Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Greetings! I’m back from Singapore for Windows 8 Launch (as per title). Details of the event after the jump!

*Videos will be available later*

The Event

The launch event took place at The Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, the media crowd were split into batch so everyone will have a chance to explore Windows 8.

I’m part of the Malaysian bloggers group – our session started off attending the keynote address at Loola’s (a restaurant).

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

The keynote address was presented by Tracey Fellows, President of Microsoft Asia Pacific.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

We then proceeded to the open air area of the venue, to have a roundtable discussion with Jason Lim, General Manager (Windows Business Group) in Microsoft Asia Pacific.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

The blogger team held no punches during this session ……… of course, we didn’t ask questions like “When is the Surface coming?” 😛 Nevertheless it was a good session, we see that Microsoft’s direction is to revamp the user experience, which I certainly think they do. More and more software will be designed along with the direction, even though legacy applications can still be used. In future we probably see applications can be developed to run on both Windows 8 and Windows Mobile, which is not the case at this point of time, though the UI is quite similar.

After our session with Mr Lim, we get to have a tour of the Experience Zones.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

We started off at the Sports & Travel zone where We were given a demo on the new Windows 8 by Johnathan Wong of Microsoft Asia Pacific (pic below, center), and with him is Poh Huai Bin (pic below, right) of SixthSeal.com (from Malaysia) and Coach Jim Saret (from Philippines, The Biggest Loser). Their sharing focuses on how the apps available help them get news update on their favorite games or sports team, or how they get their flight tickets and such.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

After the product demo, it was a free-to-explore session over the various areas, pink theme was for “fashion”, purple them was for “music”, and blue was for “friends & family” and with that also comes with a host of products from major brands such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.

Here’s a picture of our local bloggers checking out the sweet offerings. 😀

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Below – like? like? It’s a Dell XPS 12″ ……… and there are other that are equally fancy, like the Toshiba Satellite U920t and Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Below – one of the attendees playing Cut The Rope on a HUGE screen. 🙂 And this isn’t the biggest touch screen at the venue yet!

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Below – media making use of the “living room”.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Below – Microsoft’s staff giving a demo to what looks like someone from one of the news channel.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Below – Group photo of the VIPs. 🙂

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Oh and a USB drive with media contents. 😀

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

A Few Windows 8 Screenshot

For those who haven’t seen Window 8, here are some screenshots.

The first one is the HOME screen, we’re no longer using the DESKTOP here, though you still can access it.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Next up, which I thought is very interesting, is the picture password. It’s using finger movement on screen to unlock the system, with image as an indicator.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Then we have the store.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Application in the store.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

How pictures are displayed.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

Windows 8 Pricing

Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, are qualified to download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of $39.99 (U.S.).

And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013 in more than 140 countries can download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of $14.99 (U.S.) with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com.

Microsoft Launches Windows 8 For Asia-Pacific Region

GA refers to General Availability, indicating the public release of Windows 8.

Find out more details about the versions here.

Windows 8 Fast Facts

– As of 26 October, Microsoft’s partners—Asus, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba—have debuted more than 50 new devices here in Asia that are built for Windows 8. Worldwide, more than 1,000 devices are Windows 8 ready.

– With over 16 million active preview participants, Windows 8 is the most tested, reviewed and ready operating system in Microsoft’s history.

– Windows Store will be available in every language that is offered for Windows – that’s more than 100 languages. Apps will be available in 231 markets around the world, including Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. (The complete list is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh694064.aspx)

– The Windows Store offers developers unparalleled reach and the best economics available.
– – Reach – Windows PC install base is now almost 1.4 billion.
– – Economics – Microsoft offers a 70/30 revenue share initially, then we increase it to 80/20 once the app reaches the $25k mark. Other platforms only offer 70/30 and don’t reward developers for writing great apps.

– With more than 600 million Windows 7 users today, Windows 8 is a natural upgrade path for them.

– We have engaged with more than 30,000 developers in Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia, Korea, Australia and New Zealand) and they are building some beautiful, innovative apps for Windows 8.

– Microsoft enables thousands of jobs in the local IT industry. For every US dollar that Microsoft made in Asia Pacific in 2009, companies in the region made about $11.

– More than 54,000 partners across Asia have built their businesses on the Windows platform, and Windows 8 will continue to fuel their growth. Because 90 to 95% of Microsoft’s revenue comes through partners, Microsoft succeed where they succeed.

My Take On Windows 8

First thing I’d like to say is that – IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO USE. I’m sure many of you have read articles saying it’s confusing and such, I can assure you it isn’t. 🙂 Price-wise it’s a little steep on the OS, so do consider not just the price but the wee bit of learning curve involved.

If you’re on Windows 7 and comfortable with it, I’d say just stick to Windows 7. Go for the Windows 8 if experience is what you want. 🙂 Personally I think Windows 8 looks great and feels nice to use, though it’s much more useful if you have a touch screen. Many thanks to Microsoft for giving me a copy of Windows 8. Now I just need to get an SSD for an upgrade of one of my rigs.

As mentioned earlier in the article – videos are coming! Probably tonight, or a day after this article. 🙂 As always, it will be posted here. You can also view it from goldfries.com’s Youtube channel.