Pictures of Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Prototype leak out

 

After launching Windows 10, Microsoft is now getting ready to unveil its Windows 10 Mobile later this year and along with it possibly a couple of flagship Lumia smartphones. Recently, several images of a prototype of a new Microsoft Lumia smartphone have leaked online.

The two upcoming handsets that would run Windows 10 Mobile OS are being allegedly referred to as Lumia Talkman and Lumia Cityman internally. Rumors up till now indicated that they would be called Lumia 940 and Lumia 940 XL. However, other recent rumors suggest that Microsoft would be skipping the 940 series and branding the two handsets as Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. Well, whatever the name, the handsets are the same.

The images leaked now show the prototype enclosed inside a case probably in order to hide its real shape. There is some debate whether it is the Lumia 950 or the larger Lumia 950 XL. The basic design of both is the same except for the screen size. However since the handset is hidden inside the case, it is difficult to say which one it is.

The rounded corners of the prototype are apparent. It sports a 2560 x 1440 pixels QHD Touchscreen and dual SIM functionality. The Lumia 950 (XL) is powered by Snapdragon 810 SoC, has a 3GB RAM and also a USB Type-C port. It has a 20MP camera with triple LED flash. Settings show that the camera has the capability to shoot videos of up to 90fps in 1080p and up to 120fps in 720p.

The prototype model number is RM-1116, build number is 10.0.10240 and it is running Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview.

Microsoft is expected to officially unveil the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL at its event to be held in October probably in New York. It is also expected to launch Surface Pro 4 and Microsoft Band 2 at the time.

Meanwhile, have a look at the leaked images:

via

Pictures of Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Prototype leak out

Microsoft Reported to Launch Lumia 940, Lumia 940 XL and Lumia 840 Before Year End

Microsoft is reported to launch three new high end smartphones before the end of the year. They are Lumia 940, Lumia 940 XL and Lumia 840. All the three smartphones are expected to come with on-screen touch buttons.

Lumia 940 will have a 5.2-inch display screen size with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 and 565 ppi pixel density. The device will be powered up by a 64-bit hexa core Snapdragon 808 CPU which clocked at 1.8GHz, Adreno 418 GPU, a 3GB RAM as well as 32GB internal storage which can be expanded further.  Other features such as 20MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera as well as a 3000 mAh battery size.  The device will be pre-installed with Windows 10 Mobile out of the box.

Lumia 940 XL will have a bigger 5.7-inch QHD display screen size with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 resolutions and 515 ppi pixel densities.  The device will be powered up by an octa-core Snapdragon 810 CPU which clocked at 2GHz, Andreno 430 GPU, 3GB RAM as well as 32GB internal storage which can be expanded further. Other features such as a 20MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera and a 3300mAh battery size. The device will also come pre-installed with Windows 10 Mobile. Both Lumia 940 and Lumia 940 XL body will be made out of polycarbonate plastic and is measured at 7-8mm thin.

Lumia 840, on the other hand, will be coming with a 5-inch display screen with a dual SIM capability. Other features such as a 13MP or 14MP PureView rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The design of the device will be similar to Lumia 830. It is expected that the device will fall under the mid-range category.

As Windows 10 Mobile OS is rumored to be released in November, we could expect the three smartphones to be available somewhere before the end of the year, just nice for the holiday shopping season.

Microsoft Reported to Launch Lumia 940, Lumia 940 XL and Lumia 840 Before Year End

Nokia Lumia Codenamed McLaren Cancelled by Microsoft Rumored to have Experimental 3D Touch Navigation System

It is reported from various sources that Microsoft was working on a project which potentially could be the successor of Lumia 1020. The project is internally known as Nokia Lumia McLaren. However, the end result suggested that Microsoft has cancelled the project last year, but this does not prevent the handset images or some information about the device to be leaked out.

In the leaked video, it shows that Nokia Lumia McLaren was supposed to come with an experimental 3D Touch navigation system. The technology allows users to navigate through the menu without actually touching the display screen of the device. However, in the end the project was cancelled due to the rumor of the hardware incompatibilities as well as the insecurities regarding the developer adoption.

