off commercially. Flexible displays: the future? According to the Korean site, Samsung’s biggest flexible screen obstacle previously was related to its plastic substrate technology, but that problem is a thing of the past. The encapsulation manufacturing problem is an unforeseen complication, though, and Samsung is looking to replace its current Vitex Systems technology, according to this week’s report. Samsung began pushing its flexible phone agenda in earnest this year, introducing its Youm brand flexible OLED displays at CES in January. Since then, rumors have emerged that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 will be the first commercial flexible smartphone , though more recent leaks could contradict that. Oddly, etnews published a statement from Samsung Display that appears to contradict its own report: “As we have accumulated expertise in this field, progress is being made in substrates as well as encapsulation technology. We have developed a new technology than sic can shorten the encapsulation process to less than 2 minutes by using the Vitex System-developed encapsulation technology.” We’ve asked Samsung to clarify that stateme! nt, but so far we haven’t heard back.

Updated: CTIA 2013: 10 things we expect

CNETAnalysis: We’re heading back to the desert sun of Las Vegas for a tech show, and no, not CES . Come May 20, we’ll join thousands of journalists, exhibitors and eager attendees in populating the Sands Expo & Convention Center for four days of seminars, press conferences, interview hunting and exhibit floor meandering for CTIA 2013, the annual industry tech show. Here’s the latest on what we’ve heard about CTIA: Verizon wants us to save the date What’s this in our inbox? A save the date invite from Verizon for May 22? “Join Verizon Wireless for a Special Announcement at CTIA,” it read. Intriguing. During MobileCon, Verizon reveled in it’s 4G LTE dominance, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the company took yet another opportunity to talk up just how many American’s its high-speed network covers. Another take is that we’ll get word on a new product, with our hearts hoping it’s Verizon’s own version of the HTC One. TechRadar will be there live, so tune in at 11 a.m. May 22 for more. Read on for our predictions of what we expect to see at this year’s show… We hit up MobileCon (hosted by CTIA) in San Diego last year, and though a name reversal may be in order, CTIA 2013′s got a more mobile and consumer focus than the Southern California show. While it’s no Mobile World Congress , CTIA is the perfect place to take the pulse of the industry following the unveiling of a multitude of new mobile devices, including the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 . We don’t expect a large number of product unveilings, though there’s always the chance someone could decide to surprise the crowd. What we do anticipate is a load of news surrounding carriers, coverage, apps, accessories, NFC, and mobile commerce, plus the opportunity to go hands on with products making their first public appearance. Oh yeah, and Ashton Kutcher will be t! here. 1. Deutsche Telekom talks T-Mobile Thomas Kiessling, chief product and innovation officer at Deutsche Telekom – T-Mobile’s parent company – is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech during CTIA 2013. Kiessling’s job description alone is reason enough to want to hear what the PhD has to say: According to his bio blurb on the CTIA website, Kiessling is in charge of Group-wide innovation strategy, product development and corporate R&D. He controls DT’s product portfolio and defines the amorphous Group’s product roadmap. Interesting enough, but we expect Kiessling to give us a little taste of T-Mo-related news during his speech. The carrier is in the midst of testing its very own 4G LTE network in the arid air of Las Vegas, and what better place to announce developments in the area than the birthplace of its ultra-high speed connectivity initiative? The company announced plans to push 4G LTE out to 100 million U.S. customers by mid-year, and May is knocking on mid-year’s door. We also expect some mention of Apple products to slip out of Kiessling’s mouth. T-Mobile is crouching on the starting line in terms of delivering the iPhone 5 to customers – the only thing we’re missing is a release date and pricing. The last bit is particularly intriguing considering T-Mobile’s plan to abolish traditional carrier contracts. Kiessling may use the CTIA stage to make an announcement, and we wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest. 2. Sprint, AT&T and U.S. Cellular spill on consumer goods Based on our MobileCon experience, carriers are more keen on talking up the enterprise side of things than the consumer side, but that’s only on surface. Once they get chatting, carriers are quite willing to spill the goods on things that matter to the Average Joe. We’ll pin Sprint, AT&T and U.S. Cellular down to talk coverage, competition and upcoming devices at CTIA 2013. In fact, Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular, w! ill be in! the CTIA house, so we fully expect to get the low down on the smaller carrier’s plans for growth. We expect news from all of the above on how many Americans each is covering with 4G LTE, whether anyone is working on LTE Advanced, and insight into newly announced and still unrevealed devices. By showtime Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will already have been unveiled, though it could likely be awhile before we hear final word on when and for how much carriers plan on selling the device, so CTIA could be the time service providers start talking. Maybe we’ll catch wind of the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 ? YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVczr6XtwZs 3. Sony elaborates on contactless ecostyem Sony, which made a splash at CES and MWC, is heading to Sin City for CTIA, but plans to show a slightly different side of its business than mobile phones specifically. At the Sony booth, there will be plenty of near-field communications (NFC)/FeliCa enabled devices and products that fit into the lattice work of what it calles the “contactless ecosystem.” FeliCa, by the way, is a contactless IC card that Sony developed for transactions that can be completed in approx. 0.1 seconds. We’ll see the company’s NFC Dynamic Tag tech and the uses it has in both healthcare and wellness through a variety of OEM partner products. We’re anxious to see what Sony has in mind for this tech. Are we talking connected home, advanced transactions at various retail locations, improved healthcare and fitness, or a everything under the contactless sun? Sony is sure to have plenty of answers at CTIA. 4. American Express, Visa vent on NFC Speaking of NFC, both Visa and American Express (through its Open proxy) will hit the Strip for some convention love, and we’re gearing up to hear how we can knock down our credit card payments. Just kidding. With the States’ preeminent credit card companies occupying a chunk of exhibit space at a mobile-focused show, we can only expect some NFC and other mobi! le commer! ce-related announcements and products to rear their head. At MobileCon we got an earful from industry leaders in the mobile commerce space on challenges facing mobile wallets, but what solutions do traditional credit card companies have to offer for a world that is increasingly mobile? How can we keep sensitive information secure while also bringing greater convenience to our lives, particularly as a growing number of mobile devices adopt NFC tech? We expect to find out all at CTIA. 5. Is your phone App-solutely secure? As more and more of our personal and professional lives gets tucked away onto phones, tablets and laptops, mobile security is an inescapable concern. So how secure would you say your phone is? Or that app you used to pay your friend back for lunch? If we’ve gotten you a bit nervous, perhaps a trip to App-solutely Security: The State of Mobile Security, will make you feel better. Or maybe it won’t. It all depends on the conclusions drawn at this half-day educational event. It kicks off at 1pm on May 20, with a cocktail reception to calm worried nerves to follow. 6. Qualcomm calms down while giving us an earful Qualcomm and Vegas seem to go together like a bachelor party and complementary minibar – not well. The chip maker had a press conference it would probably like to forget at CES 2013, and thankfully its CTIA presence will be more subdued….we think. While it’s hard to tell exactly how Qualcomm plans on presenting itself at the end of May, we do expect to hear plenty about its chips and the larger mobile landscape. The company started the conversation at MWC, speaking at length about how its chips can help solve 4G LTE fragmentation in the U.S. and Europe, and we expect much of that dialogue to carry over into CTIA. There probably won’t be an all-new chip from the Qual folks, but we hope to hear about incremental updates, future partners and more about the company’s problem-solving powers. We just hope we don’t see Big Bird running around! . 7. Ente! r the iZone Apple is ever the host, never the guest. It either puts on an event, or doesn’t show up at all. So while you’d never catch an official iPhone presence at a CTIA show, there’s always a plethora of booths hawking the latest case or accessory for the MacBook, iPhone, iPad or whatever iThing is coming down the pipes. This year, CTIA has officially acknowledged the abundance of Apple accessories in attendance by granting them their own section of the show. They’ll all be corralled in the iZone, a 17,000 square foot shrine to some of the world’s most popular mobile devices. CTIA already published a list of iZone denizens , which includes noted case maker Incase, maker of stylish phone and laptop skins DecalGirl, and screen protection mogul iShieldz, to name a few. Obviously, these manufacturers aren’t limiting themselves to just iPhone and iPad accessories. Maybe they’ll already be selling straps for the rumored Apple iWatch ? 8. The wonderful World of Tablets Tablets have quickly become a common device for everyday life. They’re a great way to read, game, browse the web or occasionally get some work done. But for as much as they already do for us, there are those that are looking ahead to see how tablets can do more, and remain secure while doing so. The World of Tablets will take place on May 22 from 11:30am – 5:30pm. Host Open Path products has already published a laundry list of subjects it plans to broach. Here are the ones we find most intriguing: Tablet strategies to increase productivity Will that mean blocking games like The Walking Dead and Infinity Blade II? We hope not. The rise of phablets Can we address renaming/eliminating that awkward term? Tablets and interactive television: The second screen revolution SmartGlass and HBO GO are a match made in heaven, unless you’d like to actually concentrate on your show. Consumer usage habits- What will they pay for? A very good question, since being free and charging a mere ninety-nin! e cents c! an mean a huge difference in downloads. A lot of companies are still trying to crack this one. 9. Keynote speaker Ashton Kutcher? CTIA’s suit and tie crowd may be surprised to learn that Ashton Kutcher, of “That 70′s Show” fame, will be featured as a keynote speaker. Kutcher made waves in the early days of Twitter, beating CNN in a race to one million Twitter followers. More recently, he’s taken on the meaty role of playing Apple founder Steve Jobs in an upcoming biopic, not to be confused with the one Aaron Sorkin is currently writing . So Kutcher is obviously a modern dude who loves tech, but what does he have to offer the CTIA crowd? Perhaps a cautionary tale about thinking before you tweet? Kutcher had an awkward moment in November of 2011 when he tweeted “How do you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass as a hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste,” unaware that a Penn State sex abuse scandal was breaking. Obviously, he’s apologized, and has since handed the keys to his Twitter account over to his PR team. We wonder what the man would suggest for those without PR hacks to give our tweets a once over. 10. A three-day AppWeek Love apps? Of course you do. So make a visit to the Mobile Apps Pavilion in the middle of the CTIA show floor. For three days it’ll be home to specialty app designers and their products. While that’s a few ticks short of a week, we’ll let them get away with it. They’re promising a place to sit down, kick up your feet and watch demos of new and upcoming apps on big screen televisions. These aren’t the typical apps you’ll find on Google Play or iTunes, either. This is mobile software designed for internal use with government, medical, financial, entertainment and other industries. Pay a visit and you just might find the mobile designer your business needs, or get inspired for a new way to be productive on your device of choice.

