Tag: microsoft

Huawei Replaces Microsoft as the Third Largest Smartphone Vendor

Microsoft may be riding high on the Windows 10 rollout but it still feels the sting of the loss caused by the purchase of Nokia a few years back. Microsoft’s acquisition of the Finnish company was speculated to be a sure hit, only it didn’t. The Lumia devices never performed as expected and neither did Nokia’s Android devices. And just last week, Microsoft wrote off Nokia $7.5 billions on Nokia, considering the company brought the once-smartphone major for $9.5 billions. Thus, what was Microsoft’s loss became Huawei’s gain as the Chinese company became the third largest mobile phone vendor, displacing Microsoft without breaking a sweat.

According to Strategy Analytics, Huawei sold 30.6 million mobile phones and gained a record 7 percent market share worldwide. The report notes that Huawei is rising in all regions of the world and it gaining stronger foothold in China, thanks to the 4G handsets such as Mate7.

Microsoft sold 27.8 million units this year, with a 50% drop in sales compared to last year. Microsoft’s plan for cross platform OS never gained major traction, nor did the fact that Apple and Samsung scooped up most of the market share due to iOS and low-budget Android smartphones respectively, helped.

According to the report, Samsung is still the largest mobile phone vendor, with Apple coming in at second position. Here is the twist though: Samsung’s share dropped from last year while the opposite happened for Apple. Apple’s quarterly report shows its growth in China while Samsung’s downfall may have resulted from the increasing popularity of Xiaomi and OnePlus in the past year.

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/news/strategy-analytics-press-releases/strategy-analytics-press-release/2015/07/30/huawei-becomes-world’s-3rd-largest-mobile-phone-vendor-in-q2-2015#.VbtcN26qqkp”]Strategy Analytics[/tw-button]

Via: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/31/huawei-microsoft-smartphone-sales/”]Engadget[/tw-button]

July 31, 2015
Mozilla Unhappy About Extra Effort to Change Default Browser in Windows 10

If you’re one of the 14 million users around the world who has installed Windows 10, you know what we’re talking about. Windows 10 has made Microsoft Edge as the default browser, and while the reviews have been positive so far, it is far from perfect. So, when users try to make Mozilla or Google Chrome the default browser, they are redirected to the Settings, from where they can then change the default browser. While the procedure is easy, the effort has doubled and Mozilla is not happy at all.

In an open letter penned to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Mozilla’s CEO Chris Beard says that it “now takes more than twice the number of mouse clicks, scrolling through content and some technical sophistication for people to reassert the choices they had previously made in earlier versions of Windows. It’s confusing, hard to navigate and easy to get lost.”

To change your default apps, you have to go to Settings>System>Default Apps.

The default setting not only applies to the web browser but also to video files, music, photos and pretty much everything. In a blog post dated May, 2015, Microsoft explained that the move was made to reduce unwanted noise created by prompts. Not to forget, Microsoft has spent years and resources to develop Edge and has worked very hard to remove the ink stain known as Internet Explorer.

Following the open letter, Microsoft has released a statement saying: “We designed Windows 10 to provide a simple upgrade experience for users and a cohesive experience following the upgrade. During the upgrade, consumers have the choice to set defaults, including for web browsing. Following the upgrade, they can easily choose the default browser of their choice. As with all aspects of the product, we have designed Windows 10 as a service; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so. “

July 31, 2015
Windows 10 Mobile Expected to Launch in November

With the arrival of the Windows 10 update for PCs and tablets, the release of the software on smartphones too, was highly anticipated. A Windows executive announced today, that the Windows 10 mobile may finally arrive in November.

“Obviously, there’s some duplication in engineering, sales and marketing, but it doesn’t change our strategy around mobility. Windows 10 Mobile is coming and it’s coming strong. Our core platform is Windows 10. It’s mobile in nature, not just the device, but the experience people will have. So there’s a big emphasis on the… mobile phone side of it. But there’s more thunder on that coming later in the year,” Doherty.

Reports suggest, that if the Windows 10 makes its debut in November, one can also expect the launch of the rumoured Lumia 950 (codename Talkman) and the Lumia 950 XL (codename: Cityman) around the same time. Currently, the time-frame suggests that these two devices may be launched in New York in late September or October.

Image Source: iafrica.com

Microsoft is having a separate launch for the Windows 10 mobile so as not to be outshined by other product launches.

July 30, 2015
Microsoft’s Upcoming Windows 10 Handset May Feature Iris Scanning Tech

Microsoft is busy gearing up for the launch of Windows 10. However, latest reports by Windows Central suggest that the company is working towards a total make-over of its range of smartphones with Windows 10.

