Category: Microsoft

Microsoft Plans to Upgrade All Windows Phone 8 Devices to Windows 10

There is no place for silly mistakes in the tech industry and Microsoft has realised that. After dropping the Nokia brand completely, the company has a lot of work to do in terms of brand image as all its key smartphone components are at stake. Windows Phone OS is one of them.

The company, responding to a customer’s query on Twitter, has made it clear that it “plans to upgrade all Windows Phone 8 devices to Windows 10 in the future.” This also includes the Windows 8 devices launched under the name of Nokia. The next big Windows OS, Windows 10, is still in the early development stage, hence, Microsoft is tight-lipped about the arrival of the new OS.

@Kalars07 We plan to upgrade all Windows Phone 8 devices to Windows 10 in the future :)

— Lumia (@lumia) November 13, 2014

However, it is a sign of relief to the Nokia Lumia owners who felt backstabbed when the company completely dropped the Nokia branding. Earlier in 2012, Windows lovers were disappointed when Microsoft decided that the existing devices wouldn’t make the jump to Windows Phone 8.

The new operating system was unveiled at San Francisco for Business customers. Microsoft has already released a technical preview version for selected users. It is expected to unveil new consumer features early next year. Windows 10 is expected to reach the market by mid-2015. Considering Microsoft nails its flagship operating system in every alternate release, we have a lot of hopes with this one.

November 14, 2014
Microsoft’s Lync to be Reintroduced as ‘Skype For Business’ in Early 2015

Microsoft recently announced that the company is converging Lync, professional video conferencing service with Skype which will be called Skype for Business. The company lately announced the name change as well as some target dates for the next versions of the offering.

The move comes as a part of Microsoft’s strategy to ‘re-invent productivity’ for all, not just business. Hence, offering a unified experience across services so consumers and businesses have similar experiences.

“Large enterprises know Lync, and consumers all know Skype,” said Gurdeep Pall, Corporate Vice President, Lync and Skype, Microsoft. “If you’re a small or medium business, you’re kind of lost. You feel, ‘Is Lync for me? Is it too heavy duty? But Skype definitely feels too light for me.’ We think that by having this one consistent brand, we are able to reach all the constituents in that spectrum.”

The company promised that Skype for Business will remain an Office 365 exclusive service when it replaces Lync sometime in the first half of 2015. Microsoft Lync, earlier known as Microsoft Office Communicator, uses Microsoft Lync Server, the software infrastructure for enterprise instant messaging, Presence, VoIP, Video Conferencing, and so on. Microsoft said Skype for Business will offer a new client experience as well as a new server release.

“We thought the most important convergence path was to feel familiar,” said Pall. “We have not yet landed on the right model for when you have two identities, and you’re trying to juggle them on the same experience. We are finding our path.”

Skype for Business essentially uses all of the capabilities of Lync, including content sharing and telephony. Microsoft said that transferring a call now takes only one touch or click instead of three. In other words, Skype for Business will essentially be Skype with Lync’s enterprise security, compliance, and control feature.

Back in 2011, when Microsoft bought Skype, the long-term goals of the company were unclear behind having two separate services that could do video chat. Now that the company is converging both of them, it makes a lot more sense as Skype has already become a household name in the field of video conferencing.

November 12, 2014
Microsoft Officially Launches the First Lumia Without Nokia Branding

We all knew it was coming. But today finally, Microsoft has officially unveiled the first Lumia device without the Nokia branding. The new Microsoft Lumia 535 is essentially an entry-level device and is somewhat similar to the Nokia devices that have come before it.

One of the most evident differences is that the handset has dropped the Nokia branding in favour of Microsoft at the rear and front, and a company logo has been incorporated on the colourful removable shell. All future Lumia devices will be launched with Microsoft branding, and the existing Lumia phones with Nokia moniker will continue to be known as Nokia handsets.

Microsoft Lumia 535 has been designed as an alternative of Nokia Lumia 530 and will be targeting users from Russia, India, China and other parts of Asia. It is clear that the company wants to push Lumia sales and Windows Phone market share by betting on this low-end device.

Even though, Lumia 535 comes with a low-end specification, Microsoft has tweaked the handset with some considerable changes which, according to the company, will not compromise their experience as much as some other budget Lumia devices. The Lumia 535 comes with 5-inch qHD display with the insufficient resolution of 960×540 pixels. The company claims that it has tweaked the display for outdoor readability. Even if it is true, the miserly pixel count is pretty hard to ignore.

