Microsoft prepping ARM-based Windows 8 tablet for BUILD attendees

By Tom Warren, on 25th Aug 11 11:29 pm with 69 Comments

Windows 8 tablet?

Microsoft appears to be preparing a Windows 8 tablet for BUILD attendees.

The software giant demonstrated an unknown quad-core Windows slate on Thursday at its Tech-Ed New Zealand conference. Microsoft employees Jeff Johnson and Patrick Hevesi showed off some new Windows powered slate devices during the “Come and see the latest and greatest in Windows Devices” presentation at Tech-Ed New Zealand earlier today. Alan Burchill, a Microsoft MVP, posted details of the session on Thursday revealing that Microsoft promised to give the device out at an upcoming Microsoft event. Burchill has since removed his comments but ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley managed to note that Burchill said: “What is very interesting is that device was a ‘Quad Core Windows Slate that will be give(n) out at an upcoming Microsoft Event.”

WinRumors understands that Microsoft is currently preparing to supply all BUILD attendees with an ARM-based Windows 8 tablet. Microsoft previously revealed its ARM support inside Windows 8 at CES 2011. The company will supply ARM builds of Windows 8 strictly through an OEM program once Windows 8 is final. The BUILD tablet for attendees will be one of the latest and greatest Windows devices, equipped with the hardware sensors that Windows 8 will take advantage of.

Microsoft plans to unveil Windows 8 to the world at next month’s BUILD conference. Stay tuned to WinRumors for live coverage and reaction to the next-generation of Windows.

Image Credit: Smartergeek.info

http://twitter.com/TechDudeGeorge George S

As long as someone is able to IMG the Windows installed and share it online/Microsoft shares a build for every to try, I’m happy.

Aaron

I would think they will be releasing an actual public beta soon after. I would just wait for that.

http://twitter.com/TechDudeGeorge George S

As long as someone is able to IMG the Windows installed and share it online/Microsoft shares a build for every to try, I’m happy.
http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

Nice present for BUILD attendees
http://www.withinwindows.com Rafael R.

At least have some respect and credit Alan Burchill’s image properly, shesh. Also, weird the post title (and your tweet) contradicts the text “will” vs “appears to be preparing”. http://twitter.com/#!/tomwarren/status/106849079446872064

Raf-rag

dude you are such a whiney bitch. you contribute nothing to the community and slag wmpoweruser off and now winrumors. loser
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

Rafael doesn’t contribute nothing to the comunity? Are you out of your mind? He may bitch and whine a lot, but his dedication to the comunity can’t be questioned
http://www.gadgeterija.net Denis Jelec

You are quite wrong, amigo. When _you_ contribute as much as Rafael did, then you can call someone off.
P.S. WMPowerUser deserved bashing on more than one occasion.
http://www.winrumors.com Tom W

Lets not turn this into a flame war. He’s entitled to his opinion, I’m sure we wil both refer back to this post in just over two weeks time
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

God, I sure hop you’re right on this one! It woud be great to come home from BUILD with a brand new Win8 Tablet!
Aaron

You lucky dog. I was in the middle of getting approval from my manager to go when the conference sold out.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

Man, this is going to be a great conference!
http://twitter.com/ltamake Link Tamake

Wish they’d extend this for CES attendees.

http://www.winrumors.com Tom W

Heh CES isn’t managed by MSFT so not likely
Aaron

That would be like Ford giving everyone a free car at the anual auto shows. Well, maybe on a different scale, but you get the point.

http://twitter.com/OmegaRa Shaun Sommer

Okay I am jealous and wish I was going to BUILD…
xxdesmus

..and an ARM build of Windows means maybe it can be installed on the TouchPads that a lot of us just bought.

http://www.winrumors.com Tom W

Not necessarily. MSFT hasn’t confirmed which ARM chipsets it will support, only the manufacturers. We’ll have to see but I think it’s a long shot to expect people to hack Windows 8 onto the TouchPad.
xxdesmus

why can’t you let me just dream?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=11814278 Chris Woelfel

He’s a dreamkiller.
Anthony Conrad

Better to Squash the rumor mill before it become “law” and MS branded “evil” for not makin’ it happen.
Anthony Conrad

Better to Squash the rumor mill before it become “law” and MS branded “evil” for not makin’ it happen.
Anonymous

+1
Anonymous

I presume that Qualcomm chipsets will be supported first(same from WP). MS already pissed some manufacturers on Win8 requirements(both ARM and x86). After Vista, they want to assure Win8 actually works fine on sold hardware.
Anonymous

I presume that Qualcomm chipsets will be supported first(same from WP). MS already pissed some manufacturers on Win8 requirements(both ARM and x86). After Vista, they want to assure Win8 actually works fine on sold hardware.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KTAHVKS2RNDWTQPHQEJALLRNEQ Adam Paris

Oh boy, i hope its Nvidia’s Kal-El!