Go through the Google Glass, with the latest issue of tech. magazine

CNETAnalysis: The latest issue of tech. – TechRadar’s weekly magazine – is out now for iPad and is packed with the greatest technology around. It takes a close-up look at Google Glass, Google’s foray into wearable technology that’s shipping to early adopters now. Inside, the magazine reveals the specs’ specs and all the reaction from those who have tried the technology. It may have only been announced but Twitter’s new music service is also detailed, as well as an analysis into Microsoft’s problem with the Start button. To celebrate the launch of Twitter Music tech. also reveals the best music-making apps for your iPad as well as reviewing the biggest phones around – interactive reviews no less. From the Samsung Galaxy Mega to the Asus FonePad, these giant devices are tried and tested by our expert reviews team. Tech talk And don’t forget about the regulars: Week tells you the things you need in your life right now, Video rounds up the best tech footage on the web. Bitcoin is explained in Talk, while the problem with in-app games purchases is this week’s big talking point. Download the tech. magazine today from Apple Newsstand and get the first five issues absolutely free . What are you waiting for?

BlackBerry 10.1 camera update one of numerous improvements

CNET Analysis: BB10 seemed like a breath of fresh air when it was first released, but it never takes long before users begin to see a few kinks in the armor, which is why an update will be welcome. Having already discussed some of the features of BlackBerry 10.1 and how the Q10 would see the most benefit from the update, we now thought we would look at some of the other features. The BlackBerry 10.1 camera update is just one of numerous improvements that will help to make the Z10 a far better device, as well as the upcoming Q10. The shooter will get a HDR camera mode, which is meant to capture a greater dynamic range, but the result is not always as good as what you would expect. Having said that, the camera software on the BlackBerry Z10 is already pretty decent, so another update will be welcome for owners. That’s not all, as BlackBerry 10.1 will also bring with it PIN to PIN messaging in BlackBerry Hub, APN editing will now be enabled, an improved version of Text Picker, Sharing menu will get a color change to black, like on the Q10, a facility to turn off alerts for certain apps, you will now be able to paste phone numbers into the dialpad, checking for updates will be easier, and much more, all of which can be explained by CrackBerry . It’s not a huge list of changes, but it's more than we had first assumed. I love my iPhone, but to receive an update like this would have been done over several iOS updates. What other updates would you liked to have seen with BlackBerry 10.1, or what other new features would you think version 10.2 would benefit from?

