Apple's new 9.7" iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 2

The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is meant to be a successor to the iPad Air 2 as much as a cheaper alternative to its 12.9-inch sibling. But what separates the 9.7-inch Pro from its predecessor, and what's unchanged?

Performance

At its core — literally — the Pro is simply speedier. It features an A9X processor, a leap over the A8X used in the Air 2. Apple claims that the chip's CPU performance is 1.8 times faster, and that graphics should be up to twice as fast.

Practically, this won't make a difference for many users. It can have an impact in gaming and other graphically-intensive tasks, since as Apple is keen to point out, you can theoretically edit 4K video on a Pro.

It should be pointed out however that the A9X in the 9.7-inch Pro is actually slightly slower than the one in the 12.9-inch version. The tablet also has just 2 gigabytes of RAM, which is equal to the Air 2, but half that of the 12.9-inch Pro.

Storage

The Air 2 originally shipped with three capacity options: 16, 64, or 128 gigabytes, in Wi-Fi-only or 4G-capable configurations. With the arrival of the new Pro, the 128-gigabyte tier has disappeared.

The Pro is available in 32-, 128-, or 256-gigabyte versions, again with a choice of Wi-Fi or 4G-ready hardware. It's in fact the first iOS device of any kind to offer 256 gigabytes.

Cameras & Display

Although the products' displays are mostly similar — both having the same size and resolution — the Pro has the clear edge, with a 25 percent wider color gamut, and even less reflectivity. It's also the first Apple product with a "True Tone" display, matching the color temperature of the screen to ambient light.

The rear camera is another major advancement, jumping from 8 megapixels with an f/2.4 lens to 12 megapixels and f/2.2 (the lower the second figure, the more light can be let in). The new sensor shoots 4K video, uses "focus pixels" for faster autofocus, and is paired with a True Tone flash, the first flash ever included on an iPad.

The front camera has also received some modest attention, upgrading from 1.2 megapixels to 5. That might improve some selfies, especially when paired with Retina Flash, a technology missing on the Air 2.

Apple Pencil, the Smart Connector, Sound, and Battery Life

Unlike its predecessor, the Pro supports the Apple Pencil and offers a Smart Connector. The latter is particularly important for the productivity-minded, letting you connect some accessories — mostly keyboards — without consuming a Lightning port.

In the sound department, the Air 2 has two speaker ports, whereas the Pro has four. This not only enables louder sound, but true stereo when viewing the tablet in landscape mode, once again making the Pro better for games and video.

The tablet doesn't have better battery life, however — it's once more rated at 10 hours of non-stop use, regardless of what you're up to.

As an incidental note the Pro has an embedded Apple SIM, letting you switch between supporting carriers on the fly. The Air 2 comes with a removable card, but only in the U.S. and the U.K.

Price

Here's the most controversial change: the base Pro (a 32-gigabyte Wi-Fi model) is $599, $100 more than the cheapest Air 2 model was when it launched. As of this week the price gap is even bigger, since the Air was given a $100 price cut.

A top-of-the-line Pro — with Wi-Fi/4G and 256 gigabytes of storage — is a whopping $1,029, while you can now get a 64-gigabyte Wi-Fi/4G Air 2 for $529. You can probably go even cheaper if you turn to Apple's refurb store or third-party retailers.

Conclusions

On paper, at least, the 9.7-inch Pro is a significant upgrade, setting a new baseline for what iPads are supposed to include. Even a future iPad mini might incorporate flash and a Smart Connector — assuming the product line survives.

In comparing the Air 2 with the Pro, the real question is whether it's worth the cost difference. Stay tuned for AppleInsider's full review to find out.

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:03 AM in

If you can‘t activate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after installing iOS 9.3

Updating some iOS devices (iPhone 5s and earlier and iPad Air and earlier) to iOS 9.3 can require entering the Apple ID and password used to set up the device in order to complete the software update. If you can't recall your password or can't sign in, try these steps.

In some cases, the hint that you see on the Activate iPhone screen might not match your current Apple ID. To make sure that you're entering your Apple ID information correctly, try these steps:

1. Sign in to iCloud.com from a computer. You can get help if you forgot your Apple ID or need to reset your Apple ID password. 
2. Open Settings and scroll to the My Devices section.
3. Confirm that your device is listed in the My Devices section. If you don’t see it listed, check all your accounts.

