Is This What Microsoft's Flagship Killer Will Look Like

Capacitive buttons are nowhere in sight, which means that the Microsoft Lumia 850, much like its predecessor, will treat users to onscreen navigation. 

Packed with new features like Cortana and Microsoft Edge, the new OS is an attempt from Microsoft to lure back consumers who gave up on Windows for mobile devices. It of course remains to be seen if their success with Surface can be replicated in the smartphone market, but it is clear that the same playbook is once again in action. 

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) have their phones focused on business people. 

Microsoft has previously stated it will update Windows Phones without carrier involvement, then retracted the statement later. The idea is to make sure that vulnerabilities and exposures get patched ASAP, and that upgrades and enhancements to the OS can be pushed out incrementally, rather than waiting for Service Pack level updates (or even the next upcoming "Update Tuesday" on the current calendar). 

We were also told that the phone can create this kind of connection wirelessly via Miracast which is included in certain TV's or added with a dongle. It also offers some quite interesting new features. 

This functionality is totally unique to the 950 and its bigger brother the 950 XL and lets you transform the phone into a desktop computer in a couple of easy steps. He thinks Microsoft will be able to counter this in the future by releasing its next generation of smartphones. Going through the training process on your supported device helps Cortana respond to you better when you say the "Hey Cortana" phrase. 

Lumia 950XL sports a bigger 5.7-inch display and 3,340mAh battery. It may also be built with metal chassis, possibly it will just have the common mobile phone look - or, a combination of both. Microsoft is taking its Windows 10 Mobile Insider program to the hardware level and it's bringing along some participants for the ride. 

It was reported that everything will be completed in the middle of 2016. 

Like the Surface line, Microsoft's target is Apple's lucrative margins and products. 

However, there is very limited information about its specs, as they haven't finalized its features and haven't disclosed its price range yet either.

Hands-on with the Xiaomi Mi 4 running Windows 10 Mobile (video)

After some months of work the Windows 10 Mobile ROM for the Xiaomi Mi 4 is now available to download. WindowsPhoneApps.es managed to get a hands-on with the handset after the ROM was installed, and as can be seen in the video above the handset appears to be blazingly fast. 
The handset has a Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB RAM, a 13 megapixel camera and a 5 inch 1080P screen. 
WPA notes that the device does run somewhat hot, and that the ROM lacked features such as slow motion and apps like Extras and Infos, but that it seemed to make pretty good use of the Microsoft software, much like a native device. 
Do our readers see a future for Windows 10 Mobile running on Android hardware? I would certainly buy a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge if I could install Windows 10 on it. What do our readers think?

Available now for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows OSes

The developers of the MPlayer-based MPV open-source and cross-platform video player software announced this past weekend the release and immediate availability for download of MPV 0.14.0. 

According to the internal changelog, which we've attached at the end of the article for reference, MPV 0.14.0 makes a few modifications in the build systems, such as support for installing scalable SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) icons, the addition of --enable-gpl3 for nnedi in vo_opengl, and the enablement of internal pthreads wrapper by default. 

Among the newly implemented features in MPV 0.14.0, we can mention experimental support for dxinterop backend, which was engineered to render with OpenGL and display via Direct3D, but it doesn't function with the Intel video drivers, initial support for ANGLE in vo_opengl, as well as the implementation of icc-profile-auto. 

For Windows OSes, MPV 0.14.0 removes support for the deprecated Windows XP operating system and adds support for the taskbar button progress indicator. For Linux users, the new MPV release drops support for PVR (Personal Video Recorder). Additionally, the old subtitle parser was removed, along with demux_libass, which was replaced with libavformat. 

New commands were added, numerous bugs were fixed 

In addition to the changes mentioned above, MPV 0.14.0 adds various commands, such as the estimated-display-fps and vsync-ratio properties, support for exporting various per-video-frame information, support for making the LOOKUP_TEXTURE_SIZE variable configurable, and an option that lets users set the VO MMCSS profile. 

On the other hand, the --sub-fix-timing was updated to support ASS subtitles, the vo-missed-frame-count property was renamed to vo-delayed-frame-count, there's now an option for disabling the OSD, the tscale=mitchell:tscale-clamp option was enabled by default, and the decoder format was made customizable. 

Last but not least, default bindings were added in the input.conf file to change window scaling, and interpolation without display-sync is now disabled by default in vo_opengl. As expected, numerous bugs reported by users since the previous release of the software were fixed. 

Download MPV 0.14.0 for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems right now from Softpedia. For more details, do not hesitate to check out the changelog below.

