Skype confirms plans to launch 3D video calls

It looks like teleportation will soon be a reality just like what we've seen in sci-fi movies. Well, that's exaggerating things a bit, but Skype, the popular voice and video chat service is looking at introducing 3D or 3-dimensional calls.

Celebrating Skype's 10th anniversary, Microsoft's Corporate VP for Skype, Mark Gillett gave a candidinterview to the BBC in which he mentioned that the company was working on 3D-screens and 3D-capture technology.

"We've done work in the labs looking at the capability of 3D-screens and 3D-capture," said Gillett.

"We've seen a lot of progress in screens and a lot of people now buy TVs and computer monitors that are capable of delivering a 3D image.

However, Gillett who joined Skype in 2010 before it was acquired by Microsoft, said that developing the technology and taking it to the masses would take more time.

"But the capture devices are not yet there. As we work with that kind of technology you have to add multiple cameras to your computer, precisely calibrate them and point them at the right angle."

"We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we're looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market," he said.

Live 3D video calls would need multiple cameras to capture all angles, and there aren't any good 3D viewing devices that render 3D without the user needing to wear special glasses. So Skype's work would not be easy.

"We're in the first year of your TV at home potentially having a camera attached to it, but we're several years away from the cameras capturing 3D in that context. You'll see much more penetration of 3D on TVs, on computers and ultimately in smartphones, probably, ahead of seeing it for sending a video call," elaborated Gillet.

3D technology has not really taken off at the mainstream level with problems such as the lack of good content, or the lack of glass-less 3D devices plaguing the entertainment industry. Broadcasters like ESPN and Disney are scrapping their 3D television channels and 3D home entertainment devices are not selling as much as device makers expected them to sell.

Windows 8 PCs vulnerable to cyber threats, warns German agency

A German government technology agency has warned that new security technology in computers running Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system may actually make PCs more vulnerable to cyber threats, including sabotage.

Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday that federal government agencies and critical infrastructure operators should pay particular attention to the risk.

The warning comes after weeks of public indignation in Germany over leaks related to U.S. surveillance programs. The spying scandal has become a headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of a September 22 election.

The problem, according to the BSI, is with the use of a computer chip known as the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM 2.0, which is built into Windows 8 computers. TPM 2.0 is designed to better protect PCs by interacting with a variety of security applications.

But the BSI, which provides advice on technology and security to the government as well as the public, said the joint implementation of Windows 8 and TPM 2.0 chips could lead to "a loss of control" over both the operating system and hardware, without specifying exactly how that could occur.

"As a result, new risks occur for users, especially for federal and critical infrastructure," it said.

The statement concluded: "The new mechanisms in use can also be used for sabotage by third parties. These risks need to be addressed."

Microsoft declined comment on the BSI statement.

The company provided Reuters with a statement saying that PC makers have the option to turn off TPM technology, so that customers can buy PCs with it disabled.

TPM was developed by the Trusted Computing Group, a non-profit organization backed by technology firms including IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.

The BSI said it was working with the Trusted Computing Group and operating systems producers to find a solution.

A spokeswoman for that group declined to comment on the specific claims raised by the BSI. She said the group has provided PC makers and users with plenty of advice on best security practices to avoid any threats that they may face.

Microsoft CEO to retire: 9 candidates who could replace Steve Ballmer

Microsoft Corp has set up a special committee to find a new chief executive after Steve Ballmer announced his retirement on Friday.

The world's largest software company has no anointed successor, and has had only two CEOs in its 38-year history - Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates.

The following is a list of tech executives that Microsoft might consider.

1. Tony Bates - Came to Microsoft two years ago as CEO of the acquired Skype and was recently elevated to lead Microsoft's business development and overall strategy.

2. Terry Myerson - The executive in charge of operating systems, which is still the heart of Microsoft, ranging across PCs, tablets, phones and the Xbox game console.

3. Satya Nadella - Heads Microsoft's cloud and enterprise group, which is coming to the fore as the company struggles to catch up in online and mobile computing.

4. Kevin Turner - As Chief Operating Officer for the last eight years, the former Wal-Mart Stores Inc executive leads Microsoft's enormous sales organization, but is generally considered to lack the technology credibility to be CEO.

