Chronicle

Chronicle is an upcoming science fiction film directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis based on a story by both Trank and Landis. It stars Michael B. Jordan, Dane DeHaan, Michael Kelly, and Alex Russell, as a group of friends who gain powerful superhuman abilities, and use them for mischief and personal gain, until one of them begins to use their powers for darker purposes. The film is scheduled for release on February 1, 2012, in the United Kingdom, and February 3, 2012 in the United States.




Directed by         Josh Trank

Produced by         John Davis,Adam Schroeder
Screenplay by Max Landis
Story by                 Max Landis,Josh Trank
Starring                  Michael B. Jordan,Dane DeHaan,Michael Kelly,Alex Russell
Cinematography Matthew Jensen

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Linux: A Getting-Started Guide

Ready to try Linux? Here's how to get started

Are you fed up with Microsoft Windows and ready to give Linux a try? Here's how to get started. This guide for Linux discusses who the Linux OS is right for, what you need to get started, and how to turn your Windows PC into a dual-boot computer so you can have the best of both worlds--Linux and Windows.

Why Try Linux?

Linux will never be as popular a desktop operating system as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X, but there are some good reasons to give Linux a try.

For starters, you can download and install Linux for free. Applications that run on Linux machines tend to be free as well, and they include PC essentials such as office productivity suites, image editing software, and video editing tools. Though Linux is not immune to viruses, malware is rarely a concern in the Linux world, especially for home users. And because Linux is less of a PC resource hog than Windows and the Mac OS, it's ideal for use with a laptop, a netbook, or an older desktop.

Finally, as Web services and HTML5-based apps play an increasingly dominant role in our computing lives--from music services such as Pandora to Yahoo Mail to Google Docs to Bing Maps to countless games --the operating system begins to play second fiddle to the Web. Linux is a dirt-cheap alternative to dropping $500 on PC that can run Windows 7.

Who Should Use Linux?

Linux can be a good choice for anyone, but two types of users are likely benefit most from Linux: power users and nontechnical users.

Power users will enjoy Linux, because it's a flexible, highly customizable OS that they can adapt to suit their needs in such areas as the look of the desktop or the ability to prevent any extra software from adding bloat to the system.

Linux is also great for nontechnical users who just want a computer that's easy to use, has many applications available for download, and doesn't require a lot of maintenance. Thanks to Linux distributions such as Ubuntu that are easy to install and use, Linux is no longer "difficult to use."

What Is Linux?

Linux is a Unix-like open-source operating system that uses the Linux kernel as its base and comes packaged with basic software, including a lot of components from the GNU (pronounced Guh-new) project.

The Wildebeest in the Room

There is some debate among Linux users about whether it's correct to call the open-source operating system Linux or GNU/Linux to reflect the fact that Linux distributions are loaded with software from the GNU Project. GNU is another Unix-like operating system, but one that lacks a usable kernel. Typical pieces of GNU that you're likely to come across in Linux include the Bash shell and assorted command-line utilities, GNU Emacs, Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), GNOME, and GNASH (a Flash player replacement).

Know Your Components

Three main elements of a Linux operating system come up often in discussions of Linux: the distribution, the desktop environment, and the Linux kernel. These components, along with software from GNU, constitute the basic parts of your Linux distribution.

source: .pcworld

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world fastest cars

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

267 mph, 0-60 in 2.4 secs. Aluminum, Narrow Angle 8 Liter W16 Engine with 1200 hp, base price is $2,400,000. Although the Bugatti Veyron lost the title to SSC Ultimate Aero on March 2007, Bugatti challenge the record in Germany on July 10, 2010 with the new 2010 Super Sport Version and the Veyron once again claims the title of the fastest car in the world at 267 mph. The original Bugatti Veyron has a top speed of 253 mph, priced at $1,700,000 and equipped with 1001 hp.


Hennessey Venom GT

260 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 seconds, has a 6.2-liter LS9 Turbocharged V8 Twin Turbo V8 Engine producing 1200 hp, has a price tag of $950,000. The Venom GT has yet to be tested and proven, but could possibly hit a top speed of 275 mph. This might just be the Veyron Super Sport's closest competitor!


