Windows Phone 9 and Windows 9 preview to release in 2015?

Even as Microsoft is pushing its Windows Phone 8.1, a new version of the OS is already in the works and expected to be available by 2015. According to a leaked official document posted by Myce, Microsoft is planning preview releases for both Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9 in Q2 or Q3 of 2015. .

If the document is to believed, the final release of Windows Phone 9 will be made by end of the next year. Windows 9 Preview version is expected to be available around the same time. It's notable earlier rumours had hinted the Windows 9 release in April at the next Microsoft Build Developers’ Conference. The new leaked document corroborates those rumours.

One of the highlights of the leaked document is the mention of “Windows 365”, which is also labeled as being in "Alpha based on Windows Core". Windows 365 is expected to be very similar to Office 365.

Windows 9 is expected to bring a slew of changes to the Metro UI,  Windows Defender, OneDrive, and Windows activation. There are chances Microsoft may include Cortana in Windows 9 as well.

Microsoft recently launched the Windows Phone 8.1, which features personal assistant Cortana, notification center, more customizations and better security and enterprise features.

Right now it's not known whether the Windows Phone 9 will support the current high-end WP devices. Earlier, Microsoft had rolled out Windows Phone 8 with new devices, while none of then WP 7 devices were updated to the new version.

Source: Myce

Google Chrome 35 release brings 'OK Google' voice search for all users

Google has rolled out a new Chrome 35 browser update that integrates 'Ok Google' command into the latest version of its browser and Chrome OS. The new update is available globally for Windows, Linux and MAC.

The new voice-search feature in Chrome 35 allows users to activate search via the 'OK Google' voice command and simply ask a question. The feature also allows users to set up reminders and timers apart from performing searches. Users can enable the 'OK Google' voice-assist feature by clicking on the microphone icon placed on the main Google search bar, and then enable the feature in Google.com in Chrome.

Google announced the update via a blog post that says, "With the latest release of Chrome, all #Chromies can now search by voice in Chrome. Just open a new tab or visit Google.com, say 'Ok Google' and take it for a spin."

Google had released this feature in Feb in US via Chrome Beta and has since been rolling it out globally. The update has been rolled out in US English as default and support for additional languages will also be added soon. Google had also announced in February that a new feature for Chrome users called "supervised users" will be introduced which will allow users to add and supervise multiple users in one Google account across devices. The new feature also adds manager controls permissions for each group member and can block users as well. The new 'Supervised users' feature is available for Chrome browsers for Linux, Mac, and Windows.

Source: Google

Nokia X2 rumoured to feature Qualcomm MSM8210 processor, 1GB RAM

Details about Nokia's next X-series smartphone, dubbed the X2, have surfaced online. The Nokia  X2 is expected to come with improved hardware specs as compared to its predecessors X and XL.

According to a leaked benchmark result, the Nokia X2 will be powered by a Qualcomm MSM8210 processor. Moreover, the smartphone will have 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal space. The Nokia X2 manages score of 11827, which is considered to be good for an low-cost handset. According to older rumours, the smartphone will feature a dedicated home button as well.

After having a built a lot of buzz, initial Nokia's Android-based  X smartphone failed to win critics, mainly because of its poor specs as well as sluggish UI and Android customisation. In our benchmark and performance tests, the X didn't scored well.

That said, Nokia seems to be more focussed in the specs department with the new X2. There are already speculations that the new Nokia X smartphone will be going to head to head with Motorola's low-cost Moto E smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active detailed in hands-on video

Samsung is reportedly working on an another variant of its latest flagship smartphone. Dubbed the Galaxy S5 Active, the smartphone has made appearances in couple of videos leaked on the web.

A hands-on video reveals the S5 Active will follow the same format of its predecessor S4 Active – a more rugged version of the flagship. According to the video, the S5 Active will also feature physical navigation buttons, removable back cover and a heart sensor like the one in the Galaxy S5.

Moreover, the video claims the S5 Active has an AMOLED display. You can check out the hands on video below:

Other video doing the rounds shows benchmark performance and confirms already known specs – 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, 2GB of RAM, and 16MP camera. Check out the video below:

Information about the S5 Active comes shortly after a Prime version of the S5 leaked on the web. According to rumours, the S5 Prime will feature a 2K resolution display as well as an aluminium cover, making it a premium version of the flagship.

Source: GSMArena

Google releases major updates to Chrome and Google+ for Android

Google has rolled out big updates to its Chrome and Google apps on Android. As expected, the updates bring a bevy of new features, bug fixes and performance improvements.

