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New Microsoft Spartan Browser Coming in 2015

Dec 30, 2014 By Christina Langfold Leave a Comment

There have been a lot of rumors going around tech blogs about how Microsoft will make major changes to its web browser Internet Explorer. The changes will coincide with the upcoming release of the latest version of Windows, Windows 10.

The big news is that Microsoft will supposedly get rid of Internet Explorer for good and replace it with a new web browser called Spartan. Some say the new Microsoft Spartan browser will look and act like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox than Internet Explorer.

Recent reports say that Microsoft is working on a completely new browser that will probably use Microsoft’s Chakra JavaScript engine and the Trident rendering engine. Some say Microsoft will Spartan browser will not use the WebKit.
Many experts believe the new Microsoft browser will look and feel like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, two of the most used web browsers. They also say the new browser will most likely support extensions.

Microsoft is currently working on two different versions of Trident, which made some believe that Microsoft will probably release two different Trident based browsers.
Many believe that the new Microsoft Spartan browser will not be Internet Explorer number 12, but a new, light weight browser that will be different than IE.

Windows 10 will probably be shipped with both the IE 11 and the new Spartan browser, on the desktop version. Some say Internet Explorer will be included only for the sake of backward compatibility. The new Spartan browser will be compatible with both desktop and the mobile version of Windows 10.

No one knows for sure if Spartan will be the final name of the web browser, as it is only a code name at the moment. But Microsoft will probably want to detach from Internet Explorer and come up with a new name and new features.
Microsoft may unveil the new Spartan browser on January 12, when the new Windows 10 will be presented. Some believe the browser will not be ready until January 12 and will probably be announced later in 2015.

No one knows for sure yet if the Microsoft Spartan browser will be compatible with Android, iOS and other non-Windows OS, but chances are that it will.
Image Source: gizmodo

Microsoft Analog Keyboard for Android Wear Released

Oct 14, 2014 By Alan O’Leary Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago Microsoft released their much anticipate Windows 10 and managed to create quite a fuss in the tech world. Many wondered what happened to Windows 9 and why did they skip a number. In the meantime things settled and Windows 10 received plenty of good reviews, mostly about how Windows 10 is a step forward from the previous OS Windows 8. This time the tech giant revealed a new product: the Microsoft analog keyboard for Android Wear devices. This is actually a keyboard designed especially for small devices like smartwatches.

The new Microsoft analog keyboard is focused on bringing out the characters on a wearable device. This means that a smartwatch user can write words one character at a time on the device. It may seem slow, due to the fact that the screen is so tiny, but this new features is not meant for emails. The Microsoft analog keyboard allows its users to get the most area possible on their small device for writing.

The new Microsoft analog keyboard has some limitations: it’s currently only available for devices with a screen resolution of 320×320 plus the Moto 360. This means that the Microsoft analog keyboard is not compatible with every Android Wear device. Another minus for the Microsoft analog keyboard is that it can’t do capital letters or allows its users to write fancy words. Since it’s not yet available on Google Play, the user must side-load the app, and this can be a little annoying.

At the moment Microsoft is the only company to develop a keyboard for Android Wear devices. Google is currently focused on voice command and Google Now. These two features are indeed the fastest ways to “communicate” with a smartwatch, but there are situations when talking to your wrist may not be very appropriate. The Microsoft analog keyboard comes in handy for those situations when, let’s say, you have to give a quick answer to a question someone texted to you. In that case you can type a “yes” or “no” on the keyboard. Talking to your wrist in the middle of a lecture is not the best option.

Xbox One New Features Coming Soon, Microsoft Announced

Oct 10, 2014 By Anne-Marie Jackson Leave a Comment

Microsoft has created one of the best and the most popular game consoles ever. They’ve just announced that the Xbox One will be improved with new features in the near future. If you are a happy owner of the latest game console, expect for Xbox One new features in the coming months, or sooner. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox segment confirmed the new features in the form of themes, custom backgrounds and in-game screenshot functions. It sounds exciting and we can’t wait to hear more about the Xbox One new features. We’re pretty certain more details will follow soon, maybe next week or the week after.

Spencer has recently revealed that the upcoming Xbox One new features are the result of many requests made by the fans. Basically the Xbox One fans have expressed their opinions on what Microsoft should add to the gaming console to make it even cooler. Actually to make it perfect because it’s already as cool as it can be. Spencer said in a podcast episode of Inner Circle that “I was told themes and background pics are something that we are working on and screenshots, you know people beat me up on screenshots. The team has done a great job with the monthly updates, some of the things are just a prioritization and are a time in development.”

We love the fact that Microsoft has always been in touch with the Xbox fans and has taken into consideration the fans’ opinions. Spencer did not say exactly when to expect the Xbox One new features but he guaranteed that these new features are on the way.

Last updates on the Xbox One were made in August when Microsoft changed the News Feed and added the feature that allows the users to make purchases. Other previous updates included the Snap Menu, Snap Mode, spoken language option, the Snap Center, voice control command and a 3D Bluray support.

What do you think the Xbox One new features will be? Are you an Xbox One fan? What features would you add to the gaming console? Leave your comments in the section below.

Microsoft Windows 10 Revealed – It Has a Start Menu

Oct 1, 2014 By Nathan Fortin Leave a Comment

Microsoft really knows how to deliver a surprise. While everyone expected their new operating system to be in a logical order, Windows 9, they’ve just revealed the new Microsoft Windows 10. Why skip a number, you might ask? No one really knows for sure but that’s not very relevant right now. Let’s take a look at the details and specifications of the new Windows 10 OS.

First of all, the new Windows 10 is compatible with plenty of “trendy” devices from smartphones, tablets and PCs to Xbox game consoles. The new Windows 10 comes with a lot of apps to please even the most pretentious of tech geeks. The most exciting news about the new OS is that it marks the return to the feature that made Windows famous, the Start Menu. This feature was missing from the previous version, Windows 8.

Microsoft revealed the new features of the Windows 10 OS at a special event in San Francisco. Among the announced features, the new Windows lets the users resize the tiles, somehow similar to what Windows 8 had. The new tiles allow you to quickly view the notifications for important apps such as email, Facebook messages or the latest weather reports.

Microsoft said that with the new Windows 10 they wanted to please both those who prefer Windows 7 and Windows 8. They said Windows 10 is an improved version, a combination of both previous operating systems.

When Windows 8 was first released there were many complaining about the fact that it was not very organized and that it differed too much from the previous version. That is why the new Windows 10 is trying to make it up for all the “flaws” of the last versions.

David Johnson, a Microsoft representative said that:

“It’s extremely important for Microsoft to get Windows 10 right. For Microsoft to continue to be able to get the best and latest technology in the hands of the enterprise workforce all over the world, it has to have a vehicle to do that – and Windows 10 is its best shot.”

The new Windows 10 will run on devices with 4 inches and 80 inches screens.

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