Windows 8 Consumer preview 0

BARCELONA — Get ready all you consumers for your first taste of the future of Windows. Microsoft today announced that it’s rolling out a fresh preview of Windows 8 and this one, called the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, is for everyone to try.

Speaking at the Hotel Miramar, which is pearched atop a hill in Barcelona, Spain, and pretty near the Mobile World Congress event that has been going on all week, Microsoft Windows lead Steven Sinofsky unveiled the latest Windows 8 update and a passel of new hardware to run it. He called it “A bold reimagining of Windows”

This Metro-styling interface is not your father’s desktop OS. It’s not even your big brother’s desktop operating system. It looks and works differently–at least most of the time–than all Windows that have come before it (though you can still find a more familiar-looking OS just a mouse move or gesture away.)

The OS is designed to run on standard Windows PCs (anything that ran Windows 7) and ARM-based devices — think tablets.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is quite a bit different from the developers version released last year. All parts of it have been touched, said Sinofsky, and improved in Windows 8. “We have made over 100,000 code changes to Windows 8. So for many people, this is a whole new product,” said Sinofsky

He also said the OS is “alive at a glance” and that it can work from entry-level to hard-core users. It can scale across use scenarios and will work with Apps. Apps will work together “to get richer”. One app plus another app will be like three apps, said Sinofsky.

Microsoft started planning Windows 8 before Windows 7 was delivered, so devices that would support it didn’t even exist, said Julie Larson-Green Corporate VP for the Windows Management Program. They actually walked around the halls of Microsoft with cardboard cut-out to try and get a feel for how the Windows 8 tablet should work.

During the tablet demo, Larson zipped through the Metro-style interface to show how “fast and fluid” it is. A quick look at Internet Explorer in Windows 8 Consumer Preview shows how different the experience is than what you find on the standard windows Desktops.

XBox Games comes pre-installed to show your avatar, game achievements and player interactions. There are also casual game apps (in addition to standard PC games, which you can still run). Larson-Green demoed Cut the String. It also has built in music and video stores.

App navigation is also quite a bit different than program navigation in traditional Windows. Instead of alt-tab, you flick with your thumb to slide through apps or make a slightly different move to see a list of all apps running.

Antonine LeBlond, Corporate VP, Windows Web Services stepped on stage to demo Windows 8 Consumer Preview on a more traditional laptop, the Lenovo U300S, to how how you navigate the OS with your mouse and keyboard.
Windows 8 is not just about tablets, said Leblond, it’s also about PCs.

Windows 8 has a whole host of mouse and keyboard control options, LeBlond explained, that fingers great for large targets and gestures. Mouse is a precise pointing device, but not good for gestures. However, there are four spots on any interface that are critical for mouse control, the four corners, and they are now used to navigate Windows 8. Moving to one corner, for example, brings up a list of control “charms”.

Windows 8 also introduces the concept of share contracts that apps use to work with each other.

Also notable is that all Windows 7 apps still run on Windows 8 The hardware still works though, LeBlond says they have improved how some of these things work.

Windows 8 still has the Desktop, though Microsoft would like you to think of it “as a full-screen metro app. The desktop is also where you’ll find the new copy experience. A new Copy Action screen lets you can control and even pause copies as they happen. Interrupted copies are now recoverable.

Larson-Green then came back on stage to show a combo device: a touch-screen computer with a keyboard. Windows 8 “is not an either/or” said Larson-Green referring to the chose between a touch interface or mouse and keyboard control.

Microsoft used this portion of the demo to pitch its cloud-services: SkyDrive, which is pretty deeply integrated into Windows 8.

LeBlond then walked us through the Windows Apps store. It’s organized as you would expect with highlights apps and then categories you can peruse. Microsoft also ran an app-building contest and announced 8 winners, including SigFig, Puzzletouch and Physamajig. “Right now is the time to get your app out there for Windows 8,” said one winner.

Sinofsky then returned to the stage to explain what we just saw. You get to work the way you want to work. You can pick the form-factor you want without compromising.” He added that the apps that come with preview are “are a milestone behind the OS.” In other words all Apps that ship with preview are all subject to change. “It’s a a bit early to review or list the apps,” said Sinofsky.

Sinofsky called Windows 8 an “Unprecedented opportunity for developers.”

Microsoft also showed off some ARM-based hardware running Windows 8–though it was mostly reference-design tablets for ARM-based CPUs from Nvidia Tegra 3, Texas Instruments OMAP, Intel Clovertrail, and Qualcomm SnapDragon. Even on ARM, though hardware and software will work as it does on X*S systems, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint. All have been tuned for touch capabilities.

The event is underway now. We’ll add more details as they become available.

Nokia Lumia 610: A Windows Phone 0

Nokia announced at the Mobile World Congress the much leaked Lumia 610. It is the budget Window Phones aimed for the ‘younger audience’.