Microsoft joins the two-step boogie, adds more security in new update

CNETAnalysis: Throughout the rest of the week, Microsoft will be rolling out a new security upgrade for its accounts, which will provide a new two-step verification process. The accounts affected include Outlook, Skype, SkyDrive, Xbox and anything else that used to fall under the old Windows Live ID banner. With more than 700 million people using Microsoft accounts on various devices around the globe, that’s a lot of potential users that will no doubt benefit from stronger security provided by the new two-step process. The optional process has already been offered for services at commerce.microsoft.com and xbox.com, but is now being opened up to the rest of the Microsoft-using public. Microsoft doubles down While you can still use just the standard password to access any of your networking or email accounts, the voluntary second step requires a unique code to also be entered. This code is activated and sent to secondary devices or email accounts once you decide to take the necessary action to activate this new dual-layer measure. If you want to take advantage of the added layer of security, all you have to do is visit the Management page to get started. Some Microsoft apps and devices, like the Xbox 360 , don’t allow for two-step security. However, you can set up a specialized password specific to that device for added defense. Once you have set the new level of security up on your devices (laptops, phones, etc.), you set them to “trusted,” so you only have to enter the password/code combo the first time it’s activated. Other companies like Google and Facebook already use such security measures to provide as much of a barrier against hackers as possible. Seeing Microsoft take the necessary steps to help its user base stay safe as well as it can bodes well for the foreseeable future, but such tactics will only work as long as the consumers make use of them.

Apple 2013 – iPhone 5S, iOS 7, iPad 5, iPad mini 2, iWatch, iTV и др.

CNET Analysis: Apple 2013 – iPhone 5S, iOS 7, iPad 5, iPad mini 2, iWatch, iTV и другое – все слухи о новинках. Партней и магазин: http://applejesus.ru Twitter для скидок: …

Fancy a premium Windows 8 laptop with 221 ppi? Toshiba thinks you do

CNETAnalysis: Meet Kirabook, the Windows 8 laptop from Toshiba that could give Apple’s Retina-rowdy MacBooks a run for the money. The Kirabook is the first out of Toshiba’s Kira line, a new range of premium laptops, and it’s an impressive preliminary go. Spec wise Kirabook runs with a 13.3-inch screen that’s beset with a 2560 x 1440 resolution and what the company calls “PixelPure” touch technology. Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina houses 2560 x 1600 and slams 227 ppi into the screen, six more than Kirabook’s 221ppi. So, in a word, Kira is comparable, though it has the option of touch up its sleeve. Kirabook boon By even more comparison, Google’s Chromebook Pixel lauds 239ppi, but the real coup for the Kirabook is its pixel density, one that is the highest we’ve heard for a Windows laptop. Moving on, the body weighs 2.6 pounds and slips in at 0.7 inches thick, meaning it’s lighter and thinner than the Pro with Retina . There’s also an LED backlit keyboard and Harman Kardon speakers. As for the innards, this is where consumers way turn away in monetary fright. There are essentially three options for processors with three different prices: the one with an undisclosed chip costs $1,599, one with an Intel Core i5-3337U runs at $1,789 and one with an i7-3537U tops out at $1,999. Yes, it’s high end. If it eases the price pain, the i5 Kirabook does include 8GB of RAM and a 265GB SSD, though yet more powerful versions will be available. Kirabook buyers will also be given perks like a two-year warranty, “annual tune-ups” and “dedicated U.S.-based agents” as part of the package. Pre-orders are said to get underway May 3, followed by retail available availability on May 12 at Amazon, Best Buy, the Microsoft Store, B&H, Adorama and through the Toshiba website. While pricey, the promise of dedicated “agents” has ! us intrigued.

Using Windows Azure as your data centre

CNETAnalysis: Microsoft has intensified its efforts to increase take-up of its Windows Azure cloud platform. Last week it announced that the Azure Active Directory service was ready to use in production and launched the full version of its Azure based backup service. Today its Linux and Windows Server virtual machines (VMs) are moving from test to general availability, as part of the Windows Azure Infrastructure as a Service update. The move is part of the move to support companies developing a hybrid cloud – applications that connect to data and services across a number of data centres. “We want you to think about extending your data centre into our data centre, into Windows Azure” David Aiken, Windows Azure Technical Product Manager, tells TRPro. “We’re not saying a business should move everything into the cloud; we want to use the cloud in ways that make sense to the business.” He says the advantage is in getting things faster than with hardware in the office. “Many businesses still have the problem of this IT backlog,” he says. “How we could potentially clear this backlog using Windows Azure is based on the speed at which we’re able to deploy services. What could I get done if I could rattle through deployments at speed?” Possible scenarios include placing development and test labs on Azure, using it for SharePoint and SQL Server farms and to provide scalable, on-demand infrastructure for apps. Aiken also highlights virtual networking and connecting to on-premise and cloud infrastructure using a single identity with Azure Active Directory. Azure users now get access to a gallery of pre-built virtual machines running Windows Server, alone or with SQL Server, BizTalk or SharePoint already installed. The list also includes Linux VMs for OpenLogic CentOS 6.3, OpenSUSE 12.3, SUSE Linx Enterprise Server 11 SP2, Ubuntu 12.04 and Ubuntu 12.10. There is also a lib! rary of templates for content management including WordPress, Joomla and Drupal, plus e-commerce systems, wikis and other common server roles. If you prefer, you can upload your own VMs (for Microsoft’s virtual hard disk format; newer VHDx machines which will be converted to VHD) which provides the option of changing your mind if Azure doesn’t suit you. “You can take your SharePoint farm from Azure and spin it up on a Hyper-V box on premise. There’s no lock-in,” Aiken claims. Running servers in Azure is like running any other server, and new PowerShell cmdlets, available as part of the latest update, let you run scripts that can provision a VM, wait for it to boot and turn on remote PowerShell for further configuration. “In a single script you can connect, add a server, configure it, run an installer; as long as you can script it in PowerShell, you can run through everything you need to do in a single script,” Aiken says. You can script non-Windows virtual machine setup as well. “We provide a Node.js set of scripts that will run on just about any desktop or server OS. You can download the scripts on an Ubuntu client or a Mac and run them against Azure.” If you use a gallery image of Windows Server, the licence cost is already included in your usage based Azure billing, but that doesn’t cover the other Microsoft products. “If you use SQL Server, we will bill you,” Aiken explains. That does not apply if you upload your own virtual machine and you can use the licence mobility in enterprise agreements to apply your existing Microsoft licences to running the same products on Azure rather than on your own servers. But if you prefer to pay for usage, Aiken says using the gallery images lets you turn the usual up-front licensing costs into operational expenses; one of the typical benefits of using cloud services.