The rumoured devices, codenamed as Cityman and Talkman, will possibly be launched at IFA Berlin in September this year. As far as the specs are concerned, the Talkman is touted to have a 5.2-inch display with 2560x1440p resolution. Under the hood, one can expect a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor coupled with 3GB RAM, 20-megapixel rear snapper, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 32GB storage and a 3,000mAh battery.

The big brother, Cityman, will come with a 5.7-inch display, and almost a similar set of specs. Apart from the larger screen, some other differentiating specs may be an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and a 3,300mAh battery.

Although, there is no official word from Microsoft yet, Windows Central suggests that the devices will come with support for Qi wireless charging and an infrared scanner that will unlock the device in seconds. Iris scanner is a not-so-common feature and may turn the tides towards Microsoft’s favour, considering the fact that the Indian market is dominated widely by Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi and many other competitive companies. Microsoft is also reportedly bringing its Surface Pen technology to both of the expected Lumia handsets.

Both the devices are assumed to make their debut at IFA in September, followed by a release in October or November. Both will be offered in a choice of black and white polycarbonate, but there’s no word on their pricing yet.

July 25, 2015
Sales Numbers of iOS Devices Make Us Question the Requirement of PCs

We have more proof that history repeats itself – after Android phone sales surpassed those of Windows computers in 2012, an analyst has estimated that the same thing will happen again, this time, it will be iOS devices instead of Android. As ZDNet reports it, an analyst has tweeted a trailing 12-month chart of iOS and PC sales using data from various companies.

https://twitter.com/BenedictEvans/status/623668376280395776

If you look at the graph closely, you will see that while PC sales increased post June 2009, right when Microsoft introduced Windows 7 and experienced a sharp decline post June 2012, when Microsoft introduced Windows 8, a well-intentioned but misfired attempt for cross platform OS. At the same time, Apple introduced iPhone 4S, which set a precedent for future iPhone designs and was a notable improvement over iPhone 3GS. Not to forget, iOS 5 achieved what Microsoft tried to – cross platform OS for the iPad, iPhone and iPod.

Moreover, over the years, developers and manufacturers have made phones and tablets suitable for tasks that required PCs. For example, you can now create and edit a PowerPoint Presentation on your phone, a task which required a PC in earlier times. Apps like Instagram and Pixlr allow users to edit their photos at a basic level, WordPress’ app allows you to manage your blog on the go and more such apps have made it possible to ditch the PC for basic tasks. Still, the PC won’t be extinct right away, as there is still some use for it.

Microsoft still has a chance to beat Apple at its cross-platform game, when it rolls out Windows 10 next week. It seems Microsoft has learned from its mistakes; Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 and can hopefully regain its position as the leader of the PC market.

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.zdnet.com/article/hello-post-pc-world-ios-devices-sales-now-match-those-of-windows-computers/”]ZDNet[/tw-button]

July 24, 2015
Here’s What We Know About Windows 10 So Far

Windows is by far one of the most widely used OS in the world. It’s also known that Windows XP has been the most popular version of Windows, to the length that it took two years for Windows 8.1 to surpass XP. With Windows 10, Microsoft has taken a multi-platform approach, meaning that your Xbox, phones and other Microsoft products will run on the same OS.

Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to make Windows 10 available worldwide. From free upgrade to new features, the company has been building up the hype for its new OS day by day. Still, existing Windows users are still confused about certain things like, whether they are eligible for free upgrade or when can they get Windows 10.

Here’s what we know about Windows 10 so far. We hope that we are able clear your doubts.

Am I eligible for free upgrade?

The most frequent question riding on Windows users’ minds, to which Microsoft has changed its answer from time to time. First, it was reported that anyone who uses a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1, genuine or not, will get a free upgrade. The company changed its statement saying that the users using pirated version will not get free upgrade.

If you use a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.1, you will get a free upgrade. You can simply click on the Windows logo on the right side of the taskbar and reserve your free upgrade.

If you use a pirated version of Windows 7 or 8.1, you will not get a free copy of Windows 10. There is a way to get a free copy though. If you decide to install a preview version of Windows 10 as part of the ‘Windows Insider’ program, you will get a free upgrade as long as you keep receiving the pre-release updates. If you install the preview version, upgrade to the final version on July 29th and then opt-out of pre-release updates, you will not receive the free copy.

When will I receive my free copy of Windows 10?

