Lenovo wants to be the first to market with Windows 8 tablet in October

Lenovo will reportedly be the first manufacturer to market with a Windows 8 tablet. Insiders at the company have told The Verge that Lenovo plans to release a Windows 8 tablet as soon as Microsoft releases the OS – and they believe that will happen in October.

The unspecified tablet is said to utilize an Intel chip but specifications beyond that are unknown at this point. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that all new Windows 8 tablets have to be based on new hardware. Existing tablets can be Windows 8 certified so long as they meet the guidelines outlined in Microsoft’s hardware requirements list.

CNET believes that Lenovo’s first Windows 8 tablet could be the IdeaPad Yoga, a prototype device that first showed up at CES 2012. This hybrid notebook / tablet feature a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1,600 x 900 and 10 touch points.

Not unlike other convertibles we have seen in the past, the Yoga’s display flips over, allowing the user to utilize the screen as a tablet. The difference here is the way the hinges work. Traditional convertibles utilized a single central hinge that many felt was a weak design element. The Yoga is expected to debut starting at $1,199 later this year.

Lenovo is just one of several manufacturers vying for a Windows 8 tablet later this year. Dell, HP, Nokia and ASUS have all thrown their names into the proverbial hat. Dell is even looking to release an enterprise Win 8 slate on the exact day Microsoft makes the OS available to the public.

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Former Microsoft employee launches 'Fixing Windows 8' blog

A former Microsoft employee has launched a blog called ‘Fixing Windows 8’ that offers suggestions that he hopes the company will implement prior to releasing their next operating system. Simply put, Mike Bibik feels that new users won’t know how to navigate the interface primarily because Microsoft has hidden several features and menus from view.

The author suggests that power users should be able to figure out how to effectively use the mouse in Windows 8 but novice or new users will be completely lost. Furthermore he complains that Metro style apps don’t have window controls so there’s no obvious way to exit or minimize an app once inside.




To back up his claims, he has linked a YouTube video from Chris Pirillo. In the clip, Pirillo’s father can be seen trying to navigate from the Windows 8 desktop back to the Metro UI unsuccessfully. If this video is any indication, the average user is certainly going to have a tough time later this year when the final version ships.

But rather than totally bash Microsoft over the choices, Bibik hopes that his words will be seen as informative and eye-opening rather than overly-critical. He even offers up some suggestions to alleviate the glaring issues, such as combining the desktop task bar with the new Start screen, combining Charms and the master apps list into a single menu, adding a dedicated Charms bar and bringing back the Start button on the desktop.

Is Microsoft trying too hard to make Windows 8 a tablet OS and overlooking traditional desktop users?

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The new iPad 3: Everything you should know

Earlier today, Apple wrapped up its press conference detailing what we thought would be called the iPad 3. The new tablet is the same size and shape as its predecessors, but changes a lot of things under the hood. For quick information on the new tablet, check out our news recap. But if you have a bit of time, we’ve compiled a more comprehensive list of things you should know about Apple’s next hot device.

It’s not an iPad 3. It’s “The new iPad”

The first thing that confused us is the name. Instead of going with the name iPad 3 or iPad HD, Apple has gone back to the basics and is simply calling this the ‘iPad,’ or “The new iPad.” While this naming convention is sure to confuse and annoy us geeks and press people of the world who must write about “The new iPad” everyday, it shouldn’t mean much to you (unless you’re one of us!). It’s a third-generation iPad.

Same size and design

While it’s called the new iPad, it looks exactly like the old iPad. The new device has the same exact design and nearly identical dimensions as the iPad 2, though it’s slightly fatter (9.4mm vs. 8.8mm) and slightly heavier (652g vs. 601g) due to the larger internal battery needed to run the ‘resolutionary’ screen you’re about to read up on.

It’s Resolutionary!

We can’t imagine Steve Jobs approving a word like ‘Resolutionary,’ but that is how Apple is describing the new iPad’s screen. It is still 9.7 inches (diagonally), but the new screen packs 2047×1536 pixels, or twice the resolution of the iPad 2. While this resolution is essentially the 3:4 aspect ratio equivalent of the widescreen 1080p (1920x1080px) format, Apple is right to tout that an iPad packs many more pixels than even 1080p devices do. Supposedly this will improve the viewing experience dramatically, as demonstrated by Apple many times, though we played with a high-resolution Asus Transformer Infinity recently and didn’t notice too much of a leap. However, that was not iOS and not an iPad.

