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424 'Microsoft' stories May 2011 - April 2016
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Microsoft introduces Evernote, Facebook and Wunderlist integration in Outlook with Calendar Apps

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio Apr 7 2016 - 1:23 pm PT
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If there is one thing we learned from CEO Satya Nadella’s corporate restructuring of Microsoft over the last couple of years, it’s that he wants its services to be everywhere. And that doesn’t just mean apps like those in Office 365‘s suite keeping your productivity up even on non-Windows systems, but something that aims at a much deeper integration.

With today’s update rolling out for iOS and Android, the Outlook app is adding what the company calls “Calendar Apps”. While you could already see your calendar from within the dedicated tab inside the app, the new addition — which likely comes from the Sunrise acquisition — will allow services like Evernote, Facebook and Wunderlist to integrate as well…


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AT&T in talks to begin offering a Cyanogen-powered phone made by ZTE

Avatar for Stephen Hall Mar 30 2016 - 9:46 am PT
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According to a report this morning out of The Information, AT&T is in talks with Cyanogen to launch a phone running a version of Android made by the company, purportedly on ZTE hardware. This is notably the first time that a US carrier has considered selling a phone running the less-Google-controlled version of Android that powers phones like the Yu Yutopia and the WileyFox Swift…


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Microsoft’s Android-to-Windows porting tool ‘Project Astoria’ cancelled for good

Avatar for Edoardo Maggio Feb 26 2016 - 10:52 am PT
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A notorious problem given by Android and iOS‘ dominance in the mobile space is the lack of interest developers have in putting their effort into less successful and widely adopted platforms such as Windows Phone. However, in its grand plan, Microsoft announced compatibility of apps between the desktop and mobile versions of Windows 10 under the “Universal Windows Platform” umbrella.

To encourage devs, the Redmond giant also worked on some porting tools, the so called Windows ‘bridges’, namely “Project Islandwood” and “Project Astoria” – for porting from iOS and Android respectively – which after a troubled beginning are seeing their roads separating, with the former going forward and Astoria officially shutting down as of today, after a period of apparent hiatus.


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New ‘Hub Keyboard’ and ‘Sprightly’ Microsoft Garage projects now available for Android

Avatar for Stephen Hall Feb 23 2016 - 2:30 pm PT
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Microsoft’s Garage Projects seem to constantly be coming and going, but the last couple of months have seen more releases than usual. Last month Microsoft released a quirky new alarm clock called “Mimicker Alarm,” and now the maker of the flopped Android competitor Windows Phone has released two more projects: Hub Keyboard, and Sprightly…
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Cyanogen’s ‘MOD’ platform gives developers (Microsoft) access to deeper Android integration

Avatar for Stephen Hall Feb 22 2016 - 8:27 am PT
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Cyanogen has today announced a new platform called “MOD,” giving developers deeper access to the Android operating system and allowing them to take advantage of platform APIs that are otherwise out of reach. Microsoft, for example, has built a Skype mod that allows users to add VoIP calling functionality directly to the Android dialer, as well as a Cortana mod that replaces Google Now on an OS level…


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Microsoft’s ‘Mimicker Alarm’ Garage Project helps you start your day with mini games

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jan 21 2016 - 8:11 am PT
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Microsoft is back with another Garage Project (cute and novel apps made for iOS and Android phones), and this time it’s an alarm clock called Mimicker Alarm. At first glance, the style of this app looks eerily similar to that of the stock Android Clock app, but a deeper dive shows us that there’s a little more to it. Microsoft wants you to actually wake up when your alarm goes off, and to help you do that the company makes you play mini games powered by its Project Oxford machine learning APIs…


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Outlook 2.0.0 for Android APK is available to download, here’s what it looks like

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 18 2015 - 9:08 am PT
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Not long ago, Microsoft announced it would be bringing an updated look to its Outlook app for Android, killing Sunrise in the process. While iPhone users got the updated redesign almost immediately, Android users had to wait a little. Today, Outlook 2.0.0 is finally available to download with some refreshed user interface design and a couple of new features. You can download the app directly from APK Mirror, or wait for it to hit the Play Store officially (it shouldn’t be too long until the update hits).


