Microsoft is secretly working on a new “Surface Phone,” with development led by the company’s new Devices head Panos Panay.
There have been rumours that Microsoft is working on such a device which would make sense, but now Panos Panay has been promoted and put in charge of all Microsoft devices including the Surface Brand.
What’s so important about Panos Panay? Go listen to him present and he will convince you plastic is gold. If anybody can make a C change in the business, Panos Panay can. In fact the new Surface Phone is nicknamed “Panos Phone”.
There is no denying the impact the FitBit Charge HR has made on my personal wellbeing. It has been the single most effective device at making me fitter and motivating me more. Add to the fact it works really well with third party services like MyFitnessPal and you have a great combo.
I wrote a review of the FitBit Charge HR using it with MyFitnessPal. Click HERE.
However, since this review FitBit has updated the software several times, but the last update is really fantastic.
Now detection is made automatically for walks, runs, outdoor biking sessions, elliptical training, “high-movement” sports and aerobic workouts.
This means no going into the app settings to select the exercise mode etc.. This new feature is fantastic in use. Now the FitBit detects sleep, activity and all your exercises without lifting a finger!
This new update has arrived for iOS and Windows users. The android update is coming soon.
If you have been waiting for some real camera samples from the new Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, fear not, real user photos have now started working there way on to the internet.
Fortunately, @NZTechfreak on twitter spotted some great shots shared on OneDrive – click HERE.
Heading over to the link you can view the individual photos in more detail. So what do you think?
These are big changes by Microsoft. No more unlimited storage on Office 365. The free 15gb OneDrive storage reduces to 5gb. 15gb free camera roll storage bonus is ended. The free lunch has ended. Microsoft wants your money. If there was one reason left to use Microsoft it was the storage options, but these have gone now. To only provide 5gb now is a poor show. To penalise all users when apparently only a small percentage were abusing the system is stupid.
We’re making changes to OneDrive storage plans for consumers and are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.
Since we started to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75 TB per user or 14,000 times the average. Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users.
Here are the changes:
We’re no longer planning to offer unlimited storage to Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers. Starting now, those subscriptions will include 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
100 GB and 200 GB paid plans are going away as an option for new users and will be replaced with a 50 GB plan for $1.99 per month in early 2016.
Free OneDrive storage will decrease from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued. These changes will start rolling out in early 2016.
We’re taking the following steps to make this transition as easy as possible for customers:
– If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and have stored in excess of 1 TB, you will be notified of this change and will be able to keep your increased storage for at least 12 months.
– If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and find that Office 365 no longer meets your needs, a pro-rated refund will be given. To learn more visit the FAQ.
– If you are using more than 5 GB of free storage, you will continue to have access to all files for at least 12 months after these changes go into effect in early 2016. In addition, you can redeem a free one-year Office 365 Personal subscription (credit card required), which includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
– Current customers of standalone OneDrive storage plans (such as a 100 or 200 GB plans) are not affected by these changes.
– OneDrive has always been designed to be more than basic file storage and backup. These changes are needed to ensure that we can continue to deliver a collaborative, connected, and intelligent service. They will allow us to continue to innovate and make OneDrive the best option for people who want to be productive and do more.
Additional information can be found at the FAQ, and we will continue to update it throughout the transition.
Microsoft Store went live yesterday with pre orders for the Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL.
The phones are £449 and £529 respectively. The specs are massive with everything including the kitchen sink. Full details can be find on the link for the Microsoft store above.
Delivery is by 3rd December 2015. My only concern is the Windows App store and the range and condition of the app catalogue available.
Yesterday Microsoft held a press event for its Windows 10 devices. Announced were the new Microsoft Band, Lumia 950, 950 XL, Surface Pro 4, Lumia 550, Surface Book and Project X-Ray and a few accessories. Take a look at the video above to see all the devices in action.
Firstly the event was a master class in how to present and create a buzz. If you watched the event you would have been left drooling for everything announced. However, as good as it appeared the level of detail was absent at times too. For example, Microsoft kept telling us how good everything was but didn’t always show how. The Surface Book was touted as twice as fast as the MacBook Pro, so they showed a video of game play running on the Surface Book instead of actually playing the game. The new Lumia 950’s, no actual camera samples, just that the cameras were great.