Microsoft Lumia 550 Officially Launches As The Cheapest Windows 10 Smartphone [Video]

Microsoft finally launched its new Lumia 550, releasing the handset as the cheapest smartphone yet to run Windows 10 out of the box. 

The company may already have Windows 10 running on two flagship smartphones, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, but it didn't forget about the budget sector. While the flagships come with price tags to match, the new Lumia 550 comes at the affordable segment and is now available for just $139. 

The initial Lumia 550 launch, however, is just for a few select markets initially, with more to follow soon. 

"Sales of the new Microsoft Lumia 550, which offers the best of Microsoft to people who value affordability and uncompromised quality, begin today in Europe. Other regions around the globe will follow in the coming weeks," Microsoft announced in a new company blog post on Monday, Dec. 7. 

The latest Windows 10 OS will bring popular Microsoft apps and services to the Lumia 550, including the signature Office suite with Word, Excel and PowerPoint, the Cortana digital assistant, as well as Microsoft's OneDrive, Skype, Outlook Calendar and Outlook Mail. 

As expected from a budget device, the Lumia 550 doesn't come with extraordinary hardware on board. The handset packs modest specifications to accommodate its low price tag. 

More specifically, the Lumia 550 features a 4.7-inch HD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution and 315 ppi, and packs a 1.1GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor under the hood, paired with 1 GB of RAM. 

Other specs include 8 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 200 GB via microSD, a 5-megapixel main camera with LED flash, a 2-megapixel front shooter, and a 2,100 mAh removable battery. The 4G LTE connectivity of the Lumia 550 allows for download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps, according to Microsoft. 

Glance Screen is also a notable software feature, as it allows Lumia 550 users to check out notifications, the time, or calendar entries at a glance, without unlocking or activating the phone. The new Microsoft Edge browser, meanwhile, will reportedly serve as a powerful tool for reading on-the-go or other browsing activities. 

The $139 Microsoft Lumia 550 comes in two color options - Glossy White and Matte Black. For more information, check out the presentation video below.

Windows Hello with the Surface Type Cover Fingerprint Reader (video)

Windows Hello is a collection of biometric authentication technologies for Windows 10, which includes facial recognition, iris scanning, and even fingerprint reading. While the most obvious use for this technology is for convenient logins that save wear and tear on your fragile first world fingers, little-known fact is Windows Hello is designed to be used for any function that requires authentication, such as purchasing Store goods. 

We’ve already seen Windows Hello in action using an iris scanner, but did you know you can use Windows Hello via the Type Cover with Fingerprint Reader? This neat keyboard is only available in black and features a fingerprint reader next to the trackpad. 

surfacetypecoverfingerprint Windows Hello with the Surface Type Cover Fingerprint Reader (video) 
To set up Windows Hello on Windows 10 with devices such as the fingerprint reading Type Cover for the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4, first make sure the Type Cover is plugged into your Surface Pro device and that all firmware for your device is up to date. Then: 

Head into Settings. 
Tap on Accounts. 
Tap on Sign-in options 
Set up a PIN number if you haven’t already 
And tap the setup button 
Then simply follow the instructions, pressing and lifting your desired finger against the scanner beneath the keyboard several times until it’s done. If you want Windows Hello to acknowledge more than one finger, tap on “Add Another” and run the procedure again for as many fingers as you want. 

You can also use Windows Hello for other functions that require you to verify your identity, such as purchasing songs through the Windows Store. It’s important to note that Windows Hello’s functionality will be expanded in the future, enabling richer and more secure computing experiences for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile users.

Video: Quick look at Windows 10 Redstone build 11082

Microsoft has released the first Redstone build of Windows 10 to Windows Insiders today. Build 11082 includes no noticeable new features on the surface, however it does include a number of under the hood changes that will benefit users in the near future. 

In todays video, I explain what OneCore is and what Microsoft has changed under the hood to improve the operating system. I also explain how Microsoft is planning to speed up the release of builds for the fast ring, as this was something insiders have been requesting for some time. 

Have you installed build 11082 yet? Let us know below!

See how a Bulgarian carrier is selling the Lumia 950 XL (video)

In some parts of Eastern Europe Windows Phones have a relatively high market share, meaning carriers have no problem marketing the handsets directly to consumers. 

In the above ad we have Bulgarian carrier Vivacom promoting Microsoft’s new flagships as something the young boy is clearly hinting at rather persistently, with the tag line which roughly translates into “This christmas, say clearly/exactly when you want – the new Lumias with windows 10...” 