First up is Chrome for Android. The updated Chrome allows you to undo closed Tabs. The app now also supports fullscreen video with subtitles and HTML5 controls. According to the change log, the app has also added support for some multi-window devices (not detailed). The updated Chrome v35.0.1916.122 is available on Google Play store.

Google also released Chrome version 35 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Mainly aimed at developers, the update brings - More developer control over touch input, New JavaScript features, new apps/extension APIs and lots of under the hood changes for stability and performance. You can download/update the browser via google.com/chrome.

The update to Google for Android brings about a slew of new features as well revamped UI design. One of the main new feature is Auto Awesome Stories and Movies - a new feature that combines your photos, videos and the places you visit into travelogues. You can read more about the feature at http://goo.gl/JGgzil.

Now, Google users can create animated GIFs and photobooth-style images. A new navigation menu is supposed to make it easier to switch between circles and communities, as well as other places in the app.

You can check out the full list of the new features here. You can download/update the app via Google Play store. 

Narendra Modi becomes second most-popular leader on Facebook

Narendra Modi's popularity on social media continues to grow. According to reports, Modi's official Facebook page has the second highest fan following for politicians after US president Barack Obama. Moreover, Modi's page is the fastest growing for any politician or elected official worldwide.  

"Modi continues to have the fastest growing page (for the last day, week and month) of any politician or elected official worldwide," Andy Stone from Facebook policy communications is quoted as saying.  

Modi kicked off the first phase of the general elections with 12.46 million fans on the Facebook. Soon after he was ppointed by President Pranab Mukherjee as the next Prime Minister of the country, figures grew to 15.245 million fans. According to Andy Stone, Modi's page surpassed Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential candidate during the elections phase.  

Modi's popularity grows on Facebook

As the time of writing this article, Obama has 40,698,656 likes, while Modi has 15,354,062 likes on Facebook. Modi, however, has greater growth rate on Facebook (1.171 per cent) as compared to Mr Obama's 0.305 per cent. On 16th May, the day of counting, mentions of Modi grew by seven times on the social network.  

"Since elections were called on March 5th, Facebook users in India have been engaging with their friends, the candidates and political parties to discuss the 2014 Lok Sabha elections," Stone said. 

The new feat comes shortly after Narendra Modi's victory tweet broke the record of most retweeted tweet ever from India. Soon after the poll results suggested at a landslide victory for his party, Modi posted on Twitter - "India has won!

India has won! ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2014

India's 2014 #TwitterElection: 58M Tweets &@narendramodi's victory Tweet becomes the most RT'd Tweet ever from India pic.twitter.com/9xEI74h7VP

— Twitter Government (@gov) May 16, 2014

Narendra Modi has been very active on the social networking websites, which certainly helped him connect more with youth and build is pro-youth image in the elections.

Source: TOI

Google overtakes Apple to become most valuable brand in the world

Thanks to a particularly busy year, Google has now shot up to the top of the list of the 9th “Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands” published by BrandZ, pushing Apple to second place. Unlike standard top lists that just take into account a company’s financials, the BrandZ list considers a brand’s value to its customers, its contribution to its parent company’s value and financial performance. Not surprisingly, the Top 100 list is primarily comprised of tech and consumer brands.

The Top 100 list is lead by Google with a brand value of almost $160 billion (40% jump from last year) followed by Apple with a brand value of almost $150 billion (drop of 20%). The top five companies also include IBM ($108 billion, 4% drop), Microsoft ($90 billion, 29% jump) and fast food giant, McDonald’s ($86 billion, 5% drop). Facebook and Yahoo have been included in the list of the brands that had the sharpest rise in value with the former seeing a 68% jump and the latter seeing an equally dramatic 44% jump.

Take a look at the Top 20 brands below or download the entire Top 100 list PDF document.

Source: Millward Brown via Pocket NowTop image source: Velocity Agency

Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 3, claims it can replace laptops

Wowing to completely replace laptops with its latest tablet, Microsoft finally unveiled the new Surface Pro 3 tablet at a press event in New York city. The company's Surface Chief, Panos Panay, says that it is designed to remove the conflict of buying a laptop or a tablet.

Surface Pro 3 is thinner and lighter than its older siblings. It weighs only 800 grams and is around 9.1mm thick. Microsoft claims that it is the slimmest Intel Core product ever made. In reports of various hands-ons with the device, Surface Pro 3 has been reported to feel remarkably light in hand. It also comes with a brushed metal body which is quite sturdy. It is even lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air and Microsoft claims that its 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air.

