Tag: Windows 8

Some Tech News & Library Tech Event of the Week

Linda Reimer

On a general tech news note, all I can say is wow! All one has to do is go on vacation for a couple of days for the some of the major powers that be in the tech world to make announcements! Microsoft and Apple have made major tech announcements and Amazon has announced a new Kindle feature called Whispercast which will make using, and sharing, Kindle e-books among employees and students much easier.

From the Microsoft corner, Microsoft has finally announced the price of its upcoming Surface tablet. The entry level Surface tablet, which will be running a version of the upcoming Windows 8, will cost $499 for the 32 GB version sans the neat attachable (and easy detached) keyboard. And if you want the keyboard too then the price goes up $100. So the entry level Surface Tablet will be priced at the same price as the entry level 16 GB iPad 3 – just FYI for comparison sake! And of course I am sure that the iPad Mini will be priced at less than that.

And speaking of the iPad Mini, Apple has finally sent out invitations for a new press event to be held on October 23. The press invitations hint at the unveiling of a smaller iPad (that the press is calling the iPad Mini)– the invitations state “We’ve got a little more to show you.” And I must admit to being amused at the timing – nothing like rivalry between tech companies! The Apple press event is being held on Wednesday, October 23 and Windows 8, and a multitude of PCs, tablets and hybrid devices running versions of Windows 8 arrive in stores on Friday, October 26, 2012 – only three days later!

Nothing like a little competition in introducing new tech devices just in time for the holiday season!

And on the Amazon news front, Amazon has just introduced Kindle Whispercast service. This new service is aimed at the educational and business worlds and will allow respective administrators the ability to control content delivered to any registered device that either is a Kindle or a device that has downloaded the Kindle reading app. And the devices that can download the Kindle reading app (and thus read Kindle content) include PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets of all varieties. In essence if your tech device has a web browser you should be able to register your device to be used with this service. And as a giant added bonus for administrators – you will now be able to manage all content and pay for all e-books added to all registered devices through one account! And that is a huge, and exciting change, because previously you could have a maximum of five Kindles registered to one account which might work well if you have a family of five or less but which wasn’t a viable option for business, school or public library use!

If you’d like to read more on the tech topics mentioned above here are some article links:

The first link is to a CNET article titled At $499, is Microsoft’s Surface tablet priced to move?

http://goo.gl/VkqjO

The second link is to a Reuter’s article titled Apple sets October 23 event, smaller iPad expected:

http://goo.gl/hhPXk

And the last two links are to an article and web page that discuss Amazon’s new Whispercast Kindle service. The first link is to an article titled Amazon’s Whispercast for Kindle targets schools, business:

http://goo.gl/6Mg6s

And the second link is to the official Amazon Whispercast web page which offers more details on the new service:

https://whispercast.amazon.com/info/faqs/

And on a final note, in addition to our usual, and very popular, free one-on-one tech instruction sessions by appointment this week — we also have a program on Microsoft Excel this afternoon.

So if you’d like to learn the basic layout of the Microsoft Excel land – join us!

Here’s the info about the program:

BE:Lab Wednesday One Hour Tech Workshop: Microsoft Excel Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Description: This workshop assists new Microsoft Excel users in learning how to use the software. Sign up is required by calling (607)936-3713 ext. 502.

Linda R.

The New Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet & More On Windows 8

Linda Reimer

The New Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet: Samsung has introduced a new tablet the Galaxy Note 10.1. The Galaxy Note is a 10.3” Android tablet. It is running the 4.04 pre-Jelly Bean software (translation it is not the latest version of the Android operating system which is called Jelly Bean); it comes with a stylus and is the first tablet to offer split screen viewing of apps although not all apps can be displayed in split screen mode. The most notable thing about this tablet is that it has a greater stylus functionality than most other tablets; so if you like to drawn or take hand-written notes you may wish to check out this tablet. If on the other hand a stylus isn’t for you there are other tablets that maybe a better fit for your needs including the tablet that still makes up more than 60% of all tablet sales today – the iPad.

