It's been almost impossible to keep up with Microsoft in 2012.
Even after the Windows and Surface and Windows Phone 8 and Xbox Music and Outlook.com launches, the announcements have kept on coming: SkyDrive for Xbox, Halo 4, updates to Skype, the autumn Xbox dashboard update, ramping up Surface production and a quick attack on Google for turning its shipping section into a set of paid ads rather than an actual search.
Microsoft isn't slowing down for the holidays, but what's left for 2013? Quite a lot, including the perennial rumours about a new Xbox - or two or maybe three…
1. Windows Phone 7.8 and 8.5
Despite the on-again, off-again rumours throughout December, the Windows Phone 7.8 update won't come out until early 2013. Windows Phone 7 users get the new Start screen with three sizes of tiles, a version of the Kids Corner child lock, 20 new accent colours and dynamic lock screen wallpaper (with at least the Bing image of the day); Nokia phones also get a ringtone maker, Bluetooth sharing and lenses for the camera that let you remove unwanted objects and make partly animated GIFs.
Windows 8 coverage Windows 8 review Windows 8 vs Windows 7: 8 ways it's different 50 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets Windows 8 tablets: what you need to know Making sense of the Windows 8 versions All our Windows 8 content
But what about Windows Phone 8 users? US users are already getting the minor Portico update that fixes some bugs, prioritises Wi-Fi and lets you easily send a text message to explain why you didn't pick up the phone.
That comes to European users early in 2013, but the big update will be Apollo Plus; we're expecting that to be Windows Phone 8.5, to be announced at Mobile World Congress in February – but unless we're also getting Windows Phone 9 next year, we don't expect to see it until the autumn.
2. Office 2013
We know Office 2013 (which is already finished and available for businesses, as well as on Surface RT) will go on sale in 2013, in January or February. Will we see Office for the iPad in 2013 as well? This is another persistent rumour that doesn't necessarily add up; Office isn't the only advantage of Windows RT but it's a key feature.
If we do see Office for iPad it might only be the OneNote and Lync tools - after all, the Word, Excel and PowerPoint Web Apps were rewritten this year to run on iPad and Android tablets, which could be what Microsoft means when it keeps saying "Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS and Android". And whatever Microsoft has planned might be delayed or cancelled over arguments with Apple over whether they get a cut of Office 365 subscriptions for Exchange and Office licences for Windows and Mac sold through iOS apps.
How Microsoft Office web apps are catching up with Office 2013
3. No more Messenger
As expected, Microsoft will retire its Messenger IM service in favour of Skype in the spring (except in China, probably because of concerns that the government often discusses blocking the service). You can already merge your Microsoft and Skype accounts by logging into Skype with your Microsoft account (and you can still send messages to friends on Messenger and Facebook) but at some point that will become the only option.
Given the Facebook and Messenger integration in Windows Phone 7.5 and 8, we expect that will coincide with the full release of Skype for Windows Phone (and possibly even an update to Windows Phone to make it all work together). The good news; there will be special offers to make the move more palatable - maybe free Skype minutes like those on offer with some Office 365 accounts.
4. Xbox 720 and Xbox Loop
Another year, another set of rumours about the new Xbox. After seven years, we definitely expect Microsoft to launch a new Xbox late in 2013 and we really hope it includes the Forteleza Kinect Glasses project we've heard about, which seems to combine Google Glasses-style augmented reality with 3D screens.
The $299 price that's been suggested probably isn't for what we're still calling the Xbox 720 for convenience (although it might be the Xbox8 and the internal codename is Durango) which might be based on ARM or x86 chips, possibly with PowerPC chips to run existing Xbox games.
The cheaper model is rumoured to be a set-top box based on Windows 8 for playing casual games and running the kind of entertainment services (like Netflix and BBC iPlayer) that are already on Xbox 360, in something that doesn't look so out of place in the living room if you're not a Halo fan. Think midway between Xbox and Windows Media Center…
5. Surface 2 and more
The other Xbox rumour is a 7-inch Xbox Surface gaming tablet running a custom version of Windows RT with SmartGlass.
