As well as learning a lot about Ultrabook sensors and features this week I also learnt a new word. Spelunking might sound like a fetish but apparently it’s about exploring caves! Let’s do a bit of spelunking right now in the cave known as the Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge. In week3 we’re getting down to serious detail.
You’ll see this touchscreen Ultrabook used extensively over the next month or so as I explore and demonstrate software and operating system elements. In this video I want to answer one of the most often asked questions – why have a touchscreen on a laptop when your hands need to be near the mouse and keyboard?
I’ve been using touchscreen devices since 2007. For over 1 year I used a touchscreen netbook as my only laptop, It was running Windows XP (not tablet edition) and had a resistive touchscreen. Even with all those limitations there were scenarios where I found using touch to be an advantage. Sometimes it’s not natural but sometimes it’s worth it.
The coding teams competing for $10000 have just completed week 2 of the Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge and have all posted their updates. I’ve also received my developer preview Ultrabook with touch and sensors! Read my thoughts about the competition at this stage and view the video below.
If you aren’t following the Intel Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge, tune in now because not only have we got 6 experienced software development teams creating applications for a new generation of Ultrabooks, not only is your Chippy one of the judges but we’ve got amazing new hardware to use for the competition too. You can get the latest updates on the competition here but right now I want to show you the exciting touch and sensor-enabled Ultrabook we’re using.
All 6 teams have now revealed what software they will be working on over the next 6 weeks for the Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge and the chance to win $10,000. We’ll be following their progress which we hope includes methodology, tips and demonstrations. During September we’ll be meeting the developers and later in September we’ll be judging all entries on a next generation touch and sensor enabled Ultrabook.
The Coders already have the Ultrabooks so we’ve also got our first chance to take a closer look at the hardware.
You can see a summary of what’s happening in the Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge at any time by visiting this Intel portal.
Aiming to get a lead on other touchscreen Ultrabooks, Acer has decided to launch the Acer Aspire S7 before Windows 8. We’re not expecting the model to be available in large volumes though as this sounds like a marketing move.
The Olympics is over, the school summer holidays in many countries are drawing to a close. The new season for Ultrabooks starts now.
IFA, the big and important consumer electronics trade show in Germany is only weeks away and Intel’s Developer Forum follows up just days later. Back-to-school marketing, Christmas model launches, the next Generation of Ultrabooks with Windows 8 and Touch and even some information about 2013 Ultrabooks can be expected. Sales numbers will rise and Ultrabooks will face their first big test against consumer laptops. The big question is, will prices drop enough for consumers to get interested in this very difficult economic climate?
Our timeline predictions up until now have been reliable. We’ve reviewed that timeline to Dec 2012 and see no reason for changes. Details are below including an update on new Ultrabook models available.
6 teams of developers have been recruited to do something special, with a very special Ultrabook. The Intel Ultimate Coder Ultrabook Challenge has just kicked off and I’m extremely happy to say that I’m one of the judges who has to test all the software on a next-generation touch-enabled Ultrabook.
Over the next 6 weeks myself and three other experts will be watching closely and reporting on the progress of the 6 coding participants/teams; Lee, John, George & Suresh, Sagar, Shailesh and Andreas. One of them is going to win a bunch of cash but whatever happens, we’re going to get some good insights into the process and the type of software that is possible on a touch-enabled Ultrabook.
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