Microsoft Invite (for iPhone)

editor rating: good

Comments

September 30, 2015

Pros

Clear, simple interface. Easily schedule meetings at mutually convenient times. Shows times in local time zone.

Cons Doesn't automatically find optimal time. Still some growing pains, with inadequate server resources.

Bottom Line

Invite offers iPhone users a simple way to agree on the best time to meet, but it could be a lot more automated.

By Michael Muchmore

It's surprising when Microsoft releases an app for iOS devices before its own Windows phones, but that's exactly the case with Invite, an iPhone app designed to ease the pain of scheduling meetings. Polling prospective participants to find an optimal meeting time is hardly a new idea, though, and longtime PCMag fave Doodle offers more options and automation. But Invite gives iPhone users (and, later, Android and Windows Phone users) a free, simple way to organize meetings.

Starting Up Invite is a reasonable 17MB download from the iTunes App Store, and runs on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches with iOS 8.1 or later, but it is optimized for the smaller screens, meaning it appears on the iPad as an iPhone-only app, though you can install it on the tablet. A bunch of the comments in the App Store claimed there were problems getting it installed, but I was able to successfully install it on an iPhone 5, an iPad, and an iPhone 6.

Before you can start inviting, you need to sign into either an Office 365 account or you can create an account using any email address and press the button on a confirmation email. Like every app I've reviewed in the past few years, Invite wants to send you notifications, but for a meeting-setup app, that seems reasonable. It also wants access to your contacts, which also make a lot of sense considering the app's purpose.

Create Your First Meeting You start out in the app with a cloud-background that says "No invites yet. Let's plan an event." You do this by hitting the big Plus Sign in the upper-right corner. Doing so opens a simple form in which you name the event, add people, suggest times, a place for the meeting, and any other pertinent details. You suggest times simply by tapping on timeslots in a calendar view.

Once all those ducks are in a row, you can send the invite to your desired attendees. A rocker-switch control on this page sets whether the app reserves on your own calendar all the times you suggested above. Then you hit Send, and wait for the spinning Sending icon to change to say "Sent!" Now you see any upcoming meetings you're scheduling on the app's home page, with number of outstanding responses. The tool shows times in the local user's time zone, which is great for far-flung conference calls.

I ran into a limitation of the fledgling productivty app and service at this point, getting a message saying "Sorry for the delay. We're more in demand than predicted and adding capacity to fit. We'll try to connect you in 4 minutes." That's kind of annoying for a tool that supposed to save time, but I'd expect Microsoft will quickly beef up the service.

When your invitation goes through, recipients get an email with a button link to a page where they can respond by checking checkboxes of times they're available. When people respond, you get a notification on your phone, and the meeting's page in the app shows the initials of participants next to times that work for them. When you've got a sufficiency of responses, you tap Choose final date & time at the bottom of the screen. I expected it would automatically select the time that the most people marked as OK, as Doodle does, but it just lets you choose that by eyeball. Doodle also lets invitees answer right from their calendar app, and meetings invitations in that service can be initiated on the Web as well as on mobile.

When you finalize the date and time in Invite, participants are not notified automatically, as you'd expect, but they see the finalized time if they revisit the response page. There is, however, a Send Calendar Invites option at the bottom, which makes it easy for invitees to add the appointment to any standard online calendar by simply pressing Yes or Accept, depending on which email/calendar system is being used.

I wish that the app would automatically find the time that worked for the most people, and that it would send invites as soon as you finalize the time, without requiring an extra step, though that last quibble is possibly a matter of preference—others may prefer the explicit step.

Attractive and Worthwhile, but LimitedInvite has a couple other limitations: It can't schedule conference rooms or check the recipients' calendars to generate automatic responses. But the simple little app certainly can be of use in polling your colleagues for the best time for a meeting, and does take some of the pain out of the process. Its interface is very clear and simple, but do wish it were more automated like competing tool Doodle, PCMag's Editors' Choice scheduling app and service.

By Michael Muchmore Lead Software Analyst

Michael Muchmore is PC Magazine's lead analyst for software and Web applications. A native New Yorker, he has at various times headed up PC Magazine's coverage of Web development, enterprise software, and display technologies. Michael...

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Source: Microsoft Invite (for iPhone)

Oops! Microsoft accidentally leaks Lumia 950 and 950XL Windows 10 Phone details

Remember all those rumors about the Cityman and Talkman phones, also known as the Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL? Well, Microsoft's first Windows 10 Lumias are all but real and confirmed, having accidentally appeared U.K. version of the Microsoft Store. Oops.

