Volkswagen lifts the lid on new Golf GTI Cabriolet

The most powerful production Golf Cabriolet ever is set to be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Pictured here for the first time, the Golf GTI Cabriolet packs in all the performance and practicality of the GTI hatchback, and adds the pleasures of open-air motoring for four, thanks to an electrically powered fabric roof which can be folded away in just 9.5 seconds, even while travelling at speeds of up to 18 mph.

Visually, the Golf GTI Cabriolet has all the classic GTI design cues.  The radiator grille has a honeycomb structure with red edging and the GTI badge, while the front bumper incorporates a deep honeycomb air dam and distinctive vertical fog lights.  Side sill extensions help give the GTI a wide, well-planted stance, while a bespoke rear diffuser is framed by a chrome tailpipe on either side.  Smoked LED tail lights complete the look.  As on the GTI hatchback, standard wheels are 17-inch 'Monza' alloys.

Under the insulated fully automatic roof are four individual seats covered in the classic tartan 'Jacara' cloth upholstery; 'Vienna' leather upholstery is optional.  The bespoke GTI multifunction steering wheel is wrapped in leather, as are the handbrake and gear lever gaiter, all finished with contrasting red stitching.  The pedals have brushed stainless steel caps, while there are black 'Edge' decorative inlays on the doors and facia.  The hood lining and roof pillar trims are all finished in black.

Under the bonnet is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the GTI hatchback, mated to either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox and producing 210 PS.  The benchmark zero to 62 mph sprint is covered in 7.3 seconds with either transmission (versus 6.9 seconds for the hatch), while top speed is 147 mph (146 mph for the DSG).

Maximum torque of 206 lbs ft (280 Nm) is available from just 1,700 rpm to 5,300 rpm, at which point maximum horsepower is achieved.  This broad torque band helps to make the GTI an excellent cruiser – even at low revs in a high gear, the reserves of torque make the GTI's performance easy to tap in to.  A standard EDS electronic differential lock and XDS transverse differential lock help to ensure that the power is easily transferred to the road.

Safety is every bit as much a priority as performance.  As with all Golf Cabriolet models, the GTI comes with automatically deploying rollover protection, front and side head/thorax airbags and a driver's knee airbag as standard, all of which helped it to achieve a five-star (96 per cent) rating for adult occupancy in Euro NCAP crash tests.

The Golf GTI Cabriolet goes on sale in the UK in the second half of the year.  Prices and further specification details will be announced closer to the on-sale date. 

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Original Page: http://feeds.volkswagen.co.uk/~r/volkswagen-uk-news/~3/u9GJc0Zq65o/385

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Google TV is still a flop, report claims

As Google's vendor partners prepare renewed efforts to push HDTVs and accessories that showcase Google TV, a new report suggests that they have their work cut out for them. First introduced at a press conference in late 2010, Google TV has not seen the success Google had hoped for. The CEO of Logitech, one of the first vendors to launch a Google TV product, went as far as to call its Google TV-powered Revue a gigantic mistake that cost the company dearly. Now, in more than a year on the market, all of Google's partners have combined to sell fewer that 1 million Google TV devices according to a recent report. Read on for more.

Using readily available installed user base data published within the Android Market, GigaOm was able to deduce that Google TV device sales likely fall in the 500,000 to 1 million-unit range. The site looked at installed base data for a number of applications that come pre-installed on Google TV-powered devices, and they all fell within that range. Mobile analysis firm Xyologic released similar findings earlier this month.

Apple has sold more than 4.2 million Apple TV boxes to date and it reportedly has a brand new HDTV product on the way. Meanwhile Roku has more than doubled Google TV sales, having managed to ship more than 2.5 million set-top boxes. We saw a number of new HDTVs with Google TV unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show last month, but Google has a lot of work to do to raise awareness even if those new products are a hit. A recent study found that less than half of all smart TVs sold are actually connected to the Internet.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/?p=129574

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Nokia 808 PureView hands-on

Hey folks. Following Nokia's early morning press conference here in Barcelona, we got a litttttle bit of hands-on time with the freshly dropped Pureview 808. The software isn't quite finished yet, but we did get some time to play with the audio recording and camera apps. Really cool stuff, and we can definitely see other manufacturers forced to follow suit. The handset features the flagship 41 megapixel camera, a 4″ screen, 512 mb of RAM with 16GB of onboard storage,  a 1.3 Ghz single core chip,  and a loft 450 Euro pricetag. Expect to see this sucker in May. Hit the link below to check out the gallery!

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/nokia-pureview-808-hands-on/

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Huawei unveils Ascend D quad, Ascend D quad XL and Ascend D1 Android phones

Huawei on Sunday announced the new Ascend D quad smartphone at Mobile World Congress. The company bills the handset as "the world's fastest quad-core smartphone," with its 4.5-inch 720p HD display and Huawei's own K3V2 quad-core 1.5GHz processor. The smartphone features an 8-megapixel rear-camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Huawei also introduced the Ascend D quad XL and the Ascend D1 smartphones. The Ascend D quad XL boasts a massive 2,500 mAh battery, but otherwise it's the sames exact smartphone as the Ascend D quad. The Ascend D1 runs a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and has a 1,670 mAh battery. The Ascend D quad series will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in the second quarter of 2012, with the Ascend D1 to be made available in April. Pricing and more specific information surrounding launches aren't yet available. Read on for Huawei's press release.