If you still need help, try these steps in iTunes from a computer:

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the computer.
2. Open iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.
3. Select your device. You should see the Activate [your device] screen in iTunes. 
4. Enter your Apple ID and password and click Continue.

Or try to sign in to iCloud.com, so you can remove Activation Lock:

1. Turn off your device or take it offline. 
2. Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID and password.
3. Open Find My iPhone. 
4. Select All Devices, then select your device.
5. Click Remove from Account. If you still see a map in the device detail view, select All Devices again, click  next to your device, then click Remove.
6. After you set up your device successfully, make sure that you sign in to iCloud and turn on Find my iPhone again. 

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:00 AM in

Days after Apple Watch's $50 price cut, competitor Pebble lays off 25% of staff

Affordable smartwatch maker and wearable device pioneer Pebble announced on Wednesday that it is laying off 25 percent of its staff this week, citing difficulty raising capital in Silicon Valley.

Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky said in an interview with Tech Insider that Pebble will reduce its workforce by 40 employees, as it is planning a "careful" approach to the next year. He also revealed that the company raised $26 million over the last eight months.

The announcement comes just two days after Apple announced it has cut the entry price of its own wearable, the Apple Watch, to $299. Both the 38- and 42-millimeter entry-level Sport models are now $50 cheaper than their launch prices.

The price reduction also puts the Apple Watch closer to Pebble's territory, as the company has generally targeted users looking for more affordable wearables. The company's most expensive model is the Pebble Time Steel, starting at $249.99, while its popular "Classic" model is just $99.99.

Migicovsky claimed last November that the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015 had helped to raise awareness for wearable devices and actually resulted in an increase of Pebble sales.

Prior to Apple's entry, the wearable devices market was small. Estimates pegged total 2014 smartwatch sales at just 6.8 million units, with an average selling price of $189.

Citing competitive reasons, Apple has declined to reveal specific sales figures for the Apple Watch.

Posted by Editorial Team on 4:08 PM in

Apple iOS 9.3 Has A crazy shocking Surprise

Apple AAPL -0.38% iOS 9.3 is finally here after no less than seven betas. It’s jam packed with exciting new features, but arguably its biggest and most anticipated addition has left a bitter taste in the mouths of some users…  

In short: Night Shift is not all it is cracked up to be. 

It turns out Apple’s long awaited Bluelight Filter has a number of frustrating limitations which the company failed to mention in its release notes. On top of this it is also being dismissed as not fit for purpose by one of the industry’s most respected display testers. Here are the facts as they stand:

Night Shift Doesn’t Work With Older Devices

Despite Night Shift requiring virtually no processing power it turns out anyone with an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch older than late 2013 is out of luck. This includes the iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, the first four generations of iPad and numerous generations of iPod touch. 

Why? The reason is Apple coded Night Shift exclusively in 64bit code. This means a cut off point for any device not using the Apple A7 chipset or newer since it provided the first 64bit iOS-compatible CPU and GPU. As such all owners of 32bit devices are out of luck / have been given the classic Apple push to upgrade.

Industry Attack

Lastly Night Shift has also come under attack from none other than Ray Soneira, president of DisplayMate – a site which has become the industry benchmark for testing the displays of electronic devices and is often cited by manufacturers in their marketing materials. Soneira dismisses the implementation of Night Shift in iOS 9.3 saying it does little to no good. He argues:

“Night Shift, which turns down the amount of blue light produced by the display, won’t significantly affect the production of melatonin enough to influence the circadian rhythm and improve the user’s nighttime sleep cycle. I’ve looked into this before and it’s more of a placebo effect.”

Night Shift on Apple iOS 9.3 – note: the orange hue doesn’t show up in screenshots. Image credit: Gordon Kelly

Following up with me Soneira expanded on his findings saying: 

“This is an effect that I have been following for many years. I am not a sleep researcher, but I am a theoretical physicist with extensive knowledge of the displays, light spectra, and human color vision. It is clear that many sleep researchers do not have a very good understanding of displays, light spectra, or human color vision, so many of their conclusions regarding displays are simply not correct.”

Soneira also points out that the removal of blue light from a display will turn it yellow and Night Shift in iOS 9.3 turns the display orange. This also asks questions about many popular Android bluelight filter apps which turn displays grey (BlueLight Filter) and red (Twilight). 

