Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Farming Simulator 14 for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

The Windows phone app which has gone free next as myAppFree app of the day is Farming Simulator 14. You can start your agricultural career in Farming Simulator 14 on mobile and tablet. Take control of your farm and its fields to fulfil your harvesting dreams. As well as a refined look and feel, Farming Simulator 14 gives you double the number of farm machines to control, all authentically modelled on equipment from real agricultural manufacturers, including Case IH, Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini, Kuhn, Amazone and Krone.

Farming Simulator 14 Features:

– New highly detailed 3D graphics and a slick user interface take your gameplay experience to the next level

– Plant wheat, canola or corn and sell it in a dynamic market

– Mow grass, tedder and windrow it to create hay bales to feed to your cows, then sell their milk to the highest bidder

– Make money by selling grass or chaff at the Biogas Plant

– Hire computer-controlled assistants to help you with your work

You will enjoy it for FREE and you will save $2.99!!!

Developer: GIANTS Software
Source: Farming Simulator 14 for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

Bringing an 'A' game - a Surface Phone can't come fast enough

Published by Steve Litchfield at 7:52 UTC, August 31st 2016

Microsoft's plan to retrench from the consumer market and leave Windows 10 Mobile, across the world, to partners and licensees, hasn't been working out too well. Plenty of companies have signed up, but many of them are 'bringing their 'B' game', not their best efforts. In most cases, the Windows 10 Mobile handset is just a tweaked version of a company's 'A' product running Android. Even the mighty tech giant HP's Elite X3 is proving a bit underwhelming. I do realise that a 'Surface Phone' is tied to the timings for 'Redstone 2', but it still can't come fast enough to reassure enthusiasts that there's high-end hope in a world of premium and more capable Android devices and iPhones.

This was discussed a little in comments on a previous story, but I thought it warranted a full editorial. For all the times we talk up that Windows 10 Mobile is part of the wider and huge 'Windows 10 ecosystem', it's ending up more as a token part, a proof of concept, if you will. Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of mostly happy Lumia 950/XL/650 owners across the world, plus another million or so owners of older handsets (think Lumia 735, 830, 930) who have done the opt-in Windows 10 Mobile upgrade. But even this number is small compared to the tens of millions still using 'old' Windows Phone 8.1, even in 2016, through sheer inertia and lack of awareness by users. And it's tiny compared to the numbers of Android and iOS users across the world, each of which is now into the billions.

So we're not kidding ourselves here. But there should be room for the number of people using Windows 10 Mobile to grow - there's the lure of UWP apps that work just as on the Windows 10 desktop, after all. But Microsoft has seemingly retrenched from making significant quantities of hardware, selling or closing down factories and making (I'd have thought) crucial redundancies - it's a far cry from the profligacy of phone models that Nokia used to exude.

The plan, presumably, is for lots of Microsoft partner companies to take up the slack (after all, it's free to license Windows 10 Mobile) and produce a wide variety of hardware across the world. In large enough numbers and in high enough quality, so Microsoft doesn't have to. But I don't believe this is happening - it turns out that it's harder to design, build, sell and support a smartphone than most companies would have thought. Nokia used to be a master of all of this, of course. It's one reason why Microsoft bought it, especially at the fire-sale price. Sadly, most of the intelligence and infrastructure has now been lost.

Yet partners and licensees across the world aren't really taking up the slack at all. I went through most of the current contenders here in some detail - it's a lacklustre line-up if I'm honest, with either ultra-low-end or niche hardware, or perhaps a 'Windows' version of an existing Android handset with trivial modifications and next to no optimisation. And half the handsets are still not available to buy and even then only in certain markets. Even the brand new HP Elite X3 is so far showing a distinct lack of TLC.

Windows 10 Mobile handsets

In part it's Microsoft's fault, of course - the operating system itself hasn't been bug free and quite a few crucial APIs have been missing in action until the current Anniversary Update (which is still rolling out - I did say that it wouldn't auto-magically happen on August 2nd as many claimed), not least support for niceties like fingerprint scanner support. In fact, it's also Microsoft's fault for axing so much of their own inherited hardware infrastructure before its partners had proved their mettle*. I do appreciate that with Nokia-like domination of the ecosystem then there wouldn't be much oxygen left in the room for partners, but surely we've now swung too far the other way? 

* It's reminiscent of the situation when Nokia went all-in on Windows Phone in 2011, putting the kibosh on its existing Symbian ecosystem almost a year before it had any hardware of its own on the platform, with the resulting large hole in its sales dramatically speeding up Nokia's decline.

MOly PCPhone W6

What can Microsoft do at this point then, at least on the hardware front? Make sure that the Lumia 950 and 950 XL (and the 650) stay in production at the very least. Stop closing factories! And accelerate plans for the mythical Surface Phone - yes, we know that it's not due until Spring 2017, but if the hardware's anywhere near complete then 'do an HP' and announce it next month for 'late November' availability and ship it with the Anniversary Update and the promise that 'Redstone 2' will follow in due course.

Comments welcome - can Microsoft still pull a rabbit out of the hat?

Surface Phone, 2017

Filed: Home > Features > Bringing an 'A' game - a Surface Phone can't come fast enough

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Source: Bringing an 'A' game - a Surface Phone can't come fast enough

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Universal Fitbit for Windows 10 updated with new Fitbit Dashboard & more

Universal Fitbit app has received a new update for both Windows 10 and Windows 10 mobile. The new version 2.13.671. The latest update is brings new Fitbit Dashboard which is now enabled by default, Bug fixes and general improvements

About app:

Live a healthier, more active life with Fitbit, the world's leading app for tracking all-day activity, workouts, sleep and more. Use the app on its own to track basic activity and runs on your phone, or connect with one of Fitbit's many activity trackers and the Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale to get a complete picture of your health—including steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, weight, and more.

Fitbit Chagelog:
  • The new Fitbit Dashboard is now enabled by default.
  • The Fitbit Dashboard has new celebrations for hitting your goal
  • Bug fixes and general improvements

  • Source: Universal Fitbit for Windows 10 updated with new Fitbit Dashboard & more

    Blu pulls Windows Phone from its new website

    The strategy Microsoft used for Windows 10 Mobile was to let third-parties take responsibility for the hardware system instead of Nokia or Microsoft Mobile. However, recent data received from AdDuplex shows this was a faulty strategy that leads to unfavorable outcomes. Most recently, one example of this Blu removing any information regarding Windows Phone from its newly redesigned home page.

    Previously, Blu released several white box Windows Reference Design devices which were rebranded. In doing so, Blu seems to have done more than other OEMs to support and promote these devices, such as making the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade available to these handsets.

    However, the company's interest in Windows Phone seems to have diminished, and many people think that the release of a third generation of handsets for Microsoft is less and less likely.

    Microsoft's retirement from the Windows Phone network was a step that left behind a gap which is not easily filled. Though OEMs tried to solve this problem, it seems that Android devices have been better at taking advantage of the situation. Android's market share simply soared in the last years.

    This happened because the combined brand between Nokia and Microsoft was the element that convinced people to buy the devices. Since Nokia left the deal and Microsoft doesn't trust Windows phones, potential buyers aren't interested in buying Windows Phones from different brands.

    The future doesn't look very different either. Satya Nadella declared last year that third party OEMs should step their game up a notch if they want people to pay attention to them again. It's clear that if Microsoft still wants to have a mobile division, they should get the factories back to serious work as well.

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    Tags: microsoft

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    Source: Blu pulls Windows Phone from its new website

    Monday, August 29, 2016

    WiFi Commander for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

    The Windows Phone app which has gone free next as myAppFree app of the day is WiFi Commander: 3D Analyze & Monitor. This is the perfect one for Windows 10. This app turns your device into a powerful WiFi-Analyzer. It features a modern Windows 10 user interface with a 3 D and 2D visulization integrated.