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Microsoft ‘Garage’ project Arrow Launcher for Android is now out of beta

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 28 2015 - 2:10 pm PT
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Microsoft’s Arrow Launcher is definitely a new take at a home screen interface for Google’s OS, and if you’ve been waiting for it to exit beta before trying it out on your daily driver, today’s your day. I actually decided to give it a try for the first time today, and — as someone who is very loyal to Google’s Now Launcher — I was somewhat impressed…

The launcher takes a new approach to the home screen, giving you a few pages that all do different things. The main screen of course has your most used apps, but the app also gives you screens for contacts that you frequently interact with, a reminders screen, and another screen showing apps that you’ve used recently, as well as recent activity.

All of this comes together with a really interesting take an iOS Control Center-like experience. If you swipe up from the home screen, you’ll find your docked apps, some recnetly used apps, and then some quick toggles for things like WiFi and Bluetooth. Below that you’ll find quick access to the brightness settings, and quick links to change wallpaper and access the launcher’s settings.

We gave the app a detailed look earlier this year when it was in beta, and while some things have changed, you can check out the below video to get a quick idea of what the Arrow Launcher is all about. You can grab it on the Play Store for free.

 

Sunrise app officially sunsetted as Outlook steals its thunder

Avatar for Cam Bunton Oct 28 2015 - 10:44 am PT
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When Microsoft purchased Sunrise, things didn’t look good for the popular cross-platform calendar app. There were fears Microsoft would take its talent and shut the app down. Fears — it seems — that were completely justified. Sunrise announced in a blog post today that the app will no longer receive any updates. If you are an avid user of Sunrise (like me), you’ll now need to go hunting for a new calendar app if you expect new features.
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Google now eats Google Apps fees for switchers w/ previous enterprise agreements

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 19 2015 - 11:00 am PT
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According to a post made on the Google for Work blog this morning, Google is now giving enterprises a new opportunity to try Google Docs. Google knows that many enterprises likely have previous enterprise agreements with other companies that would make trying out Docs for their organizations difficult, so the company is now offering to pay the usual Google Apps fees until those contracts run out:

In fact, we’re so confident that Docs has all the features you need, without the ones you don’t, that we’re making it even easier to give it a try. If you’re worried about switching to Docs because you still have an enterprise agreement (EA) with another provider, we’ll cover the fees of Google Apps until your contract runs out. We’ll even chip in on some of the deployment costs and set you up for success with one of our Google for Work Partners.

Google says that once your enterprise agreement is runs out, companies can sign up on a simple contract “with no traps or gotchas,” and that many businesses find that Google Apps is cheaper, as well. The company, additionally, points out that many of the features that businesses think are missing from Google Docs are actually present, and that more and more useful tools are being added constantly.

Businesses can head over to the Google Apps‘ website to learn more.

Microsoft and Google officially end their phone and gaming patent battles

Avatar for Cam Bunton Oct 1 2015 - 3:43 am PT
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Microsoft and Google have announced that they’re dropping their long-running smartphone and video game console patent disputes. This announcement brings an end to some 20 lawsuits in the States and in Europe. Neither company revealed the exact financial terms, but did announce that instead of fighting each other over technology, that they envisage a future where the work together for the benefit of their customers…


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Microsoft’s ‘Send’ instant messaging app is now available on Android

Avatar for Chance Miller Sep 17 2015 - 3:23 pm PT
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Microsoft today has made its Send instant messaging app available on Android. The service initially launched earlier this summer on iOS, but today has made its way to Android, as well. Send, for those unfamiliar, is Microsoft’s attempt at a WhatsApp-like messaging service. Microsoft touts that Send takes the best of Outlook and morphs it into an easy to use messaging app.


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Cyanogen is bringing OS-level Microsoft Cortana integration to Android

Avatar for Stephen Hall Sep 11 2015 - 3:01 pm PT
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Cortana is currently a lackluster excuse for a voice assistant in the form of a recently-released beta app, but that might change soon. According to a report from the IB Times, Cyanogen — thanks to a partnership that was announced earlier this year — is working with the Redmond company to deeply integrate its voice assistant into the next distribution of its Cyanogen OS…
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Debunk: We likely will see Android phones with Nokia branding, but this isn’t one of them

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 8 2015 - 7:28 am PT
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It’s pretty likely we will see Nokia-branded Android phones next year – after the end of the company’s agreement with Microsoft not to use its brand on mobile phones – but the above isn’t one of them. Currently being touted as a leaked image of a Nokia phone to be released next year, it’s actually just a concept image .

