Microsoft makes a lockscreen app for Android

Microsoft is on a roll these days… making apps for Android. Made by the same Microsoft Garage division that brought us this comes the new Next Lock Screen.

As you can tell from the name, it’s a lockscreen app. It presents notifications on the lockscreen similar to the way Android Lollipop does. You can see them at a glance or swipe them away. But more than showing notifications, the lockscreen also shows relevant information from your apps directly on the lockscreen so you don’t have to go hunting inside the app.

For example, it will show you your day’s schedule, pulled from the calendar app. If you have, say, a conference call reminder set, you can initiate the call from the lockscreen with a single tap instead of going into contacts and calling manually.

The app also shows your favorite apps at the bottom, which can be Work, Home, etc. and you can launch your favorite apps directly from the lockscreen.

You can download the app for free from the link below but currently it doesn’t seem to be available in all regions.

Play Store

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Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8, What is New..?

Microsoft just unveiled the latest version of its mobile operating system. Called Window Phone 8, it brings sweeping changes to the OS leaving current users out of the party for the most part. We’ll be detailing the features coming to existing phones in a separate post but for now lets take a look at the features to be a part of the next gen OS.

Do note that this is not a complete list and Microsoft is still holding back some cards for closer to the launch.

1. Shared Core

The biggest change and most likely the one single reason why current phones can’t get the entire OS update. Windows Phone 8 shares its core with Windows 8. What this means is that developers can very easily develop apps for both computers and smartphones simultaneously.

It also allows the OS to scale both in the upper and lower end. Windows Phone now supports dual core processors and more.

2. More screen resolutions support

The OS can now support screens with up to 720p resolution. In fact it supports three different resolutions which should facilitate lower end devices as well.

1280×768 and 1280×720 alongside the current 800×480 resolution panels should allow some manner of flexibility in terms of form factors.

3. Memory Card support

Windows Phone 7 initially supported micro SD cards for expansion but the implementation was subject a lot of restrictions. This resulted in OEMs dropping support and going in for NAND storage instead. This is set to change as devices can now include consumer replaceable micro SD cards for storage expansion. It will be possible to store music, videos and images on external storage. Users can also install apps on external storage.

4. NFC

Near Field Communications will play a major role in Windows Phone 8. From simple use cases like tapping cards to obtain information and tapping magazines to get digital versions to sharing photos. Simply tap another NFC enabled device to share.

5. Internet Explorer 10

Now this one might not look like a major plus point the face of it but believe me, Internet Explorer 10 is plenty fast. Sharing the rendering engine will bring the same technology to the phone.

Included will be advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.

6. Wallet

Microsoft’s digital wallet app keeps track of debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes, and other important info which when paired with a secure SIM from a carrier, can be used to pay for things just by tapping.

7.Nokia Maps

Nokia’s mapping technology will be powering maps in Windows Phone 8. All phones will come with offline maps and turn by turn navigation in built.

This is huge as Navteq’s maps have some of the best POI database out there with coverage across the world. A definite win for customers here.

8. A new start screen

Windows Phone 8 will revamp the start screen. Yes, it will still have tiles but it’ll be possible to resize them to three different sizes.

Small, Medium and Large will ensure that users can fit in as much or as less information as they want on a screen.

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Microsoft Announces Surface Tablets

Microsoft today unveiled Tablet PCs – Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro built to be the ultimate stage for Windows OS.

Surface tablet for Windows 8 RT running on NVidia’s ARM processor, and surface for Windows 8 Pro, running on Intel’s Ivy Bridge (using the i5 core) weighs 676 grams and is 9.3 mm thick..

Using a 10.6-inch ClearType HD display, Microsoft tablets includes USB 2.0, Micro HD, and microSD options for connectivity. It comes with 2×2 MIMO antennas which gives the strongest WiFi capability.Both Tablets has a multitouch keyboard and a trackpad and will come with either 64 gigabytes or 128 GB of storage.

Microsoft Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience. Surface Tablet has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.

The 3 mm Touch Cover of Surface Tablets represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors.

Surface for Windows RT :

•OS: Windows RT

•Light(1): 676 g

•Thin(2): 9.3 mm

•Clear: 10.6” ClearType HD Display

•Energized: 31.5 W-h

•Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

•Productive: Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover

•Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

•Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro :

•OS: Windows 8 Pro

•Light(1): 903 g

•Thin(2): 13.5 mm

•Clear: 10.6” ClearType Full HD Display

•Energized: 42 W-h

•Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

•Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block

•Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

•Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

The retail pricing of bothe Tablets will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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Nokia Lumia 800 software update avilable, brings improved battery life

                   Nokia has started rolling out a new Software update version 1600.2487.8107.12070 for Lumia 800, that brings improvements in battery performance, especially in 3G Talk Time as well as in predictive usage time, standby time, WiFi browsing time and music playback time. We reported the update earlier this month.