Huawei Introduces the World's Fastest Smartphone: The Ascend D quad

With Huawei's proprietary quad-core chip and power management system

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 26, 2012 /CNW/ – Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today introduced the world's fastest quad-core smartphone, the Huawei Ascend D quad. Powered by the Huawei's K3V2 quad-core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz processor and boasting the most compact design among 4.5-inch smartphones, the Ascend D quad expands the realm of possibilities for consumers with an Android 4.0 operating system and Huawei's proprietary power management system which provides up to 30% in energy savings.

"We've listened to people's top demands from smartphones: speed, long-battery life, high quality visual and audio capabilities, and a compact, lightweight handset. The Huawei Ascend D quad exceeds these expectations," said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. "In January at the Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas, we achieved a world record for the world's slimmest smartphone with the Huawei Ascend P1 S. We are proud to once again introduce a world-first at the 2012 Mobile World Congress with the Ascend D quad, the fastest smartphone."

The Ascend D quad is an entertainment dynamo with its 4.5-inch 720P high definition touchscreen, and the industry's most powerful 32-bit true color graphic processor. Its PPI 330 screen providing crystal clear display even under direct sunlight, is complemented by its Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmart™ voice technology for an experience which excels across the senses. Its 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities enables you to record your special moments in clearer, richer detail.

The Ascend D quad comes with an 1800mAh battery, which lasts for one to two days with normal usage. The smartphone's prowess is enhanced by Huawei Device's proprietary power management technology which provides a longer battery life of up to 30% compared to industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs. It also ensures higher chipset performance and efficiency by maintaining a low chip temperature.

Measuring 64mm narrow and 8.9mm slim, the Ascend D quad is proof that good things do come in small packages. With an ultra-thin frame, the lightweight and compact smartphone's 4.5-inch touchscreen seems to vanish into the edge, creating an "infinity" feel and allowing an exceptionally narrow body.

In addition to innovative hardware design, the Ascend D quad also has outstanding software design. In addition to its Android 4.0 operating system, the Ascend D quad optimizes the user experience, ensuring greater ease of use.

As part of the Ascend D series, Huawei also introduced the Ascend D quad XL and the Ascend D1 smartphones. The Ascend D quad XL comes with a 2500mAh battery which provides two to three days of normal usage. With the same specifications as the Ascend D quad, the Ascend D quad XL measures 10.9 mm slim. The Ascend D1 runs on a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and has a 1670mAh battery.

The Ascend D quad series will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 2012. The Ascend D1 will be available in the above markets from April 2012.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/huawei-unveils-ascend-d-quad-ascend-d-quad-xl-and-ascend-d1-android-phones/

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Live from Nokia's MWC 2012 press conference!

In less than one quarter with just two smartphones on the market, Nokia managed to take the top spot among Windows Phone vendors in the fourth quarter of 2011. Microsoft's mobile platform still accounts for just a small fraction of Nokia's smartphone sales, but the Finnish vendor is in the early stages of a transition that will eventually see Symbian devices eliminated from its portfolio. The Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 started things off, and Nokia revealed the Lumia 900 during the Consumer Electronics Show, a flagship device that BGR exclusively reported will launch on AT&T next month at a very aggressive $99.99 price point. Nokia is rumored to have at least two new devices that will be unveiled during today's press conference — the entry-level Lumia 610 and a high-end camera phone expected to be the international version of the Lumia 900 — and we're on hand to bring you all the news as it breaks. Hit the jump for our live coverage of Nokia's press conference, which is scheduled to begin at 2:30 a.m. EST / 11:30 p.m. PST (8:30 a.m. local time in Barcelona).

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2:21AM:Annnnd we're inside. This has been a seamless process thus far. We've even got power outlets and a chair. Thanks, Nokia!

2:23AM:Nokia has done a great job of providing a comfortabel space for bloggers and press. Croisant? Don't mind if we do.

2:28AM:Let's just hope the hands-on demos are as organized as the actual press conference. Sony, we're looking at you....

2:34AM:Alright folks, this music is beginning to wear on our ears just a bit. Let's get moving!!

2:35AM:Annnnd we've got the lights dimming. We're off!

2:35AM:Cue random video montage of Nokia-related imagery in 5,4,3,2...

2:37AM:We've got Nokia wrapping up the last year, giving a bevy of stats about internet usage and media consumption of the last year. 6.9 trillion text messages sent over the last 12 months. Lol

2:38AM:Noting that at last year's MWC, Nokia outlined a new strategy, no new devices, but a clear vision for the future. They seem to have met the key goals they set forth, including a focus on design and LBS

2:39AM:They've penetrated over 100 worldwide markets, with Lumia presence in over 31 markets from 50 operators. Noting the re-entry in the North American market with T-Mobile.

2:39AM:The Lumia 800 is the #1 smartphone in Russia. Great?

2:40AM:Call us skeptical, but these seem like pretty dubious stats. Let's see if they have any more impressive stuff to pull out before the actual unveiling

2:40AM:Windows Phone apps are up 3x from last year. Emerging markets are a key factor in this growth.

2:41AM:Alright, now we've got Mary McDowell, the exec VP of mobile devices. Looks like we're gonna be heavy on feature phones. The Nokia 202, 203, and 302. These are all ASHA devices

2:42AM:The 202 and 203 are both touchscreen phones

2:43AM:The 202 is a multi-sim phone, the 203 is a single sim phone. They are both Nokia Life phones, which provides access to the Nokia LIfe suite of "mobile life improvement" tools, targeted at folks with a smart-ish phone but no data plan. Today will mark te launch of Nokia Life.

2:44AM:Nokia life delivers content over SMS, including info about agriculture and local news, life skills, and info for young people to develop knowledge about healthcare and entertainment. Sigh....