Nokia has so far designed and licensed the N1, an Android tablet apparently permitted under the terms of the Microsoft deal, and reportedly has “a lot of great stuff in development” for next year.

Skype 6 for Android adds floating action button and improved messaging in latest redesign

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 3 2015 - 8:36 am PT
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It was only a month ago that Skype for Android was hit with a slight visual refresh, and today Microsoft is pushing out a much bigger redesign to the messaging app that it says was inspired by Google’s Material design. Skype 6.0 for Android replaces the custom action bar along the bottom of the app with a new floating action button that should be familiar to other modern Android apps. The action button ties in shortcuts to video messages, video calls, voice calls, and conversation chats.
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Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard review: Ultra-thin, versatile keyboard for your Android tablet or smartphone

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 22 2015 - 7:19 am PT
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The Android tablet accessory market may not be as full of keyboards as the iPad market is, but even when you find one, chances are it’s terrible. The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard wants to be the one to change that trend. It’s small enough to carry around in your pocket when folded, and works with Android, Windows and iOS devices. What’s more, you can have it paired to two devices at once and switch between them with the press of a button. It’s safe to say that this is one of the most versatile and portable Bluetooth keyboards on the market. This review was written entirely on it.


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Bing app for Android updated, Marshmallow-like Now on Tap features in tow

Avatar for Cam Bunton Aug 20 2015 - 8:22 am PT
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As part of its Android M announcement, Google showed off its Now on Tap feature which will allow you to get contextual information within any app or screen just by pressing the home button for a few seconds. With Marshmallow not set to hit the public until later this year, it gave Microsoft a chance to beat Google to it. And it has done just that in its latest Bing app for Android.


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Skype for Android updated with personalized ringtones and easier photo sharing

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Aug 19 2015 - 7:15 am PT
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Skype has updated its Android app to version 5.10, allowing you to create personalized ringtones for specific contacts, and making it easier to share photos.

Customize incoming call sounds for a contact by selecting a ringtone from your device. In a conversation, tap the lower right and select “Ringtone options” then “Set custom ringtone”.

Share photos from chats with other Skype friends and family who may not be in the conversation. Just tap and hold on the photo you want to share and select “Forward photo”.

Avatar colors for group chats have also been changed, to make it easier to tell your different conversations apart.

The last significant update was the visual refresh and performance boost last month. A week ago, the company made available to enterprise customers a preview of its updated Skype for Business Android app.

The new app is a free download from Google Play.

Photo: TNW

Google adds new Dell Chromebook 13 to Chromebook for Work lineup, available September 17

Avatar for Tom Maxwell Aug 13 2015 - 11:32 am PT
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Chromebook for Work is Google’s lineup of premium Chrome OS-powered laptops which it promotes as easy to deploy, highly secure, and ready to run legacy Window applications through OS virtualization. Today the company announced that Dell will begin selling a new one of these business-ready Chromebooks starting September 17th, called the Dell Chromebook 13.

The Chromebook 13 is, like the rest of the Chromebook for Work line, packing a serious punch for a computer running such a lightweight operating system. It has a 13.3″ full HD touchscreen display (1920×1080), a 5th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, a backlit keyboard and glass touchpad, and a palmrest made out of magnesium alloy. The laptop is quoted for 12 hours of battery life, although these ratings are usually generous. The starting price will be $399 when it goes on sale, with no more detail on upgrade options or variants. “Enterprise class performance at an economical price point,” Google says in its blog post.

Chrome OS certainly does hold a lot of promise for IT departments frustrated with the current solutions out there, namely Windows and all the tumult going on at Microsoft over the company’s strategy for the operating system going forward. Google’s operating system was built at a much later time, and without the baggage of years and years of developing and supporting software meant for a place and time that has since passed. In my day-to-day there are rarely more than a few edge case applications and tools I need a full-on desktop computer for, so the ability of Chrome OS to virtualize Windows and run its applications is just icing on the cake of an OS which recognizes that many business-related programs can run in the web and be almost indistinguishable from their desktop equivalents — especially with Chrome OS’s ability to run web apps as individual windowed apps.