Windows 8 Developer Preview Launches Tuesday [PICS]

Can’t wait to get your hands on Windows 8? You can get it tonight — as long as you’re willing to suffer through countless bugs without any technical support.

Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 on Tuesday at its Build conference in Anaheim, California. The tech giant detailed how its next-generation OS bridges the gap between tablets, laptops and desktops with a lightweight system that is built for both touchscreens and keyboards.

Windows 8's features include a Metro style interface, fast boot times (Windows loads in less than eight seconds), a new Windows Store for apps, communication between apps, support for ARM and Intel-based hardware and countless UX and UI changes that are a dramatic departure from its predecessors.

While attendees of the Build conference already have access to the Windows 8 Developer Preview (our review is coming soon), you can take it for a spin as well, starting Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. PT. That is when Microsoft will post the download links for Windows 8. During the developer preview, Windows 8 will be free. It will be available in 32 and 64-bit configurations.

Be warned, though — this is not a finished product. It will come with bugs, constant updates and lots of incompatible software. And Microsoft will not be offering any technical support for the OS. If you install it, you’re on your own.

If you want to get a better idea of what is coming in Windows 8 before you install it, check out the screenshots we’ve collected below. Let us know if you intend to try out the new Microsoft OS in the comments.

View As Slideshow » Microsoft demonstrated a lot of Windows 8 devices, including tablet devices, at its Build conference in Anaheim, CA. Windows 8 Devices: A Closer Look These are some of the devices running Windows 8 at Microsoft's Build conference.

"Your personalized lock screen shows you unread emails and other app notifications. The image shown here is a photo of the road leading to Mt. Cook National Park in New Zealand."

Courtesy of Microsoft

"See your apps and content in a glance on the start screen."

Courtesy of Microsoft

"Pick the files you want to send or share from one place."

Courtesy of Microsoft

"Touch browsing is fast, fluid and intuitive."

Courtesy of Microsoft

"The thumb keyboard feels natural and comfortable."

Courtesy of Microsoft

"Large buttons help you type on the touch keyboard."

Courtesy of Microsoft

Windows division President Steven Sinofsky Windows division President Steven Sinofsky takes the stage at Build.

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Turntable.fm Launches iPhone App [REVIEW]

Good news for all you Turntable fiends. One of the most requested features for the social music app — an iPhone version – launched Tuesday in the App Store.

Yes, that’s right: you can now listen, rack up those DJ points and chat from anywhere you happen to have your iPhone (though if you happen to be on the john, as one of my fellow DJs told me today, it’s probably best not to share.)

If you’re not familiar with Turntable — well, first of all, where have you been? Mashable has been rocking its own Turntable room with stellar guest DJs every Friday this summer, and we’ll be picking it up again this fall.

Secondly, Turntable.fm is easily the most addictive (and social) music service ever. In each room, avatars stand in front of a DJ booth, where five lucky souls can step up and spin tunes in turn (one from each, then back to the first DJ). Most songs you can think of are in the Turntable database already, but if not, you can upload them. You can hit “lame” or “awesome” on the like-o-meter; enough “lame”s and the song will skip, but an “awesome” will make you bob your head and give the DJ points, which they can then trade in for a bigger and cooler avatar. And all the while, folks in the room are nattering away in a chat window, proving once again that the best way to be social with strangers is to have something specific — like a song — to talk about.

That’s the browser version of Turntable. How does the iPhone version stack up so far? Good in some ways, quite buggy in others.

Visually, the Stickybits team has done a great job of packing everything in to the small screen. It actually seems easier on the iPhone to scroll down the list of rooms people have created (the list loads as you scroll). Step into a room, and it looks exactly like a Turntable room should. Even packed with avatars, it’s not significantly slower. My iPhone 3GS was able to render a 200-avatar room with no problem; the music didn’t skip and the head-bobbing was smooth.

The first difference you’ll notice is that the chat window is on a screen of its own, reached through that speech bubble icon at the top. This is also where your queue of songs to DJ is located. This is a little distracting, having to switch screens constantly. But it’s hard to think how else the app could have done it. One thing it definitely could have done, though, was load the chat history of the room — so you can see what people were talking about before you came in.

As for DJing, I’ve run into a number of snags so far. The first time I tried to spin, the app booted me off when it came to my tune. (Anecdotally, I heard a few stories of iPhone DJs getting booted; it’s easy to tell, because the avatar is holding a phone instead of a laptop). The second time, nobody could hear the music — despite it being a track I’d played successfully many times in the web client.

