That is, until the arrival of Windows 8. Unlike Android, Windows 8 is officially classified as proprietary commercial software. So, aside from the individual consumer software issue, this means that there are also rules and guidelines that hardware OEMs must adhere to before they feature the OS on their product. The fact that it needs to be licensed before it is installed on a tablet or hybrid laptop raises two questions that tackle the future path of mobile OS development.

How would Windows 8 cope with the “free” nature of Android?

Licensing is something that we regularly see on laptops and PCs. If you want to use a certain version of Windows, you have to purchase its license rights. It might sting a bit that you still need to pay a certain amount of money for your built-PC’s OS, but hey, that’s how things normally work.

But so far, even if Linux-based operating systems are completely free, people still somehow want to use Windows. Why is that? It’s because they are pretty much accustomed to it already. It has been the dominant OS in the PC market for a long time, and people just got used to the idea that Windows is pretty much what they’ll basically need in a PC. The payment needed to license it is simply ignored, or is treated as a necessary expense.

In the world of tablets, Windows is certainly not the dominating player. In order of statistics, iOS is in the lead. But Apple always had their hardware and software bundled together, so there’s no competition software-wise. The next guy is none other than Android, and that’s where the question arises: how would this single pay-to-use player stake out against a comprehensive mobile OS that is developed, distributed, and licensed for free?

Perhaps it would be just like how Windows Phone OS are licensed to mobile phone manufacturers? ZTE have previously revealed earlier this year that the licensing cost of Windows Phone 7 was around $25. It may not sound much, but that shaved 3-5% could have been spent on improving at least one quality of the product. Think about how much Samsung saves on their Android-based smartphones.

If Windows 8 succeeds, would there be a change in mobile OS development trends?

Short answer, no, there’s probably no real issue even if Windows 8 manages to eventually dominate. The answer is pretty much the same as the very first statement of the article: proprietary will stay proprietary and free software would continue to be free. Apple licensing their iOS or OS X to other manufactures is just unthinkable, and Android would lose pretty much most of its charm if it eventually required a licensing fee.

Things could change though if there is a new player on the field, since the default business move would be to market any OS for a device as commercial proprietary software. RIM isn’t really a new player, but it seems that that is what they are planning to do. Their Blackberry 10 is primarily designed to be the next OS to be used on their mobile phone product lines. However there have been confirmed reports that they could license the OS to other hardware manufacturers.

But then there’s also the hybrid factor. Licensing for Windows 8 might gain ground from the simple fact that it is an OS that is transcendent across devices. Even with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) providing power to the latest tablet models, and even if there are already Android-based hybrid computers out there, it’s still a bit hard to resist an OS that can fully function both as a PC OS and as a mobile OS. The issue of paid licensing might even be naught with the eventual proliferation of hybrid laptops. Regardless though, for the PC side of the issue we’ll just have to bet on a reduced license price for the released OEM version.

Windows 8, which would debut in less about a month from now, is of course still lacking in this category. But this does not mean that there are hardly any useful apps for this new mobile OS platform. In fact there are a lot of interesting apps for Windows 8. Join us in this article as we introduce to you some of the more interesting mobile apps that you can use for a Windows 8 based portable machine.

Windows 8 Apps:

01. SkyDrive

It is probably one of the most basic apps that you’ll need on Windows 8, especially if you are actively using your Windows Live account. SkyDrive’s update for Windows 8 has been most promising, taking advantage of the Modern UI to provide the simplest, yet most functional interface that you can use on a cloud storage application.

Browse along in clean blue and green tiles as you check out your files, pictures and media. Oh and there’s also the obligatory Share option, which lets you take photos directly to major social networking websites.

02. Grantophone

One of the best things about touch-interfacing is the way buttons can be easily arranged to be anything. Grantophone transforms your screen into a musical instrument, laying out a whole set of keys for you to compose and edit music. You can also customize the instruments of course, allowing you to play a different sound from a different instrument by simply browsing the right-side menu.

The types of music that you can play with it are almost limitless and timeless, from classical, to rock, to modern techno music.

