Windows 10 Mobile Stagnates As Eligible Windows Phones Already Upgraded

#Windows10 #Mobile – Windows 10 Mobile Stagnates As Eligible Windows Phones Already Upgraded : Windows 10 Mobile was launched earlier this year for approximately 50 percent of the Windows Phone device lineup, and it turns out that the majority of phones eligible for the upgrade already performed the switch.

Statistics provided by AdDuplex show that Windows 10 Mobile's share stagnated for the second month, which is nothing more than the living proof that devices that were eligible for the upgrade already completed it, so only little can change in the coming months.

Windows 10 Mobile is now running on 13.7 percent of the devices in the Windows phone ecosystem, while Windows Phone 8.1 has a share of no less than 78.2 percent. This is also the confirmation that Microsoft's decision to kill apps for Windows Phone 8.1 (such as Skype) and focus exclusively on Windows 10 Mobile is leaving plenty of users behind, but Redmond doesn't really seem to care about this too much these days.

Windows Phone 8.0 is not too far either with 6 percent share, while Windows Phone 7.x still shows up in the charts with 2.1 percent.

"Anniversary Update leading the charts"

When it comes to Windows 10 Mobile versions, the Anniversary Update (version 1607) is the leading choice with 84.9 percent, followed by Windows 10 Mobile 1511 with 9.5 percent. 5.6 percent of the users are running preview builds of Redstone 2.

"Developers targeting Windows 10 Mobile can probably start leaving 1511 users behind to take advantage of the new OS capabilities," AdDuplex says in the report.

Lumia 535 is currently the top Windows Phone model worldwide with a share of 13.3 percent, followed by Lumia 520 with 10.5 percent, and Lumia 640 with 8.8 percent. These stats haven't changed too much from the previous month and are unlikely to change in the coming months either.

Lumia 550 is the number one model in the Windows 10 Mobile ecosystem with 13.5 percent, followed by Lumia 535 and Lumia 640 with 12.9 and 11.8 percent, respectively. New devices such as Lumia 950 are far behind with 6.6 percent. The newly-launched HP Elite X3 is on position number 36. Source: softpedia

Source: Windows 10 Mobile Stagnates As Eligible Windows Phones Already Upgraded

Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 With Continuum: Specs and Features Revealed (VIDEO)

#SurfacePhone #Mobiles – Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 With Continuum: Specs and Features Revealed (VIDEO) : Microsoft Surface products have obviously been manufactured for the purpose of productivity and business. Because of this, Microsoft is working behind giving their customers the best productivity solution, and this solution is integrated into the anticipated Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 – the Continuum.

Since other users still prefer Android and iOS, Microsoft is posed with a challenge for their Windows operating system, especially with the upcoming Microsoft Surface Phone 2016. Android is famous for its performance, while the iOS has a good cross-platform integration.

On the contrary, Windows mobile integrates both Android's and iOS' strong points with Continuum. Although previous Windows phone have already included this key point to its software, the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 is said to have refined the said feature.

A Continuum Mode is native to the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016. The device can transform from a phone into a workstation within seconds after its Display Dock and its necessary peripherals are attached.

Through Continuum, the Surface Phone can power-up itself into its unique desktop setup. According to Windows Central, the Continuum can help user have a multi-functional version of Windows 10 by the power of the Surface Phone; a monitor, keyboard, and optical mouse have to be attached in order to fully take advantage of this feature.

The said feature will ultimately bring a change into how hard users make use of their devices, especially the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016. As reported by The Inquirer, the ability of the device to convert a phone into a basic desktop computer will definitely enhance productivity into a leveled-up experience.

As of this time, the device is said to be launched on Oct. 26. However, some rumors claim that its launching will be next year. One possible reason of this is the release of its processor Intel Kaby Lake.

The processor is going to be launched next year. The Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 is one catalyst in the advancement of smartphone and in technological advancement as a whole. Source: universityherald

Source: Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 With Continuum: Specs and Features Revealed (VIDEO)

Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 Release Date: Handset Ready to Break Lumia Jinx?

#SurfacePhone #MicrosoftLumia – Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 Release Date: Handset Ready to Break Lumia Jinx? : Microsoft Surface Phone 2016, breaker of the Lumia jinx, is on every tech enthusiast's lips. The highly-anticipated device is expected to break all barriers and land itself directly in the midst of cut-throat smartphone competition with top-class specs and awe-inspiring features. Alas, the maker is silent though!

Microsoft has not divulged any detail about the upcoming Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 handset and neither has it denied nor confirmed any of the million rumors rattling the Internet every now and then. The hype is building up and is taking mammoth proportions but that million-dollar confirmation remains elusive.