    WiFi Commander: 3D Analyze & Monitor Features:

    ✔ Scan the space around you for any Wi-Fi networks

    ✔ Original 3D analyzer of channel distributions (touch-friendly)

    ✔ Original real time signal level monitoring (touch-friendly)

    ✔ Filter, sort and group available networks

    ✔ Switch between different networks instantly

    ✔ Detailed information about specific Wi-Fi access point:

    🔸 Vendor name   🔸 Security and authentication   🔸 MAC address (BSSID)    …

    ✔ See all Wi-Fi Direct™ capable devices

    ✔ Find less used channel for your own router

    ✔ Multiple Wi-Fi adapters support

    ✔ Dark and light themes for your preference

    ✔ Small app package – just about 4-5 MB

    ✔ No Ads ✔ 30 days FREE trial


    Source: WiFi Commander for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

    Windows 10 Tech Support +1-855-639-4698

    \" Windows 10 tech support is best think For remove unwanted error of Windows 10, solve some problem like popup ,and give support taking online remote.Windows 10 part of Microsoft and Mcrosoft has provide many tech support technician.You want take support so you can call now 18556394698.windows 10 support phone number windows 10 tech support windows 10 customer service windows 10 customer service number windows 10 support number windows 10 technical support number windows 10 technical support windows 10 helpline windows 10 customer support windows 10 help and support   windows 10 help phone number windows 10 customer service phone number windows 10 contact support windows 10 chat support windows 10 tech support phone number windows 10 phone support windows 10 help chat windows 10 technical support phone number windows 10 live chat contact windows 10 support windows 10 contact number windows 10 online support windows 10 help number windows 10 customer support number wi ndows 10 support contact number windows 10 helpline number Microsoft Windows 10 Support Number phone number for windows 10 support windows 10 live support Microsoft windows 10 support number Microsoft windows 10 support phone number Microsoft windows 10 technical support phone number Microsoft windows 10 customer service Microsoft windows 10 tech support Microsoft windows 10 technical support Microsoft windows 10 customer service phone number Microsoft windows 10 tech support phone number Microsoft windows 10 helpline Microsoft windows 10 technical support number \"


    Source: Windows 10 Tech Support +1-855-639-4698

    Sunday, August 28, 2016

    Is Microsoft Corporation's "One Windows" Dream Dead?

    Two years ago, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella presented his vision for a "One Windows" ecosystem, declaring that the Windows PC, Windows Phone, and Xbox platforms would be combined into a "single converged operating system for screens of all sizes."

    Windows

    Image source: Microsoft.

    On paper, that strategy seemed sound. Microsoft would get all three platforms on the same page with a universal app store for Windows 10 and stream Xbox One games to Windows 10 PCs, and Continuum would convert smartphones into PCs. Data gathered by Bing and Cortana would be synced across all those devices. To accelerate the process, Microsoft offered Windows 10 as a year-long free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

    Unfortunately, that plan didn't quite pan out. By the time Microsoft ended the free upgrade in late July, only about a fifth of PC users were using Windows 10. Nearly half still used Windows 7. Xbox One sales continued lagging behind PS4 sales by a wide margin, throttling the appeal of streaming games to Windows 10. The flagship Lumia 950 and 950 XL phones, which were intended to introduce Continuum to the world, flopped.

    By July, Microsoft admitted that it wouldn't achieve its goal of installing Windows 10 on a billion devices by mid-2018. Do these missteps indicate that the "One Windows" dream is dead? Let's look at what went wrong with Microsoft's plan to find out.

    What went wrong with "One Windows"

    Microsoft's biggest mistake was overestimating the appeal of a unified OS. Users now mainly use apps that run across various mobile platforms and PCs, and that data is stored in the cloud instead of on a local device. This means that the value of the operating system fades as people use more cross-platform apps, and that an average Windows PC user with an Android phone doesn't need a Windows 10 phone to run the same apps.

    B

    The Lumia 950. Image source: Microsoft.

    That's why Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) hasn't rushed to merge iOS and OS X. Merging a mobile OS with a PC one creates the awkward hybrid experience between tiles and traditional desktops seen in Windows 8 and 10. That's probably why most PC users are sticking with Windows 7, the last "mobile free" version of the OS.

    Another problem was that Windows 10 Mobile devices didn't really convert into full PCs with Continuum. Users could only install Windows Store apps designed for ARM (NASDAQ:ARMH)-based mobile processors. This meant that users couldn't just download any piece of Windows software -- which was most likely made for x86 processors -- and install it. This also limited the appeal of Continuum among enterprise customers, which usually rely on older software. This strategy completely ignored the success of the Surface Pro devices, which were well-received because they let companies run x86 software in both laptop and tablet modes.

    Lastly, connecting a smartphone to a $99 Display Dock, a keyboard, mouse, and monitor simply made a smartphone-based Continuum PC a clunkier, pricier, and weaker alternative to a regular laptop. If users mainly use cloud-based apps that can be accessible on Windows, iOS, Android, or the web, there simply wasn't a compelling reason to buy a Windows 10 Mobile device.

    The last Hail Mary play

    With Windows Phone accounting for less than 1% of the worldwide smartphone market, there's not much Microsoft can do to expand its "One Windows" ecosystem to mobile devices beyond launching its own iOS and Android apps. Major app developers will continue shunning the platform in favor of iOS and Android, and the remaining Windows Phone users will eventually abandon the platform due to its lack of software support.

    The one play Microsoft has left is the long-rumored Surface Phone, which could replace the Lumia 950 as its flagship mobile device by the end of the year. The reasoning seems to be that since the Surface Pro and Surface Book devices sold fairly well, a Surface-branded phone might sell better than a Lumia-branded one.

    However, the Surface Pro and Book sold well because they were x86-powered PCs. Rumors indicate that the Surface Phone will be an ARM-powered device, which means that it will face the same problems with Continuum as the Lumia 950, regardless of its branding.

    It's time to give up on "One Windows"

    "One Windows" was a bold attempt to change Microsoft's entire business model, but it's unlikely that Microsoft can reclaim a meaningful slice of the mobile market from iOS and Android. Without gaining ground there and luring back app developers, it's likely that Windows 10 will remain restricted to the PC and Xbox One markets.

    Nadella previously noted that we now live in a "mobile first, cloud first world." But in this world, people need cross-platform apps, not unified operating systems for all their devices. Therefore, I believe it's time for Microsoft to give up on the "One Windows" dream and focus on infiltrating iOS and Android with its first-party apps.

     

    Leo Sun has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft and has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


    Source: Is Microsoft Corporation's "One Windows" Dream Dead?

    Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website

    #WindowsPhone #Smartphone – Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website : South Florida's BLU had been one of those third party manufacturers that was enlisted by Microsoft to offer different styles of Windows Phone handsets than the Lumia models that consumers weren't exactly gobbling up.

    Already known as a manufacturer of low-end Android phones, it was April 2014 when the company started teasing its first Windows Phone 8.1 unit. Microsoft had removed licensing fees for Windows Phone at the time, hoping to expand the number of manufacturers developing handsets for the platform.

    BLU ended up offering rebranded Windows Phone reference designs. But now, it would appear that the manufacturer, whose talents had already been taken to South Beach, is giving up on the Windows Phone market.

    Anything to do with Windows Phone has been removed from BLU's revamped website, as though the company never had anything to do with Microsoft's mobile operating system at all. To give credit where credit is due, BLU did upgrade its eligible Windows Phone models to Windows 10 Mobile.

    Speaking of third party Windows 10 Mobile phones, the beastly HP Elite x3 just recently was available to be pre-ordered in the U.S. through Microsoft. Possibly the most impressive phone ever to be offered on the platform, the HP Elite x3 is expected to be released on September 12th. Source: phonearena


    Source: Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website

    Saturday, August 27, 2016

    Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website

    #BLU #Smartphone – Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website : South Florida's BLU had been one of those third party manufacturers that was enlisted by Microsoft to offer different styles of Windows Phone handsets than the Lumia models that consumers weren't exactly gobbling up.

    Already known as a manufacturer of low-end Android phones, it was April 2014 when the company started teasing its first Windows Phone 8.1 unit. Microsoft had removed licensing fees for Windows Phone at the time, hoping to expand the number of manufacturers developing handsets for the platform.

    BLU ended up offering rebranded Windows Phone reference designs. But now, it would appear that the manufacturer, whose talents had already been taken to South Beach, is giving up on the Windows Phone market.

    Anything to do with Windows Phone has been removed from BLU's revamped website, as though the company never had anything to do with Microsoft's mobile operating system at all. To give credit where credit is due, BLU did upgrade its eligible Windows Phone models to Windows 10 Mobile.

    Speaking of third party Windows 10 Mobile phones, the beastly HP Elite x3 just recently was available to be pre-ordered in the U.S. through Microsoft. Possibly the most impressive phone ever to be offered on the platform, the HP Elite x3 is expected to be released on September 12th. Source: phonearena


    Source: Microsoft feeling BLU? South Florida manufacturer pulls Windows Phone from its website

    Microsoft Surface Devices 2016/2017 Roundup

    #SurfacePro5 #SurfacePhone – Microsoft Surface Devices 2016/2017 Roundup : Microsoft has strived to improve its much loved hybrid device — the Surface Pro — over the years. And in the end, all the efforts have paid off, as the Surface Pro 4 is undoubtedly one of the most loved hybrid devices on the market today. The Surface Pro 4 offers not just a better experience as a laptop replacement, but also carries a lot of power for demanding tasks.