Here’s a link to a New York Times article, titled A Tablet Straining To Do It All, that offers a look at the Galaxy Note 10.1:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/technology/personaltech/samsungs-rival-for-the-ipad-loads-on-the-features.html?_r=1&ref=technology

And an in-depth review from the tech site CNET:

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/samsung-galaxy-note-10/4505-3126_7-35150647.html

More On Windows 8: The tech site Gizmodo today offers an in-depth review of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system. This is notable because if you buy a new PC after the end of October this is the OS that will be running the computer and it is markedly different in looks and functionality than its predecessor Windows 7. In fact I’d say that Windows 8 is so different in looks from Windows 7 that it makes the comparison of the changes between Windows XP and Windows 7 look like the proverbial Sunday picnic.

I’ve seen a preview of Windows 8 and just to re-iterate it is really different in how it looks and in much of its functionality than Windows 7. You can do most of the same things with Windows 8 that you can do with Windows 7 just in a different way and the Start Menu has become a discarded feature just to give you an idea of how big the changes are!

Here’s a link a Gizmodo review of Windows 8:

http://gizmodo.com/5934932/windows-8-review-incredibly-innovative-incredibly-important-not-quite-incredible

Linda R.

Google’s Nexus 7, iPad Mini & How to Upgrade Your PC to Windows 8 Metro

Linda Reimer

Google’s Nexus 7: Last week Google unveiled a new 7” tablet called the Nexus 7. And this week the critical reviews are in and are mostly positive. The Nexus 7, like Amazon’s Kindle Fire is a 7”, 8 GB tablet*.* Granted, the Kindle Fire allows casual tablet users to read/write e-mail, surf the web and use a few Amazon Kindle apps; but otherwise emphasizes users buying content from Amazon in the form of TV shows, movies, music and e-books to watch, read and listen to respectively on the Kindle Fire.

However, in contrast, The Nexus 7 truly is a tablet – translation – using it will allow you to do much more than what you can do with a Kindle Fire. For $199 you get a 7” Wi-Fi tablet with a very clear screen, Bluetooth capability (“Bluetooth” meaning you can wirelessly connect a keyboard, mouse or other compatible Wi-Fi connecting input device to the tablet), external speakers, a front facing camera for video chats, a battery with nine hour life and a GPS function.  This new tablet has received critical tech acclaim from many corners and pasted below are links to two of those shining critical reviews; the first, titled A Tablet To Rival The Leader, from the noted New York Times tech guru David Pogue, and the second titled “Nexus 7 review: the best $200 tablet you can buy” from Endgadget tech reviewer Tim Stevens:

Click here for the Pogue review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/technology/personaltech/nexus-7-googles-new-tablet-seriously-challenges-the-ipad-state-of-the-art.html?ref=technology

And here for the Tim Stevens review:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/28/nexus-7-review/

And here, for a third review that I just found on CNN, titled Nexus 7 best Android Tablet Yet:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/05/tech/mobile/nexus-7-best-android-tablet/index.html

iPad Mini Tablet: There have been unconfirmed tech rumors for months that Apple has been working on a smaller iPad than the 9.7” version that is available now. Apple spokesmen have so far refrained from commenting when asked about these rumors; however, today the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Asian component suppliers have said they are preparing to manufacturer glass screens for Apple that are smaller tablet screens.

The brief Wall Street Journal article on this subject, titled Apple Preps for Smaller Tablet: Parts Makers in Asia Gear Up to Produce Device With Smaller Screen Than iPad, can be found at this link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304141204577506471913819412.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

How to Upgrade to Windows 8 Metro: Windows 8 is slated to be released this fall. And Information Week has produced a nice article, titled Windows 8 Upgrade FAQ: How To Go Metro: Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to get PC users onto its new OS; here’s what you need to know,  that offers you information on how you can upgrade to Windows 8. Essentially, you can upgrade your Windows PC to Windows 8 if your PC meets the upgrade standards (some of which like memory, sound/video card installed etc. vary by computer) and if your computer is currently running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. And if your current desktop or laptop bites the dust before this fall and you need a new one, you’ll be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 8 for only $14.99.

Here’s a link the Information Week article:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/windows8/240003191

Linda R.

*You can upgrade to a 16 GB Nexus 7 for an extra $50 — $249 – in contrast Amazon has only one Kindle Fire Model.