Setting up Microsoft’s rather expensive new handsets as as extremely desirable seems to me to be a good marketing strategy for the premium devices. Do our readers agree?

Windows 10 in-depth: Groove Music (video)

For the last Windows 10 in-depth video of 2015 we’re rockin’ out to Groove Music. As we wrote recently, music on Microsoft is the best that it’s been for awhile and Groove Music is a big part of that. While there are features that people would like to see added, I think Groove is one of the best apps that Microsoft made in Windows 10. 

Groove lets you listen to music from your device, stream songs from your OneDrive, and if you have a Groove Music pass listen to online made radio stations and albums. The interface fits very will with Windows 10 and works well with touch or mouse and keyboard. 

If you prefer to listen to music you own, Groove does a good job of letting you play from your device or stream through OneDrive. If you prefer the subscription based model, Microsoft has a Groove Music pass which is similar to Spotify or Apple Music. 

Groove came in strong when it arrived with Windows 10 and it’s gotten better over time. It now has iHeartRadio integration on top of its other music options. There are features that people would like to see added but overall I think Groove Music is very impressive. 

Watch the video above and share your comments below! Would you like to see an in-depth series of Windows 10 Mobile?

Record video footage with Windows 10 Game DVR

So I play a lot of games (Heroes of the Storm!) and I frequently want to record what I'm doing, so that I can provide commentary for others, but also so that I can learn from my mistakes. I generally use a tool like Camtasiafor my recording and editing, especially outside of gaming, but Windows 10 now has a recording tool built into the OS called  Game DVR, so I wanted to highlight that for you. You should also know that this can record any application, and not just games. 



To make any sort of changes or access the shortcuts for the Game DVR, you actually need to go to the Xbox app, which is built into Windows 10. Don't ask me, I just work here. In fact, if you typed in "Game DVR", it wouldn't even show the application. 

This is found in your Programs folder, and I just get to it from my Start Menu: 

 

Shortcuts 

I have a difficult time remembering shortcuts, so I snipped them out and have them posted in a OneNote page which is always up on my screen. 

 

Now what I end up doing is simply hitting Win + Alt + R when I launch a new game, and that will start recording the game for me. I sometimes forget that I'm recording content, so I always have the timer visible in the top right corner as well, with the Win + Alt + T shortcut, which displays a small icon. This will not appear in your recording. 

For commentary, such as my Heroes of the Storm videos, I record my mic as well: Win + Alt + M, and the display I mentioned above will also show you if you mic is active.Changing where the files are stored 

I keep my OS and the applications I most frequently use stored on an SSD, so that I can access them as quickly as possible. For everything else, which mainly falls under media (videos, songs, images, games), I store on a 3TB hard drive. 

 

By default, Game DVR stores your recorded videos within the Videos / Captures folder. This is great, except that folder is located on my SSD. To change this, it's pretty straightforward 

From your file explorer, drag your "Captures" folder within Videos/Captures into the new location where you want your videos to be stored. In my case, I want them to me stored on my large D drive. 

 

To verify that this worked, open your Xbox App and navigate to the Game DVR settings, and the Saving Captures area should point out exactly where it is being stored. The Game DVR only knows the store videos within the Captures folder.Viewing clips 

You can view your recorded clips from within the Xbox App as well. On the left hand side, you'll find a tab that looks like a film reel (we used to record footage on these) with a gamepad in front of it. Click on that. 

 

Now you have a number of options at your disposal. Unfortunately, sharing only works for clips from Xbox One or Windows Store games. This is understandable, as they probably don't want you sharing questionable content from other applications with your Xbox Live network. 

 

What is interesting about the Shared Tab though, is that it will also point out games that I've recorded from my Xbox One console, too. 

 

For clips that come from Xbox One / Windows 10 games, I can share them in my activity feed, send a message to a friend, or showcase it within my profile. 

 

In this crowning achievement, I was playing Star Wars: Battlefront (the game is awesome), and I had the courage to take on Darth Vader. Surprisingly, things went in my favor. I must have a bit of Jedi blood in me. Coincidence that the film releases on my birthday? 

 

On Xbox One this will actuall post the video to your OneDrive, which you can share with everyone. I'm not sure why this feature isn't available here, though. 

If I navigate to my OneDrive from within my browser, I can see that it is actually stored there. I can now share it with anyone. 

 



I can Right-Click -> Embed and it will display this prompt: 

 

This will generate the HTML that I can embed directly into this page, which you can see below. This won't actually play the video within this page though. It will redirect you to OneDrive, where you can view it without needing to log in.