Needless to say I have also asked Apple to respond to Soneira’s claims and will update this article when/if it does. 

In the meantime it is important to stress that iOS 9.3 remains an excellent update. It is well tested and the upgrade process has gone very smoothly for the vast majority (a very small number proportionately have mentioned activation errors that are fixed with a reset). 

As such the fact Night Shift has several unexpected limitations and faces allegations regarding its overall effectiveness, does not change my overall recommendation that iOS 9.3 is an update you should install. 

___

Posted by Editorial Team on 12:21 PM in

Gadget Ogling: Bathroom Bots, Bedroom Bulbs, and Doorbell Detectives

Roll up, one and all, for the three-ring circus of Gadget Dreams and Nightmares, the column that thrusts the week's best gadgets into the spotlight and fires the terrible ones from a cannon.

On our trapeze this week are a robot mop, smart lightbulbs said to enhance your sleep, and a video doorbell.

As always, these are not reviews. The ratings reflect only how much I'd like to try each item, and are not an indicator of much I'd love to see the clowns. That score is forever a zero. I despise them.

On with the show!

Mop Bot

Can you imagine a time before robot vacuum cleaners? The world was a messier place, certainly in the homes of those with too little impetus to pick up a broom or vacuum cleaner once in a while. Thankfully, for those of us who don't mind sweeping but are less enthused about using the mop, robotic help is on its way in a more affordable model.

The Braava Jet from iRobot is a smaller version of the Braava, and has an attractive price tag: US$199. Since it is more compact than the Braava, it should be more likely to find its way into the darker corners of your kitchen and bathroom.

It uses cleaning pads for mopping and sweeping. Braava Jet sprays water onto a section of the floor, and then the pads take care of the actual cleaning. It will take two or three passes to fully clean a section. It cleans around 100 square feet per hour.

I feel there might be slightly more of a leap for me to accept Bravaa than Roomba. Of course, manually cleaning a floor isn't the most enjoyable of tasks, but doing the work myself means I have more confidence the surfaces are properly clean in the rooms where it matters most.

You'd have to put a lot of faith in a robot to make sure your floors are fully disinfected -- or, like me, be willing to live a little dangerously.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stylish Slides

Night Light

Until now, Phillips' Hue smart lighting system has been known mostly for its capacity to set moods on a whim with custom color configurations. The latest incarnation has users' health in mind, as it seeks to aid them in getting a better night's sleep.

The white ambiance lights ape natural light cycles to help you sleep better. The sleep mode dims lights slowly to help you drift off, and gradually brightens when it's time for you to rise from your slumber.

There are plenty of sunrise-mimicking alarm clocks on the market, though I suspect those already with a Hue system will find this more appealing.

Youngsters aren't forgotten, with a nightlight mode to help them drift off after finally convincing themselves there are no monsters under the bed or in the closet. Of course, you'll still have the option to create mood lighting with a pseudo dimmer switch, albeit with far fewer colors than a regular Hue.

I tend not to sleep very much or all that well. I try to push myself into a healthier, more regular sleep schedule, but darn if there isn't just too much information out there for me to discover, leading me to spend long hours gaping at a screen when I should be resting.

If I had a Hue system that would gradually dim lights all over my home when it's time to go to sleep, I might be more encouraged to hit the hay. And the light-based alarm system has to be a lot more appealing to wake up to than a favorite song that grows tired after a couple of days.

Rating: 4 out of 5 No More Late Nights

Doorstop Spy

My building has outside steps, a locked door, and a set of stairs before you get to my apartment. It makes the place feel somewhat secure, in that would-be intruders have a lot to contend with if they should want to enter the building. However, it's also a pain to answer the door when I have callers. What I'd give for a way to see who's at the door without having to go all the way outside.

Ring's new Video Doorbell Pro is the most subtle version of the device to date -- at first glance, it doesn't look as though it houses a camera. It snags footage in 1080p-resolution video, which should make it easier to read a caller's credentials. It also can notify you when there's movement around your doorway.

I'm not especially enthused about the latter feature, since I truly don't care to know all the comings and goings of my neighbors. But I'm lazy, so seeing who's at the door from the comfort of my couch is a welcome prospect.

