Though Microsoft remain tight-lipped over just how many Surface tablets they've managed to flog around the world, new research from analytics firm Strategy Analytics suggests that the company's Windows 8 software has at least inspired consumers to take a punt on Windows tablets.

Looking at the tablet market during the first quarter of 2013, the report shows that Windows tablet demand is on the up, with 3.4 million slates packing the Microsoft OS (from numerous manufacturers) shipping during the period.

That gives the Microsoft OS a 7.5% tablet market share, trailing behind Apple's iOS iPads (48.2%) and the multitude of Android tablets (43.4%) from basically every consumer tech company in the world that isn't Apple. Though only a small chunk of the pie, 7.5% share after 5 months release against two well established tablet giants isn't half bad.

Keep in mind that Strategy Analytics aren't explicitly defining what constitutes a Windows 8 tablet here - with the operating system in its many guises working across tablets and convertible touchscreen notebooks, it's possible that these figures are also taking in sales of those machines too.

Windows 8 is a grower: you'll be frustrated with it at first, seemingly moving things around just for the sake of it, but give it time and you'll find it a pretty comfortable progression from Windows 7. For many though, that "Metro" Start screen is still an issue, with plenty hoping to be able to just jump straight to the standard desktop view after booting.

With a leaked version of the Windows Blue update now in the wild, Russian Blog Microsoft Portal are suggesting that this feature may indeed soon be offered by the Redmond company.

They've spotted a revamped twinui.dll file that will check either a registry key or policy setting to set whether or not a user wants to see the divisive Start screen, with the value tagged CanSuppressStartScreen within the DLL.

So why would Microsoft perhaps be thinking of offering the option to skip entirely the most-publicised addition to their latest operating system? It seems it will be to appease enterprise users, who need to milk every working second they can get, rather than getting to grips with a new interface. IT Administrators may be more open to upgrading systems to Windows 8 if the Start screen can be skipped.

Even without a simple UI option to implement the Start screen skip, it's still possible to jump straight to the desktop view in Windows 8. Users need only add the Explorer.exe to the CurrentVersion\Run registry key.

The Windows 8 Blue update is expected to land before the end of the year, with a public preview likely following Microsoft's annual developers conference in June.

There's a neat all-in-one Windows 8 PC from Medion doing the rounds at Asda at the moment, letting you pop a computer in your trolley along with your "big shop" groceries.

A budget all-in-one that has sharp looks if basic internal hardware, the Medion Akoya P2004 is a 23.6-inch non-touch machine packing all its processing tech into the back of the Full HD 1080p screen.

A dual-core 3.2GHz Core i3 processor backed by 4GB of RAM won't set the world on fire, while the 1TB hard drive and DVD burner are standard features.

The cost however is pretty reasonable, landing at £499.99 with a 24 month warranty as an Asda supermarket exclusive. That's Asda price.

The full specs list is as follows:

* Model MEDION AKOYA P2004
* CPU 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i3-3220 Processor
* Panel 23,6" screen with Full HD 1080p and LED backlight technology - non touch
* Graphic Intel® HD graphics 2500 (on board)
* Chipset Intel® H61 Express Chipset
* Memory 4096 MB DDR3 RAM
* HDD 1000 GB HDD - SATA
* Webcam 1,0 MP Webcam incl. Microphone
* Optical Drive Multiformat DVD/CD Burner with DVD-RAM and dual layer support1
* Sound 6 Channel Audio
* Wireless LAN Wireless LAN 802.11 n Standard included
* Connectivity Rear: 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x HDMI In, 1x HDMI out, 1x Mic in, 1x Line out, 1x LAN in. Side: 2x USB 2.0, 1x Mic in, 1x Headphone, 7-in-1 Multi-card reader3
* Keyboard/Mice Wireless Keyboard and optical Mouse
* Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 64 Bit
* Office Software Office 365 Home Premium (one-month free trial version) - Buy Microsoft Office to activate the full range of functions in Office software.
* Application Software 1 CBL W8 DVD Combo (DT-A) Software Pack
* Anti-Virus Software Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 (90 Day Trial)[4]
* Warranty/Service 24 Months Warranty

Microsoft have confirmed in a blog post that the forthcoming Windows 8 "Blue" operating system update is on its way, but will land under a different name once it's officially released.

