One of the world’s leading developers sees Microsoft’s new Surface tablet as a viable games platform for the years ahead.
Epic co-founder Mark Rein has expressed his desire to get his company’s Unreal Engine – one of the cornerstones of modern games development – up and running on the device.
“Microsoft NAILS IT!” Rein wrote on Twitter. “Way to go Microsoft! Surface looks AWESOME! Can't wait to get some Unreal Engine games on those babies!”
Furthermore, Rein speculates that Surface’s gaming aspiration may run even deeper, with possible support for console hardware.
“Microsoft: I suppose, being a proper Windows 8 device, that Surface will fully support the Xbox game controller. If so: bravo!” he added.
“Future looks even better for gamers on all sorts of awesome platforms and I'm super happy that we'll power all sorts of great experiences...”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/epic-...entials/098145 ...

Not content with the unveiling of its Chimera 4 and Erebus GT desktops, iBuyPower is turning its attention to gamers of a more mobile persuasion with the launch of its new Valkyrie line of gaming laptops. For $1,299, the base Valkyrie CZ-17 features a third-generation Intel Core i7-3610QM CPU, 8GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M GPU, 500GB 5,400 RPM hard drive, LAN E2200 module, backlit keyboard and a 17.3-inch, 1080p display. Folks who want to channel their inner Rich Uncle Pennybags can also configure the Valkyrie with more options such as an i7-3820QM processor, up to 32GB of RAM, dual HDD/SSD storage and a Blu-Ray drive. iBuyPower says the Valkyrie line is part of efforts to beef up its laptop offerings in order to compete with the likes of Dell/Alienware and ASUS. In the meantime, folks who've got Elmer Fudd's rendition of "Kill the Wabbit" stuck in their heads after reading the word "Valkyrie" can clear their minds by perusing the PR after the break.

http://www.ibuypower.com/Info/valkyr...ng-laptop.aspx ...

As Microsoft announces a new tablet, technology experts offer their first impressions of the device, as well as insights into what the product could mean for Microsoft and its rivals.
The BBC has compiled a round-up of what some of them are saying.

Dan Farber, CNET

Microsoft has more than 90% market share of desktops, compared with 6% for Apple.
But in the mobile world, the roles are reversed. Microsoft is barely a blip on the mobile scene, while Apple and Google are running away with the fast-growing market. The number of mobile internet users is expected to exceed desktop internet users beginning in 2014, according to ComScore.
Microsoft got the message in introducing the Surface line of mobile devices, taking a page from Apple's total-control product strategy and its own Apple-like approach to the Xbox over the last decade.

Melissa J Perenson, PC World

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End Quote Peter Bright Arstechnica
Microsoft's introduction of its Surface tablet engendered buzz like no other we've seen from Microsoft. The big question is, does it stand up to the hype? The answer, succinctly, is yes.
After the event, attendees got a brief audience with the Surface (the second Microsoft product to get that name; prior to today, "Surface" referred to Microsoft's table-top touchscreen computer experience). I saw it up-close, and in limited action, and was very impressed with what I saw.
For starters, Microsoft truly has paid close attention to the details. This tablet is one of the few with a full-sized USB port - and thank goodness for that. The Windows RT version of Surface has USB 2.0, with USB 3.0 on the Windows 8 Professional version.

Erik Sherman CBS News

The pressure is on Microsoft to deliver, for the first time, a computer under its own brand, rather than software running on another company's hardware. To that end, the software giant is promising a device that could potentially win favour among some users, although full specs aren't yet available, let alone hands-on reviews. A 10.6-inch-wide display will support widescreen HD video, although probably not at the ultra-high resolution of the iPad's Retina display.

Dina Bass, Andy Fixmer and Cliff Edwards, Bloomberg

Microsoft's entry into the tablet market also comes as challengers such as Hewlett-Packard and RIM have failed to derail Apple's dominance with their own tablets. The worldwide tablet market is estimated to reach $79bn this year, according to research firm DisplaySearch.
Microsoft is also teaming up with PC makers like Acer, Toshiba and Asustek to build tablets with Windows 8, which will be called Windows RT for versions running on ARM-based chips.
Working with partners is Microsoft's more traditional way of operating. Apple's success with the iPad may be pushing the company to seek greater control over the hardware design so it works seamlessly with the software, like Apple does.

Peter Bright, Arstechnica

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

End Quote Brad McCarty The Next Web
Microsoft's intent with the Surface tablets is to create hardware that puts the software front and centre, to provide the hardware necessary to allow Windows 8's strengths to really come to the foreground. At the launch event, however, the software took the back seat. This was all about the hardware, and with good reason.
The Surface tablets are smart, good-looking, carefully considered, well-built, slick pieces of kit and there's nothing even close on the market today. Of course, they're not on the market today either, but unless the PC OEMs inject a serious dose of quality in their build and design processes, the Surface units will stand alone when they eventually go on sale.
What makes Surface special is the attention to detail. The standard of the fit and finish of the prototypes on display was extremely high. The shell of the Surface is made of cast magnesium, with a vapor-deposited finish called VaporMg. The result is an attractive, scratch-resistant finish that's easy to grip and comfortable to hold.