Predicting Samsung Galaxy S5 design from S4 concept

CNET Analysis: Limited pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 have already begun, with the release of the handset expected at the very end of the month, and shipping in the first days of May. However, it will not take long for people to envisage want the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be like, and if there will be a radical design change, as we had hoped to see with the S4? Predicting the Samsung Galaxy S5 design is not as tough as you might think, as a new concept of what the S4 could have looked like has just been released by Concept Phones , and we can see this being used in the next version. Well, we do hope Samsung does something special with the design of the S4 successor, because while the hardware has been given a much-needed spec bump, the design has stayed pretty much the same. Maybe Samsung is taking the same approach as Apple, as they never change their iPhone design every year, although it’s clear to see the Galaxy S4 is no minor refresh. Having said that, we cannot see Samsung getting away with the same design in 2014, so there needs to be some radical changes, we just wonder if this concept image above is something you would like to see incorporated on the S5? While the Galaxy S5 specs will not be up for debate just yet, because consumers need to get a feel of what the S4 is like, we do know they will be unhappy with some of the specs, but what these are we will just have to wait and see. However, we do know future Galaxy S4 owners will wish for Samsung to introduce an edge-to-edge display, so no bezel at all. There will also be calls for a flexible display, but we still do not know if this technology will be ready for mass production in 2014.

Dell loves Windows RT and thinks you should too

CNETAnalysis: Computing giant Dell isn’t giving up on Windows RT even though customers have been slow to react to the scaled down version (specifically for ARM-based tablets) of Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 8 . Neil Hand, vice president at Dell is reported by IDG to have said that Windows RT has “turned slower than we were hoping at this point in time”. Dell already has a Windows RT tablet on the market in the form of the Dell XPS 10 , which comes with a detachable keyboard similar to that of the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity . The XPS 10 didn’t particularly blow us away during our in-dpeth review, garnering a mediocre 3 out 5 stars, and if we’re honest we’re yet to be really dazzled by a Windows RT tablet. In for the long haul It looks like Dell is willing to take its time with Windows RT, allowing the platform to grow with Hand noting: “over the long haul it shouldn’t matter if it tablets is Windows on ARM, Windows on Intel, Windows on anything else”. Those hoping for a smaller Dell tablet may be out of luck for now, with the American firm focussed on the 10-inch arena for the time being, as these larger devices can sport bigger batteries and can be docked easily into a laptop style keyboard. That’s not to say the firm isn’t looking at the increasingly popular 7- to 8-inch tablet spectrum and Hand said “we’ll make sure we are strong and aggressive in the consumer price/consumption driven piece of the market”. So watch this space. Related Stories Updated: New Kindle Fire release date, news and rumours Microsoft to take on iPad mini with 7-inch Surface Quad-core Windows 8 tablets could be ticket to the top Is Nokia considering a keyboard-equipped tablet? Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 could be double trouble as 8- and 10.1-inch variants leak

Blip: Kama Sutra app for iOS makes the tantilizing Twister easier to recreate at home

CNETAnalysis: Put a neck tie on the door knob, folks. We got us some sex to talk about. A new book and iOS app combo is claiming to teach the lessons of the Kama Sutra in a way that may help those baffled by the ancient text before. If you’ve ever struggled to follow the instructions that come with new IKEA cabinets, this could be for you. Using augmented reality (AR) the app brings the positions of the Kama Sutra to life, creating a 3D model of the action on the screen of the iPad. Reality, augmented Going by the woeful title Kama Xcitra, the book includes AR recognition prints on its pages which the app can “see” through the tablet’s camera and it places the animated models within the virtual boundaries of these prints. You can move the camera around the models at see them from all sides. Similar technology was included with the Sony PlayStation Vita game console, allowing gamers to create a virtual game space in their living rooms. It doesn’t seem like the models in the tutorials can be heavily customised — you can’t switch the genders around, for example — but the publisher does advertise that the skin colour can be changed to “reflect the reader’s preferences”. If this is exactly the spice you’ve been looking to add to your evenings (mornings and lunchtimes) you can grab a copy of the book from the publisher’s website , or from Amazon. More blips You can read more news nuggets here . Netflix waves goodbye to Silverlight, embraces HTML5 Google launches Person Finder in response to Boston Marathon blasts This 90-year-old enjoys Oculus Rift probably more than you will Via The Guardian

Galaxy Tab 3 Plus ‘Roma’ specs are more impressive in latest leak

CNETAnalysis: A new set of specs for an upcoming Samsung tablet that reportedly carries the codename “Roma” leaked today to form an impressive image. The last time we heard the name Samsung Roma was January, when it was attached to a leaked Samsung tablet with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. “Roma” could be the codename for the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus, part of a range that was half expected to debut at Mobile World Congress 2013 . It didn’t, but after two (contradictory, we might add) leaks this week it seems the Galaxy Tab 3 Plus “Roma” could be close to a debut. Roma = Galaxy Tab 3 Plus? The first 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 leak this week came Monday, and though the word “Roma” was never mentioned, a 1280 x 800 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and 3-megapixel camera (all of which reportedly matched an 8-inch counterpart) were. Those specs were topped off by 1GB of RAM and a 7000mAh battery. Android Community reported on that leak, but amended its stance with a new post today alleging that the aforementioned 10.1-inch tablet will actually be significantly more impressive. This is where “Roma” came back into play. The new leaked specs peg the Samsung Roma tablet (model number P-8200) with Android 4.2: Jelly Bean , a 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 display, a dual-core 1.7GHz Exynos 5 processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage, and a 5-megapixel rear camera with a 1.9-megapixel camera on the front. Add to that a Mali-T604 GPU, a 9000mAh battery, microSD support, and options for 3G/HSPA or LTE, and the Roma / Galaxy Tab 3 Plus / whatever this device actually is comes out looking more impressive than was initially thought. We’ve asked Samsung to confirm some of the details in this report, but so far we haven’t heard back.

