Windows 8 store now up to 450 Metro style apps
This would be about one-tenth of the Metro-style apps currently in the Windows Store.
With Windows 8 general availability less than three months away, the race is on for Microsoft to get more applications into its the Windows Store that is part of the new Windows 8 operating system.
I haven't seen an official tally from Microsoft, but Jose Fajarado, a Silverlight and XAML developer who blogs at http://advertboy.wordpress.com, said at latest count he believes there to be about 450 or so Metro-style apps in the Store. (Metro-style apps are those developed from scratch using Microsoft's WinRT programming interfaces. Nothing but Metro-style apps will work on ARM-based Windows RT devices; both Metro-style and Win32 apps will work on Windows 8 on Intel/AMD PCs and tablets.) The image embedded in this post is from a wall of icons of apps available in the Store that Fajarado is constantly updating.
The vast majority of apps already in the Store are games and other consumer-focused offerings, which isn't too surprising, given Microsoft is targeting Windows 8 at consumers more than businesses right out of the gate. Microsoft has been looking to recruit developers of all stripes via workshops, bootcamps and proof-of-concept development programs for the past few months. The company is holding its second Build developers conference in late October, when it is expected to provide more details and guidance to developers about how to write apps for Windows 8.
In addition to releasing to manufacturing the final Windows 8 bits yesterday, Microsoft also announced the official opening of the new Windows Store to qualifying businesses wanting to sell paid apps. To do so, businesses need to have their accounts registered and verified by Microsoft.
Windows 8 store now up to 450 Metro style apps
This would be about one-tenth of the Metro-style apps currently in the Windows Store.
With Windows 8 general availability less than three months away, the race is on for Microsoft to get more applications into its the Windows Store that is part of the new Windows 8 operating system.
I haven't seen an official tally from Microsoft, but Jose Fajarado, a Silverlight and XAML developer who blogs at http://advertboy.wordpress.com, said at latest count he believes there to be about 450 or so Metro-style apps in the Store. (Metro-style apps are those developed from scratch using Microsoft's WinRT programming interfaces. Nothing but Metro-style apps will work on ARM-based Windows RT devices; both Metro-style and Win32 apps will work on Windows 8 on Intel/AMD PCs and tablets.) The image embedded in this post is from a wall of icons of apps available in the Store that Fajarado is constantly updating.
The vast majority of apps already in the Store are games and other consumer-focused offerings, which isn't too surprising, given Microsoft is targeting Windows 8 at consumers more than businesses right out of the gate. Microsoft has been looking to recruit developers of all stripes via workshops, bootcamps and proof-of-concept development programs for the past few months. The company is holding its second Build developers conference in late October, when it is expected to provide more details and guidance to developers about how to write apps for Windows 8.
In addition to releasing to manufacturing the final Windows 8 bits yesterday, Microsoft also announced the official opening of the new Windows Store to qualifying businesses wanting to sell paid apps. To do so, businesses need to have their accounts registered and verified by Microsoft.
Samsung starts producing new mobile flash storage
Samsung Electronics has started producing new smartphone and tablet flash storage chips, which the company said is four times faster than its predecessors.
Samsung's eMMC Pro Class 1500 will come in capacities from 16GB to 64GB and provides the industry's "fastest speeds" for embedded memory devices, the company said in a statement.
The speed will be important for tasks like gaming or 3D video playback, which require fast read and write times to storage for faster processing. The drive provides sequential reading speeds of up to 140 megabytes per second, and write speeds of up to 50 megabytes per second. The random read speed is 3500 IOPS (input/output operations per second) and the random write speed is 1500 IOPS.
A 64GB eMMC flash storage unit weighs only 0.6 grams, Samsung said. The storage chips will be embedded in mobile devices.
The embedded memory units will be made in Samsung's 20-nm (nanometer) class production facilities. The previous 64GB embedded chips were made using the 30-nm class manufacturing facilities. Samsung did not specify the scale at which it will manufacture the chips. Samsung first provided 64GB storage using two 32GB modules in 2010, and the newer chips are also more power-efficient.
Google Puts Its Nexus Q Dream on Hold
Google has opted to delay the launch of its Nexus Q streaming media player. Read More..
Microsoft Ices Hotmail, Warms Up Outlook.com
Microsoft on Tuesday released a preview of its latest webmail client, Outlook.com.
Built from the ground up, Outlook.com has a strong social component, with links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google. A link to Skype is coming soon.
Office Web apps -- Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote -- are included with Outlook.com, which will position it directly against Google Docs.
Current users of Microsoft's Hotmail service can switch easily to Outlook.com by clicking on the upgrade option in the Hotmail option menu.
The new service uses the Microsoft Outlook interface familiar to users of the company's Office products.
"I think Microsoft's further leveraging a known and respected brand, Outlook, rather than attempting to resuscitate Hotmail, which has been thoroughly sullied," Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, told TechNewsWorld. "Plus, the Outlook brand should ideally lend the new offering respectability among business users."
People "don't like to switch interfaces," remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. "This move better protects Hotmail, Outlook and Exchange and makes them a more powerful, cohesive set."
Microsoft Debuts Shiny New Mobile Peripherals
Microsoft Hardware on Monday unveiled several new mobile-friendly keyboards and mice designed specifically for use with its forthcoming Windows 8 and tablets: the Wedge Touch Mouse, the Wedge Mobile Keyboard, the Sculpt Touch Mouse, and the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard.
On Oct. 26, when Windows 8 becomes officially available, Microsoft will also be releasing new Windows 8 gestures for the Microsoft Touch Mouse.
Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard
The Wedge Touch Mouse is pocket-sized, offers four-way touch scrolling and navigation, and can be used on a variety of surfaces. The Wedge Mobile Keyboard is intended for use with a tablet, but with the feel of a full-size keyboard, and its cover converts to a tablet stand.
The Sculpt Touch Mouse includes a four-way touch scroll strip for up-and-down, left-and-right navigation, and it allows for users to swipe through windows and documents. And the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard is lightweight and has an ergonomic design.
