[RUMOUR] Report alleges the Nokia X won’t be the last Android Nokia Phone
Whether or not you balked when you saw the suspected specs for the Android-powered Nokia X, many within the smartphone community have been seeing the Nokia X, AKA the Nokia Normandy, as Nokia‘s last hurrah before becoming one with Microsoft. Not so, says one report, which not only says that the Nokia X won’t be the last Android Nokia Phone, but that Nokia is going to be exclusively in charge of the Asha line with lower and higher spec models due in May or June of this year.
Of course, we’ve all heard that the Nokia X likely won’t have any core Google apps like the Google Play Store, which puts it at a significant disadvantage, within the Android arena at least, compared to Android behemoths like Samsung and LG. That said, the other forked Android OS, Kindle OS, had done quite well for itself (with significant support from Amazon, of course), so it will be interesting to see how Nokia’s effort does when it makes its expected debut at MWC 2014 in just a few weeks’ time.
What do you think about this news: would you want to see a higher spec Nokia X-like device in a few months time? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Tech.qq via Phone Arena
Microsoft: Bing’s altered Chinese search results are a glitch, not censorship
Anti-censorship blogs have found that when using Bing, it appears the Chinese government’s muzzle for “damaging” web-based news extends beyond its borders, but Microsoft says that’s not the case. Bing search queries are returning with wildly different results for Chinese-language users on US soil, according to Greatfire. The site tested a series of searches in Chinese for hot-button topics ranging from the Dalai Lama, Tiananmen Square and the corrupt government official Bo Xilai. In the case of the Tibetan spiritual leader, results don’t include his Wikipedia page, personal website or various news reports like they do for searches in English. Instead, Chinese-language Bing users both domestic and foreign found links to a state-sponsored documentary and China’s heavily censored version of Wikipedia, Baidu Baike. If a user is in mainland China, Bing denotes that the search results have been altered, but not so in the US according to The Guardian.
Bing’s Senior Director Stefan Weitz has denied this and tells us that it wasn’t complying with China’s stringent legal requirements — it was a glitch. According to a statement by Weitz, an error caused “an incorrect results removal notification for some searches noted in the report” but that the results were unaltered outside of China. However, Redmond didn’t note whether or not the error had been fixed. We’ve included the full statement from Microsoft after the break.
[Image credit: Freddie boy/Flickr]
“We’ve conducted an investigation of the claims raised by Greatfire.org.
First, Bing does not apply China’s legal requirements to searches conducted outside of China. Due to an error in our system, we triggered an incorrect results removal notification for some searches noted in the report but the results themselves are and were unaltered outside of China.
Second, with regard to the freeweibo.com homepage being absent from Bing search results, our investigation indicates that at some time in the past the page was marked as inappropriate due to low quality or adult content. After review, we have determined the page is acceptable for inclusion in global search results.
Bing aims to provide a robust set of high-quality, relevant search results to our users. In doing so, Bing has extremely high standards that respect human rights, privacy and freedom of expression.
Microsoft is a signatory to the Global Network Initiative, which is an effort by a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy on the Internet. As part of our commitment to GNI, Microsoft follows a strict set of internal procedures for how we respond to specific demands from governments requiring us to block access to content. We apply these principles carefully and thoughtfully to our Bing version for the People’s Republic of China.”
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
Via: The Guardian
Source: Greatfire (Chinese)
WatchESPN finally comes to Windows 8
Windows 8 has plenty of apps to choose from, but there’s one in particular that avid sports fans had long been waiting for: WatchESPN. The great news is The Worldwide Leader in Sports has finally brought the application to Microsoft’s operating system. Now users will be able to stream a ton of on-demand and live content from ESPN’s network lineup, right on their Windows 8 PC. Access to real-time video feeds does require a cable subscription, however, so be sure to check the description here to see if your provider supports WatchESPN.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD, Microsoft
Source: Windows Store
Sign-up list opens for Titanfall’s mech-filled beta tonight at 9ET
Titanfall has become something bigger than a multiplayer mech game. It’s the reason many people decided to invest in an Xbox One, and the reason why many others decided to postpone their next-gen console purchase altogether — the finished title won’t arrive until March 11th, and it’s coming to the PC and 360 (slightly delayed until March 25th) too. In the meantime though, the developer behind Titanfall, Respawn Entertainment, is providing early access via a beta and you can sign up for access starting tonight at 9PM ET. The good news is that you don’t need to pre-order the game to get in, but the bad news is that it’s not open to all, so we don’t know how many slots there are to go around. Go ahead and try your luck at the sign-up page — we’ll let you know the URL once it’s posted “shortly before” 9PM ET, according to Respawn founder Vince Zampella.
