Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet splashing into stores May 4

Sony fans hankering for a tablet they can use in the bath won't be waiting much longer, as the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is about to arrive.

The 10.1-inch waterproof Xperia Z2 hits Sony Stores May 4 and is available for pre-order online now, at $499.99 for the 16GB model and $599.99 for 32GB.

And when Sony says waterproof, it means waterproof - unlike simply "water-resistant" electronics, the Xperia Z2 Tablet can literally be dunked underwater (fresh water, at least) up to 1.5 meters for as long as 30 minutes.

You can even spray it with "low pressure jets of water" - in case you're worried about using it in the jacuzzi tub.

Like a TV in your hands (in your pool)

The price tag may seem steep - it's toe-to-toe with the premium-pricediPad Air, after all.

But aquatic spelunking is not the Z2 Tablet's only strength; it's also an entertainment juggernaut that "brings together the most dynamic sound experience with Sony TV technology," according to Sony.

How well its picture and sound quality hold up while submerged requires further testing, but if you need to watch Game of Thrones in the pool the Xperia Z2 Tablet is probably your best option.

Luckily the new tab also comes with a special offer that gives buyers free access to six Sony films, including Captain Phillips and American Hustle, through Sony's Video Unlimited service, plus a 30-day Music Unlimited trial and eight PlayStation Mobile games.

Xperia Z2 Tablet specs

The Xperia Z2 Tablet itself packs a 10.1-inch display, a 2.3Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, 3GB of memory, a 6,000mAh battery, S-Force Front Surround audio, and an 8-megapixel camera, with Android 4.4: KitKat.

The 32GB model is available in both black and white, while the 16GB version is black only.

Sony is also highlighting several accessories to go with, including the BKB10 Bluetooth keyboard with NFC, BSC10 Bluetooth speaker with magnetic charging dock, MDR-NC31EM noise-canceling headset, and SCR12 protective case and desk stand.

• Here's what TechRadar thought of the Sony Xperia Z2

It's official: Nokia's phone business will become Microsoft's on April 25

The end is nigh. Or is that a new beginning? Either way you look at it, Microsoft on Monday announced that its $7 billion acquisition of Nokia's phone business will finally close this Friday, April 25, after regulatory delays slowed the deal.

Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith also revealed some additional agreements hammered out in the months since the acquisition's announcement. Most revolve around behind-the-scenes personnel and manufacturing details, but of particular note is that Microsoft will handle the nokia.com website and Nokia's social media presence for up to a year, despite the fact that the rest of Nokia is carrying on as a separate company.

Stephen Elop, the Nokia CEO who arrived at the company by way of Microsoft, will return to the Redmond company as part of the deal, where he will assume control of Microsoft's hardware division. He's just one of approximately 32,000 Nokia employees making the jump to Microsoft.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Microsoft's Nokia buyout comes in the middle of a gargantuan shift for Microsoft, which—in addition to recently replacing its CEO—is transitioning from a traditional software company to something more device- and services-oriented.

While both Nokia's Lumia line and Windows Phone as a platform have struggled to compete with the dual Android/Apple mobile juggernaut, Microsoft has said that phones are the key to everything in today's tightly controlled ecosystems. While we're skeptical that buying Nokia will pay off for Windows Phone's prospects, the hard-won lessons that the intensely consumer-focused Nokia can teach Microsoft could help transform the business that Bill Gates built into something great again, one Nokia phone at a time.

IMAGE: JON PHILLIPS

Nokia's Stephen Elop at Microsoft's Build 2014 keynote.

Windows Phone itself is on the upswing right now, at least in the hearts and minds of developers, if not everyday users. At its recent Build conference, Microsoft announced a trio of announcements designed to drive a jolt of energy into its mobile ecosystem, starting with the vastly improved Windows 8.1 update, which adds a much-needed notification center and Cortana, the surprisingly useful digital assistant. Between those and the numerous other features baked into the update, Windows Phone is finally a full-fledged OS capable of taking on Android and iPhone—at least as far as the core experience is concerned. In other words, Windows Phone 8.1 finally provides a level of software polished enough to match well with Nokia's impeccable hardware designs.

Microsoft also announced universal Windows apps, which allow developers to create a single app, then easily push it out across Windows Phones, PCs, and tablets, complete with the option for users to buy the app once and have it run on any platform. The first of those have already begun appearing in Microsoft's app stores. Microsoft also nowprovides the Windows Phone operating system for free to phone manufacturers, as well—a move that can both push WP8 adoption and quell any discontent about Microsoft snapping up Nokia.

