Microsoft is building software to convert your Android phone to Windows 10
It’s official, Microsoft is indeed testing a ROM that can be flashed on Android phones to have Windows 10 instead. Microsoft is working with Xiaomi currently to allow Mi 4 users the chance to test Windows 10 on their phones, but doesn’t plan to stop their.
A report from TechCrunch stated,
“Neither Microsoft nor Xiaomi provided specific details of the Windows 10 software being trialled, but TechCrunch understands from sources that it effectively overrides Android, turning the Xiaomi phone into a Windows 10 device complete with Microsoft services. (Which the company hopes will dazzle Android owners into making the switch.)
This is a ROM, based on Windows, that operates much like software from Cyanogen — a company Microsoft was incorrectly linked with an investment in — and other custom ROMs developed by the likes of Tencent and Baidu in China.
The ROM is thus designed to go beyond Microsoft’s Android apps and offer a native-like Windows experience on Android phones.”
Microsoft has been taking lengthy steps lately to expand their reach into Android, such as partnering with Samsung to include Microsoft apps in the Galaxy S6, as well as the talks with Cyanogen for investment. Their latest plan to completely convert and Android phone is an interesting one, however most Android users might not be pleased to hear that it is not a dual-boot software ROM, therefore it completely wipes Android from the phone.
via Android Central
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Lenovo’s long-promised Windows Phone might actually arrive
Like a dozing teenager promising to take out the trash, Lenovo’s been pledging to build a Windows Phone handset since November 2011. Microsoft, like a patient parent trying to motivate its offspring, has now tried to inspire its partner by giving Lenovo a very public deadline. In a post on the Microsoft Blog, Terry Myerson has revealed that ol’ Lenny will launch its first Windows Phone handset by the mid-year of 2015. The one-line announcement was buried deep in a story about Windows 10 upgrades, but there’s a sting in the tail for expectant westerners. Unfortunately, the devices will only be available on China Mobile, but we can always hope that Motorola might see what its new owner is doing and take the hint.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Lenovo
Via: CNBC
Source: Microsoft Blog
Xiaomi testing waters with Microsoft, will let users try out Windows 10
Xiaomi’s explosive growth has relied heavily on Android so far, but the company seems to be open to alternatives. Over the following months, “select Xiaomi Mi 4 power users” will be given the opportunity to test the new Windows 10 and provide feedback to Microsoft.
Microsoft announced the arrival of Windows 10 (for PCs, tablets, and smartphones) in a blog post published yesterday. The announcement includes a section dedicated to partnerships with Chinese companies, including Lenovo, Tencent, Qihu 360, and… Xiaomi. The inclusion of the Mi company is surprising, given that Xiaomi has never expressed interest in Microsoft before.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Microsoft alluded that this test program is just the beginning of stronger ties with Xiaomi, which is apparently “embracing” Windows 10.
As part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft will partner with Xiaomi to offer Windows 10 free downloads to a select group of Xiaomi Mi4 users. Xiaomi Mi4 users will get the ability to flash their phones with the new Windows 10 OS and provide feedback to Xiaomi and Microsoft on their experience. This partnership will allow Xiaomi and Microsoft to get direct user feedback and continue to improve the experience for China. Microsoft is thrilled to see Xiaomi embracing Windows 10 and offering this great value to their customers. We’re excited to see the feedback we receive from this audience.
Xiaomi is a leading phone manufacturer in China undergoing significant global expansion. We are excited to partner with them in China and jointly gather feedback from Chinese users on their experience with Windows 10 to jointly collaborate on product and services development for the platform.
Availability will be announced in the months to come.
For its part, Xiaomi was careful to emphasize that it’s not jumping in bed with Microsoft just yet. “This is an experimental program entirely led by Microsoft, and we are happy that Mi fans with Mi 4 devices in China will be able to participate and provide feedback,” the company told The Next Web.