Another rumor mentions that McLaren could be built on mostly metal whereby plastics can only be seen at the phone’s bottom which was believed to house the antenna. On top of that, what makes the device easily recognizable was the protruding camera bump design at the back of the phone. No wonder, it was mentioned as the successor of Lumia 1020 as it was speculated to come with a 50MP camera sensor. In case most of you did not know, Lumia 1020 supports 41MP camera sensor.

Other speculations such as it could come with quad-core Snapdragon SoC as well as 2GB RAM and a 32GB internal storage space. However, all the above information is just based on rumors and leaks. There is no official information about the device.

Nokia Lumia Codenamed McLaren Cancelled by Microsoft Rumored to have Experimental 3D Touch Navigation System

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Featuring Intel Latest Skylake Chipset is Launching October This Year

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is reported to launch in October this year. As the previous Surface Pro 3 sold about 300,000 units per months when it was initially launched, Microsoft is estimating that Surface Pro 4 could reach up to 500,000 to 600,000 units sold per month. The device is reported to maintain the thin tablet appearance and the large display screen with resolution of 2160 x 1440 with 216ppi which is the same resolution as found in the Surface Pro 3.

As for the hardware part, Surface Pro 4 could be running on either Intel’s Core M ‘Broadwell’ CPU or Intel’s Skylake processor, two of Intel’s latest processors. However, there is no confirmation on which of the processors which will be integrated to the tablet. Either way, Microsoft is aiming to maintain the performance, if not make it faster, while improving on the energy efficiency. The device will have screen size between 13 to 14 inch display sizes. The better news is that Surface Pro 4 will be priced lower than Surface Pro 3.  As for the software side, the device is expected to come pre-installed with Windows 10 OS.

Based on this specification itself, it seems like Surface Pro 4 will have minor improvements than Surface Pro 3.  More information of the device specification will be released nearer to the launch date. Stay tuned!

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Featuring Intel Latest Skylake Chipset is Launching October This Year

Microsoft Rumored to Skip Lumia 940 and Go Ahead to Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

Microsoft is reported to go straight from manufacturing Lumia 930 to Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL and skipping Lumia 940. The move of purchasing Lumia line from Nokia is considered a good move to expand the Windows ecosystem eventhough it is declared as a loss.

Lumia 950 is rumored to come with a 5.2-inch display screen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 and 424ppi. On top of that, it will be running on Snapdragon 808 chipset and Adreno 418 GPU processor with a 3GB RAM and a 32GB internal storage which can be expanded. The device will come with two cameras with the front camera having a 5MP while the rear camera having a 20MP PureView camera. On top of that the camera will feature a triple LED flash which enable users to take good quality pictures under low-light environment.

Lumia 950 XLis rumored to come with a 5.7-inch display screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 and 515ppi. The handset will be running on a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 chipset and Adreno 430 GPU with a 3GB RAM and a 32GB internal storage which can be expanded. As for the camera, the device will have the same camera as Lumia 950 which is a 20MP PureView rear camera and a 5MP front camera.

Both smartphones are expected to be released in the fall and they will come pre-installed with a Windows 10 Mobile OS.

Microsoft Rumored to Skip Lumia 940 and Go Ahead to Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL

Microsoft Foldable Universal Keyboard Suitable for All Tablets

Microsoft has released an accessory which is suitable for all the tablets in the market. The accessory is known as Universal Foldable Keyboard. As the name implies, this keyboard from Microsoft is foldable so that it will not be so bulky when carried around as well as it will not take a lot of storage space and it is universal as it is designed to work with iPad, iPhone, Android gear and Windows tablet.

On top of that, two devices can be connected to the keyboard at the same time and it can be easily switched back and forth in a single tap. Even though it has full size keys, it is very light and compact.  When the keyboard was folded, it automatically switched off the Bluetooth and thus this will disconnect all the devices which it was paired to beforehand. When you want to connect them again, you just need to unfold the keyboard and this is done automatically. The keyboard is using Bluetooth 4.0 standard.

For the physical appearance, the keyboard is measured at 5mm thickness and it has battery size that can last for three months in a single charge. Other feature of the keyboard includes spillproof as well as water resistance therefore it is suitable while on the road. The keyboard is priced at $99.95 and will be available at your favorite electronic shop as soon as possible.

