Enterprise software

HP prices Envy x2, its alternative to Microsoft Surface, iPad

Hewlett-Packard has priced its Envy x2 laptop-tablet hybrid at $849.99 -- a small tablet-laptop hybrid that runs the full version of Windows 8.

That price may be high for consumers, but HP is pushing it as a high-quality, high-end "hybrid PC" that effectively straddles both the laptop and tablet paradigms.

It comes with many of the ports found on a PC -- USB, HDMI, SD card slot -- a top-notch IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a large trackpad (what HP calls an Imagepad) for Windows 8 gestures, and a touch display that detaches to become a … Read more

Microsoft Surface tablet back-ordered as new iPad looms

Call it round one of a Microsoft-Apple hardware heavyweight bout.

A few days before the expected rollout of Apple's new tablets, all Microsoft Surface tablets are now officially back-ordered in the U.S.

A Microsoft representative confirmed with CNET today that delivery of three Surface RT models has been pushed back.

On Tuesday, the same day that sales were launched, the order status of the $499 model (32GB) quickly slipped to three weeks.

Now the $599 Surface with the black Touch Cover (keyboard/cover, 32GB) and the $699 Surface with the black Touch Cover (64GB) are back-ordered "one … Read more

Microsoft training staff to explain Windows 8 versus RT

Microsoft is training sales staff to make sure customers know the difference between Windows RT and the full version of Windows 8, the company told CNET.

Windows RT tablets, including Microsoft's Surface, use power-frugal ARM chips and come with a version of Windows 8 that is not compatible with older Windows software. Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro devices -- including an upcoming higher-performance Surface tablet -- are powered by Intel chips and can run the millions of older Windows programs already out there.

"Compatibility is a huge, huge issue," said Bob O'Donnell, an analyst at … Read more

Even Microsoft's closest allies are nervous about Windows 8

If Microsoft's long-time partner Intel can't muster up much enthusiasm for Windows 8, how are consumers expected to do so?

The chip giant yesterday posted some pretty dismal third-quarter results, which weren't themselves a big surprise given Intel's preannouncement and all the lackluster PC data in recent weeks. But what's a little jarring is Intel's cautious forecast for the fourth quarter -- a period that should be benefiting from the launch of Windows 8.

Historically, PC demand rises with a new operating system release, and computer makers were expecting the same from Windows 8. … Read more

$499 Microsoft Surface preorders slip to three weeks

Are we seeing the first signs of keen consumer interest in Microsoft Surface?

Answer: at this stage -- the first day of preorders -- we have no idea if Microsoft's first branded PC is a hit. But one backordered model may point to some momentum.

The $499 model is already showing shipments pushed back to "within 3 weeks," while the two other pricier models are available for delivery by October 26, when Surface goes on sale.

Without knowing how many Surface tablets Microsoft has in the sales channel ready to ship, we don't know what a … Read more

Dell joins the parade of Windows 8 systems

Dell is joining the ranks of PC companies making system announcements before the official October 26 release of Windows 8.

The following products are available for preorder today, according to Dell:

XPS 12 convertible -- starting at $1,199.99 XPS One 27 with touch -- starting at $1,599.99 Inspiron One 23 AIO with touch -- starting at $779.99 XPS 13 ultrabook -- starting at $999.99

Dell is also offering Windows 8 as an option on its current XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex and Precision brands -- which covers virtually all the company's major product brands. … Read more

Microsoft improves Kinect for Windows SDK, launches in China

Microsoft today updated its Kinect for Windows software development kit with a host of improvements.

According to the software giant, the new and important Kinect for Windows SDK now allows developers to consult data from the sensor's three-axis accelerometer, providing access to the device's orientation. In addition, developers will have access to depth data beyond its previous limit of four meters, as well as use of an infrared stream.

"Access to all this data means new experiences are possible: whole new scenarios open up, such as monitoring manufacturing processes with extended-range depth data," Microsoft Kinect for … Read more

Plethora of iOS apps keeps users around despite rollout glitches

It's the apps, stupid.

Users will stick with iOS because of the abundance of apps despite problems with the rollout of iOS 6, said a Taipei-based analyst.

A rocky introduction of new in-house apps such as Maps and Siri nothwithstanding, users will stick with iOS because they "have already bought so many mobile apps and music on the iOS platform that it would be hard for them to switch to other devices running on the Android or Windows operating systems," said Simon Yang, an analyst at the Topology Research Institute, speaking in Monday's China Post.

Yang … Read more

Microsoft acquires security authentication provider

Microsoft announced today that it has bought PhoneFactor, a provider of multi-factor authentication.

PhoneFactor offers organizations different ways for their employees to access key software and services without relying just on passwords or security tokens. The company's specialty is phone authentication, but it also provides authentication through text messages.

Timothy Sutton, PhoneFactor CEO, described the concept in a blog, saying that "when we initially launched PhoneFactor, we had a vision to deliver strong authentication as a seamless part of almost every process where an individual needs to access confidential or proprietary data." He added that "phones … Read more