Apple is also bringing back the term “Retina display,” which was used to describe the 960×640 pixel resolution of the iPhone 4 and 4S. However, the scale for what constitutes a “retina display” has slid downward with the marketing. While the iPhone 4 has a 326ppi (Pixels Per Inch) display, which means that a normal person (said Steve Jobs) wouldn’t be able to distinguish pixels at 10 inches away). The new iPad may have a much higher resolution, but it’s also a much larger screen, giving it a 264 ppi. At that rate, you would have to hold the iPad 15 inches away (we think) to not notice any pixelation. Is it a Retina display? We don’t know, but it’s still probably the best one on the market.

Quad-core graphics (but not processing)

Like many of the upcoming high-end Android smartphones and tablets, the new iPad will have a quad-core processor in it, and in true Apple fashion, it is a custom chip built by the Cupertino company itself. Strangely though, it’s not the main processor that’s quad-core: it’s the graphic processor (GPU). The central processing unit (CPU) is likely still dual-core, but Apple is deceptively pushing the entire tablet as a quad-core device. If we were to follow Apple’s logic, then all Android devices running the quad-core Tegra 3 processor would actually be labeled as 12-core devices, since that’s how many cores are in the Tegra 3 GPU.

Marketing lingo aside, no specific specs on its clockspeed or capabilities are yet known, but Apple showed off some impressive new games by Namco and Epic during its press conference and claimed that the iPad now had power comparable to gaming consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360. Without knowing more, we can’t necessarily disagree.

As for the rest of the tablets relevant hardware specifications, we know that it will still come with either 16, 32, or 64GB of internal storage, we are guessing it has 1GB of RAM, and it has an audio headphone jack and standard Apple charging and dock port. Sorry guys, still no microSD or Micro USB. The camera is quite nice though.


iSight for all

The name is cheesy, but if you compare the new iPad camera to that of the iPad 2, it looks like it will be an entirely new experience. The iPad 2 had a cheap and crappy camera, but Apple has integrated what appears to be the same rear camera as the iPhone 4S (and it’s nice) into its new tablet. It can take photos at 5 megapixels, record video at 1080p and has other standard features like autofocus and tap to focus. Unfortunately, there is no flash and the front-facing camera is still VGA (640×480 pixels), meaning Apple isn’t making many upgrades to enhance FaceTime.

The iPhone 4S camera is probably the best smartphone camera around, which is why this announcement is particularly exciting. Combined with the high resolution of the new iPad’s screen, this camera could do some cool things. To celebrate, Apple is releasing a few new apps as well.

iOS 5.1

If you own an iPhone 4S, you’ve used iOS 5.1. In this update, Apple added support for iCloud, which syncs up your files and backs them up remotely as well as a number of other enhancements like an app notification tray (a la Android) and other small enhancements like Twitter integration, AirPlay mirroring, and iMessage.

iPhoto joins iMovie, iWork, and GarageBand

Apple has developed a new app called iPhoto, designed to work in conjunction with the new iSight camera on the iPad. This app allows users to edit their photos, and easily tweak color, exposure, and contrast among other things. You can also use your fingers like “brushes” and adjust small details of your photos, then share them straight to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or iCloud. AirPlay Beaming is also supported. iPhoto will cost $5 and will be available soon.


Siri: No, but how about voice dictation?

Rumors pointed toward Siri being released for iPad, but it looks like Apple isn’t ready for that just yet. The new iPad will not come with Apple’s favorite little assistant, but it will have a new button on the keyboard allowing for voice dictation. This feature should be fairly straightforward, assuming it works well. You talk and the iPad types what you say.

It’s got the 4Gs

Wi-Fi is great and 3G does the job, but if you want a fast connection anywhere, 4G LTE is the best option (assuming it’s in your area, of course). The new iPad will have models starting at $630 that support 4G LTE on both Verizon and AT&T. Unfortunately, when you purchase a new iPad, you will have to specify whether you want an AT&T or Verizon model. Because the two carriers use different LTE bands (technical jargon you don’t really need to know), you won’t be able to switch from AT&T to Verizon. Your iPad will be locked in. A cheaper Wi-Fi model will also be available, as usual.