Microsoft has added 1 GB RAM in the Lumia 535 instead of the usual 512 MB, which is an appreciable move as many users, especially Windows Phone gamers, have been complaining about low RAM in their devices. Microsoft has also included auto-brightness, and a 5-megapixel forward-facing camera. The front-facing camera includes a wide-angle lens with a 24 mm focal length, just like the Lumia 730/735.

The Lumia 535 runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor and a 1,905mAh battery. There’s 8 GB of onboard storage, coupled with a microSD card slot for up to 128 GB of extra capacity. Like all other Lumia devices, Lumia 535 is available in many colour options – green, cyan, orange, black and white. The backplates of this handset are interchangeable and Microsoft will be offering flip covers in matching shades for those who like to give their handsets a little extra protection.

Microsoft said that the Lumia 535 will launch later this month in Asia-Pacific territories, with Russia, India and China at top of the list, ahead of Africa and Europe. The handset will sell for roughly around Rs. 8,000 (the price will vary between countries).

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November 11, 2014
Microsoft Plans to Use ‘White Space’ Tech to Deliver Free Internet Across India

Microsoft India is all set to provide free last-mile internet connectivity across the country. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Microsoft India is seeking approvals to deploy a project that will enable Internet connectivity using ‘White Space’ spectrum that is currently used for television transmission by Doordarshan.

The company has asked permission to initiate a pilot project in two districts, after which it will be rolled out all across the country. The chairman of Microsoft India, Bhaskar Pramanik, said that Microsoft has sought clearance for a pilot program in two districts for its white space initiative. 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.

“Wi-Fi has a range of only about 100 metres, whereas the 200-300 MHz spectrum band available in the white space can reach up to 10 km,” said Bhaskar Pramanik. “This spectrum belongs mainly to Doordarshan and the government and is not used at all. We have sought clearance for a pilot project in two districts.”

The company said if the pilots are successful, the project will be turned nationwide and could give a huge boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India initiative, which proposes to use technology to deliver authority to every citizen of India, even in remote areas.

“The challenge is the lack of digital infrastructure across India. This initiative addresses this challenge in a cost-effective manner and creates an eco-system that will benefit everyone, including manufacturers of routers and other technology devices, other technology companies, besides Microsoft,” Pramanik further elaborated.

However, the technology hasn’t been widely adopted anywhere in the world, but experts believe it can lead to a spurt in broadband connectivity in countries such as India. Engineers at Microsoft Development Centres in India have adapted this unlicensed technology for this country.

November 11, 2014
Here’s What the First Microsoft Lumia Might Look Like

The first-ever Microsoft-branded Lumia is a hot topic these days. The software giant is all geared to announce their first Lumia device without the Nokia branding next week, marking the end of Nokia as a smartphone manufacturer. Now, the new reports have surfaced that showcases leaked images of the Microsoft Lumia RM-1090. Courtesy: China’s Tieba, an online community powered by Baidu.

According to the leak, the expected Microsoft-branded Lumia smartphone will be a low-end device and will feature a 5-inch QHD display with 960×540 pixel resolution. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 200 chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz bundled with 1 GB of RAM, dual-SIM, 8 GB ROM, a 5MP primary camera with LED and a 1900mAh battery.

Microsoft Lumia RM-1090 will be 140.2×72.45×9. 32 mm and weighs 145.7 grams. It will be available in following colour variants – white, black, grey, green and orange. Connectivity features will be limited to 3G with HSPA and GSM. The handset is said to have been cleared for US FCC certification in October after being cleared for TENAA certification.

We can expect it to go head to head against the Android One series.

November 8, 2014
Microsoft Office 365 App is Now Free for Everybody

Microsoft has prepped new versions of its popular Office apps for iPhones and iPads, along with a preview of the same app for Android. From now on, you can use an Office apps on Android or iOS without any Office 365 subscription. Microsoft has dubbed this move as ‘More of Office for everyone.’

The company is also doing away with the Office Mobile for iPhone, with a standalone Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The new Office apps for iPhone will now be identical to the iPad version, which offers more functions and capabilities. Microsoft says that these new apps offer “the same beautiful iPad experience, optimised for the iPhone.”

According to a report, Microsoft has worked closely with Apple to make sure the app could take advantage of the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will now feature phone-optimised user interfaces. The iPhone Office apps, from now on, will facilitate a better look at documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There are features like Reflow view; Excel has a new Full-Screen view, while PowerPoit now has a new slideshow. The Office app for iPad has already seen a whopping 40 million downloads.

Meanwhile, the Android version will be coming in a couple of weeks. Android phones will be getting a smaller update compared to the Android tablets. As of now, Office Mobile for Android phones has been updated with support for free editing, though will be identical to the iPhone version some point later, with individual Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps.

