Make USB devices accessible to a Windows XP virtual machine

Over the past several weeks I have written a series of articles on working with Windows 8's Client Hyper-V with the aim of establishing a working Windows XP environment that will allow migrating users to have something to fall back on as they get used to Windows 8. For your convenience, those articles are listed here:

• Get started with Windows 8 Client Hyper-V the right way
• Create a virtual switch in Windows 8 Client Hyper-V
• Create a Client Hyper-V virtual machine for Windows xp

In the most recent article, I walked you through the steps of creating a virtual machine onto which you would install Windows XP. As you may have noticed while working through the New Virtual Machine Wizard and examining the virtual machine Settings window, shown in Figure A, there was no mention of USB connections. Well, that's because, unfortunately, Client Hyper-V doesn't provide native support for USB connections.

Figure A

The Settings window doesn't contain any reference to USB devices.

While the lack of USB support in Hyper-V is definitely a huge shortcoming, it's actually by design. That may come as a shock, but the fact is that USB support is not available in Hyper-V Server, because it is incompatible with certain key features, such as Live Migration. Unfortunately, the lack of USB support was passed down to Windows 8's Client Hyper-V.

Filling the gap

As you can imagine, a number of third-party solutions have sprung up to fill the gap. For example, there are software products, such as USB Redirector, and hardware products like the Network-attached USB hubs. However, when it comes to using Windows 8's Client Hyper-V and a Windows XP virtual machine, you don't have to resort to such elaborate or expensive methods of making USB devices accessible to a virtual machine.

Instead, you can employ a little trick that uses the Remote Desktop Connection tool to connect to a networked virtual machine running in Client Hyper-V. You can then use the features on the Local Resources tab of a Remote Desktop Connection to redirect USB devices connected to the host machine, such as USB drives and USB printers, to the virtual machine. While on the surface this may sound like a quirky workaround, in actuality it brings with it host of benefits besides the access to USB. For example, you get a full screen display, slightly better performance, and you can use the clipboard to copy and paste data between the host and virtual machines.

In this article, I'll walk you through the steps you need to perform in order to make your Windows XP virtual machine accessible through Remote Desktop Connection. I'll then show you how to configure and access USB devices connected to the Windows 8 host machine from within your Windows XP virtual machine.

Network configuration

The first thing that you need to do in order to be able to use Remote Desktop Connection to access a virtual machine, is make sure that both the host machine and the virtual machine are configured to use the exact same workgroup. Let's take a closer look.

On the Windows 8 host machine, press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System window shown in Figure B. If you haven't specified a workgroup name or wish to change your computer name, you can click Change settings and use the Change button on the System Properties Computer Name tab. Keep in mind that you will be prompted to Restart the system if you change the computer name or the workgroup name. As you can see, on my example system, the computer name is Jovian-8 and the workgroup is SOLAR SYSTEM.

Figure B

From Windows 8's System screen, you can view or change the computer name and workgroup name.

Next, launch Hyper-V Manager and access your virtual machine. Choose your virtual machine and select Connect from the Action menu. When your Windows XP Virtual Machine Connection window appears, click the Green Start button. When you see the Windows XP Login screen, select your user name and enter your password, as shown in Figure C. Make a mental note of this user name and password, as you will need them later.

Figure C

Launch Hyper-V Manager and access your Windows XP virtual machine.

When Windows XP starts up, press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box and then select the Computer Name tab. Then click the Change button and make sure that your Windows XP virtual machine has a unique computer name and is using the same workgroup name as your Windows 8 host machine. As you can see in Figure D, on my example system the computer name is vm-one-xp and the workgroup is SOLAR SYSTEM. Keep in mind that you will be prompted to Restart the system if you change the computer name or the workgroup name.

Figure D

Make sure that your Windows XP virtual machine has a unique computer name and is using the same workgroup name as your Windows 8 host machine.

Once you are done with your network configuration, make sure that from each machine's Network list you can see both the host machine and the host machine. As you can see in Figure E, both Jovian-8 and Vm-one-xp are visible from Windows XP's Network Neighborhood and both are visible from Windows 8's Network view in File Explorer.

Figure E

Make sure that you can see both the host machine and the host machine from within each machine's Network list.

Enabling remote connection

One more thing that you have to do on your Windows XP virtual machine is enable the remote connection. To do so, press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box and then select the Remote tab. Then, select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box in the Remote Desktop panel, as shown in Figure F.

Figure F

In Windows XP, make sure that the system is ready to accept requests from Remote Desktop Connection.

