5 Hot Microsoft Rumors (Microsoft's strategy for Windows 8 coming this fall)

Minyanville ^ | 08/22/2012 | Anthony Shields

[SeekAndFind]

MINYANVILLE ORIGINAL  As the fourth quarter looms on the horizon, so do this year’s major technology releases. Microsoft (MSFT) has plenty of new products in the pipeline that may give the company a much needed edge in its attempt to wrestle the title of top tech manufacturer from Apple (AAPL). Here are the five best rumors detailing their strategies:
 
1. Window’s 8 phone price and specs.
The next line of Windows phones are expected to be released in the fourth quarter of this year to compete with Apple’s iPhone 5.  This week, information was leaked from Samsung (SSNLF) in regards to the estimated price difference of the two different models, the Samsung I8370 and the I8570, and their specs. 
 

Samsung 18370	Samsung I8570
-  A 4.0-inch Super AMOLED WVGA screen -  A dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor -  A 5 MP rear and a 1.9MP front camera. -  8 GB internal storage expandable via a microSD slot	-  4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD screen -  1.5 GHz dual-core Krait -  8MP rear and 1.9MP front camera -  16 or 32 GB internal storage expandable via a microSD slot

The I8370 model is reported to be priced somewhere between $431-$554, while the high end I8570 should be priced around $615-$738.
 
2. Windows 8 and Windows 8 Phone will support the Unity game engine.
Although users found the game options of the Windows 7 phone to be lacking, Windows 8 will have a noticeable edge over its predecessor with the addition of the Unity engine. The recently developed Unity 4 is a creation tool used by over 500,000 developers across almost all video game platforms. Unity technologies CEO David Helgason stated that Unity didn’t support the Windows 7 phone because of its “relatively closed” nature, but expressed optimism about the engine’s use in Windows 8 phones.
 
3. Windows RT tablets could start at $300.
In an interview with Bloomberg last week, Lenovo’s (LNVGY) North American head of American Operations, David Schmoock, stated, “RT will play in consumer and retail at very aggressive price points.” While the Intel (INTC) powered Windows 8 tablets will be priced around $600-$700, the RT tablets are reported to be $200-$300 cheaper. This would significantly undercut Apple’s latest iPad, which starts at $499. Still, at these levels, the tablet would still find competition from the $199 Android (GOOG) Nexus 7, though Microsoft's decision to lift its licensing restrictions for the tablet (thus allowing it to run different operating systems) could see it replacing the Nexus completely.

4. Microsoft’s Windows 8 Pro OS will cost $199 after the promotional pricing.
Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro copies will be available from retailers on October 26, with the Pro upgrade priced at $69.99. However, after January 31, 2013, the upgrade cost will rise to $99.99, and will be priced at $199 on its own. Microsoft has also announced that any existing Microsoft customer that uses XP, Vista, or 7 will be able to upgrade to 8 Pro for the low price of $39.99, if purchased online.

 

5. Microsoft partners with University of Missouri.
Microsoft reportedly partnered with the University of Missouri’s Reynolds Journalism Institute with the intention of creating a new lab to develop apps for the Windows 8 operating system. Microsoft signed a three-year contract with RJI, and initially paid $100,000 to equip the lab. Randy Picht, the executive director of RJI, is optimistic about the partnership, believing that its Futures Lab will encourage students and faculty to gain valuable experience with the latest technology, and produce unique innovations for its systems.

[MasterGunner01]

Forgive me if I remain UNIMPRESSED by Windows 8.

[JAKraig]

Forgive me if I remain UNIMPRESSED by Windows 8.
_____________________________________________________________

Heck I thought 95/98 was just fine. It took a long time to switch to XP but when I did I liked how simple it was to find things. I had a few Vista machines and still do, its ok after SP1 but got 7 and really like it. I have played with 8 and so far I t hink I like it too. 8 will be best on a tablet. On a desktop 8 is little different from 7 if that is what you want, and it is what I want. What I really want is to get rid of the Ipad. I like much of what the Ipad is but I hate it being a closed platform. It is so difficult to keep my PC and Ipad synced so that it is useful. With 8 on two machines, the desktop and tablet it will be almost like have my desktop with me all the time.

[MasterGunner01]

Microsoft seems to have a pattern of alternating OS that go from great to abysmal to great, etc. Windows 95/98 was great; Windows Millennium Edition wasn't; Windows XP was great; Windows Vista wasn't; windows 7 is great. Whither Windows 8? Based in history, better wait for Windows 9.

[rlmorel]

"...With 8 on two machines, the desktop and tablet it will be almost like have my desktop with me all the time..."

I appreciate that sentiment, but...the desktop you have on both of them will be Windows 8. I work in IT, and all of the IT people I speak to (to this point) are scratching their heads. They (and I) cannot see how this will make inroads into the enterprise world.

But, it remains to be seen. Sometimes things that look completely unusable can work out after one gets accustomed to the interface.

[ExGeeEye]

Do not want!

[Astronaut]

Have you tried it? I have the final version from Microsoft and it is really amazing. Gorgeous to look at. Slick to use. Fast. Stable. Truly innovative, where Apple just makes changes designed to help them sell more phones. Windows 8 is going to be a huge hit.

[Lx]

Please tell me I can use a different interface with 8, the one they show looks terrible and I hope it is only the interface with Windows phones.

Otherwise, I like 7, it does everything I need.

[MasterGunner01]

Nope. I’m happy with XP Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate.

[aft_lizard]

Looks aren’t everything. I use the desktop most of the time with 8 but will use the metro when I need to dig and stuff. It’s real beauty is definitely for tablets..I am just chomping at the bit to get the Surface RT.

[publius911]

Otherwise, I like 7, it does everything I need.

As do I, but I have a serious problem. After about 7(?) years with Windows XP I switched to Win 7 64-bit on a new laptop and Win 7 32-bit on an older desktop.

I should explain that I always have used a separate physical drive for ALL data, and reserve the original drive for program software only. This enabled me to replace XP with 7 without disturbing a single byte of all my previously saved (and backed up) data. Sometimes foresight actually works, in spite of Microsoft.

But I can't understand or fathom the Win 7 file management system. No lo comprendo. I Have no clue if I can find a file after I save it, or if I have multiple identical files.

Does anyone know of an article or tutorial (understandable to normal humans) that explains the logic and intricacies of this improved filing system?
Windows 7 for Dummies is useless. It starts with subjects no one has problems with and does not address the options to configure it so it at least looks familiar to Win XP veterans.

Help!

[Lx]

That’s odd, I never noticed the difference in the files system from XP to Vista to 7.

I think what you need to do is go to the folder icon in the control panel and set the options you want. I always turn on the full file path and check to show hidden files.
I uncheck:
Hide empty drives in the computer folder.
Hide extension for known file types.
Hide protected operating system files
Once you are done, click on the button on type that says, “Apply to folder” to apply these settings to all folders.

This might help you.

[publius911]

Thank you for those tips. I haven't even found how to show file extensions, LOL.
Strange, every new normal person Win 7 user I know (not a geek or power user) felt comfortable with XP and get a deer-in-the-headlights look when trying to understand a new machine with Win7 on it, set to what are presumably default settings.

[publius911]

That’s odd, I never noticed the difference in the files system from XP to Vista to 7.

I neglected to address this little wrinkle.
We must be using different versions of Win 7, I supect.
No difference?
Libraries???

My son, who is a project manager at Cisco Systems in Silicon valley, tried to explain the concept as an internal collections of links.
When my brain started smoking, we both gave up.

[Secret Agent Man]

I’m sorry the main win8 screen looks totally gay.