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BetaNews.Com (5 non lus)

Microsoft finally gives the Surface Power Cover a release date -- March 19th

Publié: mars 11, 2014, 5:10am CET par Brian Fagioli

When the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 were unveiled last year in Manhattan, I was on hand. While the tablets were the stars of the event, there were many interesting accessories too. My favorite accessory was the Surface Music Kit as it allowed music creation in a unique way. However, the Power Cover was intriguing too. You see, it acts like the normal type cover, but dramatically extends the battery.

Sadly, the Power Cover has been unavailable for purchase. Surface fans such as myself, have been clamoring to obtain it. Luckily, a release date has finally come to light -- March 19th. It will work with the Surface 2, Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 -- the Surface RT has been left out of the party.

"Work with the speed and functionality of a classic laptop keyboard while extending the battery life of your Surface up to 70 percent with the Power Cover. It also recharges your Surface's battery while you work. You'll have plenty of juice to stay unplugged all day in the office, during a full day of classes, or on a cross-country flight", says Microsoft.

Of course, it still functions like the standard Type Cover, offering a full keyboard and trackpad. Also, it doubles as a screen protector when not in use. This makes it good for tossing into a bag without worrying about the screen.

If you are interested in buying, you can pre-order now for a reasonable $199.99. While some may claim it is expensive, getting 70 percent more battery life can mean life and death for the busy professional -- it is priceless. Not to mention, watching movies on a long flight.

Do you own a Surface 2, Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2? Will you be buying the Surface Power Cover? Tell me in the comments.
Samsung mass-producing 20 nanometer 4Gb DDR3 memory for mobile devices and PCs

Publié: mars 11, 2014, 3:56am CET par Brian Fagioli

When it comes to computers, there are two routes to take -- buy a pre-built model from a manufacturer like Dell or build your own. While you can save money by going the pre-built route, you don't get to pick the specific components. Sure, you can pick the size of the drives or the amount of memory, but the brands and quality can be a question mark.

One of the most important components of any system build, is the RAM. It can be tempting to buy a cheap generic brand, but that is never a good idea. After all, system stability can take a major hit from cheap memory. Some of the best memory uses Samsung modules. Today, that company announces they have achieved mass-production of 20nm 4Gb DDR3 memory modules. This means improvements to smartphones, tablets and PCs.

"Samsung's modified double patterning technology marks a new milestone, by enabling 20nm DDR3 production using current photolithography equipment and establishing the core technology for the next generation of 10nm-class DRAM production. With the new 20nm DDR3 DRAM applying these technologies, Samsung also has improved manufacturing productivity, which is over 30 percent higher than that of the preceding 25 nanometer DDR3, and more than twice that of 30nm-class DDR3", says Samsung.

The company further explains, "in addition, the new 20nm 4Gb DDR3- based modules can save up to 25 percent of the energy consumed by equivalent modules fabricated using the previous 25 nanometer process technology. This improvement provides the basis for delivering the industry's most advanced green IT solutions to global companies".

Hopefully these modules will find their way into mobile devices and PCs soon as the benefits are much needed. The energy savings alone are a godsend, as the battery performance of smartphones, tablets and laptops still don't meet the needs of many. An entire industry of portable external batteries have been bred from this deficiency.

Are you excited for improved memory? Tell me in the comments.
Chromebook belongs to computing's past, not its future

Publié: mars 11, 2014, 1:34am CET par Joe Wilcox

Early this evening, I exchanged emails with someone writing a blog post about Chromebook. He seeks sales numbers that I doubt are available. Success is a difficult measure despite the hype. In January post "The trouble with new Chromebooks" here and "Twenty-Fourteen isn't Year of the Chromebook" on my personal site, I raise questions about the computer's future.

I extend reservations in the text of my email reply, which follows.

I really like the Chromebook concept. Easy and familiar.

But Chromebook in the end is a Trojan Horse for Google products and services. While bloggers and social sharers rake Microsoft for Scroogling Chromebook, long term the marketing may be more truth than myth. Every Chromebook requires Google Account and all the collected services around it with which to profile users and profit from them.

The PC as we know it is quickly evolving into something else. P in "personal" isn't the personal computer but the mobile device you constantly carry and from which you engage all your most intimate interactions. Anytime. Anywhere.

As voice and touch replace keyboards, devices like smartphones and phablets make more sense, particularly considering what kind of content most people produce. Do you really need Mac, PC, or even Chromebook to tweet or socially share? Then there is the actual content that most people produce -- short texts, photos, videos, and various mashups. No one needs a honking PC or underwhelming Chromebook for that. Where are the apps for producing all this non-document content? Mobile devices.

Chromebook is an aberration, only made possible by Google’s sync smarts and supporting services platform. I would look to the ecosystems for answers, because the sales numbers won’t reveal much -- Chromebook's market share is too small for meaningful comparison and any growth off of a small base is too unreliable. The ecosystem with pull, outside of the business and education markets, is mobile, whether dedicated apps or web apps. By that measure, all traditional PCs are past their prime, including Chromebook.

