Microsoft unveils Windows 8

We're live from Microsoft Windows president Steven Sinofsky's keynote at D9, and there's something rather exciting on stage -- a pair of experimental Windows 8 dev boards running an OS that looks very much like Windows Phone 7's Metro UI. All Things D actually sat down with the man earlier today and got a sneak peek at what to expect starting with the live tiled screen you see above -- and yes, like Windows Phone 7, this OS is designed for touch.

There'll be two kinds of applications for Windows 8, one that runs in a traditional desktop, and the other pseudo-mobile apps based on HTML5 and Javascript, but both environments -- rather, the entire OS -- have been designed from the ground up for touchscreen use. Keyboard and mouse will still be options for both sets of programs, but there are multiple virtual sets of keys for different form factors, including a split keyboard for vertical slate use. Multitasking is simply a matter of swiping running apps into the center of the screen, and you can pull windows partway to "snap" them in place alongside other windows -- even mixing and matching traditional desktop programs with web apps simultaneously (like Twitter alongside your spreadsheet). There's a new version of Internet Explorer 10 (which runs Silverlight) and an app store built into the touchscreen interface, along with integrated services like Office 365. Microsoft says the new OS will run on laptops, tablets and desktops when it appears -- whenever that might be.

All Things D didn't have any details on when we'll get pricing or availability, but we're looking at some Intel Atom-based demo units on stage right now, and Microsoft says it will have ARM designs (the OS will support NVIDIA, TI and Qualcomm) viewable on the Computex show floor, and more will be revealed at the Build Windows developer conference in September. We should note that "Windows 8" is just a codename for what we're seeing here -- "we'll figure out the real name in due time," Sinofsky told the crowd -- but we don't see much harm in calling it Windows 8 for now.

Windows 8 D9 demo

All Things D

Walmart prices HP TouchPad 32GB at $599?

PlayBoy Magazine might not have had the HP TouchPad's price dead to rights, but it also might not have been far off the mark -- if this allegedly leaked Walmart database entry is correct, the 32GB version of the webOS slate will cost $599. PreCentral nabbed the above image, as well as supplementary documentation suggesting an $80 sticker price for the Touchstone Dock, $50 for a first-party case, $30 for a spare AC adapter and $70 for the official Bluetooth keyboard. Of course, that $599 price tag puts the 9.7-inch tablet squarely in the sights of Apple's 32GB iPad 2. We can't wait to see if it's worth the cash to pick up this underdog.

PreCentral

Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot

Remember that Ava telepresence bot that we were gaga over at CES? Well Google has decided to lend iRobot a hand in getting the tablet-topped automaton rolling with some Android apps. The two companies have teamed up to create Ava specific programs that can be run from an Android slate perched on the extending neck of this silicon-brained companion. Apparently any 'ol tablet will do, so you'll still be able to play Angry Birds, but where's the fun in that? The exciting stuff will be apps that can communicate with the robot and pass it directions, meaning we need to figure out what our new, mechanical best friends should do for us. We've already got plenty of options for killing and beer serving -- how about one that folds our laundry? Oh, wait. Well, we'll think of something. While we ponder you check out Ava's cameo at Google I/O and the PR after the break.

HTC touts early Flyer sales, promises NFC-equipped phone within a year

It's still not dishing much in the way of specifics, but it looks like HTC is at least cautiously optimistic about the success of its Flyer tablet -- or, as the company's top exec in Europe, Florian Seiche, put it at a recent Reuters summit: "it's early days but we feel very good about it." Seiche also unsurprisingly talked up tablets in general, and said that he thought schools would "probably" shift from textbooks to tablets in "five years' time," adding that "we can't even guess the potential" in terms of the broader impact on society. Naturally, he also suggested that HTC plans to tap into that growing market with a whole range of new tablets beyond the Flyer. In terms of smartphones, Seiche said that HTC will be rolling out its first NFC-equipped phone within the next twelve months, and he reaffirmed the company's commitment to Windows Phone 7, which he expects will see a boost from Nokia (which he says will in turn benefit HTC).

