Gadgets, Tech, etc. - The Bear and Badger

mistercrayon

ms pad might be fun if they can get everyone to make good apps for them. I read that one issue is that for wphone they don't let devs use the same coding language as used on iPhone (its one of the reasons SI aren't making football manager for windows phone - hits)

Mod74

All three use slightly differing languages, porting isn't a problem, it just depends whether it's worth their time and current WP user numbers suggest it isn't.

Things like Unreal and Unity aren't supported yet either, and developer access to native code is also restricted.

The WP app situation is likely to change dramatically once Win8 apps start rolling out.

Anyhoo, I notice there's a bevy of "inside sources" coming out in support of an MS tablet now. Where were they before MS sent out the invitation?

WorKid

I reckon Windows tablets are doomed. Android and iOS have too much of a lead now. I just don't see why you'd bother.

Plus presumably adding MS into the mix would add, what, at least Â£50 to the cost - so you won't get any of the bargain basement Android tablets, and it would cost more than the direct Android equivalent.

MS will have to take the lead, I don't see Dell, Asus or anyone rushing out Windows tablets.

monkey

MS have got a huge advantage over Android and ios in software. As long as they can convince devs to get on board with the metro stuff.

WorKid

Had.

When was the last decent bit of software MS released?

Windows 7 is okay, but hardly ground breaking, it basically was a serviceable, stable OS. Office is back to a bloated mess.
IE is now fine, but really it's still catching up.

Mod74

Windows 8 tablets have the advantage of not being tablets.

They're PCs in the tablet form factor so you can use them for anything you want. Creation as well as consumption. Work as well as play.

Windows RT is slightly different, and yes more similar to iPad or Android in structure. But have you used Windows 8? It makes iOS and Android look like something from the last century.

I_R

I'd have thought that MS had a chance because so many people and businesses use Windows as a default. They're beginning to look very far behind though and if they are launching a tablet of their own, it suggests they know it.

Mod74

If it's true, I think perhaps yes they're recognising how far they are behind and have decided the best way to tackle this is to grab the bull by the horns and not wait for 3rd party efforts.

Sort of similar to the Nokia partnership on phones, but if they stick their own name on the tablet they're not showing favouritism to one PC vendor.

WorKid

No, i haven't used W8. The one thing I am now used to as a consumer is free OS upgrades. Ubuntu, Â iOS 4 to 5, or the ICS rollout for Android. Â This gives constant new features and keeps things up to date. All MS seem to do is endless fucking security fixes. Have they changed their approach with W8?

Mod74

They don't really add features to the OS once it's released. That might change with Win8 (esp RT) but I don't know.

It's a different environment to a phone operating system though. Windows is very mature, there's not a great deal in the way of features that could be added, extra functionality comes via applications which unlike phones can change the way the OS works without having to be run separately/constantly.

Plus obviously business users are a core market and they don't want new versions every 6 months.

WorKid

This doesn't look like a very business focused OS. What's it like under the hood so to speak? Is it lighter than W7? I love Ubuntu cos I can chuck it on so many ancient devices and let the web take the rest of the strain.

Mod74

In my experience it's lighter than Win7. I've got it running on a P3 and it's quick and snappy.

If you don't have a touch screen to use it on then there's little compelling reason to buy it. Although I am getting more used to using the Metro front end using a mouse and it works well once you figure it out.

monkey

WorKid wrote:

Had. When was the last decent bit of software MS released?

Have.

There's really no comparison between what you can do with an Android tablet and what you can do with a Windows desktop environment. If its done right, it'll become the default business tablet, which could feed into the demand for phones. But it does rely on devs (Adobe, other big boys) using the Metro stuff. Which they will if people are buying the tablets, which they will if the software is there. It's a sort of virtuous circle thing that needs a kickstart to get it going.Â

Consumers are a different issue. Apple's lead may be unassailable there. Google are vulnerable though. They're number one in the phone market not because people love Android, just because its the default OS for handset renewals.

Mod74

It's interesting because (I assume) Apple have no desire to beef up the iPad's business/work credentials, and no desire to make the MacBooks more consumer/mass market friendly.

MS -or strictly speaking their OEMs- can offer one tablet that can (in theory) satisfy both markets at the same time.

WorKid

Man who chase two rabbits catch none.Â
What can a Windows tablet do that, say, an Asus transformer can't. Other than run MS Office natively.

Mod74

The Asus Transformer runs Android. That's not a computer, it's a phone with a large screen and an external keyboard.

WorKid

What is Linux?.

Mod74

Linux is an open source operating system that's provided for free and proved briefly popular in the late 2000's running low cost "netbook" machines until everyone realised it wasn't Windows and stopped buying them.

WorKid

So anything not running Windows or MacOS isn`t a computer? iPads use iOS, so they are phones too?

WorKid

I have three computers running Linux, not including my Android devices, all give superb desktop experience.

mistercrayon

Fuck android!

Mod74

Place your bets then.

MS branded Win8 tablet.
MS branded WinRT tablet.
Barnes and Noble/Nook branded tablet (with Win8 interface)
MS and B&N/Nook branded tablet (with Win8 interface)
Barnes and Noble/Nook branded tablet (with 'Nook' interface)
MS and B&N/Nook branded tablet (with 'Nook' interface)

I'm leaning towards "Barnes and Noble/Nook branded tablet (with Win8 (RT) interface)"

monkey

What time is this happening and can I watch it online?

Mod74

10-30PM UK

Dunno about online, not usually but Channel 9 might have it.

There'll be live blogs.

Mod74

Seems B&N aren't involved.

Bollockoff

Help me understand phone someone. I've been using my sister's handmedown iphone 2 for a couple of years now and it's broken to buggery (internet doesn't work among other things) and I only use it to text on pay-as-you-go. So i'm in the market for a new phone, probably on contract and an expensive model.

I don't know anything about phone OS's so I know nout of what Androids can do that other OS's can't and vice-versa. Which phones are best for gaming, which for apps and which models/manufacturers to avoid generally.

I've had my eye on the physically appealing Samsung Galaxy's that i've spied in the shops.

Mod74

Apple - Limited choice of phones, sort of dated OS, most apps, most games, expensive.

Google - Wide choice of phones, open but clunky OS, varies by manufacturer, lots of apps, patchy game support, cheap to expensive cost.

Microsoft - medium choice of phones, newer OS, not open, good amount of apps/games but not as much as the first two. Cheap to medium cost.

WorKid

Sums it up really.

I love my Galaxy S3. S2s are cheap. Notes are an acquired taste but great for surfing and media.

I think ios is currently best for gaming, but android matches it for most other apps. Don't forget Flash support. Surfing on an Apple device can be frustrating as hell because there's no Flash support.

Mod74

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57455141-75/xbox-surface-more-rumors-ahead-of-todays-reveal/

Hoax I reckon.

Maybe.

MattyJ

Not long till we find out...but if it was a WiiU style input device for the 360 that would severely dampen the WiiU.

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