5. Steven Sinofsky - The former head of the Windows unit was widely tipped as a potential Microsoft CEO until his abrupt departure in November. His reputation has taken a hit since then with the dismal sales of the Surface tablet he launched and the lukewarm reception of Windows 8.

6. Vic Gundotra - The high-flying Google Inc engineer, key to that company's mobile phone and social initiatives, is a former Microsoft executive who could be tempted to return.

7. Reed Hastings - The CEO of Netflix Inc is a rising Silicon Valley star and has intimate knowledge of Microsoft's business after several years on its board, until his departure last year.

8. Paul Maritz - One of the key powers in the early days of Windows, Maritz left in 2000 and eventually ran virtualization firm VMware Inc until last year. Talk occasionally surfaces that he could return to Microsoft, but he has never indicated any interest publicly.

9. Bill Gates - The co-founder of Microsoft is still Chairman, but has focused his day-to-day efforts on philanthropy since 2008 when he vacated his office on campus. People close to him say he is not considering a return to the CEO position.

Microsoft's Bing for Schools offers ad-free search, free Surface tablets to battle Google

The long-running rivalry between Microsoft Corp and Google Inc is turning into a schoolyard brawl.

Microsoft on Wednesday opened a new front against the world's No 1 search provider by piloting an ad-free offering for educational users of Bing, its search engine that for years has trailed Google.

Under the free program called "Bing for Schools," students in participating school districts will no longer see ads or adult content when they do Internet searches.

Microsoft, which has signed up the Los Angeles Unified School District and Atlanta Public Schools among other school districts, has pitched Bing as an alternative at a time of rising public concern over how Internet companies are tracking their users' every move to target the ads they display.

As part of the program, Microsoft will also offer free Surface tablets (Review I Pictures) and course materials for teaching youngsters about Internet use.

Stefan Weitz, Microsoft's director of search, said the program would help expose young users to Microsoft products.

"We hope that we demonstrate the quality of Bing to teachers and students and also their parents, and once they see how good it is, we hope to see increased usage outside of schools too," Weitz said.

Bing, with 18 percent of the search market share, has long trailed Google, at 67 percent, according to data from ComScore, despite an aggressive effort to close the gap.

Attack campaign
Microsoft's move is the latest sign that technology companies are targeting the education market as a way to reach children who will become the next generation of consumers.

The new Bing campaign, framed in the context of privacy concerns, is part of a broad, anti-Google marketing campaign directed by a team of political consultants including Mark Penn, long-time adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton.

In recent months Microsoft has ramped up allegations posted to its "Scroogled" website, including claims that Google violates its users' trust by scanning emails to target ads. Microsoft has also backed promotion of a "Do Not Track" protocol that would discourage online ad targeting.

"People just don't think it's appropriate to show ads to children in a learning environment," Weitz said.

A Google spokesman declined to immediately comment.

While Microsoft relies heavily on software sales, more than 95 percent of Google's revenue come from ads, and a significant portion of that comes from its dominant search engine.

Jostling in classrooms
Google and Microsoft have also been vying to get schools to adopt their productivity software. Google has been offering a discount for its Google Apps suite, which it hopes can replace programs such as Microsoft Word on school computers.

Tech companies, led by Apple Inc, have also competed fiercely to get hardware into the classroom, even while academic studies are divided over the effectiveness of gadgets in improving student performance.

Following Apple, Google in December announced a program to give its Chromebook computers to schools for $99 each. Six months later, Microsoft began offering its Surface RT tablet to educational institutions for $199, a discount of more than 50 percent.

(Also see: Microsoft slashes price of Surface RT tablet by $150)

As part of the Bing campaign, school districts whose students use the Microsoft search engine win points, which they can redeem for Surface tablets.

Aleigha Henderson-Rosser, the director of instructional technology at Atlanta Public Schools, said she had no qualms about receiving aid from tech companies. Atlanta schools will not be paid money to participate in the Bing program, she said.

Henderson-Rosser said she will try to rally parents to use Bing to help win Surface tablets for schools that cannot afford the technology.

"I'm seeing it as a community effort to fill in the gaps," she said. "What school is going to turn down tablets for our students?"

Nokia 'Bandit' Windows Phone with 6-inch full-HD display, 20-megapixel camera in the works: Report

Nokia seems to be bitten by the phablet bug and is reportedly working on a 6-inch phablet.

