Well, we had been dreading for this day to arrive and it’s here. The Verge reports that Microsoft might announce that it is killing off the Nokia brand. The transition is expected to begin soon in which all the branding of Nokia will be replaced by Microsoft Lumia branding.
We had reported this summer about how Microsoft had planned to do away with the Nokia’s brand identity in its mobile business and seemed like the process has started. The devices are moving to Microsoft’s new mobile site. The French division of Nokia will be one of the first one’s to make the transition and adopt the “Microsoft Lumia” for its Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. Microsoft had once claimed that the reason they are quitting the Nokia brand name for their phones is because they felt it comes from a bygone era.
This move is done to absolve all relation to the original Nokia, which will now become a separate entity under the leadership of another Indian, Rajeev Suri. This Nokia will concentrate on Network, Software’s and Maps divisions. It also has a huge patents division which can ensure its profitability at least for the coming future.
Considering the initial presentation of Windows 10, it seems like Lumia phones are only going to get better
Back at the beginning of the mobile era, Nokia was a brand name that everyone trusted. It had a stature of titans in the mobile phone industry. Now it will limit itself into a tiny corner of the tech industry. We still hope that the company can make a turnabout and see it making a return to compete in the market. Till then we’ll keep our eyes on how Microsoft plans to take on the mobile business. It has great products and a great operating system, it just needs to attract customers to them.
After the main forces in the mobility business, Google and Apple unveiled their smartwatches, Microsoft is readying itself to get into the fight. The desktop mega-power has been unsuccessful in making a solid mark in the mobility market. But the company has kept its pursuits in the business strong and with an edition of wearables’ segment, the company can make a claim in the market.
The company plans to unveil the devices in the near future. The devices will have features like health-tracking capabilities, including a heart-rate monitor. What will make it really attractive is its ability to work with competitive devices such as iOS and Android. The device is expected to hold on to its battery juices for up to two days, which might help it find many takers.
Microsoft had previously made efforts into the field when it partnered with Fossil, Suunto, and Swatch on high-end, touch-screen models that cost as much as $800. It was part of its Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative. The project shut down in 2008.
Overall, the device does sound competent, and it tries to bring in the best of all devices in the market into one device. There is no talk of a solid release date but most probably the company will try to make hay while the festive sun shines so expect an announcement soon. Microsoft’s Windows 10 OS seems really promising, and if the wearable works on this operating ecosystem, it might shine out too. Now we have to wait for the device to come out to know for sure if it can live up to the hype.
One of the big requests from gamers has been custom user interface themes for their Xbox One. Now, Xbox Head Phil Spencer has confirmed that Xbox One owners will eventually be able to take in-game screenshots and customize the look of their console’s dashboard.
“I was told themes and background pics are something that we are working on and screenshots, you know people beat me up on screenshots,” Spencer said on a recent Inner Circle podcast episode (check out the full episode below). “The team has done a great job with the monthly updates, some of the things are just a prioritization and are a time in development.
“But I know that people like to customize the look of their dash,” he added. “And I think both themes, backgrounds and screenshots are things I know people want so we are going to deliver on them. But we can’t give a when yet.”
The talk about themes really kicked into high-gear when a concept video from YouTube user Prime Ghost Gaming posted the a promo piece for the Xbox One (Below).
Microsoft’s newest console has already received a number of monthly updates that have added a host of features that weren’t present at the console’s launch, including a new media player, better SmartGlass functionality, and external hard drive support.
These days Adobe is expanding its Creative Cloud offering with the new cloud based Photoshop software, which is on its beta testing stage right now. But, the company is not limiting itself to cloud and desktop software. In a recent video post, Adobe demonstrated some of the future possibilities for its creative applications Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere, when used on various professional devices.
Through Adobe Creative Cloud, users are able to access the applications across smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops, making the creative process seamless and intuitive. While some of the techniques shown in the video are very far from being released to the public, it’s still a good showcase of the exciting possibilities that could result from this partnership.
Skype has announced that it is withdrawing the Skype call service to Indian landlines and mobiles in India, starting from 10th November. The Microsoft-owned company has not given a concrete reason for the same.
The discontinuity of the service is said to be the result of law and regulation in the country. As per current laws, VoIP calls originating from within India cannot be terminated on mobiles or landlines in the country, however the companies have been routing calls internationally to avoid this regulation until now.