    We have seen Microsoft trying to translate the success of the Surface Pro 4 into something for the Surface Book — and although it isn't as popular a device, it certainly makes one wonder if Microsoft will further expand the Surface lineup.

    Surface Desktop or Surface All in One

    A number of reports have suggested that Microsoft wants to introduce a new line of All-in-One systems soon. Although there is no confirmation what these AIOs will look like, it is certain that Microsoft wants to take a bite out of Apple's share in the pertinent markets.

    It has been suggested that these AIOs will be unveiled in three sizes. The smallest model will have a full HD (1080p)21-inchh screen. The other available screen sizes will be 24-inch and 17-inch — and both will have 4K support. These AIOs are expected to implement the use of touch input on devices with larger screens, like a desktop.

    Do note that these devices have not been yet confirmed by Microsoft, and might very well be pulled from the market at the eleventh hour. However, if these devices do debut, they will be ideal for living room environment — which is why they will be a direct competition to Apple Macs. For more details on the Surface desktop, click here.

    Surface Phone

    Granted, Windows Phone never really took off the way Microsoft wanted it to, but Microsoft isn't holding itself back from the smartphone market. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will debut a new Surface Phone soon.


    Source: Microsoft Surface Devices 2016/2017 Roundup

    Friday, August 26, 2016

    Microsoft shuts down @LumiaHelp

    Things are not going very well for Microsoft. The company had to cut thousands of jobs in its smartphone division because of disastrous sales and now, the corporation is taking more drastic measures: It's shutting down regional Lumia Twitter accounts and @LumiaHelp support.

    Goodbye @Lumia US, @LumiaUK and @LumiaIndia. Users who contact Microsoft's representatives through these Twitter accounts will be directed to @Lumia. Also, they will direct support questions to @MicrosoftHelps as the @LumiaHelp account will be shut down. Each of these Twitter accounts announced the change to its followers and informed them of which accounts they should start following in order to find out the latest news.

    Windows Phone users were expecting this to happen in the near future, especially because Microsoft started killing off the Lumia division in 2014. The future is bleak as rumors suggest the brand will be killed off permanently. In an announcement Microsoft made on August 23,  an FAQ delivered PR-friendly answers to those who asked questions about the change.

    The answer to "Why are you closing this account?" was "This account is being merged with your local Windows or Microsoft account to help us become a part of the international, larger, Microsoft family." After closure, users will still see Microsoft Lumia updates, but the key change is that they will also receive general Microsoft/Windows updates. Microsoft has said that Lumia accounts will merge "so that everything can sit under one, unified, global page" and users who will need local support will "follow this link to get more help: http://microsoft.com/mobile/support."

    The local Lumia page is becoming a support channel because "We want to make sure you have answers to all of your Microsoft Lumia questions, therefore some channels will be staying open to answer these local requests" and if the local Lumia channel is closed and is not merging with another, "This latest series of actions should just serve as confirmation of Microsoft further washing its hands off Lumia and the Nokia purchase".

    While rumors indicate the firm is still heavily into Windows Mobile and planning to push it at some point soon, one wonders if it wouldn't be a better investment to improve their apps and services on iOS and Android to win hearts and minds there."

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    Source: Microsoft shuts down @LumiaHelp

    School Book for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

    The Windows Phone app which has gone free next as myAppFree app of the day is School Book .This app is a loyal friend that can help you to organize your school life at best: from lessons to homework, keeping tracks of the results of your school tests.

    School Book description:

    SchoolBook is the first real digital diary, which allows you to manage your schooling directly from the palm of your hand.

    Using the full potential of the app, you will not miss any more information: Insert all your grades, dividing them according to the subjects and the type of test, and then admire your progress with gorgeous charts.

    Setting your class timetable, you'll always know what to expect.

    With the inclusion of commitments, you will not miss any event: it is an homework, a test or a trip, SchoolBook will keep you updated on what you need to do. Even at a distance of months.

    Keep track of your absences, always visible in the dashboard.

    Your time is valuable, and we know it well: making periodic backups of OneDrive, your data will be safe.

    So…..hurry up and meet this friend for free today, saving $ 1.49!!!!


    Source: School Book for Windows Phone goes free as myAppFree app of the day

    Thursday, August 25, 2016

    Lumia closing several of its Instagram accounts too

    Microsoft has been consolidating their numerous global Lumia social media channels for a while now. We've previously reported on the closing and merging of their Facebook and Twitter accounts and now it appears that the same is being done with the numerous Lumia accounts on Instagram as well.

    Within the last 24 hours, identical posts on the Lumia U.S., U.K., and Russia Instagram accounts announced that they would be closing and would be replaced by the central Microsoft Lumia Instagram account. Here's the complete statement:

    "Our Instagram account will soon be @MicrosoftLumia. Don't worry, you don't need to do anything and you'll still get beautiful images shot on a #Lumia straight to your feed. This is all to make it easier for you to be part of our international, larger, Microsoft family."

    Interestingly, the Italian Lumia Instagram account didn't post such a statement but it's unclear if this means that it will remain operational or that a member of the Italian social media team simply forgot to schedule the post properly.

    A new support page on the official Microsoft website has been launched to answer any concerns users may have and it simply states that the reason behind the account mergers is to simply make them "become a part of the international, larger, Microsoft family" and that "Microsoft Lumia are simply merging their accounts so that everything can sit under one, unified, global page."

    While the merging of the different regional accounts will reduce costs at Microsoft and make it easier for them to conduct campaigns, there's no denying that users from non-English speaking countries will suffer. The support page does emphasise though that users will still be able to get localized support from Microsoft.com when they need it. The social media accounts will simply be more general in nature.

    Have you been impacted by these account mergers? Do you have any theories as to why Microsoft is doing this? Let us know in the comments below.


    Source: Lumia closing several of its Instagram accounts too

    Trivia Crack killing its apps for Windows Phone and Windows

    trivia-crack

    Trivia Crack released its Windows Phone app back in 2014. Just about two years later, the company is killing its Windows Phone app. In an email to a customer, the company stated that its app will no longer be available from the Microsoft Store. However, if you already have the app installed, you'll still be able to use the app on your Windows Phone device. Alongside the Windows Phone app, the company is also killing its Windows app:

    Unfortunately our app will no longer be in the Microsoft Store. Nevertheless be sure that we will be supporting to our active users. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your kind understanding.

    Trivia Crack is the latest developer to remove its apps from the Windows Store. Amazon, PayPal and MyFitnessPal recently dropped support for their native Windows Phone apps — however, the Store gained some new apps such as the new Facebook apps for Windows 10 Mobile which is pretty nice to see.

    Did you use Trivia Crack? Let us know in the comment section to below.


    Source: Trivia Crack killing its apps for Windows Phone and Windows

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016

    Lumia 525 Gets Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update Now

    #Lumia525 #AndroidM – Lumia 525 Gets Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update Now : Who said it's impossible to install Android Marshmallow on a smartphone running on Windows 8.1? A hacker has demonstrated that the Lumia 525, a phone that Microsoft has released in January 2014.

    Can boot Marshmallow, but Triszka Balázs has specified only that he has a "reset vector exploit only for S4 SOC series", without mentioning what exploit he used.

    More than a week ago, Microsoft has leaked "Golden Keys" to Windows devices, so every user with administrator rights who possessed them could load Android OS, or even Linux.

    Onto a restricted Windows device, including a Windows Phone, Windows RT tablet, or, why not, the HoloLens headset. This exploit was not a big deal on PCs, because users were able to disable Secure Boot in the BIOS, as this was supported by the motherboards.

    Triszka Balázs hasn't said if he used this exploit or another, but he promised that he will bring a developer preview in a week or two, allowing more Windows Phone users to install Android on their devices. You can see the 2-minute video of the Lumia 525 runnin on Marshmallow below. Source: Techkenyot


    Source: Lumia 525 Gets Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update Now

    Carrier-locked devices start getting Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update

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    As you might recall, last week, Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update. The update was, however, only hitting unlocked devices at that time, meaning those with a carrier-locked device were out of luck.

    Well, that's no longer the case, as the update has now started hitting carrier-locked units as well.

    This means that – for example – if you have an AT&T-locked Windows Phone device, you should expect to see the update notification anytime now. Of course, it may take some time for the update to hit your device, so be patient. Alternatively, you can also head to your handset's Settings menu to manually check the update.