The Verge has claimed that the Finnish handset manufacturer is currently testing a 6-inch device running an updated version of Windows Phone. The site further claims that the company has code-named the device as 'Bandit' and it is expected to include a full-HD (1080p) display and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor.

However, the device may not be unveiled before Microsoft rolls out the GDR3 update to Windows Phone. Microsoft is expected to release the GDR3 update for Windows Phone 8 soon which will enable support for quad-core processors and full-HD displays on the Windows Phone platform.

The report also notes that the Nokia Bandit phablet will ship with a 20-megapixel rear camera and also suggests that the device may borrow the rear panel features of the Nokia Lumia 925 to accommodate the camera. It also asserts that the Lumia phablet will be sleek and light in weight and would come with a polycarbonate body.

Microsoft's GDR3 update is due for launch later this year and is expected to improve some of the features already present in Windows Phone. The Verge lists some changes that are expected with the roll out of the GDR3 update. In addition to the features listed above, Windows Phone GDR3 update is expected to bring an additional column of Live Tiles on the Start screen, rotation lock, minor UI tweaks and a new Driving Mode option, the report notes.

Previously, purported picture of Nokia Lumia phablet's front panel was leaked online. However, not much was known about the device in terms of specifications. With the first set of specifications leaking out, we can expect to hear more on the device soon.

PlayStation 4 has received over a million pre-orders, reveals Sony

Sony has had more than 1 million preorders worldwide for its new PlayStation 4 console, the head of its SCE computer entertainment division said on Tuesday.

SCE Chief Executive Andrew House added that the console will be available from November 15 in North America and will hit stores in Europe from November 29.

"The response we have received is nothing short of incredible," he said at a news conference on the sidelines of Gamescom, Europe's biggest videogames fair.

He added the console will be available in 32 countries worldwide during the holiday season.

Microsoft Corp has said it will start selling its latest console at some point in November, intensifying competition ahead of the year-end holidays and gift-giving season.

(Also see: Xbox One launch in 8 European countries pushed to 2014)

Sony has priced the PS4, $100 lower than the new Xbox One by Microsoft at $399.

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One in May, its first new gaming console in eight years, marking its strongest push so far to dominate consumers' living rooms with an array of exclusive media content.

Microsoft Europe's Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Chris Lewis said on Tuesday preorders for the Xbox One were "unprecedented" but declined to give more details.

Sony said it would also cut the retail price for its PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita devices to $199 in the United States and 199 euros in Europe.

Previously the Vita was 249 euros and the PlayStation 3 was 229 euros.

Xbox One launch in 8 European countries pushed to 2014

Microsoft said Wednesday it was delaying the launch of its new Xbox One console in eight countries, while moving ahead with a November release in 13 others.

In June, Microsoft said it would start selling the new videogame and entertainment console in 21 countries, but on Wednesday acknowledged their plan had been too ambitious.

(Also see: Xbox One not coming to India, other Asian markets until 2014: Report)

The delays affect Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland. The company said it hoped to launch the device in those countries "as soon as possible in 2014."

The 13 markets to get the Xbox One in November will be Australia, Austria, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United States and New Zealand, according to a statement from the Xbox team.

"At Xbox, our goal is to provide the best games and entertainment experience possible and the team continues to make great progress on delivering Xbox One," the statement said.

"While we wish we could launch Xbox One simultaneously in these (21) markets, there are many factors that determine the timing of specific market launches. This includes work to localize the Xbox One dash, incorporate additional voice and languages, and build partnerships to bring apps and meaningful local content to each country."

The beefed-up console is powered by software that allows for instant switching between games, television, and Internet browsing. Microsoft-owned Skype was also integrated for online group video calls.

Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles recognize users; respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language, and even detect a person's pulse.

Microsoft's new console will compete against Sony's new PlayStation 4, which also promises to combine its film, music, television and games in a home entertainment box. It is due to be released later this year as well.

Smartphones outsell feature phones for the first time: Gartner

Smartphones took a majority of mobile phone sales worldwide for the first time in the April-June quarter, a survey showed Wednesday.

The report by the research firm Gartner found smartphone sales totaled 225 million in the second quarter, or 51.8 percent of all mobile phones sold in the period.

It was the first time smartphone sales exceeded those of feature phones, which are more basic phones with limited or no access to the Internet and applications.

