Category: Microsoft

Check Out Microsoft’s New Browser ‘Project Spartan’

Anyone who has been a fan of Windows, has also made fun of Internet Explorer. With the rise of new and lighter internet browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer lost the race miserably. The main reason was the heavy size of the browser and its inability to catch up with the latest trends such as extension support, tools and much more.

However, with an exciting new announcement at yesterday’s event, Microsoft has taken its first step to change all that. At the Windows 10 event, Microsoft announced the much-talked about browser app which is codenamed Project Spartan. Microsoft’s new browsing app is a clean browser with a lot of shiny new features and convenient integrations with other Microsoft services.

There’s a “note-taking mode” that lets you draw over the pages with a stylus or add comments with a keyboard, then save the results on OneNote. So picture this, while you’re browsing through a webpage, you spot an important sentence; you can use this tool to highlight the section and then share it further.

A clean “reading mode” formats a page like a book and adds a syncable reading.

Note Taking Mode

But these are not the major features of the new browser app. Just like everything else Microsoft announced yesterday, Spartan has Cortana built into it. Microsoft has taken a big leap with Cortana for Windows 10. Considering that the company joined the race much later than rivals Apple and Google, it’s good to see that Cortana has been deeply integrated in the company’s offering.

With a slew of interesting new features, Spartan seem like a great replacement for the Internet Explorer. It promises to be a simple, fast and smart browser that efficiently ditches Internet Explorer’s dismissal brand image.

January 22, 2015
Microsoft Holo Lens will bring Holographs to Life on PC

Microsoft is banking big on its new piece of technology which will bring holographic imagery to the end consumer.

Holo Lens is a mere headset which when connected with any PC running Windows 10 will merge and blur the lines between the digital and the physical. The kit will come complete with a set of APIs that enable developers to create holographic experiences in the real world.

With Windows 10, holograms are Windows universal apps and Windows universal apps can work as holograms, making it possible to place three-dimensional holograms in the world around you to communicate, create and explore in a manner that is far more personal and human.

The Holo Lens is wireless and will project the holograms in high definition and allow for a surround sound audio experience. Built directly into the hardware is a dedicated Holographic Processing Unit “HPU” ensuring a smooth transition between the software to the virtual world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aThCr0PsyuA

January 22, 2015
Windows 10 is a Free Upgrade for Existing Windows 7 and 8.1 Users

Microsoft has basically followed in Apple’s path, and made Windows 10 a free update for their existing consumers. There are limitations and this will only be applicable for the first year, which does not seem to be much of an excuse for complaining.

To explain it further Microsoft states :

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.

Enterprise customers are not left behind and continue to get the same service and support as previous paid “enterprise” versions.

More Here..

January 22, 2015
Microsoft Windows 10 Official Makes Apps Universal

Microsoft has taken the curtain off the next version of the largest used OS aka Windows and just like rumors suggested they skipped the 9. The next version of Windows aka Windows 10.

Microsoft has followed in the lines of Apple and mostly Mobile methods by making an upgrade to Windows 10 free for all Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users. Calling Windows mostly a service and not a product.

The biggest news that fits into the picture is the seamless integration with Apps across hardware segments, Microsoft has been gunning for this and with Windows 10 it may have become more of a reality.

Now coders will have to make one app which will work across platforms including mobile, tablet and PC.

The new version of Windows will also come with voice assistant “Cortana”. The center of the Cortana experience is housed in the “Notebook”, which should be familiar with those on Windows Phone. Opening this Notebook will show you just what she knows about you.

You can do voice search as well as voice to text typing, which will be a much appreciated add-on.

With previous version of Windows leaving everyone complaining, Microsoft execs are pretty much sure that they have rebuilt their OS from the ground up, and unlike Windows 8 it is not a hasty decision or rollout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teoZk3QEc40

Along with Windows 10 Joe Belfiore demonstrated new versions of Powerpoint and Outlook for a better productivity experience.