Tonight at 6pm PST there will be a website to sign up for #titanfall beta access. The website will be announced shortly before 6.
– Vince Zampella (@VinceZampella) February 11, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Source: Vince Zampella (Twitter)
Windows Phone 8.1 leak reveals new messaging and storage settings, and more
Up until now, the most we’d heard about the next rumored update to Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS centered on two features: Cortana, the company’s Siri-like digital assistant, and Action Center, its native notification center. Today, however, we have a clearer idea of where Windows Phone 8.1 could be headed thanks to a Reddit user who’s allegedly gained access to the new SDK as part of Microsoft’s developer preview program.
Despite both Cortana and Actions Center reportedly being marquee features of the new WP OS, neither are present on the leaked list of new WP 8.1 tweaks. That’s likely due to secrecy surrounding the features and Microsoft’s desire to unveil both publicly at BUILD this coming April 2nd, a date the dev mentions quite often in the thread. What this leak does give us confirmation of is how Microsoft is working to unify development between Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 on the back end; something it’s calling Universal Apps. Developers using the new SDK will be able to create applications for both app storefronts using a shared JavaScript/HTML code and provided templates.
Windows Phone 8.1, which according to the provided SDK documentation has been relabeled WinPRT, also ushers in a critical change to SD card functionality that should please longtime critics of the platform. Namely, users can now install apps to SD card and not just sideload from it, thus freeing up internal storage. Bing apps are now apparently pre-baked into the OS, as are a trio of “sense” apps to monitor battery power, data and storage. SkyDrive, as previously reported, has been rebranded to OneDrive and there’s even a new Music app on deck (said to resemble Xbox Music) to replace the former Music+Video.
One of the more surprising changes Microsoft’s made to the Windows Phone platform focuses on how it handles SMS receipt and delivery. With WP 8.1, text messaging will no longer be restricted to the native SMS app. The messaging settings submenu includes the ability to specify which third-party app routes that communication by default.
Users expecting new live tile sizes will be disappointed since this update doesn’t include any options beyond the three already available in the OS. Although, there are apparently plenty of minute cosmetic overhauls packed into the 8.1 update. Among these are new default transitions for moving between apps and homescreens, a navigation bar with color settings to match backgrounds or accents, gestures to hide and reveal the onscreen navigation buttons, as well as the addition of Windows RT’s progress ring. Back button functionality now also falls in line with WinRT in that it simply sends applications into a ‘suspend’ state, as opposed to terminating them. To actually close apps out, users will have to enter into multitasking view and swipe down to end the process.
This long list certainly represents a heady mix of some overdue and even unexpected OS tweaks; tweaks that could help Microsoft catapult its struggling mobile OS to prominent market share. But it’s likely just a preview of what Microsoft has planned for WP 8.1, so don’t expect this to be the last we hear of the platform’s next iteration. We’ve still got a couple of months to go before Microsoft BUILD can reveal most, if not all of Windows Phone’s new direction, leaving ample time for like-minded devs to pull back the curtains even further.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Source: Reddit
FAA clears Surface for takeoff in US cockpits
Begun, the airline fanboy wars have? Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 has just joined the iPad on the FAA’s list of approved pilot EFBs (Electronic Flight Bags) for all phases of flight. That follows Delta’s recent announcement that it would deploy 11,000 of Redmond’s hybrid tablets in its cockpits instead of the iPad, which it also considered. Apple’s tablet is already used by American Airlines and others, but Delta said it preferred the readability, productivity apps and other features of the Surface Pro 2. Pilots will now be able to switch from heavy paper charts and books, which Delta said would save millions in fuel costs once the transition is complete in 2015. It also finally puts the pilots on parity with their passengers, as the airline was the first aboard the expanded use of personal electronics.
Filed under: Tablets, Transportation, Microsoft
Source: Surface Blog
Xbox One’s second big update focused on multiplayer ahead of Titanfall’s March arrival
For better or worse, Microsoft is clearly aware that the Xbox One‘s party system and online multiplayer functionality is lacking. An update aimed at bringing parity between Xbox One’s party system and the Xbox 360 arrives this March — the second half of this Spring’s big XB1 update, the first of which will launch this week — and it features some fairly run-of-the-mill alterations.