03. The Big Picture

The Big Picture is originally an award-winning photo blog from Boston.com.  It presents various stories and news from around the world using high-quality photos. The stories seem to become more compelling because of the way the images are blown to full size.

The app reflects most of the available content of the blog, though navigation is of course simplified. The pictures, when viewed from the app, seem to look even more engrossing, but that’s probably due to the way it is emphasized by the simple (almost unnoticeable) interface.

04. Physamajig

This is an app that tries to combine elements of realism and surrealism. It is basically just a free drawing app that lets you draw shapes and landscapes using the touchscreen. But what’s different in this app is that you can animate the drawings that you create with it. Your simple squares, rectangles and doodles can become a car, a jet, or even a person, depending on how you edit the environment.

The simulation effects of friction, gravity and shape dynamics makes the app “surrealistically real”.

05. Ashampoo ImageFX

Ever felt like messing around with your photos but was too underwhelmed or overwhelmed between MS Paint and Photoshop? Thankfully, the Ashampoo ImageFX app for Windows 8 lets you go into the middle line. Apply effects both like a beginner and a pro using an easy to use toolbar and interface. It can even perfectly integrate with your SkyDrive.

Does it seem like it’s just the same as those paint apps on other mobile OS platforms? It’s just your imagination.

06. WordPress

This tool app for WordPress bloggers already had its iterations on many mobile OS platforms. Its overall functionality to Windows 8 is no different; it still has most of the editing options, page lists, posts that you made, etc. It is interesting though to see the Modern UI interface usage for this version, as it looks a lot cleaner compared to its other versions.

As with many other app that uses media, it can easily integrate to Windows 8′s Charms menu for easy file sharing.

07. Vimeo

Ah yes, we are reminded once again that there is no YouTube app (yet) on Windows 8. A great alternative is Vimeo. Many videos on Vimeo, as you may have known are uploaded on a higher default resolution. Because it’s also not as popular as YouTube, you should find the video selection to be quite, wholesome.

In any case, accessing Vimeo may be your most enjoyable media experience in Windows 8 yet, with its very smooth interface and great media playing capability.

08. CookBook

Handy access to information is one of the most important aspects of having a tablet. The CookBook app proves this very well. There’s nothing groundbreaking in the app. No special menus. The interface seems like an ordinary paper book. But it has a comprehensive list of more than 200,000 recipes from the Big Oven service.

Search for a recipe that you want, look at the ingredients, and follow the detailed instructions. Just make sure that you get that Windows 8 mobile device convenient far from a kitchen gadget mishap.

Well, there are still a whole lot more Windows 8 mobile apps out there, but that about some of the interesting ones that we have found. Until the official release of Windows 8 though, we still won’t be able to fully use these apps on a portable machine.

Many of you who have tried the different previews may have a clear idea on what’s ahead, and some of us who have been doing our homework on the internet may be the same.

But what is the current scope of our knowledge of Windows 8? What are the information bits that we have collected and what has been publicly released so far?

We have compiled most of the important information available in this article, to see what we currently know about Windows 8 so far.

What’s New to Windows 8

As you may have already known, Windows 8 is a major technical shift by Microsoft from PC’s. Before, with the exception of the Windows Phone OS, they have been concentrating exclusively on the PC realm. But with the introduction of the tablet industry in 2010, the need for Microsoft to traverse the mobile frontier soon arose. Windows 8 presents a more touchscreen-oriented interface than Windows 7. It is now optimized for use in mobile devices such as tablet and smartphones.

The “Metro” or Modern UI is their primary gateway to the tablet world. If you have been using a Windows Phone OS smartphone, then you would be instantly familiar with its colored tiled design. If you have been using tablets, then you should already be accustomed to its simple browsing style. But, even though it is optimized for touchscreen devices, it still has the complete capabilities of a full OS. You can switch it anytime to a standard Windows 7-esque interface, allowing you to intuitively use the operating system as if it was a simple OS for a PC.

This double interface system is the most important feature of Windows 8, and makes it more versatile by default compared to other mobile OS platforms.