2:45AM:It also includes a language learning program called "Learn English" to provide gratis English lessons in 16 local languages across the globe. Images and other media can be easily shared via Nokia Life as well, which includes seamless integration with the Nokia contact list

2:45AM:Interesting, sure, but definitely not the most cutting edge stuff here. Let's hope they've got some more fireworks on hand...

2:46AM:Nokia Life is bundled with 40 free games, courtesy of EA. This amounts to 75 Euros worth of free games.

2:47AM:The phones will be priced close to 60 Euros and will be available in the ext 6 weeks

2:47AM:The Asha 302 is targeted at the "Hyper Social" set, those that visit Facebook over 4 times per hour. It includes out of the box push support for Facebook and Twitter.

2:49AM:The 302 includes a cloud-accelerated browser and support for web-apps, which delivers a "smartphone type" experience on the phone. Decent way around the lack of app support, but Apple seems to have proven the lack of interest in web apps...

2:49AM:The Asha 302 includes Microsoft Exchange support

2:51AM:We've got a demo up now of the Exchange support. nothing groundbreaking but everything seems to work quite well, and to have Exchange support on a feature phone is a pretty impressive feat. Still, can we really imagine execs using something like this, especially with growing enterprise access to iPhone? The Asha 302 will be priced around 95 Euro.

2:52AM:Alright. Mary out, Steven back in. Let's see where we're headed now. New Lumia, anyone?

2:53AM:Good. Now we've got some smartphone stats, noting the intro of the Lumia 900 on AT&T in the States.

2:54AM:The Lumia 900 will now be available in April in Canada. The Lumia 900 will also be expanding into further worldwide markets. The lack of LTE worldwide was an initial boc,, but we now have a Lumia 900 without LTE. DCHSPA version will allow worldwide adoption. Same handset, new radios.

2:56AM:Same display, same processor, same battery, same media options, same Nokia signature experience, including Nokia Drive. Great. Let's relaunch more devices, shall we? Granted, we've got a new release of Nokia Drive, including full offline support. We also have the launch of Nokia Reading, that includes access to news, books, audio books, and more. All available offline

2:57AM:All of this Nokia Reading content is localized. It includes a newstream feature, that pulls personalized feeds and topics into a personalized digital magazine. A la flipboard. This all updates live onto the WM livetile.

2:58AM:Now we've got Terry Meyerson, head of the Windows Phone Division at Microsoft, to talk about video calling.

2:59AM:Now we've got a demo of Skype for Windows Phone, which marks the launch of the beta providing video calling from Windows Phone.

3:00AM:Windows Phone will launch in China with Lumia, and other Windows Phone models. This definitely seems far more impressive for Microsoft than it does for Nokia, though it's still quite a feat on both sides.

3:01AM:System requirements have officially been lowered, to support 256mb of memory and lower spec chipsets. This should help to allow more comprehensive penetration for Windows Phone.

3:02AM:Annnnd here we go. The Nokia Lumia 610!

3:04AM:The most affordable Lumia yet. The perfect intro of the LUmia line to a younger line. Beveled aluminum design, with built-in social networking support. Etc etc. Standard Windows Mobile feature support. None of this is too impressive, but it is a good looking phone.

3:05AM:XBox Live support is included, of course, and it comes pre-loaded with Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, and Nokia Music. This also includes new Nokia Transport, door-to-door underground, tram, and train directions in over 500 cities in 46 countries. Nice!

3:05AM:Frequently used routes can be pinned to the home screen and are updated in real-time. That's actually pretty cool.

3:06AM:Lumia 900 is priced at 480 Euro in Q2, the Lumia 610 comes in at 189 Euro and will ship in Q2. That's a pretty big price differentiation!

3:08AM:Now we're talking about further support for Symbian. We've got something coming....the Nokia 808 PureView. "A Revolution in Smartphone IMaging"

3:08AM:a 41 megapixel sense. Whoa

3:09AM:7 pixels are condensed down to 1, allowing amazing zoom capabilities. We've got some demo images now, and of course, they look incredible. We'll see how real-life stuff works out, but hey...that's a lot of pixels!

3:10AM:All images can be compressed down to compact size for sharing services.

3:10AM:Pureview will be launched across the Nokia line in the future

3:12AM:The Pureview 808 also provides stereo audio recording, which is a bit of a rarity amongst smartphones. Each handset also comes with Monster-spec headsets and surround sound capability.

3:12AM:Now we've got Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon demoing out of the phone. Sound is great, video is great. Great. This all actually looks pretty cool.

3:13AM:The 808 will be available out of contract for 450 Euro, and will ship in May

3:14AM:Annnnnd we're out. Thanks, Nokia!

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/live-from-nokias-mwc-2012-press-conference/

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Asus announces Padfone tablet/smartphone hybrid alongside low-end Transformer Pad 300

Asus on Monday unveiled the Padfone from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The hybrid device was first announced in May last year, however a bit has changed since the Padfone's initial announcement at Computex 2011. The unique Padfone tries to capitalize on separating itself from the pack, and is comprised of a 4-3-inch Android 4.0-powered smartphone docked inside a 10-inch tablet. The handset portion of the device features a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, an Adreno 225 graphics processor and an 8-megapixel rear camera. Docking the smartphone inside the tablet brings the device a 10.1-inch display, a tablet UI and a new range of functionality. Announced alongside the Padfone is the entry-level Transformer Pad 300, a new version of Asus's popular Eee Pad Transformer that features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800-pixel display and 16GB of internal storage. The Padfone will finally begin shipping in April, 11 months after it was first announced, and pricing is not yet available. Launch details for the Transformer Pad 300 have not yet been announced, but hit the break for an image of the device.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/asus-announces-padfone-tabletsmartphone-hybrid-alongside-low-end-transformer-pad-300/

