Showing posts with label microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label microsoft. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Samsung Windows Phone 9 might come next. Microsoft willing to pay $1B incentive. OS no fees maybe.
Samsung Windows Phone 9 might come next. Microsoft willing to pay $1B incentive.
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin has revealed an interesting note about Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone plans:apparently the Redmond-based giant plans to pay an astounding $1 billion “bribe” to another tech behemoth to ensure that it continues making Windows Phone handsets.
“Another ‘good’ news from Microsoft,” Murtazin wrote on Twitter. “Company negotiates with Samsung and offer $1 billion support if vendor will produce Windows Phone devices.”
While this is just a rumor at this point, it wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft puts its cash reserves behind the development of Windows Phone.
Microsoft paid Nokia $250 million per quarter to adopt Windows Phone, even though the Finnish company “returned” the favor with Windows Phone licensing fees – in March 2013, Nokia revealed that it still had to pay around $650 in licensing fees from that point until the contract expired, at which point licensing fees would surpass Microsoft’s “platform support payments.”
Microsoft did not stop with its Windows Phone spending spree there, deciding to buy the mobile division of Nokia for over $7 billion, a purchase that has received the go ahead from shareholders and industry regulators. Also worth noting is that Microsoft incentivized developers with serious cash to bring their apps to the Windows Phone ecosystem.
As for Samsung, the South Korean company is currently king of the mobile business when it comes to market share, while dividing mobile profits with Apple, although the latter gets the larger chunk of cash each quarter. In addition to its Android and Tizen interests, Samsung already makes Windows Phones handsets and Windows 8 computers.
The company has been known to avoid placing its eggs in one basket when it comes to its mobile business and flooding the market with handsets to match every taste and pocket, so making Windows Phone smartphones may still be in the cards for Samsung for the near future, regardless of whether Murtazin’s rumor is correct or not.
One thing that Microsoft is also said to be considering is dropping licensing fees for Windows Phone, which could also be a good enough incentive for interested OEMs to make more Windows Phone devices.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
XBox One Games Video News: Assassin's Creed IV 101 Trailer | Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag™ [North America]
In this ultimate preview of Assassin's Creed 4, learn everything there is to know about the largest and most immersive Assassin's game ever created. See how Edward Kenway takes on the Golden Age of Pirates, and meet the outlaw characters that defined this unforgettable era. Experience the breadth of this open-world, including enhanced naval gameplay, expansive new environments, exotic animals and the vibrant underwater world. And learn more about new combat features and weapons, including dual-sword attacks, multi-gun abilities and the free-aim system.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Microsoft stimulates Windows Phone and Surface demand with an iPhone trade-in program.
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
Microsoft stimulates Windows Phone and Surface demand with an iPhone trade-in program.
Microsoft kicked off with a new trade-in program this time it is focusing on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 "gently used", for a minimum $200 gift card which can be applied to any products for sale in the Microsoft store.The offer started September 27th and ends November 3, 2013.
How to redeem this offer
- Bring in your gently used iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 and get a minimum of a $200 gift card to the Microsoft store.
- Looking to upgrade your phone? Check out the new Windows Phones and find one as unique as you are.
- See a store associate for more details on this offer and a full list of Windows Phones available at your store.
Valid September 27, 2013 until November 3, 2013. Available in select Microsoft retail stores in US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada; Not valid online. Offer only valid for the exchange of listed iPhone products, no exceptions. To be eligible for trade-in, device should include power cord, if available, and device cannot be password protected. Microsoft Store gift-card value will be equal to trade-in value, and is subject to Microsoft’s discretion and manager approval. All trade-ins are final. Recycle for Rewards program provided by CExchange, LLC. and other terms and conditions may apply. See store associate for details. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash. Limit 1 per customer.
Microsoft stores
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Microsoft Surface 2 Video Promotional.
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs
Microsoft Surface 2 Video Promotional.
Meet the new Surface (2). Not just a laptop, not just a tablet. Thinner, lighter with great battery life. It's the one device for everything in your life.
For pre-order: Surface2
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Microsoft launching Xbox One ,Jump Ahead Campaign. Invitation to a new generation.Video.
Microsoft launches Xbox Jump Ahead Campaign.Invitation to a new generation.Video. Video.
All in One Xbox One
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/th... This is an invitation to a new generation. Where your games and entertainment are no longer separated, but together in one. This is an invitation from the all-in-one, Xbox One. Jump ahead.