Microsoft Foldable Universal Keyboard Suitable for All Tablets

Lumia 940 and 940 XL to rumored to be priced higher than iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6

New rumors claim that Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 10 powered flagships Lumia 940 and 940 XL would come with a price tag higher than even Apple’s iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S6. The Dutch website MyWindows.nl has reported that they have received information about these two Lumia devices from a “trusted source”.

Rumors say that both the Lumia 940 and 940 XL will be made from polycarbonate but that doesn’t mean they will come cheap. They will cost more than the two premium smartphones – the metal framed iPhone 6 which costs $699 onward and the Samsung Galaxy S6 costing $599 onward.

The newly rumored specifications for both the Lumia models match the previously leaked specs. The only new feature is the presence of an iris scanner in both Lumia 940 and 940 XL.

Let’s go over the rumored specs for both the handsets:

Lumia 940

• Display: 5.2 inch full HD, 1920 × 1080 pixels resolution, 424ppi pixel density


• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, hexa-core CPU, Adreno 418 GPU


• Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, microSD Card slot


• Camera: 20MP PureView primary camera, 5MP front-facing camera, flash LED Triple


• Operating System: Windows 10 pre-installed

Lumia 940 XL

• Display: 5.7 inch Quad HD, 2560 × 1440 pixels resolution, 515ppi pixel density


• Processor: 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, octa-core CPU, Adreno 430 GPU


• Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, microSD Card slot


• Camera: 20MP PureView primary camera, 5MP front- facing camera, flash LED Triple


• Operating System: Windows 10 pre-installed

Although the two handsets Lumia 940 and 940 XL have not yet been announced by Microsoft, it is rumored that they will be launched in November this year. It is also speculated that both will support Microsoft’s Continuum feature and the company will release an adapter costing €100 in the beginning of 2016 to support this feature.

Lumia 940 and 940 XL to rumored to be priced higher than iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6

Microsoft Upcoming Lumia Rumored To Have Front Facing LED Flash

Microsoft is rumored to be working on the next flagship smartphone for Lumia line. With the Microsoft Windows 10 launch which is most possibly soon, it is expected that the next Lumia smartphone will be launched not long after that with Windows 10 Mobile OS pre-installed. According to the rumors, it is expected that the handset will be launching in this year’s fall.

The next Lumia flagship handset will be known as Lumia 940. It is rumored to have a 5.2-inch full HD display screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution and will be running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 processor with a 3GB RAM. As for the internal storage, it is expected to be 32GB with a microSD slot. The rear camera will be a 20MP while the front camera will be a 5MP. A recent rumor surfaced that the front camera of the handset will be integrated with a front facing LED flash units. If it is true, then, the users will be able to take a better quality of selfie. On the other hand, Apple is also rumored to integrate a front-facing LED flash to its upcoming iPhone6S handset too. However, nothing can be confirmed as of now.

It is also not confirmed whether Lumia 940 will be a higher-end handset or it is going to be a mid-end device. However, it is more likely to be a mid-end handset. The handset is expected to be released in November this year.

Microsoft Upcoming Lumia Rumored To Have Front Facing LED Flash

The Next Lumia Flagship Smartphone Rumored to be running on Windows 10

It has been awhile since we heard about Lumia flagship smartphone. The latest Lumia smartphone was released before Nokia acquisition by Microsoft has been finalized. It was Lumia Icon / 930. After the company was acquitted by Microsoft, we only heard about entry level or midrange level type of devices. Well, all of that is about to change.

According to some reliable sources, a new flagship for Lumia line will be announced soon after Microsoft launch Windows 10 OS. It is expected that the new smartphone will be running on the new OS and it is going to be named Lumia 940. However, nothing can be confirmed as of now.

Lumia 940 is rumored to be made of metal body and the handset is expected to be slim.  On top of that, it is expected to be running on Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon 808 chipset which is clocked at 1.82GHz as well as a 32GB internal storage and a 3GB RAM. As for the camera, the rear camera will be as of 20MP which also comes with optical image stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics and the front camera will be as of 5MP.

It is rumored that Lumia 940 will be officially launched in the third quarter of 2015.