With October nearing its end, admirers are frustrated; though a glimmer of hope remains that the tech giant may at least announce the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 release by month-end. The Redmond tech giant has reportedly acquired the Surfacephone.com domain name and is seriously thinking of ending the Lumia line of phones.

Reports have hinted at three Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 variants. A 32GB variant is expected to have a 3GB RAM, the 128GB variant, 6GB of RAM and 512GB variant, 8GB of RAM. Some believe that the Surface Phone will be perfect for professionals and businessmen.

Some of the wishful specs in the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 would be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor, 5.7-inch AMOLED display with screen resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, Windows 10 Redstone 2 operating system, USB Type-C connectivity, highly-anticipated Surface Pen, 20MP primary camera/8MP selfie camera and Carl Zeiss lens. A fingerprint scanner will also be incorporated in the phone.

PC Tablet writes that the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 could support Microsoft Continuum and also hints at Intel Kaby Lake processor and not Snapdragon.

The company is holding a Windows 10 event on Oct. 26 and fans could be holding their breath for a Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 reveal. The device will likely be launched early 2017. As regards the price of the handset, users may have to shell out anything in the range of $700 – $1,100. Stay tuned on GameNGuide for more updates on Microsoft Surface Phone 2016. Source: gamenguide

Source: Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 Release Date: Handset Ready to Break Lumia Jinx?

MICROSOFT EXPECTS WINDOWS PHONE TO CONTINUE ITS COLLAPSE IN THE SHORT TERM

#Microsoft #WindowsPhone – Microsoft Expects Windows Phone to Continue Its Collapse in the Short Term : We've known for a while that Windows Phone is declining, but the latest financial results provided by Microsoft for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 revealed a 72 percent drop which does nothing more than to confirm that the future will be gloom for Redmond's smartphone platform.

And while there's still hope that Windows Phone will recover at some point in the future, it appears that not even Microsoft itself expects this to happen on the short term, with Amy Hood, CFO and EVP of the company, explaining in a conference call with analysts after the earnings report that continued decline is very likely.

Phone and Surface decline

Hood said that phones would continue to drop in the next quarter, and so will do the Surface lineup, as the company's existing models are turning 1. Microsoft is already trying to prevent a drop with discounts and special offers in the United States and in other markets, but the next quarter results will reveal if the Surface still sells well enough one year after its launch.

"Phone revenue will continue to decline and as we previously announced, we anticipate closing the sale of our feature phone business in Q2. We expect surface revenue to decline as we anniversary the product launch from a year ago," Amy Hood explains.

According to different research firms, Windows Phone has already dropped below the 1 percent market share threshold, and some put it closer to 0.5 percent.

ALSO READ : MICROSOFT SURFACE PHONE: GREAT SPECS, QUESTIONABLE FEATURES

Microsoft, on the other hand, seems to be more interesting in improving the software side of its mobile effort, as it's preparing a major Windows 10 Mobile update with Redstone 2 in the spring. At the same time, the hardware strategy is lagging behind these days, and rumor has it that the Lumia brand would go away completely.

Microsoft says that it's betting big on partners for bringing phones running Windows 10 Mobile to the market, but for the moment, the number of companies interested in such devices is still well below expectations. source:softpedia

Source: MICROSOFT EXPECTS WINDOWS PHONE TO CONTINUE ITS COLLAPSE IN THE SHORT TERM

5 Recently launched Smartphones that are now a Thing of Past

Darwin's evolutionary theory 'Survival of the Fittest' is perfectly valid for technology market. It is a world where a new product is born every day and has to fight the market and competition to stay in business.

As you may know by now that we witness a number of product launches on every day basis, spread across multiple categories- laptops, tablets, wearables, apps, drones, etc., the type of consumers' product that always manages to make headlines is 'Smartphones'.

SEE ALSO: Intex Cloud Scan FP vs Xolo Era 2 Launched with Reliance Jio 4G SIM Support: Which One is Better?

There's so much going on in the world of smartphones that a flagship handset launched today might become archaic by next month or maximum by next quarter. The smartphone's shelf life is shorter than any other product in the modern technology world.

SEE ALSO: 5 exciting features to expect from the upcoming Samsung Chromebook Pro

Having said that, we have witnessed a number of smartphone launches in the recent past that generated a lot of hype during the first few weeks or months of their arrival, but have now become a thing of past. This list of long forgotten smartphones clearly shows how brutal the world of technology is.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!

Micromax Yu Yunicorn

Micromax's sub brand- Yu advertised Yunicorn as the game-changer affordable flagship smartphone for Indian consumers. The company even loaded the handset with high-end specifications such as MediaTek Helio P10 processor, 4GB RAM, a 4,000mAh battery and a fingerprint scanner, but sadly it did not manage to please the smartphone enthusiasts.

