microsoft announces windows phone 8.1

Windows Phone 8.1 and Cortana officially revealed at Build 2014

As predicted, Microsoft is using its Build developer conference to launch Windows Phone 8.1, the latest and (we hope) greatest version of its mobile OS. The company's fed us a bunch of information about the update already, and a vast number of leaks have covered nearly all remaining features. Still, it's about time for us to get the skinny on everything the new upgrade entails, so let's break down exactly what you can expect from Windows Phone going forward.

Microsoft's Joe Belfiore took the stage and talked up (among other things), new hardware partners like Prestigio and Micromax that should help the company penetrate those valuable developing markets. As multiple leaks have pointed out ahead of time, 8.1 indeed comes with a notification center (called the Action Center) that users can invoke by swiping down from the top of the screen -- from there you can view and dismiss your email and social notifications as well as toggle WiFi and Bluetooth connections. Pretty standard fare, if you ask us.

What's a little less standard are WP8.1's customizable lock screens: Developers can tweak them in some pretty stunning ways, though Microsoft hasn't yet said when they'll actually get access. Throw in the ability to set your own images as the background for your Live Tiles and you've got yourself a level of personalization that's been sorely lacking from Windows Phone to date.

And yes, Cortana is here too. She completely replaces the standard Bing search interface in Windows Phone... which makes sense considering she's powered by Bing anyway. But what can she actually do? Cortana can handle the usual tasks that you'd expect of a modern digital assistant: She can make calls and send messages, as well as jot down reminders.

Third-party developers can tap into Cortana as well so users can call out to them by name (think "Skype, call Michael"). Want to make her even smarter? Users can also define their interests (think sports, traffic updates) in a "notebook" so she knows what to keep tabs on in the future. On-stage demos have a history of turning sketchy quickly, but Belfiore's repeated voice interactions with Cortana sounded surprisingly natural. No stilted computer-speak here -- Microsoft may have finally crafted a digital assistant worth talking to. That said, she's still firmly in beta for now.

Considering Windows' prevalence in the workplace, it's no surprise that Windows Phone 8.1 has some new IT-friendly features too. There's support for enterprise VPNs, along with signed and encrypted messaging to keep those corporate secrets under wraps.

There are plenty of other makeovers here too. The updated Windows Store does a better job of introducing you to featured apps once it's been fired up, and it's now easier to sort through them all based on categories like "top paid" and "new + rising." WP8.1's Calendar has also been tweaked lightly: A tiny weather icon lives in corner, and we can now look at a week's worth of appointments in one shot. A newly added Wi-Fi Sense feature streamlines the process of jumping on a wireless network, and the on-screen keyboard now supports what Microsoft calls "shape writing" -- the now-familiar ability to trace out words by dragging your finger over keys.

That's quite a bit to cram into a single update, and the only question that remains is when we can get our grubby mitts on it. Windows Phone 8.1 will be pre-installed on new devices that could hit as soon as the end of April, and the update will hit existing models in the "coming months."

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HBO pushes the boundaries of virtual reality to sell you Game of Thrones

The frost-crusted wooden cage was carrying me to my death. I didn't know that for sure, but something just didn't feel right as the winch kicked into gear and the empty square of Castle Black retreated from my feet. My knees buckled as I began to ascend the 700-foot Wall. The floor rattled beneath my boots and I had to reach out to steady myself against the side of the ramshackle elevator. There was nothing beyond the stone battlements that the Night's Watch calls home. Well, not nothing exactly. There were a few towering pines and squat rocky mountains whose lower reaches were blanketed in thick featureless snow. Their peaks, if you could call them that, were black stains smeared across the blinding white expanse of the Kingdom of the North. As I climbed higher, the cool breeze turned into an icy gale and my collar flapped against my neck like a sail in a storm.

The truth is that my feet were firmly on Texas soil, but HBO and its partners Relevent and Framestore (which recently won an Academy Award for visual effects in Gravity) certainly managed to fool my brain. It wasn't just the Oculus Rift over my eyes or the headphones pumping realistic sound effects into my ears -- the experience was augmented by an assault on all of my other senses. For one, I was stuffed inside an actual cage. Its floor creaked as I shifted my weight and, even though I couldn't see my hands, I could reach out and feel the rough-hewn lumber surrounding me in the virtual Westeros. The cage rumbled and rattled as I rode up the wall and fans mounted in the ceiling blew cold air over me. It was easily the most immersive experience I've ever had with the Oculus.

