Microsoft took a big step into mobile Thursday,
unveiling its latest Windows system with touch controls and offering a
closer look at Surface, its entry into the tablet market.
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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks during a press conference to officially launch Windows 8 at Pier 57 in New York yesterday. AFPMicrosoft goes mobile with Windows 8, new tablet
AFP
NEW YORK — Microsoft took a big step into mobile Thursday, unveiling a revamped version of its flagship Windows system and offering a closer look at Surface, its entry into the hot tablet market.
The new Windows 8 operating system and tablet are to go on sale Friday, marking a new offensive for the US tech giant seeking to keep pace with Apple and Google amid a dramatic shift away from PCs to mobile devices.
"Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet," said Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer.
At a New York news event, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would launch Friday in 37 languages and 140 worldwide markets. It can be downloaded beginning at 12:01 am local time worldwide and will be sold at retail stores.
Windows 8's brand new user interface scrolls horizontally to reveal new dynamic tiles for specific programs, apps, files and shortcuts. The Start button is gone, and the new environment takes a bit of time to get used to.
Windows 8 is the first version of the OS to support certain types of tablets: those with a low-energy consumption ARM processor, such as Microsoft's own Surface, as well as a selection of devices from Asus, Lenovo, Dell and Samsung
Microsoft is also launching its app store, which was built on the same model as its well established rival, the Mac App Store. Fewer than 3,000 apps will be made available at Windows 8's launch, but Microsoft expects 100,000 apps to be available 90 days after the launch.
Windows 8 also includes the latest version of its browser, Internet Explorer 10. Internet Explorer 10 promises better support with internet standards such as HTML5, CSS3, and touch controls. The browser will host Flash, but it will only work with a restricted list of websites and other special uses, so as not to affect the device's performance or security.
NEW YORK — Microsoft took a big step into mobile Thursday, unveiling a revamped version of its flagship Windows system and offering a closer look at Surface, its entry into the hot tablet market.
The new Windows 8 operating system and tablet are to go on sale Friday, marking a new offensive for the US tech giant seeking to keep pace with Apple and Google amid a dramatic shift away from PCs to mobile devices.
"Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet," said Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer.
At a New York news event, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would launch Friday in 37 languages and 140 worldwide markets. It can be downloaded beginning at 12:01 am local time worldwide and will be sold at retail stores.
Windows 8's brand new user interface scrolls horizontally to reveal new dynamic tiles for specific programs, apps, files and shortcuts. The Start button is gone, and the new environment takes a bit of time to get used to.
Windows 8 is the first version of the OS to support certain types of tablets: those with a low-energy consumption ARM processor, such as Microsoft's own Surface, as well as a selection of devices from Asus, Lenovo, Dell and Samsung
Microsoft is also launching its app store, which was built on the same model as its well established rival, the Mac App Store. Fewer than 3,000 apps will be made available at Windows 8's launch, but Microsoft expects 100,000 apps to be available 90 days after the launch.
Windows 8 also includes the latest version of its browser, Internet Explorer 10. Internet Explorer 10 promises better support with internet standards such as HTML5, CSS3, and touch controls. The browser will host Flash, but it will only work with a restricted list of websites and other special uses, so as not to affect the device's performance or security.
Surface appears to be a cross between a tablet and a PC, equipped with a flip-out rear "kickstand" to prop it up like a picture frame and a cover that, when opened, acts as a keypad to switch into "desktop" mode for work tasks.
Surface has a 10.6-inch (26.9 centimeter) screen and starts at $499 (about 15,000 baht), challenging the larger-format iPads.
