Category: Microsoft

Xiaomi’s Mi Pad 2 Launched and It Runs Windows 10

Xiaomi has announced the Mi Pad 2 at its product event along with the Redmi Note 3. The special factor of the Mi Pad 2, is the fact that it comes with a Windows 10 OS variant. Apart from that the device is powered by a 14nm Intel Atom X5-Z8500 64-bit processor, which is compatible with the Windows OS.

The Mi Pad 2 has an aluminum body that is 6.95mm in dimension and weighs 322g. The device also comes with 2GB RAM and supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac and the USB Type-C connector. It has a 7.9 inch display with 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution. On the camera front it comes with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The tablet is packed with a 6,190mAh battery. Here are the specs :

Specifications	Mi Pad 2
Display	7.9 inches
Resolution	2048×1536
Chipset	14nm Intel Atom X5-Z8500
CPU	Quad-core 2.24 GHz
GPU	intel HD Graphics
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB/64GB expandable up to 128GB
Rear Camera	8MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	6,190mAh battery
Operating System	MIUI 7 OS/ Optional Windows 10 (64 GB model)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v.4.
USB	Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
Price	Rs. 10,346/ Rs, 13,463

The Windows 10 OS variant will cost the same as the regular device, however it will only be available for the 64GB version. The Mi Pad 2 will come in two colour variants – dark gray and champagne gold. There are also two storage variants – 16GB priced at $156 which is approximately Rs. 10,346 and 64GB priced at $203 which is approximately Rs, 13,463.

Source

November 25, 2015

Microsoft To launch the Lumia 950 and 950 XL in India On the 30th Of November

Microsoft had recently sent out invites for their product launch event in London and Manchester. Well, this time, the company has also sent out their invites to Windows Insiders in India. The product launch event is scheduled for the 30th of November 2015 and is expected to reveal the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

This event will be held in New Delhi and Mumbai at 6:00 pm on the said date. The Insiders who attend the event will be able to purchase the Windows 10 supportive smartphones; and just like at the London event, here too will the sales packages arrive with a Microsoft Display Dock. Watch this space for more updates about this.

November 23, 2015

Lumia 950 Goes On Sale At The Online Microsoft Store

Microsoft has been very busy prior to its December 2nd product launch in UK. Just having announced pre-orders for the Lumia 950 and 950 XL; they have now announced that the Lumia 950 will go on sale through the Microsoft Store.

The two smartphones are Microsoft’s flagship Windows 10 editions. The Lumia 950 is currently selling at $19.97 on contract, which is approximately Rs.1,320. However, keep in mind that this is the AT&T variant, as the Lumia 950 will be exclusive to this carrier for the time-being. The Lumia 950 will come in to colour variants – Black and White. If you want to buy the Lumia 950 sans contract, then it will be available at $589.99, that is, approximately Rs. 39,003.

Here are the specs for you:

Features	Lumia 950
Display	5.2 inch WQHD (1440×2560) OLED
Body	Matte White or black polycarbonate body
Processor	Snapdragon 808, 64-bit Hexa core
RAM	3GB of RAM
Storage	32GB of internal storage expandable up to 200GB via microSD card slot
Rear Camera	20MP PureView
Front Camera	5MP Wide-angle
Battery	Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
Other	Qi wireless charging with flip cover, Iris scanner (infrared) for Windows Hello,GPS, NFC,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
USB	Type-C
Price	Rs.39,003 (approximately)

November 21, 2015

Microsoft Sends Out Invites For Its 2nd December Product Launch Event

Microsoft is holding its launch event on the 2nd of December 2015, where it will showcase its new flagship phones with Windows 10. The two phone are – the Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL. However, this event will be exclusive to Windows Insiders, who have already been invited for the scheduled event.

Apart from gaining exclusive access, they will also have the ability to purchase the two smartphones at the event. For those who do decide to purchase one of the two devices will also receive a Microsoft Display Dock, which will help them turn an external screen into a PC-like experience.

The event will be held Manchester and London at 6:00pm (local time). Both phones are expected to feature liquid cooling, USC Type-C, Windows Continuum, and 1440p OLED displays.Pre-orders for the Lumia 950 XL have already begun.

