Microsoft has been churning out new apps at an impressive speed, putting the best it has to offer on competing platforms like Android and iOS along with its own Windows devices. Now there’s one more new app from the company to check out, an Android keyboard meant for getting work done.The new keyboard is designed specifically to work with Microsoft’s Excel app, and comes from the company’s experimental Garage incubator project. It’s a pretty simple keyboard, but adds a 10-key number layout on the left side like you’ve probably seen on some classic physical keyboard. That means you can blaze through Excel and other projects without needing to switch back and forth between letters and numbers.Unfortunately, there are a few limits to what the new keyboard can do. It only works on tablets, which makes sense since it’s a little too wide for smaller smartphone screens. It’s also limited to English characters for now, and doesn’t even include correct or gesture-based typing.Still, the new keyboard should be a welcome addition for any work-obsessed Android fans. Hopefully it won’t be too long before Microsoft improves the app, and maybe even releases an iPad version as well.
Showing posts with label microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label microsoft. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2015
We are rapidly approaching that fun time of year when the largest Android smartphone manufacturers unveil their newest flagships. That means we're already in the silly season of rumors and leaks. Isn't it interesting to follow all the developments on, say, the HTC One M9? The M7 was great, the M8 was better...it's understandably hard to wait for official information about the 2015 iteration. However, whatever you do, do not look at product images from case manufacturers like Spigen to learn what the next phone will look like.
Google is releasing a set of tools designed for businesses and employees who want to get work done on Android-powered smartphones, setting up a skirmish on another key front of mobile computing.The technology unveiled Wednesday launches Google's attempt to turn Android phones into the digital hub of people's personal and professional lives. The expansion will pit Google Inc. against Microsoft Corp. and BlackBerry Inc., which have been focusing on the corporate market for years. Google will also be dueling its biggest rival in mobile computing, Apple Inc., which forged a partnership with IBM Corp. last year to build more iPhone and iPad applications tailored for businesses and government agencies.Google and Apple have become so dominant that 96 percent of the smartphones sold last year run on the companies' software, according to the research firm IDC. But most people use those phones to take pictures, message their friends, check Facebook and Twitter and engage in other personal endeavors. In many cases, people also may check their work email on their phones.But Google and Apple are trying to make it more enticing and convenient for people to transplant more of their professional lives on to their phones. As part of that process, the companies are rolling out more business-oriented applications and tougher security to make employers feel more comfortable about their workers using their phones for their jobs."Our vision is that every employee out there should have a work-enabled device in their hands," said Rajen Sheth, director of product management for Android's push into the office.Far more people already own Android phones than iPhones, a lead that Google hopes works to its advantage in the corporate mobility market. IDC estimates that more than 1 billion Android phones were sold last year, compared to 193 million iPhones. The huge disparity has largely been driven by Google's decision to give away its Android software, helping to make the devices running on the software more affordable than iPhones. By design, Apple has focused on more affluent consumers.The corporate and government market is appealing because employers are willing to spend more people on applications and security than most consumers.Google announced its Android for Work program at a conference eight months ago, but needed more time to test the technology before its release.The tools include the ability to create separate personal and professional profiles on the same phone in an effort to reassure workers worried about their bosses snooping on their private lives. Even though the data is kept in separate silos, Google has created a way for work programs and personal apps such as Facebook to appear on the same home screen for convenience.Android for Work will be automatically available on phones running on the most recent release of the operating system, "Lollipop," or version 5.0. An Android for Work app can be downloaded to make the package work on phones running older versions of the software. Google's Play store is also opening a section devoted to work applications.
Samsung hasn't officially announced that the Galaxy S6 will come with a wireless charger - heck, it hasn't technically confirmed the Galaxy S6 at all - but as usual that hasn't stopped the FCC from letting the cat out of the bag.
The US Federal Communications Commission has published its approval of the Samsung wireless charger, which could also support Samsung's rumored upcoming "Orbis" smartwatch.
In the FCC's documents the Samsung wireless charger appears round, a decent hint that it might support both devices.
We're expecting to see the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge - which both appeared in a recent photo leak - on March 1, so hopefully we'll learn more about Samsung's wireless charging plans then.