Windows 8 Versions

There are currently four major versions of Windows 8, namely Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows RT and Windows 8 Enterprise. The first three versions will be available for individual consumers (with two for separate software purchase), while the last one will be presented and offered to companies and other corporate organizations and businesses. Here is a short list of their functions and basic uses:

• Windows 8 – The standard Windows 8 OS. It is essentially the same as the Home Premium Edition of Windows 7. It is primarily aimed at consumers who simply want to enjoy the conveniences of the new OS.

• Windows 8 Pro – It is an upgraded form of the Windows 8 OS with more unlocked features. In Windows 7, its technical counterpart is the Ultimate Edition. Like its counterpart, this version would be best used by tech enthusiasts and business professionals who need to use more of the available “Windows 8 technologies”.

• Windows RT – A slightly simplified version of Windows 8. Windows is an operating system that dominantly relies on the use of x86 processors. Windows RT is designed to be able to move over this limit, to use ARM-based processors instead. As such, this version will be pre-installed on many future tablet models.

• Windows 8 Enterprise – Basically the same as Windows 8 Pro but added with a few IT organization features and options that you can use for business.

Purchase and Installation

Windows 8 is available on a hardware DVD format, and the boxed version of the Windows 8 Pro costs around $69.99. However it is more conveniently available as a downloadable upgrade, and the standard Windows 8 costs at around $14.99 today (it cost around $39.99 for PC’s purchased before June 2012).

If you already have a downloadable upgrade but would want a physical media, Microsoft can offer the DVD version for $15. But if you want your own copy, the upgrade installation process can allow you to burn a DVD or to create a bootable USB media for free. Of course, separate 32 and 64-bit versions are available for each edition. Windows RT is a pre-installed version so it can’t be purchased.

Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements of Windows 8 are, as expected, more or less that same to Window 7′s requirements. As stated by Microsoft you’ll need at least:

• A 1GHz processor
• 1GB RAM for 32-bit and 2GB RAM for 64-bit
• 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB HD space (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with at least WDDM 1.0 driver

Additionally, a screen resolution requirement of at least 1024×768 would be required to run Modern UI apps properly. A 1366×768 screen would also be required in order to properly enable Snap. It is a standard feature that automatically resizes an application window when it is dragged to the side of the screen. Well, that’s about if for all of the important points that we need to know about Windows 8 so far. Maybe they’ll still incorporate some changes a few weeks from now, but with its release just looming nearby, I think we’ll just have to patiently wait for the official release to really find out everything.

But it seems though that they are taking yet another direction in the tech industry. Windows 8 is currently the first type of OS that can freely change modes from mobile to full OS and vice versa. Some of you may have heard it already in various blogs and tech sites already, but it would seem that Samsung is joining the Windows 8 hybrid bandwagon, with the development and introduction of their new Series 5 and Series 7 hybrid laptops.

Series 5 and 7 Slates

Hybrid laptop-like machines have already been introduced to the market since last year. However these tablets are strictly sized at 10 inch, so when you attach it to the keyboard dock, it would look like an Android-based netbook. It was not until the arrival of Windows 8 did the idea of a full hybrid really bore fruit.

Initially, Samsung had just previously announced the existence of the Series 5 Hybrid Laptop. They even showcased a prototype of the product, presenting the same detachable screen that the Pad Transformer had, only with a different OS and a larger screen. The functionality of the tablet is powered by the dual OS nature of the Windows 8. You can use the tablet and access its Modern UI separately, or use the standard Windows 8 interface and type away like a regular laptop.

It was unknown at that time however that there is a more advanced version that is already in the works. It was later announced to be the Series 7 Slate. Both products look exactly the same in appearance, although the Series 7 has more or less double the specs compared to the previous version. It has a 1080p screen, as opposed to the regular 1366×768 screen of the series 5. It is also bundled with at least 4GB or RAM, and 128GB of solid-state storage space.