Like the rumoured Surface Book touch Ultrabook, AMD-based Surface Pro 2 and smaller Qualcomm-powered Surface RT 2, this was suggested by tipster and "social experimenter" @MSnerd. CEO Steve Ballmer has said that Microsoft will "obviously" make more hardware "where we see important opportunities to set a new standard" and thanks to the job adverts TechRadar discovered back in August, we know Microsoft is working on a second generation of Surface tablets so we'll see new models. Other rumours say Microsoft is ramping up its own manufacturing and distribution facilities, which you need when you're a "devices and services" company rather than a software developer.
Microsoft Surface review
What we're not sure about is the specific hardware Microsoft will use or the exact products we'll see (we're similarly a little sceptical about the often-rumoured Surface Phone).
Microsoft bought giant touchscreen maker Perceptive Pixel this year and CEO Jeff Han is hard at work in Redmond, probably on cheaper versions of the 80" touchscreen system that businesses can use with Windows 8 and Kinect for video conferencing or visualising data – or it could be an all-in-one PC for the home. We expect new Surfaces will come later rather than sooner in the year and run Windows Blue.
6. Windows Blue
If you have a new Surface every year (to compete with the new iPad every year), you need an update to Windows RT to go on it. Full updates to Windows 8 will probably still come every 2-3 years but we expect to see annual updates of Windows RT (and WinRT on Windows 8) that are cheap or even free.
The project codename is Windows Blue, according to rumours, and we expect to see the first release in the autumn with the next Surface models.
7. Something we know nothing about
Given how much better the company has got at keeping secrets, we're expecting at least one big surprise from Microsoft that we haven't heard about yet.
Perhaps the "ground-breaking hardware, software and experiences across computer vision, machine learning, human-computer interaction, image and video processing, networking and graphics" that the team behind Kinect is building to "revolutionize consumer electronic devices" according to a recent job advert. That might be Kinect 2 and Kinect Glasses, or it might be something completely different.
I've been the reviews editor on TechRadar for a few years now but I don't think I can remember a year quite as exciting as 2012. I think it's been one of the greatest years in consumer tech we've ever seen. It may even be the greatest.
That might sound like hyperbole but think about it for a second there, internet, and you'll see that it's true - for the consumer tech enthusiast, 2012 has been a solid stream of uninterrupted success.
The smartphone market is more exciting and innovative today than it has ever been in its history. There are excellent products at all price ranges instead of just right at the very top. We've gotUltra HD, Smart and 3D TVs breaking through televisual barriers we didn't even know existed a few years ago.
Ultrabooks and Macbooks are pushing mobile computing into a new age of super-slim and super-awesome.
Buying Guide 25 best laptops in the world
We've finally got access to decent Android tablets for well under £200/$200. Cameras are now internet connected and run Android apps for quick-sharing of your snaps. Windows 8 is ushering in a new age of touchscreen computers of all shapes and sizes.
And while many of the biggest tech companies on the planet are struggling financially, as far as the products go we're in the richest age of technological life-enhancement since 1950s America.
So to celebrate that, here's a list of all the best gear we've tested this year. All best in class products in all our major channels - ladies and gents, we give you: the class of 2012.
Samsung Galaxy S3
Best in class: Smartphone Released: July 2012
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the best smartphone on the planet. There are those that will take issue with that statement and point feverishly at an iPhone 5 or hoist an HTC One X up the flagpole of futility, but the S3 has topped our list of best phones for a while now and it's going to take something very special to topple it. It's got every kind of feature we could ask for and more, and raises the bar in terms of what consumers should be expecting from battery life,processorspeed and media management. It's simply the best.