January 22, 2015
Microsoft Patents New Tech Which Senses When You Don’t Want to Be Disturbed

A smartphone’s loud ring is highly distracting when you’re in the middle of something important. In spite of the available do-not-disturb mode, there’s no feature that is intelligent enough to sense your presence at different places and function accordingly. However, Microsoft has found a solution for this – the inconspicuous mode – which transforms your smartphone smart enough to turn down your device when necessary.

As per the latest patent granted to Microsoft this week, the ‘inconspicuous mode’ on the smartphone detects when the user is in a meeting, theatre or is going to bed. Once detected, it automatically turns on and adjusts the brightness and volume level of the device. The mode also reduces the number of notifications on the lock screen so the user does not get distracted from the ongoing happening.

This intelligent feature works using the internet. The application checks when the mode is required and detects using GPS, sound, NFC, Wi-Fi and other data. It also syncs with your Calendar and picks up information that can be of use. For e.g. meeting schedules, movie plans, bedtime, wake up time, etc. If the application finds a meeting schedule, it automatically enters the inconspicuous mode to avoid outside interruptions. The feature is extremely handy and can be turned off when required. Also, it exits the mode on its own as soon as the event that triggered it, finishes.

If this feature lands on the Windows Phone platform, it will be the next big thing for the brand. Meanwhile, there are bigger announcements by Microsoft coming up soon.

January 20, 2015
What to Expect from Microsoft’s 21st January Windows Event

Microsoft is holding a special Windows 10 event in Redmond on January 21st. The software giant has already rolled out invites to members of the press, asking them to be a part of the unveiling of “the next chapter.” The new OS is expected to bring new advancements in the consumer-end of the software. The 21st will give us the first glimpse into how Microsoft plans to compete in the consumer field of tablets and phones.

Let’s look at what we can expect for Microsoft’s January 21st event:

Windows Phone 10

It is no secret that Windows Phones so far has been a failure, with Android and iOS giving it a tough competition. According to IDC, Windows Phone holds petty 3% of market share which is the result of drastic dip in 2014. With Windows Phone 10, Microsoft is betting to change this scenario. The company is expected to take wraps off the first version of Windows Phone 10 on January 21. According to the reports, the next mobile OS will be a combination of the Windows Phone and Windows RT operating systems. Microsoft is aiming to take advantage of its universal applications model to align its tablet and phone software to run the same apps across tablets and phones.

Windows 10

Windows 10, in particular, is a crucial tipping point for the company. It’s first and foremost an opportunity for the company to follow through on its promise to make good with consumers, many of whom were turned off by the company’s last version, Windows 8. The most important change in the next installment will be the unification of the OS’s touch and traditional software. Another significant change is the return of Start Menu which was eliminated in Windows 8.

In a recent tweet, Microsoft teased Windows 10’s ability to handle multiple desktops on a single device – saying that more is coming 1.21.15. Multiple desktops allows users to open a number of “virtual desktops” and spread their work out amongst them all – imagine them as virtual monitors you can flip between.

‘Spartan’ Internet Browser

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 internet browser, codenamed Spartan, is expected to debut with Windows 10 as a separate app along with Internet Explorer. Various leaks and rumors suggest that Spartan will be one of the major elements of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 operating system and will come with some ground-breaking features which are currently missing in competing browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.

According to the reports, Spartan will include digital inking support which allows Windows 10 users to annotate a web page with a stylus and send the notes and annotations to a friend or colleague. It is also said that Spartan web browser will be heavily linked to Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant.

PC Gaming

A post on Xbox Wire noted that Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox unit, will be shedding light on Windows 10’s consumer experience, by including the role of gaming in consumer products. According to the post, the company’s goal is “to help PC gaming flourish”, part of which will involve extending the Xbox experience across Windows 10 gaming PCs and other devices.

The company previously announced that Windows 10 will ship with DirectX 12, which promises to help developers deliver better performance from hardware, in addition to bringing benefits to integrated graphics solutions such as Intel’s HD Graphics series.