Koenigsegg Agera R

260 mph, 0-60 in 2.9 secs. 5.0-liter V8 Engine with twin turbo’s, housing 1099 hp. Base price is $1,600,000. If you're into snow sports, the Agera R can be fitted with a Ski Box as well as winter tires, not that I would take one on a ski trip or anything like that. While the Agera R has a massive theoretical top speed, the current tested top speed is 260 mph. Expect this snow car to be the Bugatti's arch enemy for the next 5 years.


SSC Ultimate Aero

257 mph, 0-60 in 2.7 secs. Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp, base price is $654,400. Tested in March 2007 by Guinness World Records, The SSC Ultimate Aero was the fastest car in the world from March 2007 to July 2010. On March 2011, the Koenigsegg Agera R also surpassed it, forcing this American made car to the #3 spot. Shelby SuperCars will continue their quest to reclaim the fastest car title, and their new SSC Tuatura might do the job (we'll just have to wait).


 Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

248 mph, 0-60 in 2.8 secs. Twin Turbo All Aluminum V8 Engine with 750 hp, base price is $555,000. Smooth and bad-ass. It will make you want to show it off non-stop.

  Koenigsegg CCX

245 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. 90 Degree V8 Engine 806 hp, base price is $545,568. Made in Sweden, it is the older brother of the Agera R, only losing to 4 other supercars in the world.

McLaren F1

240 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. BMW S70/2 60 Degree V12 Engine with 627 hp, base price is $970,000. The fastest car in the 20th century with doors that looks like bat wings. Maybe Batman needs to order one and paint it black


source :thesupercars

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Anonymous takes aim over Europe's SOPA

Online activists Anonymous are targeting the European Parliament and supporters of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which critics say would curtail freedom of expression and encourage surveillance by service providers.

Copyrightalliance.org was inaccessible today after Anonymous set its sights on the Web site for its pro-ACTA stance. Meanwhile, hackers were poking at the sites of the European Parliament and governments in the EU, with plans to dig up information on officials that could be released publicly, a source familiar with Anonymous' plans told CNET.

Anonymous has a history of operations against what the group complains are antipiracy efforts that quash rights to freedom of expression on the Internet. The digital activists protested the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which lost steam last week after tech companies demonstrated with a one-day blackout. Following the takedown of popular file-hosting site MegaUpload and its operators, Anonymous launched successful distributed denial of service attacks on the Justice Department, the FBI, Universal Music, the Motion Picture Association of America, and others.

Critics say ACTA is even worse than SOPA in that it allows for closed door negotiations and can't be repealed. The European Parliament is due to vote on ACTA in June.

After 22 European Union member states signed ACTA yesterday, the European Parliament's independent monitor for ACTA, Kader Arif of France, resigned today, saying he was opposed to the lack of transparency on the ACTA negotiations, the fact that the public was not consulted, and other unusual "maneuvers," according to the BBC.

Meanwhile, in Poland, members of Parliament held paper Guy Fawkes masks--the symbol used by Anonymous--in front of their faces to protest ACTA, while Polish citizens demonstrated in the street against ACTA.

source:news.cnet 

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15 Best Android Widgets for Productivity and Enjoyment

Widgets are are an extremely cool feature on the Android which the iPhone does not have. These Android widgets are very handy and enjoyable because they are easily accessible in just a split second and can provide useful information for the user. I have compiled a list of the best android widgets for you to enjoy.

Android Widgets

Battery Watcher

This widget gives you the percent battery life available.

Extended Controls
A very useful  widget which allows you to edit the settings on your android

Google Maps
A well developed map by Google which will help you navigate the planet

Flight Track
Get real time updates of your flight's status and worldwide map tracking.


Pandora
Listen to the best personalized radio station on the go.


Advanced Task Killer
A useful tool for killing running applications on your droid.  If you can't get an application to close, this widget will certainly do the job.


Twitter
Tweet your friends with this awesome twitter widget.


Barcode Scanner
Scan the barcode on any product and this android widget will look it up for you.

Sports Tap
Stay up to date with sports. Including NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, nascar, football, soccer, baseball, and hockey.


Pure Messenger Widget
The all in one combined messaging widget for Gmail, email, SMS, Twitter, Calls, and Facebook.


