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Microsoft's canceled Surface Mini shows up in photos
In the heady days of 2014, Microsoft had a dream of launching a smaller version of its nascent Surface tablets. The Surface Mini was a passion project of division chief Panos Panay, but it was axed by CEO Satya Nadella and EVP Stephen Elop shortly before its debut. Aside from a few leaked promo images, pictures of the Surface Mini in the real world have remained elusive, at least, until now.
Windows 10 is coming to Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile chips
Microsoft's first attempt at bringing Windows to ARM-powered machines was, shall we say, not a good idea. But perhaps the second time's the charm. Microsoft and Qualcomm just announced that Windows 10 is coming to the next generation of Snapdragon mobile processors. And to be clear, they're referring to the full version of the OS, with support for legacy Win32 software and universal Windows apps. It won't be a stripped-down affair like Windows RT.
Microsoft brings the Windows 10 Start Menu to Surface RT
Microsoft has released an update for its orphaned Windows RT 8.1 OS that gives it a Windows 10-like Start menu, according to users who've downloaded it. That's good news for owners of the original Surface and Surface 2 RT hybrid laptops, or those who bought RT devices like the Asus Vivo Tab RT and Dell XPS 10. The feature isn't exactly the same as it is on Windows 10, as it lacks the settings options, and the power-off icon has been moved to the top right. There's no news of any other features, because the update wasn't accompanied by a Microsoft announcement.
The making of Surface 3: Microsoft's little tablet grows up
Microsoft knows there's a lot riding on the Surface 3. And it looks like the company's finally listened to feedback from people who have asked for a little more oomph from these devices. Nearly three years after Surface with Windows RT was born, Microsoft is introducing its third-generation Surface, a tablet that runs full Windows, not the misstep of an operating system that was RT. This time around, Microsoft's tablet also features a screen designed to work with a pen, while an overhauled Type Cover promises to deliver a more solid, less wobbly keyboard and an improved trackpad. The Surface 3 is as much a PC as the Surface Pro 3, leaving behind the days of being just a would-be iPad competitor. It is, perhaps, what the Surface line should have always been.
Microsoft cuts prices for its Surface 2 tablet by $100
Have you been holding out for a price cut on the Surface 2 before taking the plunge? You now have your chance. Microsoft has slashed $100 off the price of its second-gen Windows RT tablet, regardless of the model you buy. It now costs as little as $349 for a base 32GB WiFi edition, while splurging on the 64GB LTE slate is slightly more reasonable at $579. Just be aware that the folks in Redmond aren't doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. The Surface 2 is nearly a year old -- Microsoft is very likely clearing inventory, whether it's ahead of a new model or just to focus more attention on the Surface Pro 3.
Microsoft is testing a fix for Windows 8.1 upgrade woes
There are many Windows 8 and RT users who want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, but can't; a glitch has kept a seemingly random batch of PCs from installing this latest revision through the Windows Store. Thankfully, relief is in sight. Microsoft tells SuperSite for Windows that it's testing a patch which automatically upgrades these stubborn computers to their respective 8.1 releases. If you're eligible, you only need to check Windows Update (not the Store) to get the ball rolling. Windows RT users, at least, can also download the solution if they're impatient. Microsoft isn't saying if and when the fix will spread worldwide, but it likely can't come soon enough if you're stuck with outdated software.
Buy Halo: Spartan Assault on one Windows 8 device and kill Covenant on the others you own
One of the big promises that came out of Microsoft's Build conference this year were apps that'd work across a number of Windows devices with a single purchase, and Redmond is using Halo to lead that charge. The first group of applications includes Halo: Spartan Assault and Skulls of the Shogun, both of which recently made the conversion to universal games -- making them playable across Windows Phone, Windows 8 and RT devices for one price. If you'd rather not pay for your entertainment, though, Microsoft also converted the likes of Wordament, Minesweeper and Hexic too. However, as Windows Phone Central notes, buying the universal version of Skulls doesn't grant access to the Xbox 360 version, nor does Spartan Assault's universal purchase unlock the Xbox 360 or Xbox One versions. Given that the Xbox division is still pretty separate from everything else though, that isn't exactly surprising.
Unreal Engine 4 to support Windows Phone and Windows RT, but not anytime soon
Unreal Engine 4's new $19 subscription option might be real tempting for developers on a budget, unless, of course, they're hoping to make games for Windows Phone and Windows RT. Although Epic Games' next-gen engine doesn't work with the aforementioned flavors of Microsoft's OS, that might be changing, albeit slowly. Tim Sweeney, the studio's co-founder and CEO, divulged on the company's forums that the firm's already doing legwork to support the platforms. "We have been doing some work in this direction (implementing various levels of WinRT API support) and we want to have Windows Phone support eventually, but we're a very long way from having a ship-quality implementation," Sweeney said. Still, the head honcho adds that their focus will remain on Android and iOS development before branching out to Microsoft's other flavors of Windows. Impatient devs can stick with Unreal Engine 3, but those aching for the latest tools will have to sit tight a while longer.