Frank Shaw, the company's VP of corporate communications, told the world that the Blue labelling is only an internal concern with "the chances of products being named thusly are slim to none."

The update is expected to further close the gap between the Windows 8 and mobile Windows Phone 8 operating systems, tying services across the two together. As such, a Windows Phone 8 "Blue" update is also expected at some point later this year.In terms of pricing, the update is also expected to be far cheaper than the generational-upgrade to Windows 8. Taking a lead out of Apple's Mac OSX book, Microsoft are now looking to update the OS on an annual basis, requiring a user to cough up only a small chunk of money for a host of new features each year.

What will those features be though? A leak over the weekend gave us our best indication yet, which included far greater customisation options over Windows 8's Start screen Live Tiles, improved split-screen multitasking and the inclusion of Internet Explorer 11.

Microsoft are hosting their annual Microsoft's Build developer conference over 26 - 28 June at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Expect some more concrete details to arrive then.

Windows Blue, the forthcoming update to the Windows 8 operating system, has been leaked in a series of screenshots at WinForum, giving us a good look at what Microsoft have planned next for their latest OS.

Among the changes coming is greater control over customisation of the Start tiles interface, letting you resize app tiles to be even smaller - handy for those lesser-used applications.The Snap Views option will also be expanded, letting you share a screen 50/50 between different apps, as well as doing the same across multiple monitors.

Sky Drive integration gets updated too, including automatic camera uploads and further back-up options. There will also be a new tab-sync option, letting you check out what tabs you have open on other Windows 8 device browsers.Windows Blue will also see the introduction of Internet Explorer 11, but beyond the logo screenshot above little else about the new web browser is revealed.

No word yet on the Windows Blue release date, but the public preview is expected to land in the next few months. Safe money is on a release around late Autumn.

Dell's latest attempt to bring the worlds of mobile touch and desktop computing together have been on show at this year's SXSW festival.

The company have been showcasing their new XPS 18 All-in-one machine, an 18.4-inch Windows 8 computer with touchscreen smarts and a kickstand, letting it work as comfortably as an on-the-go tablet as it does a stationary desktop computer.

Well, as comfortable as an 18.4-inch machine ever is - it's hardly iPad Mini portable, but weighing less than five pounds at least it wouldn't give you a hernia trying to move it about.

Aside from the full HD resolution of the screen and the near-certain baked in flash storage, little is known about the XPS 18 All-in-One. We'll keep you posted with full specs, pricing and release info as we get it.

It's not the first time we've seen machines of this ilk however - last year we saw Sony's Vaio Tap 20 hit stores, while ASUS took a slightly different path with the docking 18.4 inch dual-booting Transformer AiO this year.

Microsoft have announced the launch of Play for Windows 8, a new initiative that looks to put Xbox Live Arcade games from the Xbox 360 console onto computers, smartphones and tablets running their latest operating system.

Promoting the cross-device smarts of the Windows 8 OS, the Microsoft Studios project launched with a line-up of 15 games (many of which will already be familiar to Xbox 360 gamers) and all but one (Toy Soldiers 4) also compatible with the Microsoft Surface tablet line.

The full list of titles is as follows:

• Toy Soldiers 4
• Elements: Special Edition
• Hydro Thunder Hurricane, Rocket Riot 3D
• Reckless Racing Ultimate
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection
• Microsoft Mahjong
• Microsoft Minesweeper
• Taptiles
• Adera
• Pinball FX2
• Wordament
• Gunstringer: Dead Man Running
• Ilomilo+, Skulls of the Shogun.