Apple offering replacements for Apple TV boxes with busted Wi-Fi

CNETAnalysis: Without Wi-Fi connectivity, an unthethered Apple TV set-top box might make a decent coaster, or maybe a makeshift hockey puck? Beyond that it’s difficult to think of many plausible uses for the little blighter. So it’s good to hear that Apple has opened a replacement programme for the small number of users it says are experiencing issues with the wireless connections on their devices. The company revealed the problem is affecting a limited number of owners of the most recent third-generation, £100 (USD$100, AUD$109) media streamer. Apple has informed staff at retail stores: “Apple has determined that a very small number of Apple TV (3rd generation) products might experience one of these Wi-Fi related connectivity issues: Cannot locate network, Unable to join network, Dropped or intermittent connection.” Help is on the way If an Apple technician or store employee believes the unit is being affected by the issue then it’ll replace the device free of charge, providing it matches the identified serial number criteria. The offer of a replacement, uncovered by 9to5Mac , is valid for up to two years after the original purchase date.

Potential iPhone 5S camera vs. Galaxy S4 and Xperia Z

CNET Analysis: The current iPhone was 6 months old at the end of last month, and as you would imagine there has been a lot of talk about its successor, which if history is correct will be the iPhone 5S. If Apple stick to their release cycle then this will only be a minor upgrade, but there are a few features we can look forward to, if we can believe recent rumors that is. Over the past few years Apple has upgraded the camera on their iPhone, and we have reason to believe the iPhone 5S camera will also benefit from a spec bump . The iPhone 5 currently makes use of an 8-megapixel sensor, the successor could pack a 12-megapixel sensor instead. If this is true, then the iPhone 5S sensor would be pretty similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Sony Xperia Z, which both have a 13-megapixel sensor. However, Apple always likes to one-up their rivals, so we are not surprised that the camera upgrade could improve taking photos in low-light conditions. Apple has already improved in this area with their previous iPhones, so it seems they wish to carry one this trend. Little is known about the technology, but if we can believe those rumors, then the iPhone 5S camera could be one of the best to offer night shooting and HDR. Do we really need more megapixels? Apple looks as though they are following a trend that both the Galaxy S4 and Xperia have gone down, but maybe they should not bother about having more megapixels when the images will only end up on Facebook and concentrate on making the sensor larger to improve night shots? Although, it does look as though Apple wants to achieve both. Thanks to Mac Rumors .

RIP netbooks, set to fade away completely in 2015

CNETAnalysis: It’s not the world’s boldest prediction, but a research firm is saying that the netbook will be dead by 2015. Research house IHS iSuppli cites the netbook’s falling shipments as evidence – its figures show that demand dwindled from 14 million in 2012 to an expected 4 million netbook shipments this year. It doesn’t see a recovery coming – IHS says shipments are likely to bottom out at a quarter of a million in 2014 then fade away to zero in 2015 and beyond. RIP We’ve heard talk of the death of the netbook before – ever since the iPad put tablets in the picture in 2010, netbook makers have shuffled uncomfortably in sales meetings and coughed awkwardly to obscure figures. Dell , Samsung , Toshiba and Intel have all hinted at consigning netbooks to the great charging port in the sky, with Dell taking the plunge and ditching them altogether and Toshiba calling time on the teeny laptops in the US. PC sales have been slipping over the last few years – take another bow, tablets – but some analysts argue that this is simply because tablet take-up is lengthening the computer’s lifecycle. Either way, with tablets’ growing dominance and thin-and-powerful laptops like the MacBook Air and Intel Ultrabooks growing more affordable, no one but no one will be surprised to say goodbye to the netbook in 2015.

Mobile malware jumped 163 percent in 2012, mostly on Android

CNETAnalysis: Smartphones seem a little dumber today, falling victim to 163 percent more malware in 2012 than the previous year, according to a new report. The NQ Mobile 2012 Security Report found that this was especially true for devices running the Android operating system, with nearly 95 percent of malware found on Google hardware. That amounts to more than 32.8 million Android devices infected in 2012 when just 10.8 million were host to malware in 2011. App Repackaging was the most common method used by malware authors, the report found, followed by malicious URLs and SMiSishing . Mo’ mobiles, mo’ problems Of course, Android does have a larger market share this year, with Google expecting to top one billion device activations by the end of 2013. There were just 300 million as of early in 2012, TechCrunch points out. Knowing this, it’s hardly fair to compare it to a discontinued platform like Symbian, for example, which ended up with a 4 percent infection rate. Malware by country Another reason Android continues to be the most malware-targeted mobile OS is that it’s more popular in pirate-heavy countries like China, India, and Russia. Out of all malware-infected handsets scanned, 25.5 percent were in China, 19.4 percent were in India, and 17.9 percent were in Russia. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia brought up the tail end of the five-country list, with 9.8 percent and 9.6 percent infection rates respectively. While instances of malware infections did not significantly increase from 2011 to 2012 in the U.S., the market is an attractive target for cybercriminals,” said NQ Mobile in its four-page report. “NQ Mobile expects to see an increasing number of attacks on smartphones in the region.” Tips for avoiding mobile malware NQ Mobile ended its report by offering a little advice for mobile device owners who are looking to reduce their chance of malware infection. First, keeping on top of o! perating system updates is almost always a good idea. “Two years after its introduction, more than 39 percent of Android users are still using Gingerbread,” the report notes. “As a result, these mobile consumers are lacking many of the major security updates provided by Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean .” With Apple’s track record for botched iOS updates , iPhone and iPad owners are given a pass on this one. The report also cautions the increasing trend of app sideloading outside of the Google Play store naivete youngers device owners. “According to Nielsen 58% of children aged 13-17 in the United States own smartphones.” “This is a demographic that not only downloads more apps (41 on average) but is also more open to downloading content and apps outside of Google Play (46 percent).” Basically, junior needs to stop downloading those “free” Android games that can collect sensitive data and aren’t actually free in the end.