In the meantime, I'll likely go on ignoring unexpected callers. Answering the door when you've just awakened from a nap, even one enhanced by a natural light-mimicking smart light bulb, is never enjoyable.

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:49 PM in

Microsoft, Inphi Plan To Leave Amazon, Apple In Digital Drone Dust

Early Tuesday, the companies introduced a 100-gigabit platform capable of digitally tying multiple data centers within 80 kilometers (about 50 miles). Previously, that breakneck 100G speed was possible only in cross-country networks.

Linking data centers to amass cloud size — and speed — will become more necessary as cloud users like Facebook (FB), Alibaba (BABA), Yahoo (YHOO) and others expand their online footprint, says Jeff Cox, Microsoft senior director of network architecture.

Microsoft realized as much in 2012, but the industry’s “long-haul solution” for cross-country information transit was too hefty for use in metropolitan areas, Cox says. It would be the travel equivalent of launching a Boeing 777 to go from John Wayne Airport near Anaheim, Calif., to Los Angeles International Airport 20 miles away.

“You’d take a cab, not a 777,” he told IBD. “For those distances across town, we want these large quantities, but that’s the wrong approach.”

Trains, Planes, Trucks … And Drones

In 2013, Microsoft and Inphi teamed up to solve the problem. Inphi moves data in the same way FedEx (FDX) transports packages — by trains, planes and trucks, Inphi CEO Ford Tamer told IBD. The Microsoft-Inphi solution is a 100G “drone.”

Inphi also has a 100G long-haul solution under its Coherent platform. But the Coherent platform is more power-consumptive, expensive and requires space to allow excess heat to dissipate, Cox says. He estimates the Coherent platform uses 20 times more power than the new Inphi-Microsoft platform.

“Using the Coherent technology would blow your entire power budget,” he said. “It’s fairly impractical at this scale.”

Enter Colorz.

Microsoft and Inphi’s partnership will be borne out in the Colorz platform — faster than the industry’s current 10G drones and less costly than 100G long-hauls, Tamer says. The 100G drones are capable of moving the digital equivalent of the Library of Congress multiple times in one second.

“We do not believe there is any other solution that can achieve what we’ve done in the power and cost envelope,” Tamer said. “For that type of power and that type of performance and that distance, we do believe it’s an industry first.”

Who Needs 640KB RAM?

Three years ago, Microsoft met brick walls as it sought to reach 100G inside city limits, Cox said. He referenced tech lore when, in 1981, company co-founder Bill Gates asked who would need more than 640 kilobytes, in defense of IBM‘s (IBM) newest PC, based on an Intel (INTC) processor.

“Almost kind of like 10 years ago, when people asked, ‘Who needs more than 640KB of RAM (computer memory, where 4GB is now standard)?’ ” Cox said. “Then it was, ‘Who needs more than 100G in a metro?’ I think it was hard for people to wrap their heads around it.”

Since then, he says, bandwidth needs have multiplied. Cloud providers are leasing or buying data center spaces across the world as their needs outgrow those of traditional consumers like IT and Internet providers.

Data center is the industry’s new buzzword, and chipmakers especially are making a hard run for a piece of this market. Over the past year, Intel, Qualcomm (QCOM), Broadcom (AVGO), Nvidia(NVDA) and Integrated Device Technology (IDTI) have redoubled their data center efforts in a bid to gain share.

“I think now when we talk about Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Facebook, everyone is building these infrastructures,” Cox said. “And the scale of these infrastructures is surprising everyone in the industry.”

He added: “There isn’t so much disbelief any longer. I think we’ve proven we weren’t kidding. In fact, I think we underestimated a little.”

Posted by Editorial Team on 9:24 AM in

Microsoft Monday: Xbox One Price Drop, Windows 10 Upgrade Problems, Apology For Afterparty Dancers

“Microsoft Monday” takes a look back at the past week of news related to Microsoft. This week, “Microsoft Monday” includes details about HERE Maps being discontinued, a Reddit thread going viral about the problems associated with the automatic upgrade of Windows 10, Sony’s response to the Xbox One cross-network feature, the HoloLens team highlighting the capabilities of Actiongram, the possibility of a 64 person party chat on the Xbox, Windows 10 Mobile being rolled out to older devices, the Xbox One price drop as part of the “Spring Sale,” the progress of Cortana for Xbox One, the extension of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 support on Skylake-based PCs, support for Windows 10 apps in the Xbox One coming in several months, Microsoft’s apology for the scantily-clad dancers at the Game Developers Conference afterparty and more. 