With sales of Windows 8 growing steadily and now said to number in excess of 60 million, Microsoft will be keen to promote the operating system as a good choice for gamers, especially when Valve's Gabe Newell (arguably THE key player in PC gaming thanks to the success of the Steam store) continues to slam Windows 8.

Name: Toshiba Satellite P845t-101

Type: Touchscreen laptop

Review Model Specifications: Click here for full specs

Price: £749

The Windows 8 revolution is in full swing, with every laptop manufacturer worth their salt putting out touchscreen-packing laptops. Toshiba's Satellite P845t-101 is one of the first to hit the market, offering a 10-point touchscreen display alongside a traditional laptop form-factor. But is it a comfortable feature to use, and is it worth the extra price premium? Read on to find out!

Toshiba's Satellite P845t-101 sits at the premium end of mid-range machines from Toshiba. Packing in a Core i5-3317U processor clocked at 1.7GHz (2.6GHz with Turbo Boost), it houses 6GB of RAM, using Intel's HD Graphics 4000 rather than a discrete graphics chip. It's a comfortably powerful laptop that jumps through the Windows 8 modern UI tile interface (or "Metro" if you prefer) with ease, handling multiple simultaneous video streams, general office functions and casual gaming without a stutter, but those looking to do any substantial 3D gaming or big video editing projects will quickly cause it to buckle.The slight premium in price is accounted for with a 14-inch capacitive touchscreen display capable of taking in 10 simultaneous points of touch input. Though we've been skeptical of touchscreen laptops in the past, the experience we had with the Satellite P845t-101 was a surprisingly pleasant one. Responsive to the touch, with the internal hardware more than up to the task of processing our actions lag-free, we found ourselves using the touchscreen far more than we had expected to. Indeed, some of the quirkier, more troublesome gestures and UI elements of the Windows 8 operating system are more easily overlooked when touch control is involved, and as such the hybrid pairing of physical and touchscreen controls certainly seems the best way to enjoy Microsoft's latest OS in our opinion. It also makes the laptop a little more accessible for the less tech-y out there; pre-installed games like Cut the Rope and Doodle God were just as enjoyable on the laptop as they would be on an iPad or comparable tablet device.

It's not perfect though. For starters, Toshiba's 16:9 panel runs at a lowly 1366 x 768 resolution, the bare minimum we'd find acceptable in a portable machine these days. It's a bright screen, but viewing angles are tight and colours feel generally washed out. However, its glossy coating does well to avoid picking up too many unsightly finger marks, something that will be a challenge for touchscreen laptop manufacturers going forward.The laptop itself is reasonably attractive, with a textured chrome finish used throughout, but eschews the ultra-slim trend currently in vogue. Measuring 349x234x29mm and weighing roughly 2KG, it's a chunky machine that will feel burdensome on an extended journey. The extra heft does allow for a decent array of ports to be included though, with a generous 3 USB 3.0 ports onboard, alongside an Ethernet port, a HDMI-out and headphone jack, as well as the option of hooking up an external monitor. You also get a DVD drive (a dying breed), which suffers from using a tiny, finicky eject button - you'll too often find yourself fruitlessly pushing against the inner spring mechanism rather than hitting the button itself.