The two new phones are only listed on the page showing Windows 10 eligible phones, as The Verge first reported, and the entries do not appear on the American version of the Microsoft Store. Clicking on the listing for either phone does not take you to a full product page, so we don't have too much to go on, but here's what Microsoft's slip-up revealed.

The Lumia 950XL is listed as a 5.7-inch device with a WQHD display, a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera with Zeiss optics, 32GB storage, and a microSD slot that accepts up to 2TB. The Lumia 950 rocks a 5.2-inch WQHD display with the same rear-facing camera and storage features. Both phones are of course rocking Windows 10 Mobile. Pricing was not listed.

Now there's always a chance that Microsoft's data is just placeholder information until the real phones show up. The official launch of the devices should happen during Microsoft's press event on Tuesday, October 6.

The thing is, the postings on the Microsoft Store line-up exactly with the rumors we've been hearing about the devices for a while now. It's a pretty good bet these specs are the real deal.

Other rumored specs not listed on the Microsoft Store include a 5MP front-facing camera for both phones, a Snapdragon 808 processor on the 950, and a Snapdragon 810 for the 950XL.

This is the second major Microsoft leak surrounding its upcoming Lumia flagships over the past seven days. On Friday, slides from what appeared to be a Spanish language Microsoft presentation surfaced online, spilling the previously rumored Lumia specs.

Source: Oops! Microsoft accidentally leaks Lumia 950 and 950XL Windows 10 Phone details

Microsoft expands virtual-reality ambitions with Google Cardboard rival

This article, Microsoft expands virtual-reality ambitions with Google Cardboard rival, originally appeared on CNET.com.

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.Microsoft looks to be following Google's lead, creating a low-cost VR headset powered by Windows phones. Microsoft

Microsoft is luring developers to a virtual-reality hackathon in Russia with the promise of a low-cost, do it yourself headset that appears to be a challenger to Google Cardboard.

Hackathon participants with successful ideas will be rewarded with "a set of Cardboard" to test their VR applications at the event, which is being held in Moscow on October 17.

Historically, virtual reality has required expensive, dedicated hardware that can do things like track the motions of a person's head and display 3D imagery. But last year's debut of Google Cardboard , a flat-pack VR kit that uses a smartphone as a display, made the technology easier to try. Users assemble Google's headset from a few specially cut and folded pieces of cardboard, insert a smartphone that runs Cardboard apps, and hold it to up to their eyes. Phone manufacturers can adapt the template to fit various Android smartphones.

The premise for Microsoft Cardboard seems similar, but instead of Android it's been designed for devices running Microsoft's Windows Phone software. It's not yet clear, however, what product plans, if any, the company has for its own DIY headset kit. Microsoft didn't respond to a request for comment.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, is just the latest to test the waters of virtual reality, a burgeoning area of technology that's drawn the interest of heavy hitters like Samsung, Sony, HTC and Facebook, which spent $2 billion to buy VR startup Oculus. The technology, which can transport you to an entirely new world throug h a headset, is seen as one of next major growth areas in consumer technology.

Microsoft is already working on its own high-end "mixed reality" project, HoloLens, which overlays a digital view on top of the real world. But it seems now that the company also sees value in opening up VR in a cost-effective way to anyone who owns a Windows Phone device.

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Given its clout with programmers, Microsoft could help speed up mainstream adoption of VR, which for decades has failed to fulfill backers' hopes for widespread success. But that clout is mostly with programmers who develop applications for Windows PCs and Xbox gaming consoles, not for developers who make software for the smartphones used in cardboard VR kits. With the virtual-reality industry still in its infancy, though, it's not clear yet whether companies will come to dominate the new domain the way Apple and Google rule smartphones or Microsoft and Sony control gaming consoles.

Windows Phone has traditionally struggled to compete for market share in a world dominated by Android devices and iPhones, which rely on Apple's own operating system, iOS. Its struggles have been caused partly by Microsoft's failure to persuade developers that they should prioritize Windows Phone when working on apps. As a result, Windows Phone devices haven't offered the same quality and quantity of apps to consumers as their Google- and Apple-powered rivals have.

With several other companies investing heavily in virtual reality as the next big trend in technology, VR experiences on Windows Phone could offer Microsoft the opportunity to claw back some ground if it gets in early enough.