Anonymous

Qualcomm s4

http://www.facebook.com/sarkis.chamelian Sarkis Chamelian
http://twitter.com/s_a_r_k_i_s sarkis chamelian
Joe

Since Windows 8 ARM devices obviously won’t be compatible with the vast majority of Windows applications available, will it have access to Windows Phone 7′s app library?

Anonymous

Microsoft has specifically said that all Windows 8 devices (Intel and ARM) will support legacy apps and html5 apps. But i do hope that it does support windows phone 7 apps though.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

No, MS specifically said there will be no legacy (win32) apps on ARM. It just hasn’t the horsepower to emulate x86
Mikefisher

Most .net should run as they are JITed to ARM at runtime
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

True.
Anonymous

I write simple (new dev) apps for windows phone in C# .net framework, shouldnt they work then?
Aaron

I think they actually said the opposite. Any app compiled for x86 would have to be recompiled to run on ARM. This wouldn’t apply to .NET or Java since they run against their own virtual machines but I would assume it would apply to any Win32 apps. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Major Plonquer

You are correct. Then again, Microsoft knows a thing or two about compilers and cross-compilers. So I don’t expect them to miss the ball.
Anonymous

Somewhat. He brought up Windows Phone 7 apps and game…they are based off .Net and Silverlight/XNA and work on ARM (WP7 is ARM based). Actually MS hasnt yet said if their supporting native Silverlight apps yet like found on WP7. Many feel they will but doing so (as a dev) will limit cross compat with other devices in some way.
Anonymous

Somewhat. He brought up Windows Phone 7 apps and game…they are based off .Net and Silverlight/XNA and work on ARM (WP7 is ARM based). Actually MS hasnt yet said if their supporting native Silverlight apps yet like found on WP7. Many feel they will but doing so (as a dev) will limit cross compat with other devices in some way.
Anonymous

Windows 8 devices using ARM WILL NOT have cross compat with x86 programs. In order for this to happen devs must port their programs to ARM. MS is in the process of doing this and already has ARM versions of Office 2010 up and running in its complete form (printing, sharing etc). Expect them to have most if not all their software ready to go (Zune, Windows Live, IE10 etc) but dont expect to run AutoCad on an ARM windows 8 device on day one.
Jinge

Rub autocad on a tablet? What for?
Anonymous

Can you run AutoCad on a laptop today? If yes, than you could run AutoCad on a quad core ARM tablet (granted its ported to ARM) or an x86 tablet (with keyboard and mouse attachment). Understand that a WINDOWS tablets isnt just for touch only like an iPad is. As long as that tablet has enough horse power to run AutoCad than it can be done as a bluetooth keyboard and mouse instantly turns the tablet into a laptop which will be great for x86 based tablets, or ARM tablets that plug into x86 Transformer-like docks.

Having said all that, I brought up AutoCad to make a point. That point was NOT to expect programs that one uses everyday in Windows to just automatically work on ARM devices. AutoCad, Photoshop, PC games…whatever it is. x86 will programs will not work on ARM unless ported…AutoCad was just the first program that popped into my head due to the fact that I use it a lot.
TechDud

AutoCAD WS runs on iPad. When windows 8 is RTM’ed, perhaps AutoDesk will be waiting, for example.
Jinge

I think they don’t really need to be compatible, as long as there will be only a little bit of code to port the application to W8. W8 supports silverlight and .Net, so just need to quickly adapt, and maybe repackage, but that’s it.

And I think it is better that way, because all apps would not be great on a big screen…
Jinge

I think they don’t really need to be compatible, as long as there will be only a little bit of code to port the application to W8. W8 supports silverlight and .Net, so just need to quickly adapt, and maybe repackage, but that’s it.

And I think it is better that way, because all apps would not be great on a big screen…

http://www.rwalrond.com RWalrond

Any sign of an Active digitizer?
Anonymous

I wish I was going to build – dying to see Windows 8!!!!

Anonymous

I want to touch it and go home with a tablet too

OMG55

I wish I was going as well, but I wish Microsoft would make manufacturers use specs with thinner, lighter tablets. They should also make them have various texture & colors(black,silver,brushed metal). Funny how hp made the touchpad(which I’m using now) thinner than the win 7 slate 500. Consumers want thin sleek looking units. We need to attack all markets, not just businesses.