At this point, you can click OK and then restart the Windows XP virtual machine. When your Windows XP virtual machine restarts, it will be available on the network, but you won't need to log in again right now. In fact, you can minimize your Windows XP Virtual Machine Connection window and close the Hyper-V Manager window.

Configuring Remote Desktop Connection

Now that you Windows XP virtual machine's network and remote settings are correctly configured, you're ready to configure your Windows 8 Remote Desktop Connection. To do begin, use the [Windows] + Q keystroke to access the Search Apps page. Then, type Remote in the text box and click the Remote Desktop Connection icon when it appears in the Results.

When you see the Remote Desktop Connection window, click the Show Options button at the bottom of the screen to reveal the entire window with all the tabs. Then, type the name that you assigned to your Windows XP system and your Windows XP User name in the appropriate text boxes. Then, click the Save As button and assign your connection a name. This process is illustrated in Figure G.

Figure G

You'll want to save you Remote Desktop Connection configuration.

Normally, I would select the Allow me to save my credentials check box, to automate the login procedure, but for some reason, I have not been able to get that feature to work when connecting to a Windows XP virtual machine via Remote Desktop Connection - it just locks up the connection procedure. So make sure that you leave the check box blank.

To continue, click the Local Resources tab. Here is where you can pick and choose what resources connected to the host machine, such as USB drives and USB printers, which you want to redirect to the virtual machine.

In the Local devices and resources section, both the Printers and Clipboard check boxes should already be selected. You can then click the More button. When you do, you'll see a window that shows a list of other types of local devices that can be redirected to the virtual machine. These steps are illustrated in Figure H.

Figure H

Clicking the More button reveals a list of other types of local devices that can be redirected to the virtual machine.

Having the Printers check box selected means that the Canon iP3500 USB printer connected to my Windows 8 system will now be available to the Windows XP virtual machine. (It will need some further configuration as I'll show you in a minute.)

As you can see, I've selected just about every available check box in the second Local devices and resources window. The only thing I didn't select is the DVD drive because it's already connected to the virtual machine. However, I selected Local Disk (C:), which means that I will have access to the hard disk on the host machine from within the virtual machine. I also selected IOMAGIC (E:) which is a USB drive connected to the USB port on the host machine. I then selected the Drives that I plug in later check box, so that any time I connect a USB flash drive to the host machine, it will be accessible in the virtual machine.

To continue, click OK to close the second Local devices and resources window. Then, return to the General tab and click the Save button. You can leave all the other default settings in Remote Desktop Connection as they are.

Making the first connection

With all the necessary settings in place, you can launch Remote Desktop Connection by clicking the Connect button. When you do, you'll see the login screen, shown in Figure I, and will notice another advantage of using Remote Desktop Connection - you automatically get a full screen display of your virtual machine. After you enter your password and click OK, you'll be connected via Remote Desktop Connection to your Windows XP virtual machine in Hyper-V.

Figure I

With Remote Desktop Connection - you automatically get a full screen display.

Once your Windows XP virtual machine is up and running, go ahead and open up My Computer. When you do, you'll find that there are connections in the Other section to the hard disk and any other USB disks have on you Windows 8 host machine, as shown in Figure J. Now, you can easily access files and folders on your host machine from within your virtual machine.

Figure J

The host machine's hard disk and USB disks are now available in your Windows XP virtual machine. Configuring your printer

While the disk drives are automatically redirected from your host machine to your virtual machine, your USB printer will require some additional configuration before it is fully accessible in your virtual machine. The first thing that you must do is install the driver on your Windows XP virtual machine. You can do so, from the CD that came with your printer or you can download the driver from the Web. In the case of my Canon iP3500 USB printer, I downloaded the Windows XP driver installation package from the Canon web site, and then ran it, as shown in Figure K.

Figure K

You can install your printer driver in Windows XP from a CD or a download.

With the driver installed, you can now add the printer. Go to the Control Panel and launch the Add Printer Wizard. On the second screen, select the Local printer attached to this computer option, but then clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box, as shown in Figure L. To continue click Next.

Figure L

Be sure to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box.

When you get to the Select a Printer Port screen, select the Use the following port option and then click the drop down arrow. When you do, you should find a group of Terminal Server ports identified with the codes TS00# {Host machine name} PRN#. These are the ports that are redirected from the host machine to the virtual machine via Remote Desktop Connection. You should select the TS001 port, as shown in Figure M. Then click Next.