Too late for Coachella, but YouTube for iOS app update adds live streaming

CNETAnalysis: The YouTube app for iOS devices now allows users to access events live streamed through the video sharing service. The update, posted to the App Store on Monday, comes just a day after the first weekend of YouTube’s live streaming of the Coachella music festival in Indio, California concluded. As many sites have already pointed out in their reports, it’s poor timing for those who would otherwise have been able to watch the hugely popular event on their iPhone and iPad devices. A live stream of Psy performing his new single Gentleman M/V aired on Saturday, while sporting events, press conferences and popular online multiplayer games often appear on the YouTube Live site. Send to TV enhanced The update also brings an enhancement for the AirPlay-style Send to TV feature, unveiled for iOS users in February after the initial Android roll out in November . Users can now queue-up videos to send to the compatible devices like Google TVs, and Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games consoles. The App Store listing also touts faster access to new uploads through ‘My Subscriptions,’ while there’s also stability and performance improvements.

We want spectrum: Verizon said to make a move on Clearwire

CNETAnalysis: Spectrum, that hot carrier commodity, is top of mind for one major U.S. network, so much so that said company reportedly put a good chunk of money where its mouth is recently. The Wall Street Journal , citing people with knowledge of the matter, reported today that Verizon offered as much as $1.5 billion to gobble up spectrum leases from Clearwire. These deals are never cut and dry, but complicating the matter is the fact that Clearwire already agreed to sell itself to Sprint, owner of a 50.8 percent stake in the firm. Yet another wrinkle is part of the fold: Japanese telecom Softbank wants to buy a controlling share in Sprint for $20.1 billion. Dish, meanwhile, just put a $25.5 billion bid up for Sprint , though one that the third-place carrier called “unsolicited.” Head spinner What’s more, Dish itself has an offer out to pick up Clearwire at $3.30 a share, and while Chairman Charles Ergen said Dish hasn’t formally rescinded its offer for Clearwire, it would honor Sprint’s should a deal between the two (Dish and Sprint that is) go through. Head spinning? Ours too. According to the Journal, any lease agreement would give Verizon swaths of spectrum in major U.S. markets. The deal would only give Verizon use of spectrum Clearwire leases, not owns. We shouldn’t see new Verizon service light up anytime soon as a result of a Clearwire deal: The latter is said to be reviewing the carrier’s proposal and will discuss it with “Party J” (Verizon, the WSJ’s sources said) and Sprint. Sprint could put up roadblocks to keep any Verizon deal from going through, but don’t expect that to stop Big Red. The company has been on a tear to pick up spectrum, last year dropping $3.9 billion to nab leases from a number of cable companies.

Dish says ‘me too!,’ puts unsolicited bid on Sprint

CNETAnalysis: After years of being ignored by potential suitors, third-placed U.S. carrier Sprint now finds itself being courted by not one but two potential buyers. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Dish Network has formally placed its cards on the table in a high-stakes bid for Sprint, a move that could fend off a planned acquisition by Japanese giant Softbank. Sprint confirmed receipt of the “unsolicited proposal” from Dish valued at $25.5 billion, an amount said to offer the carrier’s stockholders a 13 percent premium over Softbank’s offer of $20.1 billion for 70 percent of the carrier. “Sprint is in play,” Dish Chairman Charles Ergen said Monday, three months after the satellite provider asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the Sprint-Softbank merger. “We think we’ve made an offer that’s much more compelling than the Softbank transaction.” Mobile fast track The Sprint bid comes on the heels of an unconfirmed report from Bloomberg on Friday that Ergen “informally approached” T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom, which is wrapped up with its own merger of MetroPCS. Ergen’s offer includes a cash payment of $4.76 per share of Sprint stock and another $2.24 per share from Dish for a complete buyout, which the carrier’s Board of Directors will now be required to evaluate. Dish has made no qualms about its ambition to get into the mobile business, recently grabbing wireless spectrum and federal regulatory approval necessary to do so after flirting with the idea of a Clearwire buyout in January – oddly enough, a company in which Sprint owns a 50.8 percent stake. The U.S. satellite provider views Sprint as a shortcut to adding coast-to-coast high-speed internet and voice service to its existing video offerings, which could give its rural customers a wireless option for broadband. Which will Sprint choos! e? We may not know for sometime, but like “The Bachelor,” the story of this merger triangle should be an interesting one to witness.