Google’s Android has gobbled up market share world wide, now accounting for over 80% of all smartphone shipped globally. But when it comes to actually making money, Apple is eating all the profits as it continues its focus on premium devices. Today Strategy Analytics said that Apple in Q4 last year accounted for 89% of all smartphone profits, equating to $18.8 billion, with Android taking only 11%, or $2.4 billion.
The blow for Android is softened only slightly less so only by the fact that other platform players like Microsoft, Blackberry and Firefox seemingly made no profit at all.
The figures given here relate to profits generated by handset makers, not the services ecosystem and potential profits made by app publishers and others, which, of course, includes Google itself, which adds new users of for its mobile search business, mobile ads business and other apps with each unforked Android sale.
Overall, smartphone handset profits were up 31.4% compared to the same quarter a year ago.
When it comes to who is performing best among Android OEMs, the results speak of the growing competition for Samsung.
Neil Mawson, research director for Strategy Analytics, says the “three big profit drivers” for Android are Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi.
“Samsung is the Android giant that delivers most of Android’s smartphone profits worldwide,” he tells me. Mawston says the company is not breaking out exact shares, except to say that “Samsung accounted for well over half of all Android smartphone profits globally in Q4 2014.”
As a point of comparison, in 2013, Samsung accounted for 95% of Android profits. That was a time where there was significantly more parity between Apple and the Korean handset maker both in terms of unit sales and revenues, with Apple accounting for “only” 57% of profit at the time.
It’s not too surprising that Apple — which last quarter had the most profitable company of any quarter, ever — is dominating in smartphone profits, but what is striking is just how wide the gulf has become.
The bigger picture seems to be that Android handset makers are in something of a race to the bottom at this point: the markets that are driving growth in smartphone adoption these days are emerging economies, where consumers are price sensitive. That’s leading to the production of a number of models that are pushing down the average sale price for devices, which long ago dropped below the $100 mark.
Apple may have missed the boat (so far) when it comes critical mass in market share in these developing markets, but it has more than made up for it by making a killing in places where it is strong. China is one such crossover example. While there is clearly a market for lower-cost and Android devices, Apple has been posting record sales in the country, reporting sales of $16 billion in the country in Q4. (China is not — yet — however overtaking Apple’s sales in markets like the U.S.)
In the world of smartphones, Android’s gains do not equal Apple’s loss. But Android’s gains might translate into Android losses down the line, Strategy Analytics notes.
“Apple’s strategy of premium products and lean logistics is proving hugely profitable,” Mawston writes in the report. “Android’s weak profitability for its hardware partners will worry Google. If major smartphone manufacturers, like Samsung or Huawei, cannot make decent profits from the Android ecosystem, they may be tempted in the future to look at alternative platforms such as Microsoft, Tizen or Firefox.”
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Microsoft partner and soon to be subsidiary Nokia introduced Android-powered devices at MWC this year in an apparent bid to go after the low end of the market, but there’s more and more reason to believe that experiment won’t continue once MS takes the reins of Nokia’s hardware division. A fresh report today suggests that Microsoft is mulling a licensing fee price cut of up to 70 percent compared to what it currently charges.
That price drop is coming, according to OEM smartphone maker Infosonics — which deals in low-cost Android devices — speaking to PCMag. Its intended purpose is to make it possible for OEMs like Infosonics to build affordable Microsoft hardware that can compete with its budget Android devices.
Previously we’d heard that Microsoft was looking at getting rid of the licensing fee altogether, but the software giant still makes a good portion of its revenue from licensing its desktop OS, and is likely unwilling to cede that stream entirely. Licensing fees for Windows Phone were between $20 and $30 as of the last word from a hardware partner, so a 70 percent cut would put new fees at roughly between $6 and $10 per unit.
Microsoft has already lined up some low-cost manufacturing partners, including manufacturers in China and India, so it’s making headway in getting its software in the hands of entry-level consumers, and working around what some see as prohibitive hardware minimum spec restrictions for Windows Phone. And despite the presence of any real budget devices, Windows Phone remains a good candidate for the fastest-growing mobile operating system over the next few years, according to predictions by research firm IDC.