The survey found Samsung remained the leading vendor of smartphones and all mobile phones, and that the Google Android solidified its position with a 79 percent share of smartphones sold.

Gartner said Windows Phone, the mobile operating system from Microsoft, moved into third place with a 3.3 percent share, ahead of troubled BlackBerry, whose share slid to 2.7 percent.

"While Microsoft has managed to increase share and volume in the quarter, Microsoft should continue to focus on growing interest from app developers to help grow its appeal among users," said Anshul Gupta, a Gartner analyst.

Apple's iOS, the operating system for the iPhone, remained second with a 14.2 percent share, down from 18.8 percent a year earlier.

Gartner said Apple's average prices dropped because many of its phones sold were older, discounted models of the iPhone. This "demonstrates the need for a new flagship model," Gupta said, but added that "it is risky for Apple to introduce a new lower-priced model too."

Gartner's data showed Samsung sold 71.3 million smartphones in the quarter, representing a market share of 31.7 percent. Apple was second with 31.9 million, followed by South Korea's LG, with 11.4 million and a share of 5.1 percent, and China's Lenovo and ZTE.

Samsung was also the top seller of all mobile phones, with a total of 107 million in the period, or 24.7 percent. Finland-based Nokia was second with a market share of 14 percent and 60.9 million phones sold, Gartner said.

Microsoft to release Windows 8.1 on October 17

Consumers waiting for Microsoft's revamped version of its latest Windows operating system will be able to get the software beginning Oct. 17.

The release date for Windows 8.1 is nearly a year after the debut of Windows 8, a dramatic overhaul of the operating system that has been powering most personal computers for decades.

Microsoft Corp. unveiled its plans for Windows 8.1 three months ago, but hadn't set a release date until Wednesday. At test version of Windows 8.1 that may still include some bugs has been available since late June.

Windows 8 represented Microsoft's attempt to create an operating system that works well on tablet computers, as well as on laptop and desktop machines.

But the overhaul confused and frustrated many people, resulting in disappointing sales of devices running on Windows 8. One research firm, International Data Corp., has even blamed Windows 8 for deepening the slump in PC sales as more people rely on smartphones and tablets to connect to the Internet.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Wash., also absorbed a $900 million charge to its most recent quarterly earnings to account for its expected losses from a company-produced tablet, called Surface, which relies on a slimmed-down version of Windows 8.

Windows 8.1 is Microsoft's attempt to make the operating system easier and more appealing to use. It will be available as a free update to owners of Windows 8 machines.

The first laptops and PCs featuring Windows 8.1 already installed are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 18.

Also see: Top 10 changes that Microsoft Windows 8.1 will bring

Microsoft restores Outlook.com service after extended outage

Microsoft said it has fixed a problem that prevented some people from getting their email on Outlook.com, but mobile users might still be having problems.

Service had been restored on the Web shortly after 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday, according to an update on Microsoft's website. That's more than seven hours after Microsoft first acknowledged that some people had been locked out of their Outlook.com accounts.

Some Outlook.com users trying to check email on mobile devices might still be encountering trouble that engineers were trying to clear up, according to a Microsoft statement.

Earlier in the day, some people also could not retrieve their files stored on Microsoft's SkyDrive service. But that problem had been resolved by late morning PDT.

Microsoft blamed the breakdown on an unexplained "incident." The Redmond, Wash., company said only a small number of users were affected, but didn't provide further specifics.

Even if only a small percentage of Outlook.com users were cut off, millions of people could have been inconvenienced. Microsoft boasts it has more than 400 million accounts on Outlook.com.

Microsoft Corp. transferred all the users of its other Web email, including those with the hotmail.com and msn.com domains, to Outlook earlier this year as part of its attempt to outshine Google Inc.'s Gmail and Yahoo Inc.'s email.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 coming to public in October: Reports

It looks like the final version of Windows 8.1, the updated version of Microsoft's desktop OS, will be released to the public in October.

According to a report by ZDNet, Microsoft is close to achieving its August target for releasing Windows 8.1 to manufacturing. The report by Mary Jo Foley, who has a good track record when it comes to reporting developments related to Microsoft, cites tipsters to inform that the Redmond giant will not release the Windows 8.1 update to general public, however, until mid-October. 