If you are a regular Windows 7 or 8.1 user, and have registered for your free copy of Windows 10, you will not receive it on July 29. On that day, Microsoft will roll out the new OS to the Windows Insiders. Since the majority of the world has registered for the free upgrade, it is obvious that not all of them will receive it on the same day. That is why Microsoft will start notifying reserved systems in parts, which means you will get your free copy of Windows 10 after you have been notified post July 29.

How do I register for my free Windows 10 upgrade?

You will see a Windows logo on the right side of your taskbar. Click on the logo will open up a window. Click ‘Reserve your free upgrade’ and enter your Microsoft Account ID. Select the menu and choose ‘View Confirmation’. If this window appears, it means you will be notified about your free upgrade:

How much space is needed for Windows 10 upgrade?

According to Microsoft, the Windows 10 upgrade requires only 3GB of space. How much time it takes to download 3GB will depend on your Internet connection.

Will I lose my personal data after I upgrade to Windows 10?

Microsoft says that your files and applications will be safe. However, we recommend you to create a backup of your personal files. As far as softwares are concerned, applications like anti-virus will be uninstalled during the update while keeping its settings. If you have a current subscription, Windows will reinstall using the preserved settings.

Now that your basic doubts have been cleared, we hope that you and us will enjoy Windows 10 when it comes on 29 July.

July 4, 2015
Uber Acquires Microsoft’s Mapping Data to Boost its Service

Any successful transportation company in the world relies heavily on maps. Uber’s app is basically a navigation app but with additional features like booking a cab and GPS. Recognizing how crucial maps are for its operations, Uber has acquired the mapping assets from Microsoft, which include data center, cameras, intellectual property, and roughly 100 engineers.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will no longer collect mapping data as it efforts to focus on the company’s core business strategy. Microsoft usually sources mapping data from Nokia and other partners for maps but it also used to collect its own 3D, aerial and street view maps.

Microsoft said in a recent statement

We will no longer collect mapping imagery ourselves, and instead will continue to partner with premium content and imagery providers for underlying data while concentrating our resources on the core user experience. With this decision, we will transfer many of our imagery acquisition operations to Uber.

Uber has been trying to strengthen its own mapping system. The company recently hired former Google Map executive Brian McClendon and with the latest acquisition from Microsoft, Uber aims to make its service better. Uber also wants to reduce its dependency on Google Maps, the go-to map service.

Uber said in a statement

Mapping is at the heart of what makes Uber great. So we will continue to work with partners, as well as invest in our own technology, to build the best possible experience for riders and drivers.

Microsoft will still continue to offer its maps services through Bing Maps using licensed data.

June 30, 2015
Microsoft Office Apps Now Officially Available for Android Smartphones

From today, Android users can create and edit documents on-the-go using the Microsoft Office on their smartphones. Microsoft has released Office for Android smartphones and it is available for free on the Play store. Last year, Microsoft released a version of its popular productive suite for iOS platform and in January, it released a version of Android tablets.

Like the tablet version, Ofiice for Android will only support KitKat and above.The app’s interface is similar to its iOS counterpart, due to the cross-platform approach adopted by Microsoft. Users can make simple edits to documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Unlike Office 365, which requires subscription, Office for Android hasn’t been designed to handle full workload. Microsoft has also introduced full Dropbox and One Drive support for the Android version.

In April this year, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that Microsoft Office for iOS and Android was downloaded approximately more than 100 million times. For the past few months, Microsoft has been ensuring that its products are available across all platforms. Microsoft is trying to retain the MS Office customers by offering them a free version of its popular software on Android, iOS and Windows phone platforms. The move is seen as a counter against the various free productivity suites available on iOS and Android.

June 25, 2015
Microsoft Again Clarifies About Who Gets Windows 10 for Free

A few days ago, Microsoft declared that anyone who has signed up and installed the preview version of Windows 10 would get a free upgrade. It seemed an easy way out for those who were using the pirated or non-genuine versions of Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1. In a recent blog post, Microsoft has clarified that the method is not as simple as it seems.

According to Microsoft’s Gabe Aul, those who have installed the Windows 10 preview will get a free copy, as long as they keep receiving the pre-release updates. “Since we’re continuing the Windows Insider Program you’ll be able to continue receiving builds and those builds will continue to be activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program,” Gabe wrote in the blog post.

If a user installs the preview version, upgrades to the final version on July 29th and then opts-out of pre-release updates, he/she will not receive the free copy. According to Microsoft, the preview build will expire without the updates. The user then either has to buy a new license to keep the build or roll back to the previous OS version. “This is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems,” Gabe wrote.

Genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 users will still receive a Windows 10 free upgrade on July 29th.