Weather & Toggle Widget
The greatest weather widget for the android.


Pure Grid Calendar Widget
A great android widget which will help keep you organized.  The widget syncs with your google calendar.


Facebook for Android
Stay connected with your friends on the facebook social network.


Analytics Widget
See your websites visitors instantly and view your google analytics info immediately as well.

Where
Look up places in your area and get ratings and recommendations.


source: widgetsforfree

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is an upcoming American 3D action-adventure film directed by Brad Peyton and the sequel to the 2008 film Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzmán and Kristin Davis. The story is by Richard Outten, Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, and the screenplay is by Brian and Mark Gunn.

sourece : wikipidia

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Skype for Windows Phone “coming soon”

Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype promised to be a marriage made in an integration heaven — especially for Windows Phones owners — but so far it’s been all talk and no action.

A Skype for Windows Phone application, however, will soon make its debut, Skype vice president of products Rick Osterloh asserted in a recent interview taped at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

“We’re … working on a Windows Phone product that will be coming out soon,” he said.

When Microsoft purchased the video-conferencing company for $8.5 billion in June 2011 (the deal closed in October), it talked up an unrivaled Windows Phone Skype offering that would include deep integration between the voice over IP service and its mobile operating system. But the merger still has Windows Phone owners waiting for platform integration, let alone a basic application on par with what’s already offered on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.

That wait is likely to continue. The first Windows Phone product, according to The Verge, could be released as soon as the Mobile World Congress in February, but it won’t be the much-ballyhooed operating system-wide offering originally touted by the companies. Windows Phone owners may have to wait for this rich Skype integration until the Apollo software release, which, according to a leaked roadmap, won’t happen until the fourth quarter of 2012.

“We understand, from our own sources, that the initial release of Skype will not feature deep Windows Phone integration, and that Microsoft is planning this for “Apollo” and beyond,” The Verge is reporting. “Microsoft’s first Windows Phone Skype application will largely be seen as an interim release until Windows Phone ‘Apollo’ is made available.”

But Microsoft and Skype would like you to know that integrations are coming — eventually. “We’re working with a lot of different Microsoft product groups to create direct integrations,” Osterloh said. “Right now, we’re working on Windows Phone, we’ll be working on Windows 8, Xbox, Lync. So a whole range of different Microsoft users will get access to Skype and have a great experience.”

Skype, Osterloh said, now has more than 200 million monthly users.


soruce : venturebeat

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Using Your Camera's Settings: Program Mode, Shutter Speed, and More

Here's how to get the most from Program mode and use an online digital SLR simulator to learn how shutter speed, aperture, and other settings affect your photos.

Attend any digital photography workshop, and inevitably you'll hear questions about digital camera exposure controls. Photographers want to know: How are aperture priority and shutter priority modes different? What does the ISO setting do? When would you want to use Program mode rather than Auto? Knowing which mode to use for specific photographic situations, and how your camera's various controls interact with each other can help you take dramatically better photos, and more easily, to boot. Let's start with a common question: What's the difference between Program and Auto mode?

Program vs. Auto Modes

Your camera's Program and Auto modes are clearly different--for one thing, camera manufacturers are unlikely to create two modes that do the exact same thing. Here's a typical camera settings dial, where you can see Auto, P (Program), S (shutter priority), A (Aperture priority), N (Manual mode), and others:

Camera models may vary, but in general, Auto truly means "automatic." When you dial in "Auto," your camera takes care of pretty much everything except where you point the camera and how much you choose to zoom. The flash, ISO (which is the camera's sensitivity to light), white balance, shutter speed, and aperture are all set automatically.

Program mode (sometimes referred to as the "Programmed Exposure" or "Programmed Automatic" mode) is a bit more flexible. When you dial in the P, the camera might look like it's in the same sort of autopilot mode as Auto, but you have full control over a surprising number of settings, including ISO and white balance, which are unavailable to you in Auto.

For example, you can crank up the ISO higher than the camera might ordinarily choose in order to freeze the action in extremely low-light situations. Or you might keep the ISO low to minimize digital noise. If you want to get motion blur or light trails at sunset, Auto mode will generally make that impossible because the camera will increase the ISO automatically. In Program mode, you dial in the right setting depending upon the situation.