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Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 with Android 4.0, dual-core chipset and S Pen

Samsung on Monday took the wraps off another new addition to its Android tablet lineup, the Galaxy Note 10.1. Like the supersized "phablet" it joins in the Galaxy Note family, the Note 10.1 includes Samsung's S Pen stylus for drawing, note-taking, highlighting and much more. Sadly, this still isn't the high-definition slate we've been waiting for so it looks like Samsung is shooting to launch its Retina-like tablet later this year. The 10-inch Galaxy Note runs Samsung's TouchWiz UI atop Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and includes a 1.4GHz dual-core processor along with the same cameras found in the original Galaxy Tab 10.1. In fact, the Note 10.1 essentially seems like a redesigned Galaxy Tab 10.1 with an S Pen and a new processor, which is peculiar since the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) is pretty much a Galaxy Tab 10.1 as well. Announced alongside the Galaxy Note 10.1 is the Galaxy S WiFi 4.2, a Wi-Fi-only device aimed at gaming. Samsung's press releases follow below.

Boost your Creativity and Productivity with GALAXY Note 10.1

A new device category, GALAXY Note 10.1 comes with an immersive 10.1'' screen and S Pen versatility to unlock your creativity and productivity

Barcelona, February 27, 2012 – At Mobile World Congress, Samsung announced the launch of GALAXY Note 10.1, which expands the GALAXY Note experience in creativity, productivity, and learning.

With its large display, GALAXY Note 10.1 provides multi-screen functionality to maximize efficiency in learning, work and creative endeavors. Its multi-screen functionality enables you to do a true multi-tasking, by viewing Internet pages, videos or other applications side by side while writing or sketching your ideas.

GALAXY Note 10.1 features S Note, a unique and efficient tool that lets you combine notes or sketches together with web content, images and other digital media into your own personalized storyboards. It gives you a new way to create stories as S Note provides various ready-to-use templates such as meeting minutes, recipe, cards, diary, magazine and more. Also, hand-drawn geometric shapes can be perfectly digitized by using the Shape Match function, which helps users to create more organized idea sketches and storyboards.

Moreover, by using the S Note's integrated knowledge search engines, users can quickly search, obtain information, and easily drag & drop the cropped images and content onto S Notes without having to switch between screens.

GALAXY Note 10.1 enables an extraordinary learning experience. Students can watch a lecture live-streamed on video while writing down comments on S Note; research a college essay on the web while taking notes; or even read a full e-textbook while annotating it. Similar to the Shape Match, Formula Match function helps to correct and digitize formulas hand-drawn with S Pen, making the device a more powerful education tool.

Users can fully enjoy PC-like premium photo editing and drawing experiences with Adobe® Photoshop® Touch and Adobe Ideas. Photoshop Touch lets users transform images with core Photoshop features and combine multiple photos into layered images, make popular edits, apply professional effects, and more. Adobe Ideas is an easy-to-master drawing tool that allows users to sketch ideas, choose amazing color themes and import images. Both are specially optimized for S pen and are exclusively pre-loaded on Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1.

"GALAXY Note 10.1 takes productivity on a Note to a whole new level. With a larger, fully utilizable screen and superior performance, it combines the intuitiveness of handwriting with all the versatility of digital content to let users be more productive across all of life's demanding tasks—whether working, learning, or simply creating their own stories," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. "With GALAXY Note 10.1 we are demonstrating Samsung's commitment to extend the mobile category and are working with key partners like Adobe to provide extraordinary experiences for users that enable them to be more productive, express themselves creatively and add a touch of fulfillment to their lives."

Ensuring intuitive multitasking and web browsing, GALAXY Note 10.1 runs on Android^TM 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and features a 1.4GHz dual-core processor and HSPA+ connectivity. Its real-time video streaming and Full HD video playback add to the device's content versatility.

GALAXY Note 10.1's innovative S Pen, the most advanced pen input solution on the market, is completely integrated into the device's original applications. It provides enhanced pressure sensitivity, superior accuracy and control when editing or writing, providing an analog pen writing experience on a digital device.

The GALAXY Note 10.1 is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 Product Specifications

Network	HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100EDGE/GPRS   850/900/1800/1900
Processor	1.4 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display	10.1" WXGA(1280×800) PLS TFT
OS	Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera	Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Auto Focus Camera with LED FlashSub(Front): 2 Megapixel Camera
Video	Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VP8Format: 3GP(MP4), WMV(ASF), AVI, FLV, MKV, WebMPlayback/ Recording: 1080p Full HD@30fps, 720p HD@30fps
Audio	Codec: MP3, OGG, WMA, AAC, ACC+, eAAC+, AMR(NB,WB), MIDI, WAV,AC-3, FlacMusic Player with SoundAlive 3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-addedFeatures & Services	Samsung TouchWiz / Samsung L!ve Panel
	S Pen Experience (S Note, S Planner)
	Samsung Apps
	Samsung Hub- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
	Samsung S Suggest (App recommendation service)
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	Samsung AllShare Play*
	Samsung Kies/ Samsung Kies air
	GoogleTM Mobile Services- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™,Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google +
	Adobe Apps- Photoshop Touch, Adobe Ideas
	Polaris document editor
	A-GPS(3G version)S-GPS(WiFi version)Glonass
EnterpriseSolutions	Exchange ActiveSyncOn-Device EncryptionCisco VPN(Virtual Private Network) Juniper Junos Pulse VPN
Connectivity	Bluetooth technology v 3.0 (Apt-X Codec support)USB 2.0 HostWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Channel Bonding
Sensor	Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light, Gyroscope
Memory	16/32/64GB User memory + 1GB (RAM)microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension	256.7 x 175.3 x 8.9 mm, 583g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 7,000mAh

* Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Game On With Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.2

Samsung introduces GALAXY S WiFi 4.2, the best of Android experiences with powerful gaming on the go. This experience is further enhanced with the device's superior SoundAlive audio system, offering great sound either through a front stereo speaker or headphones. A gyroscope sensor enables the user to control the device by moving it, providing truly engaging and intuitive gaming.