    Source: Carrier-locked devices start getting Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016

    Deal Alert: Lumia 950 XL now available for only £340

    lumia-950-xl-23

    Microsoft recently started offering the Lumia 950 XL for only $499 in the United States. Now, Amazon is selling the device is for only £339.99 in the UK. For those unfamiliar, the device comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, with a 5.7-inch display (1440×2560), 32GB of internal storage, 3GB of RAM and a 3340mAh battery. The device also supports Continuum for phones, Windows Hello, Fast Charging, as well as Wireless Charging. As for the cameras, there's a 20MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera.

    For comparison, the Microsoft Store UK is selling the Lumia 950 XL for £399. You can get the Lumia 950 XL for £339.99 from Amazon UK here.


    Source: Deal Alert: Lumia 950 XL now available for only £340

    Android dominates, as Windows phone sales dip to less than one percent worldwide

    Although Apple and Android are often pitted against each other in arguments between friends, and between talking heads, there really is no competition when it comes to raw sales numbers. Android dominates the smartphone marketplace, with a whopping 86.2 percent of the total sales over the last quarter, according to the latest Gartner statistics.

    Of course with such monstrous Android figures in the latest report, Apple still ranks highly in terms of individual manufacturers. In fact, it sits just behind Samsung in that respect, with a near 13 percent of the market. That represents a drop of just over 1.5 percent year on year, but it's still a sizeable chunk.

    Samsung however is the king of the hill, with a near quarter share of all smartphones, up from 21.8 percent to 22.3 percent this year. It and Apple represent the only two non-Chinese smartphone manufacturers in the top five. The other three are Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi.

    Related: 5 awesome web browsers for Android

    To give this some context, together those five make up more than half of all smartphones sold over the past three months. all the other manufacturers tally up to just 46 percent of the total.

    So what's driving such growth for Chinese firms and the decline in Apple's fortunes? As always, part of it is the global marketplace expanding into new territories. While Western markets might more easily afford iPhones, it's harder to justify the price of an iPhone in developing nations. Conversely, lower cost Chinese manufacturers have cleaned up by improving their feature offerings — Oppo, to offer one example, has drawn praise for its anti-shake camera, optimized for selfies.


    Source: Android dominates, as Windows phone sales dip to less than one percent worldwide

    Monday, August 22, 2016

    Lumia 525 Gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow

    Oh, just imagine the possibilities! The Lumia 525 was one of the many handsets that Nokia released back in the days when things were looking up for the Windows Phone platform.

    And though we have moved far away from that time, developers continue to tinker with this handset.

    One senior developer over at the XDA Developers forum even managed to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Nokia handset — we are talking about sideloading the Google operating system on a device that is three years old.

    Going by the name of 'banmeifyouwant', the developer explained the process involved. And it begins by completely removing the Windows Phone and UEFI elements from the handset. Then comes the process of flashing the Qualcomm Little Kernel Boot Loader, TWRP or TeamWin Recovery Project.

    This is a custom recovery method for Android devices, by the way.

    And then comes the fun part, deploying a port of the CyanogenMod 13.

    Do all that, and you get this:

    Of course, successfully sideloading this version of Android on the device does not translate to everything working as expected on the Lumia 525 — areas like Wi-Fi and the modem cause a number of issues.

    But the important thing is that the display works as expected after a little calibration

    According to the developer, the port is still in Alpha, which is another way to say that some minor quirks will be experienced and need to be fixed. The good news is the developer plans to release the installer and source code, in due time.

    And better yet, the port also works on the Lumia 520, which comes with half the amount of RAM.

    These two have been, over the past couple of years, two of the most popular handsets in the Windows Phone ecosystem. Now, with Microsoft not allowing the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade on these smartphones, at least there is a way for owners of these handsets to transition to Android.

    Very impressive work from the developer, all said and done!


    Source: Lumia 525 Gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow

    Mobile Nations Weekly: So Noted

    The Note 7 arrives, Honor 8 makes a splash, and a treat for Windows Phone users.

    Behold, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is now here — and Android Central has everything you need to know about the S Pen-toting flagship Android phone. Also arriving, a flagship from Huawei that's solidly-specced but about half the price: the dual-camera-toting Honor 8.

    Just two weeks after landing for Windows PC users, Windows 10 Mobile has received its anniversary update. The update brings a bunch of behind-the-scenes improvements for Windows phone users as well as few new and long-awaited features. But there's no rest for the weary: the first beta builds for the next major iteration of Windows — Redstone 2 are already in the hands of testers.

    While Android fans are busy with new devices and Window users have swanky new software, Apple land is busy with new devices to come, including plenty of rumors about the Apple Watch 2 and iPhone 7.

    2. CrackBerry — QuadProtected

    With the DTEK50 now announced and shipping to customers, BlackBerry has taken additional steps to show customers they're serious about security on their Android offerings by releasing updates to Priv and DTEK50 to full patch against QuadRooter. In other news, BlackBerry has recently gone on the offensive when it comes to their patents and have now targeted BLU Products Inc. in a patent infringement lawsuit in addition to the previous suit against Avaya.

    4. VR Heads — Three months in an HTC Vive

    The most incredible thing about VR right now is the way things are improving on a daily basis. Developers are trying new things, consumers are offering active feedback, and the cycle grows with each new user. It's easy to get lost in that "which is best" conversation when trying to make a purchase, but really the ecosystem as a whole is in a fascinating state of constant growth. The HTC Vive is a huge part of that growth, so we took a deeper look at how it has held up since launch.

    5. Windows Central — Updates for Mobile

    The Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update has finally made it out Microsoft's clutches. The OS refresh made its appearance on August 16, just two weeks after the one for PC. We have an extensive walk-through for those who want to see what is new. For those on the Release Preview of the Windows Insider Ring Microsoft pushed out build 14393.82 with many fixes and improvements. For those who live life in the Fast Ring, build 14905 for Redstone 2 went out to PCs and phones on Wednesday making it the second update for the new-new OS.

    Speaking of Redstone 2 we detailed some new upcoming features for Office and productivity in Windows 10 that are expected for early 2017. The exclusive details new features like Working Sets, Office Hub, and the return of OneClip.

    Gamescom let us see some new exciting hardware including the mass-adoption of the new GTX 10-series graphics cards for laptops. MSI was the first out the gate with its new series of gamer laptops that will push the FPS boundary. HP also wowed us with its OMEN X monster of a PC.


    Source: Mobile Nations Weekly: So Noted

    Sunday, August 21, 2016

    iris scanner review: Is is worth a premium feature?

    Iris scanner is a new feature on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Lumia 950 XL. But is it a wonderful feature like users expected? Let's have a look at "iris scanner review" to find the answer!

    Iris scanner review

    Iris scanner review: Is is worth a premium feature?

    As you know, Iris scanner is a secure function on the smartphone. It uses the laser to recognise the Iris of human eyes. Everyone has a very different high-resolution images of iris, so Iris scanner is one of the perfect methods to protect your smartphone. However, it is not completely good as we expected. Let's see how it work on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Lumia 950 XL to see is it worth a premium feature?

    Before appearing on Galaxy Note 7, iRis scanner is one of nice features on Lumia 950 XL. But in both phones, Iris scanner gets some limitation. One of those is it can't work well in strong light condition. It's so annoying when you are outside and want to unlock your phone, but the Iris can recognise you. In this condition, Iris scanner on Lumia 950 XL works better than Iris scanner on Galaxy Note 7, but it still takes a long time in processing, about 5-6s. Besides, the next limitation of Iris scanner is it is difficult to recognise Iris through glasses. You will get problems when wearing glasses because your phone will not recognise you.

    Iris scanner review

    Despite some limitations, Iris Scanner is still an interesting feature on smartphones. It is also the most secure function at present. In some situation, Iris can't recognise ower's iris, but it never misses with other eyes!

    Iris Scanner review: tips for using

    Iris Scanner is a great feature if you know how to use it. Besides unlocking the smartphone, Iris Scanner can also more than what you know. It can protect library, file, bank account, and other privacy data. Especially, It can also combine with Samsung Apps to checking and transferring money.


    Source: iris scanner review: Is is worth a premium feature?

    Windows Phone sales collapse as Microsoft ravages Nokia remnants

    Sales of Windows Phones plunged 76 percent in the second quarter, plummeting from 8.2 million in 2015 to less than 2 million this year, researcher Gartner said today.