We also noticed a slight gap between the keyboard and screen lid when the laptop was closed, something that could lead to screen damage if something were to slide between the two sections when stored away in a bag.The keyboard is comfortable to use over extended periods. Keys are a nice size with good travel, and are gently backlit for late-night sessions. The glossy finish however can make them feel a little sticky under your fingertips, but on the whole its one of the better laptop keyboards we've used recently. There's no numberpad, but a selection of media shortcut keys are useful for movie watching or skipping through playlist tracks.A large single button trackpad (designating left and right mouse clicks to either side of the pad) is included, with a smooth finish that was lovely to use. Windows 8 gestures were easy to trigger (perhaps a little too easy). It's worth noting though that, if you do find yourself regularly using the touchscreen, you'll likely find yourself brushing the trackpad and triggering unwanted input - an unavoidable side-effect of this form factor unless some sort of proximity sensor is implemented.Just above the keyboard below the screen's right edge sits a small, circular backlit power button, and below that on either side of the keyboard is the stereo speakers, here provided by Harman Kardon. They're a cut above most laptop speakers, especially in comparison to slimline ultrabooks. They crank up surprisingly loudly, suffering only from an exaggerated bass and loss of detail in the mid ranges.

A regular HDD, rather than SSD or hybrid storage solution, is onboard, offering up 640GB of storage space. It's a decent amount of space, but Toshiba have popped a fair amount of bloatware on here, including McAfee virus protection, the Wildtangent games hub, Toshiba's own Video Player, as well as Amazon, eBay and Netflix apps. While the last three are likely to be of use to most users, they won't be for everyone, and should not be forced on them. The lack of an SSD drive or hybrid alternative also makes for lengthy boot times; you're looking at on average a 45 second wait from a cold boot.Battery life was more impressive however. With the moderate strain of continuous video streaming at full brightness, we squeezed over 3 and a half hours out of the battery from a single charge. Being a chunky machine, its likely the laptop will be tied to a wall socket and desktop for most of its life, but it's good to know you'd just about get through all of Lawrence of Arabia should the mood take you. The laptop managed to maintain a comfortably low heat too, with only a low (if regular) whirring sound kicking in when the computer started to heat up.

Verdict:

It's a solid start to touchscreen Windows 8 laptops for Toshiba then. The Satellite P845t-101 handles touch input with ease, and you'll find yourself perhaps surprised at how often you'll be swiping away at the screen. The build of the laptop itself leaves a bit to be desired, as does the visual quality of the display, but overall the Satellite P845t-101 is worthy of its slight premium over similarly spec'd machines.

You can count on Razer to deliver unusual gaming hardware goods (just check out last week's OrbWeaver), and they've delivered yet again at this years CES with the Razer Edge gaming tablet.

An updated version of last year's Project Fiona prototype, the Razer Edge is a 10-inch full Windows 8 tablet that's just as comfortable as a portable PC gaming machine as it is tablet or even desktop replacement.

Two models are available, the Razer Edge and the Razer Edge Pro. The entry level unit starts at around £650 and packs in a Core i5 processor, discrete Nvidia GT 640M GPU, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The £1000 Pro model jumps up to a Core i7 with the same Nvidia GPU, 8GB of RAM and either a 128 or 256GB SSD depending on who much extra cash you're willing to lay out.
With those specs (especially the Pro model) you'll be able to do some serious gaming on the Edge, and thanks to a control pad convertor case that packs in analogue sticks and mechanical buttons, you'll be able to play any number of gamepad enabled PC games through Steam's Big Picture mode. HDMI-out also allows the tablet to be hooked up to a big screen HDTV.

Battery life is said to be comparable to other tablets, which should offers something between 8 to 10 hours of usage, with an option battery pack adding another two hours on top.
A keyboard and dock add-on, expected to land later in the year, will allow the Fiona to become a fully-fledged desktop replacement too, letting shooter fans add a mouse for pinpoint sharpshooting. Its one drawback? That touchscreen is running at a lowly 1366 x 768, which isn't all that sharp at all, but is likely a conscious constraint to keep 3D games running at a smooth pace.

Expected to roll out in the US before the Spring, it's easily one of the most exciting and well-considered devices at the show.

Click here for more news from CES 2013

Things don't seem to be going too well for the Microsoft Surface RT Windows 8 tablet. The Redmond-based company's first full push into the hardware market has been met with a consumer response so muted that the company are now said to have halved their order from the supply chain, according to DigiTimes.