Nokia Here Maps coming to all Windows 8.1 devices
Have you looked on with envy as friends with Lumia 2520 tablets use Here Maps to navigate around city streets? You won't have to for much longer. Nokia has revealed that it's bringing the mapping software to all Windows 8.1 PCs, including RT-based systems. The wider availability will come alongside a host of upgrades, too. In addition to the necessary additions of mouse and keyboard support, you'll also get a search history, higher-resolution satellite images and faster map loading. Nokia will offer the app for free, beginning with those in North America and Europe; everyone should have access within a few days.
Surface 2 tablet with AT&T-ready LTE passes through the FCC
Microsoft said that a Surface 2 with LTE was coming to AT&T early this year, and it now appears that this cellular-equipped Windows RT tablet is finally close to launch. The company has just received FCC approval for a "portable computing device" that sports the Surface's familiar 10.6-inch display as well as AT&T-native LTE and HSPA data. The filing doesn't hold any surprises, then, but it suggests that there are few obstacles left to releasing the 4G slate in the US. Given past promises, we wouldn't be shocked if it launches within a matter of weeks.
Windows Phone 8.1 leak reveals new messaging and storage settings, and more
Up until now, the most we'd heard about the next rumored update to Microsoft's Windows Phone OS centered on two features: Cortana, the company's Siri-like digital assistant, and Action Center, its native notification center. Today, however, we have a clearer idea of where Windows Phone 8.1 could be headed thanks to a Reddit user who's allegedly gained access to the new SDK as part of Microsoft's developer preview program.
Nokia's Lumia 2520 tablet exclusive to John Lewis in the UK from December 4th
UK-centric news is plentiful today while America busies itself with feasts and football. One such announcement concerns the launch of Nokia's first tablet, the Lumia 2520, which will go on sale December 4th exclusively at John Lewis and affiliate stores. Running Windows RT 8.1, the colorful 10.1-inch tablet will cost £400, while the optional keyboard accessory will retail for an additional £150 when it becomes available "in the coming weeks" (although we can't say we were enamored with the typing experience in our review). Curiously, John Lewis' monopoly means you'll have to go to extra lengths to make use of the 2520's LTE radio by procuring a 4G data-only SIM from EE or O2. Thus, you also can't take advantage of any carrier subsidies. There's no word on exactly when the exclusivity period will end, but if you just have to have one, you know exactly where to go. Update: We've now learned exclusivity finishes at the end of February next year, and that every Lumia 2520 bought from John Lewis includes an EE 4G SIM with 200MB of free data.
Nokia Lumia 2520 review: a good Windows tablet, not the best for typing
The Lumia 2520 is Nokia's first Windows tablet -- and it may well be its last. By the time Nokia is ready to design a follow-up product, the Finnish firm might officially be a part of Microsoft. For now, though, the Lumia 2520 is about to go on sale worldwide under the Nokia brand, and will compete directly with Microsoft's Surface 2, the only other Windows RT tablet available right now. Like the Surface, it's a flagship-caliber device, with a 1080p screen and top-of-the-line processor. But whereas Microsoft sees the Surface as kind of a laptop/tablet hybrid -- a real productivity device -- the 2520 is, at its heart, just a tablet. The 2520 has no kickstand, no full-sized USB port -- not unless you buy the optional keyboard cover, anyway. Nokia also brought its A-game imaging wise, installing the same camera used on the Lumia 720 (hey, for a tablet that's actually unprecedented). Additionally, there's one other thing the 2520 has that the Surface 2 doesn't: LTE. In fact, you can't even get the 2520 as a WiFi-only device; you can either buy it unsubsidized for $499, or you can purchase it here in the US for $400 on-contract. So it definitely looks good on paper (and in press photos), but what's it like to use? Turns out, it's pretty nice.
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet reaches Verizon on November 21st for $500 contract-free
Verizon isn't going to let AT&T hog all the Lumia 2520 buyers this weekend -- it just announced that it will start selling Nokia's Windows RT tablet on November 21st, one day before the device is available at AT&T. Pricing will remain the same at $500 contract-free or $400 on a two-year term, but Verizon is sweetening its deal by offering a carrier-appropriate red model to online shoppers; retail customers will have to be content with black. There's no word on 2520 variants for other carriers, but it's good to know that Americans will have at least some choice in networks when picking up Nokia's LTE-equipped slate.
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet reaches AT&T on November 22nd for $400 on contract (video)
If you've been jonesing for that other flagship Windows RT tablet, you won't have long to wait. AT&T has just announced that it will release the Nokia Lumia 2520 on November 22nd for $400 when paired with a two-year data contract. It will launch only in black, unfortunately, rather than the vibrant colors you see above. However, there is a perk if you're going all-in on Nokia hardware -- buy a Lumia 925, 1020 or 1520 at the same time and the carrier will drop the 2520's price down to $200 with a two-year agreement. If you're eager to learn more about the LTE slate, you can check out AT&T's quick tour video after the break. Update: We've since confirmed with AT&T that the Lumia 2520 will be available for $500 contract-free, as Nokia originally promised.
