ARM says Microsoft needs it for mobile

By Gabriel Madway

LAS VEGAS | Thu Jan 6, 2011 7:33pm EST

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Microsoft's plan to make Windows compatible with ARM Holdings chip designs will help the software giant establish a major presence in smartphones and tablets, ARM's president said.

Microsoft has been slow to make a splash in the mobile market, dominated by Apple, Google and Research In Motion, but it's not too late, Tudor Brown told Reuters in an interview.

Microsoft said on Wednesday it will create a version of its Windows operating system that runs on ARM-based processors, a move seen as acknowledging that computing is moving away from personal computers, dominated by Intel's chips.

"With Microsoft, for some time it's been more a question of when, not whether, and finally it's now," Brown said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "We've been coaching and cajoling Microsoft for some time."

ARM licenses its processor architecture to companies like Marvell and Qualcomm, who use it to make chips that have come to dominate the smartphone market.

ARM-based chips also lead in tablets. A slew of companies -- including Motorola and Toshiba -- are unveiling tablets in Las Vegas running on ARM-based processors.

Intel, a long-time Microsoft ally, has also had little success getting into smartphones and tablets because its processors are viewed as less energy efficient than ARM-based chips.

"Microsoft needs ARM to have any chance of playing in that (mobile Internet) space," Brown said.

Also at the Las Vegas trade show, graphics chipmaker Nvidia said it will use ARM architecture to design central processors, challenging Intel on its home turf.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway, writing by Noel Randewich)

Skype acquires Qik mobile video company

Zubair Ghumro (L) speaks to his friend Sheeraz Qazalbash using Skype software at an internet cafe in central London August 10, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Paul Hackett

SAN FRANCISCO | Thu Jan 6, 2011 3:45pm EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Internet telephone service Skype said it acquired mobile video company Qik for an undisclosed amount.

Qik's service -- available on more than 200 mobile phones, including Android and Apple's iPhone -- lets users capture and share video across smartphones and the Internet, Skype said in a news release.

Skype, partly owned by Web retailer eBay Inc, is expecting to raise up to $1 billion in an initial public offering, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in November.

Skype said the transaction to buy Redwood City, California-based Qik, with 60 employees, should be completed this month.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)

Microsoft updates Kinect, offers sneak peak of Windows 8 running on mobile hardware

Microsoft's CES 2011 keynote with Steve Ballmer brought word of improvements to Kinect and even an early preview of Windows 8 that could drastically change the course of the OS.

CES is just beginning, and some would argue it’s already hit its high point. Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer gave the opening keynote conference tonight in Las Vegas, summarizing the company’s impressive year as well as what it has to offer in the near future.

Xbox and Kinect updates

As can be expected, Ballmer directed a significant amount of attention to the success (eight million sold in the first two months according to Ballmer) and upcoming developments of Microsoft’s motion-gaming device Kinect. After singing its praises and uttering the “you are the controller” tagline one too many times, Ballmer brought up Microsoft executive Ron Forbes to introduce the next step for the product. This spring, users will be able to use Kinect’s motion detection as well as voice command to control services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Xbox Live.

And these weren’t the only updates to Microsoft’s gaming platform, as Forbes also explained bolstered Xbox Live and ESPN capabilities that center on the social element.

While these features are impressive, Ballmer also touched on Avatar Kinect, a facial recognition program coming to Kinect. After getting a glimpse at Intel’s avatar development (which is purely experimental – for now) it failed to impress. The system seems to be primarily used for group chat and social media purposes and left something to be desired.

Windows Phone 7

Microsoft took this chance to remind consumers that the Windows 7 Phone is a viable mobile option. While there were no features introduced, save two updates that will add copy and paste and also significantly improve performance while loading or switching applications. These are due in the coming months and will automatically be pushed out to users. The phone will also be available to Sprint and Verizon customers at the beginning of 2011.

PCs and tablets…sort of

Of course, what we’ve all been waiting for is the mythical Microsoft tablet. Analysts have said the company needs a competent device to stay in the game, and it’s half way taking that advice. Ballmer and executive Mike Anguilo acknowledged that consumers want their technology in multiple forms of hardware, and with that in mind are delivering various products, including a fully powered Asus tablet PC with a stylus pen and handwriting recognition capabilities. Anguilo also debuted one product that got an audible reaction from the crowd: a dual screen, multi-touch PC. The two Gorilla glass screens are hinged together and users are given an optional touch pad keyboard if desired.

In homage to its original CES beginnings, Microsoft also brought back the Surface. Developed with the help of Samsung and housed in a sleeker, 4-inch-thin body, the new and improved Surface PC is made of many, many infrared sensors that use a newly-developed technology dubbed “pixel sense” to work as multiple cameras to create a “beyond touch” experience. Those excited over the idea of a giant tablet, however, be warned: it was clear this is a product Microsoft intends to keep marketing towards the corporate sector.

Windows running on ARM

Though we had a fair idea what was coming in Windows 8, we never would have guessed Microsoft would move it off the  will be compatible and run natively on ARM processors, including chips from NVIDIA, AMD, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm, utilizing SoC technology. This demo revealed a very, very early look at Windows 8 (no UI details included) and showed its high compatibility with different processor architectures.

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HANDPHONE Sony Ericson Walkman W980 with 8 GB

Sony Ericson producers launched handpone newest Sony Ericson W980, handpone has seen the view that innovation and the new. Mobile phone Sony Ericson W980 walkman type that will provide new experiences in your play via Hanphone. The sound quality is reliable, has a variety of facilities to be fancied by many many people. Handphone known as the all-round musical handpone be because the mobile phone features are interesting.
The control panel Handphone walkman player is designed with a more attractive touch Technology. Plastic coated with a layer of premium glass cause the impression of luxury Handphone this clamshell. With the additional effects of mobile phones cause this elegant impression.
W980 using clamshell concept that will bring comfort to the structure and create flexibility keypad in alphanumeric typing. Handphone that has 8 GB memory capacity.

With 262,244 color TFT screen, resolution 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA) for the part in and for the outside of the resolution that is different from 176 x 176 pixels. The most interesting of Idi Handphone is kemampuanya auto rotate the display between the W980's face.

With the auto rotate when viewing the clip vidio display screen can be set potrait (lengthwise) or lanscape (broad) according to our will. W980 also has a shake control feature that allows users made it easy to rotate the playlist with the songs only shake while pressing shorcut Handphone Walkman.

Unfortunately W980 cut megabass mode, which can actually increase the ability to be more jarring audio (better have a taste). In addition, behind the beauty of this hanphone there is a lack of the appearance that the glass meterial wrap up the surface design, simple and easy to leave dirty fingerprints used.

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