November 20, 2015
Microsoft Puts Android Support Project On Hold Due To Security Concerns

Microsoft had announced back in April that they were planning on supporting a quick reuse of their software on iOS and Android devices. This was so that they could create universal apps across devices. However, from the beginning this intention seemed shaky, and we finally now know that Microsoft has put Android support on hold.

Even though there hasn’t been any official statement about the discontinuity of Project Astoria (name of the Android support project), reports do firmly suggest that this collaboration is definitely on hold. The reason for this could be security and optimization problems.

“We’re committed to offering developers many options to bring their apps to the Windows platform, including bridges available now for Web and iOS, and soon Win32. The Astoria Bridge is not ready yet, but other tools offer great options to developers.” says Microsoft.

Therefore, what we can insinuate is that there still might be some hope help for Android in this sphere. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on iOS migration tools, which have in the past, proven to be more compatible with the Windows 10.

November 18, 2015

Microsoft Begins Pre-Orders For the Lumia 950 XL

We have some good news for all the Lumia users, Microsoft has finally started taking pre-orders for the Lumia 950 XL that will come with the new Windows 10 software installed. This version will not be available at all carriers, so if you are in the US you can purchase an unlocked variant of the smartphone. Just to give you a recap, here are the specifications of the phone:

Feature	Lumia 950 XL
Display	5.7 inches
Resolution	1440 x 2560 pixels
Processor	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810
RAM	3 GB RAM
Internal Storage	32 GB, microSD, up to 200 GB
Rear Camera	20MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	Li-Ion 3340 mAh battery
Connections	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, GPS, NFC
USB	v3.1, Type-C reversible connector
Price	$649 (approx. Rs.42,844)

Reports also suggest that you will be eligible to receive a free Microsoft Display Dock through the Lumia Offers app, on purchase of the Lumia 950 XL. The phone is expected to ship by the 25th of November 2015.

Microsoft has priced this smartphone at $650 which rounds up to about Rs.42,844 and is available in two colour variants – black and white. Keep watching this space for more updates.

November 17, 2015

Is Microsoft Late in Launching Cortana in India?

Cortana, the voice-based virtual assistant, was launched in India for Windows 10 users yesterday, with the Indian accent and voice support. It is part of the November update which the company announced on Thursday.

Thanks to leaks, some Indian users managed to get to lay their hands on this new addition by Microsoft weeks ago. But now it’s finally here officially and how. Microsoft says it took time in launching it in the country because it was working on an Indian voice and accent.

Cortana for India is complete with India-specific knowledge as well. Not only will it be able to understand the Indian accent but you can also talk to the voice assistant about golgappas and cricket, says Microsoft. Indian festivals and customs are two other things Cortana now recognises.

When asked about Diwali, Cortana says, “in the courtyard of AI imagination, I would light up a thousand diyas.”

The virtual assistant was first introduced in the country in September as part of Microsoft’s Insider Preview program with the promise of an update to be rolled out later. Microsoft claimed it was still working on improving voice support.

Users can now use Cortana to book tickets using Book My Show app. However, what is perhaps the most interesting feature that Microsoft cannot stop talking about is clicking selfies using simply voice commands. The virtual assistant with its added features is also capable of looking into your emails and reminding you of appointments and events, or reschedule meetings if need be.

But after its global launch months ago, is Microsoft a little too late in bringing it in India? Whether or not the delay is a disadvantage, Cortana definitely has an edge over its Apple counterpart, Siri, with its knowledge of Indian customs and accent. Let us know which voice assistant would you rather prefer in the comments below.

November 14, 2015
Tim Cook Comments On the Surface Book, Calls It “Sort Of Deluded”

The tech war between Apple and everything else continues, as Tim Cook goes on record about his feelings towards the Microsoft Surface Book. At a talk in Trinity college Cook said that the Surface Book was:

“a product that tries too hard to do too much. It’s trying to be a tablet and a notebook and it really succeeds at being neither. It’s sort of deluded.”