In spite of the rush to develop and commercialize VR, some people at the technology's cutting edge say we shouldn't raise our expectations too high.

"This is going to grow slowly," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this month. "If you think about the arrival of computers or smartphones, the first units shipped did not ship tens of millions in their first year. But they proved an idea and made it real."

The Samsung Gear VR, a device made in partnership with Oculus, will become the first widely available VR product when it's released this November.

Correction, 11:21 a.m. PT: This story was updated to reflect that Facebook bought Ocu lus for $2 billion, not $1 billion. The story was also updated to reflect that in November Samsung is releasing the Gear VR, not the Oculus Rift.

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Source: Microsoft expands virtual-reality ambitions with Google Cardboard rival

Microsoft VR kit takes aim at Google Cardboard

Microsoft will soon introduce its own inexpensive smartphone VR holder called VR Kit, which resembles Google Cardboard in form and function.(Photo: Microsoft)

SAN FRANCISCO - Google may have gotten the jump on inexpensive virtual reality kits by introducing Cardboard to Android-owning smartphone owners, but Microsoft isn't content to stay out of the race.

The Redmond, Wash-based company has come up with its version of the DIY box that turns a phone into a VR viewer. Dubbed Microsoft VR Kit, the holder will be given away to Russian hackers who successfully come up with VR applications for Windows phones at an Oct. 17 hackathon in Moscow. Much like Cardboard, VR Kit is a handy way for users to position a smartphone horizontally and the proper distance from their eyes when viewing content created especially for VR viewing.

There's also a chance that VR Kit could be a part of Microsoft's Oct. 6 hardware roll-out in New York, where the company is expected to showcase a new Lumia smartphone. On Tuesday, Google will hold an event at its Mountain View headquarters to unveil its own new Nexus phones.

USA TODAY

Google rolls out virtual reality field trips

This is an interesting time for Microsoft and its continuing quest to have a piece of the hardware pie, considering it wrote off its failed purchase of handset-maker Nokia earlier this year. And while its line of Surface tablets do sell well, Microsoft officials made a rare appearance at an Apple event earlier this month in order to tout how well its Office suite of products run on Apple's new iPad Pro, a seeming competitor to Surface. VR Kit would suggest that Microsoft hasn't given up the ghost on its Windows phone program.

Virtual reality is quickly moving from the realm of engineering geeks and gamers to mainstream, thanks in part to efforts by Google to push Cardboard as an inexpensive way to experience VR. This week, Google begins visiting thousands of schools in the U.S. and abroad with its Google Expeditions kit, which allows teachers to take students on VR field trips to places ranging from the Great Wall of China to the Great Barrier Reef.

USA TODAY

Tech Five: Microsoft to unveil new phone in October

The most impressive VR experiences will be delivered by products that are expected to hit consumers next year, notably Facebook-owned Oculus Rift and Microsoft's own HoloLens, which CEO Satya Nadella has been wearing around his home to test. But at more than $1,000 for most of this high-tech VR gear, low-cost options such as Cardboard, Mattel's View-Master and now Microsoft's VR Kit that leverage consumers' existing smartphones will be the way most humans experience a version of VR for some time to come.

Follow USA TODAY tech reporter Marco della Cava on Twitter: @marcodellacava

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Source: Microsoft VR kit takes aim at Google Cardboard

Microsoft Buys Partner Apps for Project Online Mobile Support

News

Microsoft Buys Partner Apps for Project Online Mobile Support

By Kurt Mackie

09/28/2015

Microsoft today announced the purchase of project and portfolio management (PPM) apps from two of its partners for integration into Office 365 services.

One of the partners is Sensei Project Solutions Inc., a Phoenix-based solutions provider that was the 2014 Microsoft PPM partner of the year award winner. The other partner is Projectum ApS, a Danish software company that won this year's Microsoft PPM partner of the year award. The solutions are being integrated into Microsoft Project Online, which is part of some Office 365 service plans.

Three apps were purchased from Sensei Project Solutions Inc. First, Microsoft purchased the Sensei Task Master app, which shows timesheets and tasks on Android, iPhone and Windows Phone devices. Next, Microsoft bought the Sensei Portfolio Dashboard app, which shows overall PPM reports on iPads. Lastly, Microsoft purchased the Sensei Project Dashboard app for project managers, which works with iPads.