While you would never mistake the graphics rendered in the Unity game engine for real life, the experience still felt real. When I stood on a flimsy platform of narrow planks hanging 700 feet above the frosted ground, my heart leaped. I was actually afraid I was going to fall to my death -- this virtual world inspired very real fear. It was so gripping that when the inevitable happened and I found the wall screaming past my face in the wrong direction, the wind howling around me, I couldn't breathe.

HBO is hardly the only company pushing the boundaries of the Oculus for marketing purposes. In fact, it's arguable that advertising agencies and content studios are doing more to advance the capabilities of virtual reality than the game developers that Oculus is designed for. Beck partnered with Lincoln on an advertising campaign that included him recording an epic orchestral rendition of David Bowie's "Sound and Vision." At Sundance, that was turned into animmersive experience that sucked you in primarily by playing with sound. As you turned your head, the sound of instruments shifted to the appropriate virtual location. If you were staring at the string section then turned around, the sound of the strings would appear to come from behind you.

Ogeeku created that advergame CorollaCade for Toyota, which made the simple tweak of putting a steering wheel in your hands. It might seem obvious, but even simple changes that take the gamepad out of your hand can really improve the Oculus experience. Studios like Chaotic Moon are even hacking together solutions just for fun. At this year's SXSW, it showed off SharkPunch, a silly and fun game that pairs the Oculus with a Leap Motion. So, rather than mashing buttons, you control the game by throwing actual punches. It will probably be one of these companies creating branded experiences that finally ties the Oculus together with motion control and other sensory input such as smell to create a virtual world so real it's terrifying.

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Microsoft Power Cover doubles the Surface's battery life for $200 on March 19th

With the right accessories, the Surface Pro makes a mean alternative to your average laptop -- but even with the second generation model's improved battery life, it doesn't last long outside of the house. Soon, that might be less of an issue: Microsoft is preparing to ship out the tablet's Power Cover keyboard later this month. The $200 Type Cover variant was originally announced with the Surface 2, but didn't make it to market with the new tablets. Now the company has given it a March 19th ship date, promising buyers 70% more battery life for Surface Pro,Surface Pro 2 and RT-based Surface 2 slates. Pricey? A bit, but can you think of a better way to nurse your Windows 8 slate on an international flight?

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Android 4.4 KitKat release date: when can I get it?

You don't need to go to the corner shop for this KitKat

f you hadn't heard Android 4.4 KitKat is out in the wild on the Google Nexus 5, where have you been? It's been over 3 months since the launch of KitKat, leaving many owners wondering when their handset is set to get the update.
Unfortunately with different OEMs all adding their own skins and networks having to certify these updates, the roll out of any new Android OS is less than smooth.
With MWC 2014 just around the corner we might be set to see a whole glut of update announcements but here's our guide to what handsets can currently get their hands on the chocolatey goodness, those set for the new software and those that will miss out.

Hopefully we will see the latest Android update land on a much wider range of devices this time, with KitKat supporting devices with as little as 512MB RAM.
This will mean we should see it on new budget devices, and we can hold a little hope that older budget handsets will get a refresh - although it's unlikely manufacturers will revisit their older, cheaper smartphones.
We have been in contact with various manufacturers to get a feel for their update cycles, and we will continue to update this article as news trickles in, so keep your eyes peeled.
Here's our guide to whether or not you're going to get the update to Google's latest iteration of Android, and when those updates should land.

Google Nexus

Android is Google's mobile OS, so the Android 4.4 KitKat update was always bound to land on certain Nexus devices. Unfortunately, the word 'certain' is key.
Google is only supporting the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (both editions) and Nexus 10, with the updates for the tablets now finally here - although shorn of the Google Experience launcher, which seems to be something to do with the larger devices being unable to handle the transparent bar at the bottom of the screen.
This is taking a while though - not everyone has got the update yet, but it is rolling out slowly, so stay tuned to the 'System updates' section of your menu to see when it arrives.