January 20, 2015
Microsoft Suspends Support, No Further Updates and Assistance for Windows 7 Users

Microsoft’s former version Windows 7 is an addictive one. It has all the necessary features and most important of all, it’s user-friendly. Even after the roll out of Windows 8 a couple of years ago, there are many people across the globe who still rely on updates and support for Windows 7. However, Microsoft seems to think otherwise. The US-based company has decided to retire the 5-year-old operating system still prominent on more than half of the desktop population running Windows.

The announcement read that Windows 7 users will neither get new updates nor any help related to the OS. Nevertheless, according to a publishing daily, the company will continue to patch security vulnerabilities until 2020. The suspension of support to Windows 7 will make way for the forthcoming Windows 10.

The up and coming Windows 10 is one of the most anticipated operating systems by the company. The new OS is expected to come with a ton of features and is said to integrate Cortana onto the desktop. The update will release late summer this year.

January 16, 2015
The Simpsons Are Back! This Time, on Minecraft

Fox Broadcasting Company’s hit satirical family sitcom, the Simpsons has become a household name all over the world. The show depicts the American Suburban lifestyle through frenzied family of Simpson family which includes Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

Now, Microsoft is preparing to bring Simpson family, as well as 19 more characters to life in Minecraft’s cubic world next month. The pack contains the playable characters which will be released in late February for $1.99. The customizable models of the characters lets Homer keep his trademark potbelly and Marge her blue, beehive hair in the pixelated, polygonal forms.

Microsoft acquired Minecraft for $2.5 billion in September and has teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox to transform the characters of Springfield to textured cubic blocks for Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Minecraft is an award winning sandbox independent video game originally created by Swedish programmer Markus “Notch” Persson and later developed and published by the Swedish company Mojang since 2009. Minecraft has become one of the most popular video games in history, with over 100 million downloads since its launch.

January 16, 2015
Microsoft’s Denim Update is Coming To Lumia Soon

The much-talked about Microsoft’s ‘Lumia Denim’ update for Windows 8.1 operating system has begun to roll out to Lumia devices, globally.

According to the company, they are starting the wider roll out of Lumia Denim, a Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 upgrade that packs a lot of improvements to both imaging and Cortana voice commands and new features like live folders on your start screen and an enhanced glance screen.

The Denim update has already debut in US through Verizon with 822 and 928 back in December, but the broader deployment suggests that other Lumias are due relatively soon. If you own new handsets like the Lumia 830, 930 or 1520 , you’ll get faster shooting, Rich Capture (high dynamic range, dynamic exposure and dynamic flash) and better image quality.

Apart from the 830, these phones can also handle 4K video and hands-free Cortana commands. Everyone gets features like Start screen folders, a better web browser and Cortana refinements that include support for in-car speech. Denim is the fourth update to Windows Phone 8.1-equipped Lumia phones, after Lumia Amber, Black and Cyan.

It’s arriving in waves by country and device, and a wider roll out will commence within the month, according to the company. There is still uncertainity as to whether Indian Lumias will be included in latest wave of update or not.

January 16, 2015
Forza Motorsport 6 Announced, Features the All New Ford GT

Turn 10 Studios and Microsoft today officially announced the Forza Motorsport 6 at the ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit. As expected, the game has been announced exclusively for Xbox One featuring the new Ford GT as the cover car, courtesy a partnership between Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios with the car manufacturer.

The announcement apparently was followed by Ford’s announcement today of its GT supercar, sporting a carbon fibre chassis powered by Ford’s twin-turbocharged Ecoboost engine producing 600 hp. In addition, other performance cars by Ford including the GT, Shelby GT350 Mustang and F-150 Raptor will also feature in the game. Meanwhile, Turn 10 Studios have confirmed that gameplay footage will be revealed at E3 this June.

Global Product Development, Vice President for Ford Group Raj Nair, said that Forza Motorsport will give fans an opportunity to “virtually experience” Ford’s lineup of performance cars.