Tim Cook later said that he was actually going for “diluted” rather than “deluded”. This comment comes after the release of Apple’s 12.9 inch iPad Pro and is not even the first time that Cook has dissed the 13.5 inch Surface Book. However, he has not only dissed the Surface Book, but has also praised the iPad Pro by implying that it is one of the most efficient products available. He also implied that if one uses the iPad Pro, you would no longer require a PC and added that he himself travels only with an iPad Pro and an iPhone. Tim Cook also announced the launch of Apple Pay in Ireland stating that future generations will no longer know what hard cash is.

This is all very confident and progressive and everything, but really, isn’t it high time Apple just moved on from making petty comments about their rivals? Apple tried to bridge the gap between tablet and laptop with the iPad Pro (which also includes a stylus and keyboard), so the comment on Microsoft’s Surface Pro feels highly ironical. Do you think a response suggests weak spots? Let us know in the comments below.

November 12, 2015
Siri Beats Google Now and Cortana in Accuracy Tests
Ever wondered who will take the cake in a face-off between Siri, Cortana and Google Now? You are not the only one if you have because a company called Experts-Exchange in the US thinks just like you. The three virtual voice activated personal assistants were put to a test where they were asked four questions each and given three tasks to complete. The participants had to keep a record of the follow-up question each assistant required and closely watch for accuracy.

The following questions were made part of the test:
- Who won the Super Bowl in 1978?
- How many calories in a muffin?
- Where can I buy tires?
- When is “Kung Fu Panda 3” coming out?
The three tasks that the virtual assistants were supposed to perform included:
- Ask your phone to set an appointment
- Turn the Wi-Fi setting on
- Send a text message.
In terms of the stats, when the first question was asked about the Super Bowl in 1978, Siri answered correctly 95.3% of the times, satisfying 86.1% of the participants. Google Now answered it correctly 88% of the times, and 80% of the times it responded with a web search. As far as Cortana goes, the wrong answer was given a mere 3.3% of the times.

When asked to set an appointment, Siri once again took the lead by being correct 92.3% of the times, satisfying 89.2% of the users. This was followed by Google Now being correct at 81.3% and satisfying 80% of the users. Cortana came in last with 73.3% and 70% respectively.

The total number of satisfied users for the three virtual assistants were 81% for Siri, followed by Google Now at 68% and Cortana at 57%. Siri also had the lowest number of incorrect answers, and found itself in a tie with Google Now for having least answers that were responded with a web search.

While the test results should be a matter of concern for Google and Microsoft, it should be noted that there was a certain pattern that both, virtual assistants as well as participants, followed. People living in the Western states seemed more satisfied with Siri than those living in the Eastern parts of the country. Conversely, Google Now and Cortana saw themselves faring better with people from Eastern states.

Also, follow-up questions with Google Now and Cortana were twice as much for women as men. On the other hand, Siri asked more follow-up questions with men than with women. This suggests a pattern and structure in the manner the questions were put forth by both men and women.

Have you ever conducted a similar face off? Which is your favourite virtual voice activated personal assistant? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.phonearena.com/news/Testing-shows-Siri-beating-out-Google-Now-and-Cortana-for-accuracy-user-satisfaction-and-more_id75601″]PhoneArena[/tw-button]
November 10, 2015
Microsoft Set to Launch the Surface Pro 4 and Lumia Phones in India

Microsoft held a Future Unleashed event in Mumbai today. CEO Satya Nadella delivered a keynote speech wherein he announced that the Surface Pro 4 will launch in India in January 2016. Microsoft has so far refused to sell the Surface range of tablets in India, believing that the market was not ready for high-end laptops and tablets.

Nadella also announced that the new Windows 10-powered Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL smartphones would launch in India next month. He also showcased the much talked about Continuum Mode that lets you hook up the smartphone to a keyboard and display, which in essence lets you use your smartphone like a laptop.

“We are reinventing computing with devices like the HoloLens to Microsoft Band and everything in between.”

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 starts at $899 (Rs. 60,000), the Pro 4 with i5 is priced at $999 (Rs. 65,000) and the Pro 4 with i7 is a whopping $1599 (Rs. 1 lakh). The Indian pricing may cost a little more due to taxes and there is no word yet on which versions Microsoft plans to bring to India.

Nadella’s trip to India come just a month after PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the Silicon Valley. Microsoft had earlier said that the company was working on making affordable Internet access available to 5 lakh villages in the country. Mark Zuckerberg also held a Townhall at IIT Delhi last week where he spoke about Facebook’s interest in providing basic internet to rural parts of the country.