Take Command of the Flash

In Auto mode, the flash is completely automatic and will fire whenever the camera thinks there isn't enough light to capture a good photo. In Program mode, though, your camera might make some gentle recommendations--like showing a flash icon or shake warning in the viewfinder--but you can choose whether the flash will fire, and in what mode (red eye, rear curtain, and so on). A typical shake warning is the classic "open hand with wavy lines around it," which is icon 16 in the diagram below:

That makes the Program mode handy for locations in which flash photography is not allowed. Leave your camera in Auto mode at a museum and you might get thrown out, but Program mode can save the day.

Use Program Mode to Control Action and Depth of Field

The "program" in Program mode refers to the fact that you can fiddle with the shutter speed and aperture combo. Whether you choose Auto or Program, the camera chooses an aperture and shutter speed combination that will give you a good exposure. Depending upon the particular camera you have, that might be the fastest available shutter speed based on the ambient light, or a somewhat slower shutter speed.

But if you're in Program mode, by turning the dial or pressing an arrow button, you can choose from among other valid shutter speed/aperture combinations. If you want to slow the shutter speed to introduce motion blur, just spin the dial (or press the arrows or rocker switch--check your camera's user guide) in Program mode. Likewise, if you want to increase the depth of field, move the controls in the opposite direction. You don't necessarily need to use Aperture or Shutter Priority modes as long as you remember that Program mode works this way.

Learn Camera Settings With CameraSim

So that's Auto and Program mode. But what about the other choices, like Shutter priority and Aperture priority? Likewise, do you want to really understand how all the variables--focal length, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and so on--contribute to your photos? A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Even better is an interactive simulation where you can experiment with all these modes and instantly see the effect, without having to download photos from your camera and study the results.

Sound good? Then head over to CameraSim, a website that simulates the operation of a digital SLR. You can use it to tweak the settings and see the results instantly.

You'll see something like the screen shot on the right. You're seeing the scene as it might appear in a camera's viewfinder--a girl at the playground, holding a spinning pinwheel. When you click the shutter release, you see the effect of your exposure settings. (Click "Return to Viewfinder" to take another picture.) Now, let's look at some ways to experiment.

Vary Perspective With the Zoom

CameraSim does a good job of showing the effect of distance and focal length on your photo. Since we can see this through the virtual viewfinder without taking a picture, there's no need to click the shutter release to experiment.

Start with distance: As you move the slider, you can see how changing your distance from the camera to the subject changes the look of the scene. Notice that the girl and the playground equipment don't change size at the same rate. Instead, as you get closer to the subject, the foreground gets bigger much more quickly than the more distant background. This is called theparallax effect, and you can take advantage of it to emphasize the subject while reducing emphasis on the background.

Next, move the Focal Length slider, which is equivalent to zooming your camera lens. When you do that, you'll see the foreground and background growing larger or smaller in equal measure. This is a good rule to keep in mind: Using your camera's zoom control is not the same thing as moving closer or farther from the subject. They have noticeably different effects on the photo.

Use Shutter Speed to Capture (or Freeze) Motion

CameraSim should be set to Shutter Priority, which lets you change the shutter speed while the camera automatically adjusts the aperture setting to match. On the Shutter Speed slider, note the current setting (probably 1/125 second) and take the picture. You'll see some blur in the pinwheel, as in the image on the left.

Now try again at 1/20 of a second--the pinwheel should be completely blurred, as in the screen shot on the right. For comparison, slide the shutter speed all the way over to about 1/500 second. The pinwheel is frozen in time.

Experiment With Exposure

If you move the Shutter slider too far (slower than 1/13 second), the aperture reaches its limit (f/36) and can't get any smaller. Shutter speeds below this setting will generate an overexposed photo.

You can also underexpose the photo, but to do that, you'll need to lower the camera's ISO. It's currently set to ISO 200. Lower it to ISO 100, and then notice that once you hit a shutter speed of f/2.8, the aperture is open as wide as it can go--since the camera can't admit additional light, any shutter speed faster than about 1/1250 second generates a dark, underexposed photo.

