Kinect for Windows released

Microsoft has released the Windows Software Development Kit for it's Kinect console.
Dedicated hardware for the motion detection gesture platform and a commercial ready installer are also now available.
"It's been just over a year since we launched Kinect for Xbox 360, and we're only starting to scratch the surface of what's possible with Kinect," said Craig Eisler, general manager for Kinect for Windows.

"By offering hardware and software that's designed specifically for Windows applications, we hope to inspire visionaries around the world to create transformative breakthroughs with Kinect - taking its gesture and voice capabilities beyond the living room into other industries such as education, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail."

 Story Source: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/

Details of a new Windows 8 phone, code named 'Apollo' have been leaked via an internal video from Microsoft according to reports.
Nokia released the first Windows 7 platform phone with their 'Lumia' range, and rumours are rife that Windows 8 will soon be available with a range of new features, including a next-generation WP OS will feature NFC compatibility allowing users to use their handset’s as a digital wallet.
Also, Apollo will add support for multicore processors, new screen resolutions (a total of four, although actual pixel counts weren't specified), and removable microSD card storage.
The internal video detailing the new Windows 8 platform was hosted by senior vice-president and Windows Phone manager, Joe Belfiore, was released by pocketnow.
Check it out at; http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/exclusive-windows-phone-8-detailed

Story Source: http://www.t3.com/news/windows-phone-8-features-leak-via-internal-microsoft-video

Chrome for android arrives

Google has finally released Chrome for android beta.
The public beta trial of Chrome for android began yesterday, three years after the browser was first introduced.
Chrome for android includes the desktop version's V8 JavaScript engine, has gesture-based controls for moving among multiple tabs, synchronizes with the desktop version of Chrome, and shuts out plug-ins including Adobe Systems' Flash Player and Google's own Native Client. With its performance and features, Google expects Android users to increase their browser activity.
Chrome, which has 200 million users worldwide, overtook Firefox, an independent open source browser funded by a trust, as the second most popular in December 2011 and now has a 29% market share, with Firefox at 25%.
Microsoft's Internet Explorer has seen it's market share drop from 67% to just 37%.
Chrome for phone will work only on the latest version 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android phone operating system. The browser will only be available to Android phones during the trial period, but a Google spokesperson said it hoped eventually to release versions for all operating systems including Apple's iOS for iPhones.
Full launch is expected to be available sometime in the Spring.
Check out the details at; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lVjw7n_U37A

Story Source: http://chrome.blogspot.com/2012/02/introducing-chrome-for-android.html

Valentine's day Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has issued it's advance notification for February's Patch Tuesday which falls on Valentine's Day.
This month sees nine patches addressing 21 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, numerous versions of the Windows operating system, Office, Sharepoint and Silverlight.
Four of the nine bulletins are rated as critical with the remaining five classed as important.
For full details of the bulletin, go to; http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-feb

Story Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-feb

Apple's iPhone Will Not Be Available In China This Year

U.S.-based Apple said while publishing its latest financial report that it hopes the iPhone products could enter the Chinese market in 2010, which most likely means the iPhone will not be officially available in China this year.
In its financial report for the second quarter of the 2009 fiscal year, starting from December 28, 2008, and ending on March 27, 2009, Apple said it sold 3.793 million iPhone handsets, realizing sales of USD1.521 billion. Though its handset sales decreased by 13%, its revenue increased by 22%.
For when Apple's 3G iPhone will be introduced into the Chinese market, the attitude of China Unicom, an expected cooperator of Apple to jointly launch the 3G iPhone in China, has been puzzling Chinese consumers, but Apple has disclosed some information on this issue and said it hopes to introduce the 3G iPhone into the Chinese market in 2010 and the company is working hard to achieve this goal.
Apple's iPhones are already unofficially sold in China through grey market sellers, though the 3G features that bind the phones to various online services are not operable on those unlocked iPhones when used in China.

China Telecom To Launch CDMA-based iPhone 4S

Chinese telecom operator China Telecom has reportedly reached an agreement with Apple to introduce the CDMA version of the iPhone 4S into China.
The latest news released by Chinese local media stated that China Telecom has been preparing for the launch of CDMA-based iPhone 4S; and the new product will be available at the end of February or the beginning of March 2012.
China Telecom has apparently set various packages for iPhone 4S with contracts, and their monthly costs range from CNY89 to CNY589. In addition, the operator is rumored to only provide iPhone 4S with contracts, but it has not yet been officially confirmed.
Under the rules and regulations in China, a new mobile phone product should obtain a network license issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and a 3C license issued by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China before entering the market. Prior to the Chinese New Year, China Telecom gained the network license for the CDMA-based iPhone 4S, and the launch of the product is subject to the issuance of the other license.
According to information published on the official website of MIIT, the license number of CDMA-based iPhone 4S is 02-8573-120476, with a valid period of five years.

Sky announce new Internet TV service

Sky has today announced that a new Internet TV programme will soon be available, also the arrival of a fibre optic broadband service from April.
The Internet TV service will deliver movies and sports programming to those without a full Sky subscription. There will be pay-monthly packages, and pay-as-you-go streams.
The fibre optic broadband service will allow customers to access download speeds of up to 40Mbps for £20 a month -- and free Wi-Fi for subscribers -- Broadband Unlimited customers will get free access to more than 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK.

Story Source: http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2012/sky_to_launch_new_internet_tv_service

Facebook shares on offer

Facebook is about to start the process of becoming a publicly-listed company according to sources.
The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal have both stated that Facebook is due to file papers with the US Financial watchdog on Wednesday, (1st Feb, 2012).
Flotation will raise an estimated $10 billion later this year, making it one of the biggest share sales in Wall Street history.
Facebook is currently valued between $75-$100 billion, (approx. £50 billion).
Facebook have so far refused to comment.

Story Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16779779

Nintendo Wii U due out this year

The latest console from Nintendo, the Wii U, is due for release by the end of 2012.
Nintendo are planning to launch their own online gaming programme called Nintendo Network in an attempt to rival the Xbox and PlayStation.

The online gaming platform will play host to "competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content," and will also launch Nintendo personal user accounts.

The new 'U' controller will feature NFC capabilities in order to "read and write data via non-contact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world", according to Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata.
Story Source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/44178/nintendo-wii-u-coming-2012

Apple announce record quarter figures

Apple has announced record figures for it's first fiscal quarter of 2012 which spanned 14 weeks and ended on December 31st, 2011.
During this period Apple sold 37.04 million iPhones, 15.43million iPads, 15.4 million iPods and 5.2million macs.
“We’re thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO in a press release.
“Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.”
A record turnover for the quarter meant Apple amassed a net profit of $13.06 billion.

Story Source: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/01/24Apple-Reports-First-Quarter-Results.html