The Surface Pro has a kickstand just like the RT however, the Pro’s is angled at 26 degrees instead of 22 degrees. The Surface Pro has a 10.6-inch Cleartype Full HD Display. It has 10 points of multi-touch support and active pen input. The Pro is thinker than the RT because it contains an Intel Core i5 processor. The battery life is estimated at about 5 hours. The rest of the specs are very close to the RT.
Apple is thinking about making a lower priced iPhone. The cheaper iPhone will resemble the standard iPhone with a cheaper body. The shell maybe made of cheaper material such as plastic. Other parts could be made from recycled older iPhone parts. Apple is getting pressure to make the iPhone more affordable. Google’s Android has been gaining market share. IPhone remains the top seller in the US however overseas Android is on top. In the US an iPhone 5 without a contract starts at $649 and cost even more overseas. in the US if you get a two year contract the iPhone 5 can cost $199 with a two year contract. They do not offer these deals overseas. Apple’s stock has fallen 25% since its high in September.
Apple has over 50% of the American smartphone market but Samsung has Europe. The research firm, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, says that Apple is taking back marketshares from Google’s Andriod. Kantar says it is mostly due to iPhone 5. Android’s share of the market fell 10.9%. Android has 61% of the European market up from 51.8% a year ago.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft has sealed a deal with id8 Group R2 Studios Inc. Microsoft hopes to enhance the Xbox division. R2 made a product called R2 Control for Crestron, that allows home automation systems managing, audio visual and home theatre equipment, lighting, thermostats, security and other connected home devices on Android phones and tablets both at home and remotely. Microsoft is trying to extend its plan of making the Xbox the hub of home entertainment. With this acquisition Microsoft has the chance to completely automate and home and tie it into Windows on mobile, desktop and into Xbox.
There have been reports of Apple plotting to acquire Waze. This is not going to happen according to several sources. It was reported as rumor. At this time there is no deal on the table. It may happen in the future.
The mobile version of Ubuntu is built around the existing Android kernel and drivers. It supports ARM and x86 processors and Android phone makers can use it on their devices. There has not been an announcement of which carrier or manufacturer will support it but the handset should be provided by a “high-end” Android maker. The phones will not be out until 2014 but there are demo phones out in London.
In app usage logs there have been traces of Apple’s new iPhone and iOS software. The IP address of the of the app requests are on Apple’s Cupertino campus. There is not any information on the hardware or the software. Previously Apple released developer seeds of its major operating system updates at WWDC in June.
A number of people have been arrested for using E-Devices during take-offs and landings. Some of the responsibility is on the FAA. They are upholding a rule that has no grounds of proof. In 2010 a 68 year old man punched a teenager because he did not turn off his phone. The FAA claims that pass these devices can disrupt a flight but there are numerous organizations that have proven that this is untrue. A few weeks after saying that an iPad or Kindle could put out enough emissions to disrupt a flight the FAA anounced that pilots could use iPads in the cockpit instead of paper flight manuals. The FAA says that they will review the rule after getting a lot of pressure from the public and media. Senator Claire McCaskill has sent the FAA a letter saying that she is “prepared to pursue legislative solutions should progress be made to slowly.”
Windows 8 now has 35,000 apps in its store says MetroStore Scanner. This means that in the last 35 days they have added 14,557. In November they were adding 362 applications a day. At this rate they will reach 50,000 on February 1st. Windows 8 is the first of the Windows line to have an app store.
Digitimes says that Mac mini production will move to the U.S. Foxconn will be responsible for its manufacturing. Hiring will have to ramp up around the Foxconn locations in the U.S.