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Evernote for Windows Touch gets a redesign, two-step verification
Couple of updates to Evernote for Windows Touch users: for starters, the app's hub page has been redesigned for a better fingers-on experience, bringing handy columns for notes, shortcuts created across different platforms and Notebooks. The Windows Touch app now includes support for Evernote Business, as well -- Notebooks created for that side of things will appear in blue, so you can tell them apart from the personal notebooks sitting in your hub. Also new is two-step verification for added security. A full list of updates to the pachyderm-friendly note-taking platform can be found in the source link below.
The Daily Roundup for 07.04.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Dell mulls entry into wearable tech, says tablet sales aren't so hot
Wearable technology is all the rage these days, and Dell isn't immune to the peer pressure: its global VP of personal computing, Sam Burd, tells the Guardian that his company is "exploring ideas" in the field. While it's not clear just how serious plans would be at this stage, Burd notes that the idea of a Dell smartwatch is alluring. He can't champion his firm's tablet sales, however. Dell has reportedly sold just "hundreds of thousands" of Windows 8 and RT slates like the Latitude 10 and XPS 10. The executive predicts a sales boost as corporate customers adapt to Windows' new interface, but he's cautious -- he believes that the young platform has to grow before clients (and rivals) take notice.
Microsoft kills Facebook, Flickr integration in Windows 8.1 Photos app
If you enjoyed Windows 8's central Photos app that not only stored your local images but also those from other sites, you might be disappointed with Windows 8.1, if a post in Microsoft's forums is any indication. After a commenter noticed that Facebook and Flickr integration was gone, one of Redmond's employees said it was no longer necessary since other apps (including one arriving soon from Facebook) can now do that, unlike when Windows 8 was first launched. The spokesperson added that Microsoft "welcome(s) Flickr to do the same" and recommended the People app as another way to "socially engage" with your photos. Subsequent commenters felt differently, with one summing up the sentiment by saying the OS was moving backwards from its Hub pinnings and "forc(ing) you to be app-centric (like Android or iOS) instead of content-centric."
Windows Store now home to 100,000 apps
Microsoft couldn't help mentioning last week that the Windows Store was on the cusp of hitting 100,000 total apps, and now the firm's announced on Twitter that the shop has officially reached the mark. Redmond may not best its competitors in the sheer number of applications available on their respective storefronts, but it did manage to rack up the apps much faster. While it took roughly a year and a half for Apple's App Store to score the same badge, and approximately two trips around the sun for the Android Market, the Windows Store has arrived at the figure in just eight months. With a healthy app shop and Windows 8.1 on the horizon, Ballmer and Co. must be pleased with their eight-month-old OS.
German retailer puts Samsung ATIV Q up for pre-order, suggests it'll cost €1,599
Samsung released a plethora of shiny new products at its Premiere 2013 event last month, but the company didn't exactly dive into too many pricing and availability specifics. One of these novel devices was the ATIV Q, a 13.3-inch, 3,200 x 1,800 slider that runs both Windows 8 and Android (4.2). Now, if German retailer ARLT Computer is to be believed, Samsung's intriguing machine could come with a hefty €1,599 price tag in Europe -- a figure the company hasn't confirmed yet. Furthermore, the listing on the pre-order page suggests the ATIV Q could go on sale as early as July 8th, though according to Notebook Italia, the outfit has said the dual-OS device won't be available until sometime in August. Either way, it won't be too long before it hits shelves, so it looks like you may need to break that piggy bank soon enough.
Microsoft to sell 256GB Surface Pro in the US, but only through certain resellers (updated)
Did you look on Japan with envy as Microsoft launched a 256GB Surface Pro in the country, leaving other countries with modest storage? If you're American, you won't have to fret any more: Microsoft has confirmed to Engadget that there will be "limited availability" of the 256GB model in the country through its new commercial reseller program. While the company didn't say exactly which stores will carry the Surface Pro, Windows Phone Central has already spotted the new version on sale at CDW for $1,200. New orders will still take a few days to ship, but it could be worth the wait for the ultimate version of Microsoft's official tablet. Update: Microsoft has clarified its earlier statement in an FAQ -- at least at present, you'll have to be in business, education or the public sector to get the 256GB Surface Pro.
