This developer got Continuum for phones to work on a Lumia 830

Continuum for Phones is a neat little feature that's supported by some of the newest Windows 10 Mobile devices. If you own a device like the Lumia 830, or even the Lumia 930, you won't be able to run Continuum for phones. However, a developer was able to get Continuum for phones to work on his Lumia 830. Before you go ahead and ask how to get Continuum on your phone, don't get your hopes up as this is a very tricky process and can brick your process during the process. Nevertheless, here are some screenshots of Continuum running on the Lumia 830:

As the screenshots show, Continuum for phones works as expected on the Lumia 830. However, I was told that the device often crashed when Continuum was enabled — which is probably why Microsoft didn't bring this feature to old features. Continuum for phones may seem like a small feature, but it is very powerful and it also requires a lot of power to work smoothly.

Once again, this isn't something you can use right now without tweaking your device — and even if it was possible, we don't recommend trying it out unless you're aware with all the issues that can be caused by this.

Source: This developer got Continuum for phones to work on a Lumia 830

Starbucks app comes to Windows 10 Mobile -- maybe Microsoft's platform isn't dead

Let's be honest, folks -- Windows 10 Mobile is not a popular phone operating system. Compared to Android and iOS, Microsoft's OS is largely insignificant. In fact, many people -- including my colleague Mihăiță Bamburic -- consider it a dead platform without a future.

Today, however, Windows 10 Mobile gets a significant app, showing that maybe it isn't dead after all -- Starbucks. While you may not view it as a big deal, many people depend on the coffee chain's app to pay for drinks and find locations. The fact that Starbucks put resources towards the app should make Microsoft fans very happy.

"Today, we're excited to share that the Starbucks app for Windows 10 Mobile is available today in the Windows Store and is free to download. The app is available for customers in the U.S., UK and Canada", says Mollie Ruiz-Hopper, Editor-in-Chief, Windows Blog.

Ruiz-Hopper further says, "the Starbucks app for Windows 10 Mobile allows customers to use their Windows phone to pay at more than 7,500 Starbucks stores -- no wallet necessary. Starbucks customers can also use the app to manage your registered Starbucks Cards, locate a Starbucks near you and send an eGift, all using your mobile device".

Unfortunately, this app is not as powerful as the iOS and Android versions. On my iPhone, for instance, I can order drinks in advance, get access to free premium apps, and see the song currently playing in the location. None of those things are available on the Windows 10 Mobile version.

For now, it just serves as a way to pay for food and beverages, plus find locations. You know what? That is better than nothing. Hopefully Starbucks is committed to improving the app as time marches on.

Does the Starbucks app signal an upcoming 180 for the Windows 10 Mobile platform, or is this merely a blip? Time will tell. Obviously Microsoft has an uphill battle, but with the very successful adoption of Windows 10 on the desktop, it is absolutely possible that an increased number of consumers will be attracted to it on mobile too.

Source: Starbucks app comes to Windows 10 Mobile -- maybe Microsoft's platform isn't dead

Apple iPhone 6S vs Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X: Which one to buy?

The 2015 flagship smartphones from Apple, Google, and Microsoft are already here with Apple iPhone 6S duo taking the lead in the sales figure, followed by the Nexus duo of smartphones. However, the Lumia 950 pair has also launched and the device looks promising. We have to do a specs comparison for Apple iPhone 6S, Microsoft Lumia 950, and Google Nexus 5X.

Let's take all of them to the face off and see which one has got the real power.

Apple iPhone 6S vs Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X: Design

Let's start with the design. Apple iPhone 6s has been made out of the Aluminum 7000 series alloy unibody measuring 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm and weighs 143g, which is a bump over the predecessor's score on weighing scale. Except a little S badge on the back, the iPhone 6s features the same old design with protruding camera and antenna stripes.