Today is the day the Xbox team is launching its invitation to the world to join the Xbox One launch on November 22. Designed to celebrate the fans, the campaign will showcase Xbox One as the only all-in-one entertainment system that brings together content loved by gamers, movie buffs, sports fans, and TV lovers, all in one place.
“To celebrate the launch of Xbox One Microsoft have designed one of theirr most integrated and comprehensive global campaigns ever. The campaign is a celebration of theirr fans – an invitation to a new generation of games and entertainment. And it showcases experiences that only Xbox One can deliver,” said Robert Matthews, General Manager of Consumer Marketing, Xbox. “Through the authenticity of the ads, to a massive 75 city experiential tour, to social campaigns that encourage their participation, to creative media executions that let fans become directly involved – we are inviting the world to celebrate the launch of Xbox One.”
The Xbox One television campaign launches in the U.S. on October 27 during Sunday Night Football on NBC and will subsequently roll-out around the world. Titled “Invitation,” the advertising is centered on an invitation to fans to enter a new generation of games and entertainment. The campaign highlights characters and content from games, sports, movies and TV shows that are part of Xbox One, who literally come into your world and invite you into theirs. The campaign was directed by award-winning director Bryan Buckley with visual effects from The Mill.
“The ads were designed to celebrate that for the first time, the best in gaming is coming together with the best of entertainment, all-in-one place,” said Matthews. “Authenticity was a key goal for the campaign design, from including one of only three McLaren P1’s in the world to represent 'Forza Motorsport 5,' to including Liverpool football star and England national team captain Stephen Gerrard, to actor Zachary Quinto representing Spock.”
Look for the ads in 12 markets around the world on the hottest TV shows, including NFL football games, The Big Bang Theory, X Factor, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Duck Dynasty and much more. The campaign will also appear online, on billboards and in movie theaters.
“We’ll also be engaging with fans on social networks, including our fans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. We’ll have rich interactive experiences on our own websites, as well as others. Fans will also be able to participate in promotional programs with some of their favorite brands including Doritos and Mountain Dew. We’re looking forward to celebrating with our fans and connecting with them in numerous ways over the coming months,” said Matthews.
These campaign elements build on the Xbox One Area One and Test Drive tours, which launched on October 1. Since then, thousands of fans have had the opportunity to get hands on with the Xbox One line-up of blockbuster games at the Area One traveling tour and via Test Drive locations that give people hands-on gameplay in unexpected places. Xbox fans are among the first to get their hands on the upcoming blockbuster games coming to Xbox One, including hotly anticipated titles like "Forza Motorsport 5," "Ryse: Son of Rome," "Killer Instinct," "Dead Rising 3,: "FIFA 14," "Crimson Dragon," "Max: Curse of the Brotherhood," "Lococycle," and more. For more information on the Area One Tour, go to xbox.com/onetour.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Nokia-Microsoft webcast press conference Sept 3, 2013,Full Video.
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
Nokia-Microsoft webcast press conference Sept 3, 2013,Full Video.
Related posts:
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Europe: Windows Phone OS gaining traction. It is at just 1 % point behind Apple iOS. Samsung is #1.
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
According to new Kantar Worldpanel data, the Windows Phone operating system should also be added to the list. The latest numbers have Microsoft's smartphone OS just 1 percentage point behind Apple for OS market share sales in the country.
But it's not just in Germany where the OS gaining traction, the five biggest European smartphone markets seems to be warming to Microsoft's smartphone operating system as well.
What a difference a year makes
Last year, in the three-month period ending in August, Windows Phone captured a total of 5.1% smartphone OS market share sales in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. But during the same time this year, that share had jumped to 9.2%, while iOS took 16.1%.
Great Britain gives Windows Phone the most love with a solid 12% of OS market share sales over the past three months. That's in stark contrast to U.S. consumers who handed over just 3% market share sales to the Windows Phone OS.
But the most important data coming from Kantar is that although Android took about 70% of European smartphone OS sales market share over the past three months, the research company thinks the little green droid has reached its saturation point in developed countries. As Kanta points out, "After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find."
The research company said that over the past three months Windows Phone achieved double-digit sales market share in two European countries – Great Britain and France – for the first time ever. This move coupled with iOS gains is expected to bring a slight retreat of the Android OS going forward. Part of the shift has come as Samsung has reached a saturation point in Europe and other OEMs move in.
Judging by the graph, Apple and other vendors still have a long way to go before catching up to Samsung, though.