HERE Maps To Discontinue Windows Support

HERE recently announced in a blog post that it will be removing the HERE branded apps from the Windows 10 store on March 29, 2016 and the development of apps for Windows Phone 8 will be limited to critical bug fixes.

“In the last few months, we made the HERE apps compatible with Windows 10 by using a workaround that will no longer be effective after June 30, 2016. To continue offering the HERE apps for Windows 10 would require us to redevelop the apps from the ground up, a scenario that led to the business decision to remove our apps from the Windows 10 store,” said Pino Bonetti, the social media lead of HERE.

Lumia With HERE Maps / Photo Credit: HERE

The HERE apps will no longer work on Windows 10 mobile devices after June 30, 2016. And the HERE apps will be removed from the Windows 10 store on March 29th. Google Maps is not available on Windows phones so HERE Maps was an essential app for that platform.

HERE was actually a division of Nokia, but it was sold to a consortium of German automotive companies including Audi, BMW and Daimler AG, according to Business Insider. HERE is also known for selling geographic data to technology companies like Facebook and Amazon. HERE is recommending Windows 10 phone users to rely on the Windows Maps app instead, which is powered by HERE Maps data.

Fortunately, Microsoft has a plan to make up for the removal of the HERE app. A Microsoft employee wrote on a Reddit postthat there is an “exciting update” planned for the Windows 10 Maps app. The update will include an improved driving mode — which will be available for Windows 10 testers first.

Windows 7 And Windows 8.1 Users Angry About Automatic Upgrade, But Microsoft Downplays The Issue

There is a Reddit thread with over 5,100 up votes and 3,000 comments about the problems users are having with the automatic Windows 10 upgrade. A computer repair shop employee said that the business has been receiving calls “all week from doctor’s offices, dental practices, B&Bs and roofing companies” that were hit by the automatic upgrade and it’s a “mess.”

Microsoft seemed to downplay the issue by releasing this statement via HotHardware:

“We shared in late October on the Windows Blog, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10. As stated in that post, we have updated the upgrade experience to make it easier for customers to schedule a time for their upgrade to take place. Customers continue to be fully in control of their devices, and can choose to not install the Windows 10 upgrade or remove the upgrade from Windows Update (WU) by changing the WU settings.”

Sony Responds To Microsoft Xbox One Cross-Network Service

Rocket League / Photo Credit: Psyonix

Last week, Microsoft announced a native cross-platform play service between the Xbox One and Windows 10 systems. This means that Xbox One and Windows 10 users will be able to use Xbox Live to play with people on different online multiplayer networks including the Sony PlayStation Plus network. What does Sony think of Microsoft’s olive branch?

Sony told GameSpot that it is open to the idea of cross-console play, but it did not specifically cite Xbox Live. “PlayStation has been supporting cross-platform play between PC on several software titles starting with Final Fantasy 11 on PS2 and PC back in 2002,” said Sony via GameSpot. Sony provided this statement when it was directly asked whether a partnership with Microsoft would happen.

Rocket League is the first Xbox One game that will be able to utilize the cross-platform feature. But it’s worth mentioning that there is already a cross-network feature built into the PlayStation Network that allows users to play with Steam users.

Microsoft HoloLens Team Highlights Actiongram Capabilities

The Microsoft HoloLens virtual reality headset is currently available for developers. But it is unknown when the HoloLens will be available for consumers. However, Microsoft is starting to preview some of the nifty features built into the Actiongram app for Microsoft HoloLens. The Actiongram app for Microsoft HoloLens is able to add virtual objects inside videos — which can be very entertaining.

Microsoft built a virtual holographic studio where actors, objects and characters have been created. For example, the Actiongram app lets users embed Ned the zombie, a dinosaur and Teddy Roosevelt into videos. 

Microsoft Edge To Gain Support For Extensions

When Microsoft rolled out the Edge browser with Windows 10, it lacked support for extension plugins. But now Microsoft has included a beta of extensions in Build 14291 of Windows 10 on Thursday. That means it is accessible to users participating in the Windows Insider Program.