Talking about the Microsoft Lumia 950, it features the representative premium polycarbonate body with the on-screen buttons for the navigational purposes. It measures 145 x 73.2 x 8.2 mm and weighs at 150g. The smartphone features a large metallic ring with the camera lens peeking out of it and a Tri-LED RGB flash for accurate low lights.

Moving over the Google Nexus 5X, the smartphones has been made out of the polycarbonate body with a little protrusion housing the camera lens along with a Dual-LED flash in the neighboring area. Below that Google has added a new fingerprint sensor called as Nexus Imprint.

Even though choosing the design is totally a personal choice, iPhone 6s features the best premium design featuring the unibody Aluminum 7000 alloy shell. It feels great in the hand, has a nice grip due to the increased thickness and weight. However, when it comes to the superior gripping Nexus and Lumia 950 took the point.

Apple iPhone 6S vs Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X: Display

Moving over to the display, Apple iPhone 6s features a 4.7-inch Retina LED-backlit display with a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels and 326 PPI. The front panel has been made out of the Ion-strengthened glass with oleophobic coating. The glass type offers a protection against the scratches and occasional drops, however, keeping sharp objects, keys, and coins would be bad for the aesthetics.

The resolution and screen size is similar to what we saw last year; however, 3D Touch is what Apple has added new this year. The pressure touch is what making the difference in the iOS 9 user experience by offering shortcuts to the native and third party applications. What's not good about this is that not every developer is adopting 3D Touch that fast.

Talking about the Lumia 950, it features 5.2-inches AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels at 564 PPI. It's a ClearBlack display and has been made out of the Gorilla Glass 3 to offer protection from scratches and falls.

Moving over to the Google Nexus 5X, LG has installed a Gorilla Glass 3, 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels at 424 PPI. iPhone 6s is surely the winner for the 3D Touch it is coming with, but the resolution of Lumia 950 XL is far better and crisp than the other two competitors.

Apple iPhone 6S vs Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X: Performance

Moving over to the specifications, we have a new A9 processor on the iPhone 6s, which apparently beats the scores of MacBook 2015 and few other devices that were announced previously by Apple. As per the statement from the company, these new processors are capable of giving you a 70 percent bump in the CPU performance and 90 percent more GPU power over the previous generation A8 processor. iPhone 6s comes with 2GB of RAM and is available in the 16/64/128GB variants – Don't buy the base configuration.

In the Lumia 950 XL, Microsoft has packed some of the great processors. Powered by the Hexacore Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 ( Dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 & Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53) processor, the Lumia 950 XL is coming with the 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. It only comes with 32GB configuration and offers expandability up to 200 GB.

On the other hand, Google Nexus 5X is also coming with some impressive specifications and the processor is just the same. Nexus 5X features Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 – Hexacore Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 identical to the Lumia 950. However, it carries a little less RAM of the 2GB along with the storage tier of 16/32GB with no microSD expandability option.

The average user isn't much concerned about the benchmark scores; however, these smartphones won't even disappoint the power users as well. The continuum on the 950 is just amazing when it turns the smartphone into a full-fledged computer and without a doubt, the Lumia 950 takes a point over here by turning the impressive specifications into an even more compelling product.

Talking about the camera, then we have a 12MP iSight camera on the iPhone 6s capable of shooting pictures at a resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels. It has Geo-tagging, simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, and HDR (Photo/panorama). On the front side, Apple has added a new 5MP FaceTime camera with the Retina flash. Now there is no additional hardware on the front panel but a new chip inside that illuminates the display to the maximum brightness. Also, not to forgot, we now have Live Photos that move soon you Pressure Touch the display.

In the Lumia 950, Microsoft has added a new  20MP camera capturing images with a resolution 4992 х 3744 pixels and has an RGB Tri-LED flash that can enhance the low vivid photographs to a great extent. Other than that it features, 1/2.4′ sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, PureView technology, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, and HDR. On the front side, we have the same 5MP shooter for the selfies.

