Nokia’s exclusive take on Windows Phone 8.1 is rolling out now
After months of waiting, Nokia (the part now owned by Microsoft) has begun rolling out its Windows Phone 8.1 update to Lumia handsets. Dubbed “Cyan,” this software refresh delivers a plethora of new features to existing Nokia devices, including Microsoft’s gesture-capable World Flow keyboard, greater customization options (both for Live Tiles and the new-look People Hub), new Nokia photo apps, Office app improvements and, if you live in the US, access to Microsoft’s new digital assistant, Cortana.
While the company doesn’t state which of its handsets will get the update initially, it does note that the Lumia 1520, Lumia 930 and Lumia Icon will receive support for Nokia Rich Recording and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. All Lumia handsets will receive a number of camera updates too, which deliver improved color reproduction, better low-light performance, continuous autofocus and improvements to RAW photo capture.
Lumia handsets will get improved Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy support, allowing them to work with fitness wearables and other Bluetooth accessories like Nokia’s Treasure Tag. The update also includes a new fitness platform that collects locations, real-time fitness data and other “advanced features” and feeds that information to other Windows Phone apps. Although the update begins rolling out today, Nokia expects its Cyan update to reach all Lumia devices “in the coming weeks.” In the meantime, check out the Cyan update page to find out when the update will come to your handset.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
US government says online storage isn’t protected by the Fourth Amendment
A couple months ago, a New York judge ruled that US search warrants applied to digital information even if they were stored overseas. The decision came about as part of an effort to dig up a Microsoft user’s account information stored on a server in Dublin, Ireland. Microsoft responded to the ruling and challenged it, stating that the government’s longstanding views of digital content on foreign servers is wrong, and that the protections applied to physical materials should be extended to digital content. In briefs filed last week, however, the US government countered. It states that according to the Stored Communications Act (SCA), content stored online simply do not have the same Fourth Amendment protections as physical data:
Overseas records must be disclosed domestically when a valid subpoena, order, or warrant compels their production. The disclosure of records under such circumstances has never been considered tantamount to a physical search under Fourth Amendment principles, and Microsoft is mistaken to argue that the SCA provides for an overseas search here. As there is no overseas search or seizure, Microsoft’s reliance on principles of extra-territoriality and comity falls wide of the mark.
From the Justice Department’s point of view, this law is necessary in an age where “fraudsters” and “hackers” use electronic communications in not just the U.S. but abroad as well. Indeed, the Microsoft account in this case is in relation to a drug-trafficking investigation. However, Microsoft believes there are wide-ranging implications for such a statement, and it’s not the only company that thinks so. Verizon also responded, stating that this would create “dramatic conflict with foreign data protection laws” and Apple and Cisco joined in by saying this could potentially damage international relations. In the meantime, a senior counsel for the Irish Supreme Court offered that a “Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty” be pursued so that the US government can get at the email account in question.
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
Source: Ars Technica
Microsoft says super-cheap Windows devices are on the way
It used to be that if you only wanted to pay $199 for a brand-new laptop, you’d have to try your luck on Black Friday or pick up a Chromebook. Not so anymore. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner outed a $199 HP Windows laptop called the Stream at the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference this morning, and it should see the light of day in time for the holiday season. Fine, it doesn’t sound like the biggest deal ever. There are already a few solid Windows laptops floating around there for less than $100 more, after all, and at this point no one’s sure what $199 will actually get you. That’s a fair point, but c’mon: on some level this move is all about symbolism. Microsoft is telling the industry — and the consumers that fuel that immaculate machine — that it’s not giving up low-end computing to Google without a fight.
Nadella and his crew are banking on the fact that Windows provides greater functionality and extensibility than ChromeOS right out of the box. When computer shoppers can own the full Windows experience (for better or worse) for the same price as committing to a Chrome-y connected lifestyle, they’ll have to mull that choice over. That’s exactly what Microsoft wants. Turner also confirmed that the next few months would bring at least a few full-blown Windows tablets priced to move at $99. That announcement wasn’t as much of a surprise since the folks in Redmond revealed that the OS would be free to manufacturers when its installed on device’s with screens under 9 inches. It was only a matter of time, but hey — that doesn’t make the gesture any less meaningful.