The certain devices getting the KitKat update also include the Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, but not the Samsung-made Galaxy Nexus.
Reasons touted are that it doesn't fit in Google's 18-month update window, and that Texas Instruments no longer make mobile chips, so is unable to provide support.

Samsung

Updated: Samsung has outlined a few handsets that it will be pushing to the new level of software, but as expected the OS update is being pushed out to its latest flagships first.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 are currently receiving the updates in Poland and South Korea, with other territories currently being prepped to receive KitKat. With any luck it shouldn't be too long until the update is passed over to the rest of globe.
Alongside these flagships other devices set to receive the update sometime in the coming months include the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Mega. Both the Galaxy S4 Zoom and Galaxy S4 Active are also set, as well as the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.

HTC

Updated: According to HTC's official update page (UK, US), all UK models of the HTC One, One Mini and One Max are in the integration stage meaning networks have yet to get their hands on the software to certify it.
Its a different story in the US where the unlocked, developer edition, Google Play edition as well as Sprint and Verizon branded handsets have all received the updates. AT&T, T-Mobile are still running their own test.
Owners of the HTC One Max on Verizon should also be in line soon as the carrier is in testing, with Sprint still awaiting the updated OS from HTC. AT&T are also waiting for HTC to pass on the update for the One Mini.
Older handsets including the One X and One X+ will miss out on the update - although we're keeping an eye on that one, as things can change... don't hold your breath though.

Sony

Updated: Sony has confirmed that Android 4.4 KitKat will be coming to the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z1 Compact although there is currently no word on exactly when this is going to happen.
Current rumours put Sony's KitKat launch towards the end of February or the beginning of March.

LG

Updated: The good news is that the LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is real. Given that LG built the past two Nexus devices, we were a little hopeful. It has even started the roll out in its native South Korea.

The bad, but not so bad, news is that there is still no official word on when we are likely to see the update land but current rumours have it pegged to launch at MWC next week. Here's hoping.
Rumours surrounding the LG G Pad 8.3 also have tablet set to receive the update making the jump direct from Android 4.1.

Motorola

Updated: Owners of the European Moto G have been able to the Android 4.4 KitKat update since mid-January. In the US those that purchased the budget handset through Amazon, direct from Motorola or on Boost will also be able to gain the download.
Android 4.4 KitKat is also available from launch in the UK on the Moto X, with US owners now also able to grab the download. Other handsets in the US are also receiving the KitKat update including Verizon's Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini.
In line for the update but without any time frame includes AT&T's Atrix HD, US Cellular's Electrify M and Verizon's Razr HD and Razr Maxx HD.
Over in Australia updates are a little more sparse. Currently the Motorola Razr HD is listed for updating with the decision on the Razr M having yet to be made.

Huawei

When it comes to devices, Huawei may be famed for its budget offerings. This sometimes means that software updates can be a little hard to come by.
The Huawei Ascend P2 and Ascend P6 both have a lot to shout about, though, so we might well see Huawei Android 4.4 KitKat with the Emotion UI landing on both devices.
Updated: According to the Huawei Ascend P6 Facebook page the handset started receiving the update to Android 4.4 KitKat in January.
ZTE

Alongside Huawei, its Chinese compatriot ZTE is another firm famed for lower end devices.
Both the cheaper quad-core ZTE Blade V, now on the market toting 1GB RAM, as well as the 512MB RAM ZTE Blade 3, both technically support KitKat.
Although ZTE currently has no word on planned updates, we could see an Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade land on these devices if there proves to be enough of a clamour.

Acer

Acer isn't necessarily a brand that many will associate with Google's mobile OS, however it does have a few devices out there running Android software.
With tablets such as the Iconia A1, and Liquid branded smartphones like the Acer Liquid S1, we might well see some Android 4.4 KitKat update love being shared to the Taiwanese firm's devices.
As with every other manufacturer, we have contacted Acer to find out more.

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Samsung's slumping sales suggest China is the next mobile battlefield

Samsung's slumping sales suggest China is the next mobile battlefield

Samsung had a rough day yesterday. Its earnings report indicated the company experienced the first posted drop in profit in two years (a mere $7.8 billion, compared to $8.27 billion in the same quarter last year), thanks to a strong Korean won, a special one-off bonus payment to employees and heavy holiday marketing costs. Given its increased year-over-year profits and sales this may not seem so bad, but there is a growing concern that the company has a difficult year ahead, especially for smartphone sales.