Wind in the sails, but storms ahead
Kantar isn't the only one seeing gains for Windows Phone OS, thanks to Nokia . Last month, research firm IDC said in a press release that, "Nokia has clearly been the driving force behind the Windows Phone platform and we expect that to continue. However, as more and more vendors enter the smartphone market using the Android platform, we expect Windows Phone to become a more attractive differentiator in this very competitive market segment."
With Microsoft's pending acquisition of Nokia's devices and services segment, the company has the opportunity to build on the momentum it's gained in Europe. The big question is whether Microsoft can tap into the two the largest smartphone markets, the U.S. and China. Though the OS made a slight gain over the past three months in the U.S., it fell to just 2.1% in China from 4.7% the same time last year.
While Windows Phone gains in Europe are good news for Microsoft investors, gaining traction in the U.S. and China are going to be extremely difficult. This year, China will ship nearly one-third of all worldwide smartphone shipments, and it's imperative Microsoft make this market a top priority. Last month, Microsoft's VP of advertising and online, Frank Holland, said at a conference in Germany, "We are going to spend a lot of time in the next 12 months building a real presence on the low-end smartphone market with developing countries." Let's hope that means China sees a significant portion of that money to build the Windows Phone presence in the country. Though European market share is good, China is where the real growth is and Microsoft can't afford to pass it up.
Press Release:
30 September 2013
Windows Phone nears double digit share across Europe
Samsung begins to feel pressure from resurgent Sony, Nokia and LG
The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, for the three months to August 2013, shows Windows Phone has posted its highest ever sales share of 9.2% across the five major European markets* and is now within one percentage point of iOS in Germany. Android remains the top operating system across Europe with a 70.1% market share, but its dominant position is increasingly threatened as growth trails behind both Windows and iOS.
Windows Phone has hit double digit sales share figures in France and Great Britain with 10.8% and 12% respectively – the first time it has recorded double digits in two major markets.
Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, comments: “After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find. Android’s growth has been spearheaded by Samsung, but the manufacturer is now seeing its share of sales across the major European economies dip year on year as a sustained comeback from Sony, Nokia and LG begins to broaden the competitive landscape.”
Dominic continues: “Windows Phone’s latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia’s expansion into the low and mid range market with the Lumia 520 and 620 handsets. These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 year-olds and 35 to 49 year-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone’.
Across the globe
In the United States, Apple continues to grow strongly year on year and now makes up 39.3% of sales. This is set to spike in the coming months with the release of the iPhone 5S & 5C.
Apple and Android have recorded almost identical shares of sales in Japan – 48.6% and 47.4% respectively. However, news that the new iPhone range will be available on Japan’s largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, for the first time, makes it likely that Apple will pull ahead of Android in this key market.
BlackBerry’s troubles continue; the operating system now accounts for just 2.4% of sales across the big five European markets* and 1.8% in the United States.
Smartphone % penetration in Great Britain stands at 67% in August, with 85% of devices sold in the past three months being smartphones.
*The big five European markets includes Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
Pre-order Amazon Kindles Fire HDX:
Monday, November 25, 2013
Will Apple make an Smart iTV with Primesense 3D chip developer company acquisition?
Will Apple make an Smart iTV with Primesense 3D chip developer company acquisition?
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the PrimeSense deal to AllThingsD.
A spokeswoman for PrimeSense said: “We can confirm the deal with Apple. Further than that, we cannot comment at this stage.”
PrimeSense became widely known in the sensor technology space for its early work with Microsoft’s Kinect gaming product, which uses cameras and depth sensors to capture players’ motions and incorporate them into Xbox gameplay. Microsoft now deploys its own homegrown sensor technology for the current generation of Kinect devices, which ship with the recently launched Xbox One.
PrimeSense has expanded its product line to include more hardware than the original large, stationary sensor seen in the Kinect, creating new, smaller sensors targeted at more compact devices.
PrimeSense’s technology could be used in any number of Apple’s actual and hypothetical products in development, including the long-rumored Apple television set (Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson that he “finally cracked” the TV) or an Apple-made smartwatch.
Samsung gesture control.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Windows Phone head Joe Belfiore: "The 3rd ecosystem is decidedly here! Instagram,Flipboard, Vine and Waze apps arrived.
Since Microsoft and Nokia unveiled the Windows Phone 8 platform and the first handsets to use it, the operating system has comfortably overtaken BlackBerry to move into third place in the smartphone pecking order. But more importantly, it's finally managing to win over developers.
