Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro: price, specifications and release date

After the launch and availability to the public a few weeks ago for Microsoft Surface tablets "hybrid" RT running Windows, Microsoft announced yesterday the details of the other part of its new range of tablets: the area with Windows 8 Pro.

While Surface RT running on an ARM processor, which limits its use particularly in terms of compatibility with most software "classic" Windows 8 Surface Pro is powered by a Intel Core i5 processor, which allows it provide a true Windows users, without particular limitation for compatible software.

Surface Windows 8 Pro is available in two versions, 64GB and 128GB $ 899 to $ 999. Both tablets will be equipped with a folding and removable keyboard, such as those we already know about the RT area. The screen is like ClearType with a full HD resolution of 1920 × 1080, and the unit has a USB 3.0 port. It is possible to connect to an external monitor of 2560 × 1440 with integrated port MiniDisplay.

The return of the revenge of the son of the stylus

Finally, another feature that does not exist on the surface RT, Surface Pro can be used with a stylus for taking notes freehand. I tested this feature during the first presentation of Windows 8 tablets to Los Angeles last year and I was seduced by this system works so amazingly effective and greater fluidity, while it was Yet a prototype test.

Of course, this feature is not without some drawbacks: the Surface "Pro" is heavy (1 kg instead of 680 g), more expensive, and has a range of two times smaller than the Windows Surface RT, according the very words of Microsoft.

Microsoft Surface tablets with Windows 8 Pro will be available in France. Prices for the French market are not yet disclosed when I write this, and I am not going to do a conversion from risky dollar price when you know the very personal exchange rates What the major computer manufacturers ...

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Pac-Man: Tethys, a moon of Jupiter takes on the greedy

Pac Man is on Thetis, this information should smile all geeks worldwide. The scientists were surprised when they saw the shape of the character Wolverine on a moon of Jupiter.

Pac Man is a phenomenon that has through the decades. Today, available in several versions, greedy character enchants young and old alike. The concept is simple, it must travel through the maze without getting eaten by ghosts. Pac Man was this far on consoles , PCs and even smartphones . But it is exported to the moon of Jupiter called Tethys. The scientists were surprised to discover that this form appeared twice in the past two years. It is using the infrared spectrometer of the Cassini spacecraft they could make this discovery quite impressive. It is possible to determine with precision the contours of Pac Man.

Pac Man is on a moon

This phenomenon is called rare, but it had already been observed in 2010 on the surface of this moon of Jupiter. This portrait appeared with the change in temperature and this image is not trivial. According to scientists, this phenomenon is natural and come from the action of high-energy electrons. This creates a very compact ice tends to warm up slowly. Temperature differences were able to create an original line of Pac Man.

The lead author of the study, Howeet Carly says Find a second Pac-Man in the Saturn system tells us that the processes that create these Pac-Men are more widespread than previously thought. The Saturn system - and even the Jupiter system could prove to be a veritable gallery of these characters. Friends of Pac Man could therefore hide on planets.

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iPhone 5: Apple and Android dual becomes number 1 in the United States

The iPhone 5 has allowed Apple to regain the # 1 spot in the United States. Android has surpassed the Atlantic according to a study. Sales of phones were analyzed during the last 12 weeks.

In this study, the iPhone 5 has provided the first step of the podium at Apple in the United States. Today, Apple gets iOS with 48.1% market share, Android is still very close with 46.7%. The last time Google's system was overtaken by Apple, it was at the time of the launch of the iPhone 4S. Since Android was enthroned for several months at the first place. Analysts believe that the new iPhone will also allow Apple to get a percentage of market share record in the U.S., so it should exceed 49.3%. This trend is not widespread because the Google OS is the leader in Europe, today it represents 73.9% of sales in Germany and even 81.7% for Spain. But Apple highlights growth in several markets where its share reached 32.7% in the United Kingdom.

Difficulties in Europe

Analysts estimate that Apple has difficulties to win in Europe as more smartphones double the iPhone 5. The Galaxy S3 has achieved a very good performance and greatly exceeds the new terminal of Apple. Side of Italy, Microsoft is showing some growth with the Lumia range (610 and 800).

In the United States, this good performance is due to Apple's iPhone 5. The study indicates that the manufacturer has a real loyalty to the consumer level. 62% of people who already bought an iPhone the new model. Apple also recovered 13% of clients who were on Android and BlackBerry 6% came from.

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Wii U: 400,000 sales in a week in the United States and then ...

Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo in North America, was on stage at E3 2012 to showcase the Wii U and now he announces that its sales for the first week of marketing.

It is far from the record sales of the PS2 on the first day of its release but sales of the Wii U however very good start in the United States. Are 400,000 of these consoles were sold in the space of a week. During this same week, Nintendo has sold more than 1.1 million consoles if we add the 3DS (250 000), DS (275,000) and the Wii (200,000).

