Windows 8.1 price confirmed a month before official release

TagsWindows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Vista, microsoft

Windows 8.1 screenshot. Credit:Microsoft / iTech Post

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Microsoft has confirmed the price of its upcoming Windows 8.1 operating system a month before the official release.

In the U.S., Windows 8.1 will be available to current Windows 8 customers as a free download from Oct. 18 onwards. Customers can download the latest operating system from Microsoft Store. However, customers using other versions of Windows operating system will have to buy Windows 8.1.   

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"Consumers who are not using a Windows 8 device will be able to buy Windows 8.1, either as a download from Windows.com or at your local store as a retail packaged DVD product. While pricing varies by market, in the U.S., Windows 8.1 will be available for $119.99 ERP (U.S.) and Windows 8.1 Pro will be available for $199.99 ERP (U.S.). The pricing and editions for Windows 8.1 are similar to what we have today for Windows 8," explains the company on its Windows Blog.

Microsoft released the Windows 8 as the successor to the Windows 7 operating system in Oct. 2012. The new operating system included major design changes, as well as a touch-optimized user interface (UI). However, Windows 8 also received criticism as the new interface was confusing and difficult to operate, especially when used with a keyboard and mouse instead of a touchscreen.

Customers will hope that the upcoming Windows 8.1 reduces confusion and brings improvements to the operating system.

Microsoft also confirms that Windows 7 PC's can be upgraded to Windows 8.1, which will bring along all the files, but will require you to reinstall desktop apps including Microsoft Office.

Unfortunately, Windows 8.1 is not designed for installation on devices running on either Windows XP or Windows Vista. If customers using Windows XP or Windows Vista still want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 then they will have to buy the "retail DVD instead of using the download and boot from the DVD to do a clean install of Windows 8.1." Files, settings and programs on the old operating system will not transfer, hence consumers will need to back up their files and settings.

If you buy a device which runs on Windows 8.1 you will be able to purchase the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack for $99.99 ERP (U.S.), which will also unlock some new features. If you are using Windows 8.1 Pro, you can buy Windows Media Center for $9.99 (U.S.). 

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Verizon HTC One available for $49.99, lowest price ever

Tagshtc, HTC One, Verizon, Amazon

Verizon HTC One Amazon Deal Credit:Amazon / iTech Post

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If you're looking for a great deal on one of the best smartphones of 2013, Amazon is offering the Verizon HTC One for $49.99 instead of the $149.99 Verizon charges.

The HTC One has been widely viewed as one of the best smartphones to be released this year. That title is usually reserved for Apple and Samsung, but HTC has hit it out of the park with the HTC One. The company decided to take the best ingredients from Apple and Samsung when building the HTC One. HTC took Apple's superior design abilities on board by using an aluminum unibody case and gorgeous glass display. It took Samsung's love of using high-end specs in its flagship smartphones and went all in with the HTC One. HTC included its own special touches such as Sense 5 and BlinkFeed software, its HTC UltraPixel camera, and BoomSound, which have all been highlighted in many reviews of the smartphone.

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The Verizon HTC One features an anodized aluminum unibody enclosure and sports a 4.7-inch Super LCD 3 Full HD (1080p) display that is also scratch-resistant. The handset is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor and runs Android 4.1.2 and HTC Sense 5.0 with BlinkFeed. It includes 32GB of internal storage and has 2GB of RAM.

Its camera capabilities include an HTC UltraPixel rear camera with HTC Zoe support and dedicated HTC ImageChip, 88 wide-angle lens with HDR capability, as well as 1080p video recording on both its front and rear cameras. The HTC One is also the first smartphone to boast dual front-facing stereo speakers with HTC BoomSound, which also includes built-in amplifiers with Beats Audio. In terms of wireless connectivity, the HTC One features a 4G LTE radio, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and GPS. The handset also comes with an infrared universal remote control with program guide and a 2,300mAh battery.

Amazon is offering the 32GB HTC One for $49.99, currently the lowest price the smartphone has ever had. You'll need to sign a new 2-year contract and Amazon is throwing in free two-day shipping with the order.

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Nokia Lumia 625 sees a big price drop

TagsNokia, Lumia 625

Nokia Lumia 625 Credit:Nokia / iTech Post

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Various online retailers have reduced the price of Nokia's biggest Windows Phone 8 (WP8) handset, the Lumia 625, in India.

Nokia launched the Lumia 625 as the successor to the Lumia 620 on July 23 this year and the handset is currently the only WP8 handset that has a display size of 4.7-inch.

"With our largest smartphone screen to date, the Nokia Lumia 625 is a perfect example of how Nokia is delivering leading smartphone innovation and experiences at every price point," said Jo Harlow, executive vice president, Nokia Smart Devices.

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Previously, the Lumia 625 had a very steep price tag when compared to other WP8 handsets such as the Lumia 820. In India, the cheapest Lumia 625 was selling for was Rs. 19,499 (approximately $315), but now the price has dropped to Rs. 16,071 (approximately $260).

A recent NokiaPowerUser report suggests that Amazon (courtesy of ManiacStore) was selling all five colors of the Lumia 625 for Rs. 15090 (approximately $244). However, now the cheapest price for the Lumia 625 on Amazon is Rs. 16,349 (approximately $264).

Indian retailer Flipkart is now selling all five colors of the Lumia 625 for Rs. 19,056. The retailer was previously offering the black, white and yellow versions for Rs. 19,890 and the green and orange models of the phone at a slightly higher price of Rs. 20,199.

The Nokia Lumia 625 packs in impressive features in its category, but the initial price of the handset was considered a bit steep in India. The price of the Lumia 625 was very near to the price of Lumia 820, which has better features.

The handset sports a 4.7-inch IPS LCD display with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 201 pixels per inch (ppi). A dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.2GHz and 512MB of RAM power the Lumia 625.

It will be interesting to see if the recent price reduction on the Lumia 625 is able to attract many customers, but it will definitely make the smartphone more appealing.

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