The report also adds that unlike Windows 8, Microsoft is not planning to make available the final Windows 8.1 bits to its MSDN or TechNet subscribers just after it's released to manufacturing (RTM). OEMs receive the OS early so that they can prepare device drivers and bundle the OS on their devices before they hit the market.

Another report by The Verge also cites sources familiar with Microsoft's plans, to inform that the update will not be pushed out to existing users until October.

Both reports mention that the gap period from RTM to release will allow Microsoft to fix bugs and release updates when the OS releases publicly in October.

Microsoft had made the preview version of Windows 8.1, available to the public for download in June. As the word 'preview' suggests, this build is sort of a final beta and contains some bugs, though Microsoft is constantly releasing system updates to patch them.

The Windows 8.1 update features a couple of new improvements including a new Start tip that offers Start menu like functionality, desktop wallpapers for Start screen, updated search, automatic app updates, new multitasking experience, a revamped Store, better PC settings and a new version of Internet Explorer, among other changes.

Also see: Top 10 changes that Microsoft Windows 8.1 will bring 

Microsoft's new Scroogled ad takes on Google's disguised Gmail ads

Firing a new salvo at Google, Microsoft is now accusing the Internet company of spamming users through its Gmail webmail service.

Microsoft has created a new page on its Scroogled.com website explaining how Google is spamming users by inserting ads in their inboxes instead of protecting them from spam. Microsoft has put a video and slideshow detailing how Google serves spam that looks like regular emails based on the user's other emails. Microsoft alleges that Google violates users' privacy by reading every single word of every single email sent to and from their Gmail accounts.

"Google violates your privacy by reading every single word of every single email sent to and from Gmail accounts so they can better target you with ads. Now, they're going one step further over the line by using that same personal information to spam your inbox with ads that look like real emails.

Your email provider should protect you from spam, but Google is doing just the opposite; they're reading your private email conversations and using what they find to push junk mail directly to your Gmail inbox."

Microsoft even puts quotes from media reports that pan Google on the issue. The quotes are from several publications including The Wall Street Journal, Time, The Atlantic and The New Yorker among others.

A section of the page offers 'Top moments in spam history', while the others feature a study on email privacy and spam and an infographic called "What does Google know about you?"

After it started offering a new tabbed interface for Gmail that allows users to sort their mails into different tabs on the basis of the content or senders, Google had also started serving advertisements disguised as emails in the 'Promotions' tab, in July.

The ads appear as highlighted messages in peach colour similar to how Google's related ads are listed in search listings. They also come with a message saying that "These ads are based on information from your Google account. Ads Settings puts you in control of the ads you see." This implies that ads are served on the basis of information from the user's Google account but Google doesn't clarify whether it also scans the users' emails to come up with targeted ads in the inbox.

However, Google defends itself by saying that users are looking for new promotions when they look for emails under the Promotions tab and that it's simply banking on that opportunity.

Google also said that the advertising partners do not have any more access to users' email address or personal information than they did before.

Microsoft started the Scroogled campaign in April through which it attacked Google with a series of ad campaigns. The ads, which have appeared online, on television and in print, depict Google as a duplicitous company more interested in increasing profits and power than protecting people's privacy and providing unbiased search results.

 

Microsoft agrees to rename SkyDrive after losing trademark case to BSkyB: Report

Microsoft has reportedly agreed to change the name of its cloud storage service SkyDrive, after a UK court recently ruled that the name infringed on a trademark owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB).

Microsoft and BSkyB reached a settlement on Wednesday following which Microsoft has agreed that it will not appeal against the court ruling and that BSkyB will allow Microsoft to continue using the brand "for a reasonable period of time to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand," as noted by The Verge.

The settlement agreement also features financial and other terms but the companies did not disclose any details due to confidentiality clauses. 

A Microsoft spokesperson also confirmed the name change in a statement to the website saying,"We're glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you."

In June, a UK court had ruled the SkyDrive product name infringes on BSkyB's Sky trademark, under which it operates satellite TV services and even runs satellite television channels like Sky Sports and Sky News. The ruling was effective across the European Union. Sky also offers an Internet storage service similar to Microsoft's SkyDrive.

It's worth pointing out that Microsoft had to change the name of the design philosophy employed in the user interface of Windows Phone and Windows 8 after a similar dispute, last year. It initially used to call the interface, Metro UI, but then changed it to Modern UI, after a trademark dispute with Europe based Metro AG, in August 2012.

