iPhone 5 Concept Features

Why iOS 5 is a big deal

by Josh Lowensohn  

commentary While most of this week's attention is going to be on Apple's newiPhone 4S and how it sells, the most important thing to come out of the company is a new version of its iOS software, which arrives tomorrow.

iOS 5, which made its debut at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, marks a turning point for the company's mobile software. Yes, it's largely a collection of tweaks, improvements, and fiddling with a tried and true formula, but it's also one that--for the first time--breaks iOS devices apart from computers running Apple's iTunes software and goes further to try to unify the devices into the same family.

That vision is miles away from where Apple's iPhone journey started and a response to the fact that iOS has long since rocketed past the company's computers in popularity, with devices like the iPad growing to compete directly. No, this isn't a "Mac OS X is dying" post, as much as now is a very good time to point out that what may seem like just another software update is something much bigger in the grand scheme of things.

The "PC Free" era
For the last four major versions of iOS, stretching all the way back to the original iPhone, Apple has demanded that users plug into a computer--be it a Mac or PC--to sync music, ferry over data, and grab software updates. Now those features are built into iOS itself.

Of course, if you have a computer, you can still plug in your device and continue to use iTunes, but Apple's big idea is that these devices now stand on their own, right out of the box. That's further augmented by a new wireless sync feature built intotoday's iTunes 10.5 software update and iOS 5 that lets users continue to sync with their computer as they always have, but without the wires.

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To get to the "PC free" era, as Apple's calls it, the company's gone through each built-in application to make sure it can function fully without the need for a computer running iTunes. Apple laid the groundwork for that in previous system software updates, letting users download content from the iTunes Store directly onto devices. But where that was largely a ploy to encourage people to make more content purchases, this move takes the decoupling approach system-wide to make the hardware more appealing to those who wish it exclusively. That amounts to things like letting users delete media that's been synced over from a computer, as well as editing photos that have been snapped on the device.

In order to make what could be considered a sacrifice of decoupling it to iTunes, Apple's tied it to something else: iCloud. That's Apple's new cloud-based service that both stores and ferries files from one iOS device to another.

Launching tomorrow alongside iOS 5, iCloud does many of the same things as MobileMe (the service it's replacing), while adding new hooks like:

• A back-up service that can store near-full copies of your iOS device on Apple's servers for safe keeping
• The capability to re-download previously purchased content from any one of Apple's digital stores
• A feature called Photo Stream that transfers photos from one device to another in the background
• File storage for app developers to keep certain files, like documents or application settings

Collectively, the service acts as a safety net for some of the things consumers originally needed a computer for when using these devices, something Apple is banking on to be attractive for users with one iOS device, or many.

Giving notifications another go
Perhaps just as important as the iCloud integration is how iOS 5 changes the way users get work done on Apple's mobile devices, albeit in a subtle way.

iOS 5's notification center.

(Credit: Jason Cipriani)

Largely gone are the notifications that would pop up and completely take over the focus of whatever you were doing on the phone. You can still have those if you want, but the new default is a considerably smaller banner that folds down and gives you information from that app, then folds back away a few seconds later to reveal the portion of the application you were using when it came in.

These banners have been sized so that you can continue to use the application's menus even when they fold down, letting you continue to do whatever you're doing, or tap them to hop straight to the app you just got a ping from.

Joining the new notification banners is a new pull-down menu that lets you see a rundown of these messages in case you missed one, or want to come back to it later since you were using another application. This ends up creating a new multitasking workflow, letting users check for new updates from applications without leaving the one they're on. To Google's credit, it got here first with Android, and iOS users now get to reap the same productivity benefits that system brings.

All this may seem like a minor visual change, but it has a marked effect given that mobile apps on iOS still demand to be used on screen one at a time. For instance, if you're inside a news reading app and you get a new e-mail, you can swipe your finger down the screen and get the same kind of preview you'd get looking at your e-mail inbox. Third-party app developers also have the same opportunity as Apple to put those notifications right in front of users too.