June 23, 2015
Top 16 Gaming Trailers Microsoft Showed Off at E3 2015

Before Sony stepped on stage, Microsoft unveiled many new plans and ideas for its gaming universe. Along with new Xbox Controller and the incredible Holographic version of Minecraft, they also showed previews of 16 stunning games that will release soon.

Check out the trailers here:

Halo 5

Recore

Fallout 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzV1GlDDlv8

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2

Forza Motorsport 6

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

Dark Souls III

Gigantic

Tacoma

Ashen

Beyond Eyes

Cuphead

Ion

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Sea of Thieves

Fable Legends

Gears of War 4

Along with Sony’s list of releases, it seems to be a wonderful year ahead for gamers!

June 17, 2015
‘Gears of War: Ultimate Edition’, ‘Killer Instinct’ are Coming to PC

The ongoing E3 gaming show is not just about high-profile games launching for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Game developers are making more and more titles cross-platform, announcing their arrival on older consoles such as Play Station 3, Xbox 360, and also PC. Microsoft made a surprise announcement in its press conference stating that Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, along with Killer Instinct will now run on PC. Both the titles came into existence in the same E3 show in 2013.

Little tidbits of information were made public at the event. The Coalition’s Rod Fergusson mentioned that the PC version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will have unlimited refresh rates along with 4K displays support, contrasting console’s 1080p limit. The two will come with support for a mouse, keyboard, and wireless controller, along with Xbox Live and game DVR support. Regardless of the platform, all players will be able to play the game online. There is no information of when these titles will show up.

Microsoft’s mind change from being Xbox One exclusive to making them accessible to every gaming enthusiast will boost demand of its games. This in turn will help Microsoft in the long run, manifesting its decision into multiplying profits.

June 17, 2015
Microsoft Shows Off an Incredible Holographic Version of Minecraft

Microsoft kicked off the annual E3 Expo yesterday with a bang. The first announcement was a brand new Xbox Controller for elite gamers. In addition to that, the company announced that hundreds of older Xbox 360 games will now be compatible with the newer Xbox One console. But this was just a warm-up. Microsoft then introduced the Minecraft HoloLens demo.

The HoloLens, which was showcased earlier this year, is a one of a kind wearable that brings science fiction into reality. It 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. At the E3 conference, Michael Saxs Persson of Microsoft Studios came on stage with the HoloLens in hand to demonstrate an all-new version of Minecraft. The video also clarified the growing rumours about the company’s Minecraft acquisition worth $2.5 billion. With this, Microsoft has shown its hard work to twist the conventional approach of playing games.

The Minecraft HoloLens demo shows a huge holographic photo running on a plane surface in 3D mode. Users can play Minecraft right on your wall and can also transfer it to another surface. You can control the world through voice input and hand gestures. Also, you can zoom in and zoom out, using your voice. The demo also revealed that the game is aware of your eye movements.

A big plus while playing with HoloLens is that another user can play along with a surface, without the HoloLens on.

Watch the Minecraft HoloLens demo below:

June 16, 2015
New Xbox Elite Controller Lets You Hot Swap Parts for a Better Fit

At the ongoing E3 2015 at Los Angeles, Microsoft has announced a ton of goodies for its fans. The company announced hundreds of older Xbox 360 games that will also be compatible with the newer Xbox One console. As a cherry on the cake, Microsoft revealed a new Xbox controller, and it is definitely a beast in its own terms.

Described as the ‘Elite Controller for Elite gamers’, the new Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller has been added with many new features. The analog sticks and directional pad can be swapped out with different grips — concave, convex, textured, or whichever accessory creators come up with.

There are spots on the bottom for paddles, mostly for hardcore racing gamers, and every button can be remapped and reset using a companion smartphone app that will be released for Xbox One and Windows 10. You can even control the sensitivity level of the triggers on the back and analog sticks. The new hair trigger locks for the analog triggers are designed for shooters. It looks like a polished variant of the original controller, with a layer of customisability added to it.

The Elite Wireless Controller comes out in October and is priced at $150 (Rs 9,623 approx.)

Take a first look of the controller below:

June 16, 2015
5 Tech Patents that Thankfully Never Worked Out

In the world of technology, there is no space for redundancy. Technology is getting updated time after time since tech fanatics are always carving out the next great gadget. The major number of brains swell up for innovating and creating such devices. Gadgets are continuously upgraded and tweaked, but some do not turn out as planned.