Microsoft Office comes to Android smartphones for Office 365 subscribers

Microsoft is bringing a pared-down version of its Office software to Android phones, but it won't work on Android tablets just as it doesn't on iPads.

The software will be available starting Wednesday. It requires a $100-a-year subscription to Office and won't be sold separately.

The new offering follows the release of an iPhone version in June and brings an Office app to phones running the most widely used operating system on new smartphones.

Microsoft Corp. is trying to make its Office 365 subscription more compelling, without removing an advantage that tablet computers running Microsoft's Windows system now have - the ability to run popular Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

"The release of this app shows that we're committed to keep providing additional value for Office 365 subscribers," the company wrote in a blog post. "Office 365 subscribers will now be able to access, view, and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents with Windows Phone, iPhone and Android phones."

(Also see: Microsoft Office for iPhone app review)

Microsoft is pushing subscriptions as a way to get customers to keep paying for a product that was historically sold in a single purchase. The company touts such benefits as the ability to run the package on multiple computers and get updates for free on a regular basis. However, a subscription can be more expensive than buying the package outright for just one or two computers.

Microsoft said it designed Office Mobile for Android phones specifically for small-screen devices, even though many people will prefer editing documents on a tablet's larger screen. The company has a version for iPads and Android tablets, called Office Web Apps, but that runs on a Web browser and requires a constant online connection. The new Android software is an app that gets installed on the phone and can work offline.

With a subscription, customers typically get to use Office on up to 10 devices. Five of them can be Windows or Mac computers or Windows tablets. The other five can be iPhones or Android phones. Windows phones come with Office installed and do not count toward the limit.

In keeping the software off the iPad, the top-selling tablet computer, Forrester Research analyst J.P. Gownder has estimated that Microsoft is potentially ceding $1.4 billion a year in revenue, based on 10 percent of the 140 million iPad owners paying for a $100 subscription. Gownder said failure to provide it on the iPad or Android tablets gives incentives for users to explore competing offerings such as QuickOffice from Google and iWork from Apple.

Like the other mobile versions, the new Android software is designed for lightweight use. For example, you can use it to view and edit an attachment sent by email. But it's not meant to create a complex spreadsheet from scratch.

The new software requires Android 4.0 or later - the Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean flavors of Google's operating system. It's available through Google's online Play store. At first, it's available only in the U.S., though Microsoft plans to expand to 117 markets with versions in more than 30 languages.

Microsoft did not announce any plans for BlackBerry phones.

Nokia's 'Treasure Tag' will help locate keys or other objects through Lumia phones

Nokia is working on a proximity sensor accessory for its Lumia phones - interestingly named, Treasure Tag - that will allow users to track things through their phones, if a new report is to be believed.

According to a report by The Verge that cites sources familiar with company's plans, Nokia will soon launch the accessory that features Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC to track items through an app on the user's phone. The device will be able to stay 'always on' and it will come with a battery that will last six months.

As per the report, users will be able to pair the Treasure Tag accessory with their Nokia Lumia Phones through NFC, and the Finnish handset-maker will bundle a loop strap to attach the device to an object, say a bunch of keys. It further adds that Nokia has developed a Treasure Tag app for Windows Phone, through which users will be able to manage the sensor and locate the device when it gets out of sight. The app will also show the location of the device on a map, integrated with Nokia's LiveSight augmented reality view. Users will also be able to track a phone that's connected to the device through a button located on the device, as it will trigger a siren on the phone if it's in range.

It's worth pointing out that the device will work with Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth Low Energy standards. The forthcoming Amber update for Nokia Windows Phones is expected to bring support for Bluetooth 4.0 and for Bluetooth Low energy devices (Bluetooth Smart) to Nokia Lumia 520, Nokia Lumia 620 andNokia Lumia 720 devices. Following the update, the phones will be able to connect and work with devices such as fitness monitors like Fitbit Flex and smart watches like Pebble. The Nokia Lumia 920already supports Bluetooth 4.0.

Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack of Windows Phone updates, apps

It looks like Nokia has finally come out in the open against Microsoft's slow pace of pushing updates to Windows Phone 8.

While the Finnish handset giant has been churning out new handset models and updated versions of its own services and apps, Microsoft has often been criticised for not playing a very conducive role when it comes to bringing its mobile OS on par with Android and iOS.