Figure M

The TS00# ports are those that are redirected from the host machine to the virtual machine.

You will now see the Install Printer Software screen, from the Manufacturer list select your printer brand name. Then in the Printers list, scroll all the way to the bottom and you should find the printer driver that you installed earlier. As you can see in Figure N, I selected Canon and then found the Canon iP3500 printer driver that I downloaded and installed.

Figure N

The printer driver that you installed should now be in the list of Printers.

As you work your way through the rest of the Add Printer Wizard, as shown in Figure O, be sure that you select the Keep existing driver option and then print a test page to ensure that your printer is working correctly.

Figure O

Work your way through the rest of the Add Printer Wizard.

Going forward

Now that you know how to make USB devices accessible to a Windows XP virtual machine via Remote Desktop Connection, there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind. First, you will always have to launch your Windows XP virtual machine from the Hyper-V Manager and the Virtual Machine Connection. And you also need to let it run for a few minutes before you attempt to connect to it from Remote Desktop Connection. When you are finished using your Windows XP virtual machine for the time being, you will have to Log off from the virtual machine, which will close the Remote Desktop Connection. Then you will have to return to the Virtual Machine Connection window and then use the Turn off computer on the Windows XP screen

Second, I've found that Terminal Server ports can be a bit quirky at times. If you discover that the printer is no longer printing, access the Printer Properties page, select the Ports tab, and choose a different TS00# port.

Read More

Google finalizes Chrome App Launcher for Windows

Chrome users who want to open their Web apps without having to first fire up the browser can do just that via the Chrome App Launcher or Windows.

Initially released in February as a developer preview, the App Launcher now is finished and in completed build mode for Windows users.

To grab the App Launcher, open Google Chrome and surf to the launcher link in the Web store. Click on the button to Get the launcher. The App Launcher icon then appears on your Windows taskbar and desktop. Close Chrome. Now, anytime you want to open one of your Chrome Web apps, simply click on the App Launcher icon, choose the app you wish to run, and it automatically pops up in Chrome.

Mac OS X and Linux users still need to stay tuned. Google is reportedly still working on versions of the launcher for those two systems.

Read More

Microsoft takes the Windows Phone Challenge on to TV

 

Smartphone advertising can sometimes be a pretty blunt business, especially when it comes to feature comparisons. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Microsoft’s Windows Phone Challenge before, or “smoked by Windows Phone” as it used to be called. It’s a series of tests issued on the street or in Microsoft stores aimed at proving that Windows Phones are better than your handset.

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s a recap video from CES last year.

I makes for somewhat entertaining Youtube viewing, for a commercial stunt anyway, and Microsoft clearly thinks it’s time to take these challenges onto television.

It plans to air a short 30 second clip of a camera challenge between Nokia’s Lumia 920 and Samsung’s Galaxy S3 on ESPN and CBS throughout the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament.

The new ad shows a comparison between the Galaxy S3 and Lumia 920′s cameras operating in low-light conditions, which seems fair game as the Lumia’s camera is fairly decent. I won’t spoil it for you, but I’m sure you can already guess who wins.

You can already check out the clip on Youtube if you don’t fancy staring at your TV just to see the commercial.

Microsoft clearly thinks that it’s on to a winner with this campaign, and I’m certainly a fan of doing some head to head testing in the flesh. But for that reason I’m not sure that a staged ad using company staff will have quite the same impact was walking into a store and having a Microsoft employee show you who’s boss.

Read More

What does a great Windows 8 gaming laptop need?

A recent question from a reader brought up an issue we've been discussing around the office recently -- the lack of Windows 8 laptops that include both a touch screen and a high-end GPU. Our reader's question, excerpted below:

May I ask for your advice on purchasing a gaming PC? I'm considering the Alienware M14x, but the only thing holding me back is the absence of a touch screen and I can't seem to find powerful laptops with a touch screen. Do you think touch-screen laptops will soon become the standard?

It's true that the handful of serious gaming laptops we've reviewed thus far with Windows 8 have all lacked a touch screen. It's a feature that is standard for nearly every other category of laptop now, and in fact, I can't think of a Windows 8 laptop we've reviewed that arrived with even an entry-level discrete graphics card and a touch screen.

That's a real shame, because the PC gaming market is about as exciting as any time I've seen it in many years, with new games such as XCOM: Enemy Unknown and the upcoming BioShock: Infinite presenting themselves much better on PC than the current generation of dated living-room console hardware.

