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Windows RT

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Windows Runtime.

Windows RT (formerly known as Windows on ARM) will be a version of the Windows 8operating system for ARM devices such as tablets. It will officially only run software available through the Windows Store or included in Windows RT including Microsoft Word, Excel,PowerPoint, and OneNote as standard. Microsoft will only be selling the operating system to device manufacturers directly, and not as a stand-alone product to consumers.

The name Windows RT was announced on April 16, 2012.^[1] "RT" is an abbreviation of Runtime, the technical term for the engine that powers the new Metro style apps.^{[citation needed]} It is not the first Windows Runtime. The term "runtime" refers to the collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow developers to write software that can interact with the hardware and each other.

On June 18, 2012, Microsoft announced a tablet computer called Microsoft Surface that will be available in two versions, one that runs Windows RT and one that runs Windows 8 Pro as its operating system.^[2]

Contents   [hide]  1 Hardware requirements 2 Difference from other Windows 8 versions 2.1 Limitations 3 References

[edit]Hardware requirements

Microsoft has released minimum hardware requirements for new tablet and convertible devices designed for Windows RT. Microsoft has defined a convertible form factor as a standalone device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in a single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices are hidden or removed leaving the display as the only input mechanism.^[3][4]

• Hardware buttons: Must have five hardware buttons - 'Power', 'Rotation lock', 'Windows Key', 'Volume-up', 'Volume-down'. The Windows Key to be at least 10.5 mm in diameter.
• five-point digitizers: Microsoft requires that Windows 8 touch PCs use digitizers supporting a minimum of five touch points.
• Mobile Broadband: If a mobile broadband device is integrated into a tablet or convertible system, then an assisted GPS radio is required
• Display: Minimum native resolution/color depth is 1366x768 at a depth of 32-bits. The physical dimensions of the display panel must match the aspect ratio of the native resolution. The native resolution of the panel can be greater than 1366 (horizontally) and 768 (vertically).
• Near field communication: Devices supporting NFC need to have visual marks to help users locate and use the proximity technology.
• New button combination for Control-Alt-Delete: The new option is to press Windows Key + Power.
• Storage: At least 10 GB free space, after the out-of-box experience completes.
• Graphics: Direct3D 10 device with WDDM 1.2 driver
• Camera: Minimum resolution 1280 x 720^[5]
• Ambient light sensor: 1-30k lux capable with dynamic range of 5-60K.
• Accelerometer: three axes with data rates at or above 50 Hz
• Magnetometer and gyroscope
• USB 2.0: At least one controller and exposed port.
• Networking: WLAN and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
• System firmware: UEFI
• Built-in speaker and microphone^[6]

[edit]Difference from other Windows 8 versions

While Windows RT does share a significant amount of code base with other Windows 8 versions, there are some notable differences. Windows RT will not include Windows Media Player, a multimedia playback software found in other Windows 8 versions. In addition, Windows RT will include Microsoft Office 2013 RT for free whereas users of other Windows 8 versions will need to purchase and install Office separately.^[7]

[edit]Limitations

Only software written using the Windows Runtime (Metro style apps) can be used on Windows RT. Developers will not be able to create applications to run on Windows RT using the Win32 APIs.^[8]

[edit]References

1. ^ "Windows Announcing the Windows 8 Editions". The Windows Blog.
2. ^ "Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
3. ^ Crothers, Brooke (2012-01-17). "Microsoft lays out Window 8 tablet hardware requirements | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
4. ^ Newman, Jared (2012-01-17). "Windows 8 Tablet Requirements Revealed". PCWorld. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
5. ^ "Microsoft's Windows 8 hardware requirements: some good, some not-so-good". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
6. ^ "Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements". Msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
7. ^ "Windows Announcing the Windows 8 Editions". The Windows Blog.
8. ^ Microsoft bans Firefox on ARM-based Windows, Mozilla says | Business Tech - CNET News

Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models

By Darren Murph  posted Jun 18th 2012 8:14PM

Surfaces. Turns out, the plural form of Microsoft's new tablet range rolls off of the tongue with ease, but understanding the differences between the first two models may not be quite as easy -- particularly for the everyman, or folks intimately familiar with Microsoft's other Surface. Two editions -- Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro -- were unveiled today in Los Angeles, and while the exterior of each one looks nearly identical, the innards expose major differences in architecture. Let's break it all down after the break, shall we?