Till now, tech evangelists and Nokia fans had been panning Microsoft for ignoring the Windows Phone 8 platform, however, it now seems that Nokia also wants Microsoft to get out of its slumber.

In a recent interview with International Business Times, Bryan Biniak, Vice President - App Development at Nokia, has fired salvos at Microsoft, subtly conveying the message that smartphone sales are suffering due to lack of updates.

He said, "We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today."

Biniak also talked about the problem related to lack of apps, and how it's affecting the consumer's perception against Nokia's Lumia smartphones.

"We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale," he added.

"To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices."

While the Windows Phone platforms boasts of 165,000 apps, a number of major apps including Instagram are missing form the platform. New releases and variants of popular games like Angry Birds and Temple Run also arrive on Windows Phone, months or sometimes years after they release their iOS and Android versions.

A lot of software development on the Windows Phone platform is being supported by Nokia, with the company developing its own imaging software for its camera-focused offerings. 

Nokia says it will continue to invest in the platform's development on its own.

"As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right," said Biniak.

Nokia criticises Microsoft for lack of Windows Phone updates, apps

It looks like Nokia has finally come out in the open against Microsoft's slow pace of pushing updates to Windows Phone 8.

While the Finnish handset giant has been churning out new handset models and updated versions of its own services and apps, Microsoft has often been criticised for not playing a very conducive role when it comes to bringing its mobile OS on par with Android and iOS.

Till now, tech evangelists and Nokia fans had been panning Microsoft for ignoring the Windows Phone 8 platform, however, it now seems that Nokia also wants Microsoft to get out of its slumber.

In a recent interview with International Business Times, Bryan Biniak, Vice President - App Development at Nokia, has fired salvos at Microsoft, subtly conveying the message that smartphone sales are suffering due to lack of updates.

He said, "We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today."

Biniak also talked about the problem related to lack of apps, and how it's affecting the consumer's perception against Nokia's Lumia smartphones.

"We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale," he added.

"To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices."

While the Windows Phone platforms boasts of 165,000 apps, a number of major apps including Instagram are missing form the platform. New releases and variants of popular games like Angry Birds and Temple Run also arrive on Windows Phone, months or sometimes years after they release their iOS and Android versions.

A lot of software development on the Windows Phone platform is being supported by Nokia, with the company developing its own imaging software for its camera-focused offerings. 

Nokia says it will continue to invest in the platform's development on its own.

"As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right," said Biniak.

Nokia CEO explains why they chose Windows Phone over Android

While Nokia has continued to innovate when it comes to developing new hardware and software, supporting the Windows Phone platform like a lone ranger, the apparent lack of interest from Microsoft, specially with updates being far and few has led to disappointing smartphone sales for the Finnish handset giant.

It goes back to early 2011 when Nokia CEO when Nokia realised that it needed something more than Symbian to march ahead in a world which was switching to Apple's iPhone and phones based on Google's Android operating system. Stephen Elop chose his former employer Microsoft as the company's saviour in a bid to become a competitive third alternative. That, unfortunately, hash't happened even after being in transition for the last two years. A number of technology evangelists and Nokia loyalists have questioned Elop's motive in choosing Windows Phone over Android, adding that the steady pace at which Nokia develops new hardware, it would have made perfect sense for the company to have adopted Android, adding its own apps on top and customising it to its own choice.

At a recent round table with journalists, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop responded to this question, saying that he still feels that the company made the right decision. Elop said at the time of making the switch, he was worried that a particular hardware manufacturer (read Samsung) could have dominated Android due to its resources, vertical integration and because Nokia would have been a late entrant in the Android space. The comment was first reported by The Guardian.

Elop said, "I'm very happy with the decision we made." 

"What we were worried about a couple of years ago was the very high risk that one hardware manufacturer could come to dominate Android. We had a suspicion of who it might be, because of the resources available, the vertical integration, and we were respectful of the fact that we were quite late in making that decision. Many others were in that space already."

"Now fast forward to today and examine the Android ecosystem, and there's a lot of good devices from many different companies, but one company has essentially now become the dominant player." 

