A boutique system builder has bucked the industry trend of slumping PC sales by continuing to focus on selling Windows 7 machines.
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Tag Archives: Windows
Boutique PC seller laughs all the way to the bank on the back of Windows 7
Posted by Gsurface
on May 20, 2013
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Dell replays Windows 8 blame card as PC sales slide
Posted by Gsurface
on May 19, 2013
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Dell last week again blamed Windows 8 for contributing to a decline in PC sales revenue during the quarter that ended May 3.
Computerworld News
Iconia W3 tablet live on Acer’s Finnish website, confirms 8.1 inches of Windows 8 Pro
Posted by Gsurface
on May 19, 2013
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Info about the Iconia W3 Windows 8 tablet has already slipped out a few times, and now this 8.1-incher is live on Acer’s Finnish website. While there’s no mention of price or availability, the specifications list matches what’s already been leaked. You’re looking at Windows 8 Pro running atop an Intel Atom Z2760 CPU, aided by 2GB of RAM. Other features include a 1,280 x 768 touchscreen, an eight-hour battery, up to 64GB of storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. Port lovers will be pleased to find micro-HDMI and micro-USB hookups onboard, as well as a microSD slot. Microsoft Word comes pre-installed, but there’s no concrete info about the optional full-size keyboard dock — other than that it exists, anyway. It’ll likely be closer to June when we’ll be staring at it in the flesh, so you’ll have to settle for the info at the source link for now.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Acer
Via: Phone Arena, SlashGear
Source: Acer
Android has become a hedge against Microsoft and Windows
Posted by Gsurface
on May 19, 2013
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HP, in a way, is putting Microsoft and Windows on notice with its new Android offerings. [Read more]
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Photoshop Express rolled out in the Windows Store
Posted by Gsurface
on May 18, 2013
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Tablets can be handy little photo-editing devices, particularly for photographers or media workers who need to tweak an image on-the-go without pulling out a laptop. For that reason, Adobe launched an app version of Photoshop for Android and iOS users called Photoshop Express, which offers some of the editing capabilities found in the regular desktop
Ready for Windows 8? We’re just starting on Win 7, says Dell
Posted by Gsurface
on May 18, 2013
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Some big Dell customers are just beginning to migrate to Windows 7 — an operating system that came out in 2009. [Read more]
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Python S3 is a new tablet that can’t decide: boots Ubuntu, Android and Windows 8
Posted by Gsurface
on May 17, 2013
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Ubuntu tablets may not be particularly new, but thanks to its liberal build, things can get a bit more interesting when another OS is added to the mix. Ekoore’s Python S3 tablet goes a little further, nestling Ubuntu, Android and Windows 8 behind its 11.6-inch screen. Specifications can be customized on the order page, but there’s an Intel Celeron processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for storage, while the 1,366 x 768 resolution was chosen to suit all three operating systems: Windows 8, Android 4.2 and Ubuntu 13.04. There’s connectivity through both WiFi and an optional 3G module — the Win 8 license itself is also a purchasable extra. The device is priced at $ 770 for the US, while you’ll be able to pick up a dockable keyboard add-on (with built-in battery) for around $ 179. For those of you who still can’t decide your favorite tablet OS, you can hedge your bets and place an order at the source.
Filed under: Tablets
Via: PC World
Source: Ekoore (Italian)
Windows 8 is an enterprise ‘non-starter’ because IT sees no value in changes
Posted by Gsurface
on May 17, 2013
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Windows 8 faces a number of hurdles in the enterprise, but the biggest reason it won’t replace the current corporate champion, Windows 7, is simple: IT shops don’t think it’s worth the upgrade hassle.