One interesting feature of the Series 5 and Series 7 slates is the nifty little widget that is found at the bottom center of the Windows 8 desktop screen. Many of you might be already frustrated at the fact that Windows 8 has totally abandoned its use of the traditional Start button. The widget acts as the start button, and when it is clicked or touched, it opens a programs interface that is very intuitively similar to the Start button of Windows 7. It even has a search bar at the bottom, and the arrangement of the destination options at the right should be very familiar to you.

Why the S Pen Might Be Pivotal to its Development

Samsung has been adamant at promoting their S Pen on other compatible mobile devices lately. Galaxy Note users may have remembered this handy little accessory that lets you treat the Galaxy Note like an interactive notebook. Well, it’s also coming to the Series 5 and Series 7 slates, and I believe that its presence is the most pivotal part of the hybrid laptops’ entire design. Let me explain briefly.

First of all, we could consider that hybrid laptops are the epitome of productivity as a gadget. With the combined functionality of Windows 8, it is possible to push almost any work or task on it efficiently. For typing jobs, the laptop mode is a standard. But for any other thing that requires intensive browsing, a sensitive device like the S Pen is the perfect tool to use. It is advertised to have 1024 levels of sensitivity, and retains the hovering cursor feature that it has on the Galaxy Note. You can use apps, check your SkyDrive files and browse the internet smoothly by just using its tip.

Another thing that makes the S Pen pivotal to the design of the Series 5 and 7 Slates is that the tablet can be used with greater precision and freedom than the Galaxy Note. Sure, a 5-inch screen is big, but it can sometimes still be a bit limiting. With a larger screen size, you could write down notes more efficiently. If you are using the Series 7, you might even be able to use the S Pen for drawing work if you are a computer graphics artist.

And one more thing, by using the S Pen more often, you also prevent the accumulation of smudges on the screen, making it easier and less tedious for you to switch from one mode to the other.

Windows 8 Phones are now looming close by. What does this spell out for their partnership? Would Nokia be able to gain a solid footing in the mobile phone industry again? Let’s discuss this by highlighting the new set of Nokia smartphones that would come with Windows 8.

Nokia Lumia 820

Mid range smartphones have always been marketed for one reason: to make better specs more available to consumers. The Nokia 820 does just that. It has a 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, and 1GB of RAM. It does not look that impressive, but it is still more than sufficient to run Windows 8 very nicely. Any user could surf smoothly and nicely in its controls with Windows Phone 8 very generous minimum specs. The interface animations and screen transitions were very clear, almost fluid, with apps from the OS menu almost instantaneously opening as soon as you touch the button.

Despite the impressive synergy of its specs with Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 820 still have a few shortcomings that could limit the potential of its new OS. The screen for example, uses an old WVGA resolution. The images still has a degree of roughness, despite the fact that it uses a bright OLED screen.

Still, the drawbacks still can’t deny that this is a real speedy and responsive smartphone. It’s good that even on mid level unit, Windows 8 can function as if the phone is a high end one.

Nokia Lumia 920

This is the alternative Windows 8 Phone from Nokia. Just like the Lumia 820, it is expected to benefit a lot from the technical speed and responsiveness of Windows Phone 8. There’s actually no sample model of the unit yet, but its base specs aren’t actually that different from the 820. It is practically the same 1.5 Ghz dual core and 1GB RAM, although its default internal memory is set at 32 GB. The screen technology is also noticeably different, using the sharper, crisper but less-bright IPS LCD technology.

Probably one of the best things about Lumia 920 is its continued adoption of Nokia’s PureView technology. It is a special proprietary feature that allows Nokia smartphones to be able to take high-quality photos regardless of the environment and lighting conditions. When combined with Windows Phone 8′s camera app, it provides you with the simplest experience in taking great quality pictures.

Expectations for the Upcoming Windows 8 Phones From Nokia

Many people who have experienced using a Windows Phone OS unit may be quite impressed at some of the new things that the Lumia 820 and 920 has to offer. The Windows Phone OS might be sorely lacking in a few departments, but it certainly holds its greatest merit in design innovation and ease of use as an input device.

