Perhaps the most exciting news for GURU partner Microsoft this year is the announcement of its up-and-coming laptop/tablet hybrid known as Surface. While Surface has yet to be given a launch date, its excellent design and intuitive user experience might make it the “Bring Your Own Device” product of choice for SMBs.

Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, Windows 8, is expected to release this fall, offering plenty of drastic (and a few not-so-drastic) changes from previous Windows operating systems.

How would you like to be able to pop whatever you’re viewing on your smartphone onto your tv with the flick of your wrist? Snapstick is a new software platform that enables you to “snap” your wrist at your tv and whatever video or video site you are viewing will be transported to your tv. The software will enable your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to communicate with your HDTV, Blue-ray player, set-top box, or gaming console through a WiFi connection. The software is currently in private beta stage and for this purpose Snapstick has created their own set-top box for demos. Snapstick plans to work with hardware manufacturers to build the software within your home entertainment devices. Additionally, Snapstick plans to license its software to existing set-top box manufacturers.

Intel’s new Moorestown processors are setting the company towards tablet and smartphone domination by offering a faster and more capable chip technology that out performs the competition. What this means is the devices will be able to carry PC like performance and have 10 times the battery life compared to other devices.