    The dramatic decline was more fallout from Microsoft's botched acquisition of Nokia's handset business, the writing off of more than $10 billion, and the subsequent decision to back out of the consumer smartphone market.

    According to Gartner, global sales of Windows-powered smartphones in the June quarter came to just under 2 million units. In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) last month, Microsoft put its smartphone sales at around 1.2 million. The difference between Gartner's and Microsoft's numbers—about 750,000 smartphones—represented what the former believed other device makers sold during the quarter.

    As recently as May, Microsoft executives again asserted that the company was not giving up on homegrown smartphones, even as they acknowledged that they needed to better focus their efforts.

    But the decline of Windows smartphones portrayed by Gartner was stunning. In 2015's June quarter, Microsoft's operating system powered 2.5 percent of all smartphones sold. Twelve months later, Windows' share of sales had collapsed to less than six-tenths of a percentage point.

    Microsoft had initially pinned hope on Windows on smartphones as the way to grow the operating system's share on devices of all kinds, even though it was a steep uphill battle against Google's Android and Apple's iOS. But Windows never cracked the 5 percent mark as measured by Gartner and its research rival, IDC.

    In the end, Windows' share on smartphones, or on devices overall, became mostly moot as Microsoft turned from that metric and instead focused on growth in its cloud-based services.

    msft sales of windows phonesData: Microsoft, SEC

    Microsoft's smartphones sales collapsed in the June quarter, falling to about 1.2 million. Gartner, which included other device manufacturers in its estimate, pegged sales at closer to 2 million for the quarter.


    Source: Windows Phone sales collapse as Microsoft ravages Nokia remnants

    Saturday, August 20, 2016

    Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual Sim Unlocked GSM Windows Phone $49

    Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual Sim Unlocked GSM Windows Phone 

    eBay HOT Deals Today has the lowest price deal for Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual Sim Unlocked GSM Windows Phone $49. It usually retails for over $99, which makes this a Hot Deal and $50 cheaper than the retail price.

    Free Shipping 

  • 4" Display 5.0 MP Main camera 8 GB Mass memory 3.5G Network Front camera: VGA 0.3 MP Processor type: Quad-core 1.2GHz
  • Maximum talk time (3G):12 h Maximum standby time with dual SIM: 22 days

  • Source: Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual Sim Unlocked GSM Windows Phone $49

    Amzer Pudding TPU Case for Nokia Lumia 930, Lumia Icon

    Other Windows Phone accessories by Amzer Windows Phone Amzer Pudding TPU Case

    Deal of the Day Sat 20th Aug 2016 Only while stocks last!

    This custom Nokia Lumia 930 or Lumia Icon skin case goes on as easy as pudding goes down! The Amzer Pudding Case protects your device from corrosion and abrasions in a slim and simple profile.

    Made from multiple thermoacrylics, this Nokia Lumia 930 or Lumia Icon skin case is highly elastic and resistant to oils. Say goodbye to annoying fingerprints! The back features a matte finish with a glossy edging that enhances the grip around your device. While the case is on, you have access to the display, camera, speakers and ports. The side buttons however, have been raised for easier access.

    As enticing as the Nokia Lumia 930 or Lumia Icon Pudding Case is, it is not edible. It's a great solution for casually protecting your mobile device, though!

    Features:

  • Constructed from multiple thermoacrylics
  • Extremely flexible
  • Resistant to oils
  • Prevents corrosion and abrasions
  • Slim and sleek profile
  • Matte finish backing
  • Raised side buttons
  • Non-edible
  • Please Note: Product images, including color, may differ from actual product appearance.

    Promotional Pricing: Coupons are not eligible for this product today.

    Works with: Nokia Lumia 930, Lumia Icon


    Source: Amzer Pudding TPU Case for Nokia Lumia 930, Lumia Icon

    Friday, August 19, 2016

    Moto calls out Samsung for 'stealing' its smartphone feature

    See Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 See Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 Smartphone manufacturers are finding it harder to make products that stand out. So what to do?

    Many have fallen back to old playground-like tactics of finger pointing and throwing out disses to get attention.

    Moto, which transitioned away from its Motorola branding earlier this year, became the latest company to take this approach when it accused Samsung of ripping off its "always-on" display feature on Thursday.

    In a tweet sent from the company's U.S. Twitter account, Moto used a pun on the word "galaxy" to slyly but directly take aim at its South Korean competitor's Galaxy smartphone line.

    "In what galaxy is it okay to steal competitor phones' cool features?" the tweet asks. "#TheOriginalAlwaysOnDisplay #motozdroid."

    In what galaxy is it okay to steal competitor phones' cool features? #TheOriginalAlwaysOnDisplay #motozdroid pic.twitter.com/T75byy5bIx

    — Moto US (@Moto_USA) August 18, 2016

    Relate d: Meet the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 -- a phone you can unlock with your eyes

    The new Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which went on sale on Friday, lets users enable screens to continuously display things like the time and notifications, without having to unlock their devices.

    It's a feature that made the Moto X special back in 2013, which gives the company some cause to bring up the past. But even Moto can't claim it was the original creator of the feature since it first showed up on Nokia's Lumia phone.

    Related: Microsoft, Google gang up on Apple in new ads

    Samsung has not yet responded to a request for comment, but its U.S.-based Twitter accounts were busy promoting the Note 7.

    The company has its own reputation of going after competitors, especially Apple. At its recent Note 7 launch event, Samsung execs made a point of explaining that the device has a headphone jack -- taking a dig at Apple (AAPL, Tech30) over rumors that the new iPhone will dit ch the port.

    Meanwhile, both Google (GOOGL, Tech30) and Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) have taken shots at Apple in new ads this month.


    Source: Moto calls out Samsung for 'stealing' its smartphone feature

    Windows Phone dives into irrelevant-like-BlackBerry territory

    BlackBerry and Microsoft have continued their tumble down the mobile operating system market share charts, clocking in at just 0.1 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

    Microsoft's fallen especially hard: analyst firm Gartner had it selling 8.2 million phones for 2015's second quarter, for 2.5 per cent market share. The current 0.6 per cent share means just 1.97m devices running Windows phone shipped last quarter. Blackberry could only muster 400,000 sales of kit running its own code.

    Gartner's numbers analyse OS market share, unlike those from IDC and Canalys which focus on handset-makers. The first-mentioned firm's data is broadly similar with its rivals, finding Samsung out ahead in a quarterly market for 344.3 million phones. IDC counted 343m and Canalys committed to "over 330 million."

    The G-men rank Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi as the planet's top five purveyors of smartphones. The combined sales of the last three vendors, all of which are Chinese, was about 54.6 million, behind Samsung's 76.7m but ahead of Apple's 44.4m. "Others" scored 158.5m sales. The Register imagines it won't be long before name brand Chinese vendors collectively conquer Samsung.

    Android is utterly dominant in the operating system market, with 86.2 per cent share. Apple's iOS has 12.9 per cent and Windows is in third with its sliver of sales. Android's captured four points of market share in a year, roughly two apiece from Apple and Microsoft. Gartner reckons Android's rise and rise can be attributed to a growing range of premium handsets that give buyers a reason to look beyond Apple for posh kit. If Apple holds true to form it will issue invitations to the debut of its 2016 models in late August and then show them off a week or two later. ®

    Sponsored: 2016 Cyberthreat defense report


    Source: Windows Phone dives into irrelevant-like-BlackBerry territory

    Thursday, August 18, 2016

    Windows falls to 0.6 percent share in the smartphone market

    Falling sales graph

    Windows continues to lose ground to Android and iOS in the smartphone market, according to a new report from Gartner. Driven by the poor performance of the Lumia line, its share dropped to just 0.6 percent in Q2 2016, down from 2.5 percent a year ago.

    Microsoft is the largest platform vendor, selling over 90 percent of the smartphones that run Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile, so its performance has a direct impact on Windows' share in this market. And, since in Q2 2016 it only sold 1.2 million Lumia devices, it dealt the platform yet another blow.

    Gartner's report paints a bleak picture for Windows. In total, smartphone sales in Q2 2016 were 344.35 million units, which represents a 4.25 percent increase from the 330.31 million units a year prior. In Q2 2015, Windows smartphone sales were 8.19 million units. Basically, while the market as a whole was growing, Windows was sliding further into irrelevancy.

    Apple's iPhone also saw lower sales year-over-year, dropping to 44.39 million units in Q2 2016 and 12.9 percent share from 48.08 million units and 14.6 percent share. BlackBerry followed a similar path, though its performance has been poor for quite some time now.