The company expects slowing sales in the first quarter of 2014 for its smartphones and tablets, thanks to "seasonality." This means fewer people are buying mobile devices -- as a new Galaxy flagship approaches, many people put off their phone purchase until it comes out. But the company also indicated that the mobile battlefield is only going to get fiercer over the next year, as developed markets are reaching saturation. Now, the war is shifting to developing markets where more people are becoming smartphone and tablet owners for the first time.

"With developed markets becoming saturated and experiencing slow sales, regions like China are ripe for the picking."

In its earnings report, Samsung stated: "In 2014, Samsung will focus on expanding its smartphone portfolio both by region and price range, and actively responding to growing LTE demand in Europe and China. Expect ... intensified price competition, amid developed and emerging markets to continue rapid growth." With developed markets becoming saturated and experiencing slowed sales, regions like China are ripe for the picking.

This isn't to say that Samsung doesn't already have a large presence in areas like China and India -- it's currently the market share champion in both countries -- but its dominance is quickly slipping as it faces intense competition from both local and global companies alike. Local powerhouses Micromax and Karbonn are quickly catching up to Samsung in India, and in China, Apple has experienced exponential growth in recent quarters; reports indicate that the iPhone 5s and 5c helped Apple more than double its market share to take third place. The phones launched on China Mobile (the country's largest carrier with 750 million customers) this month, so we expect Apple's foothold to only get stronger there in the coming months. But that's not the only large company making strides in China: Lenovo, which is in second place, is also growing significantly.

"If the rumors about Apple releasing iPhones in larger form factors are true, Samsung will have to directly compete against a major force that didn't exist last year."

Not only is there more competition in these countries in general, there's also a much more pointed focus on specific form factors and price points. As we pointed out in an earlier piece, the under-$100 pricing tier is becoming very aggressive, especially in emerging markets. Additionally, the large-screen smartphone, a form factor once dominated by the Galaxy Note, is now covered by nearly every major company. If the rumors about Apple releasing iPhones in larger form factors are true, Samsung will have to directly compete against a major force that didn't exist last year.

As the battle continues to intensify in countries like China, where demand is growing at a tremendous pace, Samsung's profit margins will get squeezed as phone prices plunge. Thus, we expect to see the company hit tablets and wearables even harder in 2014 -- according to Samsung, the former will experience a 20 percent increase in demand, and it has more of the latter on the way as well. We don't know if it will be enough for the company to enjoy a record year, but Samsung is under more pressure to bedazzle its customers than at any time in recent memory. It's just going to have to be more creative to stay on top.

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Microsoft moved 3.9 million Xbox Ones, while Surface sales soared

Microsoft moved 3.9 million Xbox Ones, while Surface sales soared

The company's search for a new CEO is still the dominant narrative surrounding Microsoft. But if you're able to get past the quest to replace Ballmer, you'll find a company that's starting to get something of a second wind in its long life. For one, its new Xbox One console is selling quite well. After getting off to a slightly rocky start and trailing the latest PlayStation in initial sales, it outsold its rival in the US for the Month of December. All told during the last quarter Redmond pushed 3.9 million of the next-gen (now-gen?) gaming rigs out to retail channels. That's in addition to 3.5 million Xbox 360s, which are still selling well and are quite a bargain compared to the new systems.

Another unit that struggled early on, Surface, seems to be righting the ship as well. (Though, its rough patch lasted a ways longer than the Xbox One's.) Revenues from Surface sales more than doubled from $400 million last quarter to $893 million. And let's not forget, that $400 million dollars represented a 47 percent increase over the quarter before that.

Obviously, things are not all rosy. Its desktop consumer Office and Windows 8 offerings continue to see revenues fall. But, the growth of its device division and increased income from Bing (which, stunningly, now accounts for 18.2 percent of searches in the US, according to Microsoft) are beginning to compensate for the "softness in the consumer PC market."

