Microsoft’s first Android launcher focuses on your favorites
Microsoft has already courted Android fans by releasing a lock screen, but it’s taking the relationship one step further by introducing a full-fledged launcher. The newly official (if already expected) Arrow Launcher is a purposefully simple interface that centers on your favorites. Your home screens include both everything you’ve used recently as well as your most commonly-accessed apps and contacts — it’s a bit like iOS 9’s Proactive feature writ large. You also get a tray for quick access to key apps and settings (see above), not to mention tightly integrated reminders. This is one of Microsoft’s numerous Garage experiments, so it’s tough to know how much long-term support it’ll get. Still, it’s worth trying if you’ve ever wished that Microsoft would make an Android phone beyond the short-lived Nokia X.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google Play, Microsoft Garage
I played through ‘Halo 5: Guardians’ solo and hated it
This article contains spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
Halo 5: Guardians is not the Halo you remember. It’s a different kind of game altogether, something that more closely resembles a modern first-person shooter that focuses on multiplayer rather than a strong solo experience. This isn’t the first time that’s happened, but it is the first time in 11 years that a new Halo campaign feels like a massive step backwards compared to its predecessor. Microsoft-owned studio 343 Industries is capable of better than this and proved as much with its killer freshman effort, Halo 4. But instead of addressing what it got wrong with that installment (i.e., an unexplained main villain) and doubling down on what it did right (i.e., an emotional storyline and constantly varying gameplay), the team fundamentally altered how a Halo campaign works to horrendous results.
Microsoft Band 2 review: Still flawed, but a step in the right direction
You really can’t accuse Microsoft of phoning it in when it built the original Band. Between jamming 10 different sensors into a glorified wristband and creating a new health platform to interpret your data, the company shot for the stars… and wound up with one cumbersome wearable. Thankfully, the $250 sequel fixes nearly every gripe we had with the original design, and adds a new sensor too. The Band 2 might not be the perfect fitness partner, but it comes much, much closer to realizing Microsoft’s goal than the original did.
Microsoft Arrow Launcher out of beta and into the Google Play Store
I happen to be a fan of what Microsoft has been putting up in the Google Play Store. This is because they are obviously not trying to imitate what is done in their own platforms, and these apps actually happen to offer unique abilities to Android users (unlike what Apple has been doing). Today the Redmond computer giant introduces a new app that some of you may actually be familiar with – Arrow Launcher.
I checked out Arrow Launcher myself back when the beta was made available, in July. The launcher is optimized for the Android experience, but it is unlike vanilla Android… or most other third-party launchers, for that matter.
The whole point of Microsoft’s customized UI is that it tries to offer a smarter experience that adapts to your own usage habits. It gets rid of all the extra fluff and tries to put all your information front and center. You will notice it really has no home screen. The UI consists of three sections: People, Apps and Notes & Reminders.
The People section unites your contacts and messaging services, so all your recent numbers, messages and email addresses will be readily available here. You can also dial your own digits or find people.
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I would say the Apps section is actually among the most interesting, as it puts together all the apps that really matter in a single place. You may not like it if you prefer your neat, alphabetically organized apps, though. And all the way to the right you can easily find a simple note and reminder section for easy task jotting.
The app was a bit less polished back when I experienced it, though. Other features include widgets, page rearrangement, a customizable dock, icon pack support and more. Some of these were already there, while others have been added in.
Want to give Arrow Launcher a try? Just go over to the Google Play Store and get installing. It’s also a free application, so you have nothing to lose.
Xbox One Kinect bundle drops to $399 for a limited time
With the holiday season just around the corner, Microsoft is looking to capitalize on Xbox One sales over the next couple of months. As such, the company has announced a limited-time deal for the kit that includes its latest console and companion motion sensor, plus Dance Central Spotlight, Kinect Sports Rivals and Zoo Tycoon. If you’re in the US, Mexico or Canada, starting today you can buy the Xbox One Kinect bundle for $399, $7,999 MXN and $449 CAD, respectively. What’s more, for people who only want the Kinect, Microsoft’s also offering it for $99 right now. Microsoft didn’t say how long this promotion will last, so those of you who are interested should probably act on it as soon as possible.
Source: Xbox
Microsoft Arrow, Redmond’s own Android Launcher, now available in the Play Store
The Arrow Launcher for Android, a Microsoft Garage project, is now available to download in the Play Store for free. Arrow isn’t just another AOSP launcher, but aims to bring all of your favorite applications and social networking to the forefront.