CEO – chief executive officer
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
launch – to start selling a new product or service to the public เริ่มวางขาย
mobile (technology) – of devices, especially telecommunication devices, that can easily be moved around, e.g., mobile phones, tablets, notebook computers อุปกรณ์ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่าย
unveil – to show or introduce a new plan, product, etc. to the public for the first time เปิดเผย, ประกาศให้รู้ทั่วไป
revamp – to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่
version – a particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing – ชุด, เวอร์ชั่น
flagship – the most important product, service, building, etc. that an organisation owns or produces ผลิตภัณฑ์หรือบริการหลัก
operating system – a set of programs that controls the way a computer works and runs other programs ระบบปฏิบัติการซึ่งควบคุมการทำงานของคอมพิวเตอร์
offensive – a series of actions aimed at achieving something in a way that attracts a lot of attention การรุกราน,การบุกรุก
keep pace with – to move, increase, change, etc. at the same speed as somebody/something; to not fall behind a competitor เดินไปด้วยระดับความเร็วเท่ากัน
amid – at the same time as ท่ามกลาง
dramatic – sudden, very great and often surprising; exciting and impressive น่าทึ่งใจ, ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
shift – a change in something การเปลี่ยน
device – a machine or piece of equipment that does a particular job อุปกรณ์ เครื่องมือ เครื่องจักร
worldwide – affecting all parts of the world ทั่วโลก
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
retail store – a store which sells things directly to the public for their own use ร้านค้าปลีก
brand new – extremely new; the latest version of something that has just been introduced ใหม่ล่าสุด
interface – the way a computer program, mobile device, etc. presents information to a user or receives information from a user, in particular the layout of the screen and the menus อินเตอร์เฟส, การติดต่อประสานระหว่างเครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์กับผู้ใช้ เช่น แป้นพิมพ์, จอภาพ ต่างก็เป็นตัวประสานกับผู้ใช้ทั้งสิ้น
scroll – to move text on a computer screen up or down so that you can read different parts of it เลื่อนจอภาพขึ้นลง
horizontally – going across and parallel to the ground rather than going up and down ตามแนวนอน
reveal – to show something that was covered or hidden or not known เปิด, ทำให้ปรากฎ
dynamic – active, causing changes
tile – in this case, a small flat image on a computor screen that can be clicked on our touched to open a program, application, etc.
shortcut – a quicker or shorter way of getting to a place, in this case, an image on a computer screen that allows you to open a program or application more quickly ทางลัด
environment – a place, including all the physical conditions that affect it, in this case the environment on a computer screen, i.e., its interface อินเตอร์เฟส สภาพแวดล้อม
used to – familiar to you because you have often done it before or experienced it before คุ้นเคยกับ
consumption – the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used การบริโภคพลังงาน, การใช้หมดไป
processor – a part of a computer that controls all the other parts of the system อุปกรณ์อิเล็กทรอนิกส์เพื่อสร้าง จัดเก็บ ตรวจแก้ พิมพ์คำ ข้อความ (ทางคอมพิวเตอร์)
selection – choice; the procession choosing การเลือก,การคัดเลือก
rival – a person, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่ง
standards – a level of quality that is normal or acceptable for a particular person or in a particular situation มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐาน
touch – the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them การสัมผัส
restricted – limited ถูกจำกัด,ถูกจำกัดวง
performance – the standard to which someone does something การกระทำ, การทำให้บรรลุผลสำเร็จ
security – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัย
cross – a mixture of two different things การผสมผสาน
flip – to turn over into a different position with a sudden quick movement พลิกตัว
rear – back ด้านหลัง
kickstand – a long straight piece of metal fixed to a something, usually a bicycle or a motorcycle, which is normally kept horizontal (แนวนอน) but which moved to a vertical (ตั้งตรง) position when you need to stand the object up
prop up – to support พยุง, ยัน
frame – a strong border or structure of wood, metal, etc. that holds a picture, door, piece of glass, etc. in position กรอบ
keypad – the set of keys for operating a computer or typewriter; a small set of buttons with numbers on used to operate a telephone, television, etc; the buttons on the right of a computer keyboard แป้นพิมพ์, กลุ่มแป้นพิมพ์ที่จัดไว้เป็นกลุ่ม
mode – a particular way of doing something; a particular type of something แบบ, วิธีการ
task – something that you have to do, a job ภารกิจ
challenge – to compete for something แข่งขัน
format – the arrangement, design or organisation of something รูปแบบ
Surface has a 10.6-inch (26.9 centimeter) screen and starts at $499 (about 15,000 baht), challenging the larger-format iPads.