As a result, over the past few months, we've seen Windows Phone versions of Flipboard, Vine, Waze and now Instagram arriving to add to the 200,000 apps already available for download for Windows Phone users. Ok, it's nowhere near Apple's 1 million app total, but the iPhone has had a six-year head start.
Likewise in terms of downloads, Windows Phone users have already downloaded 3 billion apps after just over a year, which is very good going considering how few apps were available only 12 months ago and how few handset owners there were to install them.
The only potential issue in the platform's continued growth could be its market share in some mature smartphone markets, such as the US, where most developers are based.
They're less likely to build an app worth using for a Windows Phone 8 device if they think they're going to get little or no revenue in return.
But even in this regard, Microsoft is not prepared to give up without a fight. Joe Belfiore, the current head of Windows Phone, on Wednesday took to Twitter to claim that by 2014 the ‘app gap' between Windows Phones and its competitors will be closed. "We're all gonna look back on the end of 2014 (he corrected as 2013 #donttypewhiledriving!) as the ending of the app-gap for Windows Phone. The 3rd ecosystem is decidedly here!" he tweeted.
So, if you're a Windows Phone 8 handset owner or are considering one as a holiday gift for a loved one or family friend and you're worried about the platform's future, it would appear the best thing to do is to keep calm and carry on.
AFP
Monday, November 18, 2013
Microsoft launches 3D Builder app for 3D printing.Free.
3D Builder
Microsoft is also selling MakerBot 3D printers through its online stores for a one-stop shopping solution to your 3D printing needs.
Microsoft's 3D Builder includes a library of 3D printable objects, including "decorations, toys, jewelry, and more items that people can customize and adapt in minutes before printing them in 3D," the company said.
Microsoft's 3D Builder and other Windows 8.1 printing apps work in conjunction with both the keyboard-and-mouse and touch interfaces supported by the software platform.
MakerBot said users can download the MakerBot 3D Printer Driver for Windows 8.1 and print directly to their MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer.
"We have been working closely with Microsoft to prepare the printer driver to provide the familiar plug-and-play capabilities of Windows with the MakerBot Replicator 2," Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot, said in a statement. "Having the 3D printer driver be a part of Windows 8.1 rounds out even more of the MakerBot 3D Ecosystem that is designed to make 3D design and printing super easy and accessible."
Aproximate size 23.4 MB. Get Windows 8.1 to run this app.
Description:
Meet 3D Builder - the best place to view, prepare, and print your 3D models on Windows 8.1-ready 3D printers!
3D Builder is a fun, easy to use, free app for Windows 8.1 that helps you turn digital objects into physical ones and explore the exciting world of 3D printing. It also includes a library of example 3D objects to get you started.
Whether you are an experienced enthusiast or new to the world of 3D printing, 3D Builder is fun for Makers of all ages.
Features
· View and prepare objects for 3D printing on Windows 8.1-ready devices
· Load STL, OBJ, or 3MF files from disk
· Library of 3D objects to explore and print.
Details.
Notes
Release includes a number of minor bug fixes and a crashing bug fix on certain video cards.
Accessibility
The app developer believes this app meets accessibility requirements, making it easier for everyone to use.
Languages
English
Supported processors
x86, x64
Learn more
Source: Microsoftstore via PCMag
USA: PC/Tablet: Verizon: Nokia Lumia 2520 Available Nov. 21.
USA: PC/Tablet: Verizon: Nokia Lumia 2520 Available Nov. 21.
The recent announced PC/Tablet mobile Nokia Lumia 2520 with
windows RT 8.1 will be avvailable at VerizonWireless in the USA
this Nov 21st.
The Lumia 2520 comes with Windows RT 8.1, so it combines the functionality of a PC – such as having Microsoft Office 2013 Home and Student and Outlook RT – with the mobility of a tablet. The device also features 4G LTE connectivity, which is available in more than 500 markets, so users can spend less time looking for Wi-Fi and more time getting stuff done whether in the classroom, while traveling or playing around with the latest apps.
College students starting a new semester soon may be in need of a new device. Having Microsoft Office on a tablet means they can have study guides, class notes and that last-minute group project in one place. Students can upload their work and share it with the rest of the group and the professor before the deadline.
The Lumia 2520 also includes exclusive Nokia apps like HERE Maps to pre-plan trips and stay on track, especially with holiday travel coming up. After taking pictures with the 6.7-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics, shutterbugs can use the Nokia Storyteller app to maintain a timeline with images grouped by events and geographic location. Video chatting fans have Skype to talk face to face with friends and family around the world.
