Apple : Computex 2015: Computex 2015: What we want to see

---

Computex 2015: Computex 2015: What we want to see Posted: Windows 10, Wearables and 3D printing It may not have the same exposure as CES, or the European allure of Mobile World Congress, but Computex Taipei is one of the world's biggest technology trade shows. This year, Asia's largest trade show will welcome technology makers to Taipei's incredible humidity between June 2 and June 6, promising plenty of exciting announcements for the second half of 2015 and beyond. Now in its 35th year, Computex will continue to reflect the market trends in technology, so we expect to see and hear plenty of information about wearables, 3D printing, Windows 10 and more over the course of the event. We'll keep you updated with all the information from the show as it happens, but while we wait for June to roll around and the show's doors to open, here's our list of the things we want to see at Computex 2015. On the Windows 10 Wagon With Windows 10 set for an official launch some time this year (and all indicators pointing at a July timeframe), Computex 2015 should be full of machines showing off the new operating system. From new laptops, tablets, all-in-ones, and hybrids, there's sure to be a bevy of new products running the latest Windows build. With companies like Acer, Asus, Microsoft and Intel all having a confirmed presence at the show, there's no doubt Windows 10 will be a major drawcard at this year's Computex. Wearable wonders There is nothing hotter in the tech space than wearable technology at the moment, so you can expect the world's second largest tech trade show to have plenty of smartwatches, fitness bands and other gadget apparel on display. A quick look at the Computex Taipei website proves this to be true, with a list of some 20 or so companies confirmed to be bringing their wearable wares to the trade show. Admittedly, the bulk of the companies listed as showcasing wearable tech aren't the brands the western world associates with, but for a market expected to sell almost 45 million units this year, there's plenty of room for new competitors. Last year we saw e-ink smartwatch prototypes and Acer's Liquid Leap wearable make an appearance, so expect big movements in this space this year. Scan and Print the world The world of 3D printers is taking off, and Computex is going to be a key indicator to what the future holds for the technology. One big focus area will be on 3D scanners, that can scan in real-world objects so they can be replicated by a 3D printer. With 3D printing shifting from the enthusiast market to real world applications like medical and engineering, expect companies to show off their latest developments in this brave new world. Intel, The Cloud and accessories Intel-ligent upgrades Computex is massive in its own right, but every year chipmaker Intel goes out of its way to keep Moore's Law alive. Last year they used the Taipei conference to announce its Core M processor, the earliest version of its Broadwell platform. We already know that Intel is planning on unleashing a new Thunderbolt cable at the conference, and there's going to be a big focus on the Internet of Things during the chipmaker's keynote. Will we see Broadwell's successor, Skylake? It will undoubtedly be discussed by the chipmaker, but whether we see it on the show floor remains to be seen. Cloud control The Internet of Things is coming. And that means everything will be connected, both to each other, and to the cloud. And so now that these things are going to be connected, security is going to be an ongoing concern. To address this issue, Computex is hosting a dedicated Cloud Security forum during the event. On top of that, you can expect a range of exhibitors doing their best to showcase their own solutions to the ongoing challenges faced by the growing Internet of Things industry. Components and Cases Those bits and pieces that make up your computer? They get better each and every year. We know that major component manufacturers like AMD, Intel, Gigabyte and Nvidia, among others, will all be at the show demonstrating their newest technology. But it's not just internal components that will be filling up the show floor at Computex 2015. One of the best parts of the Asian tech conference is discovering the biggest, craziest PC cases the world can create. Given a lot of the show floor is invariably made up of smaller companies looking to get some exposure, this market is going to be great to watch. Peripherals and accessories You need a new mouse. And a new keyboard. And a NAS. And maybe some flash drives. All of these things will play a big part at Computex. Basically, if you can connect it to your PC, then you can find it at Computex. We'll be keeping a keen eye out for anything new and exciting, from updated Thunderbolt cables to the growing USB-C standard. Yes, we said exciting. Don't laugh.

Apple stylus patent hints at new iPad Pro features Posted: A recent US Patent and Trademark Office filing for an Apple stylus gives hints at what iPad Pro hopefuls can anticipate for the larger 12.9-inch tablet. Unlike the current iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, the iPad Pro is expected to come with expanded functionality, and in the past we've heard rumors that the slate will also support a digital input stylus, a first for the category. Apple's patent application shows a stylus, that when paired with a tablet, can offer 3D input sensing based on factors such as the angle of the pen when it's touching the screen and the distance the pen is from the tablet. In addition to pen support, the iPad Pro may get new iOS features, such as support for multiple users and simultaneous multitasking. Feeling the force There is mention of a grip sensor as well as a pressure sensor on the pen. The grip sensor would be used to tell how hard a user is holding onto the stylus, while the pressure sensor can detect how hard the user is pushing the pen against the screen. The latter feature could potentially be integrated with Apple's Force Touch technology, a feature that's been integrated with the touchpad on the latest MacBook and is rumored to make an appearance on the next iPhone display. Challenging the Surface Pen The features discussed in the patent filing would make Apple's iPad Pro pen a good competitor against rival Microsoft's Surface Pen for the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3. Earlier rumors suggest that the iPad Pro pen would connect to the tablet via Bluetooth, a feature that is already employed by the Surface Pen. Additionally, the recent patent filing details side buttons on the pen that could be used to control input. This could allow the pen to quickly launch a handwriting or drawing app using the button, a feature that is similar to Microsoft's quick launch button on the Surface Pen to initiate OneNote. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculates that the 3D handwriting feature may not arrive until next year. This would give the iPad Pro pen an advantage over the Surface Pen, which could detect 256 levels of pressure but isn't capable of 3D writing. Back to basics Even though late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had dismissed the pen with iOS, hedging the company's post-PC future on capacitive touchscreens and finger-friendly UIs, there is a rise in popularity for pens with regards to handwriting, drawing and advanced sketching features. Rival Samsung made an investment in digital pen company Wacom, while Microsoft recently acquired N-trig, the company behind the technology of the Surface Pen. If Apple changes course and releases the iPad Pro with a pen, it would chase the prosumer, academic and enterprise market that Microsoft and Samsung are pursuing with the Windows-powered Surface Pro 3 and the Android-enabled Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, respectively. Apple has been teaming up with IBM to launch enterprise apps, and the hardware capabilities of the pen may also help enterprise adoption at a time when consumer tablet sales have been slumping. At this time, it's unclear if the iPad Pro pen would be bundled with the slate or if it's an optional accessory. Microsoft includes its battery-operated pen in the Surface Pro 3, but makes the stylus an optional add-on with the Surface 3. Availability The unannounced and rumored iPad Pro could launch as early as this year with a simple pen, according to Kuo, and a more advanced pen that supports 3D writing may arrive next year. The iPad Pro, known internally as J98 and J99, is said to be in the testing phase, according to a separate report, and Apple may be readying a new version of iOS that supports simultaneous multitasking on the larger screen of the Pro tablet. Multi-user support, which is already available on Windows and Android slates, is also said to be coming to iPad Pro, and Apple could use WWDC 2015 to announce the latest changes to iOS. Via: AppleInsider Read our picks for the best business tablets

You are subscribed to email updates from TechRadar: All latest Apple news feeds To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States