Read: Samsung Galaxy S3 review
Orange San Diego
Best in class: Budget phone Released: June 2012
The Orange San Diego has got Intel inside. Dong! Dong ding dong ding! It's not the biggest, fastest or cheapest phone out there, but it is a well-featured performer at an excellent price point. Intel is a name you're going to see more and more in the world of mobile, with 2013 and 2014 very important years on its roadmap. But despite this being the first Intel phone to go on sale in Europe, it's still excellent. So if you're looking at the more pricey Nokia Lumia 800, Sony Xperia Por even HTC One S then it is worth checking out the San Diego and possibly sparing yourself some cash.
Read: Orange San Diego review
Apple iPad mini
Best in class: Tablet Released: November 2012
You didn't see this one coming, did you? OK, if you've read Gareth's iPad mini review you probably did see it coming. And if you're half asleep and not with us: we've named an iPad as the best tablet, but it's not theiPad 4, it's the smaller, less powerful, non-Retina iPad mini. Yeah. Wahh? Well it's because we reckon the iPad mini really does add an extra dimension to the iOS world and the slim size and lightness are much bigger benefits than many would give them credit for. It offers better value for money, sits more pleasantly in the hand and can handle all the tasks you want many times better than you'd expect. It's a more versatile product and offers a better compromise between performance, price and portability than any iPad to date.
Read: iPad mini review
Google Nexus 7
Best in class: Budget tablet Released: September 2012
The affordable seven-incher really came of age in 2012, and alongside the iPad mini above, Google's Nexus 7 leads the line. It's major competitors are Amazon Kindle Fire HD and the Nook HD as similarly priced budget Android options. But the Nexus 7 rules the roost. It offers lovely stock Android Jelly Bean, a decent display and responsive control. And what's more, you're not trapped inside a shop window like you are with the Amazon/B&N options. If you're after a 7-inch Android tablet, there really is only one option and it's the Google Nexus 7.
Read: Google Nexus 7 review
Dell XPS 13
Best in class: Ultrabook Released: March 2012
We fancy the Dell XPS13. It's very good looking indeed and there is no better Ultrabook out there right now, and it's not cheap. But if you're looking for a bitch-ass Windows 8 laptop to kick lumps out of a MacBook Pro, this badboy's your huckleberry. It packs Core i5/i7 CPU, 4GB memory, 256GB SSD. And despite the 13-inch display, the footprint of this thing is actually similar to an 11-inch laptop so we reckon you'll be surprised at how compact the chassis actually is. Of course, it's not touchscreen, which might be cause for concern. 2013 is going to be a year absolutely jam packed full of touchscreen Windows 8 devices, so there's some food for thought if you're wondering whether now is the time to upgrade.
Read: Dell XPS 13 review
HP Pavilion G6
Best in class: Mainstream laptop Released: July 2012
As budget laptops go, there are plenty of products we could pick as a favourite. But we've gone for the HP G6 for its all-round performance and generous price. You get a decent CPU and dedicated AMD graphics power which means it'll see you through most computing tasks with competence. Unlike Intel based laptops, the on-board graphics combine with the dedicated card to create a dual graphics setup, and this really helps in Windows, when photo editing, and on the web. The only drawback here is in build quality. It may be a meaty machine on the inside, but on the outside it's a bit of an ugly duckling.
Read: HP Pavilion G6 review
Fuji FinePix X10
Best in class:Compact camera Released: October 2012
The Fuji X10 is our favourite compact camera of the year and absolutely deserves the honour of being named Best in Class. Just as it did with the FinePix X100, Fuji managed to make a camera in the X10 that not only looks the part, but delivers on image quality and handling too. The well-constructed metal body is robust, easy to use and looks very smart. Image quality is as good as any high-end compact camera can deliver at the moment, especially if the EXR modes are used to their strengths, though the zoom is limited and battery life is a little short if we're being picky. It's a little pricey, but it's worth every penny.
Read:Fuji X10 review
Nikon D800
Best in class: DSLR Released: March 2012
For those interested in stepping up to a full-frame camera, the D800 represents a cracking investment. You get pretty much all of the best features of the Nikon D4 in a more compact and lighter body, with a much higher pixel count for just shy of half of the price. You'll find that the D800 isn't just a triumph of numbers and that the 35.3MP sensor actually delivers on its promise – capturing bags of detail. The surprise bonus is that noise is very well controlled and the dynamic range is very impressive indeed.
