Microsoft and Intel’s latest development board will cost you $300
Intel may reign supreme in the desktop and laptop space, but ARM is eating its lunch almost everywhere else. That’s not something the chipmaker can ignore, which is why it’s having another crack at the hobby / developer market with Sharks Cove. The board, designed with Microsoft, has the stated aim of helping developers build apps and drivers for Windows and Android devices that use Intel chips. Since it’s also available for everyone else to buy, it could also be quietly positioned as a more powerful alternative to boards like Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Unfortunately, as with the NUC, there’s a catch: the board will retail for $300.
For all of that cash, however, you get the bones of a half-decent low-power PC, with a quad-core 1.33GHz Intel Atom chip, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage with a microSD slot for expansion. You can hook the board up to a display using either a MIPI connector or the full-size HDMI port, and can hook the unit up to the internet using the Ethernet port or with a WiFi dongle in the one USB 2.0 port. None of that may justify the cost compared to its low-power rivals, but the fact that the hardware comes with a full Windows 8.1 license may soften the blow a little. Still, at three benjamins, we can’t imagine too many hobbyists will buy one just for noodling around — so perhaps this will remain developer only gear.
Filed under: Desktops, Microsoft, Intel
Via: Ars Technica, Gizmodo
Source: MSDN, Mouser, SharksCove
Cortana now taps into Foursquare to give you recommendations for lunch
It turns out that Microsoft had bigger plans for Foursquare than just search and maps for Bing. The check-in service is now accessible by Redmond’s digital assistant, Cortana, as spotted on Reddit by Neowin. The addition apparently makes for customizable, local recommendations based on your whereabouts, and presumably, your account history too. As Winbeta notes, because the Cortana updates take place on Microsoft’s servers, you won’t need to download a software patch to take advantage of them either. Whether the blue helper will get to love bees, though, is up to her creators.
@hellojao @bdsams Nice. @MikeCalcagno and his team made 4sq integration happen.
– Marcus Ash (@marcusash) July 29, 2014
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Reddit, Marcus Ash (Twitter)
Feedback Loop: Yosemite beta, Kindle Unlimited and more!
Ready for a fresh edition of Feedback Loop? This week featured discussions about Apple’s OS X Yosemite beta, Kindle Unlimited, Nokia’s naming conventions, MMO mice and iWatch speculation. Head past the break to talk about all this and more with your fellow Engadget readers.
Share your impressions of the OS X Yosemite beta
Apple just made the beta version of its upcoming operating system update available for download. Engadget Managing Editor Dana Wollman took a look at what we can expect in her Yosemite preview. Are you one of those brave souls who likes living on the bleeding edge? If so, share your own impressions of OS X Yosemite and let us know what you think!
Is Kindle Unlimited worth the cost?
Amazon’s new Kindle Unlimited service gives you all-you-can-read access for $10 per month, competing against services like Oyster and Scribd. Engadget’s product database manager, Kris, wonders whether the service is worth it. She argues that it’s easy to binge-watch shows and movies on services like Netflix, but it’s much harder to binge-read a series of novels. Will you be subscribing to Amazon’s new service? Sound off in the Engadget forums!
Silly model numbers from Microsoft and Nokia
It should be pretty easy to figure out which devices are better based on model numbers alone, right? A “2″ is bigger than a “1,” so “2″ must be better. Take the Nokia Lumia 520 and Lumia 530 for example. TgD examines the differences between each device and wonders whether the Lumia 530 is really better than the Lumia 520. How do you feel when manufacturers do this?
Where are all the MMO mice?
Massively multiplayer online games are some of the most popular types of titles that people play. There was a time when hardware manufacturers like Razer and Logitech made gaming mice that specifically catered to this group. However, Quaddragon feels there’s been little innovation in this area. Where are all the good MMO gaming mice?
Should Apple’s rumored smartwatch include a SIM card?
Apple’s smartwatch has long been rumored and we may finally see it as soon as this fall. Engadget forums user Korrekturlesen speculates on whether or not the watch would have a SIM card. Does this sound like a good idea? Share your thoughts right here.
Other discussions you may also like:
- What’s a good homepage for your browser?
- Sony RX-10 vs. Canon T3i Rebel
- Why is OS X sooooooooo slow to access SMB shares over a network?
That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!