In fact, Nokia would probably roll out many of new features in Windows Phone 8, such as the City Lens app (Microsoft’s version of Google’s “Project Glass”), as the trump card of their upcoming phone models. It might well be considered as the smartphones that can save Nokia from slowly going down behind other dominant players in the smartphone industry. Of course, this is just pure speculation, but this has got to be one of the most important updates both for Microsoft and for Nokia as of yet.

Windows 8 Phones versus Non-Windows Phone OS users

A majority of the public though, who mainly uses Android smartphones and iPhones, are somewhat unfazed at the looming presence of Nokia’s new Windows 8 super phones. Many people even complain about the lack of apps on the OS while there are already more than 100,000 available selections in the Windows Marketplace. There are also a considerable number of people who think that the grand publicity given by Microsoft to the new smartphones this is just another gimmick that it can use to try and dominate in another tech category (as laptop and PC sales lower down).

Perhaps just being different and unique isn’t enough? Windows Phone 8 may have enhanced the unique design innovations of its predecessors, but it could also have failed to strike a chord at people who are already using other mobile OS platforms. Whatever the reason is, I would still stand firmly at my belief that the Nokia 820 and 920 are the real deal breakers for Windows Phone 8.

Just like the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC have gone with the ‘candy-coated’ style design with quite an impressive list of features and a competitive spec to go with it. It seems HTC are looking for something completely different with Windows 8 after quickly falling out of favour with their Android devices.

”We’ve been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves. Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world.” – Peter Chou, Chief Executive of HTC.

HTC 8X Spec

• Display: 4.3” Gorilla Glass 2 – HD 720p
• Weight: 130g
• Size: 132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12 mm
• Photo camera: 8MP
• Chat Camera: 2.1MP
• Storage: 16GB
• CPU: Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz, Dual-Core
• RAM: 1GB
• Sensors: G-Sensor, Digital Compass, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor
• NFC: Yes

The HTC 8S will come with a slightly smaller screen at 4” and a weaker spec than the 8X, including a 5MP camera, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage.

HTC Windows Phone Colours

Just like the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X and 8S will be available in a variety of bright and vibrant colors which give it that unique ‘candy-coated’ appearance. These include: California Blue, Limelight Yellow, Graphite Black and Flame Red. All of which, we believe give the phone an amazing look.

The phones will then be given rounded edges and the traditional Windows Phone home screen interface which makes use of Live Tiles to help produce its minimalistic appearance.

HTC 8X Camera

HTC are going all out with the camera as well, packing in 8 megapixels with backside illuminated sensor, LED flash on top of HTC’s discrete imaging processor. The front-facing camera will have a 88-degree wide angle lens which will supposedly allow up to 4 people to be captured in one shot.

Release

The HTC 8X has been given a price tag of $199.99 and is expected to release early November, slightly earlier than the Nokia Lumia 920. It will launch with 140 mobile carriers over the world, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon in the U.S.
HTC will be facing tough competitive though, with Samsung and Nokia both releasing their Windows 8 phones around the same date.

Despite its extremely long name we’re expecting big things from the HTC Windows Phone 8X. Lets hope they don’t disappoint.

References:
Telegraph – HTC 8X and 8S Windows Phones Launch
CNet – HTC Windows Phone 8X

So anyway, Asus will be releasing three variants of their slates, the Asus Vivo Tab RT priced at $599, the Asus Vivo Tab priced at $799 and the top of the range Asus Taichi priced at, brace yourselves, $1299. The specs obviously get progressively better with each one as shown below:

Asus Vivo Tab RT:

• Starting Price: $599.



• Optional keyboard dock at $199.
• 10.1 Inch Super IPS+ Panel with 178 degree viewing angle.
• Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad Core CPU.
• Touch-Friendly Metro UI pre-loaded MS Office 2013.

Asus Vivo Tab:

• Starting Price: $799.



• Optional keyboard dock at $199.
• 11.6 inch Super IPS+ Panel with 178 degree viewing angle.
• Intel Atom Z2760
• Optional mobile dock.
• Touch-Friendly Metro UI + Windows Desktop UI in one system. Preloaded Microsoft Office Trial.

