Microsoft Creating App Store for Windows 8?

Microsoft wants Windows 8 to 'have an app for that' too.

These days the talk of App Stores is all about Apple for its iPhone and iPad, as well as the Android Marketplace for those running the Google Mobile OS. RIM, Palm and Nokia are also players in the apps market, so it's definitely the new way to distribute software.

Microsoft could be planning the same sort of thing, but for the full-blown desktop OS Windows 8. According to the leaked slides, Microsoft wants to make it easy for users "getting applications they want, that they can feel confident in, that they can use on any Windows 8 device."

Windows 8 won't be confined just to the desktop and laptop space; Microsoft is aiming to make the operating system suitable for slates, laptops and all-in-ones. While Windows 7 already accomplishes this, the addition of the App Store makes it more crucial for Microsoft to ably handle software offerings consistently across the various form factors.

Next 4G Phone from Sprint is the Epic 4G

Meet the next 4G handset, the Epic 4G.

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G is a monster smartphone and the nation's first 4G handset. Packing a 1GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 4.3-inch (480×800) LCD touch screen, an 8-megapixel camera (capable of shooting video in 720p), HDMI out and Android 2.1, the EVO 4G is hard to match.

However, rather than let the EVO 4G enjoy the 'superphone' moniker alone, Sprint yesterday announced the next 4G phone, the Epic 4G. The Samsung device previously known as the Galaxy X, the Epic 4G boasts a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU; 512MB of RAM; 1GB ROM; a 4-inch super AMOLED touchscreen display with multitouch; a slide out QWERTY keyboard; WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot support for up to five devices; Bluetooth 2.1; a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video and Android 2.1. There's 16GB of storage included and this is expandable to 32GB. Of course, there's also the all-important WiMAX, which Sprint says can deliver peak download speeds of more than 10Mbps (3-6 Mbps on average).

Seagate ''Ships'' First 3 TB External HDD

It's the world's first external drive with a 3 TB storage capacity.

Seagate said on Tuesday that the world's first 3 TB external hard drive is now available for purchase. Part of the company's FreeAgent GoFlex Desk line of drives, the new addition is USB 2.0 compatible by default, however Seagate offers an adapter--sold separately--that lets users connect the drive to USB 3.0 and FireWire 800 ports.

Sony Reveals PlayStation Network Plus Details

Sony has revealed some details of what gamers paying $50 per year for PSN Plus can expect for their money.

When Sony announced PlayStation Plus at E3 there was a lot of confusion as to what the paid version of PSN would offer users. Yesterday evening, Susan Panico, Senior Director for PlayStation Network, clarified the features of PSN Plus in a blog post to the PlayStation blog.

At launch subscribers will get full access to the PlayStation Network game WipEout HD; PSP minis; as well as PS One classics like Fieldrunners, Age of Zombies, Rally Cross; and a game trial of Infamous. There'll also be free monthly episodes of Qore.

Other features of PSN Plus are free monthly games that once downloaded, are yours as long as you remain a subscriber. If you delete the game and decide you want it back, you can redownload it for free (as long as you're still a subscriber). You'll also get exclusive PlayStation Store discounts ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent. Members will also be included in demos and betas before anyone else.

There'll be free trials for users, which will allow you to download an entire game and play it for a set amount of time (usually an hour) as a 'try before you buy' option. If you decide to buy, you can pick up where you left off when your free hour expired.

Lastly, Susan talking about a feature that will download patches and updates automatically if that's your desire.

Pricing is $49.99 for a year and $17.99 for three months of service. If you purchase a year, you'll get three months free.

Anyone interested?

Windows 7 SP1 Beta Now Out in the (Testing) Wild

Windows 7 SP1 Beta. It's a lot of hotfixes in a bundle... in beta.

As we reported last week, Microsoft has sent out beta invites for testers to give the upcoming Windows 7 SP 1 a go. The beta's been sent out and is now live for those who get to try it (or who find another ways of obtaining it).

According to Ars Technica, the build number is 7601.16562.100603-1800, meaning it was compiled on June 3, 2010 at 6 p.m. Furthermore, support items have appeared on Microsoft's website for those who are having troubles installing the SP1 beta, which confirms the availability of the test patch.

As Microsoft previously indicated, SP1 will not offer Windows 7-specific features, but rather serves as a culmination of updates released since the OS hit the market--a few additional hotfixes thrown into the mix.

For Windows Server 2008 R2, the new service pack will provide RemoteFX, a 3D graphical experience for remote users, and Dynamic Memory, a feature that allows Windows Server Hyper-V to "dynamically allocate more or less memory to each VM as needed, provided a more scalable and better performing VDI environment."

The public release of SP1 is slated for later this year.