Read:Nikon D800 review
Panasonic Lumix G5
Best in class: Compact System Camera Released: July 2012
We had to include a CSC in our list, and featuring a newly designed 16 million pixel digital sensor and the latest Venus Engine VII processor, Panasonic's G5 delivers images which are cleaner and freer of noise than we've seen before on a G series camera. Purchasing the camera as a twin lens kit, with the new ultra-portable 45-150mm lens would arguably make this the ultimate holiday combination.
Read: Panasonic G5 review
Sony Bravia HX853
Best in class: 3D TV Released: May 2012
There really isn't any overstating the potential importance of the KDL-46HX853 to Sony right now. For in one single leap its stunning picture performance takes the struggling Japanese giant from near-zero to all-conquering hero - an achievement made all the more remarkable when you consider that this outstanding TV is being delivered at a more aggressive price than the usually ultra-competitive Korean brands are offering on their range equivalents. To sum all this up, with the KDL-46HX853 Sony isn't just back, it's back with a vengeance. It's the best TV of the year.
Read: Sony KDL-46HX853 review
iPod touch 5th Generation
Best in class: Portable media player Released: November 2012
It's been a couple of years since we saw a new iPod touch and it was worth the wait. The new iPod touch 5th Generation has the same 4-inch 16:9 Retina Display as the iPhone 5 so as you'd imagine it's stunning and delicious. With its bigger display and new iSight camera it's certainly the best iPod touch ever. There's simply nothing else out there that comes close to the iPod touch. Nothing.
Read:iPod touch 5th Generation review
TomTom Start 60
Best in class: Sat nav Released: June 2012
The TomTom Start 60 Europe is easily one of the best sat navs we've reviewed. The large screen, clear navigation and accuracy of the maps makes it a joy to use. The voice navigation, complete with spoken street names, is calm and clear, and it's easy to switch to a different voice if you're not happy. It's also available for a decent price. You just need to work out if you need any LIVE features like traffic and speed cameras - those things aren't available here.
Read: TomTom Start 60 review
AMD Radeon HD 7870
Best in class: Graphics card Released: March 2012
It's not the most powerful graphics card out there by any means. But what the HD 7870 does do is offer the perfect balance of power between sheer grunt and price. When we first reviewed it, we gave it 4/5 because it was a little expensive. Six months later though, the price has come down £100 and at around £150 it offers dazzling value for money. It'll play any top PC game on high settings at any resolution, and costs a fraction of the amount you'd pay for some of the other cards out there. For gamers on a midrange budget, this is the card to pick up this Christmas.
Read:AMD Radeon HD 7870 review
Panasonic DMP-BDT320
Best in class: Blu-ray player Released: March 2012
Stuffed with techy toys integrated into the Wi-Fi-powered Viera Connect service, the Panasonic DMP-BDT320 handles a plethora of digital files and indulges - albeit in a somewhat muddy manner - in DLNA home networking. A super-slim Blu-ray player that needs only Wi-Fi to perform a host of tricks, the Panasonic DMP-BDT320 boasts excellent 2D and 3D Blu-ray coupled with reference-level DVD upscaling. This makes for a deck that has few flaws. Whether or not the inclusion of a trackpad-style remote control makes this slightly slimmer deck a worthy upgrade from its little brother, the DMP-BDT220, is doubtful. But as a standalone Blu-ray proposition, the Panasonic DMP-BDT320 is a top-notch all-rounder that oozes class.
It's the day before the start of a new year (except for places like Australia...so impatient those Aussies), and I guess many people are sitting around reflecting on the last 12 months. I could do one of those cliched year in review round-ups, but who has the time? lol.