(Note: From what we gather, the 4G models will also be compatible on 3G networks.)

Battery life: 10 hours

Previous iPads have had 10 hour battery life (9 hours on 3G), and Apple is maintaining that standard on the new iPad, despite its battery draining high-resolution screen, quad-core processor, and 4G LTE connectivity. This is possible because the battery is a bit larger, pushing the thickness of the new iPad from 8.8mm to 9.4mm. We welcome the girth and doubt most users will notice much difference.

New iPad, same price

The new iPad is also maintaining the same $500 – $830 pricing scheme that all previous models have adhered to. If you want a 16GB Wi-Fi-only iPad, it will cost $500; 32GB will run you $600; 64GB will run you $700; and if you want 4G LTE, add $130 to the price. For those seeking a discount, we suggest checking out the iPad 2.

iPad 2 now $400

As it has done with some iPhone models, Apple will continue to sell the iPad 2 Wi-Fi and 3G models for a discounted $400. It may be just clearing out inventory or it may plan to sell the old iPad for a longer duration of time, possibly to combat cheap Android tablets. We aren’t sure. If you don’t care as much about screen resolution, cool games, photo editing, 4G LTE, or taking fancy pictures, then the iPad 2 may be a good option for you.


How to get it

Apple has already opened pre-orders for the new iPad, which you can find by visiting apple.com/ipad/. Your new iPad will ship on March 16. (Be warned, the purchasing site seems to be going up and down. The site is likely being bombarded with hundreds of thousands of pre-orders.)

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Windows 8 Tricks, Tips and Shortcuts

Windows 8 Consumer Preview cracked 1 million downloads shortly after launching last Wednesday and I'm sure many of you have tried it already. Whether you went with a dual-boot, upgrade, clean install or virtual machine, if you're coming from Windows 7 you'll notice significant changes immediately, while others may not be as obvious.

Inevitably, with change comes good and bad -- at least until you learn some tricks that get you back up to speed. I know I've been hitting my head against the wall when things don't behave the way they used to. The Start menu's absence is a perfect example of a radical change. Indeed, the duality of the OS may bring some trouble, but as skeptical as I was, I must admit Microsoft has done a pretty good job of easing many of my concerns.

Metro is undoubtedly very touch-oriented and perhaps a beginner's dream come true. For experienced users, it seems like Windows 8 still holds some promise. The devil is in the details, they say, so besides experimenting with a clean install I tried the upgrade option to see how well it worked. Going from a year-old Windows 7 install to the Consumer Preview was as seamless as you could ask for.

File copy dialogs, the task manager and search look better and work faster, and that adds up for an improved experience. I'm not loving Metro on my desktop since there's little I can currently do with the stock apps, but I wonder if that will be true once my most-used programs take full advantage of live tiles.

Without further ado, here's a shortlist of Windows 8 shortcuts and useful quick tricks I've gathered thus far.

Hot corners


The Start menu is no longer there, but there's a hot corner that makes up for it (unfortunately on multiple screens it's somewhat of a pain to use).

Lower-left corner + Left click Goes to the Start screen (Metro).
Lower-left corner + Right click Power user shortcut menu (Device Manager, Control Panel, Command Prompt, Power Options, etc.).
Upper-left corner Shows open window thumbnails, click to switch between them.
Upper screen limit + Click & Drag on desktop Move to left or right to snap the current desktop or Metro app to one side of the screen.
Lower-right corner Windows 8 Charm menu or Windows Aero Peak.
Upper-right corner Shows Windows 8 charm menu.

Left or right click on the lower-left corner and you'll be surprised with

a useful Windows orb replacement.