Microsoft, who had hoped to shift 4 million of the devices by Christmas, have now requested just 2 million extra units from their manufacturers.

DigiTimes haven't got the best track record when it comes to accurate reports, but the news does chime in tune with earlier reports suggesting that Microsoft found initial Surface sales to be "disappointing". Indeed, Steven Sinofsky, the man in charge of Windows 8 and its push into the tablet market, left the company unceremoniously following Windows 8's launch.

Windows 8 tablets across the board seem to be sharing similar problems, with Asus, Samsung and Dell's Windows 8 tablets hardly flying off shelves, with sources describing their sales as "weak". Asus' chief finance officer even previously admitted that "demand for Windows 8 is not that good right now," despite the company investing lots in the new software.

Microsoft are now banking on the Surface Pro tablet (which runs full-fat Windows 8) to be a success, which is set for a January release. A post-Christmas launch however is never a good time for consumers' wallets, and recent reports of the Pro edition's lacklustre battery life will have to be overcome too.

The ASUS Taichi has once again been delayed, leaving those hoping to nab one of the dual-screen ultrabook convertibles for Christmas hanging.

An ASUS spokesperson contacted PC, stating in an email that though the device would miss its November shipping date, the company still hoped to get it in stores before the end of December, in the US at least. No reason has been given for the delay.

It's the second time the wacky laptop has been delayed, after first missing its initial October launch date, which would have coincided with the launch of Microsoft's Windows 8.

Many US retailers have no topped taking pre-orders for the device, while UK retailer Expansys still has a November 19th release date on its pre-order page.

As well as sporting dual-screens (one touch, one regular), the lightweight laptop also packs in a 128GB SSD and 4GB RAM.

For our full in-depth hands-on preview of the ASUS Taichi, click here.

You buy a tablet with 32GB of storage slapped on the box and, with allowance for the operating system, a few built in apps and the slight binary loss of usable storage space, you'd expect to find something at least close to 32GB of usable storage space for the end user, wouldn't you? 28 or 29, maybe even 25 gigabytes would be acceptable. But 16GB of user storage from a tablet sold as a 32GB model? That's a joke.

And it's a joke being played on owners of a Microsoft Surface RT tablet. Once Windows RT, Microsoft's Office apps, 8GB of other pre-installed apps, 5GB of Windows recovery tools and that binary storage loss has eaten into the built-in storage allowance, all you're left with from a "32GB" Surface RT tablet is roughly 16GB.

Compare that to iOS, which leaves a 32GB iPad with 29GB, and Android, which leaves a 16GB Nexus 7 with 13GB, and you're left with a far bigger storage footprint from Microsoft's software.

Seeing as the 32GB size at a price lower than Apple's comparative 32GB iPad is one of Surface's main selling points, it's an issue that should be communicated better to potential buyers. Sure, the Surface RT supports microSD cards and Skydrive cloud storage (among other cloud-based services), but that'll come as small comfort to those feeling duped by Microsoft's marketing.

Via: ZDNet

Windows 8 is being installed by users at a rate 5 times slower than that seen following the launch of predecessor Windows 7, a new report has suggested.

Net Applications' data monitoring services have spotted that by the end of October, only 0.45 per cent of all PCs were running the latest OS from Microsoft.

Compare that to 2.33 percent by the end of October for Windows 7, and it's certainly a slower start for WIndows 8.

There's a discrepancy of four days however between Windows 8's 26 October 2012 launch and Windows 7's 22 October 2009 launch, though that's not reason enough for such a substantial difference in sales.

Even with the four day discrepancy aside, there's perhaps a simpler explanation as to why Windows 8 is off to a slower start. People really like Windows 7, and are unlikely to be in a rush to change it. Compare that to how anxious people were to upgrade to Windows 7 from the disastrous Vista or ageing Windows XP.

There's also the new "Metro" Windows UI that's been popped into Windows 8, which may be discouraging some casual users from upgrading for fear of having to learn new software once again.