As far as Android tablets are concerned, they will have similar features and capabilities as the iPad apps. Microsoft said that apps for Android tablets should be available by early 2015.

Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced a software partnership with Dropbox, with two companies merging their softwares. This would allow the stored documents in DropBox to be easily edited using MS Office tools.

November 7, 2014
The First Microsoft-Branded Lumia Arrives Next Week

Microsoft confirmed that the first Lumia which is going to launch under the company’s banner will arrive on Tuesday. The software powerhouse has already started sending teasers of an unveiling for the 11th of November, with a tag line that says, “Microsoft is delivering the power of everyday mobile technology to everyone.” The teaser displays an orange curved Lumia device.

Microsoft officially killed the Nokia brand for its upcoming Lumia handsets, and Tuesday’s launch will mark the first time when Lumia device will come without the Nokia branding. While many are speculating it as a flagship device, sources believe that Microsoft will launch this budget device next week.

Microsoft did hint at the possibility of a new Lumia launch soon, with features similar to that of the Lumia 830. It appears to be the latest addition to the low-end Windows Phone from Microsoft. A ploy that the company is using to compete against Android and iOS, as it struggles to stamp its authority in terms of overall OS market share.

It’s still a mystery as to how Microsoft will name its first Lumia; it could even do away with the number scheme we have seen with Lumia devices in the past.

November 7, 2014
Dropbox and Microsoft Announce a Surprise Collaboration for Office App

Microsoft and Dropbox are surprisingly working together to closely integrate the cloud services into Office. The deal between the two rivals means users will be able to edit and share Office content across different devices and softwares.

“Access to Dropbox content popped as one of the very first [Office for iPad] requests that customers had,” explains Kirk Koenigsbauer, Head of Microsoft’s Office Engineering team. “They want access to where their content is. We’re doing it to make sure customers have a great experience.”

Under the partnership, Dropbox gets a prime space that is used by more than a billion people, and the potential to make an even bigger name for itself particularly in the business enterprises. Notably, Microsoft has its own cloud service called OneDrive which will co-exist with Dropbox in the Office for iPad apps, letting users natively browse, open and edit Office documents uploaded on Dropbox directly within the app.

“From our perspective, it is about users’ choice,” says Kirk Koenigsbauer. “Of course, we have a OneDrive service, which is quite differentiated — it works incredibly well for users. But there are also people who use Dropbox, and we want to provide that choice and flexibility.”

In turn, Dropbox is adding options to its mobile application to push users over to Microsoft Office to edit documents. If you’re on a mobile device that doesn’t have Office installed, you’ll be prompted to download the apps to edit, and any changes will sync back directly to Dropbox automatically. Microsoft Office for iPad and Android application, at present, requires an Office 365 subscription to edit documents.

“It’s really about creating a deep connection between Dropbox and Office,” says Ilya Fushman, Head of Product for Dropbox and Dropbox for Business. “We think this is a huge win for our users. We think this will result in the best possible experience for people trying to get work done, and trying to get work done on the go.” The move came just months after Dropbox unveiled its “Project Harmony” work to bring collaborative features to Microsoft Office. “We’re continuing that experience,” explains Fushman. “That experience is really about making it simple and easy to work on the desktop.” Most of the changes for which Dropbox is partnering up with Microsoft are focused on web and mobile.

November 5, 2014
Skype Introduces the Preview of its Real-Time Language Translator

It had been in people’s imagination for a long while. An instrument through which you can translate the other person’s language has always been desired. Human translators are great, but you cannot call a person every time you want to have a conversation with another person from a new country. In the global interconnectivity age, when people can connect to each other from any part of the world, the only hindrance has been the language. The solution to this problem may lie in the Skype’s new real-time translation feature called Skype Translator.

The translator’s preview is only for Windows 8.1 devices. This feature can give a great boost to the operating system as most translation needs are required in the government and corporate sectors, where Windows is still a dominant power.

The real-time translation feature listens to the conversation and converts it into the native language on the other side. There is a short delay in this process as the engine has to convert what’s been said, but you get to hear both the speaker and the translation. There is also an on-screen transcript of what’s being said by the person for added convenience. The software can take care of the instant messaging translations in 45 languages currently.

This will also be a great feature if you want to date people on the other side of the planet. The language barrier can be beaten through features like these, and they will keep both the languages valid and usable. If you have a Windows 8.1 device, go ahead and communicate with the world.

