Microsoft announced that it is releasing a developer preview of its upcoming next-generation operating system, currently named “Windows 8,” during its BUILD conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday. President of Windows and Windows Live Division Steve Sinofsky took the stage during BUILD’s opening keynote and discussed several of the operating system’s new features. “We reimagined Windows,” he said. “From the chipset to the user experience, Windows 8 brings a new range of capabilities without compromise.” As Microsoft has already revealed, Windows 8 will offer a new “Metro style” user interface that is built to take advantage of touch input but works just as well with a keyboard and mouse. Internet Explorer 10 will also offer full support for touch browsing, and Sinofsky hinted that even desktop-sized Windows 8 computers will largely take advantage of touchscreen monitors. Developers will be able to create Metro style applications that will fill the entire screen, too. Microsoft said the next-generation of Windows 8 hardware will turn on instantly and will be capable of running all day on a single charge. The OS is designed to run on devices ranging from a 10-inch tablet to a large desktop, and developers will have access to Windows 8 later this week. Read on for the full press release that discusses several other new features in Windows 8, as well as a hands-on video from WinRumors.

Microsoft Reimagines Windows, Presents Windows 8 Developer Preview

BUILD conference attendees and developers get first access to new operating system.

LOS ANGELES — Sept. 13, 2011 — Today at its developer-focused BUILD conference, Microsoft Corp. showcased a detailed preview of the next major release of Windows, code-named “Windows 8.” The company also detailed new tools for developers to help write applications for more than 1 billion people around the world who use Windows every day.

“We reimagined Windows,” said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft, in his keynote address to the thousands of developers in attendance. “From the chipset to the user experience, Windows 8 brings a new range of capabilities without compromise.”

The company also highlighted a variety of new features in Windows 8, including the following:

Touch-First User Interface

•	Metro style. Windows 8 introduces a new Metro style interface built for touch, which shows information important to you, embodies simplicity and gives you control. The Metro style UI is equally at home with a mouse and keyboard as well.
•	Touch-first browsing, not just browsing on a touch device. Providing a fast and fluid touch-browsing experience, Internet Explorer 10 puts sites at the center on new Windows 8 devices.

More Ways to Engage With Powerful, Connected Apps

•	Powered by apps. Metro style apps built for Windows 8 are the focal point of your experience, filling your entire screen so there are no distractions.
•	Apps can work together. Apps communicate with each other in Windows 8. For example, you can easily select and email photos from different places, such as Facebook, Flickr or on your hard drive.
•	Your experience syncs across your devices. Live roams all the content from the cloud services you use most — photos, email, calendar and contacts — keeping them up-to-date on your devices. With SkyDrive, you can access your files, photos and documents from virtually anywhere with any browser or with Metro style apps in Windows 8.

Enhanced Fundamentals

•	The best of Windows 7, only better. Windows 8 is built on the rock-solid foundation of Windows 7, delivering improvements in performance, security, privacy and system reliability. Windows 8 reduces the memory footprint needed — even on the lowest-end hardware — leaving more room for your apps.
•	Preserving power-user favorites and making them better. For those who push the limits of their PC, Windows 8 features an enhanced Task Manager and Windows Explorer and new, flexible options for multimonitor setups.

New Developer Opportunities

•	Windows Store. The Windows Store will allow developers to sell their apps anywhere Windows is sold worldwide, whether they’re creating new games or familiar productivity tools.
•	Build using more languages. Windows 8 lets you leverage your existing skills and code assets to create great experiences using the programming language you prefer.
•	Rich hardware integration leads to richer experiences — particularly for games. DirectX 11 gaming power underlies Windows 8, allowing the easy creation of full-screen games with smooth, flicker-free action.