Still, with Windows 8 to have a lifespan of years rather than months, expect this number to steadily, comfortably rise.

Microsoft have confirmed that 4 million customers paid for an upgrade to the new Windows 8 PC operating system in just three days after the operating system became available.

Speaking at Microsoft's annual BUILD conference, CEO Steve Ballmer said that Windows 8 is already on track to prove more popular than even the mega-successful Windows 7.

"The level of embrace from enthusiasts, from people who want to get out there, is very, very high," said Ballmer, stating that the company had "sold tens of millions of units to our corporate customers."

The current popularity of Windows 8 is likely in part down to the affordable upgrade options the company have made available, and a fair sight cheaper than Windows 7 was.

Customers can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just £24.99, with the DVD version of the software costing £49. By comparison Windows 7 upgrades were first sold for £49.99 for a Home Premium version and £99.99 for an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.

Via: ArsTechnica

Microsoft's SmartGlass second-screen solution for the Xbox 360 gaming console will launch on October 26 alongside Windows 8. The app will let tablets and smartphones interact with the Xbox 360 console, acting as companion devices to the action onscreen, letting you navigate media playback and receive supplementary information to go along with select games and apps, as well as acting as a controller for the newly-introduced Internet Explorer web browser on the console.

The app will initially work with Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT devices, while those hoping to interact with an Android or iOS device will have to wait until early 2013 for that compatibility to launch.An Xbox Live Gold account is needed for some SmartGlass features to work.

The full list of SmartGlass-compatible apps s as follows. Note some of these are US-only, while Microsoft says there'll be additions to each category in the coming months and weeks:

Games:

Ascend
Dance Central 3
Forza Horizon
Halo Waypoint
Home Run Stars
Karaoke
Kinect Sesame Street TV
Prima Games

Sports:

ESPN
NBA Game Time
UFC

Entertainment Apps:

Elections 2012
HBO GO
MSN
NBC News
NOW TV
Slacker Radio
TODAY
Univision

Microsoft's Stevie Bathiche, the "co-inventor" of the Surface RT Windows 8 tablet, has taken a Reddit Q and A session to defend the Surface tablet's low-resolution screen, claiming that it in fact offers more detail than the high-resolution Retina display found on iPads/

Despite having just a 1366 x 768 screen compared to the new iPads 2048 x 1536 Retina display, Bathiche, director of research at Microsoft's Applied Sciences Group, claims that the Surface is in fact easier to read. He stated that it's down to more than just a higher resolution when it comes to making a screen that's easy on the eye.

"The true measure of resolvability of a screen called Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), not pixels," Bathiche wrote.

"MTF is a combination of both contrast and resolution.There are over a dozen subsystems that affect this MTF number. Most folks just focus on one number out of dozens that affect perceived detail. Without good contrast resolution decreases.

"Basically, as resolution/DPI increases the eye becomes less sensitive. So as a result, the amount of light in a room and the reflections off the screen have a huge effect on the contrast of the display."In fact, a small amount of reflection can greatly reduce contrast and thus the perceived resolution of the display."

Bathiche added that Microsoft's in-house testing has apparently proved that less light is reflected by the Surface RT's screen compared to the iPad, meaning that it's easier for users to pick out finer details than even with the hi-res Retina screens:

"While this is not official, our current Cleartype measurements on the amount of light reflected off the screen is around 5.5-6.2 percent, the new IPad has a measurement of 9.9 percent mirror reflections.

"Doing a side by side with the new iPad in a consistently lit room, we have had many people see more detail on Surface RT than on the iPad with more resolution."

The Microsoft Surface RT tablet hits stores next week, so it won't be long now until users can put Bathiche's claims to the test.

Via: Reddit

Microsoft have finally revealed UK pricing information for their Surface RT tablet, set to land on 26 October.