In terms of specifications, the top-end model of Surface Pro 3 features a 12-inch ClearType Full HD display, 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM. Microsoft promises nine hours of web-browsing battery life with this device. It also features a new and completely redesigned Surface Pen which is supposed to "deliver a precise, luxurious drawing and note-taking experience." The display is sharp with an incredible 2160x1440 resolution and features a 3:2 aspect ratio.

Previous rumours had suggested that Microsoft will launch a Surface Mini tablet at the press event. That has not been the case. The rumours about the Surface Pro 3 have been true though.

The new Surface Pro 3 comes with a new kickstand and Type Cover combination. The new kickstand now supports a "canvas mode" that places the Surface Pro 3 at multiple angles for use either as a laptop or a tablet. The new Type Cover attachs to the Pro 3 magnetically and provides more sturdiness. It will also help users use the Pro 3 at an angle so that they can use it on their lap. Microsoft has also added a new larger trackpad to the Type Cover which could help improve the mouse input in the new tablet.

The Surface Pro 3 runs Windows 8.1 Pro that includes Microsoft Office for business customers. Users will be able to multitask with the side-by-side windows feature. It also features a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader and Mini DisplayPort for quick file transfer and connections to other devices.

Starting at $799, Surface Pro 3 will be offered in multiple configurations featuring 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors. The Intel Core i3 model starts at $799, a Core i5 version starts at $999 and the top-end Core i7 model starts at $1,549. Users will have options to choose from 4GB to 8GB of RAM and four additional storage options - 64GB to 512GB.

Customers can pre-order the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro Type Cover and Surface Pen from today through Microsoft Store. The company says that more configurations will be available during August and additional accessories will be made available in the next few months. Microsoft has not mentioned India in the list of countries where it is looking to make the Surface Pro 3 available for purchase by the end August. Hopefully, we will see the launch of the device here soon after.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3: What's good, where it lacks and who should buy it

The third generation of Surface tablet, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is upon us, and Microsoft has chosen a different route this time, offering a large, 12-inch tablet which is designed to double up as a ultraportable laptop/ultrabook.

Given that the Surface Pro 3 is targeting tablet and ultraportable laptop buyers, let’s analyze the Surface Pro 3 individually as a tablet and as a laptop.

Surface Pro 3 as a laptop/ultrabook

Fast core hardware that will get the Job done

The Surface Pro 3 runs on a proper laptop engine- Intel Haswell series core processors, 4-8GB of RAM and 64-256GB of solid state memory. Running on Windows 8.1, you won’t find the Surface Pro 3 running out of breath for most mainstream tasks and applications, apart from running latest game titles (which it isn’t built for). Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is running on the Intel Haswell platform, understandably so, given that Intel’s next-gen Broadwell platform wasn’t ready when MS finalized the Surface Pro 3. So, we expect the Surface Pro 3 to receive a platform upgrade pretty soon once Broadwell based devices hit the market. The fact that Surface Pro 3 comes with SATA 3 interface is a tad disappointing. PCIe interface would have made the Pro 3 a whole lot faster in terms of storage performance. Going by the choice of components, Microsoft must have been working on the Surface Pro 3 project for quite a while.

12-inch, 3:2 display with 2160 x 1440 pixels (216ppi), enough real estate and screen-size for a laptop

The biggest change on the Surface Pro 3 is the screen size and aspect ratio. Microsoft has ditched the common 16:9 aspect ratio for a more “squarish” 3:2 display capable of 2160 x 1440 pixels. The new aspect ratio for the surface allows more screen area vertically, similar to the iPad’s 4:3 aspect ratio. Surface Pro 3’s 3:2 aspect ratio should work well for office applications and its high pixel density will go well with the split screen multitasking feature offered in Windows 8.1. Overall the display is large and sharp enough for a ultraportable laptop-like use case scenario. The fact that it is a touchscreen device further aids ease of use, even when using the Surface Pro 3 as a laptop.

While the screen is good enough for office tasks (browsing, mailing, video conferencing, chats, office documents, etc.) The 3:2 aspect ratio isn’t as suitable for videos and movies, you will have to do with black bars running across the screen at the top and bottom.