While Skype users in India will no longer be able call Indian landlines and mobiles, they will still be able to send SMS messages to mobiles within India.
In a support page, Skype said, “If you’ve bought a subscription to India specifically to call within the country, you can cancel your subscription to avoid being billed in the future. Keep in mind that before 10 November 2014, you can still use your subscription and Skype Credit to call within India, so be sure to use up any remaining minutes or credit you have before then.”
Microsoft seems to be gearing up to get in the celebration mood. The company has launched three new Lumia phones – the 730, 830 and 930, in India. The double-SIM Lumia 730 has been priced at Rs. 15,299, while the Lumia 830 and 930 are estimated to have a tag of Rs. 28,799 and Rs. 38,649, respectively.
The Nokia Lumia 730, also being called the company’s first selfie smartphone, features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 pixel Super Sensitive Touch HD OLED display. Microsoft says the 5 megapixel wide-edge front camera on the Lumia 730 double SIM will help buyers click and share better quality selfies. This phone has been updated remembering the Skype application as they let users switch from voice to Skype feature calls with one single tap. It comes powered by a 1.2 Ghz Snapdragon quad-center processor. The Lumia 730 has a 6.7 megapixel back camera, 2220mAh battery, 8GB of interior stockpiling and 15 GB of free OneDrive stockpiling. It can back a microSD card of up to 128GB.
The Lumia 830 is the most slender and lightest Lumia yet. Microsoft calls the metal-encircled Nokia Lumia 830 “the reasonable lead” of the Nokia Lumia range. It has a 10 megapixel back camera alongside a 1 megapixel front camera and is fuelled by a 1.2GHz Snapdragon quad-core processor. The affordable smartphone has a 5-inch screen with 1280×720 pixels resolution protected with Corning Gorilla 3.0 glass.
The battery in the Lumia 830 is 2200 mAh and storage option includes 16GB of internal memory and an extra 15GB space accessible on Microsoft’s OneDrive. It can also back microSD cards of up to 128gb. The Lumia 830 will accompany the Lumia Denim update that presents gimmicks, for example, Live Folders, Apps Corner and an refurbished Glance screen.
The Lumia 930 has a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel display. Powered by a 2.2 Ghz quad-center Snapdragon chipset with 2GB of RAM and 32GB inside capacity, the phone is extremely stylish and stands out from the other phones in the entire range. The Lumia 930 smartphone also offers a 20MP primary camera with Pureview tech and a 1.2MP secondary camera with ZEISS optics and updated Rich Recording. The Nokia Lumia 930 is stimulated with a Li-Ion 2420mAh battery.
Microsoft launched its new Window OS operating system at a small event yesterday in California. What came as surprise was the name that the company decided to give it. It is not Windows One, not Windows 9, but Windows 10, which combines the reborn Start Menu with Windows 8’s colorful live tiles and adjusts its behavior depending on how you’re using your device. Microsoft wants us to think of the latest version as a fundamental change to how Windows works, and the company skipped a version number to show it.
Return of the Start Menu
Originally codenamed Windows Threshold, the new operating system essentially drops the tiled “Metro” user interface that Microsoft had attempted to implement across its entire device line, from desktop PCs to Surface tablets and Windows Phone devices. Replacing it is a combination of the so-called live tiles, squeezed comfortably in the new Start Menu. It is a more retro Windows experience that will, according to the company, suite both touch and keyboard-and-mouse users.
Windows 10 is such a substantial leap, according to Microsoft, that the company decided it would be best to skip Windows 9, the widely expected name for the next version.
“Windows 10 will run on the broadest amount of devices. A tailored experience for each device,” Myerson said at a press event here Tuesday. “There will be one way to write a universal application, one store, one way for apps to be discovered purchased and updated across all of these devices.” “We believe that, together with the feedback you provide us, we can build a product that all of our customers will love,” Myerson added. “It will be our most open collaborative OS projects ever.”
The New Continuum Mode
Microsoft is also working on a tweaked UI that isn’t in Windows 10, yet. For two-in-on devices, a “Continuum” mode will adjust the UI depending on whether or not the mouse and keyboard is present. When a keyboard is disconnected, the Windows 8-style Start Menu appears and a back button is available so that users can easily back out to a prior command. Menus grow larger. But when a mouse and keyboard is connected, the desktop mode reappears, Windows apps return to desktop windows, and the Start page disappears.
