Microsoft has denied rumours that the firm's eponymous Office suite is destined for Apple's iPad, saying that leaked images of an iOS Office were "not Microsoft's software".
Murdoch-owned iPad Newspaper The Daily claimed that an iPad Office was set to be submitted to Apple for approval "soon" and detailed a "hands-on" with a "working prototype".
However the New York Times reported that a Microsoft spokesperson said: "The Daily story is based on inaccurate rumours and speculation", but wouldn't be drawn further on the matter.
Notably the statement did not say that Microsoft had no plans for an iOS office. The Daily is standing by the story, saying that a Microsoft employee showed them the application.
It is possible, of course, that the issue is subject to Microsoft's infamous internal politics. One imagines that at least one part of Microsoft would be unhappy with releasing the software on arch-rival iOS ahead of the rumoured bundling of Office with the upcoming "Windows on ARM" version of Windows 8.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-office/027979 ...

Microsoft has revealed plans to abandon the "local-market feature" approach to languages in the upcoming Windows 8, instead allowing anyone to install any and all supported languages.
The situation with installing display languages in Windows has always been fairly restrictive, often needing a special version such as Windows 7 Ultimate, just to be able to display some other language.
In a new blog post on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft said that Windows 8 would dump the confusing downloads of languages from Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center and instead languages will be more easily installed in the control panel.
Microsoft's international team manager Ian Hamilton highlighted the usage case of a PC in a fairly common US scenario where Spanish would be useful for parents while English would be for their children.
Windows 8 will also be the first version of Windows to support "English for the United Kingdom", ending 27 years of a refusal to acknowledge English spelling preferences in the long line of Microsoft operating systems.
"We admit that this is something we should have done a long time ago," wrote Hamilton. "Windows users in the UK have gotten by with the US English version of Windows, and while we Americans knew this was not their favourite, that is clearly no defence," he joked.
Hamilton noted that this English dialect would probably be used by a number of other countries including India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. Well colour us surprised.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...english/027982 ...

New strategy could help gain market share against competition.
Last year, Nokia revealed its Windows Phone-powered Lumia series of devices, choosing to ditch its Symbian OS in a joint attempt with Microsoft to become relevant in the thriving smartphone market.
Now, with the high end Lumia devices on the market, Nokia plans to reveal a new cheap Windows smartphone at MWC, according toReuters, which cited sources close to the company.
Releasing cheap Windows-based smartphones would allow the firm to appeal to emerging markets and low end users, while still gaining market share, should the devices sell well.
Of course, there's every opportunity the move could work. Low end phone makers Huawei and ZTE have secured a strong user base, which helped ZTE gain the second fastest growing market share in Q4 behind Apple.
Additionally, the report highlights Microsoft's share of the smartphone market fell to just two per cent in Q4.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...rtphone/017120 ...

While one-third use the devices at dinner, presumably for texting and not talking.
Research from Lloyds TSB shows the handbook of phone manners has been thrown out of the window. Over half of UK phone users talk on the device when in bed, while 34 per cent use their phones at dinner.
Mobiles even seem too irresistible during calls of nature with 24 per cent admitting they've used their phone in a public toilet.
Additionally, three-quarters use their phone in the street, 63 per cent use them on public transport, while 12 per cent have used their phone in a meeting or during a presentation.
Results also show 11 per cent have used their phone at a theatre, cinema or concert, which rises to 29 per cent for under-25 year olds. Nine per cent have even used their phone during a wedding or christening.
However, all isn't lost as 70 per cent still consider it unacceptable to use a phone at the theatre, cinema or concert hall. Worryingly, that figure falls to 51 per cent for people considering it inappropriate during dinner at a restaurant, falling further still to 21 per cent against use in a public toilet.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-in-bed/017121 ...

Up from 20.1 per cent in January 2011.
Google's Android OS appears to be the people's choice, securing over a third of Britain's active mobile phones as of January 2012, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech via the Guardian.
The result enabled Android to climb from third place and overtake former leader Apple, which had shares fall to 28.5 per cent from 29.2 per cent in January 2011.
Meanwhile, RIM climbed into third place from fourth despite losing 0.6 per cent of users and the BlackBerry firm can thank Nokia for the climb.
The Finnish firm's near obsolete Symbian OS halved its 26.7 per cent of users to 13.1 per cent as Nokia chose Windows Phone to power future smartphones.
That said, both Nokia and Microsoft have a lot of work to do, managing to secure just 2.2 per cent of the market.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...t-share/017123 ...

Sony's PlayStation Vita retains the familiar general form of the PlayStation Portable hardware series while dramatically improving on virtually every aspect of its use with powerful and exciting new features including: dual touch pads at the front and rear, dual cameras at the front and rear, dual analog sticks, a 5-inch OLED screen, GPS, six-axis motion sensors and a three-axis electronic compass and exceptional built-in connectivity via both Wi-Fi* and exclusive to this model, an always on 3G connection.** Taken together this makes for a handheld gaming device that truly signals the entry of handhelds into the world of Next-Gen gaming.
Handheld gaming enters the Next-Gen.
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Blur the Lines Between Entertainment and Reality.