The device, touted as a 'flagship killer' by the company lost the war to Chinese counterparts such as Redmi Note 3, LeEco Le 2, Moto G4, Lenovo K4 Note, etc. Sadly, Micromax don't even remember the handset in its memories.

BlackBerry Priv

BlackBerry's first Android-based device turned a lot of heads but took a fall due to its steep pricing. The smartphone was not inferior to any of its competitor and offered top of the line hardware and features, but with BlackBerry's poor pricing strategy, it is now a distant memory.

BlackBerry Priv offers a 5.4-inch dual-curved QHD screen with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. The Priv is powered by a 3,410mAh battery and a Schneider-Kreuznach certified 18-megapixel primary camera with dual-LED flash, optical image stabilization to ensure great clarity to the images, and the ability to record 4K videos. The Priv also features a 2 MP camera with wide selfie mode.

Microsoft Lumia flagships

While Lumia handsets were gradually climbing the ladder of mainstream smartphone category, they were never seen as the true competitors of Android and iOS based devices.

Lumia 950 and 950XL were the last and the most amazing Lumia devices from the company that offered high-end hardware and one of the best mobile OS- Windows 10.

Android One

How can we not include the Google's Dream Project- Android One in the list, which is aimed to provide dirt cheap Android smartphones to consumers. A number of smartphones were launched under the campaign but are now lost in the war of affordable Android smartphones.

Micromax, Karbonn and Spice were the first to introduce the affordable Android One handsets in the market.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The latest to join the list of smartphones that are now in the pages of history is Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The manufacturing fault in the smartphone's battery units caused damages in homes, cars and to Samsung's huge yearly profits. Had it not been banned by airliners, the Note 7 would have crashed airplanes as well.

Nevertheless, we really miss this one and would love to get one, but with a bundled fire extinguisher.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!

Source: 5 Recently launched Smartphones that are now a Thing of Past

Video Calls activated in WhatsApp Beta for Windows Phone

Spanish site OneWindows.es reports that some WhatsApp Beta users are now able to make video calls from their Windows Phones.

The feature appears to have been added via a server-side change, as it did not require a new update to the app, and is not available to all, but users report re-installing the app can make the feature available.

When you click the call button you are now offers two options – Voice and Video Calls. The video calls feature lets you change to the rear camera and mute the call.

Other changes to the software is that it will now show in your log if a call was voice or video, and let you initiate either.

If you don't have WhatsApp Beta we'll let you know once this feature is available for all users — so keep an eye out for it.

Switch To Next Tab

Source: Video Calls activated in WhatsApp Beta for Windows Phone

What to look for when buying USB-C cables and adapters

Buying a cable shouldn't be difficult. It doesn't have to be if you follow these simple tips.

USB standards have a long history, and they've gone through plenty of changes since first implemented in 1996. The premise behind it all is providing a way to standardize cables, connectors, communication, and power transfer between electronic devices. Some of the first equipment to use USB were the really old, brightly colored iMac and speakers. USB was designed to be the one standard that does it all, and that's pretty much how it all worked out.

You can think of USB-C as a set of rules to make smarter USB plugs, cables, and connectors.

The USB-C specification is one of those USB standards. Released in August 2014, it's a set of rules for a small 24-pin reversible plug connector to use with existing USB system. Some of the connections inside are used to tell which way a cable is plugged in; others are used to transfer data or power; and some are used as a dedicated connection to allow both sides to talk to each other, and make sure the right amount of electrical current is being sent to safely charge or power one device from the other. Though it was released in tandem with the USB 3.1 specification, USB Type-C rules are only for the physical connections — data speeds are covered by other rules. You can think of USB-C as a set of rules to make smarter USB plugs, cables, and connectors.

More: Getting to know USB-C infographic

The best parts of the USB-C specification are also the parts that make buying the right cable or adapter important. With USB-C, all connected devices can send power out as well as receive power in. You can charge a phone or set of headphones or anything else that uses the USB-C spec with another phone that uses the USB-C specs. You could (in theory) build a cable that can pull power from several Lumia 950s or Nexus 6Ps and charge the battery in a MacBook if you wanted to.

Buying the right cable is a must or you risk damaging the things you're plugging in, or even starting a fire.

USB-C also includes a native way to "fast-charge" one USB-C certified device from another safely using that dedicated connection channel mentioned above. It's also an open specification that anyone can use and alter to better suit their needs, and companies making phones have done just that. This means buying the right cable is a must or you can risk damaging the things you're plugging in or even starting a fire.