Moving over to the Nexus. LG has added a 12.3 MP camera coupled with laser focus and dual-LED flash. Other features include 1.55µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, and panorama. Also, on the front, we have the very ordinary 5MP camera for selfies and other purposes.

Out of the three, the Lumia 950 carries the most powerful specifications and clearly the winner for this section.

iPhone 6s takes a battery of 1715 mAh and can get you throughout the day without much of trouble. In the Lumia 950, Microsoft has packed a 3000 mAh battery along with wireless charging. It can offer you a standby up to 67 hours and talk time up to 288 hours on a 2G network. Nexus 5X, on the other hand, features a 2700 mAh battery that can take you throughout the day without any trouble again.

All of these smartphones feature the same set of sensors except Lumia 950 lacks the fingerprint sensing capabilities.

Verdict

Jumping over to the conclusion, all of these smartphones have been equipped with excellent specifications, have a good premium design. But we need to choose a winner here, and Lumia 950 is the one that takes the crown for the superior camera and display.

Source: Apple iPhone 6S vs Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X: Which one to buy?

Starbucks debuts payment app for Windows phones

Starbucks has released its app for Windows phones and mobile devices.

The Starbucks app for Windows 10 is now in the Windows store, where a few early users had comments ranging from "Now my windows phone is complete" to "can't log in." It was released Wednesday for customers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

The app works on devices supported by Windows 10 Mobile.

The first version allows customers to pay with their mobile device, manage their Starbucks Card and Rewards accounts, locate nearby stores and send egifts, according to Starbucks.

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This version does not have mobile order-and-pay, which allows customers to bypass lines by ordering their drinks and paying for it all using their smartphones. That feature will be added in a future version of the app.

Starbucks executives had said in March at its annual meeting that the company would be releasing a Windows Phone app within the next 45 days or so.

Starbucks released apps for the iPhone in 2009 and for Android phones in 2011. The mobile order-and-pay feature was added to the iPhone and Android apps last year.

Source: Starbucks debuts payment app for Windows phones

Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update May Launch August 9th

At long last, Microsoft released its Anniversary Update for Windows 10 yesterday, though not for every platform. The long anticipated update, which is the second major one for Windows 10 since it was released a year ago (we called them Service Packs in the old days), is now available for PCs, Xbox One consoles, and HoloLens, but not for Windows 10 Mobile devices. The Anniversary Update for Windows 10 Mobile is scheduled to arrive August 9. Well, maybe.

Microsoft's official Twitter account for Lumia in India posted a tweet indicating the August 9 release date, adding that "if you have any queries, we'll be here for you!" However, the tweet has since been taken down. Questions asking about the release to mobile devices have been met with vague responses that reference the Anniversary Update in general, and not specifically to Windows 10 Mobile.

"That's a great question!," Lumia India stated in response to a question on Twitter about when the Anniversary Updae will arrive for Lumia devices. "Microsoft will roll out the new update August 2 gradually, meaning it will take time for the update to reach everyone. Usually, it can take a couple of days, and even a few weeks, for devices to download and install a significant update like Windows 10 Anniversry Update. We're just here if you have further questions."

We're crossing out fingers that the originally Twitter post was correct and that Microsoft will begin rolling out its Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update on next Tuesday. However, keep in mind that not all devices will be supported. Here's a look at the ones can upgrade to Windows 10:

Lumia Icon

Lumia 1520

Lumia 930

Lumia 640 and 640 XL

Lumia 730 and 735

Lumia 830

Lumia 532, 535, and 540

Lumia 635 1GB, 636 1GB, and 638 1GB

Lumia 430 and 435

BLU Win HD w510u and BLU Win HD LTE x150q

MCJ Madosma Q501

One of the changes Windows 10 Mobile brings to handsets is a better version of Microsoft's universal Skype app. Microsoft also made it easier to navigate settings, put media controls on the lock screen, made it so you can prioritize notifications in the Action Center, and a few other tweaks.
Source: Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update May Launch August 9th

Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 | Windows 10 new features

Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 | Windows 10 new features Windows 10 has already been downloaded on more than 350 million devices, and as of today you can download the free Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Here's everything you need to know about the Windows 10 UK release date, price and new features. The free Anniversary Update is coming to all Windows 10 users on 2 August

By Matt Egan | 02 Aug 16

Windows 10, reviewed, became available on July 29 2015 in 190 markets globally as a free upgrade to customers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It's already been downloaded on more than 350 million devices, including the Xbox One, and today (2 August) the free Anniversary Update becomes available. Here's everything you need to know about the Windows 10 UK release date, price and new features.

See also:

Podcast discussion: Free upgrade ends for Windows 10 Windows 10 UK release date: When is the Anniversary Windows 10 update coming out?

Windows 10 Anniversary Update UK release date: 2 August 2016

There's big news on the next major update. Microsoft has just announced at Build 2016 that an 'Anniversary Update' is coming this summer. We now know that this will become available on 2 August. 

Microsoft also reiterated that its free update to Windows 10 offer is valid only until 29 July - click here for how to upgrade to Windows 10 now, and our advice on whether you should upgrade to Windows 10. If you haven't yet upgraded, you might be seeing the full-screen notification below. This is further evidence that Microsoft really will stop offering Windows 10 for free.

The Anniversary Update will include improvements to Cortana, Windows Hello and Ink. In particular, the Edge browser will support biometric logins so you'll be able to easily sign into websites with your fingerprint, for example.

Microsoft demonstrated build 14306 at the Build developers conference, showing how you'll be able to use your Surface Pen to make everyday tasks a lot easier. Whether that's jotting down a reminder on a sticky note (Cortana can then automatically add a reminder) or drawing a route on a map, the Pen will become hugely more useful on Surface tablets.

Another update said to be coming to Windows 10 is the ability to unlock Windows 10 devices using wearable tech. Microsoft is opening up its Windows Hello feature to allow wearables to unlock a Windows 10 PC, and at Computex 2016 showed how this was possible using the Microsoft Band. According to The Verge, Microsoft is also testing an update to its Authenticator app that will allow Windows 10 Mobile devices to unlock a PC.

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be required for Xbox Play Anywhere, announced at E3, which is due to arrive on 13 September. This will allow gamers to play compatible cross-platform games on both Windows 10 and Xbox.

How to get Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Assuming you are already running Windows 10, to run the Windows 10 Anniversary Update you'll need a PC with 2GB of RAM and 20GB of internal storage (that's for 64-bit, for 32-bit you'll need 16GB). The desktop version will run on devices with screens larger than 7in, while the mobile version works with devices that have screens up to 9in.

The Anniversary Update is available from 2 August, but may well take several days to roll out. Turn on automatic updates now to receive the Anniversary Update as soon as it is available by going to Start, Settings, Update and Security and turning on automatic updates.

You can also manually check for the Anniversary Update by going to Start, Settings, Update and Security, Check for Updates. 

If you can't wait, you can download the Anniversary Update now. Provided you have at least 4GB of space on a USB drive, portable hard drive or DVD, download the tool from here. 

Choose Create installation media for another PC, then select the language, edition and whether you want 32- or 64-bit. Save the file to a bootable USB drive or as an ISO; if you choose ISO you can then burn it to disc. Boot up the software and follow the wizard to install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Previous Windows 10 updates

Windows 10 has had its fair share of teething troubles, with some people claiming Microsoft launched an unfinished product too early just to hit a deadline. Whether true or not, Windows 10 is different from previous versions of the operating system: it's now a service rather than a standalone piece of software. In practice, that means it will be getting regular updates and changing over time.Think of it more like Google's Chrome web browser: you don't worry about which version you're running. Instead automatic updates bring improvements and new features regularly. So it is for Windows 10; we won't be be waiting for a Windows 11 - we might instead have to get used to calling it simply "Windows".