Still, you’ve got to expect a few bugs in a release version of an iPhone app this complex, and I have no doubt Turntable will iron out the wrinkles shortly. With a $7 million round of funding led by Union Square Ventures, also announced Tuesday, the company now has a lot more resources. We can’t wait to try the (as yet unannounced) Android and iPad versions.

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Thrustmaster Launches TH8 RS Shifter for T500 RS Racing Wheel

Last December Thrustmaster launched one of the coolest racing wheels in its line up for the PS3 called the T500 RS racing wheel. The one major thing that wheel lacked when it launched was a gear shifter, which the high-end Logitech wheels offer. Thrustmaster has now launched a shifter just for that racing wheel.

The shifter is called the TH8 RS and it has two modes it will operate in. It can be put into a sequential mode where the user can push up and down to shift. It also has a gated shift mode with seven gears and reverse that the driver can use.

The shifter has a clamp on the bottom that will hold it to a desk or table from 1 to 55mm thick. It also has screw-in threads for mounting to racing cockpits. The shifter will be available in October and only works with the PS3 and compatible games.

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Logitech Launches Solar K750 Keyboard For Mac Users

Logitech first announced their new K750 solar powered keyboard for PC users back in November 2010 and have wasted no time rushing the Mac version out 9 months later.

The K750 solar is a full-size keyboard complete with number pad and solar panel stretching along the top from left to right. Logitech explains that the new K750 keyboard can be charged from standard indoor lighting, and once fully charged can work in complete darkness for up to three months if needed. Its also equipped with a 2.4GHz module providing trouble free wireless connectivity.

The new Mac compatible keyboard is now available in a range of  5 colours, with four exclusively for Mac users.The new K750Mac Keyboard will ship to the US and Europe later this month for $60. With its PVC-free construction and fully recyclable box, Logitech has designed the keyboard to help minimize its environmental footprint.

Source: Mac World

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ThinkFlood Launches RedEye Universal Remote Control App On Android

Thinkflood has this week finally  launched an Android version of its great universal remote control application that arrived on iOS devices nearly two years ago. The new Android RedEye application allows you to to control your other Redeye connected gadgets including your home theatre, lighting, HVAC, and others using Android networked smartphones and tablets.

The RedEye Android app is compatible with networked RedEye products including RedEye and RedEye Pro and supports devices running Android 1.6 and later, including tablets running 3.0 Honeycomb.

Unfortunately the RedEye application is not support by the RedEye Mini device, ThinkFlood explains why below:

“Although RedEye mini compatibility is a popular request, RedEye mini requires further research into the headphone jack on various Android handsets, as well as additional development using the Android NDK (Java code cannot keep up with RedEye mini’s real-time audio processing requirements).”

You can download the new free RedEye application from the Android Market now.

Source: ThinkFlood

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ADATA Launches Rugged SH14 Portable External Hard Drive

If you are in the market for a rugged external hard drive, the new ADATA SH14 rugged portable hard drive launched by ADATA this week might well be worth a look. The new SH14 hard drive is enclosed within a super-tough exterior casing  constructed using a unique silicone material and providing a smooth surface texture. Together with military specification shock-resistant structure, coupled with water-resistant and impact-damping silicone shell.

The new SH14 is equipped with a 2.5-inch 5,400 RPM hard drive and is fitted with a new generation USB 3.0 transfer interface, providing users with transfer rates up to 90MB/s.

The SH14 is available in 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB storage capacities for €59.90, €71.90 or €92.90, respectively, and come with backup software HDDtoGo for file management.

Source: ADATA

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MSI Launches Slim X460, X460DX 14″ Notebooks

MSI has this week added a couple of new notebooks to its range in the form of the MSI X460 and X460DX. That have been designed with mobile professionals in mind, with its thin and light design. Combining both sleek brushed metallic finishes together with performance from Intel’s latest Core processors.

The high specification MSI X460 model comes complete with a Intel Core i7-2630QM processor, supported by 6GB of DDR 3 RAM and graphics supplied by the integrated Intel HD 3000 GPU. The  slightly less powerful X460DX base model is equipped with a 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-2310M processor with 4GB of DDR3 RAM. But can be upgraded with optional processor upgrades if required.

Both systems run 64-bit versions of Windows 7 professional and are equipped with a 1366 x 768 glossy LCD, HM65 chipset, WiDi 2.0 support, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n wireless, 2 x USB 3.0 ports and 1 x USB 2.0 port, and a 1.3MP webcam.

Both the MSI X460 and X460DX notebooks are now available to purchase with prices starting at $1,200 with additional costs depending on the optional extras you require.

Source: Anandtech

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