Microsoft Jumps into Tablet Business – Announces Surface and Surface Pro: ProPakistani

Microsoft Jumps into Tablet Business – Announces Surface and Surface Pro

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 03:49 AM PDT

Monday saw Microsoft coming into the tablet business directly challenging Apple's iPad. Microsoft announced 2 tablets, in fact two versions of same tablets with variation in specifications. Surface which is a lower-end tablet and Surface Pro is said to be a higher-end tablet.

Those who had the chance to experience Windows Surface tablets in a press event yesterday are throwing positive reviews about the hardware as well as for software.

Analysts are calling these two tabs a new era in mobile computing.

Here are the specs of the both tablets:

Surface

Windows RT operating system
Weight: 676 grams
Nvidia Tegra ARM CPU
10.6 inch display
Thickness: 9.3mm
32/64 Gb versions
MicroSD card slot
MicroHD video
USB 2.0
2×2 MIMO Wifi antennae
Battery 31.5 W-h
Front and rear facing HD cameras
Kickstand

Surface Pro

Windows 8 operating system
Weight 903 grams
Intel Core i5 CPU
10.6 inch display
Thickness: 13.5mm
64/128 Gb versions
MicroSDXC card slot
USB 3.0
Micro DisplayPort video
2×2 MIMO Wifi antennae
Battery 42 W-h
Front and rear facing HD cameras
Kickstand

Microsoft also announced the Touch cover and Type cover. Both are keyboards that attach to the tablet. Type cover is a 5mm thick keyboard with physical buttons and trackpad while Touch cover is a 3mm thick keyboard with no physical keys and trackpad.

Microsoft remained quite on pricing and availability but its expected this fall, sometime after tha release of Windows 8.

Microsoft Pakistan Organizes the Innovative Education Forum

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 08:19 PM PDT

Microsoft Pakistan, hosted the Innovative Education Forum (IEF), bringing together several teachers from private, public and NGO adopted schools to bring forward their projects and be part of this productive day of project exhibitions, inspiring keynote presentations, professional learning and collaboration.

Amongst many innovative projects there were five short-listed projects presented by the teams on this occasion. The top teams decided by the jury comprising of three judges would be sent to Casablanca, Morocco on a Microsoft-sponsored trip to compete at the regional level of IEF Competition to be held in August.

Top three winners for the local finals were announced at the end of the event. Mr. Omer Eqbal from Roots School System got the first position, followed by Mr. Asif Khawaja from Daanish School and Ms. Munazza Butt from Roots School System.

Along with teachers from leading schools and colleges competing in the IEF Competition 2012, also attending were students from Daanish School, a project of the Government of Punjab, enabling the poorest sections of society to have access to quality education and enabling infrastructure.

Speaking at the occasion, Kamal Ahmed, Country General Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, said, "This is an excellent opportunity for these vibrant and enthusiastic teachers to showcase their expertise. Microsoft lauds their efforts to revolutionize teaching methods by using ICT as a carrier to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness of education. They are applying ICT to the real world and equipping our children with the skills necessary to compete with the globally competitive work force."

The IEF is part of Microsoft PIL (Partners In Learning) program, which works with governments and education leaders around the world at the national, state and local levels to deliver a portfolio of professional development, curricula, tools and resources designed to advance 21st-century teaching, learning and digital inclusion that improve learning outcomes for every student.

"Teachers are the greatest catalysts of development, capable of changing a nation's mindset and steering the country to progress by working at the very grass root level. Forums like these are not only enlightening but also very inspiring, reminding us how valuable ICT as well as teachers are for a progressive society, said Ms. Tayyaba Noureen, one of the judges at the event.

Through supporting such events, Microsoft has furthered educational development in the country by leaps and bounds. Microsoft hosts such competitions each year in different countries, the idea being that today's advancement in technology along with the imagination, passion and creativity, can light up a better future for the generations to come.

world on your screen

Tuesday, June 19, 2012