The After Math: Microsoft fits new Windows, Sony pushes the limits of a smartphone screen
Welcome to The After Math, where we attempt to summarize this week's tech news through numbers, decimal places and percentages. In recent weeks, we've covered BlackBerry, Google, Nokia, Apple, Sony and (at least gaming-wise) Microsoft, but this week, the Redmond company returned to dominate tech news, showcasing a new version of Windows 8 (and RT) at its annual Build conference. It's tried to fix some of the operating system's early criticisms and make it all a bit more accessible. They even threw in a Start button -- of sorts. Meanwhile, Sony set jacket pockets quivering, announcing its new 6.4-inch smartphone (that's not a tablet), replete with arguably the most powerful mobile processor out there. For a numerical breakdown of the week's news, follow us after the break.
SkyDrive Pro apps now available for iOS and Windows 8
Consumer apps for Microsoft's consumer cloud storage solution have been available for some time, but the enterprise version, SkyDrive Pro, now has a duo of applications up for grabs, too. iOS and Windows 8 users can now snag free downloads from the Windows Store and App Store, respectively, letting you take content offline, organize files, and upload and share on the go.
Unity game engine to support Xbox One, gets a boost on Windows 8 and Windows Phone
When the Unity game engine runs virtually everywhere -- well, almost -- it's no surprise that Unity Technologies has just announced that the engine will support the Xbox One. However, the firm is also revealing a partnership with Microsoft that promises a deeper level of integration on the One than we've seen on some other systems. Microsoft Studios partners will get to build Unity-based Xbox 360 and Xbox One games for free. They'll also receive tools that take full advantage of the One's tricks, including cloud computing, matchmaking, improved Kinect gestures and SmartGlass. Developers who aren't console-inclined are covered as well: the partnership will give all Unity Pro 4 customers free access to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 development add-ons once they're available this summer. While there's no guarantee that game producers are more likely to target Microsoft's ecosystem than they have in the past, the Unity deal could lower some of the costs and technology barriers. And there may be more: Microsoft has dropped hints that it will provide further details on its support of indie console app development sometime in the near future.
Foursquare checks into Windows 8 with its first native tablet app
For Windows 8 tablet users, becoming the mayor of your favorite fro-yo place (everybody's gotta have a dream) is about get easier. Just a few weeks after announcing a tablet UI customized for Android, Foursquare took to the stage at Build today to announce its first native tablet app, designed specifically for Windows 8. While an app for Windows Phone 8 already exists, tablet users had been left in the cold without software optimized for their devices. So far, Foursquare hasn't specified an exact release date for the app, but we'll keep you posted as we learn more.
Rhapsody debuts app for Windows 8 at Microsoft Build 2013
Today during Microsoft's 2013 edition of Build, Rhapsody announced that it's releasing a version of its music app designed for the Windows 8 operating system. As you might expect, the Win8 variant will bring many of the same features found on its iOS and Android counterparts, including the ability for subscribers to create playlists and stream / download songs from Rhapsody's ample library of tunes. There will be some tidbits tailored specifically for Redmond's OS, however, such as a Snap Mode for simple multitasking and an option that allows tracks to be pinned to the Metro-style home screen. The company told us the application will hit the Windows store shortly, so we'll be sure to update this post as soon as we have a link to the download. Update: Rhapsody's Windows 8 app is now up for grabs via the Windows store, linked down below for your convenience.
Microsoft shows off optical character recognition for Windows 8
Microsoft already showed off a new Bing platform and 3D maps for Windows 8 today at Build 2013, and now it's revealed that optical character recognition (OCR) is coming to the OS as well. Of course, OCR has been available on Windows Phone for some time, but the feature has now finally made it to Win8 as a part of Bing's new capabilities. In the demo, Microsoft showed a Surface tablet using OCR scanning Spanish text on a sheet of paper, then translating it to English. A quick verbal command later, and the info was added to an itinerary within a travel app. Of course, we assume with all those new APIs, devs will be able to find many other ways to use this newfound feature. Time to get creative, people!
Microsoft announces Visual Studio 2013 preview: now available for download, 5,000 new APIs in Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 isn't just good news for users, as the new OS version is also bringing the goodies for developers as well, in the form of 5,000 new APIs for devs to play with. Along with 8.1's arrival is a new version of Visual Studio that'll allow devs to write native apps for Windows 8 and optimize them for the platform. The software comes with all the diagnostic tools any good Win8 developer needs, including a way to see an app's power consumption and network efficiency. The Visual Studio 2013 preview is available for download today, so devs anxious to dig in can do so at the source below.