9 hours of promised battery life (Browsing over WiFi)

For ultraportable laptop users, 9 hours of battery life is premium territory, most Windows 8.1 ultrabooks tread in the 6-8 hours range for battery life. Though one must note the fine print under the 9 hour battery-life claim made by Microsoft – “Testing consisted of full battery discharge while Internet browsing over WiFi. Internet browsing was tested browsing 25 popular web pages. All settings were default except: Wi Fi was associated with a network, Auto-Brightness disabled, and Bluetooth Radio was turned off. Battery life varies with settings, usage, and other factors”. Yeah, we are pointing at the “Auto-Brightness disabled” scenario, questioning the brightness level of the display at the time of test. In real world usage, one surely will have the auto brightness turned on and that might just reduce the battery life of the device.

Much improved Surface Pro Type Cover

The Surface Pro Type cover for the Surface Pro 3 is larger than previous versions, matching the larger screen size. The larger dimensions allow the cover to offer an almost full-size keypad, making typing a comfortable experience. Having said that, you still don’t get the same tactile feedback as that of ultrabooks/laptops due to the shallow (low depth) of the keypad. The trackpad is slightly larger compared to previous gen and that should again improve the experience over the Surface Pro 2 but not match the performance from larger glass based trackpads offered by modern day Windows 8.1 ultrabooks.

Weight and portability

Surface Pro 3 is most definitely a lot more portable compared to laptops and ultrabooks, thanks to its 0.8kg (800 grams) weight profile and compact dimensions. But, when using the Surface Pro 3 as a laptop, you’d have to factor in the weight of the Surface Pro Type cover to arrive at the final weight- adding the cover takes the weight to approximately 1.1kg, bringing it closer to the 1.3 kg ultrabook territory. In fact, the Sony Vaio Pro 13 launched in 2013 weighs lesser at 1.06kg while offering a proper full sized keyboard, 13-inch 1080p touch-screen and running on same Intel Haswell platform, delivering 8 hours of battery life. So, the Surface Pro 3 cannot be termed as the lightest Windows 8.1 laptop in the market.

As a laptop, it will cost $1128 and not $799

Priced at $799 (Rs 48,000 as direct conversion), the Surface Pro 3 seems well priced. But, adding $130 for the “Type cover” pushes the price tag to $930 for a 64GB version with base Core i3 processor. Add 128GB flash drive and a Core i5 processor (same as all base versions of ultrabooks/laptops) and you end up with a final price tag that reads more like $1128 rather than $799. At $1128, the Surface Pro 3 competes with all the latest ultrabooks and is expensive when compared to Apple MacBook Air 13 (Microsoft chose to compare the Surface Pro 3 to MBA 13, at the launch event).

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as a tablet

It’s heavy, cumbersome and awkward to hold

A 12-inch tablet, weighing 800 grams isn’t the most comfortable to use, especially if you have used or have been using the Apple iPad or any of the other 10-inch Android or Windows 8.1 tablets.

$799 is too much for a tablet, if you don’t intend to replace your laptop with a Surface Pro 3

The best tablet in the business costs less, and with next generation tablets around the corner, investing $799 on a tablet isn’t an easy decision.

No 3G/LTE for a $799 tablet

Yes, the launch models don’t offer cellular data connectivity, WiFi is the only way to get the Surface Pro 3 connected to the web. Microsoft will obviously add LTE variants to the lineup, we suspect that it might just happen along with the hardware refresh to Intel Broadwell platform.

The unknowns- fan noise, heat, etc.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 does house a fan inside its slim chassis to keep things cool and while it might not be as audible (we’ll reserve our judgment on the fan noise once we get the review unit), holding it close to you when using in tablet mode could make the fan noise an irritant, especially in quite environments.

Apps

The Windows 8 App store isn’t at the same level as Apple iTunes store and Android Play Store. Microsoft Surface Pro 3 might have the hardware but currently it does look a little thin on the Apps front, marring the sheer practical utility of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 as a tablet.

Summing it up

As stated at the beginning of this story, the Surface Pro 3 is a lot more of a laptop than a tablet, it does offer benefits in terms of portability and flexibility. But, we doubt whether it will make you dump your laptop and make the switch without making any compromises.

Leaked images of Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime reveal aluminium cover, QHD screen

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime has once again made an appearance on the web ahead of official announcement. The S5 Prime is rumoured to feature a 2K resolution display as well as an aluminium cover, making it a premium version of the flagship.