Electronista

Reuters

ViewSonic 7x shrinks Honeycomb to 7 inches for the tiny handed

Well, it looks like ViewSonic is finally digging its Android tablets out of the Froyo doldrums and, what's more, it may be first to market with a Honeycomb slate of the seven-inch variety. According to Pocket-lint, the company will debut the Tegra 2-powered ViewPad 7x at Computex later this month. The 7x will supposedly pack WiFi, HSPA+, and an HDMI port while weighing in at a svelte 0.84 pounds. Oh, and it's got a design on the back that is supposed to make it look "funky"... or something. There's no word on price but, it's rumored to hit shelves in June.

Pocket-lint

RIM recalls at least 900 faulty BlackBerry PlayBooks, here are the serial numbers

We found the BlackBerry PlayBook to be a pretty solid piece of hardware, but it seems there was a problem batch -- an inside source tells us that nearly 1,000 faulty tablets were shipped to Staples, and now they're being recalled. We're hoping that Staples (and any other affected retailers) will reach out to customers and inform them of the problem right away, but just in case that doesn't happen, we've compiled a searchable spreadsheet of all 935 alleged serial numbers for you to check against your own. Find it right after the break.

. Serial Number . 134301539756 . 134301595757 . 134301651073 . 134301653365 . 134301672264 . 134301672665 . 134301679159 . 134301679257 . 134301692456 . 134301696559 . 134301960666 . 134301968355 . 134301970459 . 134301972564 . 134301977559 . 134301979156 . 134301981260 . 134301983160 . 134301984854
. 134301994157 . 134301996155 . 134301996654 . 134301998750 . 134302000774 . 134302002870 . 134302009569 . 134302011174 . 134302013466 . 134302016668 . 134302017569 . 134302018960 . 134302019959 . 134302022964 . 134302024766 . 134302029164 . 134302035264 . 134302037458 . 134302048357 . 134302050773
. 134302054270 . 134302055367 . 134302059167 . 134302059265 . 134302059363 . 134302063465 . 134302065668 . 134302066070 . 134302067666 . 134302069067 . 134302069165 . 134302069860 . 134302070671 . 134302071171 . 134302071367 . 134302071572 . 134302073169 . 134302076665 . 134302079564 . 134302083167
. 134302084362 . 134302084665 . 134302085762 . 134302087956 . 134302088260 . 134302088358 . 134302088456 . 134302088759 . 134302089856 . 134302090667 . 134302091764 . 134302092068 . 134302092264 . 134302092763 . 134302095760 . 134302098561 . 134302101674 . 134302101870 . 134302102076 . 134302102468
. 134302103271 . 134302109363 . 134302111868 . 134302112965 . 134302114268 . 134302116266 . 134302118567 . 134302118861 . 134302119263 . 134302119361 . 134302119566 . 134302119762 . 134302120671 . 134302121866 . 134302123766 . 134302124863 . 134302130268 . 134302130464 . 134302131570 . 134302131864
. 134302133960 . 134302135664 . 134302137065 . 134302139259 . 134302143459 . 134302148454 . 134302150469 . 134302150674 . 134302152966 . 134302155072 . 134302156766 . 134302159264 . 134302171571 . 134302173569 . 134302174265 . 134302174461 . 134302174666 . 134302181765 . 134302183264 . 134302186662
. 134302191264 . 134302191763 . 134302192361 . 134302198159 . 134302207667 . 134302217861 . 134302234664 . 134302236261 . 134302244956 . 134302248756 . 134302250076 . 134302250967 . 134302252769 . 134302254366 . 134302258561 . 134302258763 . 134302260573 . 134302264168 . 134302264961 . 134302270170
. 134302271962 . 134302274264 . 134302275067 . 134302276066 . 134302280765 . 134302283459 . 134302283664 . 134302287063 . 134302288454 . 134302289560 . 134302290665 . 134302295259 . 134302298256 . 134302299656 . 134302302769 . 134302306070 . 134302306765 . 134302307363 . 134302319457 . 134302320366
