If you happen to own Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet, you may have experienced issues with wireless reliability that has so far not been fixed. While most users have still been able to get online, connections are often dropping or giving other errors for some users.

The good news is that yesterday Microsoft officially started rolling out an RT update that fixes the Wi-Fi issues and brings several other performance improvements into the mix as well. This includes driver updates and more.
To get the latest upgrade head to: PC Settings> Settings> Change PC Settings> Windows Update> Check for Updates

Have you snagged the update yet, if so did it fix your Wi-Fi troubles or did you not have any problems with the reliability of the Surface’s WiFi to begin with?

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Thinking about getting your hands on a Surface RT, Pro or any Windows 8 or RT device but looking for a good deal to motivate you to make the move? Staples has just the deal for you, now offering $75 off of any Windows 8/RT product.

The Staples coupon was revealed by Slickdeals and has two coupon codes, one for in-store use and another for purchasing online. So what is the catch here? Nothing other than it has an EXTREMELY SHORT expiration date, this Thursday on Valentine’s day. In other words, if this deal sounds tempting, act now before it is too late.

While $75 isn’t exactly a massive fortune, that’s still a sizable chunk of change you can always use towards purchasing a touch cover for the surface or just about anything else really. What do you think, interested in Windows 8 or not?

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Are you interested in getting yourself a new Windows RT tablet, but you’re not that big a fan of the Microsoft Surface? Fear not, because the ASUS VivoTab RT TF600T-B1-GR 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet is on sale now for $200 off the regular price.

The Asus VivoTab RT runs on Windows RT, giving you that big “Start Screen” experience and it comes preloaded with a version of Microsoft Office for your mobile productivity. Power comes by way of an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core 1.3GHz processor, 32GB of flash memory and 2GB of RAM. There’s an 8MP camera on the back, a 2MP camera on the front, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, microSD expansion, and a slim 0.33-inch profile.

Much like the Microsoft Surface, there is also an optional keyboard dock for the Asus VivoTab, so you can get that full laptop-like experience when you need it, detaching the keyboard for a full-on tablet experience when you don’t. And it’s an Asus, so you’ll know that it’s built well too.

Regularly retailing for $599, the Asus VivoTab RT is now on sale for $399, including free super saver shipping from Amazon. If you buy the tablet, there’s also a limited time offer to get the accompanying keyboard dock for 50% off too.

The post Daily Deal: $200 Off Asus VivoTab RT 10-inch 32GB Tablet appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

It seems that Microsoft’s Windows RT has got a jailbreak/unlocking solution of its own. The new jailbreak method makes it possible to run unsigned desktop apps on devices like the Microsoft Surface RT.

For the uninitiated, Windows RT is the ARM version of Windows 8 and has been designed to take advantage of the new Start UI while only allowing select (Microsoft) desktop apps to be used in the legacy desktop mode. With this new hack, desktop applications can theoretically work without needing Microsoft’s special signed approval.

I say theoretical because there are currently no Windows ARM desktop applications, and existing Windows 8 desktop programs won’t work because they aren’t compatible in their current form with ARM processors.

The good news is that this new jailbreak could open up the door to homebrewing efforts or even allow full-on unofficial conversions of popular Windows legacy desktop apps.

What does Microsoft have to say about all of this? Actually, a Microsoft spokesperson has said “they applaud the ingenuity of the folks who worked this out and the hard work they did to document it”.

Microsoft says that the hack/jailbreak method isn’t a security threat. That said, they do not guarantee that the exploit that allows the hack to work will always be in place. Whether Microsoft will work on an actual patch right away or not is unclear at the moment.

What do you think of this effort? Does the idea of possibly eventually running homebrew Windows RT desktop apps appeal to you or not?

The post Windows RT and Microsoft Surface Jailbreak Arrives, Microsoft Applauds the Effort appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

When the HTC HD2 originally hit the market it was just an ordinary Windows Mobile 6.5 handset, nothing special or worth gawking at. Now, years later? The HD2 has continued to dodge the Grim Reaper by continuing to live on as a hackable device that allows would-be modders to push modern software onto the device.

The HTC HD2 not only moved past Windows Mobile 6.5 over to Windows Phone 7 via hacking efforts, it was also recently shown off by Cotulla running Windows Phone 8. While the HTC HD2 probably doesn’t run these modern operating systems blazingly fast, the fact that it can run them at all is impressive.

Not impressed with the HD2 running both Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8? What about Windows RT, the ARM-version of Windows 8? That’s right, Cotulla has now returned with a new mod that allows Windows RT to be installed onto the HD2.

Considering RT is meant for big screens, this probably doesn’t run or look all that wonderful, but it is still pretty cool.

For those that are hoping for something less Microsoft-ish, there have also been hacking efforts in the past that put Android onto the device as well.

So what’s the secret to the HD2′s hacking success? Part of it is that it managed to lure in some very dedicated and talented hackers. The second reason is that its Qualcomm chip and the rest of the hardware is all very hack-friendly and highly compatible with a vast array of operating systems it seems.

Do you have an old HD2 laying around? Have you tried any similar projects to give the device renewed life?