November 4, 2014
Leaked Images Show the First Microsoft-Branded Lumia

Earlier this month, Microsoft officially killed the Nokia brand for its Lumia smartphones, and now images have surfaced of what appears to be a new device with the Microsoft Lumia branding.

Images from Chinese regulator TENAA reveal a new Lumia handset with the Microsoft branding on the front and rear, and perhaps it is a larger version of the Lumia 530. Dubbed as the RM-1090 as of now, it offers dual-SIM connectivity.

Microsoft did hint at the possibility of a new Lumia launch soon, with features similar to that of the Lumia 830. It appears to be the latest addition to low-end Windows Phone from Microsoft. A ploy that the company is using to compete against Android and iOS, as it struggles to stamp its authority in terms of overall OS market share.

We have a witnessed a slew of launches by Microsoft over the past few months, with price and availability being their primary focus. We are expecting the RM-1090 to be on the same lines and see the possibility of it being unveiled before Christmas.

November 3, 2014
Thanks to a New Compact Processor, Xbox One Might Get Cheaper

It is Microsoft’s policy to Y-cut the Xbox One’s price for the holidays, but there are hints that the gaming console may get a permanent price drop. Recent reports have hinted that Microsoft is planning for a potential smaller, cooler and cheaper Xbox One processor and how that could result in a thinner and cheaper Xbox One console.

Daniel McConnell, AMD’s Senior Physical Design Manager, had posted on his LinkedIn profile that he “successfully planned and executed the first APU for Microsoft’s Xbox One console in 28 nm technology and a cost-reduced derivative in 20 nm technology.” The entry containing the 20 nm processor has since been removed from McConnell’s profile.

Xbox One’s processor is fabricated at 28 nm, meaning each transistor measures 28 thousand-millionths of a meter. A 20 nm version would lower cost and power consumption, which would have a knock-on effect on cooling systems and, therefore, on casing design.

A 20 nm processor would lower the costs and power consumption, which would have a knock-on effect on cooling systems and therefore on casing design.

There aren’t any clues as to when this slim and affordable silicon will arrive, but recent AMD roadmap leaks suggest that its first CPU architecture based on the technology will ship in 2015. In other words, you could buy a cheaper Xbox by this time next year.

It is said that the new processor could be as much as 30 per cent more powerful while consuming 25 per cent less energy. And the small size means smaller cooling assembly and a thinner chassis to go along it, which ultimately translates to lower-priced device.

Xbox One has been struggling to break into the market like as it did in the past, but has been unsuccessful due to the soaring sales of PS4. The use of faster, slimmer and cheaper processor can help Microsoft step up its game and revive its old charm in the market.

November 3, 2014
Microsoft Opens Up Outlook to Third-Party App Developers

Microsoft is opening its business-centric Office service to developers on a large scale this time around. Earlier this year, the software giant invited developers to make third-party apps for Office 365, and now that plan includes Outlook.com.

A new suite of APIs, which will soon be released by the company, will give developers tools to integrate into Microsoft’s webmail service and add features to everything from the Calendar to the Compose screen and Contacts. However, these apps won’t come to mainstream until spring 2015. Anyhow, the plan of the company to bring third-party apps holds some exciting promise and possibilities.

The company’s official blogpost reads : “Think about it: Whenever a customer reads or composes an email or calendar event, your app could be there, helping them get the job done. If you have a great idea for how our customers should interact with their email or calendar, now is the time to make it happen. Not only are these apps simple to build–they use open web technologies such as HTML and Javascript–but you can start building them today. To learn how to get started, check out ‘Mail apps for Outlook’ on MSDN and the Office Dev Center.”

Along with this, ‘Mail apps for Outlook’, which work on Exchange Server 2013, Outlook 2013, Outlook Web Access, and OWA for Devices, will soon work on Outlook.com too, bringing together some 400 million potential new users of app developers, and all without browser plugins or extensions.

Developers may come up with some truly useful apps that plug into not only Outlook.com, but also the rest of the Office 365 ecosystem, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint. According to Microsoft, these apps will be cross-platform.

November 3, 2014
Microsoft Outs its Fitness Wearable with 10 Sensors Onboard

Microsoft has just listed its new fitness offering on its official website. ‘Microsoft Band’ will go on sale today for $199 at the company’s online and physical stores, for US customers only, and in ‘limited quantities’.

Microsoft Band is a 10-sensor fitness tracker which would last two days on a charge, according to the company. In addition to the obvious optical heart rate monitor, which is evident on the design itself, the new Microsoft’s wearable includes a UV sensor to keep track of your sun exposure, a galvanic skin response sensor to measure stress, and a built-in GPS.

