Categories
Mostly Everything

Windows 8 now available; upgrade from previous version for only USD $14.99

Windows 8 launches globally today and that’s exciting news. Microsoft has a lot of innovation in the desktop space and they have blurred the line between desktops and tablets. They have also gone against the grain of making software very expensive to acquire for consumers. If you’re upgrading from a previous version of Windows, you can get Windows 8 PRO for only USD .99 at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com. That’s roughly PHP 600.00 for an original copy of Windows 8. This offer will last until January 31 2013. By itself, Windows 8 PRO will sell commercially for USD $39.99.

For more detailed news about the event, head over to the live blog I did for Rappler and my post-event assessment on why the Surface brand is not coming to Asia.

Follow Windows 8 news on Twitter with the hashtag #Windows8PH and #Windows8 and also follow @MicrosoftPH for more news about their latest operating system.

Press release follows.

Windows 8 Press Release

Categories
Mostly Everything

Windows 8 launches first in Asia-Pacific; Microsoft branded ‘Surface’ tablet not coming to SEA

UPDATE: The official #Windows8PH site is now live at www.windows.com.ph

Earlier today Michael Josh of Rapper asked me if I wanted to do a live blog of the Windows 8 launch in Singapore. I had no problem with that as it also made my live coverage so much easier with ScribbleLive. You can view the feed here for a detailed account of what went on earlier this afternoon.

RAPPER LIVE FEED

To give you the highlights:

The much awaited Surface tablet will not be making a coming in the Philippines and other parts of Asia except Australia. ‘Surface’ is a Microsoft-made hybrid tablet running Windows 8. This was confirmed earlier by Ms Tracy Fellows, VP for Microsoft Asia Pacific. The main reason (I surmise) is two fold:

a. In the Philippines, Microsoft is not a hardware company. There is no support system for Surface in terms of warranty. If it breaks, who will fix it? The case is similar for the XBOX 360 which is not officially an effort of Microsoft Philippines, but of 3rd party vendors like DataBlitz.

b. Releasing Surface in APAC can curb relationships with the big manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Lenovo, and ACER — all very strong players in the Asean market.

On another note, Christian Bautista is the new brand ambassador for Windows 8. He was chosen for being an all around “Windows guy” and avid gamer. As of this writing he is currently engrossed in Mass Effect 3.

On the XBOX front, the new Windows 8 will have seamless integration with XBOX and the GamerTag. XBOX will now include Music, Video, Games and Smart Glass, which is a technology that gives you added in-game information on your tablet while playing games on your PC / XBOX 360.

Categories
Mostly Everything

New iPads are out including iPad mini. Whatever.

No, sorry I didn’t really mean that. It’s nice and all but a 4th generation iPad and a smaller version of the iPad don’t stir the loins like they used to. You know what’s nice though? The Kindle Paperwhite.

On the new iMac front, yeah it’s thinner and all. But you know what would make it more exciting? If they did something like this.

[photo source]

Categories
Underwater

Wide angle reefscape shots of Anilao

Over the weekend, I flooded my camera. Thank heavens I was able to save everything. Luckily it happened when I dunked the system into the freshwater basin to check for leaks and when I saw the flashing red light on the moisture sensor, I immediately pulled the housing out, set it down on a towel and opened it.

Continue reading “Wide angle reefscape shots of Anilao”
Categories
Mostly Everything

Sony VAIO Tap 20 is its own market segment (I mean it!); sells for PHP 59,999.00

As the global launch of Windows 8 approaches, we’re starting to see the OEM’s dish out the devices that will run Microsoft’s new platform. In the wild, we’ve already seen the Sony VAIO Tap 20 and I’ll tell you a secret: if you were to ask me, right now, to choose between a brand new iMac or this, I’d choose this. You actually need to see it in the flesh.

Here’s why:

Continue reading “Sony VAIO Tap 20 is its own market segment (I mean it!); sells for PHP 59,999.00”