Facebook messenger is coming for the Windows Phone within a week, news confirmed by Microsoft

Today at the Mobile World Congress Microsoft confirms that they will bringing the Facebook Messenger for the Windows Phone OS. According to Microsoft's Windows Phone leader Joe Belfiore, the release of the app could be just "weeks" away. He added, "We’ve been working with Facebook testing out their implementation for a while. It’s looking good and we will have it for our customers soon." TechCrunch report.

"Belfiore, the Windows Phone VP, argued that 2013 was a very good year for Microsoft’s mobile ecosystem, noting particularly growth in handset shipments in markets such as the U.K. and Italy, and also talking how the number of apps continues to grow — mentioning the arrive of big name apps like Vine and Waze — which he said has helped to improve the overall platform experience for users". Techcrunch reports.

Microsoft has been developing the official Facebook app for Windows Phone, using their own team. Few months before, Microsoft confirms that there are now 200,000 apps are available in the Windows store. In today's press conference, Belfiore said that the total number of app downloads from the store has exceeded 4 billion. He added that "more compelling demanded user apps" for the OS will be announced in the near future.

Source: techcrunch, Neowin | Image by techcrunch

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Nokia Lumia 520 also gets an Windows 8.1 Update

Today Microsoft confirmed that the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update will come to all existing Windows Phone 8 devices.  The all new Windows Phone 8.1 update is coming even for the most low-end Windows Phone 8 device available in the market i.e Nokia Lumia 520, and the Windows Phone 8.1 of-course runs on the Lumia 520 without any issues.If you have any doubt about it, watch the video about showing Windows Phone 8.1 running on Nokia Lumia 520 device.



This video also revealed that three column live tiles is coming to existing low-end WP8 devices too.

Source: WMPoweruser

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Rumor: Nokia is Working on 3 Android Phones

Nokia is working on more than one Android phones, this News revel from the Chinese Website tech.qq.com. Internal emails that were leaked from the Silicon Valley company Artesyn Technologies, suggest that Nokia may be working on more Android smartphones apart from Nokia X, reports the Chinese Technology Website.

The rumor states that besides the Nokia X, there will be a mid range phones and also a high end phones, all are running the Android.

Nokia X is the only phone which is expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress 2014, and the other Nokia phones which are powered by the Android may be announced at  May or June 2014.

When at Mobile World Congress Joe Belfiore was asked about there feelings regarding Nokia Android Work, He says that :

“We have a great relationship with Nokia. They’ve built great products. We haven’t complete our acquisition. They may do some things we’re excited about. Other things we are LESS excited. But whatever they do we are very supportive of the partnership.”

Source: WMPoweruser

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Microsoft confirmed that they will slash the price of Windows 8.1 for the low end devices up to 70%

Few days before Microsoft states that they will be slashing the price of Windows 8.1for the low end devices upto 70%. This cut will lower the price of $50 per devices to $15 only for those devices whose price is under  $250 which will be noticeable improvement for the vendors and consumers, according to the bprevious report.

While Microsoft did not come forward and say “We slashed prices by 70%” the company’s Joe Belfiore posted up on the Windows blog that “We’ll enable our partners to build lower cost hardware for a great Windows experience at highly competitive price points.” This clearly aligns to the previous report of the prices being cut on lower-end devices.

The cut in price will help to accomplish several goals. First, it will help OEMs shave more dollars off their products and that will help them to lower to price of consumer products. Second, it should help to move more Windows 8.1 licenses, and while it will help Microsoft’s bottom line, albeit to a lesser degree, it should help Microsoft gain more market share with it’s latest version of Windows. Finally, it will help Microsoft compete against ChromeOS products that are pushing hard on the floor to lower prices for entry-level products.

Sources: NeoWin, Microsoft

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Touch and extra+info of Windows phone 8 receives an minor update

Today the Nokia Lumia gets an minor update for touch and the extras+info. Nokia never fails to impress us with the little options and configurations the company adds with its system app updates.