Bringing it all together
With iOS 5, Apple's also taken additional steps in unifying the iOS platform, bringing what is largely the same version of the software to all its recent model devices at once.

If you think back to what it's been like for GSM and CDMA iPhone users with iOS 4, CDMA users have been left out of several software goodies. iOS 5 represents a different approach, with all users with recent models getting the same version of the software (minus things like Siri, which is an iPhone 4S exclusive). It remains to be seen whether that updating habit will continue in the minor software updates to come, but Apple now gets to start with a clean slate across all its devices.

iOS 5 features working on the iPod Touch, the iPad and the iPhone.

(Credit: Apple)

Further playing into the idea of one big platform is iMessage, Apple's new messaging protocol. Like Research In Motion's BlackBerry Messenger platform, iMessage is a proprietary client that uses data to let iOS users send messages to one another, just like the iPhone's SMS app always has. For the first time, this lets iPod Touch and iPad users message through a first-party application, while acting as an alternative for iPhone users who previously had to go through carrier-supplied SMS and MMS services in Apple's SMS app.

While iOS users could have picked up third-party messaging apps, and IM clients, iMessage is special in that there's the basic promise that everyone with iOS will have it. Like iCloud, it's also a reason for users to lock into Apple's system, and stick with it since they have the potential to save money on text messaging fees.

With all these things put together, iOS represents a formidable update. While it's not quite the sea change that was iOS 4's multitasking update last year, it goes just about as far in giving those with existing iOS devices new ways to use them and takes those last few steps in making iOS a stronger standalone platform, something that's going to be very important if other devices join the iOS family later on down the line.

Josh Lowensohn

Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and covers everything Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about new Web startups, video games, and remote-controlled robots that watch your house. When not attempting experimental pizza recipes, Josh is an avid photographer.

The Hottest New Technologies Of 2011

Gadgets that got the biggest buzz at the Consumer Electronics Show.

  

In Pictures: The Hottest New Technologies Of 2011

As predicted, tablet mania ensued at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. At least 75 were introduced at the annual Las Vegas gadget extravaganza. The tablet with the most buzz was Motorola Mobility's XOOM. It's the first tablet to run on Google 's ( GOOG  - news   - people  ) highly anticipated Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. XOOM, which is expected to launch in the first quarter, supports Flash for easy and fast video viewing and includes 3G wireless access that can be upgraded to 4G LTE. Motorola's tablet also has a 10.1-inch screen, front- and rear-facing cameras, a camcorder and Nvidia   Tegra dual-core processor.

In spite of the tablet avalanche, a number of other gizmos and technologies were able to rise above the din and capture attention. The Samsung SUR40 forMicrosoft 's ( MSFT  - news   -people  ) Surface, the next generation of the software giant's table-top computer, wowed the CES crowd. True, it might be the world's biggest iPad , but it's still impressive, boasting a 40-inch HD 1080p touch-screen for optimal Web surfing and info sharing, and the top is coated with Corning 's ( GLW  - news   - people  ) rugged Gorilla glass. Samsung SUR40 also has something called PixelSense, technology that gives LCD panels the power to see without the use of cameras," Microsoft says. Uh huh.

 The Hottest New Technologies Of 2011

Video: 

Samsung SUR40, however, is aimed at businesses, not consumers. Fujifilm  e  ), Red Bull,Royal Bank of Canada  and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide are some of the companies that will take delivery of the table-top computer later this year.

Tributes for Apple visionary Steve Jobs

1984-2011

Steve

World and business leaders have paid tribute to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who has died at 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

US President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said Mr Jobs had changed the world.
Microsoft's Bill Gates said it had been "an insanely great honour" to work with him. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg remembered his "mentor and friend".
The Twitter microblog site struggled to cope with the traffic of tributes.
Apple itself said Mr Jobs had been "the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives" and had made the world "immeasurably better".
Thousands of celebrities and ordinary people went on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to record their tributes and memories of the man behind products such as the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad.

Continue reading the main story

The death of Mr Jobs could create a record for Twitter traffic.

