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Purported shots of Microsoft's touchscreen device revealed - Page 6

post #201 of 224
9/24/09 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hiimamac View Post

Ok. Well first. Windows mobile looks more like osx then window 7 does and my point is, if this is a refined 6.5 or new OS plus it's a msft product only like the zube meaning, no crappy 10,000 Chinese motherboard tablet clones, then msft might have something that works well and is the first step of releasing their OWN computer rather than just an IS that needs to go on 1000's of various hardware devices, ala pcs although going to win 7 will change thus too as msft will kill off xo, server 03, and all IT plan on upgrading. Vista never made a splash and maybe they will only have to worryabout one os down the road, two including software.

This could also lead to msft computers, thus the stores. I think Apple may, even if remote, be in for a rude awakening if msft releases their own proprietary hardware similar to Apple. Next we'll see ape license the os to Dell, HP and a few others. This could be a game changer. Not because of the design but because of the control they would have over a product like this. Next would come a smart phone then perhaps TVs.

Think about it. You really don't think the msft store is so they can sell zunes and windows7.

I've been in the tech side if things for a very long time and this feels very, very real.

So, you think Microsoft is opening some stores in order to sell some new MS proprietary computer hardware that isn't compatible with or available to their OEM licensees?

What a muddle that would be ...
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post #202 of 224
9/24/09 at 10:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaHarder View Post

They already have... it's called The ZUNE HD -

Maybe you should have a look ?

I stopped looking when I saw it took 10 seconds to load a the calculator app and then another 10 seconds to load the weather app, only to have the weather app apparantly crash the first time.

The Courier video does look interesting. I am a bit skeptical about a few things. For one, when they switched apps, they always managed to switch to just the right app the first time. The second is they managed to write a lot of text on one page when they wrote notes, I don't write that small on paper. Also, for some things a digital pen and paper interface is nice for sketching out ideas, but people can type, even on a touch keyboard, faster than they can hand write text.
http://www.inktastic.com/
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http://www.inktastic.com/
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post #203 of 224
9/24/09 at 4:23pm
You know what an air guitar is? Well, this is not quite air design, but it's only a little way beyond that (we can see something more than just your hands.)

"Oh, it 'll work this way! I like this so it will magically appear when I think about it, I want this to become a 'ToDo' list so tablet senses my every desire and fulfills it."

Using a graphics app at this level of granularity does not express a design, concept, or UI idea. This video is just a bunch of unresolved thoughts. This tells me MS's tablet is still at least 3 years away.
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post #204 of 224
9/25/09 at 7:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DESuserIGN View Post

You know what an air guitar is? Well, this is not quite air design, but it's only a little way beyond that (we can see something more than just your hands.)

"Oh, it 'll work this way! I like this so it will magically appear when I think about it, I want this to become a 'ToDo' list so tablet senses my every desire and fulfills it."

Using a graphics app at this level of granularity does not express a design, concept, or UI idea. This video is just a bunch of unresolved thoughts. This tells me MS's tablet is still at least 3 years away.

This is the best analysis of the video.
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post #205 of 224
9/25/09 at 1:34pm
Concerning the ZuneHD youtube video........For da luv of.....

Way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory Microsoft!

A commercial has to be seen before an app launches? Can you imagine it if every time you launch an app in windows you have to see a commercial?
It's late here at work and I'm too tired to rant and scream at microsoft at the moment.

Can someone please scream at microsoft for me? All I can say is actually seeing the ads run like that before finally launching an app was fairly horrific.
This offically dooms the zuneHD from ever succeeding in any meaningful way.

Now here is something else to consider. They want to also have win mobile 6.5 and win mobile 7 run concurrently with their zuneHD platform. Do you all think that apps that launch with their windows mobile platofrms will now show you a commercial before app launch as well?

Furthermore, you all are probably right when you say that this "courier" will be another potentially cool, hit gadget that microsoft will screw up come launch time.
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post #206 of 224
9/26/09 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zunx View Post

See the Apple iTablet specifications:

Apple iTablet Design and Technical Specs
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/artic...echnical_specs

Except there isn't any, and this is nothing more than speculation related to available technologies.
Please don't be insane.
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Please don't be insane.
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post #207 of 224
9/26/09 at 10:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zunx View Post

See the Apple iTablet specifications:

Apple iTablet Design and Technical Specs
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/artic...echnical_specs

This is speculation, even if it good speculation.

He makes one major error though.

I've already posted the article below, and it's something that should be read. New battery technology is here already, and Apple could use it now. Will they? Who knows, but they could.

http://www.eeproductcenter.com/power...leID=219400521
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post #208 of 224
9/26/09 at 10:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post

Except there isn't any, and this is nothing more than speculation related to available technologies.

This IS speculation, even if it's good speculation.

He makes one major error though.