This update includes

• Enhanced battery standby and talk-time performance
• Improved bass in audio performance
• The back, start, and search keys are lit according to screen brightness settings
• Fix to prevent rebooting in certain network conditions
• Fix for call hang up issues in certain markets

This update would be available over the course of the next 4 weeks starting 28th March from Belgium, Portugal & some other countries, and gradually rolled out to other countries on 4, 11 and 18 April.

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Nokia Lumia 610 - WiFi hotspot functionality

              The most affordable Windows Phone from Nokia will ship with the Wi-Fi hotspot functionality on-board. The other Windows Phones from Nokia such as the Lumia 710 and 800 do not have this functionality at this time and are expected to arrive as a software update at a later date. The product page for The Lumia 610 lists Internet sharing as one of the features.

You can use the device as a WiFi hotspot for up to devices. I have seen this feature on the HTC Radar but little is known as to why Nokia left it out in the previous devices. Would you like to have this feature on your smartphone ?

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Nokia Lumia 800 gets firmware update - Battery life much improved

            Nokia’s first Windows Phone Handset, the Lumia 800 has received its 3rd major update since launch. The update reportedly fixes the fairly average battery life of the handset. Initial reports estimate upto triple the battery life compared to the previous update.

The update is also said to fix the lack of bass in audio via headsets. Version 1600.2487.8107.12070 as this firmware update is called also fixes the Auto White balance related problems plaguing the handset. We’ve updated our own handset and will get back to you with impressions post the update soon enough. The update should be available shortly around the world.

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Skype for Windows Phone 7 Beta is live

            Skype for Windows Phone 7 is one of the most anticipated app especially after Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype last year. Skype is available for most of other mobile platforms and the availability for WP7 was one of the most important announcements.

Skype has announced the new Skype for Windows Phone Beta app. Skype for Windows Phone Beta* supports the most important Skype features and comes with clean and simple experience that the Metro user interface delivers on your Windows Phone.

With Skype for Windows Phone Beta you can make free audio and Video Calls to your Skype contacts over 3G and 4G or WiFi. The beta version of the app is tested on;

• Nokia Lumia 710
• Nokia Lumia 800
• HTC Titan
• HTC Radar
• Samsung Focus S
• Samsung Focus Flash 

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Install Windows 8 From A USB Stick [Guide]

                     We recently reported that Microsoft has released Windows 8 Developer preview edition and it’s available for every one. People over Technobolt has prepared this guide on how to install Windows 8 From A USB Stick.

First You Will Need:

Windows 8 ISO - Developer Preview [Download]

Windows 7 USB/DVD [Download] – This is the official Microsoft tool for creating bootable DVD or USB device of Windows 8

Here is how to make a Windows 8 Bootable USB Stick:

Step 1: Install Window 7 USB/DVD tool and open it, Browse the Windows 8 ISO which you downloaded earlier and click next.

Step 2: In the second step select USB in creating bootable image.

Step 3: Plug in USB and browse the USB as shown in picture below to create bootable Windows 8 drive, now click begin copying:

Step 4: That’s it Windows 8 files will now be copy to usb in the form of bootable image.

Step 5: Now simply restart your computer and boot the computer via USB drive to begin installation of Windows 8.

We didn’t try this yet, so feed us back and tell us what do you think of Windows 8.

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Windows 8 Developer Preview - Free Download

               Microsoft has released the developer preview (pre-beta) version of the latest OS Windows 8. The developer preview version is now available for download in both 32 bit  and 64 bit flavours. Three versions of the app are available- developer preview in 64 bit with developer tools and the normal 64 bit and 32 bit versions.

Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)

DOWNLOAD (4.8 GB)

Sha 1 hash – 6FE9352FB59F6D0789AF35D1001BD4E4E81E42AF

All of the following come on a disk image file (.iso). See below for installation instructions.

64-bit Windows Developer Preview

Windows SDK for Metro style apps

Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview

Microsoft Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview

28 Metro style apps including the BUILD Conference app

Windows Developer Preview English, 64-bit (x64)

DOWNLOAD (3.6 GB)

Sha 1 hash – 79DBF235FD49F5C1C8F8C04E24BDE6E1D04DA1E9

Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 64-bit PC.

 

Windows Developer Preview English, 32-bit (x86)

DOWNLOAD (2.8 GB)

Sha 1 hash – 4E0698BBABE01ED27582C9FC16AD21C4422913CC

Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 32-bit PC.

System Requirements for Installation:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch

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