In Depth: Microsoft: emphasis on Start Screen shackled Windows 8

CNETAnalysis: Not that bothered about Windows 8 ? You’re not alone. To even the most disinterested observer, it’s clear Microsoft has a lot work to do to get people enthused about its touch-centric efforts, and the forthcoming Windows 8.1 (Windows Blue) update is a big part of that. Global PC sales are in huge decline , and although Windows 8 isn’t totally to blame and some retailers have a better story , it’s palpable that Microsoft faces a massive challenge to keep Windows relevant and encourage us to upgrade our PCs – especially in the face of some depressing views from partners and rumoured price cuts . We met Microsoft’s Windows Product Manager Ian Moulster away from the show floor at the recent UK Gadget Show to get an update on how things are going with the OS. The change in tone from previous Windows 8 briefings we’ve experienced was marked. Gone were the big messages about the Windows 8 Start screen and Windows 8-style apps. The atmosphere was more introspective – has the Start screen been over-emphasised? 50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets “I’ve changed my pitch – I hate saying it’s my pitch – from starting with the Start screen to starting with the Windows desktop when I talk to people about Windows 8,” considered Moulster. “When you show them the desktop it looks like Windows 7 and in fact it is pretty much like Windows 7 except that it’s faster, it’s more secure, uses less power, starts up quicker and has interface tweaks across the board. “Essentially if you like Windows 7 you should like Windows 8 because it’s much the same only improved. And then on top of that there’s all the Windows 8 stuff which you can use when you’re ready to use it.” Too much, too soon? Moulster talked about how this “desktop first” approach may speak more to those migrating from Windows 7, ! with Microsoft possibly shifting the focus away from the new world of the Start screen at first. “To me that resonates more with certain people who are coming from a Windows 7 background so I’m just wondering whether emphasising the Start screen to everyone might not be the right way to do it for us and others too. “[The Start screen] is the new bit and it’s the exciting bit so we want to talk about it but actually for a lot of people it’s about doing their Windows 7 stuff and slowly get into ‘OK I can do other things as well’. And suddenly it’s ‘well, I’ve got all these free apps I didn’t know I had and I can play Angry Birds and gradually get into it’.” Windows Blue could bring boot-to-desktop back Moulster was also keen to find out what we thought about the new OS. When we brought up about the negative feedback from users we’ve received in comments on TechRadar, Moulster mused over whether there was a skew between early adopters and “people who are less techy”. He also suggested that coming to Windows 8 without stigma does have positive results on touch-based devices. “I bought my mother, who’s 76, a Surface and – obviously while I helped her somewhat – she loves it and just gets on with it. She does her email, online banking, she does everything. What she doesn’t use is the desktop. She doesn’t really know it’s there – she’s got fairly simple needs. “She had a laptop before and a netbook where the screen res was so low… It’s easy to use, so there’s that class of user that’s not at all tech savvy and as long as they’re starting from scratch with the Start screen, it’s actually more easy to use.” The app problem Although there are some great apps in the Windows Store – and numbers are in excess of 50,000 – we made the point to Moulster that we’d been surprised at the lack of big-name apps mate! rialising! at the Windows 8 launch . Skype and Twitter launched later, while Facebook (which Microsoft has a stake in, let’s not forget) still hasn’t appeared. “We of course still have the desktop and have all the apps there. I get asked ‘is there an iTunes app’ – well there kind of is, because iTunes works just as it always has done on the desktop. Use that, or Spotify or whatever. “The other key thing is that Internet Explorer 10 enables you to pin sites to the Start screen, so you can use that to access many web apps. Because it’s full screen, you kind of don’t know it’s not a [separate] app – the BBC iPlayer is a case in point, just pin the site to your Start screen. “What I don’t think we should be doing is starting [people] off saying the Windows 8 Start screen is where you should spend your entire life and forget about the desktop because most people don’t want to do that. In some ways it’s the other way around. “Start with what they know, install all the applications that they know they like and that work, and gradually start saying ‘yes, I can see how these apps can be useful to me’.” Windows 8.1 on the way We ask about Windows Blue and whether it points the way towards eventually getting rid of the desktop. Moulster tells us: “To be honest I don’t have an answer because I don’t know. I’m loathe to speculate. It seems highly unlikely to me. I haven’t seen anything either way. I’d be surprised, but that’s my personal view.” “I think it’s a continuation of us always building on what’s there. Windows 8 is built on Windows 7 and starts from where Windows 7 stops, and I don’t think there will be a change to that approach. We’d be crazy to throw anything away. “But what form that takes we’ll have to wait and see I suppose. I think we have said that we’ll be releasing updates more frequently, but precisel! y what th! at means I don’t know. There’s the apps as well, we’ve released plenty of updates to our apps.” We make the point to Moulster that much of the problem with the reaction to Windows 8 is actually around expectations rather than actual issues with the OS. “You’re correct,” he says. “It’s more of a perception than an actual issue. Yeah, sure, we want to have more apps in the store and I’m sure we will, but there are a lot of things you can do that people don’t realise you can do and it’s our job [to tell people]. “So a lot of it will be, the more people are using Windows 8 the more people will talk about it, so people will say ‘I’m using this tool, I didn’t know you can do that’ – it will catch on, that peer thing. But it will take time. “The comments you make aren’t surprising to an extent, it’s just that we need to work out how best to address it. I think the product does a lot, if not all, the things people want it to do. It’s about us being clear about how to achieve that without spending one-on-one time with everybody! These [public] shows are good because people come and most of them don’t have an axe to grind at all; they just want to know how to use it. Spend five minutes with them and they say it makes sense to them and they understand it. Helping people to choose a Windows 8 PC Is there an issue with having too much choice with Windows 8 laptops and Windows 8 tablets ? “I think we’ve got a job to do on the choice part as well. Choice is a good thing but then people get confused by it, so you’ve got to help them figure out what they’re looking for and what they need. The line we’ve taken with it is that you can pick the ideal PC for you, which might not be the right PC for somebody else. “We need to get people thinking that way – does it need to be thin and light, do I need a long battery life, does it need a big screen. ! When you ! figure those things out, you’ll probably find there’s a device that’s right for them. We need to help them find that device. “With Surface, because it’s our device, some people think this is it! Actually, there could be a much better device that’s a much better fit for what you want. We tend to forget that people don’t know [what to look for] because we’re so close to it. There’s an education job for us to do.” “So when we talk about Surface being seen as the key Windows 8 device, is it about making sure partners’ devices are on even keel? “I think it’s a decision path – if that’s not too bad a term to use – that includes our devices and all the rest too. It’s crazy to suggest that Surface is the perfect device for everybody because clearly some people don’t like it, they want a proper keyboard or whatever it is.” Does RT have a future? Has Windows RT made things more complicated, with the lack of support for desktop apps? “Yeah, I think again it’s about being clear about what people want. So if they’ve got Windows 7 programs they depend on, Photoshop for example, we need to be clear that they won’t work on RT and it’s not the right device for them. Simple as that. “Although there is the case that there might be an equivalent [Windows 8] app for them and so the other advantages such as long battery life means it’s a good choice. It is part of the decision-making process that we need to be clear about. I still maintain that having choice is a good thing, but it does complicate things somewhat. “It’s about getting people to use these devices and trying them out. It’s a tough one, as it usually means going into a retail store. It’s tough to get the value across on a poster. And it’s tough to get the message across – ‘this is Atom, this is ARM’. People don’t think about that, they think about wh! at they w! ant to do, if they need something for email or for 3D gaming. I guess that’s always been the case.” Finally, we also asked Moulster if he knew of any plans for RT, as other manufacturers seem to be pulling back from the OS . “We’ve specified support [duration, until November 2017 for Surface RT] … what the longer term plans are I’m not really privy to, but RT is a fully-fledged player. I can’t really say any more than that.” Moulster finishes on a positive note. “We’re encouraged by the solid initial sales of Windows 8, and as we announced recently there have been over 60 million licenses sold [market share is also on the rise ]. This is an exciting time in Windows and there’s a lot of energy around the work we’re doing.”