The GALAXY S WiFi 4.2 is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.2 Product Specifications

Processor	1 GHz Processor
Display	4.2" WVGA(480×800) IPS TFT
OS	Android 2.3(Gingerbread)
Camera	Main(Rear): 2 Megapixel CameraSub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video	Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, WMV9Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKVPlayback/ Recording: HD@30fps, VGA@30fps
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, WMA, WAV, OGGMusic Player with SoundAliveFront Stereo Speaker 3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-addedFeatures & Services	Premium EA Games preloaded- Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
	Samsung Apps
	Samsung Hub- Social Hub- Readers Hub*/ Music Hub*/ Game Hub* (Downloadable via Samsung Apps)
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
	Samsung AllShare
	Samsung SmartView: Smart TV remote control application
	GoogleTM Mobile Services- Android Market™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™,Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google Search, Google +
	Bluetooth Handsfree
Connectivity	Bluetooth technology v 3.0USB 2.0Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Sensor	Gyroscope , Accelerometer, Digital compass
Memory	8/16GB User memory + 512MB (RAM)microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension	124.1 x66.1 x 8.9 mm, 118g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 1,500mAh

* Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/samsung-announces-galaxy-note-10-1-with-android-4-0-dual-core-chipset-and-s-pen/

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Samsung Galaxy Beam hands-on

A projector phone? From Samsung? Sure, why not? We got a chance to spend some time with Sammy's newly announced "Beam" addition to its ever-expanding Galaxy line, and we left with mixed emotions. On the one hand, this is a solid and well executed smartphone, but it sports a 1Ghz dual-core chip, Android 2.3, a 4-inch WVGA screen, 8GB of built-in storage, and 768MB of RAM, so the specs aren't exactly on par with other modern handsets. On the projector end of things, we've got a powerful 15 lumens unit capable of displaying a 50-inch wide image on any flat surface. This is pretty cool, but we're still not sure this is a space that needs filling. That said, if you're in the market for a projector-equipped smartphone, this is pretty much the best game in town. Our hands-on photo gallery follows below.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/samsung-galaxy-beam-hands-on/

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Samsung Galaxy S III full specs: 1.5GHz quad-core, 1080p display, ceramic case

We reported some exclusive details surrounding Samsung's upcoming flagship Galaxy S III smartphone this past weekend, and now we have received some more information that helps us paint a more complete picture. And as that picture becomes more clear, this sure looks like the baddest Android smartphone the world hasn't yet seen. We reported that the new Samsung flagship would launch in a simultaneous fashion across the globe, but we now have some more detailed specifications to report. Ladies and gentlemen, here is the Samsung Galaxy S III:

• 1.5GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor
• 4.8-inch "full HD" 1080p resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio display
• A 2-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera
• Ceramic case
• 4G LTE
• Android 4.0

As always, we'll keep pounding our sources for more information, but we have to say… a Blu-ray display? On a smartphone? We'll cuddle up with that and some popcorn any night of the week.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/?p=129196

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Hands on with Sony's Xperia P (again) and Xperia U

We were only able to spend a few minutes with Sony's new Xperia P smartphone as we rushed from Sony's press conference to HTC's press conference on Sunday, and we didn't get any time at all with the Xperia U. Thanks to a slightly lighter event scheduled on Monday, we were able to make it over to Sony's booth and spend some quality time with its new smartphones. These are the first smartphones that will be launched by the new Sony Mobile Communications unit that picks up where Sony Ericsson left off, and to be frank, we're a bit concerned. This pair of Android phones is well-made and we like what Sony has done to its UI atop Android 4.0, but we're still seeing some things that concern us. Check out our hands-on photos in the gallery linked below, and then hit the break for our initial impressions of the Xperia P and Xperia U smartphones.

First and foremost, these smartphones will hit the market in a very Sony Ericsson-like fashion. They will both launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Sony has stated that the Xperia P and Xperia U will each receive an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich some time in the second quarter. Slow software updates have historically been a big issue for Sony Ericsson's Android phones, so this definitely isn't a great way to instill confidence in users who might still have a bad taste in their mouths.

The devices themselves are solid phones, however. They share a very similar design identity that includes the transparent light bar near the bottom of each handset, and they also sport Reality Displays that make use of Sony's Bravia engine.

The larger of the two phones is the Xperia P, and it features a 4-inch display with "WhiteMagic" display technology that Sony says is ultra-bright and power efficient. After spending some time with the phone we can definitely confirm that the screen is extremely bright, and colors don't get washed out at all as the brightness increases. The 1GHz dual-core processor doesn't really do Android 4.0 justice on this handset, but hopefully things will be a bit smoother in the release version of the software.

The Xperia U features a significantly smaller form factor and a 3.5-inch Reality Display. It's powered by the same dual-core processor and it it suffers from the same occasional hiccups that we saw with the Xperia P. The display isn't quite as impressive as the panel on the Xperia P unfortunately, but beyond that the two phones are very similar.