Source: The Verge
Microsoft’s image recognition AI is a stickler for the details
Computer scientists have been modeling networks after the human brain and teaching machines to think independently for years, completing tasks like document reading and speech cues. Image recognition is another useful chore for the neural networks, and Microsoft Research has just offered a peek at its recent dive into the matter. Project Adam is one of those deep-learning systems that’s been taught to complete image recognition tasks 50 times faster and twice as accurate as its predecessors. So, what does that mean? Well, instead of just determining the breed in a canine snapshot, the tech can also distinguish between American and English Cocker Spaniels. The team is looking into tacking on speech and text recognition as well, so your next virtual assistant may not only wrangle your schedule and commute, but could constantly learn from the world that you live in.
What’s more, the network is said to pack enough muscle to serve up accurate nutrition info instantly based on a smartphone photo of your plate. Based on the amount of data and training images, Project Adam’s deep learning builds a hierarchy that enables it to parse through tens of thousands of categories. “It automatically learns how to extract features from these images, so that when you show it an image that it has never seen before, it can accurately categorize it in one of the categories that you’ve already taught it,” says Partner Research Manager Trishul Chilimbi. The system’s neurons are employed to examine small portions of pictures rather than the entire thing. This allows for a more detailed breakdown of characteristics like facial recognition, textures and more (or breed specifics) for increased levels classification. As is the case with most research projects, there’s no clear indication as to when (or if) we’ll be able to make use the tech.
Source: Micosoft Research (YouTube)
How would you change the Lumia 720?
Just like the Star Trek movies, we’ve mostly preferred the even-numbered ranges of Nokia Lumia handsets to the odds. We heaped praise on the 620, for example, with equal vitriol being poured onto the 520 that nestled beneath it. The Lumia 720 suffered the same fate when we reviewed it, finding that no matter how gussied-up the outside was, the low-power internals were an instant turn off. But what about you? It’s likely that plenty of you only had room in your budget for this device, so was the experience as bad as you’d expected? Why not hop into our forum and talk yourself some Lumia.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: Engadget Product Forums
Microsoft’s Climatology Android app is all about what the weather’s usually like
Microsoft’s new Climatology app makes it simple to check weather conditions anywhere on Earth. Funny thing is, the company just released it for Android devices, with no Windows Phone app in sight. If you do use Android, the Microsoft Research-developed app can show you a location’s temperature, humidity and the average amount of rain and sunshine it’ll get during a particular month. Say, you’re going to Thailand on a vacation in November — just look up the place and choose a month to know if it’s sunny enough to hit the country’s beaches. It could be pretty useful if you travel a lot and need a quick way to check the weather. A single look at the app’s Play page shows that most people find its feature set quite limited, though, so you may want to hold off on deleting your other weather apps.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google Play
Microsoft kills off ‘Streets & Trips,’ hopes you’ll use Bing Maps instead
Microsoft MapPoint has been around a long time. How long? So long that a stock-image search pulled up this gem from 2005 — a photo of “Streets & Trips” running on a Pocket PC. In fact, the mapping platform is even older than that: It was first created by a company called NextBase in 1988, which MIcrosoft later acquired in 1994. Incredibly, it’s lived on, even long after people stopped storing maps on CD-ROMs. Finally, though, the software is going the way of the floppy disk: The company has discontinued MapPoint, Streets & Trips, and AutoRoute, with users encouraged to use Bing Maps instead. And, ya know, that kind of makes sense, considering CEO Satya Nadella only yesterday posted an open letter describing Microsoft as a mobile- and cloud first company. Somehow, knowing Engadget readers, we suspect this won’t affect you much, but in the event that you do still use Streets & Trips, you’ll continue to have support through at least July 2015. After that, you may need to get with the times.