With touch screens so prevalent in other Windows 8 laptops, and, frankly, required to avoid navigational frustration in Microsoft's new operating system, it's rare (but not impossible) to find even a mainstream laptop that offers GPU options.

Clicking around the various PC makers' Web sites, some reasonable user-configurable options I've found include a Dell Inspiron 15z, which can be upgraded with a Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce 630M GPU, currently discounted to $999; and a Sony Vaio E14 with a similar Core i7 plus AMD 7670M graphics for $909. Both include touch screens, but you have to hunt and peck to find the right combination of base model and available upgrades, and neither is truly a high-end gaming system.

I'd love to see something like the no-compromise Origin PC EON17-SLX upgraded with a touch screen -- the Windows 8 version we reviewed late in 2012 would have greatly benefited from it. And not necessarily because it's required by many mainstream games, but because it would make the system more useful and up-to-date for nongaming tasks.

Similarly, we're currently testing a new Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 laptop, which includes an Nvidia GeForce 650M, Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, backlit keyboard, and a clever swappable bay for accessories. So far, it's a laptop I like a lot, but the lack of a touch screen keeps it from being a system one can recommend for both gaming and everyday Windows 8 use.

The answer may come from something like the Razer Edge, a Windows 8 gaming laptop/tablet hybrid. The hardware is expected to ship soon, but the system is more tablet than laptop. Plus, the expected battery life is short, and the small screen won't satisfy gamers looking for a full-time rig.

I have no doubt the next generation of most of these gaming laptops will move to touch screens, if only because the Windows 8 UI is so annoying to use without one. But for now, PC gamers are literally out of luck if they're looking for a do-everything touch screen system that also offers a no-compromise gaming experience.

In the meantime, highlighted below are the Windows 8 laptops with discrete GPUs we've reviewed thus far in the Windows 8 era.

---

Asus Zenbook UX51Vz-DH71

Asus didn't skimp on performance components, forgoing integrated graphics for a discrete 2GB Nvidia card, but those who need extremely long battery life or a touch screen, or who are looking for a full-on gaming rig, will want to invest in another system.  

---

Origin PC EON17-SLX 

No one puts together custom high-end gaming laptops, including this desktop-busting 17-inch EON17-SLX, better than Origin PC, but the generic-looking off-the-shelf body isn't becoming of a $4,000 laptop and Windows 8 feels odd without a touch screen.

---

Sony Vaio E17 

If you want a reasonably priced desktop-replacement big-screen laptop with AMD graphics, the Vaio E17 is worth a look. But it's not a good Windows 8 showcase machine, as it lacks any touch interface other than a small touch pad. 

---

Toshiba Qosmio X875 

One of the only 17-inch gaming laptops spotted at CES 2013, the Toshiba Qosmio X875 already stands out from the slim ultrabooks and convertibles we've seen, but lacks a touch screen.

Read More

Microsoft to end Windows Phone 7.8 and 8 support in 2014

Microsoft has put an end date on its support for Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8.

The company's support page lists both operating systems, and says that Windows Phone 7.8 will be supported through September 9, 2014, while Windows Phone 8 will receive support through July 8, 2014.

Windows Phone 8 is the latest and most featured-packed version of Windows Phone. Windows Phone 7.8 was the option Microsoft offered to former Windows Phone 7 owners who didn't want to buy a new device. There's no clear upgrade path to Windows Phone 8 from Windows Phone 7, so Windows Phone 7.8 provides some, but not all, of the features in Microsoft's operating system.The difference is based on Microsoft's life cycle start date and its decision to support platforms for 18 months. Microsoft pegs the Windows Phone 8 start date at December 14 and Windows Phone 7.8 at February 9.

That Microsoft is ending support for its latest operating systems next year isn't all that surprising. The mobile space is driven by rapid operating system updates. Apple, for example, launches a new version of iOS each year. And since most consumers update their devices every two years, needing to keep operating systems updated for several years doesn't make much sense.