Computerworld News
Google demands Microsoft pull Windows Phone YouTube app by next week
Posted by Gsurface
on May 16, 2013
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On January 2, Microsoft‘s Vice President Dave Heiner posted a rather lengthy admonishment of Google on TechNet, claiming the company is intentionally trying to harm Windows Phone, with one of the biggest reasons cited being the lack of a full-feature mobile YouTube app, forcing the company to offer a weaker sub-par option. Not to be
iTunes: Still Slowing Down Windows PCs After All These Years
Posted by Gsurface
on May 15, 2013
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colinneagle sends this quote from an article at NetworkWorld: “I run a very nifty desktop utility called Rainmeter on my PC that I heartily recommend to anyone who wants to keep an eye on their system. One of its main features is it has skins that can monitor your system activity. Thanks to my numerous meters, I see all CPU, disk, memory and network activity in real time. the C: drive meter. It is a circle split down the middle, with the right half lighting up to indicate a read and the left half lighting up for write activity. The C: drive was flashing a fair amount of activity considering I had nothing loaded save Outlook and Word, plus a few background apps. At the time, I didn’t have a Rainmeter skin that lists the top processes by CPU and memory. So instead, I went into the Task Manager, and under Performance selected the Resource Monitor. Under the Processes tab, the culprit showed its face immediately: AppleMobileDeviceService.exe. It was consuming a ridiculous amount of threads and CPU cycles. The only way to turn it off is to go into Windows Services and turn off the service. There’s just one problem. I use an iPhone. I can’t disable it. But doing so for a little while dropped the CPU meters to nothing. So I now have more motivation to migrate to a new phone beyond just having one with a larger screen. This problem has been known for years. AppleMobileDeviceService.exe has been in iTunes since version 7.3. People complained on the Apple boards more than two years ago that it was consuming up to 50% of CPU cycles, and thus far it’s as bad as it always has been. Mind you, Mac users aren’t complaining. Just Windows users.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Microsoft Windows 8 update will be free when it comes later this year
Posted by Gsurface
on May 15, 2013
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Microsoft votes for free Windows 8.1, collects kudos
Posted by Gsurface
on May 14, 2013
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Microsoft today announced that Windows 8.1, the update later this year for Windows 8, will be free to current users of the operating system, confirming analysts’ expectations.
Computerworld News
Windows Phone 8 update coming this summer with CalDAV and CardDAV support
Posted by Gsurface
on May 14, 2013
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We already got word from Nokia about some new Windows Phone features that’d be trickling out in a forthcoming update, and Microsoft has now filled in some more details on what other phone users can expect. In addition to FM radio support, an update said to be coming to Windows Phone 8 devices “later this summer” will add the previously-promised support for CalDAV and CardDAV to ensure your phone will continue to work with Google’s new sync protocols. Otherwise, you can look for the company’s Data Sense feature to support more carriers (no word on specific ones yet, though), and also expect some minor tweaks to Xbox Music. We’ll keep you posted if we hear more about a specific rollout date.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: @BenThePCGuy
Source: Windows Phone Blog
Windows Blue Is Officially Windows 8.1, Free For Existing Users
Posted by Gsurface
on May 14, 2013
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Several readers sent word that Microsoft has officially dubbed the upcoming revision to its flagship operating system “Windows 8.1,” retiring the code-name “Windows Blue.” They also said the update would be freely available to anybody with Windows 8. It will be available through the Windows Store. “Reller declined to provide an exact release date for Windows 8.1, but said that Microsoft is ‘very sensitive to the timing of the holidays.’ Ideally, Microsoft will be able to provide devices with Windows 8.1 pre-loaded in time for the holiday 2013 season, Reller said, but those who purchase a Windows 8 device later this year will be able to easily upgrade to 8.1.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Nuance Dragon Notes brings quick, spoken memos and messages to Windows 8
Posted by Gsurface
on May 14, 2013
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Sometimes, the smallest and simplest apps make the most sense. Take Nuance’s new Dragon Notes for Windows 8, for example. Unlike its NaturallySpeaking cousin, it’s not a universal tool: instead, it’s narrowly focused on the voice dictation of memos, email, social networking updates and web searches. That limited scope leads to a very simple interface, however, and slims down the price from $ 100 to a far more accessible $ 20. Fans of minimalism can grab Dragon Notes directly from Nuance on May 15th, although they’ll need to spend $ 10 for every language they speak beyond English.