New Generation of Hardware

•	One Windows — many shapes and sizes. Support for ARM-based chipsets, x86 (as well as x32 and x64) devices, touch and sensors means Windows 8 works beautifully across a spectrum of devices, from 10-inch tablets and laptops to all-in-ones with 27-inch high-definition screens.
•	Always connected. With Windows 8, new ultrathin PCs and tablets turn on instantly, run all day on a single charge and stay connected to the Internet so your PC is ready when you are. Next-generation system on a chip (SoC) support will also enable greatly extended standby and low-power states.
•	Tap the full power of your PC. Windows 8 runs on PCs and is compatible with the devices and programs you use today on Windows 7, without compromise, to deliver the performance you expect of a PC.

Developers will be able to download the Windows Developer Preview via the new Windows Dev Center later this week. Webcasts of sessions will be posted on the BUILD site as well.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Some information relates to a prerelease product, which may be substantially modified before it’s commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

[Video via WinRumors]

We knew right when we exclusively revealed the BlackBerry Monaco and Monza back in January that the devices would likely shed the “Storm” moniker, and now it’s looking even more likely. BlackBerry enthusiast blog N4BB cites multiple sources in suggesting that RIM may have finally landed on a new brand for the full touchscreen smartphone it is preparing to launch later this year: “Volt.” The report is unsure at best however, suggesting that RIM might instead choose to slap the Torch brand on the Monaco 9850 and Monza 9860. We took a hands-on look at the BlackBerry Monaco/Monza — which features a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 1.2GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera and NFC — back in March.

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Barnes & Noble on Tuesday unveiled its all new NOOK eBook reader, and to say it’s an improvement over the previous-generation model is an understatement. This new version replaces the older greyscale model, not the still-young NOOK color, and it features a major improvement we probably all saw coming… a touchscreen. The eReader sports an on-screen keyboard and it also allows readers to look up words or take notes with simple taps on the beautiful E Ink display. The new NOOK features just one button compared to the Kindle’s 38, which obviously simplifies the user experience significantly. More importantly, the new NOOK can last up to two months on a single charge — double the battery life of Amazon’s Kindle. Other nifty features include a new proprietary dissolve transition that takes readers from one page to the next, and social media integration that allows users to share recommendations via Twitter, Facebook and more. Of course the new eReader also features Wi-Fi connectivity and owners can enjoy free hotspot access at all Barnes & Noble stores as well as every AT&T hotspot across the country. The new NOOK will retail for $139.99 when it becomes available on June 10th from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and more. Pre-orders are available immediately.

While Microsoft is busy showing off the latest and greatest its Windows Phone platform has to offer, Barnes & Noble is across town getting ready to take the wraps off its brand new NOOK eReader. Tablets like the Apple iPad 2 and BlackBerry PlayBook are taking center stage right now, but these jacks of all trades have a long way to go before they can even come close to matching the reading experience afforded by dedicated eReaders. Avid readers and casual readers alike can appreciate the remarkable battery life and unique features that only a dedicated eBook reader can afford, and good luck trying to soak up the sun while reading a book on your iPad — right now, only an E Ink display can remain perfectly visible and glare-free while combating the sun’s rays. So what new features does Barnes and Noble have in store for its latest NOOK eReader? Hit the break for our live coverage of the unveiling, which will begin just before 10:00 a.m. EST, and don’t forget to refresh the page often for all the latest updates!

9:43AM:All right — everything looks like it'll kick off on schedule at 10:00 a.m. We're inside and sitting while the rest of press/bloggers start funneling in.

9:51AM:In case you're still not convinced that a new NOOK will be unveiled today, I think the t-shirts might be a pretty good sign that the rumors were right.

9:57AM:The room is getting pretty full now, as is the Wi-Fi, so we should be getting things started any minute now.

9:59AM:Switched over to our Verizon 4G LTE MiFi. The rest of these suckers can have fun on Wi-Fi.

10:00AM:Ok, they just announced that we're about to get this party started.

10:02AM:Two minute warning has been issued.

10:04AM:Barnes and Noble CEO William Lynch just took the stage.