Image credit: Associated Press
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft
Via: Re/code
Source: Microsoft
Are we there yet? A century of the smartwatch in pictures
With two Google-powered smartwatches currently on sale, and the circular Moto 360 already causing a stir among design geeks, wearables are one step closer to securing a place on our wrists. And while many of us aren’t ready to strap on a Gear Live, G Watch or Pebble just yet, that doesn’t mean the smartwatch is a new concept. In fact, depending on your definition of “smart,” these gadgets have been fusing time-telling with extra functionality since the early 20th century. From wrist-borne spy cams to radio-controlled timepieces, here’s a look at this wearable’s evolution.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, LG
Microsoft looking for beta testers for Android version of OneNote
Microsoft have announced a new feedback program that will allow Beta testers to try out upcoming versions of its note-taking app OneNote on Android.
To get involved, you just need to join the Google+ Community Page for OneNote and click ‘Become a tester’.
Allowing the community to feedback to Microsoft about new features in versions of OneNote will be a great way to ensure any bugs or half-baked features are polished before release.
Did you sign up for Microsoft’s OneNote Beta program?
The post Microsoft looking for beta testers for Android version of OneNote appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Cuphead: Bringing 1930s style to 21st century games
Every June, the game industry descends upon the Los Angeles Convention Center for its blockbuster-focused trade show: the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). And traditionally, just ahead of that show, the big three console makers — Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo — hold press briefings focused on the Call of Dutys, Assassin’s Creeds and Halos of the world. They’re big, blustery affairs aimed mostly at the 18-35 male demographic. And hey, that’s totally fine: We dig shooting aliens just as much as the next 18- to 35-year-old.
But this year, we didn’t come away from Sony’s or Microsoft’s presentations talking about the next triple-A title from some huge studio. With Sony, the most important game on stage was from a small group of British devs: No Man’s Sky. With Microsoft, you’re forgiven if you missed the highlight of the presentation: Cuphead, a gorgeous game from a small Canadian studio, was only briefly teased during a clip of indie titles headed to the Xbox One. So, let’s fix that!
First and foremost, you need to put your eyes on Cuphead in action. The game is gorgeous:
Sold, right? It doesn’t take much of Cuphead to see it’s a standout. Yet, despite hearing glowing praise from nearly every journalist I spoke with at E3 2014, coverage of Cuphead has been surprisingly limited. “It is a little odd,” Studio MDHR co-founder and “the guy who draws Cuphead” Chad Moldenhauer told me in a phone interview last week. “We’re kind of an unknown; maybe that’s part of the problem.” He and his brother Jared lead the development team at Studio MDHR, the folks creating Cuphead.
Though the brothers Moldenhauer have been developing games for many years while working other jobs — Chad in web design, Jared in construction — this is their studio’s first official game. Together with a programmer friend in Romania (Cosmin Chivulescu), a childhood friend handling music (Kristofer Maddigan) and an additional animator in Brooklyn (Smo), the Moldenhauer’s are attempting 1930s-style animation in a 21st-century video game. And they’re nailing it.
ANCIENT HISTORY (The early 2000s)
Chad and Jared got started in game development back when the first Xbox came out. Here’s how Chad tells it:
“We’ve dabbled in games our whole lives, but mainly just for our own fun. And back in the early 2000s, when Microsoft first announced … I can’t remember what the program name was called, but for the original Xbox they had an indie program, and we just built a PC to the exact specs that they were sending out to devs, and started trying to make a few games. Back then, we still loved the idea of a run-and-gun, so that’s what we were working on.”
If you’re rubbing your face and wondering how Chad speaks so casually about “dabbling” in game development, rest assured that you’re not alone. He told me that it’s a measure of growing up around folks who were both “hardcore into games” and into films as well. “Since probably 13 or 14, we’ve been studying and analyzing within our own groups, critiquing games and trying to break them apart and understand why certain elements work and others don’t. And that just helps as we come into game design,” he said.
It also helps being friends with a “wicked” programmer. “Like it was painting a picture,” he said. “We just jumped into it, you know?” Uh-huh. Sure.
CREATING CUPHEAD
“There haven’t been any even medium-scale projects that use this style in the last 20 years.”