Filed under: Software
Source: Nuance
Windows 8 iTunes app not coming “any time soon”
Posted by Gsurface
on May 13, 2013
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While iTunes is available for Windows 8, it only works in desktop mode, meaning that there’s no “metro” style app for Apple’s popular music player and media store. Of course, Microsoft really wants Apple to create said app, but according to Windows CFO Tami Reller, that’s not going to happen “any time soon.” In an
Verizon Nokia Lumia 928 gets official: 4G 4.5-inch OLED Windows Phone
Posted by Gsurface
on May 12, 2013
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Nokia has officially announced the Lumia 928, its Windows Phone 8 smartphone for Verizon, and the device it has been steadily teasing over the past week. Packing a 4.5-inch OLED display and an 8.7-megapixel PureView camera, along with Verizon LTE 4G support, the Lumia 928 also has three high-audio-amplitude-capture microphones for better audio recording. It’ll
Gillmor Gang: Windows Too Late
Posted by Gsurface
on May 11, 2013
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The Gillmor Gang — Robert Scoble, John Taschek, Kevin Marks, Keith Teare, and Steve Gillmor — broke from the gate and never let up in a barnburner of a show about the post-Jobs era. Will Google assume the mantle of leadership from an aging Apple, or is this just an evolutionary step along across the stream of innovation triggered by the iPhone/iPad?
There’s plenty of data on both sides of this coin. Certainly Google Glass has triggered a lot of the same atmospherics that accompanied Apple’s storming of the Microsoft barricades. Every day we see the wreckage of the PC era float past us as our thoughts shift from Windows to Web to apps. Mobile has won the war for our hearts and minds. As Adam said to Eve: Stand back, we don’t know how big this is going to get.
TechCrunch
Microsoft responds to ‘extreme’ Windows 8 criticism
Posted by Gsurface
on May 11, 2013
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Windows Phone 8 full-resolution media backup goes global
Posted by Gsurface
on May 11, 2013
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This week the developer teams working for Windows Phone camera and photos have announced that users will soon be able to instantly save full-resolution photos and video to the cloud no matter where they are on our planet. Previously this feature had only been available to select users in limited areas, and a full roll-out
Why no iTunes for Windows 8 shouldn’t surprise you
Posted by Gsurface
on May 10, 2013
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Microsoft says Apple’s showing no signs of wanting to bring its popular jukebox software to Windows 8, but this was obvious. [Read more]
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The weirdest, most wonderful Windows 8 ads ever
Posted by Gsurface
on May 9, 2013
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AT&T’s Year-Old Nokia Lumia 900 Finally Gets A Taste Of Windows Phone 7.8
Posted by Gsurface
on May 9, 2013
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AT&T customers who took the plunge on Nokia’s Lumia 900 have had to sit idly by and watch Windows Phone 8 supercede the software loaded on their own devices, but they’ll soon be able to experience at least part of what WP8 brings to the table. Nokia announced earlier today via Twitter that the Windows Phone 7.8 update is not available to owners of the one-time AT&T flagship.
Intel chip gives new hope for Windows 8 tablets
Posted by Gsurface
on May 9, 2013
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Analysts are encouraged by Intel’s new Atom design. So future Windows 8 and Windows Blue-based tablets powered by Intel’s revamped mobile chips could provide a lift for Microsoft and its hardware partners. [Read more]
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More support for Windows RT, this time from Nvidia
Posted by Gsurface
on May 8, 2013
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Nvidia will stay on board with making Tegra ARM-based processors for Windows RT tablets despite sluggish early sales of the devices, making the same commitment that Qualcomm has made, an Nvidia executive said
Computerworld News
Microsoft’s drip-drip-drip Windows communications strategy dubbed a washout
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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Microsoft’s Tami Reller, the CFO and head of marketing for the Windows division, went on a mini publicity spree today. But she didn’t say very much.
Computerworld News
Windows Blue preview due at end of June
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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Microsoft plans to release a preview version of Windows 8's update, code-named Windows Blue, at the end of June, according to Julie Larson-Green, a corporate vice president in charge of the OS's development.