There have already been updates to the operating system since launch - and much lamenting over their forced nature - but the biggest update was what Microsoft called the 'Windows 10 Fall Update'. This arrived on November 12 and had several new features, none of which were particularly significant (and some of which were meant to be included in the 29 July release):

New, pre-installed Messaging and Skype Video apps

Improved context menus

Coloured title bars for apps

Extra column of tiles for Start menu

Ability to send text messages via Cortana (if you have a Windows 10 mobile phone)

Improvements to Microsoft Edge, including tab preview.

What you won't see is support for extensions in Microsoft Edge. According to rumours this will be added in an update some time this year.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update: Podcast discussion What about Windows Phone 10?

If you're also interested in Windows 10 mobile, check out the Lumia 950 and 950 XL. If you have a compatible Lumia Windows Phone you can install Windows 10 on your phone. For the latest on a release date - and when your phone will get upgraded to Windows 10 mobile, see When is Windows 10 mobile coming out?

Windows 10 UK price: How much does Windows 10 cost?

Windows 10 is free to end users. At least it will be a free upgrade for a lot of people. which ends on 29 July 2016. Users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 Update, and most Windows Phone 8 devices can upgrade to Windows 10 on their devices, for free. This is guaranteed for the first year of the new OS's shelf life, but we would be surprised if it didn't remain free - depending on uptake. For more detail, see Will my PC get Windows 10?

If you have a PC or laptop running XP or Vista and you want to upgrade, Windows 10 home costs £99.99 to download from Microsoft's online store. If you want Windows 10 Pro, that costs £189.99.

Suffice to say that in the face of Apple giving away OS X, and declining PC sales, it was always unlikely that Microsoft would charge for Windows 10. Add in the fact that Windows 10 is aimed at smartphones and tablets just as much as desktop PCs and laptops and you can see that there really isn't much of a market for selling the upgrade.

See also: How to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 10.

Enterprise customers are not part of the free upgrade deal, however. Jim Alkove, director of programme management, wrote in a blog post: 

"Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise are not included in the terms of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer we announced last week, given that active Software Assurance customers will continue to have rights to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside this offer, while also benefiting from the full flexibility to deploy Windows 10 using their existing management infrastructure."

How to get Windows 10

So, how do you get your hands on a copy of Windows 10? These days it's harder not to upgrade to Windows 10. If you have an eligible system you will have seen countless notifications. We've explained how to try to put a stop to Windows 10 nag messages, but it only makes sense for a minority of users not to upgrade.

Windows 10 is available through Windows Update so if you have selected automatic updates you should find it has already been downloaded and is ready to install when you go to Windows Update in the Control Panel. For more, see How to upgrade to Windows 10.

Installation time may vary between computers, but Microsoft claims that it could take as little as 20 minutes on a high spec machine – so we estimate it'll take around an hour for regular PCs.

New features in Windows 10

Perhaps the biggest news about Windows 10 is that it will be - in Microsoft's words, "One product family, one platform, one store". For the desktop version of Windows 10, there will be no more 'duality', as Microsoft's Joe Belfiore put it. That means no more split personality between modern apps and the 'old' desktop.

Here are what we think are the best 10 new features in Windows 10, including Cortana, multiple desktops, a proper start menu and more.

Windows 10: why is it called Windows 10?

During the short briefing in San Francisco when Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 (see below), it made it clear that it would be very much unified across all types of devices with screen sizes from 4 inches to 80 inches. It confirmed that the next version of Windows Phone - after 8.1 - would be 10 and said, "This product, when you see the product in your fullness I think you'll agree with us that it's a more appropriate name."

When questioned about ARM-based Surface tablets, the answer was, "we're building the software to update vast majority of devices out there." However, it was then confirmed the Surface tablets  with ARM processors won't be upgradeable to Windows 10.