The Next Lumia Flagship Smartphone Rumored to be running on Windows 10

Rumored Nokia Lumia 1030 Front Panel Image Leaked

Nokia Lumia 1020 which was released a few years ago was one of the best Windows phone available in the market.  Since Nokia and its Lumia line up has been bought over by Microsoft, it has not release a really high-end device. Well, it is going to change.

According to the rumors, there will be two high-end smartphones released soon that we can look forward to, Lumia 940 and 940XL. Recently, the picture of the front panel of Lumia 1030 surfaced, hinted yet another possible high end smartphone going to be released soon. There is not much information that can be derived from the picture but looking at it closely, there is ‘Microsoft’ wording found on the left beside the earpiece and camera holes. This could hint that Microsoft took part in the development of Lumia 1030 which is obvious since Nokia has been bought over by the company. On the other hand, there is a Verizon logo visible in the picture, suggesting that Verizon might be the carrier.

Lumia 1030 is rumored to have 5-inch display size with 1080 x 1920 resolutions.  It will run a quad-core CPU processor and pre-installed with Windows 10. The release date is expected to be in the third quarter of 2015.

Rumored Nokia Lumia 1030 Front Panel Image Leaked

Microsoft Three New Portable Dual Battery Packs Able to Charge Two Mobile Devices at the Same Time

Microsoft unveiled three new accessories under the name of Portable Dual. The portable battery packs have feature to be able to charge two mobile devices at the same time. Portable Dual comes with three sizes of battery life, a 5200mAh which will be priced at $35, a 9000mAh which will be priced at $45 and a 12000mAh which will be priced at $55.

To use it, is very simple, you just need to connect it via a USB cable from an outlet or USB port to charge it. When you want to charge your mobile device(s), it is advisable that you unplug the power bank from the power source and use a microUSB cable which is included in the box, and connect to your mobile device(s) and it will start charging the mobile device(s) automatically.

Each of the portable battery pack will come with a power button and four LEDs as an indication of the charging capacity. When all the four LEDs are lighted up, it means that the battery is still full while when none of the four LEDs or only one of them lighted up, it means that it runs out of battery and you will need to charge the charger.

The new portable battery packs from Microsoft will be shipped within a few weeks and it is only be available in selected market across the world.

Microsoft Three New Portable Dual Battery Packs Able to Charge Two Mobile Devices at the Same Time

Microsoft is working on Microsoft WiFi Service for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Windows Phone Users

The news on Microsoft WiFi Service was leaked at microsoftwifi.com which the website has been pulled down at the moment. Microsoft WiFi service promises to bring hassle-free Wi-Fi to the users.  The users will need to login to the service once and they will be able to use the service anywhere.

Unfortunately, the WiFi service is not free. It is more to a pay-as-you-go service which will connects you to free public Wi-Fi hotspots. However, the details on how you can make the payment for the service and what are the charges like are not released to public yet.

Microsoft WiFi app is able to run cross-platform. Therefore, regardless whether you are running on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS or Windows Phone, you are still able to use the service by logging into the service from the app.  The app also comes with an interactive map which will inform the user the location of the WiFi hotspots around the area which supports Microsoft WiFi service.

According to the website, before it was taken down, not all users will be able to use the service. At the initial launch, only active Skype WiFi subscribers through Microsoft Work & Play Bundle or Surface 2 + Skype WiFi Bundle, employees of organizations with Microsoft Office 365 for Enterprise and customers who received special WiFi offer from Microsoft will be able to use the service.

We will update again once there is new information from Microsoft.

Microsoft is working on Microsoft WiFi Service for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Windows Phone Users

Windows 10 Ready to be Downloaded on July 29

Microsoft announced that Windows 10 is ready to be downloaded starting on July 29.  After months of testing and going through users’ feedback and implementing most of them, the product is almost ready to be released to Windows customers as free upgrade to their current Windows OS.

Windows 10 is designed to deliver a more personal computing while protecting the users’ information as well as the integration with other Windows devices such as PC, Laptop, Tablets, smartphones and Xbox One among others. On top of that, Windows 10 brings back the Start menu which will help the users to navigate through the menus and apps in a timely manner.

Windows Defender on Windows 10 will keep the device secure from malwares with the commitment to bring free ongoing security updates for the supported lifetime of the Window devices. Cortana is another feature on Windows 10 which will learn your preferences in order to provide you with relevant recommendations as well as important reminders. The best of all, Cortana can accept either talking or typing and not only just on your PC but on your smartphone too.