Aaron

At this point I doubt MS really needs to force the other OEM’s to be thinner. I think the OEM’s already know that is the only way to succeed in the market. I understand your fear that OEM’s will treat W8 tablets like they did WP7 and give Android priority. But I honestly doubt this because they should know that W8 on tablets will be a big deal. I honestly think Android will be the one pushed to the side and it will be a 2 way race between W8 tablets and iPad with Android a distant 3rd.
Anonymous

OEMs give priority to android handsets because its winning for them.. that’s where they make all their money so the should devote more attention.. but that is very different from the tablet sales. So far none of them is winning.. only Apple is making money of tablets(they have like 97% of the market share) which makes w8 tablets the only real option for success here.
Anonymous

Android is winning for them ? Last time I checked, all the Android Tabs are a big flop. The move to decrease prices have started in everything from XOOM to cheaper Chinese ones.
Anonymous

Android is winning for them ? Last time I checked, all the Android Tabs are a big flop. The move to decrease prices have started in everything from XOOM to cheaper Chinese ones.
Anonymous

OEMs give priority to android handsets because its winning for them.. that’s where they make all their money so the should devote more attention.. but that is very different from the tablet sales. So far none of them is winning.. only Apple is making money of tablets(they have like 97% of the market share) which makes w8 tablets the only real option for success here.
http://simenm.tumblr.com Simen Mangseth

I totally agree!

http://twitter.com/JoshMartin7 Josh Martin

“equipped with the hardware sensors that Windows 8 will take advantage of.” ahhh crap. More modding to my Win 7 tablet lol
Guest

An ARM… I hope they don’t charge me a LEG for that.
Guest

An ARM… I hope they don’t charge me a LEG for that.
Anonymous

Does anyone know if these giveaways apply to student attendees? Perhaps based on prior PDC experience? I know that they do not give them away to government and press attendees but I cant find any evidence for or against gifts for students. I hope they do cause well… I want a win8 tablet! but also because i hope microsoft recognizes students as important demographic of the dev community (especially for tablets, just like with mobile phones)
Anonymous

Where’s my invite, I’m very angry…while typing this as you all can’t see me..
OMG55

has anyone seen the mail client layout on the HP Touchpad? I think if MS can negotiate with HP concerning this element of WebOS and use it in the final version of Win, it would be great. Since MS is targeting WebOS migrants & HP is exiting this area of the market, how many of you agree that MS should obtain some of these elements and use them in W8? While MS has hit rhe nail on the head with the split screen keyboard, I hope the keys are large like on the Touchpad and we have the ability the change it from the flat white that was displayed earlier this year.

And yes, I am a big MS user/fan and hoping we make a big splash in the business and consumer arenas. Oh and lastly that I can port Win8 onto this Touchpad.

Aaron

Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone here will hold it against you for buying a Touchpad for 100 dollars (assuming you got the sale). I also bought one but onSale canceled my order. Would have been a nice tablet to hold me over until Windows 8.
OMG55

thanks! I purchased the 32GB version for$149.99 which is a great buy with intention of porting Win8 onto it. In the meantime, I’ve been exploring it. The keyboard size, facebook app has a thumbnail view thst falls inline with MS metro theme I think we should adopt, the multi-mailview layout is the best I’ve seen; I think all of these elements should be incorporated into Win8 if MS can negotiate to use or purchase them. Take a look and give me your opinion.

OMG55

has anyone seen the facebook App on the HP Touchpad? If you haven’t, I suggest you check it out. They have a layout selewction options. I don’t know the technical names of them, but from the look of the icons, I will call them LIST & THUMNAIL view. Well the thumbnail view looks very metro (once selected, you must scroll a bit to see that it has a metro look & feel); again since this is the direction MS is going and they’re targeting WebOS developers, I believe they should obtain and include some of these elements into Windows 8 final version . MS has an opportunity to add the WebOS audience to its already huge following and make an impact in the consumer tablet market if they pull this off. From what what I’ve seen in the three days since purchasing the Touchpad, is that they have some very talented developers and we should embrace them.
http://www.angry-birds-online.org angry birds online

This looks a lot better than the ipad.
http://twitter.com/tonycubed Tony

Does anyone think it could be possible to port Windows 8 ARM to my ASUS Transformer?
http://www.acompanhanteneyla.com.br Acompanhante Neyla

I look forward to this conference.
Anonymous

I think the new App Model, based on HTML5 and Javascript will create an extreme flood of extra crapware.
Matthewmsft

00:53 in the vid http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/4da60519-07d0-45f9-93ea-a2b54b524253 has a Toshiba device…maybe the one in the photo?