Microsoft's Terry Myerson summed it up with, "Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows, unlocking new experiences to give customers new ways to work, play and connect. This will be our most comprehensive operating system and the best release Microsoft has ever done for our business customers, and we look forward to working together with our broader Windows community to bring Windows 10 to life in the months ahead."

Source: Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 | Windows 10 new features

Samsung's new jumbo phone unlocks with your eyeball and an iris scanner

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Jonathan Wong of Samsung's Knox Product Marketing shows the iris scanner feature of the Galaxy Note 7 in New York. Samsung releases an update to its jumbo smartphone and virtual-reality headset, mostly with enhancements rather than anything revolutionary during a preview of Samsung products. RICHARD DREW , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A screen magnification feature of the Galaxy Note 7 is demonstrated in New York. Samsung releases an update to its jumbo smartphone and virtual-reality headset, mostly with enhancements rather than anything revolutionary during a preview of Samsung products. RICHARD DREW , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A color blending feature of the Galaxy Note 7 is demonstrated in New York. RICHARD DREW , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The Galaxy Note 7, foreground, is displayed in New York. RICHARD DREW , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

View slideshow

Jonathan Wong of Samsung's Knox Product Marketing shows the iris scanner feature of the Galaxy Note 7 in New York. Samsung releases an update to its jumbo smartphone and virtual-reality headset, mostly with enhancements rather than anything revolutionary during a preview of Samsung products. RICHARD DREW , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

You'll be able to unlock Samsung's new phone by just looking at it.

The Galaxy Note 7 will come with an iris scanner, which matches patterns in your eyes with what was detected by your phone during setup. It offers an alternative to fingerprint ID, which doesn't work well when fingers are wet. Of course, the four-digit passcode will still work.

"We challenged our engineers to design a security system that's convenient and safe at the same time," said Justin Denison, a senior vice president for product strategy at Samsung. "It took five years to perfect, but it only takes a glance to unlock your phone."

Samsung isn't first, though. Microsoft's Lumia 950 phones had it.

Beyond that, the updates in the Note 7 are mostly enhancements, such as a stronger glass screen and more storage — 64 gigabytes, or double what Samsung usually offers, plus a slot to add more.

The Note 7 comes with a better camera — but it's the same one that the smaller Galaxy S7 phones got in March, save for interface enhancements to access settings and switch between the front and rear cameras more easily.

Samsung had lost its mojo after Apple matched the company on size with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014, but thanks to the popularity of the S7, Samsung just reported its best quarterly financial results in two years. The new Note 7 phone comes weeks before Apple is expected to announce new models.

Samsung typically releases its regular-size phones in the spring and jumbo phones in August. This time, Samsung has just one large model, which stays at 5.7 inches. It will have curved edges — a well-liked feature limited to a special "Edge" model before. The Note 7 will be available in the U.S. starting Aug. 19. Prices haven't been announced.

Samsung is also releasing an updated virtual-reality headset — with a dedicated home button, a wider field of view and a black interior to improve viewing. The new Gear VR will be available Aug. 19 for $100. A previously announced 360-degree camera called Gear 360 also comes out that day, for $350. As phones mature and innovation slows, VR has been one area in which gadget makers try to entice consumers.

As with past Note phones, the Note 7 comes with a stylus. It expands on a feature that lets you magnify text and images by hovering the pen over it. With the pen, people will have ways to easily create and share GIF animations.

The Note 7 also expands on a feature to give sensitive files an additional layer of security. You'll be asked for an iris scan, fingerprint or passcode to access documents you place in a Secure Folder. This way, if you're handing the phone to friends to browse pictures, you're not inadvertently giving them access to confidential work documents.

In previous phones, Samsung's Private Mode merely hid files and worked only with selected apps. Samsung says Secure Folder stores sensitive documents and even entire apps in a separate, secure location.

Source: Samsung's new jumbo phone unlocks with your eyeball and an iris scanner