Microsoft and Qualcomm aim to make good on 'Windows on ARM' with slew of 'Always Connected PCs'

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The pipe dream for personal computing has been Windows PCs running on super efficient processors that can enable devices to last for days, not just hours. We've had the original Surface RT devices, which were unable to run Win32 apps. There have also been various tablet-first 2-in-1 devices running on ARM procesors but they never delivered on the promise of longer battery life or acceptable performance. This is about to change in a big way.

Microsoft and Qualcomm kicked off these new generation 'Always On' PC's during Qualcomm's Tech Summit in Hawaii today. Designed to last for up to 20 hours on a battery charge and featuring Windows 10 S (upgradeable, of course, to Windows 10 Pro), devices like HP's Envy X2 and ASUS' Novago are expected to be the hot new ultraportable segment in mobile computing.

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Large Fitbit OS update brings new apps and functionality to Fitbit Ionic

Whiile it is a reliable and stylish fitness tracker, the Fitbit Ionic may have seemed anemic as a smartwatch. That's changing today thanks to the new Fitbit OS update. we're now seeing apps for home automation, entertainment, news and much requested clock faces. I am currently installing the update with a Windows 10 PC connected directly to the Fitbit Ionic using the companion app. I'll post impressions as soon as I've spent some time with the new OS.

Available throught the Fitbit app on Android, iOS and Windows, the update adds more than 60 apps now available across a wide range of categories, 100+ clock faces, and enhanced performance.

Fitbit is also introducing Fitbit Labs, a Fitbit Research initiative that will bring innovative apps and intelligent clock face experiences to users to motivate and drive behavior change, and help accelerate the company’s pace of innovation.

Additionally, Fitbit is partnering with Deezer, the world’s most dynamic, diverse and personal music streaming service, to provide international users the ability to listen to music directly from their wrist with Fitbit Ionic in 2018.

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Windows 10 is now installed on 600 million devices

Microsoft's Windows 10 OS has reportedly been installed in 600 million devices worldwide. Windows 10, which was launched back in 2015 and geared towards PC's 2-in-1's, xBox and mobile phones has predominantly been available for free on older devices and offered as a free upgrade. Microsoft's bailing out on their mobile platform has somewhat impacted the company's initial target of seeing Windows 10 on 1 billion devices.

Windows 7 is still the dominant operating system in use with a 46% market share while Winows 10 is climbing up the rungs with 27% market share.

Apple to offer free coding and fun challenges in stores for Hour of Code

Apple today opened registration for thousands of free Hour of Code sessions available at all Apple Stores from December 4 through 10. The company also introduced a new educational challenge in Swift Playgrounds and added new teacher resources to the Everyone Can Code curriculum to help teach Swift, Apple’s easy-to-learn programming language that anyone can use to create world-class apps.

For the fifth year, Apple Stores will participate in Hour of Code with daily coding sessions in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. Young aspiring coders can learn coding basics during a Kids Hour session, while those age 12 and above can use Swift Playgrounds on iPad to learn coding concepts and even program robots. A new Teacher Tuesdays session helps educators learn how to teach code to students using new resources and discussion topics.

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