The headline feature, for instance? “Get to your friends list faster,” which simply bumps the friends list to the main homepage within the Friends app (the current version is seen above). The rest of the list is along the same lines: party chat will automatically engage when in a party, you’ll be able to chat with people in games you’re not playing, invites to party up can be sent from in-game menus, and a recent players filter is being added to the Friends app as well. Longtime multiplayer gamers will no doubt recognize all this functionality as already available on Xbox 360; we’re thankful it’s coming back, but shouldn’t this have been in the Xbox One at launch?
As previously promised, the multiplayer-focused update is set to arrive just ahead of Titanfall’s March 11th launch. Should today’s news not be too thrilling for you, it sounds like multiplayer isn’t the only aspect of next month’s update: Microsoft says it’ll “continue to share more details in the days and weeks ahead.”
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Xbox One stereo headset and adapter arrive in March
The DualShock 4 just has a simple 3.5mm audio jack baked right into its body. The Xbox One controller, on the other hand, has a small proprietary port that wasn’t designed for connecting a headset too… at least not without some help. In early March, Microsoft will start selling an adapter that will let you connect your favorite pair of cans to your controller for $25. The small adapter finally opens the console to third-party headsets, be they Turtle Beach or Steel Series. The tiny matte plastic accessory even has buttons for controlling volume and muting your microphone. The latter will definitely come in handy for privately cursing the weak link on your Titanfall team without taking your hands off the controller. If you don’t already own a headset though (and don’t want to settle for the monophonic chat accessory) you can pick up an Xbox-branded one, with the nearly universal adapter included, for $80. Either way: if you’re a multiplayer FPS adict, you’re probably going to want to pick up of these when they hit shelves early next month.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Microsoft
Source: Xbox.com
Bill Gates weighs in on the new Microsoft, philanthropy and leaping over chairs
Bill Gates plays bridge, washes dishes each night and prefers In-N-Out to McDonald’s and Burger King (as any sane person would). The Gates Foundation chairman offered up those tidbits and more in another Reddit AMA today, an hour-long dialogue that unearthed a few gems.
Let’s consider the Microsoft situation. We already knew Gates would play a more prominent role in the company now that Satya Nadella is running the show, and he confirmed that he’s going to spend about one-third of his time on “product work” for the company. Pretty vague stuff, but he clarified just a bit:
“I make sure we pick ambitious scenarios and that we have a strong architecture to deliver on them. I encourage good work (hopefully).”
Speaking of Nadella, Gates seemed appreciative of the new CEO’s fresh set of eyes as Microsoft fights in an age when desktops are dying and mobile has become a top priority. Steve Ballmer laid out a strategy for Microsoft that involved pushing devices and services to consumers and enterprises, and now it’s Nadella’s turn to execute it. Gates seems bullish on that vision, though TechCrunch points out it may be because he was around while it was still being shaped.
Naturally, not all of the questions fawned over Mr. Gates. When asked if the Gates Foundation’s philanthropy ever went awry, he pointed to a school lunch program that sadly didn’t pan out.
“One thing that is tough is when you think the government will take over something you start but they don’t,” he said. “It might have been better if we hadn’t done it.”
Gates didn’t shy away from the really tough questions either. When asked if he could still leap over a chair in a single bound the way he did in front of Connie Chung in 1994, Gates came clean:
“No I cannot. I can still jump but not over a full sized garbage can like I used to be able to. Be careful — it can hurt if you don’t succeed.”
He hasn’t totally lost his hops though: He can still bound over small chairs. Oh, and his wife would probably watch a Gates biopic starring Samuel L. Jackson as the man himself. Really though, who wouldn’t?
Bing now shows how much your Bitcoin is worth in other currencies
While some may be opposed to the idea of Bitcoin, others are doing all they can to adjust to the recent digital currency rush. Today, Bing, in partnership with Coinbase, announced it has added support for Bitcoin within its currency conversion tools. Simply put, you can now use Microsoft’s search engine to see what the value of your new-age money is in, say, dollars, pesos, euros or any of the other 50-plus currencies Bing has indexed. And it’s all done in real time, too. No Bitcoin? No problem — there’s nothing wrong with entering some random numbers for fun’s sake.
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Microsoft
Via: Re/code
Source: Bing
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