Windows 10 introduces new apps with the name of Microsoft Edge. It is basically a new browser developed to make it easier to comment on the web via typing or inking as well as a reading view which makes the reading on websites easier and faster.

To experience the new Windows 10, you will need to reserve your free Windows 10 upgrade by going through a simple reservation process here.

Windows 10 Ready to be Downloaded on July 29

Microsoft working on OneClip, a cross-platform cloud clipboard app

Microsoft is said to be working on a new virtual clipboard app called OneClip and as its name suggests, it will allow the user to copy stuff on to a clipboard and then access it on any other device running on any platform- Windows, Windows Phone, iOS or Andrroid.

OneClip is currently being tested internally by Microsoft in Beta and its versions for Windows and Windows Phone have been leaked out by WalkingCat (@h0x0d) on Twitter.

According to WalkingCat, you can copy any stuff you want on the clipboard like a phone number, an address, a screenshot or any text that you have come across and want to save. Then OneClip will make all the copied stuff available to you on all your devices, whatever platform they may be running on.

Microsoft OneClip, the cross-device cloud clipboard for Windows/WindowsPhone/Android/iOS pic.twitter.com/HdlY8iZ6y6

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 22, 2015

The beta version of the app that has been released internally, has bagged a 5-star rating from 12 reviews on Windows Phone Store. It is not known when Microsoft will be releasing the OneClip app for the general public but in view of the high rating, it may be quite soon.

Since people are increasingly using multiple devices these days and often move between devices, OneClip looks like a very useful app to have in your device.

It is interesting to note that Microsoft has been using ‘One’ branding for its cross-platform products – OneDrive, OneNote and now OneClip. Microsoft has also recently released Microsoft Office preview apps for Android.

Microsoft working on OneClip, a cross-platform cloud clipboard app

Microsoft launches Hyperlapse Mobile app for Windows Phone and Android

The research team at Microsoft has been working on a mobile app for creating Hyperlapse videos for quite some time now. The company has now launched the Hyperlapse Mobile app for Android and Windows Phone. This app helps to convert first-person videos into shake-free smooth timelapse videos called the hyperlapse videos. The app is similar to the Hyperlapse video app from Instagram which at present is available only for iOS devices.

The app is free and available for download on a few select Android and Windows Phone devices. Devices running Windows Phone 8.1 and Android 4.4 or higher (KitKat and Lollipop) are supported.

Main features of the Hyperlapse Mobile app are:

• Users can select a timelapse speed while capturing video which gives timelapse with a smoothly moving camera.


• Users can import an existing video from the phone and hyperlapse it to get smooth and stabilized videos.


• The app allows the user to hyperlapse a video at speed rates from 1x to 32x.


• It allows user to create selfie timelapses.


• It has a simple user interface.

Windows Phone devices where the Hyperlapse app can be installed are Lumia 435, Lumia 530, Lumia 532, Lumia 535, Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 640 and 640 XL, Lumia 730, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 as well as HTC One M8. Wndows Phones below 8.1 are not supported and Phones with 512 RAM cannot record at HD resolutions.

For Android, beta version of the Hyperlapse app is available on Google Play Store and for this you have to join the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile for Android community on Google+ and become a tester.  The app works on following Android devices:

• Samsung:  Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge;


• Google:  Nexus 5,  Nexus 6, Nexus 9 tablet;


• HTC One M8 and M9;


• Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact;


• OnePlusOne; Xiaomi Mi4 and Motorola Droid Turbo.

Check out some videos made using the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile app:

Microsoft launches Hyperlapse Mobile app for Windows Phone and Android

Windows 10 Will be the last Windows version

During Microsoft’s multi-day event with people in IT industry, Microsoft Ignite, Jerry Nixon, one of the developer in the company, announced that Windows 10 will be the last major launch for Windows platform.

“Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10”, he said.

However, it is not what you are thinking of. Rest assured, Microsoft will not stop producing the next Windows version. However, the model is shifted from the current model whereby you can just buy Windows out of shelves or it comes with the laptop which you purchased to a service model.