Instead, I will just say, 2012 was a good year and as I get older I realise that any year that you get through in one piece is a damn good one. I know so many people who have encountered loss and sadness in 2012, and I am so grateful for the many mercies bestowed on me that I cannot sit here and gripe about a year that saw me in my cap and gown walking across the stage with the other postgrads, in a job when so many of my class were still job hunting, fat, when so many have no food - hey, gotta find the positives!!
So what about 2013? Well, the number 13 always strikes fear into the hearts of many, but you have to make your own luck and as I told a friend last week, you have to make your own way and your own happiness. So I am hoping to be happy...happier in 2013.
Maybe a couple more trips...
Maybe more reading, especially as my girlfriend will be hand delivering my birthday present this week. I finally got this, after much resistance, but the traditional way is taking up way too much space in my house!!!
Maybe more writing...
Definitely more sweating and less eating and drinking. I will not be buying new clothes (ha! good one!)
Hopefully more single girl adventures...
It's really just about making the next 12 month s better than the last, and to be happy, be a better person - a god daughter, sister, aunt, friend - and to keep it movin'...in the right direction.
Hope everyone has a great 2013 as well. I surely look forward to reading all about it.
Congratulations to everyone who has been or will be awarded this year!
Applications for the 2013 ceremonies will begin in January 2013 - all eligible students will be contacted via post and email to notify them when the process opens. Please ensure your contact details are kept updated.
UCL School of Pharmacy Graduation Ceremonies
If you are a student from the UCL School of Pharmacy your graduation ceremony will be held on either Friday 28 September 2012 or Wednesday 28 November 2012. For more information please refer to the UCL School of Pharmacy website.
Updates
Non-ceremony photography
The next non-ceremony photography session will take place in March 2013. Please refer to thephotography page for further details and the booking forms.
Deferring
The deadline to defer your attendance to 2013 has now passed.
2013 Dates
The dates for the 2013 Graduation Ceremonies will be available here in early 2013.
Staff
We welcome members of the UCL academic staff community who wish to attend the Graduation Ceremonies as members of the academic procession. Details of how to register for the 2013 ceremonies will be available here in May 2013.
The ceremony will begin with a processional of graduates, faculty, and University officials. The Dean of your College will welcome the audience, give instructions, and recognize outstanding graduates.
You will cross the stage as your name is read from a card that will be provided to you on the day of your ceremony. Professional photographs will be taken. Photo proofs will be emailed to you.
The ceremony will last two hours with an optional hour-long reception immediately following. Refreshments and live music will be provided for you and your guests at the reception.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if I’m eligible to graduate?
You must file a Request to Graduate form with the Office of Enrollment Services. If you have filed to graduate for December 2012, January 2013, May 2013, or August 2013, (before the published deadlines), you will be invited to the May 2013 ceremonies and your name will be listed in the program.
Do I need to sign up ahead of time to attend the ceremony?
YES! The registration form will be available on this website from February 1, 2013 until May 17, 2013.
How do I check if I've registered correctly?
If you try to submit the form again on the same computer, it will alert you that you have done so already. Please DO NOT call the University asking that your name be checked on the registration list. The data will not be available until the day of your ceremony.
What ceremony do I go to if I’m graduating in December?
If you are a December 2012 candidate, you are part of the 2012-2013 academic class and you will be invited to the 2013 ceremony and your name will be listed in the 2013 program.
If you are a December 2013 candidate, you are part of the 2013-2014 academic class and you will be invited to the 2014 ceremony and your name will be listed in the 2014 program. You may attend the 2013 ceremony, but your name will not be listed in the program.
How do I get my name in the program?
If you have filed a Request to Graduate form with the Office of Enrollment Services for the terms of December 2012, January 2013, May 2013, or August 2013 before the published deadlines, your name will be listed in the program.
Will my name be announced during the ceremony?
Yes, every graduate will have their name read as they cross the stage, regardless of whether it is listed in the program.
How many tickets do I get?
No tickets are required. First-come, first-served seating is available for your guests in folding chairs and grandstands.
How do I get my cap and gown?
Cap and gown rental is handled by the University Bookstore.
How do I know if I am graduating with honors?