Microsoft bought two add-in solutions from its partner Projectum Aps. One of them is called "Project Financials," which helps users with "time-phased cost data" management. The other add-in, called "Project Snapshot," shows overall project information, "such as budget, actual cost, KPIs and more."

The announcement hinted that the apps purchases, along with Microsoft's acquisition of software list maker 6Wunderkinder in June, were being done to broaden Microsoft's mobile PPM solutions, as enabled via Office and SharePoint. They enhance the mobile capabilities of Microsoft's Project Online solution.

"Between Wunderlist, Office 365 Planner and Project Online, you now have tailored, cloud-based solutions to help you manage everything from simple tasks to the most advanced projects, programs and portfolios, anytime, anywhere, on any device," Microsoft's announcement stated.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for the 1105 Enterprise Computing Group.

Source: Microsoft Buys Partner Apps for Project Online Mobile Support

Microsoft’s VR Kit to challenge Google Cardboard for entry level VR dominance

Nobody is quite sure which headset and what games and experiences will truly catch on in the world of VR, but there's one near unanimous opinion: It'll be the affordable one.

While Oculus and its watchful parent Facebook have pledged to make the Rift as economically viable as possible, a different tack with the likes of Google has been using people's smartphones, pressed into a cardboard shell with some lenses. That's clearly a tack Microsoft agrees with; despite championing augmented reality (AR) with its Hololens headset — which will be here sooner than you might think — the company has been showing off its own VR headset on the sly, a product called the VR Kit.

There was no official announcement for this project, but it was shown off as part of the website promotion for an upcoming Russian hackathon (hat tip to Paul Thurrott for finding it). Information is therefore light on the ground, but we do have the above image, which appears to show a Lumia smartphone inserted into a cardboard frame, just like Google's Cardboard gizmo. Power it on and away you go!

Related: Noon VR: Another smartphone-based VR headset enters the fray

The accompanying text also suggests that Microsoft's "kit" will also include templates for certain aspects of VR coding, as well as tools for use in the creation of games and experiences to help developers get started. Early content created for the VR Kit may well be shown off at the upcoming hackathon, which will have several categories for prizes including corporate apps, games, and education.

Anyone wishing to sign up to the contest can do so, though being able to read Russian may be a necessity for those that want to really delve into the rules.

What will be interesting is whether Microsoft officially announces the kit at the event, and if it will detail pricing or release information for the general public and other developers. Presumably, with its cardboard design, it may be available for people to print off at home for free.

Source: Microsoft's VR Kit to challenge Google Cardboard for entry level VR dominance

Windows 10 Mobile: Microsoft’s Chance to Be Relevant in the Mobile Market

Windows 10 Mobile — In 2004, Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system held more than 23% percent of the smartphone market. Today in the 2015, the software giant holds less than 3% of the market with its Windows Phone operating system. Within 10 years, Microsoft went from a major player to total insignificance in the mobile world.

What happened, you may be wondering. A lot happened! In the world of technology, 10 years are an eternity. However, Microsoft's fall can be explained by two factors: The rise of rivals like Apple and the company's slow reaction to new shifts in the industry.

In 2007, Apple upset the tech industry with the release of the first iPhone, which quickly became the standard for smartphones in the world. A year later, in 2008, Google introduced Android, a mobile platform which the company bought from a smaller company with same name. Despite its initial flaws, Android established itself as an alternative to Apple's iOS system and became the most popular mobile operating system in the world. Among themselves, Android and iOS, hold more than 95 percent of the mobile market, with 83% and 14% market share respectively according to IDC.

So what happened to Windows Mobile? Microsoft's platform was not the only victim made by Apple and Google; major players like BlackBerry and Nokia also endured the same fate. However, unlike BlackBerry and Nokia, Microsoft was very well positioned to dominate the mobile age. The company was and still is one of the richest companies in the world, with large resources and know-how to compete with other giants like Apple and Google. But it did not take advantage of its resources and found itself chasing others when it finally realized its mistake. We all remember when former CEO Steve Ballmer dismissed the iPhone as an overpriced toy that nobody would buy.

Microsoft – to be fair – did try to get back in the game. The company released in 2010 a new mobile operating system Windows Phone 7 to replace its outdated Windows Mobile platform. The new OS was slick, fast and modern. It featured an innovative design that received great reviews from the tech industry. However, as a new platform, it created the usual catch-22 for the company: nobody wanted it because there were no apps for it and developers did not want to spend time and resources building apps for it since nobody was using it. Thus, Windows Phone 7 never caught on and in 2012 Microsoft released yet again a new Operating System, Windows Phone 8.