That means your software will know when you’re using the OneDrive cloud service or Microsoft Word on a Surface device or a Lenovo laptop and adjust accordingly in a way that will unlock that productivity that Microsoft feels has been eluding its family of devices with Windows 8.
Windows 10 will work across devices.
The goal with Windows 10, the company stressed, is to find UI approaches that use the same mouse and keyboard experience evolving from Windows 7 so the touch users get something natural. During the event, Microsoft also offered insight into what went wrong with Windows 8. The goal of that OS was based on the effect that two-in-one’s can have for the productivity of Windows to help people get things done. Two-in-one devices can shape-shift from laptop to tablet, and Microsoft hopes that Windows can dominate that dual form factor in a way that their competitor Apple cannot, with its separate iPad and laptop lines.
Windows Mobile 10
For the Windows smartphones, the Windows Mobile OS will share the UI and the name. The company also said that the it will not have a desktop. However, it did not elaborate on what the next version Microsoft’s mobile OS may look like.
How Much will it Cost?
The company didn’t talk about the business model for the new OS either. The earlier reports suggested that the new Windows 10 may come for free as Apple does with its OS X upgrades or for nominal fee of $20. However, nothing is official yet.
When it Will be Available?
Microsoft expects to release the OS sometime in 2015, after the company’s Build Developer Conference in April. Microsoft also announced its Windows Insider Program, a developer’s program to allow enterprise people to evaluate it early, and will be available starting Thursday. Members of the program will have access to the ‘tech preview build.’
The next big Windows is finally here. Microsoft did what it does best; arbitrarily name its products. First there were Windows 3.1x, then there was Windows 95 followed by the 98 and then the ME. After these came the modern Windows, namely the XP, Vista, 7 and the 8. Now Microsoft has brought out Windows 10, and it seems it wants to challenge Apple with this one.
This release will bring back some of the traditional characteristics of Windows that were lost in the Windows 8 transition. Microsoft has said that users from any previous Windows OS can easily switch to Windows 10. The bit that will excite a lot of users is the glorious revival of the Start Menu, which was a characteristic feature of Windows until the 8. It will also be one operating system percolating through desktops to tablets to smartphones.
Windows 10 will work across devices.
The new operating system was unveiled at San Francisco for Business customers. Microsoft will be releasing a technical preview version for selected users. It will be unveiling 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.
Microsoft is all set to launch its new upgrade of the Windows operating system, the Windows 9. The company has already sent out invites for tomorrow’s event. They promise to reveal “What’s next for Windows and the enterprise.” It is certain that it will be the Windows 9, and most likely it will be the release of a early developer version known as the ‘Technical Preview’.
Earlier rumors have pointed out that the new update may come at a price. However, it was also said that it will be cheap, not more than $20. A report from Indonesian online publication Detik said earlier this week that President of Microsoft Indonesia Andreas Diantoro has confirmed this particular Windows 9 feature.
According to Diantoro, the Windows 9 upgrade will be available free of charge to all existing Windows 8 users once it’s released. It is said that users will be able to easily install the Windows 9 update after downloading it from Microsoft website, which is how Apple’s OS X updates have been rolled out on Macs for a few years now. To make it more easy, some of the recent Windows 9 leaks did say that Microsoft already has a tool in place that will allow users to easily get software updates.
It’s not clear whether other Windows users who are on older versions of the OS will get any other special offers. Even the actual price of Windows 9 has not yet been revealed. It is also said that Windows 7 users may have to pay a bit more than the others.
The company is expected to roll out the “Windows Technical Preview” at the event or soon after, so that developers and enterprise customers can test the number of changes the company has made. The recent rumors and leaks have suggested the addition of a new Start Menu, a virtual desktop feature, and a Notification Center.
Microsoft is also expected to fine-tune its desktop user interface to improve and flatten the traditional icons along with some changes in the taskbar for Cortana integration and the virtual desktop. Other changes are expected to come on a regular basis. The Windows Technical Preview will be available until the operating system is complete and ready for release next year.
Microsoft is all set to launch the “Windows Technical Preview” for Windows on September 30th at San Francisco. Windows 8 has been a huge failure despite the fact that the company has been updating it regularly since the past two years when it was officially released. The new upgrade is said to be focused on traditional desktop PC users. With the new update, the company aims to fix and improve the Windows 8 mistakes with the return of the Start menu, flexible app windowing, virtual desktops, Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant, and a whole lot more.