We will see some of the weirdest patents filed by the biggest tech powerhouses today:

Nokia’s Vibrating Tattoos

In 2011, Nokia signed a patent for the first vibrating tattoo. Yes, a vibrating tattoo that alerts users when their phone is ringing. According to the official patent, the apparatus would be able to detect a magnetic field and transfer a ‘percievable stimulus’ to alert its users about an incoming call, text ot dead battery.

But for some people, getting inked for the sake of technology was too much. People said the device plunges into a ‘creepy territory’. In an era of iPhones and Android devices, what would be the cost of unplugging a permanent tattoo?

Nokia never discussed anything about the tattoo including the potential health risks.

Google Background Advertising

Google, in 2012, signed a patent that would enable the search giant to base advertisements on background noise. According to the patents, Google would install sensors on handsets that would detect temperature, humidity, sound, light or air distribution near a device and ads would be served accordingly.

For example, if you are at the gym and make a call, Google will be able to catch the gym machinery in the background and then serve up adverts for home gym equipment. If it is 30 degrees or more outside, Google will throw in adverts for sun cream, air conditioning units or ice creams.

But it raised the question of privacy. People were not pleased with the idea of Google tracking down their location wherever they went. Although from the use and productivity aspect, this patent was quite useless.

Amazon Airbag

Amazon came up with this idea in 2012 for a protective system for mobile phones. The patent describes a system that utilizes a gadget’s built-in gyroscope, camera, accelerometers and other onboard sensors to decide if the device has entered an airborne state. If it has, the technology will release airbags to decrease potential damage – or possibly even alter the trajectory of its fall by firing jets of air.

But this idea gathered much criticism like ‘What’s next, smartphones with built-in parachutes? Or maybe handsets with wings and propellers?’ and ‘From a logistical point of view, the handset would have to be rather big to hide an airbag.’

There has been no track of progress regarding this airbag. Let’s wait and find out!

Microsoft Remote Control Charging Patent

Imagine a situation where you have to pay more for skipping an ad while watching a movie or watching a sporting event and you have to pay extra for accessing the replay. Luckily, this patent did not fly off as imagined by Microsoft when they filed this patent back in 2004. This wasn’t very welcomed by the masses because these charges would be on top of the base price as a way to boost up profits.

Apple Air Jet Keyboard Patent

It isn’t too hard to imagine a flat keyboard without keys- we don’t really look at our fingers when we type, ourselves. But, it’s still a little hard to imagine actually using one. In 2011, Apple patented a unique keyboard design that uses micro-perforations to shoot air at the user’s fingers upon touch, giving tactile feedback to whoever is. One of the biggest objections about virtual keyboards is the lack of tactile feedback, making it much laborious to touch-type at any speed, with much accuracy.

June 11, 2015
Microsoft Reveals the Much-Anticipated Windows 10 Pricing
It’s official. After much speculation and anticipation, the prices of the new and improved Windows 10 has been revealed, as of yesterday. While we all knew that the Windows upgrade was going to be free, the pricing for people who did not have the OS or the licensed version of it, was unclear.

[pullquote_left] The upgrade from a Windows 10 Home pack to a Pro Pack will just cost $99 [/pullquote_left]

However, Microsoft, through Neowin, finally announced the prices and the date of release. The cost of Windows 10 Home will be $109 while Windows Pro will cost $199. Incidentally, there was been no hike in price since the Windows 8.1 version came out, which is a pleasant surprise. The upgrade from a Windows 10 Home pack to a Pro Pack will just cost $99. The system will be ready for upgrade on the 29th of July.

While there was a lot of speculation over the weekend with Newegg reporting a price leak, it has been confirmed that the prices put up by the website, initially, were incorrect.

Now that we know the price and date, It is important to know a few more things about the Windows 10 upgrade:
- The upgrade is available for free, for a year, after which all Windows 7 and 8.1 users, will have to purchase the upgrade. So do avail of this offer, soon.
- You can either download the OS on your Windows 7 and 8.1 versions or buy the new PC.
- All updates and fixes will come at no additional cost once you’ve downloaded it.
- They have a ‘reservation link option’ which means you can preload the software and it will install, as soon as it’s ready.
- All non-genuine Windows users will not get a free upgrade and people using Windows OEM (Other Equipment Manufacturers) will be offered attractive discounts, as per the company’s statement.
With the revelation of prices, the Redmond-based beast hopes to secure its fortunes in what can be the largest sales of PCs and upgrades that will be witnessed. As per Neowin, the company expects users to avail of the free upgrade that is available for one year and hence is targeting 1 billion installs of Windows 10, in the next 2-3 years. While the task seems daunting at the moment, it’s definitely not an impossible feat.
June 2, 2015