This Touch update will bring a new setting for users to toggle, which affects the vibration feedback caused by hitting the capacitive Windows key. You are now able to simply turn the vibration ON or OFF. This setting will affect all three Buttons- Back, Windows and Search. The latest version of touch is version 2.2.0.1.

The extras+info also get an version Update from the application version v3.4.3.5 to the v3.6.2.3.

Scan and get the update

Source: WPCENTRAL

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OneNote for Windows 8.1 gets an update and adds Support for OneDrive

Today Microsoft has released the Updated version of the OneNote Windows 8.1 app, after the long duration of four months, and adds the supports for OneDrive in this new version. As every one knows that Microsoft rebranded the SkyDrive to One Drive. "Together, OneNote and OneDrive enable you to access your notes on all your devices."

This new OneNote update includes many new features and some improvement. First is it adds the supports for the OneDrive and the second one is it increases the Rule line heights for those users who have bigger handwriting profiles. " To enable Rule Lines, bring up the page app bar (right-click the page, or swipe from the top or bottom of the screen), then select Paper.  Now you can choose between Rule Lines or Grid Lines.",office news.

Another new feature is Go to Note's Location through which you can eaisly able to move to a note's location from recent Notes. "To do this, bring up the page preview app bar (right-click the page preview or swipe up), then select Go to Note’s Location.", Office News.  

Now it’s easier to navigate OneNote with a keyboard and to use Narrator to read your notes. And in this update a variety of bugs were fixed related to the Share Charm along with changes to the backend so it uses less hard drive space.

Finally, 62 new languages are added by OneNote for Windows 8.1. Microsoft says that "with this update, the app now supports 105 languages".

Source: Microsoft | Images by Microsoft

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Microsoft is ending the supports for Windows XP from 8 April 2014

Since from the last 12 years Microsoft has provided the support for the Windows XP. In order to steer users away from that 12 years old Operating System, Microsoft is not going to provide the latest security suit for the Windows XP users.

On Friday Microsoft rolled out  a pre-release build of Security Essentials which can’t be installed on a computer running Windows XP. The new security essential is is only compatible with the Windows Vista and higher version of Windows.  Microsoft has provided a link to the previous stable version of Security Essentials and advises Windows XP users to get that version instead.

"As a result, after April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect your PC. Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date, (If you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you will continue to receive antimalware signature updates for a limited time, but this does not mean that your PC will be secure because Microsoft will no longer be providing security updates to help protect your PC.)” Microsoft news.


There are still many schools, Banks and also some Government offices, etc. who were still using the Windows XP. If the user will continue using the Windows XP after supports ends your PCs will still work and may become more vulnerable to security risk and viruses.

From April 8, 2014, support and updates for Windows XP will no longer be available. Don't let your PC go unprotected, get your PC Update and use some higher version of Windows.

Source: Microsoft, WinBeta

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Introducing Nokia HERE Maps for all Windows 8.1 devices

Today Nokia announces its HERE Map application for Windows 8.1, currently it is available only in Nokia Lumia 2520 but in few days it will be available for all Windows 8.1 devices including laptop, desktops and tablets. Both Windows 8.1 RT and pro will supports the HERE maps app and will be Freeware in windows store.

As compared to its previous version it has some new and improved feature like now the City page s will load up four time faster than the previous one. Nokia says the boost in performance is due to "the use of progressive rendering and some clever optimizations to the data transfers.". The second improved feature is the user can able to download the complete country map for the offline use. You can use your touchscreen to control HERE Maps, and now you can also use your mouse and keyboard, which is a more useful option for most desktop PC users. It supports the high-resolution satellite imaginary, and this app will stores all your search history and routes you have calculated for your future reference.

This app will first rolls out in Windows store for free in North America and Europe.

Source: Nokia | image by HERE official blog

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Microsoft Opposes UK government's Decision to Use open-source solution

Last month the UK government proposed that they will switch from using the Microsoft Office to an Open-Source solutions for its official documents because  UK government believes that they can cut costs by doing this way. Microsoft is opposing this proposal related to sharing and collaborating with government documents.