Keyboard shortcuts

Windows 8 is very hotkey-heavy, here are some of the shortcuts I find most useful:

Windows key Shows the new Start screen (Metro).
Win + type keyword Instant application search (same as in Windows 7).
Win + D Standard Windows desktop. Also minimizes/restores all open windows in desktop mode.
Win + Q Shows all installed apps.
Win + W Instant search for settings.
Win + F Instant search for files.
Win + I Settings sidebar (control panel, network, volume, brightness, notifications, and more).
Win + P Shows multi-monitor options, also useful for connecting an external monitor or projector.
Win + X Power user shortcut menu (Device Manager, Control Panel, Command Prompt, Power Options, etc.).
Win + Z Shows App Bar in Metro applications.
Win + . (period) Snaps the current Metro app to the right side of the screen. Do it twice and it will snap to the left.
Win + . (period) + Shift Snaps the current Metro app to the left side of the screen.
Win + J Switches focus between snapped Metro apps.
Win + Page Up / Down Moves full-screen Metro app to secondary monitor.
Win + Left / Right arrow Moves and snaps desktop applications in that direction, or to a different monitor.
Win + Tab Switches between open applications. Similar to using the left-upper hot corner with a mouse.
Win + L Locks Windows.

You can snap Metro apps or your desktop to the side and continue working on the center of the screen.

Another shortcut lets you switch focus between the two.

Showing all apps at once (Windows Phone style) and searching with a few keystrokes is

the Windows 8 equivalent to the old Programs menu.

Get the Start Menu back, orb and all!


 I've seen some of you wanting to completely get rid of Metro and get the Windows 7 orb back. If that's the case I'd personally recommend you just stick to Windows 7, but if you already jumped ship there's a trick to do so as discussed on AskVG.

Updated: A second, improved alternative The clever folks at Stardock have released a piece of software called Start 8 that essentially adds a Start button to Windows 8's desktop mode. When you click on it you get a Metro-esque Start menu from where you can search and access other settings.

Remove that pesky wallpaper watermark


As we've seen on older betas, Windows 8 CP shows a wallpaper watermark indicating it's not a final build. The lock screen or Metro UI don't have any similar nagging reminder, and spending a majority of my time in the desktop mode, the message is tacky to say the least. Here's a solution I found circulating on a few forums:

Download this zip file and install the InstallTakeOwnership.reg registry file
Take Ownership from the shell32.dll.mui file located on C:\Windows\System32\en-US
Take Ownership from the basebrd.dll.mui file located on C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd\en-US
Copy and replace the shell32.dll.mui from the Edited Files to C:\Windows\System32\en-US
Copy and replace the basebrd.dll.mui from the Edited Files to C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd\en-US
Close the Windows Explorer window and open the Command Prompt with Administrator rights (remember that Win + X shortcut?)
Type mcbuilder, wait for it to finish and reboot.

Other quick tips


Drivers: Windows 8 won't suffer the same fate Vista did with drivers. Most Windows 7 drivers will work just fine with the new OS. Nvidia advised GeForce owners to use the readily available 295.73 driver set, while AMD decided to release new Radeon drivers for the Consumer Preview.

Recalling storage space after setup: Your mileage may vary with a Windows 7 upgrade. It worked great for me but remember this is still beta software. Anyway, if you upgraded you may want to restore files from the Windows.old directory which contains data from your older OS installation and other files used during the setup using the Disk Cleanup tool. Reminder #2: If you upgrade, you can't revert back to Windows 7.

You can recover a few gigabytes worth of storage space if you

clean up after a Windows 8 upgrade.

Upgrading to Windows 8: Windows 8 will offer a complete upgrade option from Windows 7, but the same won't be possible if you are using Vista or XP (or the current Consumer Preview for that matter). System requirements for Windows 8 are essentially the same as Windows 7 (which were similar to Vista), so most semi-modern hardware will run it just fine.

Metro notifications, turning some of those off: Windows 8 encourages you to use a Microsoft account so you can take advantage of neat features like SkyDrive or syncing your OS settings across multiple PCs. However, it will also activate other things like the Messaging Metro app, which looks good, but becomes a nag if you are using a different IM client like Trillian or Pidgin. Windows 8 uses notifications that resembles those of Growl on OS X. You can fully manage, and deactivate the Messenger app notifications from the Settings menu.

Windows 8's notifications look good and serve a purpose, but you may want to be

selective about the programs that can interrupt your workflow.

Native screenshots in Win 8: Although using a third-party tool like Droplr remains the easiest way to grab and share a screenshot, Windows 8 finally adds a screenshot shortcut that doesn't require the snipping tool or another program where you can paste the taken image. Win + Prt Sc does the trick, saving a PNG image file on the Pictures folder.

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