Let us look back at rumors and leaks to show what is expected from the Windows 9:
The Name
Most of the leaks and rumours have come with the codename “Project Threshold,” it is certain that this is the next version of Windows. The only mystery here is, what will the new update be called once it is made official for public use. For now, Windows 9 seems like an obvious option.
Return of the Start Menu
Well, it has been pointed out in numerous leaks and rumors that with the arrival of the new update, the company will include the traditional Start menu which has been missing in the Windows 8. The Metro-style Start Screen isn’t exactly gone. Instead, it will just be condensed down into the Start Menu with live tiles. However, the Start Menu will be optionally expandable into a full-screen view for those who are comfortable with a full-screen version now.
Change in Apps
As a noticeable change, rumors illustrate that the charm bar will be removed, and the metro-style apps will run on Windows 9 instead of a full screen-only app mode. Windows Phone’s voice assistant ‘Cortana’ is expected to be among these newly Window-able apps. Windows 9 is also expected to bring virtual desktops into the desktop ecosystem.
Windows Phone
Windows 9 version for the smartphones will apparently strip out the Windows RT desktop and include the Notification Center in it, same as the Windows Phone 8.1. It will turn Windows RT (Window 8 version for smartphones) into a Metro-only tablet-first operating system that straddles the line between desktops and phones by offering a more traditional tablet experience. Also, it is said that the new mobile version of Windows 9 would be limited to running only Marketplace apps much like Windows Phone and Windows RT we have today.
How Much Will it Cost?
Various rumors have pointed out the new update may come at a price. However, it also said that it will be cheap, not more than $20. Meanwhile, Microsoft is said to offer unknown incentive to get people off old Windows XP, which has been Microsoft’s most successful windows update in recent years. It is also Windows 7 users may have to pay a bit more than the others.
When Will it Arrive?
Microsoft has already sent out invites for an event on September 30th. They promise to reveal “what’s next for Windows and enterprise.” It is certain that it will be the Windows 9, and most likely the release of a early developer version known as the “Technical Preview”, in Microsoft’s terms. When the real version hits the market is still unknown. However, all the rumors have pointed out to a spring 2015 arrival.
The day has arrived. Microsoft, had previously announced that it would be “restructuring” its business to make it better and nimble. To do this, the company decided to cut 18,000 jobs. This was the biggest job cut in the company’s history. So as planned, the company is slowly cutting its fat down and has now handed pink slips to 2100 employees.
In July this year, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella had sent out a memo to its employees stating that they would be cutting jobs to make “fewer layers of management, both top down and sideways, to accelerate the flow of information and decision-making.” Most of these jobs came from the newly acquired Nokia’s stable.
ZDNet reports that 747 of the employees were situated in Washington, 160 were in California. Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Research arm has also been shut down effective today. There will be one more major job loss coming up. The company had recently got bad press for offering Nokia 630 to workers at the Nokia plant in China for quitting their job.
Microsoft has to take on a whole new world if it wants to be a name that can be a part of the future. It is still the biggest corporation with the Windows operating system holding a monopoly over the computers around the world. But the world is fast moving towards mobile and to succeed in this market, Microsoft has to strive hard.
The job cuts do make business sense, but they will hurt the folks who were dependent on the job for their bread. For now, we can just wait and watch if the biggest job cut in Microsoft’s history actually amounts to anything for the company.
Microsoft yesterday released a press statement saying that it has acquired Mojang in a massive $2.5 Billion deal. The Stockholm-based game developer is known majorly for its virtual world creation game, Minecraft. This will be a new addition in the list of several big money acquisitions that we have seen this year.
There were many interested parties who wanted to get the gaming company, but Microsoft moved fast to score a victory. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion. Microsoft expects to close the acquisition in late 2014 and to be break-even in FY15 on a GAAP basis.
The Game lets users make complex structures using lego-like blocks.
Minecraft was introduced in 2009 and since then has sold more than 50 million copies for PCs, smartphones and videogame consoles. The game has a huge fan following. YouTube is full of tutorials on Minecraft. There is also an upcoming movie based on the game and Lego also sells toys based on the game. This almost seems like a safe bet from Microsoft and hence they sound so optimistic of their acquisition.
“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”
The weird bit of this sale is that the creator of the game Markus Persson and other founders will not be coming to Microsoft. They have decided to undertake new adventures. On his personal website, Markus said, “Thank you for turning ‘Minecraft’ into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can’t be responsible for something this big.”