Designed by Quentin Morris (who also developed the Xbox One controller), it comes with 18.5 mm band, which is made up of thermoplastic elastomer making it soft and quite stretchy. It has got a 1.4-inch touchscreen display with 320×106 resolution and is powered by two 100mAh lithium-ion batteries.

The new fitness band is a part of Microsoft’s Health initiative to track and analyze world’s health data and is also just one way to collect it. It is to be noted that the company has opened it up for use on devices and platforms built by others. Microsoft plans to let people use the Health app with other personal trackers.

Also, not only is the device cross-platform ready, it is said that Microsoft will look for other companies (maybe Samsung, HTC, Pebble, Fitbit) to make their devices Microsoft Health compatible. That way, they can sync into the data and notifications immediately, all powered by the Microsoft backend.

One of the main highlights of this device is that it comes with a microphone to issue voice commands to Cortana. However, it will only work if you pair the band to a Windows Phone device. In addition to that, the Microsoft Band will be able to perform usual task of Smartwatches such as e-mail messages, calendar reminders, phone calls, Twitter and Facebook notifications, weather and stock information.

Microsoft has already partnered with major health-related service providers such as Jawbone, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper. Another feature that the company has added is its ability to share data from the HealthVault with your medical provider. Microsoft is aiming for folks active both at work and in the gym and according to them, they have come up with a perfect system for such consumers.

October 30, 2014
In a Post-Nokia World, Microsoft Unveils the New Microsoft Lumia Branding

With the era of Nokia coming to a close, a new phone ecosystem will take its place. Microsoft has unveiled the new branding for its smartphone line-up which will now be known as Microsoft Lumia. As a part of the transition, the websites and social media pages are already on the move from the old Nokia to new Microsoft’s mobile pages.

To make its name prominent on the device, the Microsoft name will be featured prominently on the front and back of devices. According to the acquisition agreement, Microsoft had a good 18 month long period for them to transition from the Nokia brand for its smartphone business. The Nokia name will not be completely scratched out yet. Microsoft still has a 10-year license to use the Nokia brand on basic phones. This was a really shrewd move by Microsoft as Nokia has immense brand recognition in the basic phone market. Microsoft can use it to their advantage to have a constant stream of income through this channel. It is not a resource intensive segment either so Microsoft can literally make easy cash off Nokia’s heavy lifting.

Microsoft won’t have an easy ride in the market. Though its devices have been commended for superior performance and with the 8.1 update, the Lumia ecosystem have got an immense boost. But the devices have failed to find users in the market that is ruled by Google and Apple. Mobility segment is important for the future of Microsoft as an institution. With the speedy shift towards mobility by the enterprise segment, Microsoft’s core consumers are at stake. With the one platform ideology of the upcoming Windows 10 OS, the company can make some gains in the mobility market too. We just need to wait until next year to see how it all works out for Microsoft.

October 24, 2014
Satya Nadella Becomes One of the Highest Paid Tech Executives

Indians love the sound of the phrase, ‘pay package’. It rings a mental cash register in their heads when they hear it followed five or six figure numbers. It figuratively goes “cha-chinng”. But listening to what Hyderabad-born Satya Nadella has achieved will make all the traditional Indian fathers sigh that they can’t ask him to marry their daughters.

Satya Nadella has scored a whopping $84 Million pay package. This, of course, will be dispensed to him in a long period of time, but it still is more than what normal Indians can think of and what corrupt politicians might make in a year.

Mr. Nadella is the third in the line of Microsoft CEO’s, after Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. He is though the first one to not score a multi-billion dollar holding in the company. But for running the biggest tech company in the world, the $84 Million package sounds alright.

Satya Nadella is the Third CEO for Microsoft in its 38 year history.

This package is indicative of the total remuneration that will be received by Satya Nadella over the years, but his annual gross isn’t low either. He is expected to take home a luxurious $11.6 million.

There have been mixed news coming out of Microsoft’s stable ever since Mr.Nadella took the helms of the company. He was recently heavily berated for saying that women should not ask for a pay rise but have “faith in the system”. He is also the person who oversaw the biggest job cuts in Microsoft’s history, most of them were ex-Nokia employees.

Now you might be imagining him in a Darth Vader helmet but he helped out the business too. He led the development of one of the largest cloud infrastructures in the world. He will be responsible for the audacious Windows 10 which hopes to do away with all the headaches Windows 8 brought.

For the first non-American CEO in the 38-year history of the world’s biggest tech company, there is still a lot to achieve. We’ll be keeping a vigilant eye on this homeboy and will keep a track on how he plans to keep Microsoft valid in the mobility era.

October 21, 2014