Microsoft replied to the proposal  in a post from its UK office, stating that the government is leaving out the Open XML format(OOXML). "We believe this will cause problems for citizens and businesses who use office suites which don’t support ODF, including many people who do not use a recent version of Microsoft Office or, for example, Pages on iOS and even Google Docs." Microsoft news.

"Microsoft Office has supported ODF since 2007, but adoption of OOXML has been more widespread amongst other products than ODF, Microsoft Office has supported ODF since 2007, but adoption of OOXML has been more widespread amongst other products than ODF. This move has the potential to impact businesses selling to government, who may be forced to comply. It also sets a worrying precedent because government is, in effect, refusing to support another internationally recognised open standard and may do so for other similar popular standards in the future, potentially impacting anyone who wishes to sell to Government." Microsoft news.

The company also added that a change to support ODF can increase the cost and may cause the dissatisfaction among the citizens and business. The Standards Hub is currently accepting opinions from the public on the proposal on its website until Feb. 26.

Source: NeoWin

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Whatsapp the popular messaging has been acquired by Facebook for $19 billion

Almost five years ago the popular cross platform messaging service 'Whatsapp' has been started, But today this platform independent messaging service has been acquired by the facebook for an astonishing $19 billion.

The SEC filling reveal that this purchase splits between Cash and stock, at $4 billion and $12 billion respectively which is equivalent to $16 billion.""Facebook today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire WhatsApp, a rapidly growing cross-platform mobile messaging company, for a total of approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares. The agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing," Facebook Today.

Facebook also revealed that over 450 million people is using WhatsApp service each month and 70% WhatsApp users are active every day and a amazing one  WhatsApp is also reportedly adding one million new registered users every day.

"WhatsApp will remain autonomous and operate independently. You can continue to enjoy the service for a nominal fee. You can continue to use WhatsApp no matter where in the world you are, or what smartphone you’re using. And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication. There would have been no partnership between our two companies if we had to compromise on the core principles that will always define our company, our vision and our product." WhatsApp Today.

Facebook assured that the WhatsApp brand will remain intact, with Facebook Messenger continuing to operate separately.

Source: NeoWin, WinBeta

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Microsoft finally renamed the Sky Drive to One Drive

In last month Microsoft announced that it would rename its cloud based storage service to OneDrive, and now, the newly rebranded service has been made available to the public.

This change came after a trademark dispute with the British sky broadcasting firm.

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Leaked screen shot shows windows phone 8.1's new notification center

Microsoft is planning to release the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 update in the April but a screenshot leaked from the confidential Microsoft presentation which shows the new notification center feature to organise the alerts of the windows phone 8.1. The new Notification center might be called as the Action Center.

Some of the elements of the notification center  of WP8.1 are Similar to the Android and the iOS. It has ability to enable/disable the connections such as WiFi, Bluetooth,Airplane mode and management and it has an option ClearAll by which user can able to clear all the notification on the notification list . Apps may also have more control over there Notification than you have seen on any other platform (i.e. Android or iOS) .

If any notification appears during the app session you can able to see the notification just by sliding from the top down like the other platforms.

Source:Winphollowers

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How to Run an applications as a different user in Windows 8

Now Microsoft is ready to release the latest  version of the Windows within couple of months. Here is some tricks to get more familiar with the previous version of the Windows (i.e. Windows8).

Run the application as a different user

In Windows 7 running any application as a different user is little bit easy, only you had to do was hold down the shift key and just right-click on the applications which you want to run as the different user and then the option was there only you have to choose the ‘Run as different user’ , but in Windows 8

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Update 1 of the Windows 8 was leaked

Many people predict that a x64 version of the Windows 8.1 2014 update 1 was leaked. The Windows 8.1 update was leaked online by a website in Poland.

The build in String is 9600.16596.WINBLUES14_GDR_LEAN.140114-0237

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