Switched On: If it ain't broke, fix it
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In a Microsoft strategy that embraces contradiction -- licensing software while trying to build its own devices -- it is unsurprising that goals for the Surface support competing priorities. On one hand, it is a showcase, a pure Microsoft experience in a role that the Nexus phones and tablets serve for Google. On the other hand, it is part of a line of business that must deliver profit over the long term. It is a product that Microsoft has bet big on in terms of development, marketing and inventory. And when its first iteration failed to meet sales expectations, Microsoft felt the pain. Surface has had a third, subtler role as well. In the world of traditional personal computing, it is one thing for Apple to do away with a modem or an optical drive. It is another for Intel to enable longer usage times and thinner form factors. But Surface has enabled Microsoft to set trends for a product's design in ways it could not when it was simply dictating hardware from the sidelines. Remember, for example, the SideShow second screen it advocated with Windows Vista?
Windows RT 8.1 upgrade returns to the Windows Store
Give credit to Microsoft for a quick turnaround -- after pulling its glitchy Windows RT 8.1 upgrade this weekend, the company has re-released the software in the Windows Store. The new version should eliminate the (as yet unconfirmed) boot configuration flaw that forced some users to restore their PCs. If you're eager to finally update that Surface RT, you just need to check for the update on your device to start downloading.
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet hands-on: Windows RT wrapped in polycarbonate
The not-so-secret project that Nokia has been working on for over the last year and a half (if not longer), the company's Windows 8.1 RT tablet, is now official as the Lumia 2520. We had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with the slate, and we came away rather impressed with the hardware. The device is supposed to launch before the end of the year for $499, and overall it looks and feels incredibly solid, if not a bit predictable: its unibody polycarbonate design and sleek curves scream to the world that it's very much a Lumia device, regardless of its screen size. There are four colors available: red or white with a glossy finish, and black or cyan with a matte finish. We found the glossy versions to be less grip-friendly, but it won't make much difference if you're using a case with it. With a 10.1-inch full HD resolution and 650 nit brightness, the display is simply brilliant and offers great viewing angles. Nokia's selling point on this panel, however, is its five percent reflectance -- in English, this means the 2520 should be clearly visible both indoors and out. While we haven't been able to take the tablet outside, we certainly were happy enough with the screen quality during our hands-on time. There's a 2MP front-facing cam for video chatting, as well as a 6.7MP f/1.9 camera on the back (it uses the same module as the Lumia 720). You'll also get LTE connectivity, a micro-USB 3.0 connector for data transfers and an 8,000mAh battery with Qualcomm QuickCharge tech (which unfortunately requires the use of a proprietary plug).
Nokia Lumia 2520 10-inch tablet unveiled with Windows RT and LTE for $499
Over a year and a half ago, Marko Ahtisaari, then Nokia's Head of Product Design, confessed that he was spending at least a third of his time working on a tablet. The company's stayed relatively quiet about the mysterious device since then (despite numerous leaks pointing to its existence), but today at Nokia World we're finally seeing Marko's work come to fruition as the Lumia 2520. As you might expect, this is the first -- and possibly the last -- attempt by Nokia to craft a Windows RT slate. It's packing LTE, and a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU inside, with a bright 650nit screen made out of Gorilla Glass 2. Nokia showed off a video demonstrating its outdoor readability in sunny Abu Dhabi, bright enough to check out Flipboard on Windows RT. It also packs the Storyteller app seen on the 1520, along with a 6.7MP rear camera featuring Zeiss optics and a 2MP front facing camera. LTE included, the Lumia 2520's unsubsidized price is $499 in either a red/white glossy finish, or cyan and black matte paintjob when it ships in Q4. Also included are quick charging capabilities that let its 8,000mAh battery go from drained to 50 percent charge in just 40 minutes. The Nokia Power Keyboard accessory shown above costs an extra $149, and promises an extra five hours of battery life plus two extra USB ports. Check after the break for a full list of specs and a video demo, we'll have hands-on impressions of the new slate from Nokia World in just a moment. Update: Our hands-on is up!
Microsoft has a fix for your Surface RT
After releasing and subsequently pulling a buggy version of Windows RT 8.1 from the Windows Store, Microsoft is offering a fix to affected users. Redmond has released instructions for restoring those devices that involves creating a USB recovery drive among other things. If doing it DIY seems a bit overwhelming, however, you can also send your tablet in for service. No word yet on when a fresh and fixed version of the Windows RT update will return to the Windows Store, but you can find detailed instructions for restoring your tablet at the source link below.