Let us know your views on Microsofts newest products in the comments below.

November 5, 2015
Microsoft To Discontinue Windows 7 and 8 By October 2016

On a mission to secure a goal of having Windows 10 power 1 billion devices, Microsoft’s “Window’s life cycle fact sheet” shows us that October 31st 2016 could be the last day for sales of PCs pre-installed with Windows 7 professional or Windows 8.1. This means, that post the given date, all new computers will come with Windows 10 pre-installed. However, businesses with license agreements which entitle them to choose whichever version they prefer can continue working on Windows 7 or 8.1.

This deadline is probably not the best news for users who have become comfortable with the Windows 7 and have been procrastinating the update to Windows 10. Microsoft will however benefit from this deadline, because they will finally be able to tie together PCs and other devices with apps that can run on all the devices.

Microsoft usually sets their end-of-sales date for each version of Windows after two years of the release of a new version. However, since Windows 8 didn’t receive the best of responses, Windows 7 continued to be available. This privilege may not be available anymore because of the positive response that Windows 10 has mustered up.

But, for users who really want to continue with the Windows 7, technical support has been extended up to January 14th, 2020 for all users and up till January 10th 2023 for Windows 8 users. As of now, Windows 10 is available as an “optional update” on all PCs, however, early next year, reports suggest that it could become a “recommended update”.

Windows 10 is slowly finding acceptance, so Microsoft is probably just trying to make things easier for themselves and their users. All we can do is watch and wait for the response.

November 4, 2015
Benchmark Tests Prove Microsoft Surface Book Not Twice as Fast as Macbook Pro

At the launch of its first laptop, Surface Book, Microsoft had claimed it to be a machine twice the speed of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, when benchmark tests were carried out by PCWorld and Geekbench 3, these claims were proved incorrect. In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Apple device was slightly faster than the Surface Book.

Having said that, it should also be noted that when it came to the graphic card, some models of the Surface Book are ahead of its Apple counterpart. Additionally, processing tasks that are shared with the GPU also were performed better by Microsoft laptops as compared to Macbook Pro. A reason for this could be the dedicated GPU of Surface Book as opposed to the integrated one of the 13-inch MacBook. But it is the costlier model of the Surface Book, costing around $1700 (about Rs. 1,10,000), which has a dedicated GPU. The one which costs as much as the 13-inch MacBook Pro at $1500 (about Rs. 98,000) is the base Model Surface Book which too has an integrated GPU.

Despite tall claims by Microsoft of its device’s doubled speed, the difference showed up only in a pure graphics test. When running Tomb Raider, the Surface Book achieved 74fps against the 23.6fps of the MacBook. But, once again, this can also be achieved by a GeForce graphics card. It would be interesting to see how the Surface Book fares against the MacBook Pro 15.

October 26, 2015
Lumia 950, 950XL May Launch in India on 5th November
Microsoft is all set to ship over a 1000 Lumia dummy devices in the country. The company will be holding a technology conference, ‘Future Unleashed’, for the same in Mumbai on the 5th of November, and it will be attended by CEO, Satya Nadella.The company is shipping 500 Lumia 950 and 500 Lumia 950 XL dummies to India, according to Zauba, a website that records imports to the country. These devices will be available at retail stores for potential buyers to take a look at. The current price tags they come with are $587 (about Rs. 38,000) USD for the Lumia 950, and $665 (about Rs. 43,000) for the Lumia 950 XL. We had expected the two devices to come out at IFA Berlin this year. Even though this was not to be so, around late September, leaked images with specs of the two Lumia phones appeared on the internet.

According to the slides, here are the specs for the Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL. These specs also matched the earlier leaks that had been around for a while.

Lumia 950:
- Display: 5.2 inches, QuadHD
- Processor: Qualcomm 6-core Snapdragon 808
- Camera: 20MP PureView rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and dual flash; 5MP HD front camera
- Storage: 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage
- Battery: 3,000 mAh, with rapid charging via USB-C
Lumia 950 XL:
- Display: 5.7 inches, QuadHD
- Processor: Qualcomm 8-core Snapdragon 810
- Camera: 20MP PureViw rear camera with OIS and triple LED flash; 5 MP front camera
- Storage: 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage
- Battery: 3,300 mAh, with rapid charging via USB-C
These devices would perhaps be available just in time for Diwali for customers. For more information about the conference and other details, click here.