    Android strengthened its position, boosting its share to 86.2 percent thanks to sales of 296.91 million units. In Q2 2015, it was at 82.2 percent share and 271.64 million units. In fact, it was the only major platform to grow in the last quarter.

    Thanks to strong Android smartphone sales, Samsung increased its lead in the market over Apple, with its share rising to 22.3 percent from 21.8 percent a year prior. The former sold 76.74 million units in the past quarter, up from 72.07 million units a year prior, thanks to an impressive performance by Galaxy A and Galaxy J series devices.

    Huawei is in third place. The Chinese vendor sold 30.67 million smartphone in Q2 2016, which translates to a share of 8.9 percent. A year ago, it sold 26.45 million units and had a share of eight percent. Oppo and Xiaomi complete the top five.

    Gartner researcher director Anshul Gupta says that the demand for premium smartphones slowed in the second quarter of the year, "as consumers wait for new hardware launches in the second half of the year". In fact, all mature market with the exception of Japan experienced a "slowing demand" for smartphones. Meanwhile, all emerging markets with the exception of Latin America experienced growth, with sales rising by 9.9 percent in that segment.

    Image Credit: Onypix / Shutterstock


    Source: Windows falls to 0.6 percent share in the smartphone market

    First Redstone 2 Build Rolling out for Windows 10 Mobile & PC Insiders

    Last Update to Windows 10 Mobile prepared those on Windows 10 Mobile / PC Fast Insiders Ring for the Redstone 2 update, and today we have the first update for Redstone 2 with build  14905.1000 which brings in some chimes to sound it good! No Really, and they sound inline with Windows 10 PC now. Sounds Confusing?

    While the update is on the run for next year Spring, we will get to see lot of features getting introduced which will shape the future of Windows 10 Mobile if Microsoft manages to convince the OEMS to get the devices, even if its for Business consumers. HP Elite X3 is a classic example.

    Windows 10 Mobile 14905 Redstone 2 Update

    As per the Microsoft blog post:

  • We are introducing a newly refined sound set in this build, uniting the best of our past and present. We aspire to set a new bar for mobile sound set quality, and are trying to make the soundscape of technology more beautiful and harmonious. This also helps align with new sound design direction of the Windows platform as a whole, so that mobile sounds will family with desktop and tablet and be feel instantly familiar to all Windows users. We will continue to evolve – head to Settings > Personalization > Sounds to see the updated list of available sounds and let us know what you think!
  • Missed call notifications are now more actionable, with inline options to call back, text or remind yourself to do something about it later.
  • We fixed an issue where videos played in Windows Phone 8 apps might not pause when an incoming call was received.
  • We fixed an issue where, if "Show my caller ID" is set to "My contacts", the contact being called might still see a blocked caller ID.
  • We fixed an issue where the Lock screen might fail to update to the new time after a time zone change.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in music not resuming after a call was finished, if Turn-by-Turn directions were being read out from the Maps app when the phone call came in.
  • If you move apps between a SD card and internal storage (either direction), those apps will get stuck in a pending state. The workaround to get your apps working again is to uninstall the app through Settings > System > Storage (apps cannot be uninstalled from All apps list). Then you can re-install the app from the Store.
  • Cortana's text to speech capabilities is not working in this build. For example, Cortana won't be able to read text messages out loud for you, tell jokes, sing, or give verbal prompts.
  • Windows 10 PC has managed to get some improvement, and fixes.

  • We have fixed an issue causing a large blank space to appear between the address bar and web content after the address bar moves back to the top when opening a new tab in Microsoft Edge.
  • We have updated Narrator Scan mode for table navigation to now support CTRL + ALT + HOME to go to the beginning of the table CTRL + ALT + END to go to the end of the table.
  • Microsoft Edge now supports the CTRL + O keyboard shortcut for setting focus to the address bar.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Sketchpad and Screen Sketch crashing after trying to change the ink color twice in a row when the ruler was visible.
  • Support for kernel debugging over 1394 has been removed, but will be available in an upcoming kit release. A work-around will be posted to the Debugging Tools for Windows Blog shortly.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader crashes when you try to launch it.
  • Cortana's text to speech capabilities is not working in this build. For example, Cortana won't be able to read text messages out loud for you, tell jokes, sing, or give verbal prompts.
  • When clicking on the power button on the Start menu, it closes the Start menu without opening the flyout with restart/shutdown options appearing. As a workaround – you can right-click on the Start button (or WIN + X) and choose to shutdown via this menu instead.
  • Apps such as Yahoo Mail, Trivia Crack, Google and the Skype Translator Preview app will crash in this build due to a compatibility issue from a recent platform change.
  • The Settings app may crash on certain editions of Windows 10 when navigating to different settings pages due to a missing .dll file. We are working on getting this fixed soon.

  • Source: First Redstone 2 Build Rolling out for Windows 10 Mobile & PC Insiders

    Wednesday, August 17, 2016

    Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: listening to your customers can be a good thing

    It's been a long road of changes for the Samsung Galaxy Note over the last couple of years.

    That "thing" that we eventually named a phablet was prone to divisiveness from the tech media a few years ago, right up until people started to use it. It turns out that the whole concept of a huge phone actually made sense — so much so, Samsung touts that the phablet market has grown by 200 million units year after year since the inception of the first Galaxy Note in 2012.

    The road since has been full of mixed reactions. For four whole years, the Note was the dream powerhouse. Then, the Galaxy Note 5 disappointed because it fell back with the idea of just being a larger Galaxy S6. This year, in a quest to address customer demands, Samsung has taken all the complaints it received from the Note 5 and then built on the success of the S7 edge, combining both to launch its next iteration of a tablet killer.

    At the Unpacked launch event, we heard the word "feedback" being thrown around repeatedly, along with the phrase, "meaningful progress." We even discussed this with Juan Carlos Bagnell in our first impressions video — the Samsung that we met at this event was the most humble we've ever seen. And that's great news.

    Now, the biggest question is if all this change will serve you as a consumer in the same meaningful way as Samsung intends. Let's answer that.

    Galaxy Note 7 Review Video Hardware

    JAR00947

    To be frank, Samsung's most polarizing Note in history was launched last year. Sure, it was gorgeous and felt amazing in the hand, but it followed nothing of what the Galaxy Note lineup stood for.  Those who were expecting all the power under no compromise were disappointed — I'll admit I was included on the list. For me, all was good up until I ran out of storage. That's the main reason I looked elsewhere, and this comes from a Note user since version II.

    Things changed this year. The company did follow last year's trend in bringing the look and the feel of the S line to the Note line. But this time, you're not just holding a Galaxy S7 edge with a stylus. You're getting amazing build quality provided by a 7000 series aluminum trim with two outer glass shells molded from Gorilla Glass 5, superior to version 4 found in the S line.

    JAR00966Another interesting change in approach is that instead of launching two fall phablets, — as it had for two consecutive years — in 2016 the curves found their way back to the Note as an essential part to the gorgeous 5.7-inch quad HD AMOLED display that brings this phone to life. We're talking 518 pixels per inch and the deep contrast and saturation Samsung has become famous for with its AMOLED technology. Another interesting improvement is that the Galaxy Note 7 includes a new mDNIe chip, borrowed from the conglomerate's TV business. The chip is said to improve HDR video playback, though testing this feature proved to be tricky given the lack of HDR videos to play back.

    JAR00960That said, we didn't really need HDR video to prove how graceful this display can be: the color reproduction is stunning and the edge leads to a bezel-less appearance that just makes this visuals on this phone look surreal. Samsung claims that the contours were specifically designed to not affect the Wacom digitizer tha t enables S Pen input and that held true in our testing. The curves also extend to the back and the trim is actually less pronounced than that on its siblings, so at times it feels like if you're holding a phone that's fully made of glass. Yes, it's also a very fingerprint-prone glass as we've become accustomed to.

    Those of you wondering why these curves are essential need to remember just how beefy the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy Note 4 felt in the hand. By contrast, the Galaxy Note 7 is just as large but feels far more ergonomic. Combine that with this year's elegant color options — along with the clicky buttons and S Pen — and what we have is a premium product in every aspect.

    Where the Note 7 didn't grow to better its siblings is under the hood. We've got the same Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 of the S7 lineup along with 4GB of RAM. It also brings the same IP68 water and dust resistance. It's hard to not be disappointed, though, at seeing a smaller battery than the Galaxy S7 edge. Even in a larger chassis, the cell is rated at 3,500mAh (100mAh shy of its cousin) and the disappointment extends to its embedded nature. Fast and wireless charging did make the cut and we're thankful that Samsung finally adopted the USB Type-C standard, though it seems that Samsung's Fast Charging technology has not improved from previous applications. Another improvement comes in base storage, now 64GB and the only option available (outside of China). What we can praise is the return of expandable storage through microSD, this time up to 256 GB. The storage situation alone addresses one of the biggest complaints of last year.