Read More

HTC bags Red Dot Design Award for Windows Phone 8X and 8S

In an earlier report, we told you how HTC bashed Samsung for what it says is a lack of innovation after seeing what it did during the recently concluded Galaxy S4 announcement. Evidently, HTC thinks Samsung could do away with some of its marketing and perhaps focus more on innovating instead. Well, even though HTC itself could use a bit of advice on the former, at least it certainly knows a thing or two about the latter.
When it comes to industrial design, HTC is one of the best names in the consumer electronics industry. And now its efforts in the said department have finally been rewarded, as the company has just been given the “red dot award: product design 2013″ for two of its Windows Phone-powered handsets, the Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S.
The red dot design award’s initiator and CEO, Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, said that both the Windows Phone 8X and 8S “demonstrated an extraordinary design quality,” and showed that design is a key element in innovative product solutions.
As a result of them being red dot design award-worthy, both the Windows Phone 8X and 8S will be presented at the red dot design museum in Germany and included in the red dot design yearbook. Now, if only HTC can turn its innovations into not just awards, but also money. Then it would be able to guarantee its own survival to continue delivering more such innovations.

Show full PR text

Read More

An Atom hybrid that blends into the background

Comparing the roughly half-dozen Intel Atom Windows 8 tablets that we've seen to date is relatively easy. Nearly all of them, from the HP Envy X2 to the Dell Latitude 10, are built around essentially identical hardware platforms, starting with an Intel Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD, along with either a 10- or 11-inch 1,366x768-pixel screen.

The real differentiators are price, available accessories, and the design and construction of the tablet (plastic versus metal, for example). For Lenovo, in particular, this is a tale of two tablets, the 10-inch ThinkPad Tablet 2 and the 11-inch IdeaTab Lynx, also known as the IdeaTab K3011.

On paper, at least, these two products are remarkably similar. Both stick to the guidelines outlined above, and have a 1.8GHz Intel 2760 processor, 2GB of RAM, 64GB of solid-state storage, and both cost about the same, with the ThinkPad Tablet 2 starting at $679 and the Lynx at $649.

But there are differences beyond the $30 price break, and they don't always favor the allegedly more consumer-friendly Lynx. The ThinkPad version has a full USB 2.0 built in, offers wireless broadband and NFC options, and has dual Webcams. The IdeaTab version has a bigger screen, 11 inches versus 10 inches, and its keyboard dock includes a second battery for longer overall battery life.

Like the HP Envy X2 or Acer W510, the Lynx feels more like an ultraportable laptop when plugged into its clamshell-like keyboard base, but it doesn't stack up to even inexpensive ultrabooks in terms of hands-on utility and usability. Annoyingly, Lenovo's Web site doesn't seem to have the $129 keyboard dock for sale as of this writing, but I've seen it from Amazon, Staples, and others, for as much as $20 above the list price.

As a standalone tablet, the Lynx benefits from its bigger screen, but also feels less substantial, with a plastic back instead of the metal back panel of the ThinkPad Tablet 2. Side by side, unless you really need an 11-inch screen over a 10-inch one, or just can't spare the $30, it's hard to see this as the better of Lenovo's two Windows 8 tablet choices.

Price as reviewed / starting price	$779 / $649
Processor	1.8GHz Intel Atom Z276
Memory	2GB, 800MHz DDR2
Hard drive	64GB SSD
Graphics	Intel GMA
Operating System	Windows 8
Dimensions (WD)	11.8 x 7.4 inches
Height	0.37 inch (tablet only)
Screen size (diagonal)	11.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	1.4/2.9 pounds (tablet only); 1.6/3.1 pounds (w/keyboard)
Category	Ultraportable hybrid

Design and features

With lower prices than Core i5 tablets, most of the Atom-powered Windows 8 tablets we've seen tend toward plastic construction and generally looser designs. There are rare exceptions, as in the case of this tablet's sister product, the ThinkPad Tablet 2.

As a standalone tablet, the Lynx has a footprint on the larger end of the spectrum. It's thin and light, but the plastic back panel does not inspire confidence (nor do other plastic-backed tablets, to be fair). It's when connected to its optional $129 keyboard/battery dock that the Lynx really finds its own personality.

The two pieces together look and feel more like a clamshell laptop than a tablet with a keyboard accessory -- it's a style also found in the HP Envy X2 and Acer W510. The balance between the screen and base is better in the Lynx than those other two examples, and less prone to tipping over. The connection is made via a bulky central hinge, and the release mechanism is a big physical button in the middle, similar to those found on similar systems from HP, Samsung, and others. It's an inelegant look, especially compared with the way more tablet-oriented hybrids, such as the Surface Pro or ThinkPad Tablet 2, connect with their keyboards, but I don't think anyone has really nailed the perfect clamshell hybrid hinge design yet.

The keyboard dock adds some additional ports, but more importantly contains an extra battery for extended use. The keyboard is of the usual Lenovo design, with flat-topped keys that bow out slightly at the bottom. The keyboard layout is great for typing on a small system, but the entire keyboard dock has a lot of flex, especially towards the middle. It's frankly unusual for a Lenovo, and a bit cheap-feeling.