. 134302320767 . 134302323764 . 134302324362 . 134302327858 . 134302330961 . 134302335457 . 134302336260 . 134302337660 . 134302341566 . 134302345954 . 134302346258 . 134302364862 . 134302393955 . 134302397657 . 134302411963 . 134302413961 . 134302417957 . 134302423362 . 134302426956 . 134302427260
. 134302429757 . 134302432067 . 134302435358 . 134302435456 . 134302441565 . 134302458957 . 134302459163 . 134302462364 . 134302468162 . 134302474262 . 134302480068 . 134302481860 . 134302482360 . 134302488354 . 134302493562 . 134302499057 . 134302501073 . 134302504266 . 134302507664 . 134302508262
. 134302508565 . 134302513069 . 134302514665 . 134302516957 . 134302520168 . 134302521862 . 134302523762 . 134302524360 . 134302524663 . 134302538755 . 134302540565 . 134302545658 . 134302550367 . 134302552071 . 134302552463 . 134302556762 . 134302557262 . 134302563166 . 134302566662 . 134302569757
. 134302579158 . 134302588558 . 134302594854 . 134302604568 . 134302612265 . 134302613264 . 134302615164 . 134302615262 . 134302617064 . 134302618063 . 134302621861 . 134302628355 . 134302629657 . 134302634161 . 134302642954 . 134302644159 . 134302645657 . 134302646558 . 134302649350 . 134302649555
. 134302652364 . 134302655155 . 134302657163 . 134302657359 . 134302657457 . 134302659562 . 134302659660 . 134302660266 . 134302662763 . 134302663067 . 134302669854 . 134302670264 . 134302671958 . 134302672565 . 134302673457 . 134302674563 . 134302675357 . 134302675660 . 134302677257 . 134302679852
. 134302682260 . 134302682759 . 134302683758 . 134302684561 . 134302685560 . 134302685952 . 134302686158 . 134302686853 . 134302687059 . 134302687353 . 134302687656 . 134302690064 . 134302690563 . 134302690661 . 134302691357 . 134302700669 . 134302703862 . 134302721361 . 134302734757 . 134302736060
. 134302737451 . 134302738753 . 134302741856 . 134302744559 . 134302745852 . 134302761264 . 134302773162 . 134302773661 . 134302773759 . 134302773955 . 134302774954 . 134302775062 . 134302777060 . 134302777951 . 134302785951 . 134302829352 . 134302829557 . 134302830261 . 134302832562 . 134302838253
. 134302840660 . 134302853958 . 134302854761 . 134302859854 . 134302860861 . 134302861361 . 134302871662 . 134302873758 . 134302878557 . 134302879556 . 134302879654 . 134302879850 . 134302880857 . 134302881259 . 134302881562 . 134302881954 . 134302882757 . 134302884853 . 134302890356 . 134302892755
. 134302893255 . 134302893656 . 134302900168 . 134302900765 . 134302902665 . 134302903958 . 134302904066 . 134302904360 . 134302905163 . 134302911361 . 134302911958 . 134302912663 . 134302913359 . 134302913457 . 134302914064 . 134302915758 . 134302917453 . 134302919059 . 134302920066 . 134302922563
. 134302927353 . 134302928753 . 134302940855 . 134302946751 . 134302946849 . 134302948152 . 134302950363 . 134302950568 . 134302951567 . 134302955260 . 134302955857 . 134302958159 . 134302958952 . 134302969557 . 134302970457 . 134302976255 . 134302985557 . 134302989945 . 134302990257 . 134302992157
. 134302993753 . 134302996750 . 134302997054 . 134302997553 . 134302998151 . 134302999346 . 134303001272 . 134303002173 . 134303005268 . 134303014365 . 134303019565 . 134303019663 . 134303022766 . 134303023765 . 134303023961 . 134303025166 . 134303029955 . 134303030267 . 134303039160 . 134303045250
. 134303048854 . 134303049951 . 134303051369 . 134303051770 . 134303067459 . 134303068458 . 134303069359 . 134303069457 . 134303071864 . 134303072462 . 134303072863 . 134303072961 . 134303073167 . 134303074460 . 134303075263 . 134303075958 . 134303078456 . 134303079063 . 134303079357 . 134303079562
. 134303080070 . 134303084360 . 134303085065 . 134303085261 . 134303085858 . 134303087357 . 134303087758 . 134303089560 . 134303092663 . 134303098452 . 134303100673 . 134303100771 . 134303102965 . 134303108763 . 134303110172 . 134303113668 . 134303114569 . 134303117958 . 134303120366 . 134303120865