In the UK, the Surface pricing starts at £399 for the 32GB version. The Touch Cover (available in black, white, magenta, cyan and red) cost £99.99 each, while the Type Cover in black costs £109.99.

US pricing has also ben confirmed, and goes into a little more detail about the other models in the Surface range. You're looking at $499 price for a 32GB version, a 32GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover for $599; and a 64GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover for $699. If sold separately, the Touch Cover in the US will cost $119.99, while the Type Cover costs $129.99.

In all, the Surface tablet will launch in eight countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Landing just a few short days after the announcement of the iPad Mini, it'll be great to see two of the world's biggest tech companies duking it out in the tablet market.

It's nearly here; Microsoft's long-awaited Windows 8 operating system lands on 26 October, and with that launch date now only a matter of weeks away, pre-orders for the OS and systems running it have now opened.

Boxed copies of Windows 8 start at $69.99 stateside (UK pricing to follow), while digital download upgrades cost $39.99. That's roughly £45 and £25 respectively.

If you've only just recently bought a Windows 7 PC (between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013, to be precise), you're entitled to a cheaper digital upgrade of just $14.99.

Dell, Sony, Samsung, ASUS, Acer and HP all have begun showing their wares, with Dell the first announcing pricing for their Windows 8 products.

Kicking off with Dell, they've popped their XPS 12 up for sale, revealing their convertible tablet/laptop hybrid will sell for £999 ($1200).

Dell are also touting the XPS One 27, their 27-inch all-in-one Windows 8 touchscreen desktop machine, starting at £1,779 ($1,599). A 23-inch version is also available, starting at £879.

Other legacy Dell products in the company's current XPS, Inspirion, Precision, Latitude and Optiplex lines will also go on sale sporting the new OS.

After a summer's worth of teases, HP have finally lifted the lid on their business focussed Windows 8 tablet, the HP ElitePad 900.

Initially popping up in an advert in July, and glimpsed on the HP official blog, it's now been outed as a 10.1 inch tablet (16:10 ratio) running Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet, touching down in January 2013. Running from an Intel mobile processor, it measures up at just 9.2mm thick with a weight of 680 grams.

The screen (protected from scuffs and scrapes with Gorilla Glass 2), sits beneath a 1080p front-facing camera for video calling through HP's YouCam software. The rear houses an 8MP snapper, while there's also 4G connectivity available too.

It's a tough tablet all around, beyond even the Gorilla Glass screen, with HP touting a vibration, dust, extreme temperature and high altitude protective design.There's also a host of sold-seperately add-ons available for the tablet, further expanding its potential.

Firstly, there's the HP ElitePad Productivity Jacket, which adds a detachable keyboard and connections including an SD Card reader. The jacket also acts a stand, letting you adjust the sitting angle of the tablet.

Then there's the ElitePad Expansion Jacket, which adds additional USB and HDMI ports, and a battery boost.

The ElitePad Docking Station turns the tablet into a something akin to a desktop experience, adding a static keyboard and charging cradle capabilities.

An Executive Tablet Pen lets you jot down notes on the screen, which are then turned into digital text and finally, there's the Elite Rugged Case, adding military-grade protection to the aforementioned protective features.

No pricing yet or availability beyond the US announced, but we'll pass on the details as we get them.

Mobile phones meet art in this wonderful concept piece from designer Alexandros Stasinopoulos.

Called "Kanavos", it takes the standard Windows Phone 8 template, and extends the operating systems Tile UI design over into the chassis of the phone itself, for a beautiful marriage between software and hardware. It's almost like a Mondrian piece!

According to Stasinopoulos:

"It explores the visual interaction between hardware and software. It features a number of vertical and horizontal contrast color stripes and relies on the strong Windows interface design. Basically the hardware, the OS and the interface blend and complete each other."

Check out Alexandros Stasinopoulos's work by clicking through the gallery below, and then head over to his Yanko Design page by clicking here.