Thousands of people all over the world have also been attending Apple stores to leave flowers, notes, and apples with a bite taken from them to mimic the company's logo.
Apple's leading rivals such as Microsoft, Google, Sony and Samsung all chipped in with glowing tributes.
GS Choi, chief executive of Samsung, which is embroiled in a major court battle with Apple on patents, said Mr Jobs was an "innovative spirit" who "introduced numerous revolutionary changes to the information technology industry".
In his statement, Bill Gates said: "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour."

At the scene

 

A single bunch of flowers - still in their plastic wrapper - were the only outward sign of the passing of Steve Jobs outside Apple's flagship London store in Covent Garden.

Ginnie Leatham, a brand director in the media industry, from West Sussex, hand delivered a single red Gerbera to staff inside the store.

She said: "I was really sad when I woke up this morning. I had a real lump in my throat and felt quite tearful.

"I was thinking about it on my commute into work. I always walk past the Apple store and I just thought 'I'm going to stop'.

1. Flowers and eulogies for Steve Jobs

Mr Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook: "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

His comments were "liked" by more than 200,000 people within hours.
In his own tweet, Barack Obama wrote: "There may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."
Web users in China have reportedly posted almost 35 million online tributes.
Tim Cook, who was made Apple's CEO after Mr Jobs stood down in August, said his predecessor had left behind "a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple".
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Steve Jobs transformed the way we work and play; a creative genius who will be sorely missed."
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the US had "lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein".
News Corp's Rupert Murdoch said: "Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation."

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will remember Mr Jobs for "knowing what made sense in a product"

People also gathered outside Mr Jobs's home in California's Silicon Valley to lay floral wreaths, while flags were flown at half mast outside the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.
A statement from Mr Jobs's family said they were with him when he died peacefully on Wednesday.
"In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family," they said, requesting privacy and thanking those who had "shared their wishes and prayers" during his final year.
Face of Apple
Mr Jobs built a reputation as a forthright and demanding leader who could take niche technologies - such as the mouse and graphical user interface, using onscreen icons rather than text - and make them popular with the general public.

Life of Steve Jobs

1. Born in San Francisco in Feb 1955 to students Joanne Schieble and Syrian-born Abdulfattah Jandali - adopted by a Californian working class couple
2. Had a summer job at Hewlett-Packard while at school - later worked at Atari
3. Dropped out of college after six months and went travelling in India, where he became a Buddhist
4. Launched Apple with school friend Steve Wozniak in 1976 - first Apple computer sold the same year
5. Left Apple amid disputes in 1985 but returned in 1996 and became CEO in 1997
6. Bought Pixar animation company in 1986 for $10m
7. Married in a Buddhist ceremony in 1991 - has three children with his wife and a daughter from a previous relationship
8. Had a personal wealth estimated at $8.3bn (£5.4bn) in 2010
9. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, and after three periods of sickness leave, resigns as Apple CEO in August 2011
10. Obituary: Steve Jobs
11. Career in pictures
12. 'Remarkable' cancer fight

He introduced the colourful iMac computer, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad to the world. His death came just a day after Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 4S model.

With a market value estimated at $351bn (£227bn), Apple became the world's most valuable technology company.
More than almost any other business leader, Mr Jobs was indistinguishable from his company, which he co-founded in the 1970s.
As the face of Apple, he represented its dedication to high-end technology and fashionable design.
And inside the company he exerted a level of influence unheard of in most businesses.
Mr Jobs also provided major funding to set up Pixar Animation Studios.
In 2004, Mr Jobs announced that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He had a liver transplant five years later.
In January, he took medical leave, before resigning as CEO in August and handing over his duties to Mr Cook.
In his resignation letter, Mr Jobs said: "I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role."
However, Mr Jobs stayed on as Apple's chairman.
Despite his high profile, he remained fiercely protective of his private life.
He married his wife Laurene in 1991, and the couple had three children.
Mr Jobs also leaves a daughter from a previous relationship, and as an adult he discovered that he had a biological sister, US novelist Mona Simpson.