Microsoft 'approaching' 100,000 apps in the Windows Store, boasts app downloads in the 'hundreds of millions'
Companies love milestones nearly as much as bees love honey, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Microsoft would take advantage of Build 2013 to announce as much positive news as it possibly can. This time, MS head Steve Ballmer has revealed to us that he expects the Windows Store to hit the 100,000 mark (in terms of total apps) sometime this month. Sounds about right if you monitor services like MetroStore Scanner to get a good feel for the OS's progress: it lists over 95,000 apps, which certainly fits the bill. Additionally, Microsoft also claimed that the very same Windows Store has witnessed app downloads in the vicinity of "hundreds of millions." This vague indicator is not as impressive as it could certainly be if an actual number was attached, but we have a feeling that our friends in Redmond are trying to keep the specifics as hush-hush as possible.
Windows 8.1 in-depth hands-on: features, apps, impressions and screenshots (video)
The last time we wrote about Windows 8.1, we had lots to talk about, but very little to share in the way of hands-on impressions. You see, though Microsoft unveiled loads of new features, apps and UI tweaks, it only released a handful of screenshots -- and nobody outside the company was permitted to actually use the new software. Today, though, the OS update is available for anyone to download for free; in fact, because we're oh-so special, we've been playing around with it for about 15 hours already. So while that's not enough time to put together a comprehensive review, we feel qualified to offer a few early thoughts. If you're curious, you can meet us after the break for impressions on everything from the new panorama capture feature to Xbox Radio. And yes, we brought screenshots this time. Lots of 'em.%Gallery-192368%
Acer's 8.1-inch Iconia W3 tablet now on sale in the US
If you've wanted full-blown Windows 8 in bite-size form, you now have your chance: the Acer Iconia W3 is on sale in the US. The 8.1-inch slate is in stock at both Office Depot and Staples, starting at $350 for a 32GB model at both outlets. Don't count on the 64GB version being available -- it's still listed as an online-only pre-order at Office Depot. There's also no word on inventory at Amazon or other competing retailers. Should you not be picky about capacities or store choices, however, you can take the W3 home today.
Switched On: Touchy subjects
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In 2002, the first LCD-based iMac succeeded the translucent PowerPC G3-based models that the original Bondi Blue iMac begat. The new generation was much more striking than the one that had placed Apple on the comeback trail. The iMac G4 mounted the display on a balanced arm similar to a Luxo lamp while the motherboard resided in a hemispherical base. This allowed the display to be adjusted to a wide range of heights and angles and each of the two main sections to be "true to itself." Alas, the design had its limits. It's difficult to imagine today's ample 27-inch iMac displays balancing off such a mount. Furthermore, after the switch to Intel, processor thermals improved to help enable the slim iMac of today. The idea of efforts being true to themselves (at least until nearly compromise-free convergence is possible), however, has stayed a hallmark of Apple. For example, the company would resist adding video to the iPod for years after competitors had the feature.
Windows 8 Music update brings in-app searching, login-free trial streaming
Windows 8 has built-in search tools for apps, but a tweak in the June update to Xbox Music is making that feature more accessible. The media player now lets you search for songs on both your PC and Xbox Music through an in-app button. If you don't have any local tunes, you won't have to sign in to start listening -- Music now lets you stream 15 tracks through Xbox Music's ad-supported free tier without using an account. While other bug fixes and UI enhancements are minor in nature, what's here is enough to justify a trip to the Windows Store for the new version.
Vizio ships 11.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet PC for $600
While Samsung may be dominating the Windows tablet news lately, it isn't alone -- Vizio is now shipping its promised 11.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet PC. The slate is selling for $600 with the same specs we saw back at the January unveiling. Unfortunately, they haven't aged gracefully in the past half-year. While we like the 1080p display, 64GB SSD, front-facing 2MP camera and stereo speakers, the launch also preserves the slightly older AMD Z-60 processor, 2GB of RAM and five hours of battery life. Where's our Temash upgrade, Vizio? The tablet still has more audiovisual oomph than usual, though, so it may be worth swinging past Vizio's site for a closer look.