PlayStation Vita is designed to blur the lines between interactive entertainment and reality in a variety of ways. Reaching beyond the capabilities of every handheld gaming console that has come before it, in this model of Vita players have access to both Wi-Fi and 3G functionality, allowing for maximum connectivity wherever you go. (An additional Vita model allows for Wi-Fi access only) Its 5-inch OLED front multi-touch display brings brilliant images to life and allows for a new touch driven navigational system, while the additional multi-touch pad on its back surface will allow users to interact with games and characters that they encounter within them with a simple movement of their fingertips. The real world and the game world are seamlessly merged with front and rear camera enabled augmented reality. Additionally, services created specifically for Vita will be available on PlayStation Network. These services are designed help users take their gameplay, as well as interaction with other gamers, to new levels.
Additional features include: dual analog stick controls, a 4 core CPU, system-specific flash card media support for game and media saves, mobile PlayStation trophy support, built-in three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer and GPs functionality.
New controls include dual analog sticks, three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer and 2 cameras.
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Your choice of Wi-Fi or always-on 3G connectivity.
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Superior design features, including touchpads at the front and rear.
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The best in content, from classic PS One games to your favorite franchises and new ones going forward.
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Vita-specific PlayStation Network Functionality

Near

"Near" is a core PlayStation Vita feature composed of location-based services, that utilize PlayStation Network. Near, developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently. Users can meet their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.

LiveArea and Activity Log

Every game title for PlayStation Vita will be provided with a space called "LiveArea" where users can share the fun and excitement with other players. Users will have access to the latest information of games provided from SCE and third party developers and publishers through PlayStation Network. Additionally, Vita users will be able to view "Activity Log" which is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.

The Best in New and Classic Content

In addition to containing the best in new handheld gaming hardware technology, Sony's PlayStation Vita provides users with the best in quality content. All your favorite game franchises are coming to Vita, including but not limited to Uncharted in Uncharted Golden Abyss, LittleBigPlanet, Hot Shots Golf, ModNation Racers, WipEout and many more -- including all new game launches -- yet to be announced. Joining these new offerings, players will also have full wireless access to the PlayStation Store. Here, via Vita's improved Wi-Fi capabilities, and/or new exciting 3G connectivity powered by AT&T, owners can download new game add-ons, movies, comics and PS One classics ported over for handheld play. PlayStation Vita also features full backwards compatibility (via download) to all PSP games. Together this powerful merging of hardware and software is destined to create entertainment experiences unlike anything else available in the handheld gaming market.

Vita Features

• Multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display
• Multi-touch pad on the rear of the device
• Dual analog sticks
• Two digital cameras (front and rear)
• Software titles on small, dedicated flash memory-based cards
• Three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass
• Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity
• Free PlayStation Network access, including trophy support and new Vita features "LiveArea" and "Near"
• Vita can play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store

Technical Specifications

• CPU - ARM Cortex-A9 core (4 core)
• GPU - SGX543MP4+
• External Dimensions - Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest

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Amazon.com have their own deals for the PSVita Launch Day:

For a limited time, buy two select PlayStation Vita games and get a third select PS Vita game free.

To receive the promotion, add three qualifying games from the list below to your cart. Discount will be reflected on the lowest priced game. Shipping fees and taxes may apply. Offer good while supplies last. Void where prohibited. Valid only on qualifying games sold and shipped by Amazon.com. Amazon.com reserves the right to terminate or modify this promotion at any time. Offer expires 02/25/2012. ...

PSVita is released in the UK, heres what Amazon UK have in a deal for you:

Select one PlayStation Vita console below by ticking the box to the left of the console. You may now add either or both of the following to create your Vita bundle:

Offers available with your PlayStation Vita purchase:

• Free 8GB Memory Card: You can add the 8GB Memory Card to your order, for free. The price will be reduced from your order at checkout. Free memory card terms and conditions.
• £15 Game: You can also add one of the selected games below to your order, for £15. The price will be reduced from your order at checkout. £15 game terms and conditions.
• Important: Click the "Add to Basket" button on the right of the page to add all your selected items to your basket.

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Nintendo of Europe will broadcast its first Nintendo Direct video tomorrow.
The video, going out at noon, will join separate broadcasts from Nintendo Japan staring boss man Satoru Iwata, and Nintendo of America featuring Reggie Fils-Aime.The US and Japanese broadcasts, which have been running for some time, usually discuss upcoming Wii and 3DS games.
The broadcasts will go out on localised sites;here for Nintendo UK, here for NOA and here for Japan.
In news earlier today, Nintendo announced plans to shut down the Wii Video Channel service before it ever saw the light of day outside Japan.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...cast-tomorrow/ ...