If you breakdown the event what Microsoft actually did was create and demonstrate that they are still extremely relevant and have some of the best hardware and software too. In fact just like Apple , Microsoft now own their Eco system from a hardware and software point of view and consequently announced powerful and dominating products.
Project X-Ray demo was freaking awesome. Virtual reality and holo lens combined. This was shown at the start of the live event to leave people wowed. The Surface Book’s claim as the most powerful laptop ever and twice as powerful as the MacBook Pro is a strong claim. And then the display separates from the keyboard to become a tablet. Of course what Microsoft didn’t tell you was the price for this top end configuration of their Surface Book. I will, it’s very expensive with configuration options totally $2,700. Well for that money it had better be bloody amazing.
The new phone lineup with the Lumia 550, 950 and 950 XL was all about the flagships and not much about the 550. The new 950’s are fitted with top end specs but again the key standout feature was using the phone connected to a keyboard and display and the Window 10 apps automatically scaling up to be full size. So your phone can be your home computer. Very neat. The flagship phones should cost around £450 and £550 respectively.
Microsoft also announced their new Microsoft Band. Curved and with more specs and features than the competition. More sensors than their competitors. They also demonstrated just how feature rich Microsoft Health has become and how it now integrates with many third party software services and apps.
So now you can ditch your Google and Apple devices, and buy the latest phones, health band and laptop from Microsoft and have super top notch hardware.
One missing point though. What about the apps? We all know the Microsoft store is way behind android and Google but maybe after impressing with its hardware third party developers will rush on board and develop apps that work on any Windows 10 device regardless as to whether it’s a phone, tablet or something else running Windows 10.
It seems Microsoft has regrouped and come back looking to regain lost ground. Will it? Only time will answer that question.
So are these specs good enough? Are they enough to make you want to move to Microsoft, or is Microsoft making one last phone for consumers? Maybe they’ll switch to iOS and android?
Right here is the news from the last 24 hours, reduced in to some bite size chunks.
iPad Pro has 4gb ram. The Apple Pencil has to be paired with a specific iPad Pro. The iPad Pro is as light as the original iPad. In other words its heavy and huge but at least its cost will be offset by your cancellation of your gym membership. No more workouts lifting weights at the gym needed. Just watch a few movies on the iPad Pro!
The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus has 2gb ram. About time too. Graphic intensive safari web pages should load without crashing as often, although the solution is not to visit sites like the Daily Mail or XDA Developers.
Google is updating its Google Camera app to v3.0. The camera app will feature gifts, creations and smart bursts modes. Yippee.
LG has announced it is holding a press conference on the 1st October 2015, likely to launch its new flagship codenamed V10, which will have a secondary screen option. It seems manufacturers are creating all sorts of gimmicks to try and sell phones. Lets hope this is not a gimmick but really aides battery life.
Microsoft is holding its own press conference on 6th October to launch its new range of Window Phone 10 smartphones and possibly the Surface Pro 4. Really the only thing that matters with the new smartphones is the app store and what new apps Microsoft have been able to add to it. The lack of decent apps does limit the overall experience, even though the hardware is normally excellent. Now what’s the odds on Microsoft announcing the Microsoft Pencil!
Apple is doomed. Apple announced that it is on track to have sold a mere 10 million iPhone 6S’s over the launch weekend.
Tim Cook makes a surprise visit to fans and staff at the Apple New York Fifth Avenue Store and gets mobbed by Tim Cook mania. If you own Snapchat, add Buzzfeed to check out all the selfies Tim ended up in.
Microsoft seems to be taking a new path recently, trying to push its services across all platforms. If you buy a new Samsung phone, Microsoft apps are pre installed with 100gb One Drive storage for 2 years.
With Microsoft pushing its mobile services like One Drive, Office 365, Bing and Cortana for android, how much longer will it be before Microsoft could offer its own android phone without the need for any Google services? As another example, Bing can now be activated instead of Google Now on the long press of the home button.
So what do you think? Is this Microsoft’s plan for the future?
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 