Change the Depth of Field

Most photographers love to gently blur the background to draw attention to the subject. You do that by shooting with a relatively large aperture (a small f/number). You can see this by changing the exposure mode to Aperture Priority and setting the Aperture to f/2.8. This is the lens's largest aperture, and it should generate the least depth of field--the background should be blurry. You should find the photo looks pretty much like the view through the viewfinder.

Here's a bit of digital SLR trivia for you: Your camera leaves the lens set to its biggest aperture right up until you press the shutter release in order to let the most light into the viewfinder while you compose your photo. When you press the shutter release, it "stops down" the lens to the desired setting. If you choose the biggest aperture, you won't see a difference in the depth of field between the viewfinder and the exposed photo.

Now try the opposite extreme. Drag the Aperture slider over to f/22, which is the smallest aperture setting, and take the shot. You should have a fairly sharp background, right? Wait, what happened? It's blurry!

Check your shutter speed. The camera had to automatically set a slow shutter speed to compensate for the tiny aperture, and since this simulator assumes you're hand-holding the camera, it added blurriness due to camera shake.

What would the photo look like if the camera were mounted on a tripod, though? Find out by selecting the option marked Using tripod, and take the shot again. As you might expect, the background will be sharp, but the little girl will be blurry because she was around when you pressed the shutter release.

Want a sharp photo? Back off on the aperture until the shutter speed is 1/60 second and you'll find the whole photo is uniformly sharp.

Keep Playing

There are other things you can do with CameraSim. For example, you could increase the ISO to add more light to the scene, and then re-try the f/36 scene to get a sharper background. That'll work, but varying the ISO will also let you see the relative increase in digital noise that higher ISO settings contribute to photos.

And while you're fooling around, click over to Manual control and try setting both aperture and shutter values yourself, and see how varying the lighting from Sunny to Dim Indoors affects exposure as well

sourece: pcworld

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Report: Microsoft launching new console in 2013

Last year was all about rumors of the next video game console from Nintendo. In 2012, it's Microsoft's turn.

According to a report from IGN, Microsoft plans to launch a new console in 2013 that will have six times the processing power as the Xbox 360.

The report cites "sources close to the project."

IGN reports the console's graphics-processing unit (GPU) "will be akin to the Radeon HD 6670, which offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and 1080p HD output."

On top of being six times as powerful as the 360, the device will reportedly yield 20% greater performance than Nintendo's Wii U, revealed at last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The report doesn't include pricing details or when Microsoft plans to unveil the device.

Rumors of the next Xbox continue to swirl as Microsoft enjoys a hot streak when it comes to sales of the Xbox 360. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg revealed earlier this month that 1.7 million consoles were sold last December. Also, research firm NPD Group notes the Xbox 360 was the top-selling video game device of 2011.

Several reports have also been circulating about the next home console from Sony, the rumored PlayStation 4. However, as the Wall Street Journal reports, Sony executive Kaz Hirai seemed to squash any chatter.

"I've always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that," Hirai says in the report.

Update at 2:34 p.m. ET: Add another log to the next Xbox rumor inferno. This one stems from a Kotaku report claiming the console will support Blu-ray discs and a new version of the Kinect motion sensor. However, the most intriguing feature alleged in the report is the device might incorporate software to prevent users from playing used games. The Kotaku report cites "games industry sources."

sourece :content

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The Expendables 2

The Expendables 2 is an upcoming ensemble action film directed by Simon West, written by Sylvester Stallone and based on characters created by David Callaham. It is a sequel to the 2010 action film The Expendables, and stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film is due to be released on August 17, 2012, by Lions Gate Entertainment.
source : .wikipedia

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Ready or not, you're getting Facebook Timeline

Facebook announced in a blog post Tuesday that Timeline will be coming to all users in the next few weeks.
According to a Facebook blog post Tuesday -- or rather, an update to the post published when Timeline became available to all users -- you will have seven days to preview your Timeline and hide content you don't want out in the open.
Facebook says you'll receive a notification at the top of your home page when Timeline has landed in your account. That seven-day preview period is the same for users who activate Timeline and those whose accounts are activated automatically.
The new interface and features have been opt-in, until the roll out becomes universal. Beginning in December 2011, users could enable the new look with one click, and then publish their Timelines for their friends to see.
Those particularly eager for the new Facebook could first access Timeline in September 2011 by creating developer accounts.
If you're confused by the new look, Facebook describes its new product, "Timeline gives you an easy way to rediscover the things you shared, and collect your most important moments. It also lets you share new experiences, like the music you listen to or the miles you run." Facebook's Introducing Timeline page walks new users through the new features, such as covers, stories and app integration.

