Friday, March 28, 2014

Software : At least one carrier claims the HTC One (M8) Mini is on the way

Software : At least one carrier claims the HTC One (M8) Mini is on the way

At least one carrier claims the HTC One (M8) Mini is on the way

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At least one carrier claims the HTC One (M8) Mini is on the way

Sure, it's only been three days since HTC officially took the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone, but that's plenty of time for rumors of a more diminutive model to start percolating.

Unwired View spotted a curious news item on Swedish Android website Swedroid today that appears to confirm HTC's plans to follow up this week's HTC One (M8) launch with a similar handset in a smaller package.

This so-called HTC One (M8) mini wouldn't exactly come as a surprise, given how the Taiwanese manufacturer released both smaller and larger variations of last year's flagship HTC One handset.

That would make the second such internet confirmation this week of an mini M8, following a tweet from @evleaks on Tuesday who claimed "M8 mini: Check" mere hours after HTC took the wraps off the midrange model.

M8, the sequel?

A product listing for an HTC "M8 mini" popped up in a blog post on the website of carrier Telia, which announced which devices would support improved HD Voice technology on its Swedish airwaves.

Although the post now only lists smartphone models from Apple, LG, Nokia, Samsung and others, an earlier version apparently included a list of HTC devices, including the rumored "M8 mini" tucked away just below the just launched M8.

There's no indication yet of just what specs might power such an HTC One (M8) mini, beyond the likely assumption that the device will indeed be smaller than this year's flagship handset.

For now, we'd say comparing the differences between last year's HTC One and HTC One mini models will probably give some pretty good clues as to what can be expected - and don't act surprised when HTC eventually queues up an HTC One (M8) Max down the road as well. We're just sayin'....

Apple patent shows off smart keyboard case, the perfect Office for iPad pal?

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Apple patent shows off smart keyboard case, the perfect Office for iPad pal?

Apple may be planning to launch a new version of its Smart Cover for iPad tablets, which for the first time will include a physical keyboard, judging by a recently revealed patent application.

Uncovered by the fine-toothed-comb-wielding enthusiasts at AppleInsider, the patent, blandly entitled "Cover for electronic device," showcases a multi-touch, razor thin typing surface.

The presence of multi-touch sensors, which would seemingly be activated by lightly swiping across keys, would negate the need for a touchpad on the keyboard, which could be detached from the cover and used wirelessly

Currently, the company sells an external, iPad-compatible Bluetooth keyboard, but the launch of an integrated solution would give Apple tablet owners something resembling the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.

Word up!

The timing of the patent revelation is coincidental given it comes on the same day that Microsoft outed its Office for iPad suite, following years of speculation.

Given there are few users who enjoy lengthy periods of typing on a touchscreen, the introduction of Microsoft Word, combined with a svelte new keyboard case could open the door for a new era of productivity for Apple's tablet.

Opinion: Office for iPad: a return to form or a retreat to strength?

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Opinion: Office for iPad: a return to form or a retreat to strength?

Microsoft just took a step that many have long awaited since Apple's iPad first launched April 3, 2010 - just shy of four years ago. The company's Office suite of productivity apps - meaning Word, Excel and PowerPoint - are now available on the Mac maker's titanic tablet, newly-minted CEO Satya Nadella recently announced.

While the move is an exciting one, it raises some questions. Namely, what took you so long? Soon after the iPad - the iPad 2 especially - the tablet scene exploded, and with it the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend within businesses.

But rather than simply bringing its software suite to iOS, Microsoft tried its hand at competing with Apple directly with a slate of its own, the Surface. Despite a recent uptick in sales, it has yet to provide the results you would imagine the folks in Redmond, Wash. were hoping for.

Ubiquity ≠ equity

You can say that Windows is still arguably the most ubiquitous operating system in the home and at work. But its creator is losing traction on both fronts to iOS and Android, and fast.

According to Andreesen Horowitz partner Benedict Evans, Mac OS and iOS have officially caught up to Windows in terms of device sales. And Good Technology, an enterprise mobile services vendor, reports that the iPad holds nearly 92% of enterprise tablet deployments, while the iPhone accounts for 54% of the devices that use its services.

Office for iPad

The Surface tablet and Windows Phone operating system were designed to provide the ease-of-use and comfort of a leisure device while offering the power and capability for enterprise users. It's safe to say that Microsoft's master plan for devices isn't working.

Here we are in early 2014, and Office is finally available on the iPad. According to Business Insider's sources, the move was a hot topic for debate within Microsoft, and that the only reason former CEO Steve Ballmer kept Office from iOS and Android was to give the Surface some much-needed leverage.

From the outside looking in, it's both a sign of the company moving forward and an admission of its strengths (and weaknesses). Microsoft is an incredibly strong software company, but save for the Xbox, its hardware endeavors have almost all been met with setbacks.

Getting in front of the PC problem the right way

It's no secret that PC sales are tanking in the face of mobile devices. Windows 8 was Microsoft's first attempt at a tourniquet, which is, frankly, struggling to stop the bleeding. In that regard, Windows Phone and Surface aren't working either.

With Nadella at the helm and this recent launch, it seems as if Microsoft is admitting that the PC cannot be saved, or rather it has fundamentally changed and will continue to transform. Not to mention that the Xbox was a flash in the pan in the company's hardware attempts over the past 15 years or so.

Office for iPad

I at least hope that's the case, because the company cannot afford many more attempts at catching up with the mobile revolution on the devices front. But, as Office for iPad might show, Microsoft could continue to have a leg in this race, as long as its powering what's behind those screens rather than putting together the parts itself.

Office for iPad is a return to form for Microsoft only in that it's a return to its core strength, which is what drove Microsoft to amass its billions. Even if Microsoft isn't a crucial part of the computing industry's shift to mobile, the company stands to make a nice buck off of moves like Office for iPad, not to mention making a number of customers very happy.

  • Microsoft Build 2014 is bound to be very interesting
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