We're looking forward to spending some more time with these phones but in the mean time, be sure to check out our hands-on gallery above.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/hands-on-with-sonys-xperia-p-again-and-xperia-u/

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AT&T's HTC One X uses a dual-core CPU instead of a quad-core Tegra 3

On Sunday, HTC announced the One X at the company's Mobile World Congress 2012 press conference. The handset features a quad-core 1.5GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, a beautiful 4.6-inch 1,280 x 720-pixel high-definition Super LCD2 display, an amazing 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, Beats Audio and Sense 4 atop Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. During our hands-on time with the device the quad-core Tegra 3 processor was an absolute monster, and it helped the One X zip around ICS with no lag whatsoever. The One X is set to arrive on AT&T's 4G LTE network by the end of April, however it will not include NVIDIA's Tegra 3 chipset when it does. Instead, it will sport a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. As for the cause of the down-grade, the Tegra 3 chip wasn't LTE-compatible when the handset entered production several months ago according to CNET.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/atts-htc-one-x-uses-a-dual-core-cpu-instead-of-quad-core-tegra-3/

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New Apple TV may launch in March alongside iPad 3 (no, not that Apple TV)

Apple reportedly plans to launch a new Apple TV next month that will feature a faster processor along with other enhancements. Apple watcher 9to5Mac on Tuesday reported that the Cupertino, California-based technology giant plans to refresh its Apple TV offering in March alongside the iPad 3. To be clear, this is not the HDTV Apple is rumored to be working on, but rather the somewhat popular iOS-powered set-top box. 9to5Mac's source says the new Apple TV will be powered by a faster dual-core processor, perhaps the "Apple A5x" that has been rumored recently, and it will feature better video playback performance as well. Earlier rumors suggested that Apple's new Apple TV might also feature Siri voice command integration, a Bluetooth 4.0 remote and support for Apple's rumored upcoming 1080p iTunes content, but none of these rumors have been confirmed.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/?p=129441

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Apple to unveil quad-core iPad 3 in New York next week, CNBC reports

Apple plans to unveil its next-generation iPad 3 with a quad-core processor and 4G LTE connectivity at a press conference in New York City next week, CNBC reports. The news organization did not offer any additional information in its brief report, which was posted on its Twitter account on Tuesday morning. Earlier reports suggested Apple would announce the new tablet at a press conference in San Francisco, in line with the company's prior two iPad unveilings. The iPad 3 is expected to feature a quad-core Apple A6 processor, embedded 4G LTE connectivity and a high-resolution  2,048 x 1,536-pixel display.

UPDATE: Well-connected Apple watcher Jim Dalrymple of Loop Insight claims that CNBC is incorrect about the location of Apple's press conference, which will not be held in New York.

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/28/apple-to-unveil-quad-core-ipad-3-in-new-york-next-week-cnbc-reports/

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Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press conference at MWC!

Mobile World Congress has been a roller coaster ride so far this year. The week kicked off with a bang on Sunday with both Sony and HTC unveiling their latest and greatest smartphones, and the HTC One X was definitely the star of the show. Things were up and down on Monday and Tuesday however, and the show actually got pretty slow for a while there. Our time in Barcelona isn't up just yet, however, and Microsoft chose today to unveil the latest version of its next-generation operating system, Windows 8. The technology giant released a preview version of Windows 8 last September, but we're sure plenty has changed over the past five months. And beyond checking out all the new features Microsoft has undoubtedly baked into its new OS, we might finally get a better idea of when devices carrying the platform will finally launch. Microsoft's Windows 8 press conference is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern / 6:00 a.m. Pacific (3:00 p.m. local time in Barcelona), so hit the break for our live coverage of the event!

UPDATE: Don't forget to check out our full review of Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which is now live!

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8:49AM:Hey folks. We're in line #2 here at Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview event. Let's see what they've got for us!

8:52AM:Upbeat music, lots of folks waiting around, and free breadsticks. Great.

8:54AM:This 4-on-the-floor drumbeat is driving us a little crazy...let's go, Microsoft!

9:01AM:Annnnd we're in. Microsof has a bevy of devices on display, all running....Windows 8!

9:03AM:As anticipated, we've got TVs, tablets, desktops, laptops, and more, all in a line

9:07AM:Ok...fake afro-beat music is a bit better but still suspect. We're 7 minutes behind schedule. * mins behind schedule and we're calling it fashionably late:)...

9:12AM:As a side note, this Catalonian sun is not helping keep any of our fellow blogger's and press folk's BO at bay...this room does not smell great.

9:14AM:We're beginning to think that the devices themselves might begin presenting...we haven't seen a single representative from Microsoft go anywhere near the stage yet. Wonder what's keeping em!

9:16AM:Of note, while we wait, there are a total of 13 different devices on stage, all of varying size and shape. Mostly tablets, with one of the largest TVs we've ever seen sitting behind it.

9:18AM:"The show will begin shortly" says the announcer...

9:20AM:lights down...er, lights yellowed...seems like it's finally go time

9:21AM:Lot's of thank you's now going on stage, thank you's to press, devs, etc...you're welcome!