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Nokia's dumbphones face an uncertain future at Microsoft

Nokia's dumbphones face an uncertain future at Microsoft

"Year-on-year decline." Those are words that no company looks forward to publishing in its earnings reports, but unfortunately we've seen them printed more often than not on Nokia's quarterly statements. Though there have been a few ups and downs, struggling profits and sales have been a general concern for a long time, and unfortunately this quarter's earnings report did little to soothe our worries; Nokia sold 600,000 fewer Lumias than the previous quarter. Now that Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's devices and services division is nearly complete, much of our focus has turned to how the merger will affect the Lumia lineup of Windows Phones. An even bigger mystery at the moment, however, is what Microsoft will choose to do with the rest of Nokia's phones -- namely, the Mobile Phone division, which consists of the company's basic featurephones and the Asha lineup of advanced featurephones, none of which run Windows Phone.

Just after Microsoft announced its intent to acquire the phone maker, Nokia insisted that the division wasn't going anywhere; it has "substantial global reach ... and a strong customer base," but in emerging markets like India and China, it faces intense competition from fully functional smartphone platforms for a similar cost. Even worse, as we learned in yesterday's report, sales from this division were flat -- and as the competition gets heavier, it's going to get worse, not better. Is it worth it for Microsoft to try saving a lineup of handsets that don't feature Windows Phone OS? Or does it make more sense to push lower-end Lumia devices to cater to the next billion smartphone users?

"We've seen several companies make huge moves to compete in emerging markets, where even a difference of $10 or $20 can have a significant impact."

In yesterday's report, Nokia stated: "Our Mobile Phones net sales were affected by competitive industry dynamics, including intense smartphone competition at increasingly lower price points and intense competition at the low end of our product portfolio." In other words, an influx of cheap Android and Firefox OS devices is making it difficult for Nokia's lower-end devices to remain relevant in fiercely competitive countries like India and China.

The Ashas, which bridge the divide between featurephones and smartphones, range from $70 to $100; however, Android devices like the Galaxy Pocket cost around $85 in the same markets and offer similar specs with a much wider variety of apps. Firefox OS devices like the ZTE Open are now available for around $75. Heck, even the Lumia 520, which uses the Windows Phone platform, costs roughly the same as an Asha.

We've seen several companies make huge moves to compete in emerging markets, where even a difference of $10 or $20 can have a significant impact. Unfortunately, this means it's much more difficult for the Asha lineup to compete today than just a couple years ago when they were first introduced. At the time, the concept was sound -- if you offer a featurephone with smart abilities like a developer platform, messaging/email, social networking and so on, the customers will come. But today, as other platforms like Android and Firefox begin to flourish in emerging markets for the same prices, developers have less incentive to focus on making apps for Asha products, and consumers will become more hesitant to buy into the ecosystem.

There's still a place for the simplest of phones. The $20 Nokia 105, for instance, is a basic candybar phone that offers a few nice extras like FM radio, flashlight and (best of all) month-long battery life. But what about the $85 Nokia 301 (pictured above), which offers a camera, HSPA connectivity and Mail for Exchange? How about the $160, aluminum-clad Nokia 515? We're not so sure there's a place for them in the years to come. It's fantastic to see a lot of variety in the low end, but these handsets won't be able to stay afloat in a sea of similarly priced phones that have more capabilities.

"These handsets won't be able to stay afloat in a sea of similarly priced phones that have more capabilities."

Nokia states that featurephones won't be going away under Microsoft's reign, and everything under the Mobile Phone umbrella will continue on. But outside of the Nokia 105, we just don't see how selling a featurephone that costs more than $60 makes sense -- and if Microsoft continues the Asha lineup, it would have to add even more functionality in order to compete with phones that boast full smartphone platforms. This is where a device like the oft-rumored Normandy would play an interesting role, since it's reportedly an Asha-class phone that features a forked version of Android. However, Microsoft may not be so keen on Nokia launching the phone for that very reason.

Regardless of what happens to the Normandy in the end, we doubt it will have much of an effect on Microsoft's end goal -- to help Windows Phone blossom and grow. The best place to do that right now is in emerging markets, where it's finally becoming affordable to get a smartphone. Nokia created a lot of momentum with low-end smartphones like the Lumia 520, which Softpedia claims was the best-selling Windows device in the world in September. Microsoft should take advantage of those successes instead of focusing on products that deter from its objective.

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