He also cited operators like AT&T as a reason for choosing an alternative platform. He said that operators want to negotiate with different people and keep pressure on everybody to have the best range of options. So, being the third ecosystem helps the company. He even suggested that after Apple's iOS, it was Samsung and Android that comes to people's (and operator's) minds as the second best option, so other Android players have been marginalised.

"Now, it's hard - it's very difficult because we are starting as a challenger, we're having to build that credibility; but with partners like AT&T we're gaining that traction . But it was the right decision. You look at a number of other Android providers right now and they're in a tough spot," he added.

While Elop might defend the company's move by highlighting Samsung's current domination of the platform, Windows Phone is still not doing as well as the company expects. Nokia managed to sell 7.4 million Lumia devices in the last quarter, up 32 percent compared to the previous quarter but its revenues decreased inline with the Average Selling Price of its smartphones. Also, it's only budget devices like the Lumia 520 which are contributing to the surge in sales, which was recently confirmed as the most popular Windows Phone in the world.

Microsoft Urged To Reinstate Xbox One Policies

Although most of the gaming industry, fans and retail stores praised Microsoft’s decision to give up some controversial policies for its next-generation console, it seems that not everyone is happy with the move.

A new online petition calls on the company to bring back the Xbox One policies, insisting that they are the future of entertainment.

The petition can be found at Change.org and calls for signatures in order to get back “the Xbox One we were promised at E3.” To be sent, the petition needs 10,000 signatures and has already gathered over 8,600.

The initiator insists that Microsoft made a mistake when it gave in to fans’ criticism and withdrew its digital rights management policies. The petition’s intro says that consumers were uninformed when they rallied against the policies, which were then withdrawn because Sony took advantage of consumers’ uncertainty.

Microsoft’s original DRM policies required users to connect to the Internet at least once a day and imposed restrictions on secondhand games. Sony’s PlayStation 4, on the other hand, does not have any of these restrictions, which gave the console a significant edge ahead of Xbox One.

Sony also benefits from the fact the PlayStation 4 is more conveniently priced. The PS4 will retail for $400, while the Xbox One is expected to cost $500. It is therefore very unlikely that Microsoft will change its mind again and reinforce its DRM policies, despite the new petition.

The Xbox One has been seeing a boost in pre-orders after the policy reversal. Best Buy has just run out of Xbox One consoles for pre-orders and has halted online purchases until it replenishes its stocks. The next-generation console is still available at Amazon, GameStop, Wal-Mart and other retailers.

The console is expected to be featured at European trade show Gamescom in Germany next month. Microsoft is rumored to hold a press conference at the show to reconfirm the core message behind the Xbox One. If confirmed, this will be the first time Microsoft holds a press conference at Gamescom. The event will take place August 21-25.

What do you think of the new petition? Does it have any chance to change Microsoft’s mind about the Xbox One DRM policies?

Windows XP users advised to upgrade 'immediately' due to security reasons

Indian cyber-security sleuths have issued an alert for those using the popular 'Window XP' as operating system in their computers and laptops and advised "immediate" upgrade of software against hacking attempts.

Software giant Microsoft had announced that it is going to stop support services to 'Windows XP' OS from April 8 next year and according to cyber-space authorities monitoring the Indian internet systems, the decision will have a direct effect for the all the users working on the same OS.

"The end of support of Windows XP Operating System means that Microsoft will not provide security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support and any online technical support for the Windows XP. In the absence of patches and security updates for the Windows XP OS, the computer systems would be at greater risks and could be easily compromised by the hackers.

"There would also be compliance issues due to un- supported and un-patched components in the IT infrastructure which may result in non-compliance and suspension of certifications by the certifying and auditing organizations.

The software vendors and hardware manufacturers will also stop support for Windows XP on their new versions and models," the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CeRT-IN) said in its latest advisory to computer users in India.

"It is recommended that all the users and organisations using Window XP OS in their environment should immediately plan for upgradation to the latest available OS according to their requirement and test software applications well before April, 2014," it said.

According to officials, the maximum of Indian computer and laptop users operate on Windows platform and after the recent declaration, users should keep themselves informed about the new and secure OS available in the market.

Microsoft had initially released Windows XP OS in August 2001. The current release version of Windows XP is called the Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Since then, three successor versions of client based OS namely Windows Vista in November 2006, Windows 7 in July 2009 and Windows 8 in August 2012 were released by Microsoft.

The latest client based OS available from the Microsoft stable is Windows 8.