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In an official blog post early on Wednesday morning, Microsoft announced that they would be celebrating the new year with the introduction of more Microsoft retail stores. How many you ask? At least 6:

-The Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas
-Dadeland Mall, Miami, Fla.
-Beachwood Place, Beachwood, Ohio
-Westfield San Francisco Centre, San Francisco
-City Creek Center, Salt Lake City
-St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis

More retail stores is big news for Redmond (Microsoft). More specifically, with the announcement of Windows 8 and the push towards ultrabooks, Windows and Microsoft as a whole were on the brink of a downfall. Apple and Google have become the 2 big players in the computing market. Now, Microsoft is showing that it is ready to fight and regain the #1 spot.

If you’ve ever been to a Microsoft retail store, it may have felt familiar. As shown in the image above, Microsoft sets up their stores with a layout familiar to that of Apple: big wood tables; employees wearing necklaces instead of name tags; and loads of technology ready to be played with.

Would you like to see Microsoft open a retail store near you? Are the stores too similar to Apple’s stores? Let us know in the comments below.

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When it comes to operating system updates on a desktop device, there are two major strategies: the Apple strategy and the Microsoft strategy.

For Apple, it’s about yearly updates with a few new features and changes, while keeping the prices of these updates rather low in cost.

For Microsoft, major updates to new versions of Windows aren’t that frequent, instead happening every 2-4 years on average.

Not too long ago, rumors arose claiming that “Windows Blue” will change all this, with Microsoft switching to yearly updates. The idea would be to mimic Apple’s scheme of offering cheap (or even free) upgrades, which would make Windows 8/RT better for tablet owners that are used to quicker paced upgrades with many iOS and Android devices.

The problem is that such a drastic change could also be disastrous in the enterprise world. IT rollouts require planning and organization, testing and more. Having to deal with yearly updates could be an added headache in these environments.

Up until now, we didn’t know much about what features would actually arrive with Blue, though. A new leak/rumor claims that the Metro/Start UI will now be more customizable and the interface will have a more flat design.

The leak also claims that Blue is in Alpha testing right now, with the build number associated with Windows Blue currently at “Build 9622”. Unfortunately no screenshots accompanied the claim, as the leaker said that there are under a non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft and didn’t want to produce anything that could be easily linked back to this leaker.

For the moment, take this all with a grain of salt. The idea of Windows Blue is an interesting one, though it’s hard to say whether a move would be embraced by consumers and businesses, or shunned.

What do you think of the idea of more frequent Windows updates on-the-cheap? Good or bad idea?

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We previously reported that a Nokia Windows RT tablet is on its way, with an unveiling expected at MWC in 2013. Now it seems that we have a bit more information about what the Nokia tablet will have for features.

It is believed it will have a 10.1-inch display with USB and HDMI ports. It’s biggest feature will be a battery-equipped cover, although it isn’t the only Windows RT/8 device to offer such a solution. The cover is said to include a keyboard, kickstand, and two extra USB ports.

The tablet is also believed to come equipped with a mobile broadband option, which will likely be provided through AT&T.

These latest rumors come courtesy of the Verge. It is also claimed that the Nokia Windows RT tablet will be their first effort, but a full-fledged Windows 8 tablet may eventually follow as well.

What do think, would you be interested in a Windows tablet built by Nokia?

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The post Nokia Windows RT Tablet Said to Feature Special Dock Cover with Extra Battery Power appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Remember when we reported that HTC was pulling out of the U.S. tablet market? At the time we mentioned that they were analyzing the market and might eventually return, perhaps with Windows 8 devices in tow.

Now Bloomberg is reporting that HTC is in works on a range of new tablets, all of which will run the ARM-only Windows RT OS.

According to Bloomberg, the devices in question are all planned for a launch sometime in 2013, likely around the 3rd quarter. There is a 12-inch version and a 7-inch version that can also make phone calls. Both tablets would be powered by Qualcomm processors.

The company also considered Windows 8, but decided that an Intel device would be too expensive for consumers and felt Windows RT was a better fit for their efforts.

It’s hard to say if all of this is true or not. Even if it is, HTC has never exactly been popular when it comes to tablets.

Can Windows RT help change HTC’s tablet fate? It is really interesting to note that if this rumor is true, the HTC 7-inch RT tablet might be ground-breaking in that there are currently no Windows RT/8 tablets in any form smaller than 10-inches.

Would you consider an HTC tablet running Windows technology or not?

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Scheduled for February 25 to 28, MWC could be the stage where we see a Nokia Lumia tablet of some kind. Remember that the Nokia Lumia 920 is widely touted as one of the best Windows Phone 8 devices out there, so it makes sense that Nokia would continue this partnership with the release of a Windows-powered tablet too. Since they’re using the ARM architecture, it’d be an RT tablet and not a full blown Windows 8 tablet.

Word out of China is that Microsoft, Qualcomm and Compal Electronics are continuing their development of a 10-inch Windows RT tablet for Nokia. It won’t be ready in time for CES next month, so the next major event would be MWC in Barcelona. I’m not sure this will be enough to spur on greater adoption of Windows RT, but if it’s priced right, it certainly couldn’t hurt.

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