Unclear how the console will be hosted in Europe and if sales continue at the same pace in North America. In its favor, Nintendo has the perfect timing with the holiday season, however if stocks are not depleted. Wii U also benefits from the lack of new consoles competing. Future Xbox could happen as early as 2013 (announced at E3 and available at year-end) as well as the PS4.

But if sales seem to go overseas, returns are mixed. As usual, Nintendo has not seen fit to equip the console with a powerful hardware (and even "horrible programming" and posting a developer on the processor). The first ports of existing games on PS3 and Xbox 360 revealed identical except worse ( Mass Effect 3 , for example) on both consoles output in 2005 (Xbox 360) and 2006 (PS3). Straw!

There is also the issue of storage: 8 GB on a console € 300, knowing that a portion is available for the user. In the same period of time, Nintendo states that games can be installed on an SD card and it is not recommended to install on USB storage devices! Remains the version with 32 GB which costs € 350!

Finally, the selling point is the GamePad, this tablet which is not one but acts as secondary display (streaming). Only the game ZombiU seems to operate correctly.

The use of GamePad seems disrupt the gaming experience that bringing the desired immersion. In addition, with a resolution of 854 by 480 feeble pixels (those far from our shelves and our smartphones) and an obligation to stay relatively close to the console, it failed to convince overseas.

It remains doubtful to face a console that was yet so much hope in it. Wii U tries to address gamers without providing more and leverages its franchises without renewal. Communication calamitous Japanese society since the announcement of the Wii U was so in tune with the limited interest of the console.

At the end of year (in early 2013), the surprises coming games on Xbox 360. It is believed the sublime Halo 4 for Xbox 343 for 360 Industries, the excellent Need For Speed: Most Wanted in Hitman Absolution , the highly anticipated Far Cry 3 and MGS Rising (early 2013). It is often in the old pots (PS3 and Xbox 360 here) that makes the best soup.

On Xbox 360, the application SmartGlass can replace (with different functions but must evolve) GamePad for the nominal sum of € 0 (the app is free on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows 8 ).

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The Galaxy Note II sells like hotcakes!

Despite a lawsuit over a billion dollars and the release of the iPhone 5, Samsung continues to panic sales statistics with its Galaxy range. In fact, the South Korean firm announced it had sold almost 5 million units of Galaxy Note II!

This unit 5.55-inch half-way between a smartphone and a tablet really sells like hotcakes: the phone manufacturer had already sold 3 million units in 24 days and 5 million units just 37 days after its launched.

Note that Samsung regularly publishes statistics on the number of units that were purchased by vendors and not end users. It is clear difficult to compare these figures with those of the latest iPhone, for example, even if they have the merit of an idea on sales of Samsung.

The firm predicts 20 million sales for the Galaxy Note II, more than double its predecessor, the Galaxy Note, which had passed the 10 million units in 9 months. One thing is certain: the best-selling brand is the Galaxy S III with 30 million units sold in 150 days.

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Galaxy Note 2: 5 million units sold in two months

Output end of September the Samsung device that sits between a smartphone and a tablet continues to sell very well. While Samsung announced at the beginning of 3 million units sold , it is now over 2 million announced by the Korean manufacturer.

Samsung is above 6 million Galaxy Note II passed by the end of the year, a goal that should be achieved if sales continue. It should also be much better than its predecessor, the Galaxy Note has surpassed 10 million units, a year after its launch.

As a reminder, Note II runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has a 5.5-inch screen (against 5.3 for the first score) Super AMOLED 1280 x 720 and a quadruple heart SoC 1.6 GHz ( 1.4 GHz dual heart against its predecessor).

The  Galaxy Note 2  will also have a version of Dual Sim from China on December 3 for a price of 5699 yuan, about 710 euros. However, no information regarding a release for Europe was transmitted.

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RIM launches BlackBerry Apps Challenge 10

Today, Monday, November 26, 2012, RIM launched the Blackberry 10 Android Challenge. Got an Android application? You can now turn it into a Blackberry application with one click and 10 and enter this contest.

BlackBerry 10 announced the comeback of RIM. This OS, which is scheduled for launch January 30, 2013, was announced as one of the best operating system market by developers who have tried it, thanks to its browser and ergonomic innovations made ​​to the navigation between applications.

RIM has created the runtime , a tool that transforms in one click your application in Android BlackBerry 10. If you created an Android app, simply submit and RIM will send you an application ready to be posted on BlackBerry App World. In addition to an application now available on millions of new smartphones and tablets, you can earn a promotion on the App World worth € 8000 and the BlackBerry PlayBook.

To register, is simple: just fill out the form available on the website dedicated to BlackBerry 10 Android Challenge before December 14. Online voting will take place in the following 14 to 17 December to elect the two best applications win highlighting and tablets offered by RIM.

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