I've already posted the article below, and it's something that should be read. New battery technology is here already, and Apple could use it now. Will they? Who knows, but they could if they and Sony began work a year ago.

http://www.eeproductcenter.com/power...leID=219400521
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post #209 of 224
9/27/09 at 9:18am
It sounds like the major advantage of these batteries is more charge-discharge cycles. I can see how this would be useful in any number of applications, but does this help Apple specifically?
Please don't be insane.
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Please don't be insane.
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post #210 of 224
9/27/09 at 9:28am
Two thousand and ten ladies and gentlemen.

I personally believe it is going to be the most important year in personal computer products ever. It won't just be another year.
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post #211 of 224
9/28/09 at 11:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post

It sounds like the major advantage of these batteries is more charge-discharge cycles. I can see how this would be useful in any number of applications, but does this help Apple specifically?

It's also able to hold more power per cubic inch, and per weight.

All around, these batteries will give longer times before a recharge will be required, and more than twice as many recharge cycles. Meaning that they could last four times as long. both of those issues would shut down the complaints about sealed in batteries.

So what we could have is a device with twice as long a play time. Think of an iPhone with 10 hours 3G talk time. 17 hours of video play, and 60 hours of music playback.

For this tablet, we could have an extended use before recharge as well, without needing a bigger, heavier battery.

The last feature is that these batteries are much safer than other lithium types. No more exploding batteries.

This is a win, win, win situation.

It's also a win on the green level.
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post #212 of 224
9/28/09 at 11:32am
All advances in battery technology are important -- I get that. What I'm wondering is how this particular advance helps Apple in ways it doesn't or may not for anyone else. Maybe that's not what you were implying.
Please don't be insane.
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Please don't be insane.
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post #213 of 224
9/28/09 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post

All advances in battery technology are important -- I get that. What I'm wondering is how this particular advance helps Apple in ways it doesn't or may not for anyone else. Maybe that's not what you were implying.

It would depend on how Apple and Sony are working together. As Apple is one of the largest, if not THE largest small mobile battery buyer, they could get this first, and advertise their advantage. They could also pay less for them because of their great buying power.

If Apple could improve their current devices and come out with new ones based on a much better battery before others, that would help establish those products.

As we can see with the iPhone and the App Store, first is best. Then others have to play catch-up.

If MS does come out with their book, but the battery is not up to snuff for a dual 7" screen, then it will be at a large disadvantage just from that.

The working rule is that you have to be noticeably better than the leader to have any chance of knocking it down. That's one reason why some of Apple's products have been so far ahead.

If Apple has a good lead time with these batteries, it won't matter as much if others follow 6 months to a year later. Apple will have established enough mindshare about it that others will have a difficult time explaining, and Apple could be on a second generation battery while they are on the first.
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post #214 of 224
9/28/09 at 2:44pm
That's a lot of "ifs" but I understand your point. To be honest, when it comes to revolutionary battery technologies (or claims thereof) I find myself stifling a yawn. Most of what we've seen recently is far more evolutionary than revolutionary, and hardly exciting in terms of advances, especially when compared against the leaps made by other technologies. Fundamentally, battery technology is still in the 18th century.
Please don't be insane.
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Please don't be insane.
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post #215 of 224
9/28/09 at 3:04pm
The person or persons who make a fundamental breakthrough in battery tech will rule the world.
They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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post #216 of 224
9/28/09 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post

That's a lot of "ifs" but I understand your point. To be honest, when it comes to revolutionary battery technologies (or claims thereof) I find myself stifling a yawn. Most of what we've seen recently is far more evolutionary than revolutionary, and hardly exciting in terms of advances, especially when compared against the leaps made by other technologies. Fundamentally, battery technology is still in the 18th century.

I agree that this isn't revolutionary. After all, what really is?

But I wouldn't characterize it as being in the 18th century.

Batteries are hard. People don't realize that. While its easy to put a lot of energy in a small space, it's not easy to get it out again in a controlled manner, or to prevent it from becoming unstable.

Batteries are vastly better than they were 20 years ago, or even ten. But there is no equivalent to the computer industrys' Moore's Law.

But we've seen lots of advancement.

Alkaline, NiCad, Nickel metal hydride, lithium.

All major advances. There are others in the labs, but we may not see them for at least five and possibly ten years.

The fuel cell so far has been a bust. Every year for the past ten years some company has announced that next year they will be manufacturing them for electronic gear.

This is the biggest advance in years.

Savor it.
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post #217 of 224
9/28/09 at 3:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox View Post

The person or persons who make a fundamental breakthrough in battery tech will rule the world.

Yes, and I promise to rule benevolently.

Quote:
Originally Posted by melgross View Post

I agree that this isn't revolutionary. After all, what really is?

But I wouldn't characterize it as being in the 18th century.

The essential technology hasn't changed since then. The biggest leap was from wet to dry but even that happened 100 years ago, and wet cells are very much still in use. After that, it's been a matter of fighting for inches. As you say, there's no equivalent to Moore's Law in battery technology (which I was going to mention, even before I saw that you had). Imagine if energy storage had advanced at any where close to the rate of semiconductor technology, the start of which dates only to the late 1950s. Since then, the incremental improvements have been important enough in terms of what kind of processing can be accomplished that that sum total is revolutionary, several times over.

