Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are the most popular and the most used mobile Operating Systems worldwide. While their success is unprecedented and doesn’t seem like it can be beaten; there was a time when many companies were close. Here is the list of all the once-promising competitors to the hulking giants in the smartphone OS market. Most of them have been forgotten in the wheel of time.
Windows PhoneWindows Phone first debuted in the early 2000s and ran on QWERTY based mobile phones. After the ever increasing hold of Android and iOS on the consumer market, Microsoft shifted its strategy and named it Windows Phone in 2010. With support for [...]
A minute of silence as Microsoft pulls the plug on Windows Phone 8.1, for those of you who have been paying attention, the inevitable has happened. Effective today, Microsoft is ceasing support for Windows Phone 8.1. Though phones running the platform will not be bricked, but the company will not be pushing any future updates for Windows Phone 8.1. The Windows Phone operating system was Microsoft’s biggest efforts in countering Android and iOS. However, as 99.6% of the smartphones run Android or iOS Microsoft failed to capture the market with Windows Phone and it never truly got off the ground.
While a few good phones were launched in the early days by HTC and then by [...]
Cyanogen – commonly known as, the modified version of Android, has managed to spread its sphere of influence above both Blackberry and Windows mobile users; suggests new reports.
Reports also suggest that while the Windows Mobile’s market share is at 2.7% and Blackberry’s at 0.3%; Cyanogen alone has worked up a feat of 3%. It is said that with Cyanogen getting huge funding and hiring new talent, their chart doesn’t seem to be coming down anytime soon.
Their OnePlus deal having ended, they now look forward to partnering with bigger Chinese vendors. With their approximately 50 million users, it looks like Cyanogen is here to [...]
Windows Phones users were left behind in the race to get WhatsApp’s most coveted feature. They were disappointed when WhatsApp introduced the voice-calling feature for Android and iOS users in April. Today, they can celebrate as the popular messaging app has enabled voice-calling for devices supporting Windows 8 and above.
WhatsApp first introduced the voice-calling feature in March for Android users. In April, the feature was rolled out in an update for iOS users.
Voice-calling will be made available in the version 2.12.60. The feature [...]
Catching up with the ground-breaking innovations of Google and Apple, Microsoft updated its latest Windows OS with the delayed but functional voice assistant Cortana. Windows’ personal virtual companion was rightly named after the fictional character of Halo game series as it had similar personality traits like intelligence and wittiness. But recently, Microsoft made an announcement that dilutes the exclusive rights of Windows Phone users. The Redmond-based tech behemoth launched an app called ‘Phone Companion’ that will make Cortana and many other apps privileged to Windows Phone users across platforms. It means users will soon be able [...]
Android phones were the only devices that were left for Office apps. Following the roll out of Office preview apps for iPhone, Windows Phone and Android tablets, Microsoft has today launched Word, Excel and Powerpoint apps for Android devices. This release will only see the beta, or preview version available. Microsoft said in its statement:
The Office for Android phone apps are modern, optimised for touch and designed to work on the go.
Users will be able to create, open, save files from their Android devices and access them through services like OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox and Google Drive. Collaboration [...]
Microsoft is steadily pushing itself in the affordable section of the Indian smartphone market. After announcing the Lumia 540 in April, the company launched the smartphone in India today with a price tag of Rs. 10,199.
Throwing some light on the specifications of the device – the Lumia 540 Dual SIM sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels and a pixel density of 294ppi. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, coupled with 1 GB RAM. It has 8 GB of internal storage and can be expanded up to a heavy 128 GB. The camera optics include an 8MP rear camera with a LED [...]
Keeping its promise, Microsoft today launched its cheapest Lumia handset, Lumia 430 in India. The phone was unveiled back in March at a price tag of $70. The Dual-SIM device is up for grabs in the country starting today at a considerably low price of Rs. 5,299.
The Redmond-based has secured a space for itself in the budget segment with the release of Lumia 430. It has an edge over entry-level Android devices with an option to Windows 10 upgrade; when it releases later this year. The device comes pre-installed with apps like Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote), Outlook, Skype and [...]
Microsoft has been proactively working to expand its smartphone product portfolio in the Indian market. The company has launched two new devices in the country, the Lumia 640 and 640 XL.
Lumia 640 sports a 5.0 inch, 720 x 1280 pixel display with a pixel density of 294 ppi. It is powered by a Quad-core 1.2 Ghz, Snapdragon 400 processor along with 1 GB RAM. It offers 8 GB RAM that is expandable up to 128 GB. It runs Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim and will be updated to Windows 10 when the new OS is launched. The phone is juiced up by a 2500 mAh battery. It offers an 8 MP main camera and a 1 MP selfie shooter on the front.
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Smartphones have become an even essential part of our lives. With the addition of payment systems, smartphones will soon take over the role of your wallet. While Samsung and Apple have already introduced their payment systems, other manufacturers are joining in. Microsoft, the makers of Windows Phone devices, have also announced that they will be unveiling their payment system soon.
Microsoft had showcased a tap to pay feature on its devices at a conference for Windows hardware makers in China. It was said then that this feature would not require support from the network operators. Just like Samsung and Apple Pay, this [...]
Android users of WhatsApp are elated to find the voice calling feature of the messaging app has finally come to their devices. At its recent developers conference, it was announced that the voice calling feature might be available for the iOS ecosystem soon. This lead many Windows Phone users to ask whether they’ll be getting the feature soon. Well looks like the Facebook owned messaging giant now has good news for its Windows users.
WhatsApp has confirmed that the voice calling feature is in its developmental stage. This was revealed when one Windows user inquired about the arrival of the feature on their devices.
There is no timeframe mentioned as of yet for the [...]
Microsoft yesterday launched the Lumia 532 in India targeted at the affordable segment of the market. The phone runs on Windows Phone 8.1 OS and will be getting the Windows 10 update. Microsoft launched the devices with multiple offers like data connection and premium access to Truecaller for six months. But what has it really got to offer for its price tag of Rs.6,499, let’s have a look.
The Lumia 532 comes from the Nokia inventory of devices that now feature a Microsoft logo. The phone is fairly fast and responsive. It features a 1 GB RAM and a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 processor. You get a 5 MP shooter at [...]
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