CEO – chief executive officer
press conference – an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions about it การแถลงข่าว
launch – to start selling a new product or service to the public เริ่มวางขาย
mobile (technology) – of devices, especially telecommunication devices, that can easily be moved around, e.g., mobile phones, tablets, notebook computers อุปกรณ์ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่าย
unveil – to show or introduce a new plan, product, etc. to the public for the first time เปิดเผย, ประกาศให้รู้ทั่วไป
revamp – to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่
version – a particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing – ชุด, เวอร์ชั่น
flagship – the most important product, service, building, etc. that an organisation owns or produces ผลิตภัณฑ์หรือบริการหลัก
operating system – a set of programs that controls the way a computer works and runs other programs ระบบปฏิบัติการซึ่งควบคุมการทำงานของคอมพิวเตอร์
offensive – a series of actions aimed at achieving something in a way that attracts a lot of attention การรุกราน,การบุกรุก
keep pace with – to move, increase, change, etc. at the same speed as somebody/something; to not fall behind a competitor เดินไปด้วยระดับความเร็วเท่ากัน
amid – at the same time as ท่ามกลาง
dramatic – sudden, very great and often surprising; exciting and impressive น่าทึ่งใจ, ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
shift – a change in something การเปลี่ยน
device – a machine or piece of equipment that does a particular job อุปกรณ์ เครื่องมือ เครื่องจักร
worldwide – affecting all parts of the world ทั่วโลก
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
retail store – a store which sells things directly to the public for their own use ร้านค้าปลีก
brand new – extremely new; the latest version of something that has just been introduced ใหม่ล่าสุด
interface – the way a computer program, mobile device, etc. presents information to a user or receives information from a user, in particular the layout of the screen and the menus อินเตอร์เฟส, การติดต่อประสานระหว่างเครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์กับผู้ใช้ เช่น แป้นพิมพ์, จอภาพ ต่างก็เป็นตัวประสานกับผู้ใช้ทั้งสิ้น
scroll – to move text on a computer screen up or down so that you can read different parts of it เลื่อนจอภาพขึ้นลง
horizontally – going across and parallel to the ground rather than going up and down ตามแนวนอน
reveal – to show something that was covered or hidden or not known เปิด, ทำให้ปรากฎ
dynamic – active, causing changes
tile – in this case, a small flat image on a computor screen that can be clicked on our touched to open a program, application, etc.
shortcut – a quicker or shorter way of getting to a place, in this case, an image on a computer screen that allows you to open a program or application more quickly ทางลัด
environment – a place, including all the physical conditions that affect it, in this case the environment on a computer screen, i.e., its interface อินเตอร์เฟส สภาพแวดล้อม
used to – familiar to you because you have often done it before or experienced it before คุ้นเคยกับ
consumption – the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used การบริโภคพลังงาน, การใช้หมดไป
processor – a part of a computer that controls all the other parts of the system อุปกรณ์อิเล็กทรอนิกส์เพื่อสร้าง จัดเก็บ ตรวจแก้ พิมพ์คำ ข้อความ (ทางคอมพิวเตอร์)
selection – choice; the procession choosing การเลือก,การคัดเลือก
rival – a person, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่ง
standards – a level of quality that is normal or acceptable for a particular person or in a particular situation มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐาน
touch – the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them การสัมผัส
restricted – limited ถูกจำกัด,ถูกจำกัดวง
performance – the standard to which someone does something การกระทำ, การทำให้บรรลุผลสำเร็จ
security – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัย
cross – a mixture of two different things การผสมผสาน
flip – to turn over into a different position with a sudden quick movement พลิกตัว
rear – back ด้านหลัง
kickstand – a long straight piece of metal fixed to a something, usually a bicycle or a motorcycle, which is normally kept horizontal (แนวนอน) but which moved to a vertical (ตั้งตรง) position when you need to stand the object up
prop up – to support พยุง, ยัน
frame – a strong border or structure of wood, metal, etc. that holds a picture, door, piece of glass, etc. in position กรอบ
keypad – the set of keys for operating a computer or typewriter; a small set of buttons with numbers on used to operate a telephone, television, etc; the buttons on the right of a computer keyboard แป้นพิมพ์, กลุ่มแป้นพิมพ์ที่จัดไว้เป็นกลุ่ม
mode – a particular way of doing something; a particular type of something แบบ, วิธีการ
task – something that you have to do, a job ภารกิจ
challenge – to compete for something แข่งขัน
format – the arrangement, design or organisation of something รูปแบบ