. 134303120963 . 134303121668 . 134303123265 . 134303124166 . 134303124362 . 134303130569 . 134303131265 . 134303131461 . 134303135564 . 134303138561 . 134303140264 . 134303140861 . 134303144563 . 134303161170 . 134303170071 . 134303173264 . 134303175761 . 134303176564 . 134303185563 . 134303188854
. 134303190762 . 134303194161 . 134303198157 . 134303199655 . 134303201368 . 134303206862 . 134303207567 . 134303208067 . 134303208361 . 134303209458 . 134303209761 . 134303210768 . 134303215166 . 134303216459 . 134303219260 . 134303219857 . 134303234955 . 134303237454 . 134303239559 . 134303241761
. 134303242564 . 134303242662 . 134303249557 . 134303254863 . 134303262168 . 134303262364 . 134303264460 . 134303265762 . 134303267163 . 134303273165 . 134303273762 . 134303275163 . 134303283760 . 134303291564 . 134303292955 . 134303295355 . 134303296060 . 134303296158 . 134303298352 . 134303299351
. 134303301073 . 134303304961 . 134303306264 . 134303314763 . 134303318857 . 134303319161 . 134303325261 . 134303328160 . 134303331860 . 134303334162 . 134303343455 . 134303345560 . 134303347558 . 134303347656 . 134303365360 . 134303365565 . 134303365761 . 134303365957 . 134303366261 . 134303368357
. 134303405460 . 134303436658 . 134303450366 . 134303590161 . 134303593657 . 134303685754 . 134303697251 . 134303708561 . 134303709257 . 134303714955 . 134303811164 . 134303827156 . 134303856258 . 134303862955 . 134303863758 . 134303869449 . 134303870162 . 134303872258 . 134303965354 . 134303974157
. 134303975450 . 134303976556 . 134303999745 . 134304005863 . 134304025663 . 134304030666 . 134304038257 . 134304046453 . 134304049851 . 134304057459 . 134304059760 . 134304062168 . 134304063461 . 134304065165 . 134304085954 . 134304088853 . 134304090761 . 134304114959 . 134304121363 . 134304123762
. 134304125858 . 134304149654 . 134304153863 . 134304155763 . 134304157859 . 134304158956 . 134304162461 . 134304184259 . 134304189058 . 134304192161 . 134304196852 . 134304200768 . 134304205460 . 134304205763 . 134304207262 . 134304212461 . 134304222664 . 134304223761 . 134304232760 . 134304233162
. 134304233759 . 134304235258 . 134304238157 . 134304238255 . 134304239753 . 134304240652 . 134304242063 . 134304242161 . 134304245657 . 134304253363 . 134304253461 . 134304254665 . 134304270362 . 134304280066 . 134304283151 . 134304284757 . 134304284855 . 134304285560 . 134304287852 . 134304292062
. 134304293453 . 134304294060 . 134304298555 . 134304299153 . 134304300963 . 134304302569 . 134304305566 . 134304311862 . 134304312264 . 134304313263 . 134304318258 . 134304328853 . 134304337255 . 134304343159 . 134304344158 . 134304345255 . 134304347752 . 134304358455 . 134304363957 . 134304364760
. 134304371350 . 134304380662 . 134304385755 . 134304386255 . 134304388948 . 134304390954 . 134304398055 . 134304398652 . 134304399553 . 134304407456 . 134304409062 . 134304412361 . 134304427452 . 134304428950 . 134304446654 . 134304446948 . 134304447555 . 134304448349 . 134304451167 . 134304452567
. 134304453566 . 134304459854 . 134304465755 . 134304469353 . 134304469852 . 134304470565 . 134304471261 . 134304471359 . 134304474757 . 134304481259 . 134304483159 . 134304486557 . 134304488154 . 134304491355 . 134304492755 . 134304495556 . 134304498054 . 134304499151 . 134304501665 . 134304502068
. 134304504164 . 134304504262 . 134304505359 . 134304508659 . 134304510665 . 134304520565 . 134304520859 . 134304521858 . 134304523856 . 134304528352 . 134304529850 . 134304530162 . 134304531562 . 134304533658 . 134304534158 . 134304534559 . 134304539349 . 134304539554 . 134304544058 . 134304547750
. 134304547946 . 134304548348 . 134304551763 . 134304551861 . 134304551959 . 134304552664 . 134304553761 . 134304557561 . 134304559354 . 134304559755 . 134304560361 . 134304561360 . 134304561761 . 134304563260 . 134304564161 . 134304566453 . 134304578556 . 134304579056 . 134304581757 . 134304583452