Computerworld News
Microsoft Windows 8.1 ‘Blue’ public preview will be released at Build in June
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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On the fence about heading to Build? Microsoft’s annual conference is scheduled from June 26-28, and developers in attendance will likely hear quite a bit more about the latest version of the company’s OS. MS will also make a public preview available during the event, Julie Larson-Green shared at the Wired Business Conference in New York City today. A final version of Windows 8.1 “Blue” is expected by the end of the year, bringing cosmetic updates and other features, such as a new side-by-side app view and Internet Explorer 11. In March, we managed to dig through pre-release build 9364 — it sounds like we’ll be able to take a much closer look at the new operating system this summer, but you can click through our gallery of screenshots for an early preview, right now.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
What’s new about Windows Blue (FAQ)
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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The top marketing and financial executive in Microsoft’s Windows group dishes, just a little, on the next Windows update. CNET offers up a guide as to what to expect when Blue finally arrives. [Read more]
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Foursquare updates app for Windows Phone 8, brings lock screen notifications and NFC check-ins
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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Foursquare’s been rather attentive to the other mobile plaforms this year, releasing updates for Android, BlackBerry and iOS in 2013. The time has finally come for Microsoft mobile users as well, as a fresh WP8-compatible version has just hit the Windows Phone app store. Version 3.0 lets users pin people and places to Start screens, provides lock screen notifications and lets folks check-in and share via NFC. Oh, and should you grow weary of using swipes and taps, the addition of speech controls allows you to search and check-in using only your voice. Should you be among the socially-inclined Microsofties, you know what to do.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Microsoft sells more than 100M Windows 8 licenses in 6 months
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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The sales milestone is on par with the number of Windows 7 licenses sold in its first six months on the market. [Read more]
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Microsoft's Windows Blue to be available later this year
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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Microsoft's update of its Windows 8 operating system, code-named Windows Blue, will be available later this year, supporting a variety of form factors and display sizes, and providing more options for both businesses and consumers.
Computerworld News
Microsoft to reveal Windows Blue pricing, availability soon
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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Software giant is ready to fire up the Windows Blue disclosure machine. Here’s what to expect and when, according to company officials. [Read more]
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Microsoft tops 100 million Windows 8 licenses sold, promises Windows Blue update in 2013
Posted by Gsurface
on May 7, 2013
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For many observers, the real story for Windows 8 was never going to be the 60 million licenses sold during the holiday rush — it was always about the long term. The first indications of its post-launch impact are here, and show mixed results. In an interview on the company blog, Microsoft CMO/CFO Tami Reller says that it “recently” sold its 100 millionth Windows 8 license since the OS launched in October. That’s a healthy figure, but sales of about 10 million units a month between its January stat update and today show adoption hasn’t picked up again since the initial dropoff. The usual post-holiday lull no doubt played a part, although estimates of a much steeper drop in PC sales than usual suggest more was afoot. Microsoft doesn’t see an immediate problem however, touting both brisk Windows Store adoption — downloads of both free and paid apps surged from 100 million in January to 250 million — and the pending arrival of more affordable convertible notebooks, touchscreen laptops and all-in-ones later this year.
Oh, and about that Windows Blue update everyone’s been talking about? It’s at last official. Microsoft isn’t mentioning details beyond the Windows Blue codename, but it does promise that the upgrade should be available before 2013 is over. We’re looking forward to that extra level of personalization already.
Filed under: Desktops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Source: Blogging Windows
Telstra says Windows Phone 8 GDR2 update should reach testing in mid-May
Posted by Gsurface
on May 6, 2013
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We’ve heard talk of a GDR2 update coming to Windows Phone 8, including more recent claims of restored FM radio support and a double-tap-to-wake feature, but it’s been unclear when the mid-cycle refresh would show up. Telstra may have just given us a better clue: the Australian carrier tells customers on its support forums that Nokia should deliver its version of GDR2 for testing sometime in mid-May. That suggests the upgrade is relatively close, although we wouldn’t make too many assumptions beyond that — Telstra is just one of many networks that needs to sign off on GDR2, and it’s likely neither the first nor the last. Nonetheless, it’s apparent that Microsoft is relatively close to delivering a big tune-up.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Via: WMPoweruser
Source: Telstra
Acer president sees ‘no value’ in building a Windows RT tablet right now
Posted by Gsurface
on May 6, 2013
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Ever since Acer’s Linxian Lang said that Microsoft would eat “hard rice” for building its own Windows RT hardware, the company has treated the operating system with something bordering on contempt. When asked about Acer’s long-gestating RT device, Acer president Jim Wong said “to be honest, there’s no value doing [hardware for] the current version of RT.” Given the underwhelming interest in RT gear that other companies have reported, we’re not sure if Wong’s comments qualify as a sick burn or merely kicking an adolescent piece of software when it’s down.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft, Acer
Source: AllThingsD
Amazon leaks evidence of first smaller, cheaper Windows 8 tablet
Posted by Gsurface
on May 6, 2013
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Details of what could be the first smaller Windows 8 tablet leaked Friday when Amazon briefly published a listing for an 8.1-in. Acer Iconia tablet.