 

Speech Technology

This book addresses different aspects of the research field and a wide range of topics in speech signal processing, speech recognition and language processing. The chapters are divided in three different sections: Speech Signal Modeling, Speech Recognition and Applications. The chapters in the first section cover some essential topics in speech signal processing used for building speech recognition as well as for speech synthesis systems: speech feature enhancement, speech feature vector dimensionality reduction, segmentation of speech frames into phonetic segments. The chapters of the second part cover speech recognition methods and techniques used to read speech from various speech databases and broadcast news recognition for English and non-English languages. The third section of the book presents various speech technology applications used for body conducted speech recognition, hearing impairment, multimodal interfaces and facial expression recognition.

MOBILE

What if you could have all your credit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards and mobile coupons all securely located in one place? And what if that place just so happened to be inside the one device that you carry around all the time?

Well, now you can.
Near-field communication (NFC) technology is revolutionizing the mobile commerce sector, allowing consumers to ditch their wallets and instead swipe their smartphones at checkout.
With the recent launch of mobile payment systems like Google Wallet, Isis and PayPal mobile payments, many marketers are starting to realize the effects that this payment transformation will have on mobile marketing.
The integrated mobile commerce initiative will combine mobile coupons and loyalty programs with mobile payments, giving retailers the almighty power to track customer purchasing decisions. Retailers and marketers will have the data needed to answer imperative questions about consumers: Who are they? What is their purchasing behavior? How often are they shopping? How much do they typically spend?
With this type of information at their disposal, retailers can team up with mobile marketers to create targeted, relevant offers and discounts at the point-of-sale.
The innovative technology not only engages consumers, but creates a communicative interaction between them and the brand. The mobile wallet will give marketers the opportunity to interact with consumers at the moment of the transaction, perhaps exposing the consumer to the brand’s mobile application or an instant coupon.
Innovation enriches the customer’s purchasing experience, but even more so do loyalty and engagement. Mobile marketing relies on the notion that consumers are relatively attached, if not completely addicted, to their mobile devices. The mobile wallet creates an even deeper connection between consumers and their phones, thus giving mobile commerce the potential to be a huge driver for mobile marketing.

 

Dell Inspiron 15R (N5110) Full Review

 
The latest generation of the Dell Inspiron 15R (the N5110) features Intel's "Sandy Bridge" Core processors and your choice of surprisingly powerful integrated graphics or AMD Radeon discrete graphics for gaming, all wrapped in a stylish notebook with a reasonable price tag. Keep reading to find out why the Inspiron 15R is one of Dell's best-selling laptops.
Our Dell Inspiron 15R (N5110) Specifications:

• Intel Core i5-2410M processor (2.3GHz, 3MB cache, 2.9GHz Turbo Boost)
• 15.6-inch 1366x768 display with LED backlighting
• Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• 6GB DDR3 memory (1333MHz)
• 500GB 5400rpm HDD
• Intel HD integrated graphics
• 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner
• 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11n wireless, and Bluetooth
• 6-cell Li-ion 48WHr battery and 9-cell 90WHr battery
• Dimensions: 14.7 x 9.6 x 1.2 inches
• Weight: 5.84lbs
• MSRP: $889.98

The starting price of the Inspiron 15R N5110 is only $499 at the time of this writing but that includes a slower Intel Core i3-2310M processor, less RAM, a smaller hard drive and only the standard 6-cell battery. The point here is that Dell offers a number of different configurations of the new Inspiron 15R.

The updated Inspiron 15R N5110 features a number of design changes compared to last year's Inspiron 15R. The overall look is essentially unchanged with a clean and sleek exterior, but at its core the 15R remains a budget laptop with a mostly plastic construction. The new 15R uses a hinge-forward LCD lid design that Dell first used in the premium Adamo series. I'm sure Dell designers will say it's a way of reducing the size of the screen bezel with a 16:9 ratio widescreen display. However, as far as most people are concerned, it just means the back of the notebook sticks out more behind the screen.