However, no official launch date for Forza Motorsport 6 has been announced. The last title from the franchise Forza Motorsport 5 was launched back in 2013 for the Xbox One. Meanwhile, this year also mark’s the tenth anniversary of the Forza Motorsport series, which first debuted in 2005 for Xbox. Do check out the announcement video below:

January 13, 2015
Top 5 Expected Features of Microsoft’s Windows 10 Browser, Spartan

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 internet browser, codenamed Spartan, has started to garner attention. Various leaks and rumors suggest that Spartan will be one of the major elements of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 operating system and will come with some ground-breaking features which are currently missing in competing browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.

We’ve listed the top 5 expected features of the Windows 10 internet browser, Spartan.

1. Digital Inking Support

Word has it that Spartan will include digital inking support which allows Windows 10 users to annotate a web page with a stylus and send the notes and annotations to a friend or colleague. According to The Verge, the annotated Web pages will be capable to be stored on OneDrive, “which can be accessed by any browser across multiple platforms”.

2. Cortana Integration

The recent rumors claim that the Spartan web browser will be heavily linked to Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant. Moreover, current features that work with Bing on Internet Explorer will be used on the Cortana interface in Spartan. Given that the company has already revealed that Cortana will form an integral part of the Windows 10 operating system, this speculation makes sense.

3. Group Tabs

Leaked images of Spartan by Cnbeta

A third major feature of Spartan will be a new way to group tabs together which will help declutter the occasionally messy interface of multiple browser tabs. Spartan may allow users to open multiple sites in grouped tabs together, so they can do things like compare prices of a new phone without having to switch between tabs or split up personal tabs from work ones.

4. Fast Updates

According to leaks, Microsoft is planning to feature Spartan as an app in order to facilitate smooth and faster updates. Right now, Internet Explorer isn’t an app that Windows 8 or Windows Phone users get via the Windows Store or Windows Phone Store; it’s part of the OS platform. By making Spartan an app, Microsoft should be able to update it more quickly.

5. Minimalistic Design

Spartan will use the Trident rendering engine and the Chakra JavaScript engine that are a part of the Internet Explorer. It is expected to look and work more like lightweight browsers such as Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox. It will allegedly support extensions. Also, the company originally was expected to add custom themes to the new browser. It appears that will not be the case at launch. However, it is possible custom themes may come in future updates.

Microsoft has said that the browser is not just a newer version of the Internet Explorer but a different browser altogether. Microsoft is expected to show off and discuss Spartan during the 21st January Windows 10 preview event it is hosting in Redmond, Wash.

January 13, 2015
Check Out What Microsoft’s New Browser ‘Spartan’ Has to Offer

Microsoft is leaving no stone unturned in building its upcoming operating system Windows 10 and the company is presently working on overhauling the browser of its forthcoming Windows. According to a recent revelation, the new browser, tentatively titled ‘Spartan’, is said to have some exceptional features. These features are not contained in any other browser till date.

The first major feature of Spartan is the inking support through which Windows 10 users hold support to the web note service. Through this, users can add web pages and send notes to a friend with the help of a stylus. The personal notes written by you gets stored on a copy of the web page, which can later be seen at any browser. As all the browsers support this service, the messages can be easily be read by any of your friend or colleague using a different version or OS.

The second major advancement is the group tab feature in which users can categorize tabs as per their choice. One can split work tab from personal tab to declutter the messy screen. The company has also hinted at launching custom themes with Spartan, but they may arrive as future updates of Spartan.

COnsidering the initial presentation of Windows 10, it seems like Lumia phones are only going to get better

Another important feature of the up-and-coming web browser its assimilation with the company’s digital assistance, Cortana. Windows 10 users will be able to get information on flights, hotel bookings and other vital data in the browser. One can track a particular flight just by typing its name and all the data like departure time, arrival time and current status will appear before the user.

Unlike the previous OS by Microsoft, this time it is going to be a single browser for all platforms whether computer, handset or tablet. For the latter two devices, it will be available as an app on the Microsoft Store. It was earlier reported that Microsoft will be bringing back Internet Explorer with the Windows 10. Microsoft as well as the audience, has high hopes from the latest Windows as its preceding version. Windows 8, was a big blunder; we hope that the Windows 10, Spartan and Cortana stand up to their expectations.