Chad and Studio MDHR’s contract artist, Smo, are creating all of Cuphead‘s beautiful art. The game looks the way it does in motion specifically because of how it’s being created. Chad specifically cited famed cartoonist and inventor Max Fleischer, and Disney’s classic Silly Symphony series. Here’s “Funny Little Bunnies,” from 1934:
Beyond the artistic influence, it’s the way those cartoons were drawn that Chad’s interested in. This requires some background on the history of cartoon animation. Chad explained:
“[In the 1930s], they didn’t know how to cut corners to make similar visual styles, so a lot of the older animation is actually 24 frames per second. When you make a fast drawing, you can do it on ‘ones,’ which means you draw one frame (one image per frame). To get one second of animation, you need 24 frames. But as they got smarter, in the late ’30s and ’40s, they realized you can get away with a lot of stuff on ‘twos,’ which means you halt that drawing for two frames, and then you only need to draw 12. But, there’s still something very weird and surreal to see every frame drawn, and that’s why it seems not traced, but almost like just a very surreal motion to their animation. And because we’re dumb, we’re copying that [first] style of … more work.”
The game is, of course, a game, so it’s being developed in the (very flexible) Unity game engine. Chad and Smo aren’t animating every single frame of animation by hand, but Chad says, “It still haunts me to think of how many frames are left to finish this game.” They’re targeting a 2015 launch.
‘TURBO SUPER MEGA’
While Cuphead‘s visual influences are more vintage than old-school, the game’s roots are in 8- and 16-bit run-and-gun shooters, like Konami classic Contra. The working title for the project that eventually became Cuphead was Turbo Super Mega — an homage to the hyperbolic adjectives of mid-’90s game consoles.
Early on, the idea for Turbo Super Mega was to create a run-and-gun game, focused on boss fights, with children’s art instead of a 1930s cartoon style. “You would start in kindergarten fighting three or four different bosses that were drawn very crude, and then you would work your way to grade one, two and, when you got to grade eight, it would be semi-detailed,” Chad said.
As a joke, he and his brother replaced some of their art with stills from Disney films, added in animation and showed a few friends. “They said we should never make our game unless we use that style,” Chad said. “Then I started crying, [because] I knew I had to attempt animation.” For the next half year, Chad studied cartoonist Richard Williams’ celebrated instructional book, The Animator’s Survival Kit, which he calls “pretty much the best thing in the world.”
PLAYING CUPHEAD
Beyond the clip shown during Microsoft’s presentation — Cuphead is currently console-exclusive to Xbox One — only bits and pieces about the game are known. First, it’s focused mostly on boss battles. These grandiose, highly animated creatures help to showcase the art style, but are also a particular passion of Chad and Jared.
“Konami and a few others have made run-and-gun levels that weren’t perfect, but near perfect. So, as we kept playing with the idea of getting back to run-and-guns, we just warped it mainly toward boss fights. That’s kind of what we love. We understand that the levels still provide a bit of easy filler for the most part, where you can just see a ton of destruction, but the core to us was always fighting a boss and that was the ‘on the edge of your seat’ gameplay.”
Second, there’s a Super Mario 3D World-style world map (seen briefly in the video below). “You can walk around and explore anywhere, so you don’t have to move from line to line,” Chad said. Which is also to say: The game isn’t linear. Cuphead “isn’t going to be boss one, boss two all the way to the end of the game,” Shadow of the Colossus-style, Chad said. You can try out harder levels, speak with various characters and explore for secrets. Not quite “open world,” but not as constrained as its run-and-gun forebears.
FUTURE CUPHEAD
The next steps for Studio MDHR are crucial. As previously stated, it’s just a small group of folks, and at least two members are investing their own savings into the project. Though Chad couldn’t go into the details of his studio’s contract with Microsoft for that console-exclusivity deal, it sounds like the agreement brings more help with press contact and event participation (think: bringing their game to E3) than anything else. “Up front is more still relying heavily on us,” Chad said, in reference to the cost of developing the game. “But we’re not as worried to dip into our savings and borrow money because there seems to be at least a decent amount of love for Cuphead right now.”
Chad and Jared are both still “semi-part-time” at their old jobs, and mostly full-time on creating Cuphead. I spoke with Chad over Skype from Brooklyn, on his first day of vacation in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was there with Jared. “We’ve kind of been talking actually while I’ve been here, and like we kinda now have to just jump in and just … there’s an opportunity here and we might as well take it.”
AIVAnet 