GeekwithEnvy

Mobile

Microsoft Introduces New Sculpt Mouse

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With Windows 8 beginning  to really settle in, it seems that Microsoft has decided to launch a new mouse to make the whole experience feel better. The Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Mouse is designed to work Windows and it also has some features that are specifically for Windows 8.

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Sculpt Comfort Mouse

 

The most obvious feature on the mouse is the Windows Touch Tab, which is the big blue strip on the side mouse that allows you to quickly return to the Start Screen when pressed in the center. With Windows 8, if you swipe up on the blue strip you can switch between open apps, if you swipe down it will show you all open apps. The stripe can also be used to open the Start menu on older versions of Windows.

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The wheel offers up four way scrolling and the mouse movement is captured using Microsoft’s BlueTrack technology. This mouse is wireless and uses bluetooth which will also allow you to connect it to a tablet. You can also get a mobile version of this mouse which boasts many of the same features except that it lacks the blue Windows strip on the side.

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Sculpt Mobile Mouse

 

The Sculpt Comfort is selling for $39.95 and the mobile version is selling for $29.95. You can read the full hardware specifications on Microsoft’s hardware page.

Microsoft Heating up the War on Apple

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It’s quite obvious that the iPad is successful but what about the competition? What about the ASUS Vivo Tab RT? We see it but why should we buy it over an iPad? There hasn’t been a lot of companies, including Microsoft, that have been willing to make direct comparisons to the iPad, we don’t see a lot of the “I’m better than you and here’s why” type of advertising. So, you can imagine that it would be kind of refreshing to see an ad like this pop up on TV every now and then, and that’s exactly what’s happening.ApplevMicrosoft

Full disclosure, I own an iPad and love it, but I know, and I’m sure all of you know, that’s it’s far from perfect and it often seems like the competition just completely avoids talking about the iPad and it’s limitations.

You may be thinking, why do we care and as an iPad user why do I care? Well, the simple answer is that we will all benefit from intense competition. The more back and fourth there is the better the products get, it creates an environment that’s favorable for innovation and creativity. Remember the Space Race? Sometimes we even see price drops because of aggressive advertising.

This latest commercial is bold, to the point, and makes a direct comparison the iPad. Will it work? Who knows? but it definitely makes things interesting and can cause these companies to re-think things and possibly add new features just to try to silence the competition. You can see the commercial below.

 

iPad Could Cause Serious Problems with Defibrillators

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Apparently the magnets in the iPad 2, which are used for the Smart Cover, can completely shut down implanted defibrillators if left on the chest while sleeping. This is clearly a big deal if you rely on an internal defibrillator to keep you up and running.

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Implanted Defibrillator

Fourteen-year-old Gianna Chien discovered this problem during a science fair project and soon she will be sharing her discovery with the Heart Rhythm Society.

Many defibrillators shut off in the presence of a magnet due to a magnetic switch which is used as a safety feature. Some devices turn on after the magnet is moved away but some require you to have them turned on manually.

This is clearly a major problem as millions of people own the iPad 2 and the situation in which the issue occurs is very common. Fortunately, this young girl’s discovery can bring awareness to this issue and possibly save lives.

 

Microsoft Wants Nook Content for $1 Billion

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Microsoft is reportedly looking to acquire the digital portion of Nook Media LLC and they are offering up $1 Billion for the deal. This move, if made, could help boost Microsoft in the e-book market along with a stronger presence in education, an area that Microsoft could use some help. It’s important to note that it doesn’t appear that Microsoft has any interest the hardware that Nook has, just it’s “digital assets”.

Nook hasn’t really seen great sales as of late and struggles to get any significant traction among similar hardware. This acquisition by Microsoft could prove to be beneficial for everyone involved but it’s still unclear whether or not a deal like this will go through.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 is on It’s Way (Video)

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Yes, it’s actually going be be here. Thanks to this funny video poking fun at how long it has taken for PopCap to create the sequel to the original, we now have a time frame for the release date.

It looks like Plants vs Zombies 2 will be available sometime in July and the official title will be, Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time.  The video doesn’t provide us with much else besides a bit of humor, we will just need to hang in there a bit longer for some gameplay footage or screenshots.