Microsoft Surface Glamour Shots

Surface for Windows RT tablet

• Processor: NVIDIA Tegra-based ARM chip
• Weight: 676 grams
• Thickness: 9.3 millimeters
• Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capacitive touchpanel
• Battery: 31.5Wh
• I/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Software: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RT
• Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand
• Capacity: 32GB / 64GB
• Availability: "Around" the Windows 8 launch (fall 2012)
• Pricing: To be determined

Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablet

• Processor: Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)
• Weight: 903 grams
• Thickness: 13.5 millimeters
• Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) capacitive touchpanel
• Battery: 42Wh
• I/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Software: Windows 8 Pro
• Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm Block
• Capacity: 64GB / 128GB
• Availability: "Three months after" the Windows 8 launch this fall
• Pricing: To be determined

So, what's the story? Well, for one, Microsoft's playing coy when it comes to both CPU speed and available memory. Not unlike Apple and its iPad, actually. We're guessing that the company will try to push the user experience instead of focusing on pure specifications, and it's frankly about time the industry started moving in that direction. Pure hardware attributes only get you so far, and judging by the amount of integration time that went into this project, Microsoft would be doing itself a huge disservice to launch anything even close to not smooth-as-butter.

It's worth pointing out that the ARM-based WinRT (psst -- you can catch up on what exactly Windows RT is here) model is both thinner and lighter than the version with Windows 8 Pro. Moreover, the battery is sized up in the latter, presumably to handle the higher power drain of the 1080p panel and the Core i5 processor. Strangely, microSDXC and USB 3.0 are only supported on the Win8 Pro model; we're guessing it's either a platform limitation, or just run-of-the-mill cost cutting. That said, bundling Office with the WinRT edition is apt to make Win8 Pro buyers salty; why not include it with the slate that'll be priced like a laptop (i.e. well north of what a lot of buyers will be willing to pay)? While we're comparing and contrasting, it's also vital to note that the WinRT variant won't ship with a 1080p panel; Microsoft didn't get specific on screen resolution, but a paltry 1366 x 768 is going to look mighty pixelated sitting next to a 1080p Win8 Pro sibling, a Retina-equipped iPad and ASUS' 1080p Zenbook / Transformer lines.

Those looking for a complete Windows experience in the form of a tablet will obviously need to pony up for the Windows 8 Pro model; those content with new, Metro-style apps engineered for Windows on ARM will likely save a few bucks by selecting that Surface. The real issue here is the murkiness when it comes to pricing. Microsoft is shying away from specifics, only saying that "pricing for Surface for Windows RT will be on par with other Windows RT tablets," and "pricing for Surface for Windows 8 Pro will be on par with Ultrabook-grade laptops." Unlike Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Microsoft is in a tricky situation; it can only do so much on its own before it ticks off those all-important OEMs that'llalso be making Windows-based slates in the near future, and undercutting those guys on pricing won't go over well in terms of business relationships.

In fact, we'll be eagerly awaiting reactions from the likes of ASUS, Acer, HP, Toshiba, Dell and the rest of the lot -- Microsoft just made itself a rival in a lot of ways, and only time will tell how prudent that decision was. It's also bizarre that Microsoft isn't opening up pre-orders on these right away. As we'veseen with Palm, announcing a hugely hyped product with no concrete launch path and no way to get dollars funneled in with pre-orders doesn't typically turn out well -- or, as well as it could have. It's also downright worrisome that no battery life figures were bandied about. Windows-based tablets of the past have always fallen short due to simply running out of gas in three to four hours, and today's tablet expectations are far different than even a few years ago. Is it possible for a Windows 8 Pro tablet to last 6+ hours on a single charge? Only time will tell, but we sure wish MS would've provided some sort of idea from the get-go.

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