Uniquerobots

Lumia 610 is the first phone to break the strict hardware requirements of Microsoft. It is running Windows Phone 7.5 Tango. It is powered by a modest 800 MHz single-core processor, 256GB of RAM and a mere 8GB of internal memory. It is also packed with 5MP auto-focus camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port and a 1300mAh battery. Not bad for a phone that is likely to sell for less than €200.

Microsoft apparently made restrictions on the performance of phones running on low amount of RAM to make it smooth and responsive. It turned off some of the background tasks like automatic upload to SkyDrive and Bing Local Scout. But users will still be able to play music in the background.

The Lumia 610 is expected to be launched in Q2 of 2012.

Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles 0

When the folks at Nokia took us aside and asked if we'd like a preview of the latest features slated forNokia Drive, we knew something good was in store. Our intuition wasn't wrong. The next version of Nokia's navigation software will focus on commutes -- aiming to make the daily chore easier by learning driving habits, identifying regular trips and providing users with live tile updates that estimate journey times and traffic flow. Nokia Drive 3 will automatically query this data 30 minutes before an established commute is expected to begin, and will also provide drivers with suggested quicker routes to their destination. The traffic data is gathered both from traditional navigation sources and other Nokia Drive 3 users -- we're told this latter bit is completely optional and, while the privacy policy is quite explicit, the company insists it doesn't personally identify users.

Nokia tells us the software interface isn't finalized, so what you see in the Flash demonstration may change before Nokia Drive 3 arrives in the coming months. You'll find a demonstration of the new My Commute feature, from the creator himself, right after the break.

High Speed Bus (mach) 0

Welcome to a new mode of transportation. With each day bringing new advancements to the way we live and work, shouldn’t our bus be advanced too? Meet the next evolution of mass transportation, MACH, designed to fit the 21st century lifestyle. Mach high speed bus is very fast, more luxurious and more environment friendly than any other bus on planet earth. The bus is designed aerodynamically to reduce air drag coefficient, which enables the bus to reach high speeds effortlessly with less fuel consumption. The bus construction is based on monocoque carbon fibre chassis, which has more strength than steel & weighs less than aluminum.

Designer : Abhi Muktheeswarar

MACH high speed bus is powered by hydrogen, which provide power to spin the electric motors mounted on each wheels. It has Active Push-rod Type Magneto-rheological Fluid Suspension System which provides a comfortable ride & good handling characteristics on any surface. As speed increases, safety decreases. So this bus is provided with all the state of the art active & passive safety systems for a faster & safer journey. The reinvented Bus is ready. Are you?

Robotic vacuum cleaner 0

Cleaning up a mess should be fun, perhaps this was what in this industrial designer’s mind when he came up with Scorio robotic vacuum cleaner. Cleaning can be so boring, especially when you hate this activity, so it would be great when cleaning activity as fun as playing a game. Inspired by scorpion, thisconcept robotic vacuum cleaner adds gaming factor in its mechanism, in fact, long term use of this unit can help release your stress.

Powered by lithium ion battery, Scorio is a remote operated vacuum cleaner so that you can sit comfortably and operate this robot just like any other remote control toys but this one cleans your room.

Designer : Anoop M

Scorio robotic vacuum cleaner consists of two brushes that move independently, you can clean any corner or difficult angles easily. The tail works as a blower, very handy when you use it to clean inside your CPU. It features 3L dust bag capacity and motor power of 1600W. During the cleaning process, this robot also indicates the amount of dust collected through its transparent glass placed on top of the body.

The future computer mouse 0

Once again Thermaltake teamed up with DesignworksUSA (BMW Group) to launch the next level of innovative gaming accessories. This design consultancy has developed Level 10 M Mouse as the first product which will be released in spring 2012. DesignworksUSA has worked with many industries with only one goal that is to transfer design know how between cultures, markets and industries in order to deliver the most innovative, forward thinking and consumer oriented design solutions. The first time Thermaltake partnered with DesignworksUSA was in 2009 when the design studio was asked to design the Level 10 high end gaming tower. The collaboration has triggered a lot of praise and won many awards for its revolutionary design approach to computer housing. Thermaltake wanted to take this collaboration to the next level by increasing the Level 10 experience to a range of gaming peripherals for Thermaltake’s e-sports division.

Level 10 M Mouse represents revolutionary thinking of these industrial designers when applying the Level 10 design language to additional products. This project’s goal is to bring the Level 10 gaming experience to the next level by applying the design language of Level 10 chassis onto products which by nature require ergonomic design solutions. DesignworksUSA design team came up with smart and innovative solutions to all pro-gamers that speak the same language as Level 10 with enjoyable and pleasant device for heavy use. Level 10 M Mouse is coming but we still don’t know the exact release date and price information.

Designer : DesignworksUSA

Top 10 Technologies of Future Cars 0

No.10 Organically Grown Cars

Biome, the new Mercedes-Benz concept, could merit an entire Top 10 feature itself.  We’ll limit ourselves to highlights, like its bio-fiber cloth body. The plan calls for panels harvested from organically-grown, genetically-modified trees. Cool stuff in theory, but even our horticultural illiterate imaginations question the ramp-up time and sheer volume needed for full production without depletion. Our guess is by 2050, adaptation could include trim pieces and limited body panels on existing models for better weight distribution and a lowered center of gravity.