Despite their names, Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 were two radically different systems. They came with different kernels, making it impossible for Windows Phone 7 apps to run on Windows Phone 8. As a result, the company found itself again starting from scratch. As it is often said, the same cause produces the same result: no apps, nobody using it, no devs… no apps.  Windows Phone 8 – despite being arguably the most stable operating syst em in the industry, despite its most futuristic design language – could never cross the 5% market-share mark.

Today in 2015, Microsoft has a new plan, a new platform. Windows 10 Mobile is upon us. So what's different? Can it survive or is it dead on arrival?

The major difference between Windows 10 Mobile and the other platforms that came before it is in the fact that it is not a standalone platform like its predecessors. It runs on the same kernel as Microsoft's desktop platform Windows 10, which allows developers to build Apps that can run on a wide range of devices without having to build them for each.

That particular ability gives Windows 10 Mobile a major advantage over its older brothers. Since Windows 10 is already a hugely popular platform – 70 million installs since its release in July this year – developers can no longer ignore it. And since it does not take much to build Universal Apps – like Microsoft call them – why not do it?

Anoth er major feature of Windows 10 is Continuum. This feature allows Universal Apps to reshape themselves depending on the size of the display they are being used on. As such, apps running on Windows 10 Mobile could easily replace their desktop counterparts when the phone is connected to a bigger screen. Continuum has been demoed by Microsoft using the company's own office suite and it seems to work very well.

Universal Apps and Continuum are expected to be the main selling points for Windows 10 Mobile. Rightly so. But what is an OS worth with a lack hardware to match it? Apple has been able to conquer the mobile world with a perfect combination of the two. iOS has always been reliable and easy to use snd the quality of the hardware of the iPhone remains at the top of the industry. For Microsoft to win the hearts of consumers, it will also need some amazing hardware to match its OS. It is rumored that the company will be unveiling a series of new phones at its October 6th event, but the leaked images of the phones failed to impress the public so far. As an underdog, Microsoft can't afford to simply propose good phones; they have to be the best.

Windows 10 Mobile is Microsoft's chance to make a dent in the market, and perhaps its last chance to remain relevant in the mobile world. Universal Apps and Continuum are appealing features but will they be enough to woo consumers? Great software require great hardware! Perhaps Microsoft will surprise us on October 6th. Only time will tell. But without a doubt, Microsoft is at a crucial moment in its life as a company. Windows 10 Mobile will not take over the world. Very Unlikely. But, it may make all the difference. After all, with a 3% market share, there is nowhere to go but up.

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Source: Windows 10 Mobile: Microsoft's Chance to Be Relevant in the Mobile Market

New render gives us a 360-degree look at the Lumia 950 XL

Just a few days ago, a couple of slides leaked online, revealing the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. Today, a new render of the Lumia 950 XL has been posted on Twitter, showing off the devices in its full glory. Take a look:

For those who don't know, here's what the Lumia 950 XL is supposed to pack:

5.7? QuadHD

Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core

20MP PureView rear camera with OIS and triple flash

5MP front camera

32GB of internal storage and 3GB of RAM

3300 mAh battery

USB Type-C

It is worth noting that this is just a render, and the "actual" device will look slightly different that the device on this render. However, the renders do look very similar to the recently leaked pictures.

Microsoft will be announcing the new Lumia devices in an event on October 6th, and it'll be interesting to see how the device looks in real life. We'll be covering the upcoming Microsoft event live from New York city, so stay tuned for more on the upcoming Lumia flagships.

If you are planning to buy the Lumia 950 XL when it launches, what do you think of the device's design? Discuss in the comment section below.

Source: New render gives us a 360-degree look at the Lumia 950 XL

The Latest On Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Upcoming Lumia Smartphones Running Windows 10

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is believed to launch new Lumia smartphones at its hardware event scheduled for October 6. There have been many rumors going around about the new Lumia flagship devices; the latest reveal that the tech giant might well launch more than two smartphones next month.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) have seemingly established a stranglehold within the smartphone industry in recent years and are giving no signs of giving up that duopoly. This leaves Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile the gargantuan task of propelling the company's mobile division to unprecedented heights if it is to challenge the likes of iOS and Android.