I know improving batteries is difficult stuff. That's my point, really. Vacuum tubes became transistors and transistors became semiconductors in a wink of an eye, by comparison.
Please don't be insane.
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Please don't be insane.
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post #218 of 224
9/28/09 at 3:57pm
I vaguely remember a friend trying to sell me on an IPO from some battery tech startup that was going to use nano-tubes to vastly increase available surface area for something something and therefore make batteries that changed the world. That was was about 15 years ago, if I recall.

Battery tech is one of those areas wherein huge advance are always 5-10 years out, but somehow we just keep plugging away at the incremental improvements that largely rely on identifying new materials that perform the same chemistry better.

We clearly need magic.
They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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post #219 of 224
9/28/09 at 4:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post

Yes, and I promise to rule benevolently.

Heh!


Quote:
The essential technology hasn't changed since then. The biggest leap was from wet to dry but even that happened 100 years ago, and wet cells are very much still in use. After that, it's been a matter of fighting for inches. As you say, there's no equivalent to Moore's Law in battery technology (which I was going to mention, even before I saw that you had). Imagine if energy storage had advanced at any where close to the rate of semiconductor technology, the start of which dates only to the late 1950s. Since then, the incremental improvements have been important enough in terms of what kind of processing can be accomplished that that sum total is revolutionary, several times over.

I know improving batteries is difficult stuff. That's my point, really. Vacuum tubes became transistors and transistors became semiconductors in a wink of an eye, by comparison.

It's why every 10% is appreciated. Chemicals are the only way batteries can be made. Anything else, and they aren't really batteries.

I happen to have, on my desk right now, an experimental capacitor from Sangien that's 24 Farads, 55 volts.

The amount of power this cap contains when fully charged, and it's only 8 inches high by about 2.5 inches in dia., is enough to blow a decent sized hole in a double thick brick wall.

It would power a MBP 15" machine for a couple of weeks, but who would want to take the chance?
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post #220 of 224
9/28/09 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by melgross View Post

Heh!




It's why every 10% is appreciated. Chemicals are the only way batteries can be made. Anything else, and they aren't really batteries.

Which is why we need magic. Zero Point Energy perpetual motion mumble mumble profit!

Quote:
I happen to have, on my desk right now, an experimental capacitor from Sangien that's 24 Farads, 55 volts.

The amount of power this cap contains when fully charged, and it's only 8 inches high by about 2.5 inches in dia., is enough to blow a decent sized hole in a double thick brick wall.

It would power a MBP 15" machine for a couple of weeks, but who would want to take the chance?

Yeah, I guess "being blown to smithereens" is bit worse than "battery caught on fire." Keep everybody on their toes, however.
They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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post #221 of 224
9/30/09 at 4:20pm
The MS Tablet looks fucking awesome in that mock-up. Lots of UI magic, though, smoke and mirrors.
proud resident of a failed state
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proud resident of a failed state
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post #222 of 224
10/6/09 at 8:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazda 3s View Post

I just watched the video over at Neowin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIgNfp-MdI

That is quite possibly the most impressive UI and device I've seen in a long time. I have my doubts if MS could actually pull that off within the next year or so, but I wish them all the luck! It looks fabulous and I love competition!

I would very seriously consider buying something like this far more than a giant iPhone. In fact, it looks exactly the kind of thing I need for meetings. I think Steve knows this too and that's why we don't have a regular tablet yet. He doesn't see a use for them either.

I even like the book/organiser concept. I haven't bought anything Microsoft related for quite a few years, so I really hope Apple produce something better. I don't want to feel dirty buying an MS product!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Apple, check out that clip!
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post #223 of 224
10/6/09 at 8:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpinDrift View Post

I would very seriously consider buying something like this far more than a giant iPhone. In fact, it looks exactly the kind of thing I need for meetings. I think Steve knows this too and that's why we don't have a regular tablet yet. He doesn't see a use for them either.

I even like the book/organiser concept. I haven't bought anything Microsoft related for quite a few years, so I really hope Apple produce something better. I don't want to feel dirty buying an MS product!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Apple, check out that clip!

Wait until you see those BSoD crashes.
32" Sharp AQUOS (1080p) > 13" MacBook Pro 2.26GHz. 4Gb RAM . 32Gb Corsair Nova SSD >>> 500Gb HDD
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32" Sharp AQUOS (1080p) > 13" MacBook Pro 2.26GHz. 4Gb RAM . 32Gb Corsair Nova SSD >>> 500Gb HDD
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post #224 of 224
10/7/09 at 1:57pm
Heck to be honest even though I am a hardcore apple fan, if this device can deliever and apple doesn't impress me with theirs I'll opt for this device. The hardware looks good and the design seems amazing I'm just worried about the ui and software. Microsoft isn't known for doing well in either department even though it's their bread and butter. I'm really hoping this device lives up to the video. And I hope it can sync with macs easily.
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