If you are interested in testing out the extensions, simply click on the “More” button in the top right corner of the Edge browser. And then click on “Extensions.” Currently, you have to install the extensions manually. Eventually, the extensions will be available directly from the Windows Store.

Microsoft Extensions / Photo Credit: Microsoft

The three extensions available on Microsoft Edge includes Microsoft Translator, Mouse Gestures and the Reddit Enhancement Suite. There are more extensions coming soon, including AdBlock Plus. Other web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari have been supporting extensions and add-ons for years now so Microsoft Edge has a lot of catching up to do. 

Xbox 64 Person Party Chat Possibility

Mike Ybarra, the Xbox head of programming, said that Xbox Live could eventually support 64 player party chat. The Xbox One March update increased the party chat to 16 players.

“It was eight six months ago, then we went to 12, now we’re at 16,” said Ybarra via GameSpot. “I’d love to get that to 64 because that’ll get Battlefield and games like that which do 64 vs. 64…have at it! Now, I don’t want to be in a party of 64, but that’s a different problem! (laughs).”

When Ybarra was asked why a 64 player party chat should be given created if it may not be a great user experience, he said it is better to provide it as an option to players.

Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Windows 10 To Older Mobile Devices

Microsoft has started rolling out Windows 10 to its older mobile devices following a delay of several months. The list of devices that are eligible for the update include:

-Lumia 1520

-Lumia 930

-Lumia 640

-Lumia 640XL

-Lumia 730

-Lumia 735

-Lumia 830

-Lumia 532

-Lumia 535

-Lumia 540

-Lumia 635 (1GB)

-Lumia 636 (1GB)

-Lumia 638 (1GB)

-Lumia 430

-Lumia 435

-BLU Win HD w510u

-BLU Win HD LTE x150q and

-MCJ Madosma Q501

According to Mashable, Microsoft also launched a new app called UpdateAdvisor — which will tell you if you are eligible for a software update.

Unfortunately, many popular Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones were missing from the list. This includes models that were previously listed on the Microsoft Insider Preview program. Microsoft said it excluded some models to prevent a negative “impact on the customer experience.” And mobile devices that have 512MB of RAM will not receive the Windows 10 Mobile update.

Microsoft is taking a less aggressive stance on the Windows 10 Mobile compared to Windows 10. Usercreate actually have an option to easily decline the Windows 10 Mobile update.

Three Games Added To Xbox One Backwards Compatibility List

Microsoft has added three more games to the Xbox One Backwards Compatibility list. The three new games are “Pac-Man,” “Alan Wake,” and “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.” There are now about 134 games on the list, according to The Express UK.

Xbox One Price Dropped

According to Forbes contributor David Thier, Microsoft has announced the price of the Xbox One has been dropped by $50. Now the base price of the Xbox One is $299. Tomorrow, Microsoft will also offer digital game deals that will be discounted as high as 60%. And Xbox Live Gold members will see even more discounts as part of the spring sale. The Xbox One price drop is temporary, but it can be an indication of the base price dropping permanently sometime in the near future.

Cortana For Xbox One Is “Coming Along Great”

In November, Microsoft integrated Cortana into the Xbox One as part of the New Xbox One Experience update. But that was an early version of Cortana. The full version of Cortana doesn’t have an expected release date yet, but Xbox head Mike Ybarra said it is “coming along great” after seeing a demo.

Cortana for Xbox One is similar to the way it works for Windows 10. For example, it can be used to open apps and message contacts.

Twitter Updates Windows 10 App

Twitter app for Windows 10

Twitter has updated its Windows 10 app so that it includes support for Moments, GIFs, group chat and muting on mobile devices. The desktop version of the app has a new dark theme. On mobile devices, the dark theme changes depending on the system settings. You can download the updated Twitter app from the Windows Store.

Unfortunately Twitter decided to shut down the development of TweetDeck for Windows. The TweetDeck shut down will be happening on April 15th. Twitter acquired TweetDeck in 2011.

“To better focus on enhancing your TweetDeck experience, we’ll no longer support a standalone Windows app,” said Twitter in a blog post. “If you use Windows, you’ll still be able to visit TweetDeck on the web — nothing is changing about TweetDeck itself, just where you access it from.”

Users that have the app downloaded will still be able to use it. TweetDeck for Mac is not being shut down though.