Build quality is generally pretty strong for a mostly plastic notebook, but you'll notice some minor flexing in the plastics if you firmly squeeze the notebook in your hands or press hard on the keyboard while typing. The main chassis, while reasonably strong, has a "hollow" feeling which makes you think there is some unused space inside this black box. Speaking of black, that's the standard color for the Inspiron 15R. You can select an optional "Fire Red" or "Peacock Blue" for an extra $35 when you order your laptop from Dell, or you can choose a more artistic lid for an extra $60. Honestly, I feel like customers should be able to pick black, red, or blue at no additional cost and the artistic lids should be half their current price ... but that's just my opinion. At least with the new "SWITCHable Lids" you can buy a fancy screen lid at a later time if you want.
One additional (and probably unintentional) benefit of the new "SWITCHable Lids" is that the screen is slightly more protected from exterior pressure. The new screen cover offers moderately more protection for the LCD than the old 15R, which means ripples don't show up as easily on this screen if you press on the back of the lid.


Anyone looking to upgrade the RAM inside the Dell Inspiron 15R will find the process is very simple.  There is only one access panel on the bottom of the notebook secured by a single Phillips head screw and some plastic retention tabs. Remove that one panel and you can add or replace to the system memory. Unfortunately, removing the hard drive requires almost a complete disassembly of the notebook chassis.


Ports and Features
When it comes to budget 15-inch laptops, Dell has a history of packing their notebooks with enough inputs and outputs to keep any tech enthusiast happy. The new N5110 is no exception. This Inspiron 15R features two USB 2.0 ports (one of which is an eSATA/USB combo port), two "Super Speed" USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and VGA-out, audio jacks, and Ethernet. It also featured a SDHC-card reader and a CD/DVD optical drive.

Front: Activity lights

Rear: Kensington lock slot, Ethernet, USB 3.0, VGA, power jack

Left: One USB 2.0, HDMI-out, USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, media card slot

