Microsoft Reveals Windows 10 Details

Microsoft today offered an early first look at its forthcoming Windows 10 operating system, which will run on PCs, tablets, and phones. Microsoft said it is taking a new, more user-centric approach with Windows 10. It is incorporating the feedback it received about Windows 8/8.1 and is making sure to add user requested features, such as the old Start menu. The company now views Windows more as a service and it will provide continual updates. 

Microsoft said Windows 10 will be a free upgrade during its first year of availability, for example, to all devices running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1. Windows 10 for PCs and tablets will gain features from Windows Phone, including the Action Center and Cortana, Microsoft's voice activated personal assistant. Windows devices with screens 8 inches and larger will include the "desktop experience." Smaller devices will have an altered experience more suited for phones. A rough build of the phone centric version of Windows 10 features a revised settings menu that has new graphics. 

Windows 10 also allows users to move the keyboard around on the screen if they so wish. The entire Windows 10 platform will include Skype more firmly entrenched across apps. Furthermore, full versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that closely match the desktop variants will be included in Windows Phone 10. 

All Windows 10 devices will have a new Outlook client, which has been revised with the Word engine. Other major app rewrites include the calendar, photo gallery, and Internet Explorer, which is based on Project Spartan, a complete overhaul of the browser. Lastly, the entire platform will more broadly support Xbox gaming, including PC to Xbox play. Microsoft said the first preview of Windows 10 for phones will be available to "insiders" beginning in February.

Source: Microsoft News

Skype For Windows Phone Sheds Beta Title

Skype's fledgling Windows Phone app broke out of beta today, adding contact searching and landline calling to it's VOIP repertoire. The update comes just shy of two months of the Beta's introduction in February, and boasts a handful of minor improvements that should keep your calls connected. You'll still be making those calls yourself, however, as the full version doesn't yet have support for receiving calls in the background -- if the app isn't running, your phone isn't ringing. Hit the source link below to update.

Skype Exec Confirms Windows Phone App 'Coming Soon'

Who doesn't love a little bit of old fashioned synergy? Speaking to a Microsoft representative in the Microsoft CES booth holding a Microsoft microphone, VP of products for Microsoft-owned Skype, Rick Osterloh, made mention of the VoIP service's plans to make its way onto Microsoft's mobile operating system. Says Osterloh, "We're working on a Windows Phone product that will be coming out soon." 

Skype for Android has been updated with improvements

Skype for Android has been updated with improvements to video quality during calls and power consumption and battery wear, especially on Tegra 2 phones and tablets. Additionally, users can now share photo and video files with other contacts. With the new software version, more devices now support Skype video chat including the HTC Amaze 4G, Motorola Droid 4, and Motorola Droid RAZR.

Skype adds Facebook to Facebook video calls

Skype has added Facebook-to-Facebook video call support, allowing users of the social networking site to initiate calls with their webcams to their Facebook contacts. Part of Skype 5.4 Beta for Mac and Skype 5.7 Beta for Windows, once your Skype and Facebook accounts are associated it’s a case of hitting the video call button in Facebook and making sure your hair doesn’t look ridiculous.

Previous betas added the ability to read Facebook messages and IM using Facebook Chat, all within Skype. The app also shows recent Facebook updates, and allows you to update your own status, without loading up the browser.

The new betas also apparently boost video quality for Mac users, with a new rendering engine for smoother results, along with group screen sharing for both Windows and Mac users (though the former will need a premium account). Desktop sharing is also supported. It’s also worth noting that Skype has been adding adverts into its recent updates, so if you’re adverse to those then perhaps stick with the version you already have.