10:05AM:B&N now owns over 25% in the eBook market — and it's still the leader in the physical book market with 17%

10:06AM:B&N is the leader in the Android tablet market here in the U.S., Lynch claims.

10:08AM:Lynch is talking about B&N's successes with NOOK apps. The company has millions of users and its app platform has seen great success thus far.

10:09AM:Lynch is also stressing B&N's stellar customer service, which is definitely a huge advantage over the competition.

10:10AM:B&N is the clear leader on the product side as well, Lynch claims. The NOOK was the first eReader to support lending, for example, and B&N is the only company that lets users read full books for free while in a book store.

10:11AM:NOOK Newsstand features 160 top publications, and the company has surpassed 1.5 million single copies sold — more than Apple or any other digital newsstand.

10:12AM:NOOK Color has been a home run, but there are still customers looking for a pure reading experience. I think we all know where this is going...

10:14AM:The all-new NOOK!

10:14AM:They're playing a video now — man, this little guy is sleek.

10:15AM:The all-new NOOK is the easiest eReader on the market to use. If features a 6-inch touchscreen display and it weighs just 7.5 ounces.

10:15AM:Battery life? How about up to 2 months on a single charge. Damn!

10:16AM:The display is an E Ink pearl display that eliminates the weird eReader page turns and replaces it with a proprietary transition.

10:17AM:The new NOOK will cost just $139 when it launches later this summer.

10:17AM:It sports just one button — 37 fewer than the Kindle, Lynch joked.

10:17AM:He's stressing the simplicity of the interface, and it definitely looks easy to use.

10:19AM:This thing makes the Kindle looks like a beast — and it has the same-sized screen.

10:21AM:B&N's President of Digital Products is on stage now to go over the NOOK's features.

10:21AM:The new NOOK has 80% less flashing during page turns than the Kindle. That might sound insignificant, but any eReader user will tell you how annoying the seizure-inducing page turn flashing can be.

10:22AM:The NOOK can hold 1,000 books with 2GB of internal storage, but is also supports SD cards for another 32GB of storage.

10:24AM:The touchscreen really enhances the experience. It makes looking up words in the integrated dictionary or making notes a breeze.

10:26AM:Of course the NOOK aslo features built-in Wi-Fi and B&N's great digital book store for buying new books right on the device. Wi-Fi is free in Barnes and Noble locations and any AT&T hotspot.

10:26AM:The new NOOK features "NOOK Friends," a book recommendation-based social network. Users can also share recommendations via Facebook or Twitter right from the device.

10:27AM:mynook.com will launch next month, as well, giving users another way to browse and buy books.

10:27AM:The new NOOK is "the simplest eReader ever created."

10:28AM:William Lynch is coming back on stage now to wrap things up.

10:29AM:"It's the best dedicated eReader on the market," Lynch said. The new NOOK is available for pre-order immediately for $139, and it will begin shipping on or around June 10th.

10:29AM:That's it folks! Time for some hand-on with the new NOOK.

It looks like RIM’s website team jumped the gun a bit, as we have just caught the new BlackBerry Bold on RIM’s main BlackBerry site. It’s not like you haven’t seen the BlackBerry Bold before, though, as we not only broke news of the device but have also spent some one-on-one snuggle time with RIM’s flagship handset. With that said, we also exclusively reported that RIM might only launch one device at BlackBerry World, as opposed to previewing and demoing the company’s 7-device lineup for 2011. It looks like what we reported will be correct — the introduction of the new BlackBerry Bold (we’re still not positive if the final name will include Touch in it) as well as BlackBerry OS 7 (formerly known as OS 6.1). There’s one more image after the break.

Thanks, Joey S!