Just my two cents of analysis.

I started the year publishing ebook Chromebook Matters, which calls Google's laptop a "revolution". But not all revolutions succeed. Chromebook comes during a transition phase between computing eras -- the personal computer and what author's Shel Israel and Robert Scoble call the Age of Context. When voice and touch matter more -- and they will as primary user interfaces -- keyboard and mouse mean less. Chromebook belongs to computing's past, not its future.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox
Google embraces open source for 10th year of Summer of Code

Publié: mars 11, 2014, 1:13am CET par Brian Fagioli

For many, open source is believed to be the future. If you aren't familiar, in basic terms, open source is software that is accompanied by free to distribute source code. By having the source code, users can see the guts of the program they are using. This is in contrast to closed source software, like most of Microsoft's, where the code is hidden to retain intellectual property and make a profit.

Neither school of thought is wrong -- you can't fault a company for trying to make money by going closed source. Bill Gates would not have become the richest man in the world if Microsoft's software portfolio was open. However, not everyone lives for money. Open source allows even the poorest people to potentially access quality software at no charge. Today, Google announces it is looking for college students to work on open source projects for its 10th year of Summer of Code.

What exactly is Summer of Code? Google gives the following description:

Google Summer of Code is a global program that offers post-secondary student developers ages 18 and older stipends to write code for various open source software projects. We have worked with open source, free software, and technology-related groups to identify and fund projects over a three month period. Since its inception in 2005, the program has brought together over 7,500 successful student participants and over 7,000 mentors from over 100 countries worldwide to produce over 50 million lines of code. Through Google Summer of Code, accepted student applicants are paired with a mentor or mentors from the participating projects, thus gaining exposure to real-world software development scenarios and the opportunity for employment in areas related to their academic pursuits. In turn, the participating projects are able to more easily identify and bring in new developers. Best of all, more source code is created and released for the use and benefit of all.

"If you're a university student looking to earn real-world experience this summer, we hope you’ll consider coding for a cool open source project with Google Summer of Code. We're celebrating the 10th year of the program in 2014, and we’d love to see more student applicants than ever before. In 2013 we accepted almost 1,200 students and we’re planning to accept 10 percent more this year", says Carol Smith, Google Open Source team.

Smith further says, "you can submit proposals on our website starting now through Friday, March 21 at 12:00pm PDT. Get started by reviewing the ideas pages of the 190 open source projects in this year's program, and decide which projects you're interested in. There are a limited number of spots, and writing a great project proposal is essential to being selected to the program -- so be sure to check out the Student Manual for advice".

Google has been using Linux in both Android and Chromebooks, so it is nice to see the search-giant giving back to the open source community. This gives college students an opportunity to make a name for themselves by creating or working on an epic piece of open source software. Even if the software doesn't light the world on fire, at least they tried and learned something.

Are you a college student? Will you sign up? Tell me in the comments.
Microsoft wants to see women wearing boyfriend jeans on Skype -- creepy

Publié: mars 11, 2014, 12:42am CET par Brian Fagioli

Each decade, there seems to be new extreme trends in fashion. In the 90s, whether you were grunge or hip-hop, it was cool to wear baggy jeans. However, this decade, there has been a skinny jeans trend. Both men and women are wearing pants that look painted on. This is not conducive to the phablet trend.

However, there is a trend that is the antithesis of skinny jeans -- boyfriend jeans. Yes, this particular style is baggy pants for women. In other words, it is meant to look like they are wearing their boyfriend's pants. Perhaps Satya Nadella is looking to become a fashionista, as Microsoft wants to see women wearing these pants on Skype. Creepy? Sort of.

"We're excited to bring you the Boyfriend Jeans Challenge. From March 7, 2014 -- March 14, 2014, we're challenging fashionistas across the globe to style an outfit around one of the most difficult-to-perfect wardrobe essentials: boyfriend jeans. The grand prize winner will be flown to London with Skype Photography Brand Ambassador, Chaucee Stillman, for a shopping trip with a personal stylist. As a professional photographer and fashion blogger, Chaucee will be using her impeccable talent for capturing street style to judge the challenge entries", says Quinn Hubbard, Microsoft.

Hubbard further explains, "the finalists will then join Chaucee and a panel of elite stylists on a Skype group video call. On the call, the eight finalists will be asked to record a Skype video message of their final look. Those videos will then be posted on the Skype Collaboration site for fellow fashionistas to vote on their favorite style. Finalists are encouraged to share their look with friends, family and followers. The finalist who receives the most votes will be flown to London for a shopping adventure most style icons only dream about".

Technically, even though this is a style for women, there is nothing preventing a man from entering. So, even if you are a dude, you can win by taking pictures of your derriere in baggy jeans and submitting them to Microsoft. So break out that bedazzler and get sexy -- it could earn you a trip to London.

Will you enter? Tell me in the comments.

Image Credit: auremar/Shutterstock