Windows will be working in the similar way as Google Chrome, which is one of the first examples of software which is upgraded by using updates as long as the hardware can support it. Chrome updates happen in the background where features are added or get tuned out as they roll out. Thus, the users may not aware of the changes. A few years ago, Chrome replaced the entire browser engine from the open source WebKit to its own product Blink and it was done in a manner whereby not a single user realized the major change. To the user, it is still Chrome.

Microsoft pledged that Windows 10 will arrive in summer; however, it is not shipped with all the features that the company has promised in the beginning. The features promised such as Edge will arrive a little while after launch.

Windows 10 Will be the last Windows version

Microsoft announces Carrier Billing for Apps across all Windows 10 devices

Microsoft’s Build 2015 saw another important announcement made by the Redmond tech giant. During the keynote address, the company revealed that it will expand its carrier billing facility to support all the Windows 10 devices including Windows Tablets and PCs. Currently, carrier billing is available only on Windows smartphones.

You will soon be able to make digital purchases from the Windows marketplace by charging them to your smartphone bill provided your carrier supports it. For this, Microsoft has partnered with 90 mobile operators and their number is expected to grow with time.

Carrier billing is convenient for people who don’t have a credit card for making purchases. This is especially true for emerging markets such as Asia where most of the people have mobile phones but not necessarily a credit or debit card. Carrier billing will make it easy for them to purchase apps and games from the Windows store. Since the price of the apps purchased is charged to your phone bill, these items show up in your phone bill.

This will also help to boost sales of Microsoft’s apps and in-app content. In fact, it has been found that sales of digital content in emerging markets grew eight- fold after carrier billing went live for Windows phones. Developed markets saw a three-fold growth. This number is expected to go up when all Windows devices including Windows-based laptops and PC start supporting it. So apart from the benefit to users, this will also provide an opportunity for developers to make more money.

Microsoft announces Carrier Billing for Apps across all Windows 10 devices

Microsoft makes it easy to port Android and iOS apps to Windows 10

Microsoft has been steadily losing ground due to its “app gap” and software developers have been moving towards the more accommodating Google Android and the Apple iOS. Windows store comes a poor third after the big two. App gap is the main reason why Windows Phone is not able to grow its market share.

Although Microsoft has claimed that it is a non-issue, it is now working hard to address the issue and get software developers interested in the Windows platform. The company plans to overcome the app gap this year with its universal Windows 10 platform by making it easy for developers to run their Android and iOS apps on Windows and fill up its mobile app store.

Microsoft announced at its BUILD 2015 developer conference, that their new technology will allow developers to re-work their Android or iOS apps with just a few simple lines of code and make them work with Windows 10. Developers will be able to take their Android apps written in Java/C++ code or iOS apps written in Objective C and port them over easily to Windows universal apps that will work on Windows 10 phones, by using Microsoft SDK. They will not have to rebuild their whole apps for the Windows platform.

Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group President Terry Myerson told The Verge, “We want to enable developers to leverage their current code and current skills to start building those Windows applications in the Store, and to be able to extend those applications,“

Developers will also be able to easily integrate their Windows projects with Windows extensions and services like the navigation buttons, virtual keyboard or the location API. The modified Android apps would run in a safe Windows security container that will offer better security.

Microsoft has been testing its new tools with some major developers, for instance King, the developer of the famous ‘Candy Crush Saga’. They have successfully ported the game on Windows phone by converting it’s iOS code using Microsoft’s new technology and with very little modifications. On the stage, the company also showed the Android app for Choice Hotels working well on a Windows Phone with only some minor tweaks.

Well, this is only a beginning and we may soon see Microsoft’s app store filling up and bridging its app gap with two major competitors, Android and iOS.

Microsoft makes it easy to port Android and iOS apps to Windows 10

Have a look at the new Windows 10 phone interface, may release in September 2015

In its lengthy Keynote at the BUILD 2015 developer conference, Microsoft gave a detailed presentation on the new cross-platform Windows 10 operating system which will run the same app on different devices like the smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and TVs. Only the interface will have some changes.

The details disclosed in the keynote included info about Microsoft Edge, the successor to Internet Explorer, as well as demos about assorted HoloLens gear for Mocrosoft’s Windows Holographic augmented reality experience which it is building into Windows 10.