Leaked images show S5 Prime's aluminium chassis with brushed metal edges. There's also a speaker grill located at the bottom of the device. The images also show the phone's display, which is said to be a 5.2-inch QHD screen (2,560x1,440-pixel resolution).

Rumoured specifications of the smartphone include 3G of RAM and 16MP camera as on the S5. The new S5 variant is said to feature a new version of Android OS and the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime is expected to be unveiled next month (Samsung’s June 12 event in NYC is likely) with $880 price tag.

The S5 Prime is set to compete with the LG's upcoming flagship G3, which is also rumored to come with a metal chassis and QHD display. Rumoured specifications of the G3 include 5.5” QHD display, Snapdragon 801 SoC, and 13MP camera with 4K video capture.

Source: Phonearena

PlayStation Now (beta) game streaming released for PS4

Sony will launch Playstation Now beta today and this time it will be available to PS4 users as well. The service was available to PS3 users only. It is likely that Sony will launch the service on PS Vita and select 2014 Bravia TVs this summer as well.

Playstation Now is a video game streaming service based in Gaikai and is used to stream playable Playstation games to PS3, PS4 and PS Vita. It supports streaming of Playstation, Playstation 2 and Playstation 3 games either as individual rentals priced around $6 or as part of currently unpriced subscription plan.

In order to get the optimal performance from the service, users will need a connection speed of at least 5 Mbps.

According to PS Blog, the Private Beta program will make its debut on PS4 systems today and users who have registered for the PS Now Private Beta will be emailed a voucher code for using the service. Other than games, users can stream movies, TV shows and music directly to their favorite PS Now compatible devices without downloading or copying anything. Sony says that PS Now will be launched for more Sony devices in future. 

Users who aren't member of the Private Beta community can register here.

Source: PS Blog

Harvard and MIT students create "NSA-proof" email service

Five ex-students of Harvard and MIT have created a new email platform called ProtonMail. The students met while working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland and shared their common desire of building a secure email service. Their aim was to create an email service which would be even more secure than Lavabit - Edward Snowden's email service of choice for releasing all his online communication.

The founders of the email service claim that ProtonMail is so secure that even the NSA can't extract data from it. The service has just been released in its beta phase. On their website, the creators say that "all user data is protected by the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance (DPO) which offers some of the strongest privacy protection in the world for both individuals and entities. Only a court order from the Cantonal Court of Geneva or the Swiss Federal Supreme Court can compel us to release the extremely limited user information we have."

ProtonMail claims that user data is never accessible to even the founders as it provides zero access to user data. Andy Yen, one of the founders of the email service says,"Even we don't have the ability to read that email. If we can't read it, we obviously can't turn it over to any government agencies."

ProtonMail also features a Snapchat-like goodie which lets users program their emails to self-destruct once they have been in the recipient's inbox for a certain period of time. It is a free to use service but in order to get extra premium features, a user will need to pay extra money just like the Dropbox's model where you start free and pay more for extra storage. Premium users will need to pay $5 a month to use its extra features.

ProtonMail service has also been reviewed by computer security experts at CERN and was launched in a beta phase on May 01. Already, the service has registered nearly 1,000 users. Currently, the founders want people to try and find bugs as well as share suggestions to improve the service. 

ProtonMail's front-end developer, Jason Stockman says, "We're definitely not for 100 percent of the population but for those who don't like what the government is doing."

Source: BostInno

Gmail for Android now lets you save attachments to Google Drive

Google has rolled out a major update to its Gmail for Android app, including several new features along with improvements to the UI.

Gmail for Android now allows users to save attachments to Google Drive. The new feature is likely to help users save space on their mobile device, especially beneficial for larger files. “Instead of downloading attachments to your device which takes up valuable space, you can now save attachments directly to Google Drive. Files saved to Drive are easily accessible from any smartphone, tablet or computer,” explains Google in a post.

Another new feature is “spam explanations”, which shows a message explaining why that particular e-mail has landed into the spam folder.

 

Google has also improved the right-to-left (RTL) support in the Gmail app. “If you’re an English speaker, you’re used to reading sentences from left-to-right. But there are a lot of languages out there that are written from right-to-left (RTL), such as Arabic, Hebrew and Persian. If you’re a speaker of one of these languages, Gmail on Android now looks and feels the way you'd expect with profile pictures and the navigation menu on the right instead of the left,” Google further explains.

As said above, Google has also updated the interface in order to allow faster access to the side navigation menu, which also features as Settings, Help and Feedback.

You can download/update the latest version from Play Store.