No.9 Transparent Instrument Panels

OLED technology is currently an expensive tech with unique applications, but as with most technology, the cost goes down exponentially with time. The Kia Pop concept takes a unique approach to the dashboard with a transparent OLED panel that gives a better range of vision (obviously -- you can see through it) than other dashboards. This is the kind of technology that is usually exhibited on halo models first and then trickles down to mass-produced compacts and sedans. Given the rapid improvement in OLED technology, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this tech in new cars by 2015.

No.8 Electric rickshaw

This seems the result of a Mercedes designer with Seinfeld on the brain. Kramer and Newman’s idea of the homeless pulling rickshaws has evolved into the Maybach DRS concept for personal transportation. We should probably be grateful it wasn’t based on "The Contest" episode. Anyway, this "urban sombrero" seems like a nice blend of personal city transportation and isolation. On the other hand, it would be a two-wheeled coffin if a taxi ran a red light and T-boned you. While corporate lawyers fret over this, don’t expect to see one before 2075.

No.7 Vegetable-based components

Honda’s Air concept is not the only air-powered idea out there, but its vegetable-based body panels give new meaning to “organic design.” Reduced weight would be a major benefit, especially when combined with other weight-saving features like airless urethane tires and glass-reinforced seating panels. These would be great technologies to see on any Honda or Acura model, just probably not on the Air itself (too bad, because it looks like it’d be a blast to drive and the division desperately needs a sports car). If Honda can refine the practice for optimal strength and shape retention, we’d expect to see at least limited production use among existing vehicles by 2030.

No.6 Turbine-electric hybrid power

Jaguar’s C-X75 supercar concept, like the marque’s current lineup, is stunning. What sets this car apart from the rest of the brand -- and most other automobiles -- is revolution in design. An electric motor is at each wheel, drawing from a central lithium-ion battery pack. The C-X75’s party pieces are twin gas turbines. Summon their power and Jaguar claims 3.4-second 0-60 mph blasts and a 205 mph top end. If they can find a way to dissipate the turbines’ massive heat without melting cars behind the C-X75 in traffic, we’d love this car or a green version of the XK to employ this tech by 2025.

No.5 Pure oxygen emissions

Another future vehicle tech highlight of the spacey-but-cool Mercedes Biome is not what it has, but what it doesn’t have: nasty emissions. In this case, all it spews back into the atmosphere is pure oxygen. It’s almost as if the trees used in the car’s body panel construction live on. As hopeful as we are -- and as much as they’d dig it in Los Angeles -- we can’t imagine it in production Benzes before 2050.

No.4 Energy-producing body panels

The world is full of odd couples, incomprehensible pairings that somehow seem to work. Toyota believes enough in such matches that they’re putting their name on it: the Nori (Japanese for seaweed). And unlike Audi's unintended French double-entendre with the E-tron, Toyota’s naming is deliberate. Seaweed is used in the conjoined carbon fiber body/chassis, which is also embedded with solar panels. The combined body and chassis format is incredibly strong and light, and with the addition of the solar cells, actually generates supplemental power. We doubt the Nori will be parked next to Corollas in dealer showrooms, but we bet a derivative of this technology could reach future Prius models by 2020.

No.3 In-wheel magnetic drive system

Future vehicle tech suggests tomorrow’s electric vehicles will feature multiple motors, even one at each wheel. Concepts like Jaguar’s aforementioned C-X75 have this, but the Nissan iV is unique. Look beyond the spider silk and ivy composite body (hence, the iV name) and witness the concentric hub-less motors in each wheel. This patented Nissan technology also handles steering and suspension duties. Weight and moving parts are cut down in the process -- very good things indeed. The 2035 street-date mentioned in the vehicle description seems plausible for the feature, even if the iV itself does not.

No.2 Interchangeable carbon fiber body panels

Co-winner of the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge with the Cadillac Aera, the Smart 454 WWT (Weight Watch Technologies) overplayed the cutesy card with endless references to their Smart Granny Robots (SGRs) knitting the carbon fiber body and chassis. Carbon fiber itself is not new, though you’ll pay dearly for a car with any significant amount. Smart aims to make it affordable and features interchangeable body panels to reconfigure the car as needed or desired. If Smart survives and crash testing passes, we bet this could be yours by 2020.

No.1 Air propulsion

There’s nothing wrong with making internal combustion engines more efficient, and efforts to advance EVs are commendable too. Cadillac (yes, Cadillac) goes further still with air propulsion, as proffered on the Aera (Aero + Era). The 2+2 lightweight won the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge, due in no small part to its style and air propulsion, leading to a theoretical range of 1000 miles on compressed air before refueling. As much as we love today’s hedonistic CTS-V cars, we’d really love to try a Cadillac with the Aera’s future vehicle tech by 2030.