9:22AM:Steven Synofsky hitting the stage now

9:23AM:Looks like we'll have immediate downloads of the beta software available following the release, fyo

9:23AM:"Windows 7 most successful Windows of all time"

9:24AM:Talking now about the compromises necessary with today's stratified mobile vs tablet vs desktop world, speaking to how complicated and unnatural the trade-offs are

9:25AM:Now speaking about how the form factor should drive consumer choice, not the set of compromises that one is willing to make. Microsoft is aiming for

9:27AM:Choice is the key word here, folks. The unified operating system experience is intended to allow consumers to decide what type of device best fits their life, and not have to worry about power management, crippled OS, etc

9:27AM:Every subsystem of Windows 8 has been re-engineered for touch and more

9:28AM:100,000 code changes since dev preview went live

9:28AM:Consumer preview is vastly different from initial dev version. They're calling it "complete" hmmmm

9:29AM:"Beautiful, modern, fast, fluid." It's a generational change in Windows. Stressing revolution vs. evolution of product here, but that it won't be a massive paradigm shift for current Windows users

9:30AM:They're calling Windows 8 a "super fun experience", which seems cute. That said, we're happy to see that they're stressing an enjoyable consumer experience over raw power, specs, and things that might appeal to power users

9:31AM:The notion of scaling is key, with a single OS that is scalable across multiple screen sizes, device type, etc. And having a functioning app-eco system that works together. Apps talking to apps, as opposed to apps functioning as an island in and of themselves. Apps enriching apps...

9:31AM:Pretty sure he's said

9:32AM:Pretty sure he's said "apps" over 59 times. Now stressing that everything is cloud connected, with integrated backups and online support. Also speaking about the current version of the Metro design language, which is design from the ground up with scaling in mind

9:33AM:Now we've got Julie Larson-Green and Antoine Leblond hitting the stage, windows program manager and windows web services manager, to walk us through the app and OS experience

9:34AM:No

9:35AM:Everything will be demonstrated using a prototype device. The device itself was designed from the ground up for usability. She's sitting in a chair, looking pretty damn comfortable, using the dev device. Nice touch.

9:36AM:The device is completely customized for each user, with a familiar lock screen, start screen, app environment, etc on each device that contains your profile info. The home screen adapts to provide the most frequently used tiles in the most convenient locations, etc

9:37AM:She's scanning in and out of home screens now. "fast and fluid" are the key terms, and everything is moving really really well. It's pretty impressive!

9:40AM:Xbox live is integrated from the ground up. We also have casual gaming for things like cut the rope and angry birds, etc etc...

9:40AM:Windows Explorer is killing it right now. The experience is moving so fast, and it actually looks like it's making internet browsing dare we say...fun? This is awesome to watch. Seriously, folks

9:40AM:Video and music stores are built into the preview as well

9:41AM:Now we're looking at a cookbook app. Nothing revolutions, but it does illustrate the beauty of the Metro style across app dev as well

9:42AM:We now have a demo of app switching using gestures. Left thumb flicked left slides back and forth through apps. This is, again, really fast. Really well implemented. We can also bring up a full task switcher by flijing up

9:43AM:Now we're on to social networking implementation. The "people" app function as a centralized hub for all of your social networking accounts. You can also pin this to the start screen with, of course, a live updating tile

9:44AM:Demonstrating multitasking now. We can place IM into a side window dock, while keeping video or any other app running in the foreground. Everything can be dragged around in real time. Awesome!

9:45AM:Nothing overlaps on top of anything else. It just switches back and forth laterally. That way you don't have 400 windows on top of one another. It's clean and efficient, a nice change from existing OS multitasking

9:45AM:The "charms" bar keeps frequently accessed info, like contacts, text, etc...and this is accessible from any app, regardless of where it originated. Apps talking to apps talking to apps...

9:46AM:Ok tablet demo done, on to laptop demo

9:46AM:He's talking about scalability, etc etc

9:47AM:We're looking at non-touchscreen devices now, with mouse and keyboard interface demos

9:47AM:CTRL-ALT-DELETE is a thing of the past!! All you need to unlock is the "enter" key. Ha!

9:47AM:Be sure to check out our Windows 8 Consumer Preview review, which just went live! http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/29/welcome-to-the-post-post-pc-era-a-review-of-microsofts-windows-8-consumer-preview/

9:48AM:Everything looks super fluid (notice a theme here...) and navigation seems pretty intuitive

9:49AM:Gestures haven't been replicated for mouse use, but 4 hot corners are used for specific "gesture" stuff. The corners are the navigation hot spots. Mouse to bottom left goes to start screen, bottom left to task switcher, etc. Seems smart to us, but we wonder how sensitive this thing is

9:50AM:Zoom in, zoom out, it all works as you might expect. And all home screens and tiles can be easily manipulated and re-arranged.

9:51AM:Task switching via hot corner is pretty...hot. We're impressed, though again...sad to see ctrl-tab go the way of the DoDo

9:52AM:

9:52AM:Kindle app, Weather app, Stocks app, etc...all Metro, all awesome.

9:53AM:The home screen is the new windows key. Hitting Windows button brings you directly to the home screen.

9:53AM:This is cool Start typing "USA" and it immediately brings you to an app list, listing USA Today as the top option. Immediate app search and launching.

9:54AM:Sharing between apps is so easy. The charms bar allows you to drop images from web to wordpress, wordpress to twitter, email to facebook, etc. The base app stays in the main screen, and the destination app comes up in the side bar. Drag, drop, post, boom. This is amazing

9:54AM:All existing Windows 7-compatible apps will work on Windows 8

9:55AM:Ok, now we've got Word coming up!

9:56AM:Office seems to work super well here, but it does just look like another Windows 7 app. We'll have to wait for a Metro version of Office to get super sexy, but at least everything will work out of the box

9:57AM:You can also manage tasks in real time, allowing you to pause tasks that need lower priority, etc

9:58AM:Metro and basic desktop functions to allow old apps work side by side. That's pretty cool, and it definitely illuminates how much cooler Metro is, but we're glad to see the desktop survive the transition

9:59AM:Ok. Now we have touch plus mouse plus keyboard. All three inputs can be used together. This is the marriage of input methods that we've been waiting for. And it looks like touch will probably become the predominant method...