The more you use Arrow, the more it can learn from you, and thus providing you with a more enjoyable and seamless user interface. Microsoft wants you to let Arrow do all of the “heavy lifting” so that you can focus on the things that matter to you.
Arrow Launcher has three home pages in tow. The left screen offers a quick look at your contacts, the middle shows your most frequent and recently used apps, and the right screen is for Notes and Reminders. It basically takes the Android experience and simplifies down to just a few home pages, giving you no need to stammer around looking for apps or contacts. It’s all right on your home screen and can be accessed quickly and easily.
I’m going to be giving it a try this evening, that’s for sure. How about you?
Come comment on this article: Microsoft Arrow, Redmond’s own Android Launcher, now available in the Play Store
Skype’s filters bring some life to your video messages
The Skype team doesn’t have it easy these days — it not only has to compete with legions of live chat apps, but also the back-and-forth video messaging of Snapchat. What’s it going to do? Fight on Snapchat’s home turf, apparently. Microsoft has released Skype updates for Android and iOS that let you add “fun” filters to your video messages, such as a creepy inverted color scheme or goofy face stretching. Yes, it comes across as trying to stay hip with what the kids are doing, but it could be helpful if your birthday greeting just isn’t festive enough. And don’t worry if you like plain vanilla videos, since there’s something new for you as well. Skype now supports 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, so you can quickly start a call or peek at a conversation.
Source: Skype
Sunrise team helps Microsoft overhaul Outlook mobile client
Near the beginning of 2015, Microsoft went out and acquired the company behind the popular Sunrise Calendar app. As the end of October approaches, the fruits of that acquisition are starting to show up in the form of an overhaul of the Outlook mobile app on both iOS and Android, with a Windows phone update pending. According to Microsoft, the Sunrise team has been rolled into the Outlook product team where they will help bring a “fresh approach” not just to the calendar portion, but the entire user interface for the app. The bad news for fans of the Sunrise Calendar app is that Microsoft plans to end-of-life the product once all features are fully integrated into Outlook.
For the Android version of the Outlook app, the update should start rolling out in early November bringing a Material design interface to mobile devices. Microsoft says the addition of Material elements brings a more cohesive experience to the app, whether users are working with email, contacts or the calendar.
Within the email portion of the app, users will find contact images to the left of email headers, more prominent icons identifying read and unread messages, event invitations, and emails with attachments. The calendar view has received a significant overhaul to the UI thanks to the Material elements and more information is shown about events. Even drilling down into specific events or contact details reveals the influence of Material on the Outlook app.
If you want to give the Outlook app a try on your Android device, use the Play Store link below. Microsoft says they have around 30 million active users of the Outlook app on mobile devices, so you will not be alone.
source: Microsoft
Come comment on this article: Sunrise team helps Microsoft overhaul Outlook mobile client
Outlook on iOS and Android gets a facelift from the Sunrise team
Microsoft’s Outlook mobile apps got a solid revamp last year, thanks to its acquisition of the email app Acompli. Now, it’s ready to integrate the spoils of another mobile acquisition: the calendar app Sunrise. The latest versions of the Outlook apps, launching on iOS today and Android in November, feature several design updates that would be familiar to Sunrise users. The calendar portion of the app now has a daily view that puts all of your activities in an easily scrollable list, and event entries now display their relevant information more clearly. On the email side of things, event invites are highlighted in your inbox, and you can even RSVP to them without opening up the message. For most users, these sorts of changes will be subtle experience upgrades, but it’s nice to see Microsoft integrate some of the design elements that made people fans of Sunrise. The new app also makes it clear what Microsoft is trying to do with Outlook on mobile: Bring all of the best design decisions from disparate apps into a single location. (One email app to rule them all, yadda yadda…)
Source: Microsoft
Mini review video: our verdict on the Surface Pro 4 in under a minute
With each generation of the Surface Pro, Microsoft gets closer and closer to fulfilling its promise of a tablet that can replace your laptop. Last year’s Surface Pro 3 was certainly powerful enough to take on similarly priced notebooks, but the keyboard wasn’t as comfortable, and it wasn’t particularly easy to use in your lap either. Fortunately, the new Surface Pro 4 mostly addresses these flaws, with a sturdier keyboard, improved pen and slightly lighter design. Unfortunately, the battery life is about the same as last time, delivering just over seven hours of video playback in our tests. If Microsoft were to extend the runtime and include the keyboard dock in the box, we’d be inclined to give the Surface an even higher score. Even as is, though, we can finally say it’s well-rounded enough to replace a laptop.
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