The Nokia X project could continue to survive as a way to get users committed to Microsoft services, but judging by Microsoft’s messaging on that subject, as well as the news above, I’d say it’s much more likely that we’ll see the company go it alone and try everything possible to get low-cost hardware running Windows Phone into the hands of the next billion smartphone users.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Microsoft recognizes that it can no longer ignore the fast-growing market of entry-level tablets.Tablet manufacturers will have a stronger incentive to consider installing Windows instead of Android on low-cost tablets.Bloomberg reports that the price for a preinstalled Window 8.1 license will drop from $50 to $15, for devices of any kind to sell at less than $250. That's a 70% drop in price for manufacturers. If $15 was to become the average difference in price between Android and Windows low-cost tablets, it could give a huge boost to sales of Windows tablets.So far, Windows tablets have been generally considered as a decent option for high-end, productivity-oriented tablets. But the entry-level segment of the tablet market is widely dominated by Android devices.
Reports have for a while indicated Google may be working on a Nexus 8 tablet, and the latest claim which is being said to launch in July this year, along with the next Android version, said to be v4.5.It has being speculated that the search giant might be shifting away from its 7-inch devices because of the high competitiveness of the segment, which would be much less in the 8-inch bracket. Some of the popular 8-inch tablets in the market are Apple iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 and LG G Pad 8.3.
As claimed in a report by Taiwanese publication , a senior employee of Google Dublin confirmed that the firm will be launching Android 4.5 OS in July along with the new tablet, Nexus 8. The source is also quoted to have that the upcoming Google I/O conference, which will start from 25 June, will concentrate more towards the services Google plans to bring for its users.The 8-inch Google Nexus 8 is most likely expected to launch with the next Android 4.5 OS version. There is no word on the features of the OS, but we believe that by the time Google I/O nears in, we might get a faded glimpse of it via leaks and rumours.Furthermore, the report from Taiwan claimed that Nexus 8 will be launched by April-end with "initial shipments of two million units." The same report has also indicated Asus as the manufacturer of theGoogle Nexus 8.Reports from last month indicated that Google might adopt Intel's Bay Trail-T platform for the alleged Nexus 8 tablet, instead of the Qualcomm chipset currently used in the Nexus 7 (2013).
Google has been trying for some time to equip cities and theme parks with free WiFi. Now you also working on an app that is designed to simplify the typical multi-step login process.
According to sources from Engadget Google is working on a special app for Wi-Fi authentication, with which the device should be automatically enabled for public WiFi networks. For this to work with Starbucks together, which also makes sense because between the two companies was established in July last year, a partnership that aims to improve Starbucks WIFIsWith the new apps it should be possible to log into private and business Wi-Fi networks, without having to first typical multi-step log-in process as the typical accept the Terms and conditions and such other things go through. Fittingly, this is known, among other things, after Google, Microsoft and Time Warner Cable with WifiForward have formed an association, which is to advance the spread and quality of WiFi networks continue.As would look and run exactly everything that has not been said - is certainly one the networks but first need to store into the app to allow automatically unlock. Google plans to release apps for Android and iOS appear exactly when is unclear.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Microsoft unveiled its replacement name for SkyDrive just a few weeks ago, and the company is now ready to fully rebrand its cloud storage service to OneDrive today. If you’re an existing SkyDrive user then this won’t mean a whole lot. SkyDrive is being automatically upgraded to OneDrive, and existing apps will continue to work with the service. Microsoft will rebrand its Windows 8, Windows Vista, and Mac apps today, alongside its mobile and Xbox versions. Windows 8.1 and Office 2013 won’t be rebranded immediately, but both will continue to work with the new OneDrive service.
The real change is that OneDrive users will be able to earn additional storage in a similar way to Dropbox users. Microsoft is introducing a referral bonus of up to 5GB, which is made up of 500MB for each friend you refer to OneDrive, up to a maximum of 10 friends. OneDrive users will receive the free storage for referrals, and friends who sign up to the service will also get 500MB each. You can also earn 3GB of free storage by enabling the camera backup feature in Windows Phone or the iOS and Android apps. In total, OneDrive will offer up to 8GB of additional cloud storage on top of the 7GB free default allocation. If that’s not enough storage then Microsoft is also introducing monthly payment plans for OneDrive to boost the overall storage.
Microsoft is also updating its OneDrive Android app with the automatic camera uploads feature today, allowing Android users to take advantage of the new 3GB of free storage offer. The new app works largely the same as the iOS version, backing up photos to the OneDrive service, with an option to upload videos too. It also has a slightly redesigned UI to match the other apps across Windows and iOS. The newly designed Android app is available in the Google Play Store, alongside a refreshed onedrive.com site today.
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