10:00AM:All bookmarks, pins, apps, etc...all of these things travel with you from machine to machine, so your tablet looks like your phone looks like your laptop.

10:01AM:Now we've got a demo of the Skydrive app that allows access to documents from the cloud across all your devices. Skydrive is also working behind the scenes to sync your personlized data, profile pic, contacts, app data, etc

10:03AM:Universal search is pretty cool. Search for Harry Potter and it brings up results from the video store, web, flixter app, etc

10:04AM:Antoine is back to talk about the Windows App Store

10:04AM:The store ahs been designed for ease of access...well, that's good to know....we've got rankings, lists, etc. And then categories. Nothing revolutionary here folks, but we suppose that's not a bad thing

10:05AM:Find app, click on app, read about app, install app. Done

10:05AM:All apps in the store will be free during the preview period. Smart move!

10:06AM:Now he's talking about dev relationships, and how excited devs are to be working with the new software. "The best economics of any major app store..."

10:07AM:Large devs are on board, but they're trying to attract individual devs too. They're announcing the winner of the first apps contest...

10:08AM:Sorry 8 winners, not 1.

10:09AM:Cool. More pounding music...

10:11AM:Now we're talking wrapup stuff. "fast fluid beautiful. Okay, okay, we get it!!!

10:12AM:Now we're talking about how apps need to be brought up to spec. The OS is there, stable, ready to go. But apps need to catch up. This all makes sense. We're being cautioned not to list, review, or categorize apps, with an eye to the fact that this preview is intended to spurn further development

10:14AM:Get ready for some hardware previews, guys!

10:16AM:Okay okay, here we go. We've got Michael Angiulo to demo some new hardware!

10:17AM:We've got a demo of Windows-on-ARM, which was first announced at CES last year. Speaking to a power profile that allows support from smaller processors, like phone chips, tablet chips, etc. Low power state gives access to background tasks while sleeping, and doesn't give huge power spikes when waking to access information lost while in dormant mode

10:19AM:We've got Tegra 3, Snapdragon 5, and other stuff. This is great stuff

10:21AM:All apps are chip independent, so all apps will work on ARM, x86, etc. This makes a seamless consumer-facing experience. It's all about consistency here, ad this applies to drivers too. Printer drivers, etc will work across the board. Input devices are the same, storage devices, etc. This is revolutionary in the PC world

10:23AM:Windows 8 had to smaller overall to work on these lower power mobile processors, which should make it FLY on desktop-grade systems.

10:25AM:Ok, now on to Ultrabook stuff. We've got an Intel Next-Gen Ultrabook here, and it looks pretty...Ultrabooky. We've got 5 more on hand, ost with Ivy-bridge processors, touchscreens, etc. We've got an Acer book starting up in 8 seconds. Whoa!!

10:26AM:It's also super super thin. Approaching, if not exceeding, Macbook Air levels. This thing also has a motorized port cover. Cool touch, we suppose.

10:27AM:Alright, now we've got an HP Envy with Beats Audio, etc. Gorilla glass cover is amazing, and we're seeing some really really fast performance here.

10:28AM:And now on to Samsung, again with insanely fast performance. He's demonstrating processor adaption, with cores starting and stopping based on performance almost instantly.

10:28AM:Apps don't need to be opened or closed, because they don't use any processor power or memory when dormant

10:30AM:We're on to networking improvements, which speaks to the need to simplify connectivity due to the increased portability of Windows 8 devices

10:31AM:"Cost-based network switching" gives intelligent switching from 3G to Wi-Fi based on pre-defined preferences and profiles

10:32AM:Annnnd now the Lenovo Yoga, a convertible touchscreen-enabled laptop, is up to bat. Cool device, with a convertible screen

10:34AM:Side note, but the Microsoft Mouse is 30 years old today...

10:35AM:They're talking now about how Microsoft 8 will force a re-imagination of input methods, etc.

10:36AM:Ok, now we see why the ungodly large TV was there. It's actually a fully-functional Window 8 PC. It's really a giant Microsoft Surface, build out of Gorilla Glass. It's 82". The largest in the world. And it's running so quickly, so beautifully.

10:40AM:Ok, cool. No we're looking at how NFC inclusion allows seamless transfer of audio from internal speakers to wireless speakers. Walk in room, have music transfer from your headphones to your home stereo.

10:43AM:Alright, we've seen demos of image transfer technology, audio transfer, video editing, and...wait for it....a USB drive being connected to a Windows 8 desktop in Real Time!! Microsoft, this is great, but you had us an hour ago with the app demos. This is getting a little long in the tooth...

10:46AM:Allllllright!! Looks like we've actually hit the end point now. This has really ushered in the era of touch PCs for the consumer environment. The coolest part is that the transition is a metered one, allowing you to choose input method, from touch to keyboard to mouse, based on the usage case.

10:50AM:Now we've got a roadmap. Today, consumer preview available in English, German, Japanese, French, and Simplified Chinese. Visual Studio 11 Beta is available for devs, and preview apps are included with the store today. Beginning "really soon" we'll see updates and drivers. Stressing dynamic consumer preview, with many changes along the way. ceBIT will see enterprise features unveiled. The next milestone will be the Release Candidate, RTM, and General Availability. Preview is live already, with downloads from 70 different countries.

10:51AM:That's it guys! Thanks for tuning in and be sure to check out our full review of Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview!

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Original Page: http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/29/live-from-microsofts-windows-8-press-conference-at-mwc/

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