Wrapping up 

So hopefully this was pretty helpful for you. If you know of any tricks I may have been missing in here, let me know! And remember, you can use this for any application, not just games.

Windows 10 cheat sheet with video

Windows 10 is the best operating system that's come along from Microsoft in a long time. It's a shape-shifter that changes its interface depending upon whether you're using a traditional computer or a touch-based one. It undoes the damage wrought by Windows 8, including eliminating the awkward Charms bar and bringing back the long-mourned Start menu. A lot more has changed as well, with a new default browser called Edge, the integration of the Cortana digital assistant and plenty more. 

Whether you've upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 8 or an earlier version of Windows, or if you've got it on a new PC, this cheat sheet will get you up to speed on it. I'll cover everything you need to know, and I've also provided quick-reference charts listing useful keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen gestures and touchpad gestures. 

Note: If you want to get the most out of Windows 10, you'll have to use a Microsoft ID as your user account. Without a Microsoft ID, you won't be able to use a number of Windows 10 apps or sync settings among multiple devices. So when you set up Windows 10 for the first time, sign in with an existing Microsoft ID or create a new one. (You can also switch to a Microsoft ID account later. I'll show you how.) 

Before we get started, a few words about some terminology you'll need to know. Microsoft has sowed enormous confusion with a set of lightweight apps that were originally designed for the Windows 8 touch-oriented Start screen interface. It first called them Metro apps, and then through the years changed their names to Modern apps, Windows Store apps, and then Universal Windows apps. Now it's settled simply on Windows apps, although at times the company also calls them Universal Windows apps, to get across the point that they will run on all versions of Windows 10, including for mobile phones. In this article, we'll refer to them as Windows apps. 

What about apps designed for the desktop? Microsoft now calls them Windows desktop applications. In this article we'll call them desktop applications, for simplicity's sake.

HTML5 Video for Netflix comes to Firefox for Windows

Yesterday we told you that Netflix for Windows 10 had received an update, but that's not all that's coming to Windows. Firefox also has plans to up the ante with HTML5 Video for Windows. This is the much-utilized format on the internet today. 
Netflix is announcing that Firefox now comes with the latest HTML5 premium video extensions, such as Media Source Extensions (MSE), which the streaming service utilizes in an effort to adapt its streaming to the bandwidth of each viewer, and Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), that allows for the viewing of encrypted content. 
The new video player will support Firefox users on Windows versions beginning with Vista and newer operating systems. Netflix says it worked with both Mozilla and Adobe in an effort to do this. "We were pleased to find through our joint field testing that Adobe Primetime's CDM, Mozilla’s tag, and our player all work together seamlessly to provide a high quality viewing experience in Firefox. With the new Premium Video Extensions, Firefox users will no longer need to take an extra step of installing a plug-in to watch Netflix", the streaming service claims. 
Mozilla promises that it will bring this technology to other platforms such as Apple in 2016. It's using its open source CDM sandbox, which it claims will provide better security. 
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Why the latest version of software isn’t always the best

Since Netflix’s inception, Firefox users have needed to install a plugin in order to watch Netflix. Starting this week, that’s no longer necessary, at least for some users. 

Yesterday Netflix announced that its HTML5 video player is now available in Firefox, making plugins a thing of the past. For now this is only available in the Windows version of the browser, though the post on the Netflix Tech Blog notes that OS X support is on the way, rolling out sometime next year. 



Though this means that users no longer need to download a plugin, it still involves proprietary software. Netflix playback uses DRM, and Mozilla worked closely with Adobe to bring its Primetime Content Decryption Module (CDM) to Firefox version 43. While OS X is the only additional platform mentioned so far, the Mozilla blog post about the new feature mentions that Mozilla and Adobe plan to bring the Primetime CDM to Firefox on other operating systems in 2016. 

Most users of the browser will be happy that they’re able to watch their favorite shows without the need for a plugin, but for some this may seem an ominous sign of things to come, as it means that Firefox now features a built-in DRM solution. On the other hand, Mozilla mentions that the Adobe Primetime CDM runs sandboxed, making it more secure than the previous plugin-based approach. 



The HTML5 player makes use of the HTML Premium Video Extensions, which help enable its DRM through the Encrypted Media Extensions, but also include the Media Source Extensions. These allow Netflix to adapt its streams to your available bandwidth, which should make for a better viewing experience. 

Now that this feature has come to Firefox, Netflix now supports HTML5 video in what it calls “all major browsers” — Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Chrome. Sorry, Opera fans.