Computerworld News
Qualcomm defends Windows RT tablets despite lackluster sales, biting criticism
Posted by Gsurface
on May 4, 2013
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A Qualcomm executive Friday defended Windows RT tablets despite poor initial sales, saying the mobile device chip maker is ‘very optimistic with the future of Win RT.’
Computerworld News
Acer waits for Windows RT 8.1 to make tablet decision
Posted by Gsurface
on May 4, 2013
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Acer is waiting for the next version of Windows RT, due in the second half of this year, before deciding whether to release a tablet that runs on that OS.
Computerworld News
Acer Windows 8 tablet with 8-inch display appears on Amazon
Posted by Gsurface
on May 4, 2013
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Yesterday, we heard yet another rumor that Microsoft is working on a sub-10-inch tablet, something we heard before that back in April. The rumor yesterday said that Microsoft would be rolling out a 7.5-inch tablet early next year, but it looks like we might not have to wait that long to see a small-display Windows
Time to say goodbye to Windows RT tablets?
Posted by Gsurface
on May 3, 2013
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Windows RT tablets grabbed just 0.4% of the tablet market in the first quarter, a dismal result that led some tech experts to urge Microsoft to scrap the platform that’s in its six-month infancy.
Computerworld News
Windows 8 Wikipedia page vandalized
Posted by Gsurface
on May 2, 2013
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Why would anyone wish to besmirch the Windows 8 Wikipedia page? Hasn’t Windows 8 got enough problems? Please don’t say it’s a fanperson from another brand. It seems that it might have been. [Read more]
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Tablets with Windows RT see slow sales, research firm IDC says
Posted by Gsurface
on May 2, 2013
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HTC expects revenues to jump 63.6 percent in Q2 2013, will continue to support Windows Phone
Posted by Gsurface
on May 2, 2013
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HTC’s financial results released today don’t contain much good news — take a quick look at the unaudited figures we reported last month. But despite its worst ever quarterly profit earlier this year, it’s banking on a substantial turnaround over the next few months. During an earnings call today referencing its audited results, HTC said that its outlook for Q2 2013 includes a revenue jump to around $ 2.4 billion — a huge increase from $ 1.45 billion registered in Q1. HTC CEO Peter Chou said that the company was fine “in terms of cash flow,” and that it would continue to support both Android and Windows Phone hardware in the near future. How about those recent supply woes? “We are working as hard as possible to meet the demand everywhere.” The company, however, wasn’t giving away any handset sales figures, something that the competition does enjoy flourishing.
When asked whether he was concerned with its recent hardware being copied, Chou was frank: ” In this industry, everything can be copied. I think there’s no point [in] thinking you can prevent this… but whether they would get this original quality — I think the most important [thing] is that you are first.”
Richard Lai contributed to this article.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: HTC
Microsoft shares hit five-year high despite Windows 8 flop
Posted by Gsurface
on May 1, 2013
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With solid earnings and big growth in corporate sales and cloud-computing technology, Microsoft’s stock reaches levels not seen since 2007. [Read more]
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Dell brings 4G LTE wireless connectivity to Windows 8 tablet
Posted by Gsurface
on April 26, 2013
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Dell is offering something that’s rare on Windows 8 tablets: 4G connectivity. Maybe this should be more common. As Apple iPad users know, the option for mobile broadband has been around for years. [Read more]
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Windows 8 tablets hit 3 million shipped in first quarter
Posted by Gsurface
on April 25, 2013
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Microsoft and PC makers shipped a little more than 3 million tablets in the first quarter, according to preliminary results from Strategy Analytics. [Read more]
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