Gamers will have access to Xbox Live for games, movies, music and more all on the tablet. For additional apps, users can choose from more than 112,000 apps available through the Windows Store, including favorites like Facebook, Netflix, Angry Birds and Flipboard. The 8,000 mAh battery provides plenty of power so users can watch, game and browse throughout their day, and the battery also offers fast charging of up to 80 percent in about an hour.
The Nokia Lumia 2520 with 10.1-inch Full HD display will be available online and in select stores starting Nov. 21 for $499.99. For a limited time, customers can get the Lumia 2520 for $399.99 when purchasing with a new two-year activation. Customers can add the tablet to their Share Everything account for $10 per month.
The Black color model will be available in stores, and customers purchasing online can choose from Black or Red color models.
Source:Verizon
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Q3 2013: Android tops worldwide mobile OS shipments with 81%,Apple`s iOS 12.9%,WP 3.6% (+156%),BB 1.7%.
Q3 2013: Android tops worldwide mobile OS shipments with 81%,Apple`s iOS 12.9%,WP 3.6% (+156%),BB 1.7%.
Google's Android operating system reached a new milestone during the third quarter of 2013 (3Q13), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. With a total base of 211.6 million smartphone units shipped during the quarter, Android accounted for 81.0% of all smartphone shipments, marking the first time that Android topped 80% in its short history. Despite high saturation rates in a number of mature markets, the overall smartphone space grew 39.9% year-over-year in the third quarter.
Also reaching a milestone was Microsoft's Windows Phone, which grew an amazing 156.0% year over year. Granted, volumes started from a small base of 3.7 million units a year ago and overall market share is still less than five percent. But Microsoft's efforts, with Nokia's support behind it, helped drive the platform into multiple tiers and price points.
"Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter. Despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success: price," said Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "Both platforms have a selection of devices available at prices low enough to be affordable to the mass market, and it is the mass market that is driving the entire market forward."
Smartphone average selling prices (ASPs) have continued to decline as the appetite for more affordable devices grows. ASPs were down -12.5% in 3Q13, accounting for an average price of $317. At the same time, the market has seen a large influx of large-screen smartphones (5-7” screens), also known as phablets. Large-screen devices generally come with a higher selling price than smaller screen devices, due to the need for more powerful and expensive components. Phablet ASPs in 3Q13 were notably higher than the market average at $443. However, the 3Q13 ASP was down -22.8% from the $573 phablet ASP in 3Q12.
"Almost all successful Android vendors have added one or more 5-7-inch phablets to their product portfolios," said Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "And Nokia’s recent announcement of the Lumia 1320 and 1520 put them in the category as well. In 3Q13, phablet shipments accounted for 21% of the smartphone market, up from just 3% a year ago. We believe the absence of a large-screen device may have contributed to Apple's inability to grow share in the third quarter."
Operating System Highlights
Android pushed past 80% market share for the first time in 3Q13, a testament to its broad and deep list of vendors, including four of the top five vendors worldwide. While Android, as a whole, moved forward, the vast majority of its vendors still struggle to find meaningful market share. Samsung accounted for 39.9% of all Android shipments for the quarter, while the rest of the vendors either saw single-digit market share or, in the case of the majority of vendors, market share of less than 1%.
iOS, despite seeing its total volumes increase and reaching new record third quarter volumes, saw its market share decline during 3Q13, most likely due to soft demand in the weeks leading up to the launch of iOS 7 smartphones. Still, if the 9 million units sold during the last week of September is any indication of future adoption, iOS stands to reap another record quarter in terms of volumes, market share, and year-over-year growth.
Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year growth worldwide of any of the leading operating systems, a result primarily driven by the support of Nokia. By itself, Nokia accounted for 93.2% of all the Windows Phone-powered smartphones shipped during the quarter, marking a new milestone in the company's short history on the Microsoft platform. Participation from other vendors, meanwhile, still seemed a mixed bag with more vendors participating from a year ago, but volumes still far behind Nokia's own.
BlackBerry recorded the largest year-over-year decline among the leading operating systems during 3Q13. Underpinning its results was softer demand for its new BB10 operating system and continued demand for its older BB7 within emerging markets. Now with a new CEO in place and an infusion of $1 billion, what remains to be seen is how and when the beleaguered operating system will be able to change course in the face of mounting pressure from Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)