    Though, as the retail guy on TV would say, "but wait, there's more!"

    galaxy-note-7-iris

    By far the coolest improvement that Samsung has brought to the table is its new iris scanner, a feature which it clearly perfected from what we saw on Microsoft's Lumia 950. The benefits behind this feature were so vast that we had to film a separate video, but let's just say it's faster to register and unlock your phone than a fingerprint scanner and it's also ensured to only work for you, as the service only allows one pair of irises to be registered. I went to the degree of trying to fool the iris scanner with a video and even a photo of my eyes and the camera wasn't fooled given the fact that it uses a separate IR light to assist in verification — the beam reflects on any surface that's not your eyes. Samsung spent a good portion of the event selling the scanner as a secure mobile banking feature. The company even teased a "Samsung Pass" program in the works to let the iris scanner authenticate bank transactions, a sensible move with a feature this secure.

    While some of you might want to stick to the average fingerprint scanner, it'll take wearing gloves on a cold day or some soaking wet fingers to know just how cool it is that your eyes are a way you can unlock your phone.

    Index

    Software

    Obviously, this new blend of hardware brings a mix of old and new to the chaebol's approach to software.

    The particular case of this iris scanner enables a new "Secure Folder" that allows you to store any data like media or even a separate copy of an app in a more private way. The service doesn't limit authentication methods to just the iris scanner, but it's the most logical way to have the service be exclusive to you. Samsung shared much about how it spent a good deal of time building Knox around this feature. And it delivered.

     

    Other improvements come from Samsung's new "Redefined UX," dubbed now as "Grace UX." There is a far more subtle appeal to it than previous software builds. Sure, there are smoother transitions that make the experience feel very fluid, but gone is the focus on replacing icons for text — instead, we find fields. Search fields everywhere. The settings menu received a major revamp along with the drop down menu. The whole purpose, according to the company, is to provide a frictionless experience for the user. We think that's the perfect way to describe it. If that UI is not good enough for you, head on over to the theme store, where the approach is far more useful. Instead of that all or nothing approach of old, you can now select elements separately, — from wallpapers to themes to icon packs — which is a good thing. Well, it's good even if we notice more price tags now than we did before.

    One very neat surprise within the drop down menu was a new guest in town: a blue light filter. In a nutshell, the feature behaves like Apple's Night Shift in turning off the more straining colors of your screen. Samsung's software allows you to not only set times for the filter to automatically turn on, it also can be configured to when the sun sets in your area. 

    Samsung's "Always On Display" has also grown up to accommodate new designs and colors. You now even get notification icons for third party apps, which you can then glance at with a double tap on the screen.

    Pop out the S Pen and you're greeted with new hardware that's more precise and feels more natural than ever, even if the software mimics a lot of what you could do last year. There are some bonuses this year like a GIF creator and a centralized hub to keep the bevy of note-taking apps in one place. Samsung even brought an instant translator through a hover action as well. More on that in our S Pen video above.

    Slide from the right and you've got the exact same edge software features that you had with the Galaxy S7 edge, providing quick shortcuts to your favorite apps, contacts, tasks, useful tools, and a bunch of other edge features that you can install or buy separately. Where the Note 7 proves to be better is that we notice a certain degree of palm rejection in using the device, which was extremely annoying on the Galaxy S7 edge.

    The same old features that we love from Galaxy phones make a return, like split screen multi-tasking ahead of Android Nougat and the Game Launcher to keep you from killing your game through accidentally tapping the capacitive keys. Game play, by the way, is just as blazing as we've come to expect from a Snapdragon 820 processor.

    Overall, the software experience proves to be an Android power user's dream boat, so long that you want to spend time actually using everything.

    Index

    Camera

    Screenshot_20160817-011501

    The topping cherry for Samsung has always been the camera. The Note 7 doesn't disappoint.

    We have an optically stabilized 12-megapixel main shooter with f/1.7 aperture identical to the one seen on the Galaxy S7, matched by a 5 megapixel selfie camera sharing the same aperture. Samsung has also redid its user interface to rely more on swipes than buttons for quicker interaction.

     

    As expected, the results are just stunning. Great color saturation, deep contrast and amazing low light performance. This saturation obviously doesn't play best in reds as there is minor clipping. Still, it's hard to find a camera combo that does this amazing of a job in 2016.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Video Sample (1080p) from Jules Wang on Vimeo.

    Video recording also brought some insane stabilization, but we did notice warping in our initial test video if you notice the tree up front. That could have to do with HDR video recording, but sadly, that's also part of our complaint as there is no way to know if the camera is recording video in HDR or not. We assume we're given the vivid color even on a gloomy day like this one, but keep in mind that HDR video is only available in 1080p at 30 fps.

    Index

    Experience

    galaxy-note-7-review-at-work

    Samsung's main selling point for the Galaxy Note 7 was for it to be a phone that works the way we live. In that respect, the blend of high-end hardware and productivity software goes very far, though your needs vary.

    SmartSelectImage_2016-08-15-23-09-45My needs have meant that I owned and have frequently used a Galaxy Note since 2012. At Pocketnow, our daily routines revolve around content sharing, so it's easier for me to Smart Capture what I want and not have to take a full screenshot only to crop it afterward. Scripting reviews involves continuously writing notes as we test products, so to be able to do so by just pulling out the S Pen — instead of jostling the phone out of the pocket to unlock it and then reach an app — is super practical. Sometimes I need to describe a change I'd like in scenery. Instead of fumbling with a text description, I just have to snap a photo and draw. I know some of these features are achievable with third-party apps, but the experience of a phone built around them is far superior.

    And then there are the things that only the Galaxy Note 7 can do, like protect data exclusively to you through the iris scanner and Secure Folder. This service served to not only store photos and data privately, but the idea of having a separate copy of an app with my company accounts logged in was true peace of mind. There's also the fact that you can't really get your notepad wet as you can a Galaxy Note 7, let alone use it while wet.

    Obviously, not everything can be perfect and there are features that still need some work, like the instant translator. People usually copy a full block of text over to Google Translate instead of going word for word. In the case of Samsung Notes, while we do praise the holistic approach, it would be awesome if notes and pen annotations would talk to each other as on Microsoft OneNote. 

    galaxy-note-7-review-phone

    Finally, there's the biggest caveat of what you'll need in order for a phone to replace a notepad: endurance. We've tested this Verizon variant in New York City for a week and have averaged 4 hours of screen-on time. In our test of running a 30-minute video against the Galaxy S7 edge (which gave us amazing 6 hours of screen time), both devices ended at with comparable drain. It may have to do with the fact that Verizon isn't powerful in our neighborhood of Queens where we received two bars of LTE at most. We felt the effects in call quality being a little spotty ever so often, though data speeds were average.

    Something that was also surprisingly less powerful than expected was the speaker. It wasn't terrible by any means, but it wasn't as strong as its S7 siblings. Again, the word "average" would be best to describe it.

    Index

    Pros/Cons

    Pros

    + Great build quality with amazing feel in the hand+ All the specs 2016 has to offer+ Outstanding camera with low light improvements+ Edge UI, S Pen, Iris Scanner, Secure Folder – It's got everything+ IP68 water resistance and expandable storage

    Cons

    – Fingerprint magnet– Slippery construction– Low speaker quality– Battery life sadly didn't improve

    Index

    Pricing and Availability

    att-galaxy-note-7

    In the US, the Galaxy Note 7 is available from all five major carriers and a whole bunch of retailers, a sample of which we have linked to below. We've also tagged the original price at launch. Keep in mind that Samsung has offered a free Gear Fit 2 or a 256GB direct to customers for those pre-ordering the device.

    AT&T ($879.99) | Sprint ($849.99) | T-Mobile ($849.99) | US Cellular ($785.99 [full payment only for new customers]) | Verizon ($864.00) | B&H ($879.99 [Unlocked]) | Amazon ($979.00 [Dual-SIM])

    Index

    Conclusion

    galaxy-note-7-review-somethingbokeh

    We're not sure if you've noticed, but this is not only one of our longest reviews in both text in video. The Galaxy Note 7 is also the phone that we've dedicated the most amount of feature coverage — and there's a reason for that.