. 134304583657 . 134304587154 . 134304588251 . 134304589651 . 134304589749 . 134304589945 . 134304590061 . 134304591657 . 134304592255 . 134304595350 . 134304600167 . 134304600265 . 134304604163 . 134304604359 . 134304605260 . 134304605357 . 134304605857 . 134304605955 . 134304607757 . 134304608560
. 134304609657 . 134304610762 . 134304612065 . 134304613064 . 134304615561 . 134304615953 . 134304618255 . 134304619949 . 134304621661 . 134304627557 . 134304627851 . 134304627949 . 134304628752 . 134304629252 . 134304629555 . 134304632159 . 134304633256 . 134304634255 . 134304638447 . 134304639152
. 134304640061 . 134304640159 . 134304640257 . 134304640560 . 134304640854 . 134304641060 . 134304643254 . 134304644556 . 134304645849 . 134304646153 . 134304647054 . 134304647152 . 134304647749 . 134304647945 . 134304648053 . 134304648151 . 134304648249 . 134304649052 . 134304649346 . 134304650460
. 134304651459 . 134304652164 . 134304653760 . 134304654955 . 134304655660 . 134304657854 . 134304664454 . 134304666452 . 134304669556 . 134304673658 . 134304676949 . 134304678350 . 134304679548 . 134304679554 . 134304680258 . 134304681257 . 134304684655 . 134304698845 . 134304700460 . 134304706160
. 134304707355 . 134304708354 . 134304715257 . 134304716158 . 134304718655 . 134304723061 . 134304723159 . 134304724256 . 134304725059 . 134304727654 . 134304727948 . 134304729554 . 134304731560 . 134304732559 . 134304733852 . 134304736154 . 134304741353 . 134304741754 . 134304744252 . 134304745750
. 134304746847 . 134304747846 . 134304749648 . 134304750263 . 134304750664 . 134304753162 . 134304753456 . 134304753661 . 134304754660 . 134304755356 . 134304759557 . 134304759655 . 134304763160 . 134304763258 . 134304765559 . 134304767450 . 134304772159 . 134304772453 . 134304772756 . 134304773452
. 134304774451 . 134304775949 . 134304779749 . 134304780658 . 134304781452 . 134304784449 . 134304787446 . 134304788552 . 134304794652 . 134304796445 . 134304796748 . 134304801066 . 134304801957 . 134304802065 . 134304802562 . 134304802564 . 134304802760 . 134304803064 . 134304803456 . 134304808157
. 134304808656 . 134304809851 . 134304811857 . 134304812259 . 134304812562 . 134304813454 . 134304814560 . 134304814952 . 134304818351 . 134304820455 . 134304824353 . 134304824451 . 134304825352 . 134304826752 . 134304826948 . 134304827252 . 134304827653 . 134304829446 . 134304830355 . 134304831256
. 134304831559 . 134304831853 . 134304833156 . 134304833949 . 134304834654 . 134304838053 . 134304839150 . 134304840950 . 134304841949 . 134304844848 . 134304846552 . 134304846944 . 134304855453 . 134304858352 . 134304858450 . 134304859556 . 134304860260 . 134304861856 . 134304861954 . 134304863453
. 134304863854 . 134304864060 . 134304866557 . 134304867351 . 134304867850 . 134304869848 . 134304873059 . 134304879552 . 134304881656 . 134304884849 . 134304886054 . 134304886553 . 134304888444 . 134304895845 . 134304903357 . 134304905854 . 134304910456 . 134304911562 . 134304912258 . 134304914060
. 134304915558 . 134304918154 . 134304920356 . 134304927946 . 134304930256 . 134304933057 . 134304947051 . 134304947345 . 134304947648 . 134304951563 . 134304954453 . 134304958449 . 134304960856 . 134304965753 . 134304968750 . 134304970560 . 134304973254 . 134304975448 . 134304979248 . 134304982449
. 134304982556 . 134304982654 . 134304985651 . 134304988247 . 134304990850 . 134305000777 . 134305003275 . 134305005273 . 134305006967 . 134305007574 . 134305009367 . 134305009768 . 134305011079 . 134305011177 . 134305016465 . 134305018464 . 134305019864 . 134305026767 . 134305028462 . 134305031271
. 134305033465 . 134305033866 . 134305034669 . 134305041866 . 134305041964 . 134305045666 . 134305055468 . 134305058171 . 134305060373 . 134305060578 . 134305061675 . 134305063076 . 134305087763 . 134305148163 . 134305182963 . 134305185069

SOURCE : Engadget