Right: Optical drive, audio jacks, USB 3.0 port


Build and Design

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In a sharp departure from earlier practices around Windows 7, XP and Vista, for example, Microsoft has decided to open up experimentation with the developers version of Windows 8 to the general public. 'I'd Love to Change It to Blue or Purple' Judging from user postings to Web-based forums, early reaction ranges all the way from displeasure over the green color scheme of Microsoft's new Metro user interface (UI) to consternation over apps that won't open and printers, displays, and other devices that won't function properly with Windows 8. "How do you change the Windows 8 Metro green color scheme? If it is even possible, how do you do it?" asked Duck Tales LOL, on the forumswindows8.com Web site. "Looking for an answer for this also. [I'd] love to change it to blue or purple," agreed jayquik03. Questions about more crucial Windows 8 issues, such as how to get apps and devices to function, are being raised by developers and more garden variety users alike. Apps Don't Open "I just finished installing the Windows 8 Developer Preview. I can't open any of the apps like Weather, News, Paintplay, games, etc. Only Internet Explorer and the control panel open up," noted EvilAsh, in the same forum. "You shall set your resolution to 1280-by-800 or higher. Then you can open these applications," intoned another forum member. "BTW, even under 1280-by-800 resolution, a few applications can't be opened either. I think we need higher resolution," chimed in ninjamonke. "When I click on an application tile, nothing happens. How can I launch the Metro applications?" echoed Keith, a professional developer, in a developers forum on MSDN (Microsoft Developers Network). Replied Michael of Microsoft Support: "If nothing happens when you click on a Metro UI application tile, first check that your screen resolution is 1024-by-768 or higher." Other developers then responded that apps either wouldn't work -- or wouldn't even open at all -- even after they'd upped the screen resolution. 'Nothing Happens' "So far I can confirm that Build, Memories Your Life Book, [and] Note Space...open but nothing [happens]. Have a nice day," elaborated Fritzly. For apps that open but won't work, other developers suggested trying workarounds such as switching from a Live ID account to a regular one (or vice versa); rebooting the system; and changing the order in which the apps are started. Some pointed out that resolution of 1280-by-800 or higher is commonplace today, except on netbooks, a hardware platform that some are using for Windows 8 exploration. "[Even] once [netbook users] get past they screen resolution issue, they'll still end up getting pinched by the network, live log-in, and admin account issues," predicted DeathByVisualStudio. Won't Work with Printers, Bluetooth, etc. Drivers for printers, displays, and other devices are turning out to be another bugaboo. At this point, drivers supporting Windows 8 are available for some devices, but not others. "The computer in my office is running with Windows 8 64-bit, and I have attached to it a Samsung [multifunction device] printer, scanner, copier. I have installed the recommended driver from the Samsung Web site and the device now prints and photocopies fine. But what's strange is that it won't scan," wrote one unhappy business user, HongMay, on forumswindows8.com. Another user advised HongMay to solve the problem by opening the properties tab on the printer driver and selecting, "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8." Evidently, other drivers can be tougher to find. "My father's PC is an HP Pavilion Dv6...and he just upgraded his system to Windows 8 Ultimate 64-bit. However, the Blueooth doesn't work well and I couldn't [turn it on]. Do you guys know where to download the drivers that support Windows 8?" wrote a user dubbed win8 in the same forum. Users also blame video driver incompatibilities for an unwelcome extra dose of screen brightness. "I have been longing for Windows 8 operating system for a long time. So last evening, I tried to install Win 8 on my laptop by myself, [as] a computer novice. But after the installation, I found that the brightness of the screen was too bright. Then I tried to adjust it, but I failed to adjust it. I do not know why!" HongMay contended. "Then try to download and install the latest video device driver/software from your brand seller," recommended sophip. Installation Fails Meanwhile, over in the MSDN forum, developers complain about receiving "required device driver missing" errors upon trying to download the 64-bit edition of Windows 8. "I have tried to install the 64-bit Win8 dev prev on all 3 of my machines and get the same 'required cd/dvd device driver missing' error on all 3 computers...thought maybe my dvd burn was bad so I did a second burn with a different burner software...all 3 machines same error...never had any install problems with windows 7 beta," said a developer named darthgault. MCITP (Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional) Rich Prescott advised darthgault and others engangled in these installation snares to re-download the ISO, the downloadable image of the Windows 8 DVD that Microsoft provides as a free download. The ISO "can become corrupted during the download process," according to Prescott. 'Developers Preview means BUGGY' Could Microsoft's new willingness to share its early software development efforts with an expanded user base end up backfiring? That's certainly possible, if enough users decide that there's more to dislike than to like about Windows 8. On the other hand, though, indignation over bugs in early Windows 8 software seems quite mild in comparison to the outrage that exploded upon the general release of Windows 7 over installation and driver incompatibility woes. Certainly, many developers understand that Windows 8 isn't yet a shipping product. "Developers Preview means BUGGY," noted widdybear, over in the MSDN forum. "That's why we have beta testing to get the BUGS out. It's good to go through this. It isn't like Microsoft is going to just send 'er out of the ole garage." End Users: A Spirit of Tolerance? Are consumers and business users dabbling with Windows 8 under the same spirit of tolerance? In an analysis by Mashwork of nearly 10,000 tweets on Twitter showing initial consumer reactions to Windows 8, 47 percent of the tweets expressed excitement about Windows 8, while only 20 percent voiced skepticism. Another 33 percent of the tweets offered suggestions to Microsoft around how to improve the new operating system (OS). The analysis of initial reactions is part of a larger study of nearly 66,000 opinions of Windows 8 tweeted between June 25 and September 22 of this year. In other results, almost 18,000 of the tweets drew comparisons between competing OS and Windows 8, an OS that runs on both PCs and ARM-based tablets. Of roughly 10,500 tweeted comparisons to Apple's iOs, 63 percent favored Windows 8 over iOS. Of about 7,300 comparisons to the Android OS, almost all favored Microsoft's upcoming OS. Just as for developers, expectations about early Windows 8 software don't seem to be nearly as high among end users as these would be for a commercial product. After all, the download is free, right? Microsoft, of course, is hardly the first to engage consumers and business users in early software testing. Google, for example, is beating that drum with its beta tests for the Google+ social network. For Microsoft, Free Usability Testing So what's in it for Microsoft to open up the Windows 8 testing process to more early users? After all, as with any pre-release of previous Windows software, developers belonging to MSDN are able to provide Microsoft with formal feedback by filling out bug reports. Yet the comments from consumers and business customers publicly posted on end user forums -- and tweeted about on Twitter -- can't help but give Microsoft valuable feedback as to how Windows 8 is actually behaving in the field and what end users are thinking about it. What's the upshot? End users get to satisfy their curiosity about Windows 8 by playing around with the software before it's turned into a commercial product. Meanwhile, Microsoft gets to do tons of free usability testing. With much luck, a better Windows 8 will emerge in the end. If Microsoft has any sense, it's keeping a close ear to the ground on this one.