Asus Taichi:

• Starting Price: $1299.
• 11.6 inch dual Full HD IPS Panel 1920×1080 resolution.
• Dual screen device: Notebook + Tablet.
• Bang & Olufsen IcePower audio technology.
• Multi-touch dual panels for easy to share files between two users.

We’re not sure how these prices will compare to the other upcoming Windows 8 hybrid laptops but at first looks they do seem quite expensive.

The real question though is whether they are going to be good enough to be able to replace the need for traditional laptops in which case they should be worth every penny.

On the other hand, will they just be a ‘nice-to-have’ gadget which the cool kids will use to show off to their friends. In this case, they will probably be seen as being way overpriced and deemed a complete failure.

I suppose in a few months we’ll know the answer, I do have quite high expectations though.

But now that Windows is also moving into the mobile platform, SkyDrive is now also undertaking a major update, and this is something that we’ll need to see for ourselves. We’ll tell you what’s in store for you in SkyDrive for its Windows 8 update, and we’ll also take up a very short note on why this might be important on upcoming Windows 8 smartphones.

Features in Comparison With the Modern UI Environment

The first thing that you would notice in SkyDrive is of course the changed interface when you access it from the Modern interface. As soon as you open the app, the folders that you have in your account would appear as separate tiles. Generic blue tiles represent ordinary folders, while files with photos and images would be shown with one of the pictures inside the folder.

The files and documents in the SkyDrive are arranged in thumbnails by default. This is easily changeable to detail view with a simple touch of a button at the bottom blue toolbar when browsing the files. As always, if there is a file that is compatible with an office app, its thumbnail would automatically represent that program that it is associated with. Of course, because this is a cloud storage application, when accessing the files it would use the Web version of the Office tool. So far the only option that you have when you right-click a document is “delete”. The toolbar below though gives you other options like Clear, Save Local and Manage.

The pictures folder is intuitively arranged as image thumbnails. Clicking on one item automatically enlarges the file in full view. Conveniently, at full screen mode, you can open up a Share menu, giving you the option to automatically share the image directly to any major social networking sites with the simple one-click selection.

Just like the full OS version of the SkyDrive, the Modern UI SkyDrive can also integrate well with some of the other apps that are related to file management or your Windows Live account.  One example is that you can use SkyDrive throw in image files directly from your Photos app to your Mail app, and send them as e-mail attachments.

The total simplicity of the design makes it quick and efficient for anyone to manage their files in Windows 8 Modern UI SkyDrive. The controls, buttons and options are as simple as possible for easy and quick access. All in all, it’s has a nice touch that would make it pretty much intuitive for anyone who has used mobile versions of other popular cloud storage applications.

Limitations of the Windows 8 Update for SkyDrive

Of course, even with the refreshing interface and convenience options, there are still some things that the SkyDrive can’t do. One notable feature that it lacks in particular is a synchronization option. The files that are saved on your machine can’t be live-accessed with it. If you want to do that, you’d still have to install the updates that are present in the current SkyDrive client. It loses a few points to its functionality this way, but nevertheless this is something that would not totally undermine SkyDrive’s overall use.

Another minor drawback that I would like to mention about the Windows 8 update for SkyDrive is that it could still only run on machines with x86 processors. We know that Windows RT is slated to be used for ARM processors, so that leaves us with a hanging compatibility issue. Hopefully Microsoft would be able to sort this problem out as Windows 8 gets officially released.

SkyDrive on Windows Phone 8?

The convenience of having your files virtually accessible on all of your devices through the cloud is amazing. Media files in particular, are one of the most convenient files to save on a cloud storage application, though probably not as important as office files. And since we could use a Windows 8 Phones unit as a pocket PC, the experience would be just like using the SkyDrive on a full computer, at least in the way that it can be used to import a file for documentation.