Microsoft may have left many it's in wake with its Windows for PC platform; however it is the mobile division that has disappointed millions over the globe. This might be because the company has a lack of applications available for its mobile platform or because it no longer has the flagship devices that could attract buyers; the latter was also admitted by Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella.

With the upcoming Windows 10 Hardware event, the company is expected to launch a new plethora of products, with most being targeted (alongside the hotly anticipated Windows 10 Mobile platform) towards the smartphone industry.

Rumors have indicated that Microsoft will unveil the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL smartphones next month. The Lumia 950 is said to feature a 5.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. The smartphone is believed to be powered by the Snapdragon 808 processor alongside 3GB RAM, and will be providing users with 32GB of internal storage capacity.

The Lumia 950 is likely to be accompanied by its elder sibling, the Lumia 950XL. The phablet is likely to go up against the likes of Apple's iPhone 6s Plus and Samsung's Note 5 after its launch. The Lumia 950XL is expected to be incorporating similar specs as the Lumia 950, which includes the 20 megapixel (MP) PureView rear shooter complimented by a 5MP front camera.

One should take note that recent rumors speculate that the company is planning to introduce mid-tier phones at its upcoming October event. According to AdDuplex CEO, Alan Mendelevich, Microsoft will be introducing a Lumia 750 in over a week's time. Mr. Mendelevich took to Twitter to reveal his insight into the rumored device. According to his tweets, the Lumia 750 will be featuring 5-inch display, and will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 410 alongside 1GB of RAM. The CEO further added that the device will be supporting 8GB of internal storage with the option to expand memory courtesy of a Micro-SD card slot. The Lumia 750 is tipped to feature 8MP and 5MP rear and front cameras, whereas the battery unit is expected to measure in at 2650mAh.

While a mid-tier Windows Phone said to be on the cards, there is some good news for those on a tight budget. Microsoft is also reported to introduce an entry level smartphone at the upcoming media event. The rumored Lumia 550 could come with a 4.7-inch 720p display and a Snapdragon 210 processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM.

It is pertinent to note that the aforementioned smartphones are yet to be confirmed by Microsoft, and we won't be surprised if the company does end up launching different market segment-targeting smartphones this October.

Source: The Latest On Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Upcoming Lumia Smartphones Running Windows 10

Microsoft Band 2 release date confirmed: To come with Optical heart rate monitor, better OS and much more

Microsoft Band 2 release date confirmed: To come with Optical heart rate monitor, better OS and much more

Redmond-based tech giant Microsoft is all set to introduce its latest wearable in the world market. Microsoft Band 2.0 is going to be introduced in the market by the software giant on 6 October, when the company will showcase several other top of the line products including at least two Lumia smartphones and a tablet/laptop hybrid.

Microsoft Band 2.0 images are already going viral on the social media and search engine for the last several days. One thing that has caught the attention of tech mavens is a new curved design, which most users missed in the earlier variant. Many people said as the first version of the Band didn't come with a curved display, it was not very comfortable wearing it in hands. Women were definitely not very happy and continued to complain. Now as the company has rectified this issue, so people will have one more reason to go for the wearable from the Redmond company.

In the meantime a top Spanish tech blog Microsoft Insider has leaked a couple of images that it says were official images from none other than Microsoft Inc. from the look and feel of the wearable. Pictures show that the new wearable or Microsoft Band 2.0 is actually much more attractive than the previous Band, with a curved design. Almost all of the Band users complained about its uncomfortable straight design, and Microsoft solved this issue in the new variant.

Another improvement from the Redmond company is the fact that the battery position is now underside of the color display, instead of being on the side. The rumors suggest that Band 2.0 will be revealed with many new sensors, along with all the sensors present in the Band 1.0.

The new Band will reportedly come with many more sensors. This means that sensor rich wearable will be more effective. The new sensors in the Fitness Band includes an Optical heart rate monitor, an Accelerometer/Gyrometer, GPS, a Microphone, an Ambient Light Sensor, a Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensors and a UV sensor among others. So things are actually looking a lot more exciting in this aspect than many of us thought.

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Posted by admin on Sep 26, 2015. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Source: Microsoft Band 2 release date confirmed: To come with Optical heart rate monitor, better OS and much more

Ulster Bank app heads to Windows Phone

Windows Phone has been picking up quite a few banking apps in the UK and Ireland, and today one more banking app joins the fray. One of the major Irish banks, Ulster bank has just added a Windows Phone app to its app catalogue.