NEW LAPTOP

New laptop technalogy coming soon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!

This large touchscreen hosts most of the infotainment controls.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The Model S is driven by this electric motor on the rear axle.

(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

This Model S is referred to as a Beta 1 by Tesla, yet is still completely drivable.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

At events over this last weekend and the following Monday, Tesla gave its customers and a group of journalists an opportunity to see the beta of its Model S, the new electric sedan it intends to put into production early next year. I joined this happy few, but knew going in that, unlike most automotive model introductions, I wouldn't actually get to drive the car.

Tesla Model S Beta 1 (photos)

Getting into the passenger seat, one of the first things I noticed, along with every other journalist present at this event, was that the stalk-mounted drive selector was the same as found in new Mercedes-Benz cars. Apparently, the electric power steering unit and associated steering gear, which includes column and stalk controls, was provided by automotive equipment maker ZF. Jim Dunlay, VP of powertrain engineering, assured me that, by production, Tesla would have its own drive selector, along with any other controls that might share sourcing with another automaker.
And that shifter illustrates what Tesla means by calling this Model S a beta, and why I wouldn't get my hands on the wheel, not this day. Tesla made much of its transparency, how other automakers would never let you see a model in this early stage of development. The car was one of five in this early run, built at a contracted plant in Detroit. The next phase, the Beta 2, will be built in Tesla's new Fremont, California factory. 50 of these cars will be built starting this month. The Beta 2 model will not only help Tesla employees further refine the car, but it will also test the new production facility.
Not that this Beta 1 Model S wasn't quite far along. Electric drivetrain, check. Steering wheel, check. Tires, check. Nicely finished interior, check. The car, referred to as Beta 1 by Tesla, even had a basically working infotainment system in the center stack and fully digital instrument panel. There were still many details to work out, such as the shifter, infotainment interface programming, and tuning, but this Beta 1 was a working car.
Proof is in the drive
As Tesla employee Graham Sutherland piloted the Model S beta through a short slalom, the first part of the course laid out for this ride along, he explained how the low slung battery contributed to excellent stability. Having seen the unique layout of the car in cutaway fashion, he didn't need to tell me, relegated to the passenger seat, how that weight distribution and the big, flat battery assembly would help the car handle. As Sutherland is responsible for the car's suspension he was privy to much more interesting information.
Noticing a bit of sway in those first maneuvers, I began asking him about the suspension tuning, currently a work in progress. According to Sutherland, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants the Model S to have the handling of a Porsche and the comfort of an Audi. Those are fairly high bars to set, especially given the conventional suspension technology supporting the car, double wishbones in front and a multilink configuration in back. No air suspension, no magnetic ride technology.