Windows Phone’s next update will support smart cases and giant devices
Windows Phone 8.1 may have only just reached the general public, but it’s already in line for a surprisingly large update. Microsoft has posted developer documents (sign-in required) for Windows Phone 8.1 GDR1, a tweak that fills in a few key hardware and software gaps. Aside from previously revealed folder support, the upgrade will allow for smart cases akin to HTC’s Dot View or LG’s QuickCircle. Phone makers will get to run special apps when the cover is closed, and specify what happens when it’s open. This seemingly simple addition could be important, since The Verge claims that HTC is preparing a Windows Phone version of the new One — such a device would need smart cover features to perform the same tricks as its Android counterpart.
The revision should also enable more of the tablet-sized phones that are all the rage in some corners of the globe. It’ll support a 1,280 x 768 resolution on screens as large as 7 inches, and there’s a new 1,280 x 800 option useful for larger devices that use software navigation buttons. Other upgrades are smaller, but should be important in the long run — the update should bring high-quality voice over LTE, higher-quality Bluetooth music (through aptX) and manufacturer-defined custom lock screens. There’s no confirmed schedule for when GDR1 would arrive, but Microsoft is clearly getting close. It won’t be surprising if the next big wave of Windows Phones ships with the new features built in.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia
Via: NokiaPowerUser, WPCentral
Source: Microsoft (1), (2)
Microsoft flashes its ‘Halo 2’ remake and Atari documentary at Comic-Con
What do Halo: The Master Chief Collection and the Atari landfill-dig have to do with comic books? Not much, really, but that doesn’t mean that Microsoft isn’t at this year’s San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) trotting them out to those in attendance. Let’s start with Master Chief. The big green galoot has a boxed set of the games he starred in coming out this November, Redmond has seen fit to drop a trailer for the collection’s gorgeously overhauled Halo 2 cinematics and we’ve embedded it below. What’s more, MCC‘s developer Certain Affinity announced that the map that introduced the world to Halo 2‘s multiplayer, “Zanzibar,” is getting the remake treatment alongside “Lockout,” “Ivory Tower,” “Coagulation” and “Ascension.” The final of the six remastered maps will be revealed at Gamescom in Germany next month. If that isn’t enough Halo news, we’ve also embedded video from the Halo: Nightfall panel that recently took place at SDCC.
Elsewhere in the San Diego Convention Center, Microsoft also has debuted the trailer for its doc chronicling the downfall of Atari, Game Over. If you need something to tide you over until that actually releases at some nebulous point this fall, though, we’ve got you covered.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Xbox Wire (1), (2)
Microsoft unleashes ‘Settlers of Catan’ on the web
Microsoft has something of an extracurricular activity: When it’s not releasing Office for iPad or updating Windows, it has a habit of helping other companies build websites. That’s mostly because it wants to show how smoothly everything works in Internet Explorer, but there’s another reason too. The company has co-developed a web version of Settlers of Catan, the popular board game, making this the only way Windows Phone and Windows tablet users can play online. While the existing Android and iOS apps are of course reserved for people using those platforms, Microsoft’s web version will run in any browser that supports HTML5 — in other words, not just IE.
The game’s in beta for now, and Microsoft says more features and improvements are on the way. For now, the game can’t set you up with computer opponents, nor will it pair with you some random online player. Instead, you’ll have to find at least two other friends, who you can invite through either email or Facebook. (Obviously, since the game runs in any modern browser, it doesn’t matter what kind of device your friends are carrying.) Once you get a game going, you take turns asynchronously, with time limits to keep the game going. You can also opt into email notifications, so you’ll know when someone’s taken a turn. Throughout, you can talk to them using built-in voice chat — powered by Skype, of course.
Microsoft introduced other features too, including auto-trade and auto-roll — again, to help keep things moving. Lastly the dice you’d normally use with the physical board game has been replaced with an on-screen button. Ultimately, the company says it plans to announce a complete rule set at GamesCon in August, including development cards, points and achievements, bringing the web game fully in line with the board game version. In the meantime, you can play the beta game here. Enjoy — and do be patient if you encounter any performance hiccups. It’s clear the site isn’t fully polished yet.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Microsoft
Via: GigaOm
Source: Catan Anytime, Microsoft
Cortana won’t sound like Cortana on UK Windows Phones
Now that Microsoft is rolling Windows Phone 8.1 out to handsets, users can now start chatting with its new virtual assistant, Cortana. Right now, she’s limited to the US, but the Cortana man at Microsoft, Marcus Ash, has tweeted that “barring an unforeseen issue,” the UK developer preview will go live in “less than two weeks” and, wait for it, not feature the reassuring tones of Jen Taylor, the original talent behind Halo’s Cortana. Like Apple’s Siri, Cortana will adopt a British accent when it rolls out, presumably to make owners feel more comfortable when interacting with the digital sidekick. Sure, she’ll still take notes, dictate messages and offer up calendar alerts and reminders, she just won’t sound like the Cortana you’ve relied upon during many a gaming session (unless you indulge in a bit of location trickery).