More: This USB-C problem isn't going away anytime soon

But don't fret. You don't need to know all the rules in the USB-C spec or how it can tell which way it's plugged in or any of the other geeky details to make the right choice if you follow a few easy tips when you're buying a cable or connector. These three tips will help you get exactly what you need.

Buy a reputable brand

We've all seen ultra-cheap USB cables online or at the drug store and were tempted to buy them. While still not the best idea in the world, most of the time that was fine with the older USB Type-B micro standard used on most phones and other gadgets. Low voltage and low current were sent on the same pins every time, and the cable only went in one direction. That's changed, even for the older Micro-USB "standards" because of the need for faster charging.

Don't buy a USB-C cable just because it's cheap.

When you're buying a USB-C cable or a connector, look for a well-known brand. This is the best way to make sure the cable is using the appropriate size wires inside, the connector is properly constructed and the right resistance is being used. All three of these things are important when you're sending more current over tiny wires, and cheaply-made cables that aren't using the right components can be dangerous.

Cables and adapters from reputable companies often go on sale and for just a few dollars you'll have something a lot safer than you might get if you buy cheap generic-packaged cables. The best part is that we want to save money on good cables, too, and when we find a great deal we'll share it right on our homepage and on social media.

Know what you need

Remember when we said the USB-C spec was an open standard that companies can change to better suit their needs? Phone manufacturers are doing that, and sometimes the cables and chargers they sell and use aren't compatible with all the rules. Qualcomm's Quick Charge is really popular, and they can use a USB-C connector sometimes that isn't fully compatible with the standards. Other companies have their own proprietary fast charging methods, and they, too, may not be fully compliant.

Not everyone is using USB-C in a standards compliant way, so be mindful of "quick charge" methods.

If your phone has a USB-C port you can look at the papers it came with or online to see if it uses the port in a non-compliant way. Terms like "Quick Charge" or "Turbo Charge" or any other trademarked fast charging method are a dead giveaway. The list of devices doing this is always changing but at the time of this writing phones from OnePlus, HTC, LG, and Samsung that have a USB-C connector aren't fully compliant, and you shouldn't use the charger, cable, or any adapter that came with them for any other piece of equipment that has a USB-C port. A third-party high-quality cable that follows the specifications can be safely used for these phones, just don't go the other way and order extra cables from one of these companies to use with other equipment.

Your best bet here is to use the charger, cable, and any adapters that came with the phone itself. When you need a replacement, check the manufacturer's website or hit them on Facebook or Twitter to find out which cable they recommend.

So far, phones, tablets, and laptops from Google, Apple, and Microsoft have all been fully USB-C compliant. A quality third-party cable or adapter that's built correctly (that's what these three things tell you) will work fine for any of these devices. Just don't use something from HTC or OnePlus or any other company that may be using the connector differently.

Meet Benson Leung

Benson Leung is a software engineer at Google. He's also the best friend we could ask for when it comes to buying quality USB-C compliant cables and adapters because he tests them in his spare time. Thanks, Benson.

This is important because there are a lot of cables that have a USB-C plug on one end and a "regular" USB plug on the other that are non-compliant in a dangerous way. Besides using the appropriately sized wire and properly shielding the cable and connector ends, a "regular" USB to USB-C cable requires a 56k Ohm resistor to act as what's called a "pullup" on the VBUS (pins 2 and 17 if you're curious) power channel. This is one of the things you need so a USB-C device can let a power source know how much current to send and when to stop sending it. Using a cable with the wrong size wire will damage the wire. Using a cable with the wrong size resistor can damage the things plugged into each end, which costs a lot of money and could possibly start a fire.

You can test the resistance of a cable yourself, or you can see what Benson says. Thanks, Benson!

This isn't just a problem with bargain-bin cables, either. Some very high-profile companies have had (or still have) issues with their cables. If you're the type who has fun doing things like testing continuity and resistance of USB cables, that's awesome and you should test everything you buy then share your results. If you're not, you can check to see if a cable is "Benson Leung approved."

Thanks to the magic of Amazon, this is easy. Leung makes a habit of leaving feedback for all the cables he tests at Amazon. You can check to see if he's in the comments and reviews section and if so, see if he says the cable or adapter is safe to use. This is a no-brainer. Before you buy a USB-C cable, check to see if it passes the test. We'll make it easy — just check out the list below.

See at Amazon

USB-C isn't dangerous. It's capable of safely delivering relatively high current as long as the proper equipment is used, and offers a lot of benefits because of the way it can communicate with other compliant devices. What started out by powering small speakers in the late twentieth century is now robust enough to talk with the instruments used to make music and the bus the band drives to concerts. It's important to use the proper cables and adapters, though.

Just follow these tips and you'll be fine.

Source: What to look for when buying USB-C cables and adapters