So, I would imagine the experience of playing your uploaded videos on SkyDrive to be also quite good on a Windows 8 Phone, if not the same (with an iPhone or Android smartphone). It would probably be even better than its other versions on Android and iOS, simply because of it can integrate better with a 100% compatible OS. But that’s just speculation anyway.

But how will Windows 8 Phones fare this time? Let’s compare some of the more generic performance criteria to Android and iOS to give us a clearer view of its capabilities and specifications.

Look and Interface

The general interface of iOS and Android is represented by a grid, where icons leading to apps show at the home screen. Widgets can also be conveniently placed on the home screen, although smaller Android models require placing the widgets at other pages. The interface of these two mobile OS platforms is in contrast to the very simplistic “Metro” style interface of the Windows Phone OS.

For Windows 8 Phones, the interface hasn’t really changed, as the “Live Tiles” are still their primary alternative for standard app icons and widgets. The noticeable difference though this time is that the tiles are lot more customizable. You can freely stretch and resize the tiles to fit in more in the screen.

Samsung Ativ S

Browsing and Accessibility

In terms of OS browsing and accessibility, there is not much difference between the three mobile OS platforms. They all have more or less the same way of leading the user to various phone setting options, as well as how the apps are arranged in the apps menu. One obvious change of course is the way each app is shown in the programs menu of Windows Phone 8. They are presented in a slide down menu fashion, not like the grid-pattern structure of iOS and Android.

Media Storage Options

Android smartphones have full support for microSD cards by default since Android 2.2 (Froyo). iOS still doesn’t have microSD card support, and users would always have to rely on the iPhone’s internal storage. Thankfully, Windows 8 phones also have microSD card support, an upgrade that they have rightfully done ever since users of the Windows Phone 7 were struck in despair at the function’s unavailability.

Maps and Navigation

Since the eventual detachment of Google Maps from the iOS, they have developed their own maps app. The primary functions are providing traffic updates, points of interest and street-by-street navigation, which are more or less mainstream options.

Google Maps for Android is still regarded as one of the best map apps, providing not only all of those options, but also the fabled Street view. The Bing maps of Windows Phone 8 will be exclusively given to Nokia. It provides basic navigation, but is a bit better than iOS Maps in terms of providing dynamic public transit updates.

Near Field Communication (NFC) Options

The development of near field communication technologies has basically made it possible for smartphones to acts as our digital wallet. This is done by having the unit communicate wirelessly on an authorized device. For Android, we have the Android Beam and Google Wallet, and for the iOS we (partially) have the Passbook. Windows 8 phones have the Wallet Hub, a central transaction system that automatically manages and keeps your payments, deals, loyalty-cards, app purchases and even credit cards.

App Availability

The number of applications available to the iOS and Android had grown significantly as they were developed through the past few years. Both operating systems have already more than 600,000 apps, all designed different, have different functions and most are meant to make your use of the smartphone more productive in some way.

As Windows Phone 8 gets released, the number of apps developed for the mobile OS has already grown to 100,000. Not impressive comparatively, but we think that it is more than enough to boost your phone’s functionality. Besides, the number is expected to grow significantly as Windows 8 for PCs and tablets (and even the Windows 8 hybrid laptops) get released.

Calls and Messaging

The standard Messaging app in Android is more or less straightforward. Menus represent messages from contacts, draft messages are saved automatically, and unsent message strings gets a warning icon. iOS has better options though, having the option to seamlessly send messages across different kinds of devices using the iMessage.

Windows Phone 8 probably has the best in terms of integration, as you can send Skype, Facebook, and regular phone text message using the same interface. As for calling options, the iOS can provide call filtering, and Android can create auto-replies that would play when you decline a call. As for Windows Phone 8, well it can filter calls too, albeit manually.

A revival of this old concept however has been in the works for some time already, after the birth of the tablet industry. Asus for example, have their own line of “netbook tablets” such as the Transformer Pad 300. Microsoft, in their desire to tweak the still-present touchscreen interfacing errors of Windows 7, now tries to merge the PC and the tablet realm with Windows 8. The upcoming new hybrid laptops that will support the OS might just be the complete turnaround that their old counterparts need, and we are sure to see a different “twist” in their designs this time around.