But the ride quality did feel quite smooth, that sensation probably enhanced by the car's lack of a combustion engine. Take out the rumble of repeated explosions occurring right in front of the passenger compartment, and the car already has a huge advantage on the luxury front.
The next section of the course was a straightaway, where Sutherland made real use of the accelerator. The Model S, although much bigger than the Roadster, delivered the push. I was pressed into the seat as the car quickly hit 60 mph, then 70, and up to 80 before we had to slow down.
As I've experienced in other electric cars, acceleration was smooth and inexorable, unhampered by gears and engine speed changes. The only surprise here was how well Tesla's electric drive technology scaled up to the bigger car. The Roadster, which takes some contortions to get into, has a battery pack that looks like a refrigerator and a motor the size of a watermelon.
The Model S, on the other hand, has its batteries in a flat, approximately four inch thick assembly bolted underneath the car. The motor, sitting on the rear axle, is a little bigger than that of the Roadster. Still using what are essentially lithium-ion laptop batteries, Tesla packs enough of them into the flat casing, along with a liquid cooling system, to produce 85 kilowatt-hours, or 300 miles range for the car.
The electric motor is rated at 362 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque, that latter number available from 0 to 7,000 rpm. It gets the Model S to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. At the weekend unveiling, Elon Musk revealed that Tesla would also create a sport version of the Model S, which gets to 60 mph in under 4 seconds.
I had no trouble believing that Tesla's drive configuration for the Model S would work, but it was nice to feel it pushing the car down the test course. Tesla replaced faith with proof. Sutherland finished the course with a few fast loops on Tesla's own factory test track, which includes banked turns.
Luxury right out of the gate
The cabin of this Model S looked far nicer than I would expect of a first beta. It had a glass roof with a retractable portion. The leather covered seats felt comfortable. All of the doors closed with a reassuringly soft click.


But really striking about the interior was its simplicity. The dashboard and other surfaces lacked the switchgear I am used to used to seeing in most cars. Sure, there were window controls in the doors, a couple of clickable scroll wheels on the steering wheel spokes, and the drive selector. But most of the cabin controls appeared on the large center touchscreen, a big infotainment interface which Elon Musk likened to an iPad.
Brennan Boblett, in charge of the interface design, showed off a number of the system's features. A row of icons at the top allowed access to different vehicle functions, such as phone, navigation, and the stereo. The upper half of the screen could show navigation, courtesy of Google Earth, with the bottom showing music, phone, or other functions. Or navigation could be moved to the lower half, with a Web browser on top. The demonstration also showed how the map could take up the entire screen.
Boblett demonstrated Slacker radio integration, although cautioned that Tesla had not finalized any deals with app developers. The system is supposed to store music locally, and include advanced voice command that lets you select music by saying the name of an artist, similar to Ford's Sync.
With the car's data connection, it downloads Google Earth imagery to show the car's location. As it downloads a chunk consisting of 300 miles radius around the car, more than the car's own range, it should always have satellite imagery available. But Tesla will also include a standard navigation system licensed from Navigon.
Linux underlies this infotainment system, and only takes up 35 mb, according to Boblett. And powering it is a Tegra2 chip from Nvidia, a graphics processor no bigger than a dime, but hugely powerful. By the time the Model S hits production, it should be using the Tegra3 chip.
A separate Tegra2 chip powers the car's instrument panel. Tesla does away with analog gauges completely, settling for a flat pane of glass behind the steering wheel with virtual representations of gauges for speed, range, and other useful information. Both infotainment interface and instrument panel will undergo tweaking up until the time the software needs to be loaded onto the first Model S to roll off the production line.
The electric world
The obvious progress Tesla has made on the Model S assures the company will hit its production plan, which is actually very modest. Only 5,000 units of the Model S are slated for the first year's production, despite the fact that Tesla has already logged 6,000 orders. The following year the company goes into full production, yet still only plans 20,000 cars per year, which is the capacity of its planned production line working a single shift each day.
With a base price of $57,400, before any credits, the Model S looks like a good value proposition. However, a base model will only have a range of 160 miles. Tesla estimates that the 300 mile range version will cost about $77,400. Tesla has not suggested any other content differences besides range for the different versions.
Tesla has already announced it is working on a second car for its model line-up, the Model X, which will take the form of a crossover. It is expected to be more affordable than the Model S.

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