A short time ago, I worried aloud that I had lost one of the Windows Phones PCWorld keeps on hand for testing. A colleague snickered. “Why would anyone steal a Windows Phone?” she asked. A good question—and I worry further that Microsoft’s senior executives won’t know how to answer that in a year or two.Today, I’m more convinced that Microsoft understands what it should be prioritizing on Windows Phone: the camera. I’m just not convinced they’re going far enough. Two weeks ago, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella issued a memo that laid out the priorities of the company’s smartphone division: Design phones that “align with Microsoft’s strategic direction,”
Uber and Airbnb, which have already proved popular with travelers and urbanites with smartphones, have unveiled new features and links to other services designed to attract more business users. Uber lets people request a black town car service or a ride in someone’s personal car through its app; Airbnb’s site and mobile app lets people book places to stay in people’s private homes. People traveling for business are already big users of Uber and Airbnb. But the companies are looking to make it easier to have their services used in a business setting, with an eye toward business owners and managers. Uber announced on Tuesday “
Whether it’s in your hand or lost far away, wiping the data off of your Android phone or tablet only takes a few taps.
EA Access will allow you to play a handful of EA titles for $5 per month or $30 per year, including Madden and Battlefield 4.
The update is designed to give more relevant information to users who want to scope out potential business contacts.
Google is working with open-source development organization Linaro to develop a special edition of Android for the Project Ara customizable smartphone. Google’s yet unreleased Project Ara is a build-your-own smartphone that allows users to mix and match features. The $50 configurable smartphone will come with an empty phone frame and screen, and users can snap on or take out modular parts from the rear of the handset to add or remove features. The smartphone, which will ship early next year, has already sparked the development of Lego-like modules that can be attached. Google has talked about detachable antenna and camera modules, but developers are also
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy has introduced a new version of a bill to rein in the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of U.S. phone records in an effort to strengthen legislation that passed the House of Representatives this year. The new version of Leahy’s Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, introduced the new version of the bill after the House
The change log for this one is rather lengthy, but there are new themes and a summer sale, too.
China has opened an anti-monopoly probe into Microsoft over problems arising from its Windows and Office software, a government regulator said on Tuesday, a day after it conducted surprise raids of the company’s offices in the country. China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has been investigating Microsoft following an industry complaint in June 2013 alleging that Windows and Office are not fully open, resulting in compatibility, bundling and document verification issues. SAIC did not elaborate any further in its
Asana, one of the Expected to be live this morning in the iTunes App Store, the new iOS app replaces one that had only limited functionality. Asana executives say the new app makes it easy for users on the go to add projects and tasks, capture ideas on the fly, and modify meeting agendas. Asana's new iOS app replicates nearly all the features of its desktop browser.
Imagine walking into a Starbucks and having your loyalty card pop up automatically, letting you buy a coffee with flick of the wrist. Or, imagine replacing your key chain or wallet full of rarely used cards, and having them all available on your
Microsoft has never been ashamed to copy smaller companies if a trend proves popular enough, and its latest homage is dedicated to pint-sized PCs like the Hoping to show that Windows can run on just about anything, Microsoft has teamed with Intel and product manufacturer CircuitCo to announce a Windows-compatible development board, which is
These days, there really is an app for almost anything—even things you may never have thought of. Want to connect two previously unlinked web services? An app can help. Want to link two previously unconnected devices? Yup, there’s an app for that, too. Read on for information on five of my favorite unexpectedly useful apps. IFTTT links to various web and mobile services, which you can use as the building blocks of the recipes you create.
The update to the company's professional laptop line brings faster chips to the whole category, and a few more modest changes.
If you like to send messages via Facebook when you’re on the move, get ready to download a new app. Facebook confirmed Monday that it will be removing the messaging feature from its mobile app over the next few days, and requiring people to use its The change follows through on
Researchers at Stanford University have made progress toward designing a battery with a lithium anode, a development that could increase battery power in electronics. Reporting in the journal The anode of a battery discharges electrons into the current cycle. In a regular lithium-ion battery, it is usually made of graphite or silicon. Lithium is known for its high energy density and lightweight properties, but it has proven problematic in battery research.