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 could be double trouble as 8- and 10.1-inch variants leak

CNETAnalysis: The sound of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 speculation is reaching a cacophonous state and the latest leak claims to have the specs for two tablets destined for the new range. Details turned up on Greek site Techblog which reckons it has exclusive information of the next slates to come out of the Korean firm, reporting that 8-inch and 10.1-inch models are on the way. According to the leaked specs, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 will sport an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 3MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 4500mAh battery and run Android Jelly Bean . It will apparently measure a svelte 209.6 x 112.1 x 6.95 mm – smaller than the 7.9-inch iPad mini – and weigh in at a tidy 330g, slightly heavier than its Apple counterpart. Big brother Over in the 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 court, the larger tablet is said to pack a screen with the same resolution plus the same processor, cameras and operating system as its 8-inch brother. RAM will apparently be dropped to 1GB, while battery is boosted to 7000mAh in the 10.1-inch version. In terms of dimensions this edition is set to be smaller and lighter than the 9.7-inch iPad 4 – which we find hard to believe – with the leaked specs endowing the 10.1-inch Samsung with a 256.7 x 175.3 x 8.7 mm and 533g body. If the leak is correct you’ll be able to pick both tablets up in 3G and 4G variants, with the 3G models going on sale in May, while the superfast LTE versions will arrive in June/July. Related Stories iPad 5 bezel ‘leak’ suggests iPad mini is about to go maxi Updated: New Kindle Fire release date, news and rumours Microsoft to take on iPad mini with 7-inch Surface Quad-core Windows 8 tablets could be ticket to the top Is Nokia considering a keyboard-equipped tablet?

Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 US release date after rivals teased

CNET Analysis: Anticipation for the Samsung Galaxy S4 release date is really starting to reach fever pitch now. The highly anticipated superphone is due out in the US at the end of this month and we now have some potentially crucial launch dates to bring you now on the Galaxy S4 on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. It is Big Red’s version of the device that is getting the most attention it seems though, partly due to the fact that Verizon are insisting on staying true to their now infamous silent tactics. AT&T and T-Mobile have already provided customers with a solid order-date, but Verizon is keeping everyone waiting. In our previous report, we told you that it was likely that a Galaxy S4 release date on AT&T would happen on April 26, followed by a T-Mobile launch on May 1. While this is still a rumor at this point, we do have some new evidence to back it up with the release of an internal document courtesy of Engadget. This document name drops the April 26 and May 1 launch dates for the AT&T and T-Mobile launches respectively, but we also have a potential Verizon Galaxy S4 release date as well to share with you, for the very first time. Considering that the dates for AT&T and T-Mobile match up, we could be seeing a Verizon release a month later than their rivals with a May 30 release date. After what happened with the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2, consumers are probably expecting a delay of some sort on the S4, especially with the continued silence from the company. How will you feel though if the device really is scheduled for a release one month after AT&T and T-Mobile customers receive their handsets? Are Verizon starting to lose some reputation over the staggered releases, or will they actually benefit from increased hype in this situation? Perhaps the question that we should be asking you, is whether you are willing to wait another month until May 30 to get one. Don’t forget that ! the dates are not confirmed yet, but definitely look promising and are something to bear in mind. The document cites the dates as ‘tentative’, but are you now feeling a bit ‘tentative’ yourself about buying the Galaxy S4 on Verizon?

‘Worried’ Samsung to embrace the metal with Galaxy Note 3?

CNETAnalysis: The near-universal standing ovation offered to the HTC One ‘s aluminium body may have convinced Samsung to up its design game, according to reports this weekend. The Korean company may have enjoyed a series of box office smashes with its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices, but each has been critiqued in some capacity for their plasticky, cheap-looking designs. Now, according to Sam Mobile sources, the company is “worried” by how the HTC One raised the stakes and plans to strike back with an improved build material for the Galaxy Note 3 , rumoured for later this year. The site wrote: “According to SamMobile’s famous insider, Samsung is planning to switch build quality for the next flagship device. He pointed out that the Galaxy Note 3 will not use the design guidelines of the Galaxy S4.” Taking Note The report didn’t elaborate on which material Samsung would be choosing for the Galaxy Note 3, but with the iPhone and HTC One going with aluminium, that would clearly be the favourite. Sam Mobile said the company had experimented with a metal Galaxy S4 , which was received very well internally, but would not have allowed Samsung to mass produce enough of the device in time for launch. The perception that Samsung phones lack the build quality of some of its rivals has helped the chasing pack cling to its coat-tails in the last 12 months. May the smartphone gods have mercy on their souls if Samsung really decides to go high-end with its design ethos. Related Stories Microsoft and Nokia file EU complaint against ‘trojan horse’ Google Has Apple left Samsung out in the cold over A7 chip project? Interview: Why ARM is still the tech giant you don’t really know Foxconn woes: is Apple’s time at the top over? Apple and Google accused of using legal dispute for media attention

Apple board member says ‘watch’, world chants ‘iWatch! iWatch!’

CNETAnalysis: Bill Campbell, a Silicon Valley heavyweight and Apple board member, has dropped a subtle hint that the company may be working on more ‘intimate’ tech, including the heavily rumoured iWatch . Campbell, who was a close personal friend of Steve Jobs, praised the Google Glass project as a ‘phenomenal breakthrough’ which would usher in a new era of technological intimacy. Speaking to employees at Intuit, the software firm where he serves as Chairman, Campbell said there were “a lot of things going on with the application of technology to really intimate things.” “When you start to think about glasses or watches, they become as intimate as the cell phone was.” Wristy business While this is far from confirmation that the company is indeed working on an iWatch, it will add to the growing feeling that something is indeed in the pipeline. Recent reports have suggested that Sir Jony Ive is behind the wearable iOS device , which is expected to perform many of the tasks currently fulfilled by the iPhone and iPad. Other reports have suggested it’ll be made of super-tough curved glass that’ll conform to the shape of the user’s wrist. The company is also said to have over 100 engineers working on the project, with a November launch date currently being touted.