Microsoft Updates Office Apps For Android With Several Major Features

Microsoft Word App For Android

Microsoft has updated the three major Office Apps for Android with several new features. The new features include auto-save and real-time collaborative editing abilities. According to Android Police, the apps do not show the users what changes are being made by invited guests live – which makes Google Docs more sophisticated in that case.

A new useful feature that has been added is version history. This makes it easier to revert back to an older version of the document.

The PowerPoint app has received a new feature called “Designer,” which provides design ideas based on several preloaded themes. Layouts are also suggested to color coordinate with added images.

The Office apps have been updated in the Google Play Store.

Windows 7 And 8.1 Support Extended On Skylake-Based PCs

In January, Microsoft made a controversial announcement about providing support on certain Intel Skylake-based PCs until July 17, 2017. Fortunately, Microsoft is extending support for another year.

“We’ve received feedback from customers at various stages of planning and deployment of Windows 10,” said Microsoft general manager Jeremy Korst in a blog post. “Led by their feedback, today we are sharing a few updates to our Skylake support policy.” Now support will be provided through July 17, 2018.

Following that date, Microsoft will simply provide security updates until January 14, 2020 for Windows 7 and January 10, 2023 for Windows 8.1.

Microsoft Changes It’s Mind About Cancelling Okta’s Invitation To Conference

Microsoft has decided to reverse it’s decision about blocking a startup called Okta from the Ignite technology conference. Okta was given permission to be a sponsor again too.

“We have a lot of criteria we consider when reviewing sponsorships. We revisited the historical criteria and determined that Okta qualified for sponsorship opportunities. We’ve reached out to Okta and look forward to seeing them at Ignite,” said a Microsoft spokesperson via Business Insider.

Why did Microsoft ban Okta temporarily? Apparently Microsoft had a problem with the “broad competition” between the two companies in the mobility market. Okta’s software manages employee passwords for various cloud services. And Microsoft offers similar software. However, Microsoft did not seem to mind other rivals from attending such as Cisco. Cisco sells products that competes against Microsoft’s Skype and Yammer services.

Business Insider said that the temporary ban decision did not come from upper management. The Ignite conference will be taking place from September 26 to 30 in Atlanta.

Xbox One Console To Support Windows 10 Apps In Several Months

At the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Game Studios principal group program manager Jason Ronald said the Xbox One will support Windows 10 apps. Microsoft will be combining the Xbox Store and the Windows Store following those changes, according to CNET.

Microsoft has been pushing for uniformity across its platforms through the Universal Windows app program under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella. The Universal Windows app program makes it easier for developers to deploy apps across multiple platforms including the Xbox One, Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. By offering Windows 10 apps on Xbox One, it could make Microsoft’s console more appealing against the Sony PlayStation 4 — which is currently dominating the gaming market. And the Windows 10 apps will be downloadable to the Xbox One console.

Microsoft also revealed a feature called the “Xbox Live Tournaments Platform.” This feature allows players to set up sports leagues through Xbox One and Windows 10.

To ensure users can seamlessly play Windows 10 games on the Xbox One, Microsoft’s console will need to be able to work with a keyboard and mouse. Microsoft is actively working on that feature.

Minecraft Is Coming To The Samsung Gear VR

Minecraft / Image Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft is going to be launching Minecraft for the Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset. This announcement was made shortly after Microsoft said Minecraft would be available for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. Oculus actually worked with Samsung to build the Gear VR.

The Gear VR virtual reality headset is available at a low cost. Samsung is selling it online for only $99.99 and it comes free with the purchase of a new Samsung Galaxy S7 depending on the wireless carrier it is purchased from.

One of the reasons why the Gear VR is cheaper is because it doesn’t have a screen built in. The Gear VR is controlled by Samsung’s latest smartphones.

Microsoft Apologizes For Scantily-Clad “Schoolgirl” Dancers At Game Developer Conference Afterparty

Following a media backlash, Microsoft apologized for having scantily-clad women dressed in schoogirl outfits dance on platforms during its Game Developers Conference afterparty. At the afterparty — which was hosted by the Xbox team — many people tweeted and posted photos of the dancers.

“Making a formal complaint tomorrow. I will not stand for this,” said game developer Kamina Vincent in a tweet. “I’m trying to encourage women into the industry then this happens.”

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:51 PM in