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Intel Confirms Haswell Will Launch on June 3rd at Computex
Microsoft Packs in Free T-Mobile Hotspots With Select US Forbes Magazines
Google Drive Update Enables Offline Support for Documents
HP Slate 7 Android Tablet Now Available, Sports $170 Price Tag

Intel Confirms Haswell Will Launch on June 3rd at Computex

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 04:08 PM PDT

Countdown

A countdown begins for geeks, by geeks.

We all knew it was coming this summer, but now we also know it will only be 3,337,200,000,000,000 more nanoseconds until Haswell officially launches. Our back-of-the-envelope calculations align this countdown with Computex 2013, a show we fully expect to be dominated by Intel powered machines showing off the new architecture.

Numerous leaks have confirmed most of the parts Maximum PC readers will want to keep an eye on, but here it is again for reference:

Intel Core i5 4430: $197.86
Intel Core i5 4570: $213.69
Intel Core i5 4570S: $205.78
Intel Core i5 4670: $236.30
Intel core i5 4670K: $256.65
Intel Core i7 4770: $328.67
Intel Core i7 4770K: $368.07
Intel Core i7 4770S: $320.80

Haswells focus on battery life and GPU performance might make this tough upgrade to justify for desktop users who've already made the leap to Ivy Bridge, but that's just the way the industry is moving these days. If you're on the hunt for a new laptop however, or if you are still a few core generations behind, you might want to mark June 3rd on your calendar.

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Microsoft Packs in Free T-Mobile Hotspots With Select US Forbes Magazines

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 01:45 PM PDT

Hotspot

Nothing makes us think subscription based software quite like 15 days of free Wi-Fi. Wait what?

It's not easy to get your ad noticed these days, but packing in a T-Mobile hotspot, complete with 15 days of complimentary access sure doesn't hurt. Select US editions of Forbes are arriving on door steps today with built in routers, and its all part of a marketing campaign by Microsoft to draw attention to Office 365.

The packed in routers will serve up to five devices at once, and Engadget reports the battery life is around 3 hours per charge. We have no idea if its possible to renew the hotspot subscription once the 15 day trial period expires, but they certainly got our attention.

Considering how well Microsoft Office works offline compared to Google Doc's, we are a bit surprised to see Redmond taking this approach. On the other hand if free press was the only goal here, then mission accomplished.

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Google Drive Update Enables Offline Support for Documents

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:55 AM PDT

Google Docs

Google takes another step in the right direction.

In terms of features, Microsoft Office has Google Doc's beaten hands down. The bad news for Microsoft however, is that the vast majority of features a typical user cares about are quickly being addressed. Of those missing features, the most common complaint we hear is lack of offline support. The option to work without an active Internet connection has come and gone from Google Doc's over the years, but its back again for Chrome users, and hopefully its here to stay this time.

To enable offline support simply log into your Google Drive account, and on the left hand side menu below create click more, then offline. Users without the Chrome plugin will be prompted to install it, but once done, happy trails. Recent documents will be available to edit, and any changes will be synced back to Google HQ when you reconnect.

It's still not quite as seamless as using Microsoft Office if you spend most of your time offline, but if you only need it in a pinch, and you love the cloud first focus of Google's productivity suite, then it's definitely worth checking out.

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HP Slate 7 Android Tablet Now Available, Sports $170 Price Tag

Posted: 28 Apr 2013 01:20 AM PDT

Hewlett-Packard re-enters the media tablet market with 7-inch Android Jelly Bean tablet

If you are a PC vendor mulling a foray into the world of smartphones and media tables, there is perhaps no other platform more convenient than Android for this purpose. That is not to say that it is an option that readily appeals to everyone, especially those who give priority to control over convenience. But, as tempting as it might be, to have your own OS, it does not guarantee success and can be a very costly exercise. Just ask HP, which has taken almost two years to recover from the unmitigated disaster that was the TouchPad and re-enter the tablet market.

The company has begun shipping the Jelly Bean-running Slate 7 Android tablet it unveiled back in February at the Mobile World Congress. The 7-inch Slate 7, which sports a $169.99 price tag, packs a 1024x600 display, 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage (up to 32GB external storage), VGA front camera, 3MP rear camera, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, micro USB port, and stereo speakers with Beats Audio. Its 3500mAh lithium polymer battery promises up to 5 hours of continuous video playback.

"To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems," said Alberto Torres, senior vice president, Mobility Global Business Unit, HP. "Our new HP Slate7 on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, while our ground-breaking, business-ready HP ElitePad on Windows® 8 is ideal for enterprises and governments. Both deliver the service and support people expect from HP."

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