Source: Zauba via [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-prepares-for-wide-distribution-of-the-lumia-950-range-in-india-imports-1000-display-dummies/”]WM Power User[/tw-button]
October 19, 2015
A Quick Look At All The Latest Offerings By Microsoft

In our previous post we spoke at length about Microsoft’s new Surface Book; the new notebook deserved the limelight. At the event yesterday, the company also unveiled other devices as well.

Here’s a quick look at what all we got to see:

Surface Pro 4

The widely expected follow up to the Surface Pro 3. The Windows 10-powered Surface Pro 4 comes with a 12.3-inch display, that is just slightly larger than its predecessor, and Intel’s latest 6th-generation Core M and i-series processors.

The Surface Pro 4 also features an improved backlit keyboard, a more responsive keypad, and a trackpad that has a five point multi-touch functionality and a fingerprint reader. Like the Surface Book, the Surface Pro can also use Microsoft’s new Surface Pen. The stylus offers 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and also comes with an eraser.

Quite clearly the Surface Pen is a direct challenge to the Apple Pencil, and Microsoft did not hesitate to take a few jabs at its competition. “It’s kind of funny, there’s a Pencil out there without an eraser,” said Microsoft’s Panos Panay just before unveiling the upgraded Surface Pen 4 stylus.

The Surface Pro 4 comes out on October 26th and will start at a price of $899.

Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

Now a look at non-Surface products. Microsoft unveiled the two new Windows 10 smartphones, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

As earlier leaks have suggested, the Lumia 950 sports a 5.2-inch OLED display with 564 ppi and Qualcomm 6-core Snapdragon 808, a 20 MP primary camera with optical image stabilization. The Lumia 950 XL, on the other hand, comes with a 5.7-inch display with 518 ppi,powered by an 8-core processor and will also feature a 20 MP primary camera like the 950.

Both phones come with 32 GB of internal storage, a microSD card, and USB Type-C connector. The devices will ship in November with a price tag of $549 and $649, with the XL version costing $100 more.

Continuum Mode

The Continuum Mode is for your Lumia devices, which allows you to plug your handsets into a special adapter that connects to your desktop monitor so that you can use your phone like a regular PC. It’s tiny, easy to carry around and looks like any old USB hub.

It’s basically like looking at a bigger version of your phone’s display. The mode creates a full Windows 10-style desktop that you can navigate using the keyboard and mouse or even your phone. Universal apps, such as Mail and Word are scaled up version of the mobile apps. This is Microsoft way of telling us what the future of computing looks like, and it’s pretty neat.

The Continuum Mode feature is also available for the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.

Microsoft Band

Here comes the Microsoft’s answer to smartwatches. The company unveiled the second version of the Microsoft Band. The first version that came out even before the Apple Watch was a bit confusing to say the least. It wasn’t a smartwatch and it wasn’t a fitness tracker, but rather a $199 device with a tiny display that showed you notifications and apps.

The second version hopes to fix the flaws. The new version has a more responsive touch and sports a tougher Gorilla Glass. The device also boasts of features such as an 11th senor (barometer) that tracks elevation changes in real-time for the fitness crazies out there. Microsoft Band is priced at $249 and will be available from the 30th of October.

October 7, 2015
Microsoft Will Begin Rolling Out Windows 10 to Smartphones in December

After Microsoft’s mega event yesterday, we found out that both its Lumia 950 and 950 XL will be powered by the new Windows 10 software. The current Lumia users though, had nothing to gain from this announcement, until now. Recent reports suggest that the existing Lumia owners will also be receiving the Windows 10 update by December.

This bit of information was seen on Facebook when Microsoft responded to a comment on its official Lumia page. Here is what the conversation looked like :

Furthermore, they also added that they would “make an upgrade available for majority of Lumia smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1,” however, this announcement is only good for Lumia phones that have an internal memory of 8GB or above. Fair enough. What do you think?

For more information on Windows 10, click here.

October 7, 2015