Pre-order Windows 8 With A $10 Discount

As we reported, major online retailers including Amazon.com, Staples, and Office Depot have started accepting pre-orders for Windows 8 software and machines powered by Windows 8. Now that Windows 8 is up for pre-order, you might be considering to reserve your Windows 8 full version or upgrade copy.

Windows 8 upgrade copy (packaged DVD) is available for $69.99 for existing Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 users. If you’re planning to pre-order your XP, Vista, or Windows 7 to Windows 8 upgrade copy, you can head over to this page of Amazon.com to get $10 off on Windows 8 software, meaning that customers can pre-order the upgrade copy for $59.99 instead of the normal $69.99.

You need to enter the promotional code “WINDOWS8” on the Review Order page to avail the offer. Please note that this promotional code is limited to one per customer and is valid till October 14, 2012 only.

Existing Windows users running Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 can upgrade to Windows 8 for just $39.99 via Windows.com using Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. Online upgrade to Windows 8 will be available starting from October 26, 2012.

As you might already know, Windows 7 users will be able to keep everything from personal files to installed programs during the upgrade. While Vista users will be able bring along personal file and Windows settings, Windows XP users can keep only personal personal files.

If you want to test drive Windows 8 RTM before pre-ordering your copy, visit to this page to download 90-day trial version of Windows 8 RTM Enterprise edition.

Microsoft Office for iOS and Android coming in April of 2013

A report indicated that Microsoft was planning on releasing Office for iOS and Android in March of 2013. Microsoft replied to this claim and said it was not accurate. Now, a new report reveals that Office for iOS and Android will hit in April of 2013.

"Additionally, a good source of mine gave me better specifics about general availability: I was told that general availability of Office 2013 is expected in the last week of January or first week of February 2013. Furthermore, if you’ve seen rumors about Office 2013 for iOS and Android, they’re happening, but the products will only be made available via the subscription Office offerings, and hit in April. This will give a user rights to use Office on 5 PCs and/or Macs and 5 devices," Paul Thurrott stated in the report. This report comes just days after Microsoft responded to a claim that Office for iOS and Android would be released in March of 2013. If this new report is true, we can see Office for iOS and Android in April of 2013 with the ability to use Office on 5 different devices. More on this as it develops.

Windows 8 is Ready For Preorder.

 For those who still haven’t gotten their hands on the Windows 8 release-to-manufacturing bits via MSDN, TechNet, BizSpark, volume licensing or some other channel, Microsoft is making available via preorder the Windows 8 upgrade media as of October 12.


Those interested in obtaining reserved packaged DVD of the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $69.99 can place their orders via Amazon.com, Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, the Microsoft Store and other retailers. Newegg is another outlet taking preorders, as my ZDNet colleage Ed Bott noted this morning.

Those looking to build their own PCs or install Windows 8 on a Mac are able to preorder a system builder/OEM license. As I blogged earlier this fall, the pricing for the system builder license is roughly the same as the cost of a Windows 7 system builder license. As Bott noted, the exact sysem builder pricing is $99.99 for Windows 8 and $139.99 for Windows 8 Pro.

As expected, there is no “fully packaged” Windows 8 product available at retail. If you want the equivalent, you have to buy an OEM/system builder license.

Customers who bought Windows 7 PCs as of June 2 and who want to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 also will have to wait until October 26 to redeem their upgrade offers.

It’s not just the Windows 8 software that is available for preorder as of today. Several Windows OEMs, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung and Sony have started taking preorders for their PCs and tablets.

Microsoft still has not announced pricing or a preorder date for its Surface RT tablet/PCs. They will be available for purchase in Microsoft brick-and-mortar and pop-up stores, as well as select Microsoft online stores as of October 26.

One thing to remember if you’re thinking about purchasing an ARM-based Windows RT PC or tablet, including the Microsoft Surface RT: Only certain mice, keyboards, printers and other peripherals which have been certified for Windows RT will work with these systems. Very few of Microsoft’s own mice or keyboards are currently certified to work with Windows RT. I haven’t found a list of third-party peripherals that are Windows RT-certified. Anyone else?

Apple iPad Mini to be Wi-Fi only.

The iPad Mini, the scaled-down tablet that everyone is expecting Apple to unveil next week, is now rumoured to be a Wi-Fi only model.

With a press invite thought to be hitting the in-boxes of media organisations around the world later today, the iPad Mini has been all but confirmed.

Apple has been as tight-lipped as usual, but some very convincing leaks have persuaded most in the tech world of the iPad Mini’s existence.

According to reports, Apple has decided against a 3G-enabled version of the iPad Mini, choosing instead to keep the low-cost tablet a Wi-Fi only model.

No 3G for Apple iPad Mini?

The Guardian newspaper has cited unnamed industry sources as saying they do not expect to see a 3G iPad Mini.

This will come as a disappointment to those hoping to get all the perks of an iPad without the price tag, but it is hardly a surprising decision.

Apple will want to keep costs down in order to compete with the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, and cutting out 3G allows them to do that.

Neither the Nexus 7 nor the Kindle Fire HD has 3G connectivity either, so Apple wouldn’t lose out on that front.

However, rumours abound that Google is considering a 3G-enabled Nexus 7 for release in the run-up to Christmas. While this would probably cost a bit more than the sub-£200 price tag we’ve seen so far, it would have a distinct advantage over its rivals.

Is Apple launching 4G iPad?

It seems that an iPad Mini isn’t the only tablet Apple is releasing in the coming weeks; reports suggest that it is preparing to launch a revised 9.7-inch iPad as well.

The new version of the iPad released earlier this year is rumoured to have super-fast 4G connectivity, and will be available exclusively on Everything Everywhere’s 4G network.

The updated tablet will also come with Apple’s new Lightning dock that first made an appearance on the iPhone 5 recently.

What you need to know about Angry Birds Star Wars

Gamers and sci-fi fans, rejoice! One of the most iconic mobile games of all time is joining forces with one of the most iconic film franchises for a brand new title.

Finnish mobile developer Rovio looks set to be teaming up with Lucasfilm to create, you guessed it, Angry Birds Star Wars.

You have to hand it to Rovio, there didn’t seem like there were many other avenues for the Birds to explore. We’ve already had them throwing themselves around during Christmas, at Halloween, and in Rio de Janeiro. They’ve even been into space!

Yet Rovio has managed to find another interesting take on the familiar format with Angry Birds Star Wars. So what do we know about this title so far?

Angry Birds Star Wars teaser

We all started getting very excited about the title when Rovio posted an image of one of the angry birds with a Jedi makeover – donning the classic robes and wielding a lightsaber.

Our hopes and dreams were then realised when Lucasfilm confirmed a partnership with the Finnish developer.

Paul Southern, of Lucasfilm said: “As casual games grow as a category and mobile devices grow as an interface, it’s going to become more important for us in the future,”

“Our partnership with Rovio helped us to understand a little bit more about how they achieved that success.”

Angry Birds Star Wars details and release

We don’t know an awful lot about the actual gameplay of Angry Birds Star Wars, apart from the fact that Luke Skywalker will be played by the iconic Red Bird.

Other than that, all we know is that we’ll see a lot of Star Wars branding all over the game and perhaps use of the Force in some capacity.

We also don’t have a release date for the game yet. Initial reports had estimated a release at the end of October, but there has been no confirmation.