January 9, 2015
Get Ready For A Whole New Browser For Windows 10

If there is one internet browser that has gathered immense online infamy, it’s the Internet Explorer (IE). As one of the oldest browsers, it helped Microsoft win the browser game as it was provided for free with its Windows OS. It’s competitors, like Netscape Navigator couldn’t compete, because of the massive reach of Windows. But lately with the emergence of browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, the Internet Explorer has taken a back seat. However, Microsoft hasn’t lost out of hope with one of its oldest product yet. It is planning to create a whole new browser for the upcoming Windows 10 operating system.

According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, The project is apparently code-named “Spartan”. Microsoft’s top competition Apple introduced multiple features in this year’s version of its browser Safari. With the Spartan, Microsoft hopes to create a light-weight browsing experience similar to that on Firefox and Chrome. This browser will be available for both the desktop and the mobile versions.

It is also being reported that Microsoft will ship Windows 10 with Internet Explorer 11 for the sake of backward compatibility. Microsoft wishes to reignite the browser wars that it started back in the 90’s. The winner in this battle would be the consumer who will get improved functionalities thanks to the fierce competition.

Microsoft is going to hold a press event on January 21st where we will get to know more about the consumer aspects of the Windows 10. Maybe we’ll get to know more about Spartan too. The previews of Windows 10 have been appreciated and so we have some hopes with this new browser. Windows 10 is expected to come to the market by next September; only then we’ll finally know whether Microsoft’s Spartan forms a formidable opponent to the three ruling forces of the browser game.

December 30, 2014
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Meets PM Modi to Discuss the Digital India Project

Narendra Modi has a long list of high-profile guests flying over to India to meet him. The recent addition to the list was Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.

Nadella after meeting the PM at his office on Friday commented, “it’s always fantastic for me personally to be in India and the conversation I had with the minister was wide ranging,”

Nadella is the third major tech executive to meet PM Modi, after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. While it is largely being dubbed as a personal visit for the India-born chief executive of the American software giant, he was also supposed to address Microsoft’s employees in India on Friday.

Earlier in the day Nadella met PM Narendra Modi and communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. “I have an aspiration that in this mobile and cloud world, we can empower every individual citizen of India and every business organization and institution in India to be able to try with new technology. So, I am looking forward to be a part of both the Digital India and Make in India,” he said.

CEO, Microsoft, Shri @satyanadella met PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/wnndimo9sE

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 26, 2014

One of the major highlight of this high-profile meeting was the talks between Nadella and telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad where he urged the telecom minister to allow Microsoft to pilot its ‘White-Fi’ technology to provide internet connectivity in remote villages in the country.

Microsoft India, since last month, has been seeking approvals to deploy a project that will enable Internet connectivity using ‘White Space’ spectrum that is currently used for television transmission by Doordarshan. White space technology has previously been deployed in South Africa, Ghana, and the UK, although to this point, white space broadband hasn’t been deployed at a commercially meaningful scale.

This was the second courtesy call of the Microsoft CEO to PM Narendra Modi. Nadella met the Prime Minister earlier during his first India visit after taking charge as boss of the top software company.

December 27, 2014
Skype Now Allows Indian Users to Make Free Calls to US and Canada

Skype has announced a limited time offer for its users in India to call phone numbers in the US and Canada free of cost. The announcement has come shortly after the company introduced its real time Translator Preview programme and is valid for new and existing Skype users until the 1st of March 2015. Skype India page states that, “Yes, that’s right — for a limited time only all calls from India to mobiles and landlines in the United States and Canada are completely free. And you don’t even need to do anything other than start calling”.

Users can now sign up via the Skype India home page as the offer is already live. All you have to do is log in to your Skype account and just dial the number from your phone dialer to call anyone in the US and Canada. The offer could be a ploy to garner more popularity with Indian users which could turn out to be significant hub for its Skype Translator programme.

Notably, the offer also comes a day after Microsoft’s collaboration with Amazon India for its own exclusive store which sells a wider array of its products on the e-commerce website.

December 16, 2014