Research In Motion isn’t just a leaky faucet ahead of BlackBerry World this year, it’s a waterfall. We scooped RIM’s 2011 BlackBerry lineup back in January and more recently, we gave you a hands-on look at the BlackBerry Bold Touch, BlackBerry Touch and BlackBerry Torch 2 smartphones, but the leaks continue. In recent days we’ve seen full specs, brief hands-on videos and more, and for the two or three remaining naysayers who still don’t believe RIM is about to announce its next-generation smartphone lineup at BlackBerry World next month, RIM’s promo videos are now starting to leak out. Companies typically don’t put these promotional spots together unless the have some devices to, you know, promote — so BlackBerry fans should sit tight for another couple of weeks and we’re certain they’ll have some sleek new smartphones to swoon over. Hit the break for RIM’s official BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry 9860 promo videos.

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You remember the BlackBerry Touch — also known as the Monaco or Monza — don’t you? Of course you do. The device we brought you exclusive images of last month has been nabbed again, this time on video. The two-plus minute clip showcases the device running BlackBerry 6.1 and, from what we can see, it looks to be pretty snappy. The video’s narrator is speaking in Thai — which is not a language in our linguistic wheelhouse — so we’re just going to have to let you observe and pass judgement on your own. The video is waiting for you after the break. Enjoy.

[Via BBNews]

Right on schedule, Apple has released iOS 4.3 beta 3, build number 8F5166b, to developers through its online developer’s portal. The code is available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. We’re in the throes of downloading the new bits as we speak. You do the same and be sure to let us know what you find.

Thanks, CDeeRON!

The sleuths over at unwiredview.com have found a Bluetooth SIG entry for a fairly peculiar device being called the INQ Cloud Touch. In the filing, the Cloud Touch is described as:

An Android smartphone built to make messaging faster and smarter. It’s designed around the way people naturally communicate and has Facebook built into its core. The homescreen features multiple entry points to different Facebook functions, while a dynamic widget displays a feed of status updates, albums, videos and photos.

Back in September, Bloomberg published a report indicating that INQ was working on a handset for the social networking company. The filing is fairly recent as the software version has a build date of 12/17/2010. While there is no way to be one-hundred percent sure this is a Facebook Phone, the evidence seems to point in that direction. What do you think? Anyone out there so invested in the Facebook ecosystem that this is appealing?

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The BendDesk is a new multitouch workspace created by the talented minds at The Media Computing Group, and it’s absolutely incredible-looking. It’s a fully curved display that looks to form a 90 degree bend and makes use of two projectors, 3 cameras, and loads of IR lights to view and track up to 10 touch points. The software they have come up with is also equally impressive — you can flick photos for instance from the top or bottom part of the display, or hold them in a locker in the middle where the curve is. Unfortunately this isn’t something you’re able to buy anytime due to the fact a ship date nor price were revealed, but we’ll keep waiting. In the meantime, check out their demo video after the break.

Today, via a press release, Sprint officially announced its ZTE Peel iPod touch mobile-hotspot case. The iPod accessory, which will be available November 14th, will retail for $79.99 and will fit second and third generation iPod touch devices. Sprint will offer a $30, month-to-month hotspot plan for the Peel that will include a 1GB data allowance. The Wi-Fi case will support WEP 64-bit encryption, has a 3-hour run-time, and is comparable with Windows 7, Vista, and XP as well as Mac OS 10.5 and 10.6. The announcement mirrors information we broke about the Peel last week and on Monday. Hit the jump for the full press release.

ZTE PEEL Brings Sprint’s 3G Network Reliability to Apple iPod Touch; Creates Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots

Unique form factor of ZTE PEEL™ cradles Apple^® iPod touch^® for easy access to Sprint’s 3G data speeds; available Nov. 14

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 10, 2010 – Beginning on Nov. 14, Sprint (NYSE:S) customers can attach ZTE PEEL™ to their Apple iPod touch and connect to Sprint’s 3G network. ZTE PEEL is a unique device that cradles the second- and third-generation iPod touch with a case-like form factor. With universal Wi-Fi compatibility and support for up to two Wi-Fi enabled devices, iPod touch users will have a virtually anywhere, anytime Internet connection that removes the reliance on a Wi-Fi hotspot for a data connection. Customers simply slide their iPod touch (touch-screen face out) into ZTE PEEL, press down on both sides until it clicks into place, and then press the power button located on the back of ZTE PEEL to connect to Sprint’s 3G network.

