More than 1 Million users signed-up for Microsoft's Windows 10 Preview

Microsoft released its first Windows 10 Technical Preview at the beginning of October, and the company is now revealing that 1 million people are helping test the upcoming operating system through the Windows Insider Program. "That equates to a lot of people using the Windows 10 Technical Preview and sending us feedback," says Microsoft's Joe Belfiore. The software maker has received more than 200,000 pieces of feedback on the early version of Windows 10, with top requests that include options to remove the new search and task view buttons, as well as requests for a Start Menu animation or transition.


According to Belfiore, 64 percent of all Windows 10 Technical preview installs are on actual PCs rather than virtual machines. "This makes us confident that a lot of the feedback is based on 'medium-term' use and not just a few minutes of experimentation," explains Belfiore. 68 percent of all Windows 10 users are launching more than 7 apps per day, and 25 percent of all users are launching more than 26 apps per day so it's clear people are using this Technical Preview on their regular devices.

It's not yet clear when Microsoft plans to release a new Windows 10 Technical Preview build, but one is "coming soon" according to Belfiore, and the company is clearly working towards acting on some of the early feedback. "Even though we’re just two weeks into this huge collaborative project, we’re learning a lot and we’re working hard to keep up with your enthusiasm and passion," says Belfiore. Those 200,000 pieces of feedback will undoubtedly shape Windows 10 in interesting ways, and Microsoft is planning to release regular updates as the company moves towards a final version next year.

Courtesy: The Verge

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By: fdfffs On 22:16

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Newly revealed details show how Microsoft plans to steal you away from iOS and Android

Is there anything that Microsoft can do at this point to create a substantially larger user base for Windows Phone? At this point things don't look great, but we wouldn't completely count Microsoft out just yet. Neowin's sources say that Microsoft is working on two new smartphones that will both have the most intriguing Windows Phone feature we've heard about so far: 3D Touch.

For those who need a refresher, 3D Touch is a new feature that will take advantage of Microsoft's Kinect technology to make your phone much more responsive to gestures and placements than any other phone now on the market. So for instance, 3D Touch will let you answer your phone just by holding it up to your ear and to turn on speaker phone just by placing your phone down on the table when you're on a call with someone. You'll also apparently be able to end your call by putting your phone into your pocket, as Kinect will be able to automatically tell what you'd like to do based on lighting and positioning.

Neowin says that the first device is a phone codenamed “McLaren” that will release by the end of the year and that will feature a 5.2-inch 1080p display with a 20-megapixel camera and 64GB of storage. The second device will be a massive 6-inch phablet that's on par with the gigantic Lumia 1520 and that may release by the end of the year.

The key in all this is whether Microsoft can show us why 3D Touch is a big differentiator from other smartphones — otherwise, it's likely to be seen as a Samsung-style gimmick that looks cool at first but is never really used.

Source: BGR

By: fdfffs On 04:46

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Microsoft Unveils 12-Inch Surface Pro 3

Software giant Microsoft unveiled its latest attempt to combine the power of a notebook computer with a tablet, the Surface Pro 3, at an event in New York.

Sporting a 12-inch display, it’s not the mini version that has been the subject of rumors. But the company says at 9.1 millimeters thick and 800 grams, it’s the thinnest and lightest of its kind. It also sports an Intel Core I7 processor.

Prices start at $799 and will be available for pre-order on May 21 and in stores on June 20.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called it a major step in what he termed “the journey toward combining the capabilities of the company.”

Panos Panay, Microsoft’s vice president for Surface computing, said that 96 percent of people who have an iPad also have a notebook, creating for users a level of complexity. The new device, he said, is focused on “taking that conflict away.”

Patrick Moorhead, head of the research firm Moor Insights and Strategy, described it as a “flanking maneuver” for Microsoft versus Apple’s iPad.

“Microsoft is clearly focused on the ultimate productivity device, not focused on purely content consumption,” he said. “While Microsoft has not yet hit the high volume seven-to-eight inch tablet segment, Microsoft is clearly steering away from a straight-on confrontation with Apple.”

Panay spent a lot of time in his presentation playing up the combination of the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities. Adobe has created a version of its Photoshop photo-editing software that is optimized for running on the Surface. But Panay also demonstrated an app designed to emulate the New York Times crossword puzzle that allows users to do the puzzle with a digital pen.

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By: fdfffs On 22:31

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