Windows Blue Confirmed

Finally, Windows Blue looked to be confirmed by Microsoft as they post a new job opening on the Microsoft Careers Website.

According to the post, The Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE) is involved in making improvements to the start screen, application lifecycle, windowing and personalization. Windows Blue will "build on and improve" these OS components.

it stated :- "We’re looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide."

Blue is the codename for the next wave of Windows-related operating system and services updates from Microsoft. There will be a Blue update to Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows Phone 8 and the Windows Services like Hotmail and SkyDrive and more.

On the Windows and Windows Phone fronts, Blue is expected to include new features and even new programming interfaces designed to bring the different flavors of Windows closer together, from an app model/development model perspective.

Windows Blue appears to be a wide-spread update that Windows 8 and Windows Phone will receive, there is no exact date for the upgrade as of yet, but many are speculating something to be released in mid-2013.

Source: zdnet
Via: Winbeta

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Skype Video Messages for Mac, iPhone and Android

Microsoft Launched a new Video Messages feature for Skype. The company was reported working on some new features for some months now, having previously revealed it a little early, and it debuts on iOS, Android, and Mac. Designed for online and offline messaging, Video Messages lets Skype users send up to three minutes of video to each other.

The feature works on Android and iOS by using the font facing camera, with an option to switch to the rear. You can send up to three minutes of video to users who are either online or offline and the video will be delivered in the chat part of Skype just like how a normal conversation appears.

In response to windows and windows phone compactibility issues and availability; here is what a skype spokesperson said :- "We’re pleased that there’s interest for Video Messaging to come to Skype for Windows and Skype for Windows 8, We’ll let you know when we expand the service to the platform. We tested the feature out on all available platforms and it seems to sync the video messages just as you'd expect." He added -:“We will have send capability in Windows by end of April. In the meantime, we continue to test this new feature in its early release.”

US and UK Skype users get first crack at Video Messages, with users in other countries expected to get the feature soon afterwards. Skype Video Messages is rolling out as part of Skype Premium Services, and after 20 free messages you’ll have to subscribe to the service for $4.99 a month to have continued access to the feature.

Source

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Ubuntu Phone OS to be availabe for download on February 21

Installable Ubuntu Phone images for the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 handsets will be available to download from next week. Two pre-compiled images will be available for anyone with a supported handset to download the OS.

The preview will allow fans and app developers have the chance to get to grips with the Ubuntu Phone experience ahead of its official release later this year. The tool will be similar to nexus 7 installer which allows you to install Ubuntu OS on your Android tablet.

"Our platform supports a wide range of screen sizes and resolutions. Developers who have experience bringing up phone environments will find it relatively easy to port Ubuntu to current handsets" - Canonical stated in their blog post.

This ‘milestone’ will be significant for the Ubuntu Phone project as it will mark the first that developers can dive in to the code. As an open-source project, developers will be able to fix, refine and add features, as well as its port to run on other devices.

Source

Via

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Microsoft to end Windows 7 support starting April 9th 2013

It has been two years since the release of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Microsoft would like to remind those who are still running on Windows 7 without Service Pack 1 that the operating system will no longer be supported starting April 9th of 2013. If you are running SP1, you are still good for a while, but not entirely.

"Windows 7 RTM (with no service pack) will no longer be supported as of April 9th, 2013, following the standard Windows support lifecycle specifying that support ends 24 months after the release of a new service pack. Rest assured that Windows 7 will continue to be fully supported for a long time, with mainstream support continuing until January 13, 2015, and extended support continuing until January 14, 2020," As Microsoft stated in a blog post

Windows 7 SP1 will continue to receive mainstream support until 01/13/2015 and extended support (paid security updates) until 01/14/2020.

Take a look at the chart below;

Source Official Windows Blog

Via Winbeta

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HP Reported working on Android Smartphones and Tablets

HP is looking into getting back into the mobile hardware game, according to a new report being confirmed from their own sources. The company is apparently still looking to get back into the hardware game after a hiatus spanning a couple of years, however, with a new tablet featuring an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, which ReadWrite pegs for an imminent announcement, and is also considering Android-based smartphone for future development.

After HP CEO Meg Whitman took over, she announced that the company would ultimately offer a smartphone to keep up with the fact that for many in the developing world, such a device is now their first and maybe only computer. That launch isn’t planned for 2013, however, Whitman later stated.

But back in late 2011, Whitman did make statements to the effect that HP could create webOS-powered tablets again in 2013. While these reports suggest webOS is likely off the table, HP could stick to Whitman’s target plan of fielding a tablet device based on a mobile OS this year, but one based on Android instead of its own product, which it has since open-sourced.

HP is holding private meetings during the Mobile World Congress in Barcleona, Spain, later this month, and it might show off the new Android tablet there behind closed doors.

Source
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