Brad McCarty, The Next Web

You could say that it's a direct competitor to the iPad, and you'd be right. But you'd also be right to say that it's a competitor to the MacBook Air. This is a laptop, every bit as much as it's a tablet. The detachable keyboard cover is slick, and if it works as good as it looks, it's a no-brainer to take it with you everywhere.
So if the device is nice, and has huge potential in the market, where did Microsoft go wrong? Let's talk about it, starting with the fact that there's no availability.
If there's one thing that Microsoft could learn from Apple, it is "announce and ship". Today we saw the Surface. When can we buy it? The only thing we know is that it will be available in conjunction with the release of Windows 8: That is to say, ...

Touting the "world's fastest mobile memory card" moniker,SanDisk has unveiled the Extreme Pro microSDHC line of storage add-ons for your smartphone or tablet. The outfit is advertising 95MB/s read and 90MB/s write speeds for the UHS Class 1memory cards -- clocking in a bit faster than Samsung's Ultra High Speed offerings for LTE devices. The cards are now available in either 8GB or 16GB capacities and will hit your wallet for $59.99 or $99.99, depending on your preference. Naturally, you'll want to make sure that your device is compatible with the duo before pulling the trigger, which can be done via the source link below.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/s...microsd-cards/ ...

Lightake.com a Chinese online store has today posted a new Android Media Player which runs on the v4.0 of the Android System, the Media player supports 1080P and comes with 4gb of storage on board which can be expanded up to 32gb with the use of a USB Flash card.

The Media Player also has wifi and supports most if not all types of media.

Check it out here --> http://lightake.com/detail.do/sku.Mi...TF_Black-55057 ...

Color us surprised -- or whatever the antonym of that word may be -- but Nokia has announced the availability of its 41-megapixel 808 PureView smartphone for the United States, which will be distributed through Amazon. If you've been patiently waiting for your opportunity to wield this highly competent cameraphone for yourself, just know that you can soon stake your claim in line: pre-orders are set to begin later this week, and you can sign up on Nokia's website to receive that all-important notification. As for price, expect to pay $699 outright for this bulbous beauty, which offers support for AT&T's 3G network here in the US.

http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-808-Pure...=vglnk-c882-20 ...

For Microsoft, the launch represents an attempt to grab a share of the market it invented.
The firm's founder Bill Gates famously enthused about the tablet form factor a decade ago. It even launched a 'tabletop' device called the Surface, but as is so often the case with Microsoft, its execution was poor and it was left to Apple to dominate the space with iPad.
Now, after months of speculation, the new Surface is here – a showcase for the forthcoming touch-based Windows 8 OS. Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the device at a press conference in Milky Studios last night.
Actually, two versions were demonstrated, one running Windows RT (which uses low power processors) and another running Windows 8 (using Intel chips).
They are pretty much the same in size as iPad at 9.3mm thick and with 10.6 inch screens. The Pro Version offers up to 128GB of memory, while the RT will come with either 32GB or 64GB.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...surface/018351 ...

With the much-acclaimed Galaxy SIII in its pocket, don't think that Samsung is looking at Amazon's success with the Kindle and Apple's success with its iOS devices and saying to themselves, 'No, we'd rather not have that kind of diverse revenue, we'll stick to razor-thin hardware margins,' writes blogger Kevin Purdy. And that's not the only reason that Samsung might decide the time is right to maintain its own OS, or at least an Android fork: There's also the looming spectre of Google-Motorola.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/...phone-software ...

You know what they say: bigger is always better. With that in mind, Sharp's taken the wraps off of its flagship 90-inch AQUOS LED TV, and in the process dubs it the world's largest (sorry, 80-incher). At first glance, this enormous smart television is everything you'd imagine and more, led, naturally, in large part by that gorgeous 90-inch (diagonally) LED screen. Sharp's new AQUOS measures in at 6 feet in height, 5-inches in thickness and weighs in at a mere 141 pounds (without the stand). Speaking of, the company's also done a nice job of stuffing a good amount of software inside the 1080p-capable AQUOS, including apps such as Netflix, Hulu and Vudu. Additionally, Sharp is throwing in a pair of three-dee glasses, which should come in handy during your precious movie night with the family. Best of all, it's up for grabs now, but prepare your wallet to take a major hit, as you'll have to shell out $11,000 to get one of these in your living room. While you think that over, there's a glorious picture gallery for everyone's viewing pleasure down below, and the official presser right past the break.

http://www.sharpusa.com/ ...