    This is not just any smartphone. We boldly say it is the most feature-packed experience that money can buy, and it would not be fair to sum it all up in a 12-minute video or 2,700 words. As with every product, there is a small list of shortcomings. But even when you consider them, it's really hard to compare this Samsung phablet against other smartphones. Sure, our round of comparisons will follow this review, but it's hard to find another phone with this level of build quality, a camera that's this great, and a set of software features that's this complete. About the only thing we could say that would hold anyone back from buying one is the hefty price tag. It costs way more than the average flagship, but compare it against the likes of the iPhone 6s Plus or even the Galaxy S7 edge. It's when you punch those numbers that you discover the value you acquire with a Note 7 and where we could safely say that you're getting more for your money with the best of the best.

    The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is back to being on a league of its own. And as a long-time Note aficionado, I'm glad to feel right at home using one again.

    Index


    Source: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: listening to your customers can be a good thing

    Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update is finally out

    That was surprisingly quick, especially we're talking about Windows 10 Mobile here. Microsoft has just updated its blog post dated 2nd of August, which heralded the arrival of the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 PC, to now reflect the fact that the same Anniversary Update is also rolling out in smartphone form to owners of Windows 10 Mobile devices. Of course, its actual arrival on devices will vary by region, model, or maker, but it's still a good sign that Windows phone users won't have to wait long to get their own treat.

    Considering how long it took Microsoft to roll out Windows 10 Mobile itself to devices, it's nothing short of a miracle that this Anniversary Update comes just days after the PC rollout. It's probably even a misnomer to call it an Anniversary Update, but we'll take it for what it is, especially considering the features it brings.

    Unlike the initial rollout of Windows 10, the Anniversary Update isn't much of an overhaul as it is a refinement. Many of the changes Microsoft implemented for its mobile devices reflect the same tweaks that PC users enjoy. For example, users can now control music playback right from the lock screen, instead of having to unlock their phone first. The lock screen now also has a shortcut to the camera instead of a back button, which doesn't really make sense in that context.

    Notifications have likewise been revamped just as on the desktop, both in terms of visuals as well as behavior. Quick Settings are now even more customizable, allowing users to rearrange the tiles as they please. If you happen to also have a Windows 10 PC, which most Windows 10 Mobile users do, you can sync notifications between Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10, at times even allowing you to respond to those notifications.

    Cortana has received some polishing in the Anniversary Update, like the ability to make photo reminders among other things.

    These are just some of the things awaiting Windows 10 Mobile users in the Anniversary Update, and it will be understandable if they can't wait to get their hands on it. They are definitely free to check their smartphone's settings to see if it's already there but, like rollouts of this kind, some patience might be in order.

    SOURCE: Microsoft


    Source: Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update is finally out

    Tuesday, August 16, 2016

    Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update live now as Build 14393.67. Changelog, Hands-on, Review, Supported Phones

    And Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update is live now as Build 14393.67 (10.0.14393.67), confirmed by Dona Sarkar from Microsoft,

    Update 8/16/16: The Windows 10 Anniversary Update has begun rolling out for Windows 10 Mobile. The Anniversary Update includes additional features and improvements for your Windows 10 phone. To manually check for the update, on Start, swipe over to the All apps list, then select Settings > Update & security > Phone update > Check for updates. Note that availability may vary by manufacturer, model, country or region, mobile operator or service provider, hardware limitations and other factors. Supported Phones list:

    Lumia Icon, 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, MCJ Madosma Q501

    Read our Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update review and massive changelog + hands-on demo of changes vs Threshold by clicking on the links below.

    ⇒Anniversary update Review (Video too)

    ⇒Anniversary update Massive changelog & Hands-on demo of new features vs Threshold

    Windows Insiders in Fast Ring last received Windows 10 Mobile Build 14393.67 as the cumulative update Build for Anniversary update RTM Build 14393. You can read changelog and our hands-on review of the build by clicking on the link below.

    ⇒Build 14393.67 Changelog

    Good news for those waiting for Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update to roll-out to their devices!! Windows 10 Mobile Build 14393.67 that Microsoft last released to all Insiders in all rings now has been uploaded to Microsoft's Production servers. This has been revealed via availability of the Build 14393.67 in Microsoft update catalogue as "Windows Mobile 10 Production Bundle".

    Build 14393.67 Production

    The update is 916.3 MB in size and it may require up to 1.2 GB free storage for smooth upgrade. Microsoft has talked about being almost ready to release the Anniversary update for Mobile devices, so be ready.

    Thanks Vicky, Pinto for the tip. Cheers!!
    Source: Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary update live now as Build 14393.67. Changelog, Hands-on, Review, Supported Phones

    Why would HP come back to smartphones and with Windows 10 mobile?

    HP Elite x3Windows Phone may be a dead man walking, but the PC giants still cling to the dream of a unified platform spanning traditional and mobile devices. Hewlett-Packard, whose record in mobile operating systems has been particularly disastrous – especially its short-lived acquisition of Palm's webOS – is following Dell in sidelining Android and focusing on Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones and tablets.

    Latest dilemma

    This is the latest example of the dilemma which has faced the PC industry – from Intel and Microsoft to the PC manufacturers – ever since the mobile device started to usurp the role of the desktop and notebook. Android has clearly won the handset OS wars, but it is dominated by cellphone players. The PC vendors have mainly failed to get a look-in on the Android space, so they are left, like Microsoft, relying on the convenience which a single OS offers business people, in particular, in order to preserve a role for Windows.

    Microsoft's Windows 10 launch was a make-or-break attempt to retain Windows' dominance, especially in the enterprise, by promoting it as a top-to-bottom, all-devices OS. That is why the firm has been forced to hang onto a mobile edition (though this has been visibly a lower priority than the main PC version), despite the failure of Windows Phone and the ill-starred acquisition of Nokia's devices. Windows 10 is having some success in the mobile world on tablets, notably with the rising adoption of hybrids like Microsoft's own Surface. HP and Dell will be hoping that the trend continues and they can ride the wave to cling to some kind of relevance in the mobile, post-PC world.

    Dumping Android

    HP is building its mobile strategy firmly around Windows 10 Mobile and has discontinued its low cost Android tablets, while not updating its enterprise models. NetworkWorld reports that HP executives say all future mobile devices will be built around W10 unless they see significant new demand for Android. Dell has also cut Android devices to focus on Windows, after multiple failed attempts to become a mainstream smartphone vendor. Lenovo, of course, has a different strategy, having acquired the former Motorola handset unit from Google in its determination to be a mobile giant, but in the larger-screen device market, it has increased the number of Windows 10 hybrid PC/tablets it offers, and has reduced the number of Android tablets.

    Many of these moves reflect the desperation of PC suppliers faced with the slow but certain death of their golden goose and with a mobile market which is run by other companies (even in the promising hybrids segment they now have to compete with Microsoft itself).

    However, there are also worrying signs for Google and Android. The OS's dominance of smartphones is unassailable, and is gaining ground even on iOS. But it has been less convincing in tablets, and that entire market has seen a dramatic slowdown in growth over the past couple of years. The most robust element is the hybrid, which against the odds is being driven by the old Microsoft/Intel partnership with the W10 Surface family. In other words, the incumbency of Windows, especially among business users with large-screened devices, may be far harder to disrupt than Google had hoped, even in the face of the decline of the PC.

    Promise of single platform

    HP is placing its hopes on Microsoft's promise of a single platform for all products from server to PC to handset to M2M gadget. It is even re-entering the smartphone space for the umpteenth time, with the Elite X3 handset, running W10 Mobile (an OS with less than 1% global share, according to Gartner, while its predecessor Windows Phone has less than 4 percent). However, HP is not after massive handset sales, but is targeting high margin office workers with a handset that can also act as a PC replacement when connected to the cloud, running Universal Windows apps.

    Michael Park, VP and general manager of mobility at HP, told NetworkWorld that W10 aligns better than Android with the company's PC, virtual reality and augmented reality strategy – also a warning note for Google, which is placing VR/AR at the heart of the Android roadmap too. HP will bring AR apps based on Microsoft's high-impact HoloLens technology to the Elite X3.

    "We're not trying to hit the volumes and scales of Android," Park said in the interview. "We're going after IT shops. There are a lot of people in the commercial domain who are not using Pokemon Go." However, HP will include budget models in its Windows range – it has announced a Stream notebook running W10 for $199. The firm will continue to offer Chromebooks, which run Google's other system, Chrome OS, but can also access Android apps. Android will also continue to be supported in some other areas such as mobile printing.

    First published at Rethink-Wireless

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    Source: Why would HP come back to smartphones and with Windows 10 mobile?