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: PhoneArena
Source: Marcus Ash (Twitter)
Here’s the first look at Ridley Scott’s live-action ‘Halo’ project
Back at this year’s E3 we learned that Halo: Nightfall would tell the origin story for a new character in Halo‘s sci-fi universe, and we’re finally getting to see some of the show in motion. And, well, there are a couple of instances where it looks pretty similar to the Alien not-a-prequel, Prometheus. That almost assuredly isn’t a coincidence given the fact that Prometheus‘ director Ridley Scott is serving as executive producer for the show. It’s hard to tell exactly how the episodic series is going to turn out based on a teaser trailer (embedded after the break), but we can tell you that in its 74 seconds there’s a distinct lack of Master Chief and a whole lot of talk about an element that “selectively kills humans.” How’s that for mystery? You’ll be able to check out the exploits of Agent Locke and his crew after Halo: The Master Chief Collection releases this November.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Here’s what our readers are saying about the Surface Pro 3
With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft tried yet again to build a tablet that can replace your laptop, but critics found it fell just shy of that goal. Engadget’s own Dana Wollman said that despite being “easier than ever to use as a tablet,” the Surface still has some “serious usability flaws,” including a keyboard that “offers a subpar typing experience and a frustrating trackpad.” CNET liked the keyboard, but says that the Pro 3 “still doesn’t fit perfectly on the lap” and that it’s “more successful as a tablet than a laptop replacement.” But despite these issues, there’s still plenty to like about the Surface Pro 3, as evidenced by the readers who added the Pro 3 to their have list and wrote a user review recounting their experiences.
The size and shape of the Surface Pro 3 were generally well-liked by users, with eca637 calling it “very thin, light, and sturdy feeling,” while nerva2940 says “I hardly feel it in my shoulder bag.” But comfort proved to be a contentious issue, as hkh222 says its sharp edges make it “uncomfortable to use on the lap,” though nerva2940 found the Pro 3 “more comfortable and adjustable on the lap than any laptop.” Users were okay with the keyboard, with gorbay calling it “the most satisfactory piece although it feels flimsy.” The trackpad on the Type Cover was a bigger hit with users, with ajcosgro noting how it “senses your finger better and is slicker to slide across” than the trackpad on its predecessor. Siri325, meanwhile, goes so far to say it’s “just as good as the Macbook Air’s mouse pad.”
The star of the show was the Surface Pro 3′s pen input, which Siri325 says is “like writing on a sheet of paper,” though he “will miss the ability to just flip the pen to erase.” It’s so good for note taking that nerva2940 says “I no longer carry paper” in class because “OneNote 2013 is an incredible program for compiling information and writing notes.” However, not everyone was pleased with the switch in pen technology from Wacom to an N-trig digitizer, with gorbay saying it “doesn’t compare” since “the pen can act weirdly depending on where your hand is positioned” and “with the insufficiently calibrated pressure curves right now, all you end up doing is [pressing] harder and harder, which pushes the glass down so much that you start seeing the ripples on the LCD.”
But, though nerva2940 feels it “performs flawlessly in most categories” and geeky says “it’s faster than my laptop” with “a gorgeous screen,” is anyone ready to actually replace their laptop with a Surface Pro 3? The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’ for nerva2940, who uses it “as a full desktop replacement” and says “unless you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ll be able to use it as a full desktop replacement at home as well.” On the other hand, gorbay “quickly gave up on the hope that I can have only one device. The form factor is everything for tablets and MS seems to forget that a lot. It is very light for a laptop but not light and small enough for a tablet. My work device and my leisure reading/web surfing device can still be separate for now.”
So while the Surface Pro 3 has quite a few crowd-pleasing features, it’s not quite there yet for most users. If you’ve picked up a Pro 3 for yourself, which side do you stand on? Simply add it to your have list and write your own review to let us know.
Don’t have an Engadget account? Sign up here. And if you don’t have the Surface Pro 3, feel free to write a review of something else — our database contains thousands of other products that you can review, like the OnePlus One or the Wii U. Just add a product to your “have” or “had” list and you’re ready to tell us what you think.
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