Adding to my frustration, the latch connecting the screen and keyboard felt sticky. Even with the release button firmly pressed, the two parts didn't come apart cleanly and required some awkward tugging almost every time.

The touch pad below the keyboard omits both left and right mouse buttons and a trackpoint in favor of clickpad-style buttons, which gives you the maximum finger surface on the small pad.

The big 11.6-inch display is a highlight. The 1,366x768-pixel resolution is standard for an Atom-powered Windows 8 tablet, but the screen is clear and bright, with excellent off-axis viewing angles, and a very responsive touch surface.

	Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx	Average for category [ultraportable]
Video	Micro-HDMI	HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, combo headphone/microphone jack	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	1 Micro-USB 2.0, microSD card reader (tablet); 2 USB 2.0 (keyboard dock)	2 USB 3.0, SD card reader
Networking	802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Ethernet (via dongle), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	None

Read More

Twitter releases its handcrafted Windows 8 app

he Twitter for Windows 8 app has finally hit Microsoft's Windows Store. The social networkannounced today that it was launching the new app, which was uniquely tailored for Windows 8devices.

Besides the usual Home, Connect, Discover, and Me tabs, the Windows 8 app has a host of other features. There's Snap view, which lets users adjust the size of the Twitter app and use other apps alongside it. Photos can also be expanded or shown in a photo gallery. There are two new charms -- Share and Search -- which let users tweet or search from any app. And, finally, there are Twitter Live Tiles and notifications that are on-view no matter which app is running.

"Twitter for Windows 8 brings you all the design, features and functionality of Twitter combined with the fast and fluid technology of Windows 8," Twitter says in its app description.

Despite having apps for most major platforms, Twitter has never been on Windows for PC. The microblogging site announced it was working on a native Windows 8 app back in October but has been mum on the project ever since. Over the past year, Twitter has been making a push to create a consistent experience across as many platforms as possible, be it the Web, iOS,Android, OS X, BlackBerry, and even the Windows Phone.

Read More

Intel outs Android 4.2.2 alpha dev code with Windows 8 dual-boot option

Intel is on a mission to prove that it isn’t too late to catch up to other chipset manufacturers yet in the ever-growing world of Android. And its latest move involves releasing Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean developer code that has been optimized for Intel hardware.

Although Intel has been a bit slow with the updates, at least they have been coming out more consistently over the past year. The developers at its own Open Source Technology Center have no doubt been hard at work over the last six months, which is why the world can now enjoy access to Intel-optimized Android 4.2.2 alpha dev code.

So what exactly does this new release code bring to the table, anyway? For starters, it now offers UEFI boot support, as well as support for dual-booting with Microsoft’s Windows 8. It is also powered by the Linux 3.8 kernel now and includes an interactive installer which should make it easier to work with.

Intel warns all those who intend on downloading and using this new release about bugs and general pre-alpha quality issues. So while this is mostly good news, you should know that if you hit the source code below, you are doing it at your own risk.

Read More

Google pushes mobile Gmail redesign inspired by iOS app, no love for Windows Phone, though

Access gmail.com from your mobile device today and you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Google has quietly pushed an update to the mobile version of Gmail, which includes a few user-interface improvements, as well as better aesthetics. According to Google, this update has rolled out to users on iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Kindle Fire.

Google did not include a changelog in its announcement, although it made reference to how the feedback they received from iOS users when the search company released an updated version of Gmail for the iPhone and iPad, whose users “like the redesigned UI, along with new features such as improved search and integration with Google Calendar.”

If you’re familiar with the Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad, you would likewise be familiar with some elements included in the updated mobile web Gmail version, such as improved search and integration with Google Calendar. The same changes will take effect in Gmail Offline soon.

One thing’s interesting, though. While Google has rolled out this update for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Kindle (which is, of course, a fork of Android), there’s no mention of Windows Phone. The Next Web notes that this does not come as a surprise, given that Google has been leaving Windows Phone behind in terms of accessing mobile services like Gmail, Maps and more.

I’ve read comments from Android users clamoring for Google to implement the same user experience on the native Android Gmail client, seeing how the iPad version got rave reviews. This might bring us Android users closer to that experience. But there’s a catch, of course. Mobile web is not necessarily as fluid as a native app, so if this UX is to your liking, you’ll have to make do with mobile web for now.

Read More