Some clarification comes from the wildly popular Mi forums. According to this post from moderator Bughinirari, Xiaomi will not manufacture phones with Windows 10, but it will allow Microsoft to provide a Windows 10 ROM for the Mi 4, along with support for users who decide to switch to Windows. It looks like Windows 10 will become a second, semi-official operating system for the Mi 4, with Microsoft handling support.
This is an interesting development, to say the least, though we probably shouldn’t be surprised that Xiaomi is willing to experiment. After all, MIUI OS has little to do with Google, at least in China, where Google’s services aren’t available (for now). With that said, Xiaomi is shipping with the Play Store in other countries and the company’s Hugo Barra (a former Googler himself) was emphatic about Xiaomi’s respect for Google.
It’s possible (and likely, given Microsoft’s tiny footprint in mobile) that Xiaomi is simply going along with this for the sake of experimentation. Also, Microsoft has been known to offer financial incentives to partners, and that may be a factor at play here. After all, Xiaomi’s is doing relatively little money, even if it’s a top five smartphone company by shipments.
This could also be the start of something bigger, though even if Xiaomi ends up shipping Windows devices, Android will probably remain its workhorse for the foreseeable future.
Windows 10 launches this summer in 190 countries
Microsoft’s leaner, meaner, latest iteration of Windows is coming in just a few months, and it’s launching in 170 countries, in 111 languages. Don’t forget: Windows 10 is a free upgrade if you’re already using Windows 7 or 8. Hiding in its imposing shadow, and launching at the same time, the company will release special free version of its OS for Internet of Things devices, which Microsoft’s Terry Myerson reckons could well find its way into ATMs and ultrasound machines.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Microsoft
Source: Windows Blog
Windows 10 launches this summer in 190 countries
Microsoft’s leaner, meaner, latest iteration of Windows is coming in just a few months, and it’s launching in 170 countries, in 111 languages. Don’t forget: Windows 10 is a free upgrade if you’re already using Windows 7 or 8. Hiding in its imposing shadow, and launching at the same time, the company will release special free version of its OS for Internet of Things devices, which Microsoft’s Terry Myerson reckons could well find its way into ATMs and ultrasound machines.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Microsoft
Source: Windows Blog
Cyanogen shows off new boot animation
We have been hearing for some time now that Cyanogen was working on an Android replacement without accessing Google Services. Now, the Cyanogen team has published a video on YouTube showing off their unique boot animation that will come along with the new Cyanogen OS update.
The new boot animation animation is a far cry from the flashy one at present as Cyanogen seems to have taken a cleaner and simpler approach this time. Previously it was leaked that the team at Cyanogen was preparing a new email client for Cyanogen OS 12.
Cyanogen is expected to throw away some more teasers with the impending OS 12 upgrade just weeks away. Within weeks, we will see the OnePlus One and the Micromax Yureka receiving Cyanogen OS 12 upgrade.
Rumour mills had earlier suggested that Microsoft was set to become a minor investor in Cyanogen in the latest rounds of funding but later the whole story was debunked. Parallelly Cyanogen’s CEO had said: “We want to take Android from Google.” The statement did not mean that Cyanogen was developing a Microsoft centric OS, clarified Cyanogen adding that it only wanted to allow companies to be able to use Android without having to adhere to Google’s tricky usage licenses and agreements.
Source: YouTube
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Nano-sized earthquakes could boost phone cameras’ performance
A team of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) researchers believe they’ve found the secret to better phone cameras: teeny, tiny nano-earthquakes. To be exact, they’ve discovered that controlled sound waves can send ripples across 2D materials (flat surfaces that are a few atomic layers thick such as graphene), similar to ripples on the surface of water. These ripples can apparently change the electronic properties of a substance by carrying electrons across it. For their experiment, the team tested the technique on a photoluminescent 2D material, which emitted more and more light as the nano-earthquake intensified.
In cameras, the technique can increase the sensitivity of sensors, enabling them to perform better under low-light conditions. But besides cameras that can take great selfies even in the dark, the technology could also lead to more efficient solar cells and smart windows. The researchers believe it has a ton of other potential applications, as well, as it doesn’t permanently alter materials: they go back to their original state as soon as the sound waves stop.
Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Science, Microsoft
Via: Physorg, Extremetech
Source: MIT
Bloomberg: Microsoft not investing in Cyanogen after all, but a deal is still possible
Microsoft has decided not to invest in Cyanogen at this time, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
Back in January, the Wall Street Journal reported that Cyanogen was in the final stages of securing a new investment round worth around $70 million and that Microsoft would be one of the investors participating in the round.
If a new report from Bloomberg is accurate, Microsoft has passed on the opportunity to invest at this time, though Satya Nadella’s company may still be interested in a “commercial deal” that would put its software onto Cyanogen devices. Microsoft and Cyanogen reportedly held talks about such a deal, but it’s unclear how things will unfold now that the investment is no longer on the table. The companies declined to comment.
Even without Microsoft, Cyanogen managed to raise around $110 million, in a round that values it at $500 million, according to the report.
Cyanogen is effectively trying to fork Android, and that requires finding alternatives to Google’s apps and services, from email, to mapping, and productivity. The startup hopes to attract partners looking to establish a stronger presence on Android, free of Google’s constraints. So far Cyanogen has only teamed up with small players, like Nextbit, SwiftKey, and most recently Boxer. A deal putting Microsoft’s apps on Cyanogen devices would be a real coup for the startup founded by Steve Kondik and Kirt McMaster.
Cyanogen is trying to have its cake and eat it too. Its Android-based operating system is only interesting to manufacturers and users as long as it ships with Google apps, so, at least for now, Cyanogen has to play within the limits imposed by Google. At the same time, by pre-loading Cyanogen OS with non-Google apps and services, the company is laying the foundation of an OS that is free of Google, for better or worse. That’s a difficult undertaking but the potential payoff may be worth the effort.
CyanogenMod Raises $110 Million—No Microsoft Necessary
Microsoft is desperately trying to break into the mobile world of technology, and while its Windows Phones may be capable devices, they certainly aren’t popular. The Washington state-based company has diversified and has now started pushing for its apps to at least be available and desirable to potential customers using other mobile platforms. Google has been accused of being unyielding towards any outside programs by Microsoft being used in the operating system, which is why Microsoft was trying to strike a deal with CyanogenMod.
As it turns out, the deal didn’t go so well, at least not for Microsoft. Despite missing out on money from one of the largest tech companies in the world, CyanogenMod still managed to raise $110 Million. The cash eventually came from Benchmark, Andreessen Horowitz, and Redpoint Venture, amongst other sources. Due to the influx of cash and the investments made in the company by these venture capital firms, Cyanogen could be valued at over $500 million, which is fantastic for the startup, especially considering how far it has come in such a short time.
In the coming months, it will be exciting to see what Cyanogen does with its new capital, how Microsoft goes about getting its software on other devices, and whether or not they will try to give it another go in an investing deal.
Source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: CyanogenMod Raises $110 Million—No Microsoft Necessary
CyanogenMod Raises $110 Million—No Microsoft Necessary
Microsoft is desperately trying to break into the mobile world of technology, and while its Windows Phones may be capable devices, they certainly aren’t popular. The Washington state-based company has diversified and has now started pushing for its apps to at least be available and desirable to potential customers using other mobile platforms. Google has been accused of being unyielding towards any outside programs by Microsoft being used in the operating system, which is why Microsoft was trying to strike a deal with CyanogenMod.
As it turns out, the deal didn’t go so well, at least not for Microsoft. Despite missing out on money from one of the largest tech companies in the world, CyanogenMod still managed to raise $110 Million. The cash eventually came from Benchmark, Andreessen Horowitz, and Redpoint Venture, amongst other sources. Due to the influx of cash and the investments made in the company by these venture capital firms, Cyanogen could be valued at over $500 million, which is fantastic for the startup, especially considering how far it has come in such a short time.
In the coming months, it will be exciting to see what Cyanogen does with its new capital, how Microsoft goes about getting its software on other devices, and whether or not they will try to give it another go in an investing deal.
Source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: CyanogenMod Raises $110 Million—No Microsoft Necessary
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