Learn more about filling in your timeline here

source: edition.cnn

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Top 5 Tablets

Apple's iPad 2 stays firmly in first thanks to its svelte design and 100,000-plus apps. But a pair of Android tablets are right behind it: Asus' Eee Pad Transformer Prime, the first tablet with Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip, and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi 64GB

          

        The Apple iPad 2 is neither a revolution nor a revelation. Rather, it's an evolutionary bump over its predecessor, which is enough for iPad 2 to be competitive with, and stay ahead of, its tablet competition, even if only by a hair. While the iPad 2 still leaves much room for improvement, it delivers a largely satisfying tablet experience at an appealing price (in 18 variants, starting at $499 for a 16GB, Wi-Fi-only version). 

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201     

      

The stylish Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF201 delivers both high performance and high value, a rare combination in the world of Android tablets. It uses Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor, which powers the tablet to several performance firsts and delivered terrific image graphics rendering in games optimized for the new processor. Given its promised future upgrade to Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich and its next-gen technology, not to mention its appealing price--$499 for the 32GB model and $599 for 64GB (prices as of 11/30/2011)--the Transformer Prime represents one of the best tablet values today.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi 16GB

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi is the first Android tablet to mount an effective challenge to Apple's iPad 2 in the area where Apple does best: design. And let's face it, where tablets are concerned, design occupies center stage. Happily for Samsung, the Tab 10.1--available in limited distribution starting today, starting at $499 for a 16GB version--parlays its design and its Android 3.1 operating system into a machine that vaults to the head of the Android pack.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi 16GB

Samsung's tweener-size tablet perfectly balances usable screen real estate and portability, but we saw a slightly greenish cast to the display.

Toshiba Thrive 16GB

he Toshiba Thrive feels chunky compared with the svelte, lightweight market leaders, namely the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple iPad 2. But tucked neatly along the Thrive's edges are its secret weapons: an SD Card slot, plus Mini-USB, USB, and HDMI ports. Those ports keep the Thrive from being just another tablet in a crowded field. We tested the 16GB Thrive AT105-T1016 ($500 as of July 13, 2011); Toshiba also sells an 8GB version for $430, and a 32GB version for $580.

source:  pcworld

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WINDOWS 8 TABLETS: STILL HIDING

“Microsoft has discussed this new [to its OS] concept of always on, always connected. We see this as a marriage of smartphone functionality and computing,” says Qualcomm's Steve Horton, director of software and product management. “The content you care about will be active, and you will be able to program it, and it will be able to be fed.”

While tablet makers were mum when asked how ARM platforms will influence their tablet designs, the use of ARM will no doubt keep things interesting. In a previous conversation at BUILD, Horton noted that with ARM chips, there's no restriction on form factor beyond the fact that Microsoft is asking hardware OEMs to stick to displays with 16:9 aspect ratio to match the optimal screen size for the new Windows 8 Metro interface.

When asked about Windows 8 tablets using ARM, for example, Senior Designer Junghwan Hong and Principal Designer Sangwon Yoon, the Samsung designers involved in creating the gorgeous, lightweight Series 9 laptop, shied away from specifics, but admitted that the prospect of ARM presents a new design opportunity and challenge.

“As designers, we are studying ARM,” Yoon says. “ We have a lot of different form factors for ARM devices. ARM has no fans, so for designers, that's a good feature.” One logistical challenge: ARM tablets will likely carry relatively low prices, which “means we cannot use fancy materials. But they have to look good. That's a challenge.”

And it's likely not the only challenge for Windows 8 tablets. Even without any solid teasers at CES, 2012 promises to shape into an interesting year for tablets running Microsoft's next operating system refresh.

source: pcworld

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