Windows 8 Hybrid Laptops

Flipping, Sliding, Bending, Twisting.. What Else?

Windows 8 hybrid laptops would most likely not just fall under one category or configuration. For the most part, we would most likely see tablet units that can be docked to a dedicated keyboard, but there would also be other configurations such as a full laptop that uses a touchscreen, and “convertibles”, units that can slide, twist, and swivel the screens much like the older tablet computers. Let’s introduce some of the most noteworthy ones to give us a more detailed view of these different screen adjusting options:

• Asus Transformer Book and Acer W510 – These two Windows 8 hybrid computers extend the concept that was already used in most keyboard dock based products: a simple detachable screen. This time however, these units are not using Android, but an OS that can also change browsing modes depending on the user’s preference.These two tablets though are contrasted by the fact that the Acer W510 stays at a standard tablet size of 10-inch, while the Transformer book have its own 11, 13 and 14-inch versions.

Left – Asus Transformer Book. Right – Acer W510

• Asus Taichi – An upcoming Windows 8 hybrid computer from Asus that bears the same eccentricity as their previous dual touchscreen panel PC.The idea is not as wild this time though, as this ultrabook/tablet hybrid uses the touch screen back to back with a regular screen on the unit. It’s been advertised to be capable of having two users at the same time. Presumably, the one using the touch screen would use the Metro UI while the one on the other side uses the standard Windows interface.

• Toshiba Satellite U925t and Vaio Duo 11- If it can’t be detached, it might as well be “slidable”. That’s how these two Windows 8 hybrid laptops show off their new screens. If you’re familiar with the Asus EEE Pad Slider, then the concept should already be very familiar.These two units offer full sized keyboards, so regular typing work won’t feel any different from using a standard laptop, in case you’ll need it for productivity.

Left – Toshiba Satellite U925t. Right – Vaio Duo 11

• Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga- Other Windows 8 hybrid computers might need to be detached or slid off to be used as a tablet, but this one only needs to bend around itself.The name of the unit speaks for itself, as you could turn the IdeaPad Yoga 360 screen degrees backwards. There should be a way to prevent the user from accidentally pressing the keys on tablet mode though, or it would be a bit tricky to use. As with most of Lenovo’s recent laptop and ultrabook models, this too would feature an Accutype keyboard.

• Dell XPS Duo 12- If doing a Yoga stance and turning 360 degrees isn’t you unit’s cup of tea, then maybe a simple “flip board” style configuration might work.Meet the Dell XPS Duo 12, the Windows 8 hybrid laptop that can flip and turn 360 degrees like a flip board. While the model itself is relatively new, the screen flipping idea was actually borrowed from an earlier Dell laptop design. It will be available in traditional 10-inch and full HD 12-inch screen sizes.

• Samsung Series 5 and Series 7 Slates- Okay, so their screen detaching idea isn’t really different from the Transformer Book, but it is probably one step closer to the actual classic design of early tablet computers. This is because even though their screens are also detachable, they prioritize on the inclusion of the S Pen input feature to the unit.That’s right; the convenient and intuitive feature that was introduced to the Galaxy Note will be natively available to Series 5 and Series 7 slates. It’s like an upgrade to the classic Windows XP laptops that have stylus-equipped detachable touchscreens.

Samsung Series 7 Slate

• Microsoft Surface- Of course, how can we forget Microsoft’s own contender in the hybrid computer category.The ever controversial and still quite elusive Microsoft Surface does not need to detach, flip or turn, as it’s not connected to a full keyboard dock in the first place. Its Touch Cover would act both as the screen cover of the unit and as an ultra-slim keyboard. The tablet itself would simply be supported by a built-in kickstand.

As for the specs, most of these are more or less the same, featuring standard ultrabook level specifications (SSD, 4-8GB RAM, 8MP cameras, USB 3.0 ports, etc.), with a little balancing tablet specs. The processor, if not ARM-based, would most likely be a mobile-type third generation i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge Intel processor.