ZTE PEEL will be available beginning Sunday, Nov. 14, through Sprint retail stores and direct ship sales channels, including Web sales (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) for $79.99 (taxes excluded). The ZTE PEEL $29.99 monthly service plan from Sprint allows up to 1GB of 3G data on the Sprint network (taxes and surcharges excluded) with no annual contract required.

“ZTE PEEL unlocks the wonderful user interface and Web experience of Apple’s popular iPod touch and transforms it into a powerful mobile device using the Sprint 3G network,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development. “When combined with Sprint’s 3G network, ZTE PEEL turns an iPod touch from a portable device limited by the availability of Wi-Fi to a mobility tool free to browse the Web and use applications anytime, anywhere while on Sprint’s 3G network.”

Key features of ZTE PEEL include advanced security through WEP, an internal antenna and compatibility with Windows^® 7, Windows Vista^®, Windows XP^®, Macintosh^® OS 10.5, 10.6. No software installation is required for use.

“ZTE is proud to continue to grow our relationship with Sprint, and we are excited to bring this ground-breaking product to Sprint’s already innovative portfolio,” said Joey Jia, general manager-ZTE USA. “We are committed to providing our partners with products that drive consumer demand and present a competitive edge.”

The nationwide Sprint 3G network provides access to a full range of apps that require internet connectivity to perform, including VOIP, gaming, streaming news and real-time sports updates. With ZTE Peel supporting up to two hotspot connections, users can also enable laptops, tablets and other mobile devices with 3G data speeds.

Reliability from Sprint 3G

ZTE PEEL will operate on the Sprint 3G network, and customers can be confident in their ability to stay connected. According to the results of a 13-city test conducted by PC World on 3G performance, no one has a more reliable network than Sprint. For the second consecutive year, Sprint’s reliability rates were second-to-none.

PC World’s test involved Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in 13 major cities in all regions of the country during December 2009 and January 2010. In all, roughly 9,000 individual tests of Sprint’s 3G service were conducted from 280 testing locations. Testing sessions were one minute in duration per location, and network performance can be highly variable from neighborhood to neighborhood. In laptop-based tests, Sprint tied with another carrier for first in 3G network reliability.²

With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of ZTE PEEL for 30 days. If not completely satisfied, customers may return the device within 30 days to get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get the restocking fees waived, and receive a full refund for the monthly service plan charges.¹

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On Friday, we told you about a rumor we were hearing surrounding the release-date and pricing for Sprint’s ZTE Peel; the iPod touch case that provides 3G internet access. Today, we’ve got cold hard evidence to confirm our previous scoop. As you can see from the above screen shot, the ZTE Peel will indeed be hitting the Now Network on November 14th and will retail for $79.99. The plan that Sprint will provide Peel customers is a $29.99, month-to-month, offering that will include a 1GB data allowance; overages will be billed at $0.05 per megabyte. The Wi-Fi case will be able to provide internet access for up to two devices and supports second and third generation iPod touch devices. Although… we do have to wonder if Sprint/ZTE will delay the current Peel as it is not compatible with the fourth generation iPod touch; most notably, the camera is in a different location.

What do you think iPod touch owners, you like?

It looks like Verizon Wireless will be sharpening up their entire phone lineup in time for the holidays. Engadget has just published an excerpt from Verizon’s latest cell phone rebate sheet, and the discount-document has quite a story to tell. The document details several Motorola devices; including the DROID Pro, Citrus, and two SKUs for the DROID 2 Global. The two-SKU listing for the DROID 2 could indicate one model with a camera and one model without, or that the handset will come in two different colors. Although not listed above, the blog also notes that the Palm Pre 2, LG Cosmos Touch, Samsung Zeal, and Samsung Continuum make the list. Just in time for the holidays.

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