Look out iOS, Android, et al, a new kid is headed towards smartphone OS town-- Linux in Ubuntu form, as developers Canonical set to focus attentions on smartphones from 2013 onward. 

It won't be a cut-down version of the PC OS either. According to Canonical Ubuntu 14.04 designed for use in smartphones and smart TVs as well as computers. 

The interface is enhanced for touchscreens, apparently using all screen edges "for a more immersive experience" and thumb gestures for fast switching between apps. 

Canonical aims the OS at two markets-- lower-end Read more...

Normally stage-shy mobile processor maker Qualcomm blooms in confidence at CES 2013, where a "Born Mobile" sign towers over all other billboards-- it takes over the main keynote speech, previously the reserve of Microsoft. 

The keynote was a show highlight since it left everyone speechless... for all the best/wrong reasons. Opened by a surreal, near parodic sketch involving 3 "teens" (read soon out of work actors) yammering about "Born Mobile" lifestyles, the keynote proceeded with a speech from Qualcomm CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs (we need to get ready for "Generation M" he says) before boisterous Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer literally ran on to stage.  

Further appearances follow-- film director Guillermo Del Toro (who showed off the latest Snapdragon processor with a hilariously gory moment from his Blade II), actress Alice Eve, Big Bird, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and an electric Rolls Royce.  Read more...

Microsoft might not have an official presence at CES 2013 (it has no stand and left Qualcomm with keynote duties) but it did not decline from making an announcement at the show-- the next Surface tablet, the Surface Pro.

Shown to the press in pre-production form, the Surface Pro is Surface on steroids. Display resolution is up from 1366 x 768 to 1920 x 1080, and the touchpanel handles active pen input via included stylus (which magnetically snaps on the side of the tablet when not in use).

Pen input is pressure sensitive and reportedly feels rather natural.

Hardware is somewhat rejigged from the regular Surface-- the Pro is thicker (13.5mm instead of 9.4mm) and heavier thanks to beefed up hardware (Core i5 processor, x2 fans and a 42.5Wh battery). Even the kickstand is slightly different, angling the device at 26 degrees instead of 22 degrees.

The famous Emirates in-flight customer experience gets a hi-tech addition-- the airline's crew members now carry Windows 8 tablets to keep track of passenger needs. 

The tablets (the HP ElitePad 900 is the model of choice) carry Knowledge Driven Inflight Service (KIS), a proprietary app providing touch-based access to passenger preferences (such as meals or seating positions) to the 24-strong cabin crews on each flight. 

Before flights pursers brief cabin crews through the tablets, and in turn crews can enter "voyage reports" after each flight. Reports then sync from landed aircraft to airline teams and executives.

Why did Emirates choose Windows 8 instead of the current tablet leader, the iPad? KIS is the chief reason. The software has been around since the early 2000s (running on HP Compaq T1100 laptops), and Emirates preferred to update it into a Windows 8 app instead of porting to a different operating systems.   Read more...