With all the focus on Windows Phone, though, one big question remains: What will Microsoft do with Nokia's recently announced Nokia X phones, which run on a heavily modified version of Android chock full of Microsoft services? Given Microsoft's newfound services focus—as exemplified by Office for iPad—Microsoft may just let the experiment play out, at least for a while.

Nokia sees Microsoft deal closing this week

HELSINKI (REUTERS) - Nokia said on Monday it expects the sale of its handset business to Microsoft to be finalised on April 25, as it had received all the required regulatory approvals.

The closure of the 5.4 billion euro (S$9.3 billion) deal, which was agreed in September, had been delayed due to pending approvals, but earlier this month the companies won a crucial nod from Chinese regulators.

Here Comes Facebook’s Ad Network: Mobile Ads Launching This Month

http://on.recode.net/1mrJGTh

Facebook Mobile Ad Network To Launch April 30

Facebook will host its F8 conference on April 30, at which time it will unveil plans for a new mobile ad network. Facebook began testing the new third-party ad network on a select group of apps in early 2014. Currently Facebook outsources its mobile ad serving to outside internet-based ad firms.

According to Re/code, Facebook will leverage its own precise ad targeting database in order to appeal to both publishers and developers.

At this time Facebook is not commenting on the future of its mobile ad network.

The move mirrors that of Twitter. The 140-character based social network purchased advertising firm MoPub in 2013. Twitter recently rolled out new mobile ad focused formats, and continues to invest in deeper mobile integration.

With an increasing number of Facebook and mobile users currently taking to the network, the need for advanced mobile ad serving will only become more important and necessary in the months and years ahead.

The Secret to Mouse Tricks in Windows 8

"How do I do anything?" That’s the reaction of many when they first see Windows 8. Mouse and keyboard users are often baffled by the new Start screen full of unfamiliar tiles. Everything seems oriented to touch screens. But mouse users are not left out.

The secret to mousing is in the corners. The mouse still lives and here are some tricks and shortcuts for using it.

Mouse tricks on any screen

• Moving your mouse cursor to the upper right or lower right corner brings up the Charms bar.
• Moving your mouse cursor to the upper left corner opens a thumbnail of the last app you visited. You can click the thumbnail to switch back to the previous app.
• Place the mouse cursor on the lower left corner and right-click the thumbnail that is displayed to bring up the very useful Quick Access menu (also called Simple Start) If you have only opened the Start Screen, you won’t see any thumbnail. The Quick Access menu is shown on the right.
• If you want to display all your open apps (including an open Desktop), place the mouse cursor on the upper left corner. When the thumbnail for the previously visited app opens, move the mouse cursor down along the left side of the screen. Thumbnails for all your open apps should appear.

Mouse tricks on the Start Screen

• Click the minus sign in the lower right corner to reduce the Start Menu tiles to a smaller size so that all tiles can be seen on the screen at the same time. Click again to restore normal size.
• Place the mouse cursor on the lower left corner to display a thumbnail of the previous app you visited. If you have only opened the Start Screen, you won’t see anything.

Mouse tricks on the Desktop

• Place the mouse cursor on the lower left corner to open the Start Screen icon. You can click it to go back to the Start Screen.
• Right-click the Start Screen icon to open the Quick Access menu.

And there you have it. Even Windows 8 has uses for the mouse.

Five Key Shortcuts for Making Windows 8 Easier to Use

Keyboard shortcuts have always been popular in Windows systems but in my opinion they are essential in Windows 8. Using the new operating system will be much easier if you learn a few basic keyboard combinations. You will find yourself using them over and over.

The central role of the Windows key

The Windows key is the workhorse of Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts. Used together with other keys, it is part of many different shortcuts. By itself it is also a shortcut. Used alone, it can be a toggle to go back and forth between the start screen and the desktop or between open programs and the start screen or open apps and the start screen. Note that pressing the Windows key when you first start Windows 8 does nothing. But once you have opened a program or app you can switch back and forth.

Five very useful keyboard shortcut combinations

Here are five of the shortcuts you will use a lot

• Windows key+D  Takes you to the desktop
• Windows key+R  Opens the Run box
• Windows key+ I  Opens Settings. You can reach Control Panel from here if you are on the desktop when you use this shortcut
• Windows key+Q  Opens a Search screen.
• Windows key+X  Opens the Quick Access menu (also called the Power User Menu). There are many useful system tools here. This is an especially useful shortcut for power users. The Quick Access menu is shown below.
• http://bit.ly/1mqldOd