GPA honors are not recognized at the ceremony. (GPAs are not calculated until your degree has been granted, several weeks after the end of the semester.)
To inquire about honors in the major, go to the major department office.
Where are the ceremonies held?
On upper campus in the Central Quad. Folding chairs and grandstand seating will be available for the graduates and guests.
What time should I get there and where do I go?
Graduates should arrive on campus at least one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. The sign-in and line-up area is at the south end of the Quad near the Macintosh Building.
At least one hour prior to the ceremony is recommended for guests as well. Guests attending the prior ceremony will be exiting campus as others are arriving. Large crowds are expected, please allow at least one hour to park and walk to the ceremony site.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Approx. 12,000 guests will be in attendance for the large Colleges. All ceremonies are held outdoors. Folding chairs on grass and grandstand seating will be available; shade is limited.
Where do I park?
All parking structures and student parking lots on lower campus, off of Atherton, will be open to the public for free parking during the ceremony. The lots on upper campus designated for faculty and staff will remain gated.
Parking information: 562 985-4146
Do I need to sign in when I get there?
Yes, you should arrive on campus at least one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. The sign-in and line-up area is at the south end of the Quad, near the Macintosh Building.
Are there special arrangements for the disabled?
Please contact the Office of Parking and Transportation for assistance and directions: 562 985-4146.
Shuttles from the outlying lots to the ceremony site will be available.
The university does not provide wheelchairs.
Staff will be available to assist guests in wheelchairs to the appropriate seating area.
For elderty guests and others who are unable to sit outside, the ceremonies will be broadcast live indoors, adjacent to the ceremony site.
What kind of seating is available?
Folding chairs on grass, surrounded by grandstands. No tickets are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Shade is limited. Most guests will be sitting in the sun.
For elderty guests and others who are unable to sit outside, the ceremonies will be broadcast live indoors, adjacent to the ceremony site.
Staff will be available to assist guests in wheelchairs to the appropriate seating area.
How do I get pictures?
Professional photographers will be stationed on and around the stage. Proofs of the photos will be emailed to you within three days.
Guests will not be allowed to stand in the aisles or to approach the stage to take pictures. Tripods and large video equipment are not allowed.
What will the weather be like?
Typically, it is damp and foggy in the mornings, warm or hot in the afternoons, and breezy and cool in the evenings after 5:00. Rain is uncommon. Light layers are recommended. Most guests will be sitting in the sun.
Sun shades and umbrellas will not be allowed to block the view of others.
How long is the ceremony?
Approximately two hours.
What happens after the ceremony?
Graduates and their guests are invited to attend an hour-long reception nearby immediately following the ceremony. Refreshments and live music will be provided.
Where do I return my cap and gown?
Return gown to the bookstore.
How do I get my diploma?
Degree clearing takes place in the Office of Enrollment Services during a four to eight week period following the end of your last semester. You will be notified by email when your degree has been granted, and you’ll be given diploma information at that time. Enrollment Services: 562 985-5471.
Who can I call for more information?
Please see the list of personnel at the bottom of this page.
Diplomas
Diplomas are not distributed at Commencement. The diplomas themselves are issued by the University after verification has been made that all degree requirements have been completed and after the diploma document is specially inscribed for the graduate.
Your diploma will not automatically be mailed to you. The Office of Enrollment Services (562/985-5471) will send an e-mail when your diploma is available (approximately 4-8 weeks after your degree has been granted).
Diploma frames are available through the Bookstore: (562) 985-5093.
Ceremony Details
Each college is responsible for the logistical coordination of its own ceremony. For information regarding your college's ceremony, please contact the appropriate individual listed below:
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It's the day before the start of a new year (except for places like Australia...so impatient those Aussies), and I guess many people are sitting around reflecting on the last 12 months. I could do one of those cliched year in review round-ups, but who has the time? lol.
Your diploma will not automatically be mailed to you. The Office of Enrollment Services (562/985-5471) will send an e-mail when your diploma is available (approximately 4-8 weeks after your degree has been granted).