The game has a massive fan following who share tutorials all over the internet
Impressing the fans now would be a big task for Microsoft. Some of them have openly stated that a big corporation will ruin the game. Microsoft though said that it will do everything in its power to sustain the loyalties of the gamers.
The CEO of Mojang, Carl Manneh has this to say “The ‘Minecraft’ players have taken the game and turned it into something that surpassed all of our expectations. The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of ‘Minecraft.’ As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game’s success far into the future. ”
Microsoft has said that more details about the deal will be published after the finalization of the acquisition. Microsoft is no stranger to gaming and is a market leader in gaming consoles. The innovation it brings to this game remains to be seen. Let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t make a Vista out of this one.
As expected, Microsoft is all set to announce the new major version of the Windows OS. In line with the developing rumors, Microsoft has rolled out the invites of the Windows 9 event which is going to be held on September 30th in San Francisco. The event will focus on enterprise and power users of Windows, with Joe Belfiore and Terry Myerson leading a discussion about the future of Windows.
The company is expected to roll out the “Windows Technical Preview” at the event or soon after, so that developers and enterprise customers can test the number of changes the company has made. The recent rumors and leaks had suggested the addition of a new Start menu, a virtual desktops feature, and a Notification Center.
Microsoft is also expected to fine-tune its desktop user interface to improve and flatten the traditional icons along with some changes in the taskbar for Contara integration and virtual desktop. Other changes are expected to come on a regular basis. The Windows Technical Preview will be available until the operating system is complete and ready for release next year.
In addition to two new smartphone, Lumia 830 and Lumia 730, Microsoft has launch two new tools for the Windows ecosystem at IFA Berlin 2014.
Focusing on the first, Microsoft announced a new screen-sharing tool for Lumia devices which will be compatible with any television or other display with an HDMI port. The compact box is 1080p compatible and is powered by a micro-USB. It lets you mirror the content from your Windows phone. It will ship with an NFC “coaster” that lets you pair your handset without walking over to the box itself. The device will work with Lumia devices that support screen projection, along with WiFi Miracast products.
Also, company has announced a new Qi wireless charger which glows for missed calls and texts, or a low battery below 30 percent. The wireless charger is equipped with bluetooth connectivity and fancy LED lights. You can pair it to your phone when it’s off the charger, and it’ll glow if you get any missed calls or texts.
The colour of lights are matched with the green, orange or white color options, and will light in different patterns depending on the notification. Obviously, it also charges your phone or tablet wirelessly, provided it’s a Qi-enabled Lumia model with Windows Phone 8.1.1 and Bluetooth 4.0
Both the tools are expected to ship later this month and mirroring tool is priced at $79, while the Qi wireless charger is priced at $59.
Microsoft, today at IFA Berlin 2014, has launched a new affordable smartphone, the Lumia 830. The company has added a PureView camera feature in the new affordable handset which has typically been associated with Nokia’s premium phones.
The device looks very similar to the Lumia 930, it comes with an aluminum frame and a polycarbonate back. While it uses the PureView name, rumour has it that the rear camera’s 10MP resolution isn’t quite as good as the 930 or 1020.
Further, the company has added a lot of extra software enhancements to improve the experience. The Lumia 830 is essentially a thinner, less bulky, and lighter version of the Lumia 930 on the outside. However, inside there are a ton of differences between the two.
The Lumia 830 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. The 830 is also a 5-inch handset, but Microsoft has opted for a 1280×720 resolution instead of the beautiful 1080p display on the Lumia 930.
As for the hardware specifications, the Lumia 830 comes with with a 5-inch 720p display, Gorilla Glass 3, slightly curved (2.25D) glass, a 2,200mAh battery and a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400. The device will ship with the Lumia Denim update, which is Microsoft Device’s specially-packaged version of Windows Phone 8.1.1 (Update 1).
That new ‘affordable flagship’ comes with a new version of Lumia Camera, which comes with faster shot-to-shot and pocket-to-picture times and several other enhancements to the imaging experience. Lumia Denim also includes 4K-quality video recording and general improvements to low light images.
Lumia Denim also includes 4K-quality video recording and general improvements to low light images. Microsoft’s Lumia 830 will be available globally this month. It is priced at 330 euros, which when converted is approximately Rs. 27,000.
