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Splashtop Drops Windows 8 Metro Testbed Onto Android

Posted by samzenpus on from the check-it-out dept.

MojoKid writes "Want to try out the Windows 8 Metro interface on your Android tablet? Splashtop apparently has a solution. The company previously released a Windows 8 Metro testbed for the iPad back in April, and now it has one for Android devices, which is available in the Google Play Store. You'll need a PC with the Windows 8 Release Preview installed, but once you have that taken care of, you'll be able to poke around Microsoft's new touch interface on any Android tablet."

12 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Why by symbolset · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why would you even want to do that?

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    1. Re:Why by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 3, Informative

      Developing touchscreen applications for Windows without purchazing an additional device?

      Sounds like a remote desktop solution, optimized for touch. Could be handy for accessing a pc from the couch or meeting room.

    2. Re:Why by Daniel_is_Legnd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Windows 8 was made with touch screens in mind, and most people don't have a touch-enabled PC. Lots of people do have android tablets, however, so this is a way to see the touch screen features of Windows 8.

    3. Re:Why by alexhs · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Developing touchscreen applications for Windows

      Why would you even want to do that?

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    4. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      So I can explore the Metro interface myself using touch, and make an informed decision regarding the product before even considering a x86 tablet.

      It's a shame to see your really dumb comment get moderated 4, Insightful. It's just another sign of intelligence fleeing slashdot.

    5. Re:Why by slashmydots · · Score: 2

      Because MS is buying into the industry hype about tablets being the future and desktops being dead. You know, just like with netbooks a couple years ago. What happened with those, by the way? Oh yeah, I remember! People realized they suck and no optical drive is crap and the speeds were pathetic and now there's 10 at the local pawn shop worth 1/3 retail.
      Since a tablet is a netbook with no keyboard, I think it's a waste of time trying to stomp on Android and iOS market share with Windows 8 when tablets will be dead in 1-2 years just like netbooks.
      Well, at least now they can have metro design flaw complaints coming in from the Win8 Beta and the tablet side too.

  2. Short answer by O('_')O_Bush · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Want to try out the Windows 8 Metro interface on your Android tablet?"

    Nope. Bye...

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    while(1) attack(People.Sandy);
  3. BUY NOW!!! by CubicleView · · Score: 4, Funny
    FTA

    The app usually costs a whopping $49.99, but it’s currently on sale for $24.99, so get it while it’s hot.

    or you know, don't.

  4. And don't take away Aero, you bastards! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

    A couple of days ago, someone pointed out shameful crap in the Google+ death thread about Bing and stuff, which weren't the result of companies saying, "I can do it better", but rather them saying, "I can do it, too."

    Ooh, look, Windows 8. Microsoft can do a desktop qua smartphone, too?

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    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    1. Re:And don't take away Aero, you bastards! by Darkness404 · · Score: 2

      I agree with your title, it seems like every OS has decided its going to try change for the sake of change for no good reason. There was nothing fundamentally broken in Windows 7 UI wise. Similarly, Gnome 2.X was great, 3.X sucks. I don't understand the obsession in trying to fix non-broken things. Metro might be great for a smartphone but sucks for a Desktop when you have something a bit more precision controlled than your fat fingers (mouse and keyboard). Why not work behind the scenes and make Windows more stable, give it a better architecture, make it more secure, but less annoying. Make it more customizable, etc.

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      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  5. Splashtop connects home too often by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    This application dials home way too much. If you don't have an outgoing firewall on your devices you will fail to realize that it is phoning the mothership every time you connect to your desktop. Enough of the cloud connection for everything!

  6. Splashtop Drops Windows 8 Metro Testbed Onto Andro by rullywowr · · Score: 2
    Splashtop Drops Windows 8 Metro Testbed Advertisement Onto Slashdot

    There, FFFY.