Nokia Lumia Icon Now Supports Insider Preview Builds Of Windows 10 Mobile

Microsoft’s Gabriel Aul announced recently that the company will be bringing support for Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview builds to the Nokia Lumia Icon. If you own a Nokia Lumia Icon, you will be glad to know that you can now try out Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview on your device using the Windows Insider app (link below). You will only be able to get builds from the development branch which means you will need to install the Redstone builds and can not install the Threshold 2 builds which are slightly more stable compared to the Redstone builds.

To get Windows 10 Mobile on your Lumia Icon, simply sign up for the Windows Insider program (link below), download the Windows Insider app (link below) on your Nokia Lumia Icon, enroll into the Insider Fast or Slow Ring, after your phone reboots check for updates to download Windows 10 Mobile.

Be sure to let us know what you think of Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build by leaving your comments below in the comment section. 


Source: Windows Insider Program, Windows Insider app

Microsoft Officially Cancels Project Astoria

Microsoft has revealed it has officially canceled plans to offer developers bridge tools to port Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile known as "Project Astoria".

"We received a lot of feedback that having two Bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing. We have carefully considered this feedback and decided that we would focus our efforts on the Windows Bridge for iOS and make it the single Bridge option for bringing mobile code to all Windows 10 devices, including Xbox and PCs. For those developers who spent time investigating the Android Bridge, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the iOS Bridge and Xamarin as great solutions."

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Xamarin a company that has created tools for making mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows that can share common code making for a be quick release for all three platforms.


Source: Windows Developer blog

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