We need not say much about it since its clear what a banking app does, but we have posted the app description below for readers who want to know exactly what the app offers.

Get Cash from your account at any Ulster Bank Republic of Ireland or EasyCash cash machine without using your debit card.

Pay bills & Pay Your Contacts

Transfer money between your Ulster Bank Republic of Ireland accounts

Check your balance and your statement

Find your nearest cash machine or local branch with Near Me

Check your Ulster Bank mortgage account and credit card balance

View standing orders that you have set up

Share our app with your friends and family by recommending it from the more menu

Are there any Irish readers overjoyed to be reading this? Let us know in the comments below and get the app here.

Developer: The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, plc

Price: N/A

Source: Ulster Bank app heads to Windows Phone

Microsoft Band 2 release date on Oct.6 along with couple of Lumia handsets

Microsoft Band 2 release date on Oct.6 along with couple of Lumia handsets

Microsoft Band 2 is going to be showcased to the world on 6th October. Though till now there is no confirmation about it from Microsoft, there are enough indications that the Redmond company will launch the new wearable device during the 6th October event in New York City.

The first generation wearable from Redmond based company came with a few issues including a short battery life, but most other such products also suffer from similar issues. Microsoft later rectified the issue and the wearable went on to become a massive hit in the market not just in the USA but in other important markets particularly in the Europe.

The first generation wearable from Microsoft had come almost the same time last year and now when the second generation device is all set to be released, the world is expecting an exceptional product. This is because of the first generation Band proved itself to be an impressive product.

There are indications that the next generation or Microsoft Band 2 will be launched during the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 release event. While obviously Surface Pro 4 will be far more important product for both the company and its fans, Band 2 is increasingly being given good previews. We can gauge the fact that the new version is being readied to be launched. The first indication of its impending arrival is the fact that retailers are already slashing price of the first generation band. E-tailer Best Buy in the US has already offered a $50 cut from the original $200 (£131) pricing of Microsoft Band. The latest discount is applicable to all size variants of the wearable: small, medium and large.

The Band 2 will work equally well on smartphones coming from all the leading makers. The wearable device actually works very efficiently with all smartphones running on almost all the major operating systems. Microsoft Band could be used with iPhones, Androids, besides with Windows Phones. Analysts have praised the wearable for working very efficiently. Microsoft Band actually feeds detailed, useful activity and sleep data into the Microsoft Health mobile app. You can connect third-party apps, including RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal, MapMyFitness and Strava, to your Microsoft account and exchange fitness data.

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Posted by admin on Sep 25, 2015. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Source: Microsoft Band 2 release date on Oct.6 along with couple of Lumia handsets

Leaked Microsoft Lumia 950 XL screenshot confirms its specifications

By Ritesh Bendre on Sep 24, 2015 at 5:24 PM Email comments News

We already know that Microsoft is holding an event on October 6 in New York, where it is heavily expected to launch new Windows 10 devices. The Lumia 950 XL is one of the devices expected to be unveiled at the event. While we've learned a lot about it in previous leaks, a new screenshot surfaced online confirms some of its specifications.

The leaked screenshot was posted on a Chinese site CoolXap, which they claim is of Lumia 950 XL's About page. It shows the handset running on Windows 10 Mobile build 10547. On the hardware part, the handset has a display resolution of 1440×2560 pixels and it is powered by Snapdragon 810 SoC paired with 3GB of RAM.

In terms of leaked specifications, the Lumia 950XL with codenamed Cityman, is said to feature a 5.7-inch QHD display. It is expected to come 32GB of internal storage and an option to expand it further using a microSD card. On the photography front, it is set to come with a 20-megapixel PureView camera and a 5-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera. Together with 3,300mAh removable battery and Qi wireless charging support, the Lumia 950 XL is also expected to come with USB Type-C port.

One of the previous leaks also revealed the Continuum dock. This will help provide support for the new Continuum feature coming with Windows 10 Mobile. It will enable the ability to attach additional USB devices to the phone. As these are leaked specifications, we advise you to take this leak with a pinch of salt.

At the event, Microsoft is also expected to take the wraps smaller Lumia 950, the Surface Pro 4 tablet, and next-gen Microsoft Band. Till then, stay tuned.

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Source: Leaked Microsoft Lumia 950 XL screenshot confirms its specifications