There were quite a few mobile-related announcements too. Microsoft has opened up the Windows platform and made porting of Android and iOS apps to Windows easy. Continuum for Phones was also demonstrated which can transform your smartphone into a desktop when connected to a bigger screen and where you can start apps like PowerPoint, Excel or Outlook from your smartphone and then continue to work on them on larger screens. The Interface adapts to different input methods and the transition between devices is seamless.

However, during the Keynote, Microsoft’s Windows Phone chief Joe Belfiore didn’t show anything much about the actual interface we will have on our Windows 10 phone when it hits the shelves in a few months. But no worries, this deficiency has been removed by a separate official Windows Blog Post explaining the design in detail and demonstrating it with several pictures.

For the design, they have taken an approach similar to the one used for designing a city, first creating a foundation or a grid which maintains the order and standards to make it work and is also flexible enough to allow expression.

Well as for the design, first off there’s the Hamburger control or the Menu icon on the top left corner which is the main navigation element. This position is somewhat unusual as most of us are right handed and hold the phone in our right hand. The Hamburger icon is used as the ‘home’ for an app. Microsoft may allow both hamburger and pivot controls in an app but promises to “display the right control at the right time on the right device.”

The three dots context menu is located on the right hand corner at the bottom. Microsoft has not yet decided whether to arrange the “recent apps” in the taskbar switcher from right to left or the opposite. In a PC, the task order is from left to right while in phones it has traditionally been from right to left. The company is collecting feedback for this before taking any decision about it.

Albert Shum, Design Team lead at Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group says in the blog,” Windows 10 is just the start of a new way of designing and operating. Keep in mind, we’re thinking of Windows 10 “as a service” with a plan to provide ongoing updates and improvements. In particular most of the apps we talked about here will be getting regular updates through the store so you’ll see refinements continue to happen after our broad public availability.”

What do you think of the new Windows 10 interface? Of course we will get to know more about it when the Windows 10 phone actually gets into our hands. The date in the Calendar pic shows September 2015, so this might be the month when it actually hits the market.

Have a look at the new Windows 10 phone interface, may release in September 2015

Microsoft’s Continuum for Phones can turn your Windows 10 phone into a full PC

With Windows 10, Microsoft is focusing on better integration and unifying its rather fragmented operating system to work across all platforms to offer an optimum and seamless experience across all devices. As a part of this process, Microsoft has announced several new features in Windows 10 at its BUILD 2015 developer conference. One of them is the Continuum for Phones feature that will transform a smartphone running Windows 10 into a desktop PC when connected to a bigger screen.

Initially when Microsoft had first presented Windows 10 at its BUILD conference in 2014, it had revealed that its main aim was to unify all the devices running the software. Now with the Continuum feature, developers will find it very easy to make apps that will adjust automatically according to the device. The apps built for Windows 10 will be universal apps which can work on any device from a smartphone, to a PC or a TV.

Microsoft has undertaken a lot of efforts to build the whole software and its no wonder that a smartphone can transform to show a desktop layout when it is connected to a big screen. During the on-going developer conference, Joe Belfiore took to the stage and showed how it works. He hooked up a smartphone to a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Immediately the UI of the phone adapted to the new inputs & outputs.

Although the Interface seen on the screen was not exactly like what Windows 10 looks on a PC, the apps shown did look like it, especially the Power Point. The monitor needs to be an HDMI monitor and you can simply connect your smartphone to it and make any changes you want to your Power Point presentations by using the big screen and the tools as in a PC. Even Excel and Photos worked well on it. According to Belfiore, this feature would work very well when developers build apps that “scale across form factors” and the company is now providing them with tools for it.

“What we’re trying to show here today, is our unique vision for phones and enabling them to scale up to a full PC-like experience,” said Belfiore.

The demonstration by Belfiore was very impressive and it would be interesting to see that apart from Office, what other uses of the Continuum could be.

Well, the Continuum for Phones feature is not going to be available on existing Windows Phones. Smartphones need to comply with certain requirements in order to be compatible with Continuum and able to offer support for a second screen. So this feature will run on new devices that comply with the requirements. Microsoft plans to reveal more details about it soon.

Microsoft’s Continuum for Phones can turn your Windows 10 phone into a full PC