Microsoft's Joe Belfiore wore a Windows 10 shirt written in binary during the Build 2015 keynote. What did it say? As it turns out, there are four messages. Here they are...
One of the biggest new features of Windows 10 for phone – and the last feature to be announced before RTM – is Continuum. Revealed at Build this week, the new tech lets users adopt two modes for their phone and a second display. For instance, you can use your phone as a remote mouse and keyboard for the second screen. However, other operating systems can already do such things. The...
Microsoft's Build 2015 conference wrapped up yesterday. As usual, there is a massive amount of news that came out of the three-day developer event. To wrap things up and put it all into perspective, Windows Weekly on TWiT.tv did its annual Build wrap-up show, with a packed audience and guest lineup to break it all down. Guests included Peter Bright, Carl Franklin, Dmitry Lyalin, and...
One of the big news stories to come out of Build 2015 was the Objective C tools that Microsoft is introducing to welcome iOS developers to Windows 10. This is amazing news, but there's a small elephant in the room, and that's Swift. Apple announced this at its WWDC 2014 developer conference, and is the newest way that iOS developers are building apps. But that doesn't mean Microsoft has...
Microsoft's Build conference is wrapping up today, although most of the big news was announced on Wednesday. Since then, some clarifications and bits of information have been trickling in. Whether it was iOS/Android app conversion tools, Continuum for Windows 10 mobile, HoloLens or new initiatives, Microsoft had a lot to share. Do you need a recap and discussion? Tune into Windows...
Microsoft has revealed that many upcoming universal apps that are being made for Windows 10, including Uber, Viber and Shopular, will have integrated support for the company's Cortana digital assistant. Over 500 Windows Phone 8.1 apps have already added support for that platform's version of Cortana. As part of its Build 2015 developer conference announcements, Microsoft talked...
Late yesterday, some of us were able to try once again Microsoft's HoloLens here at Build 2015. This experience was my second time with the wearable holographic device, and 99 days since its announcement, Microsoft has made some significant strides. You can read about my January experience here. For one, the HoloLens device we were able to use this time was the near-finalized prototype...
Microsoft has announced during a presentation at Build 2015 that 3.7 million people have signed up for its Windows Insider Program to try out preview builds of Windows 10 for the PC and smartphone. This is yet another big increase in the number of people who have signed up to participate in the program. In late January, Microsoft said there were 2.2 million Windows Insider members,...
Earlier today at Build, Microsoft held a special gathering of media and journalists to meet with some of the Windows leadership team. The purpose of the event was less formal, and more of a chance to interact with and ask questions. As such, video and photos were discouraged. To kick off the nearly two-hour event, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore gave an introductory talk about some aspects of...
Microsoft showed off a new DirectX 12 graphics demos today during Build 2015 that showed how the new graphics API that's included in Windows 10 could be used to increase frame rates in games. Another demo showed how it can be used by a graphics engine to make a human look like she is crying realistically. The demo showed a boost in game frame rates used Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4...
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previewed the Uber add-in for Outlook during his keynote at Build 2015. You can have a closer look at how it works with a video published by Uber. With the Uber add-in for Outlook, you can set an Uber ride reminder for any calendar event. When it's time to leave for your event, Uber will send you a notification on your device. Go watch the short video....
Microsoft is showing off some new web-based coding and technologies with today's launch of Flight Arcade during Build 2015. The free-to-play flight sim is meant to show how modern browsers, such as the upcoming Microsoft Edge, can handle high-end 3D graphics. The game itself lets players take control of planes as they put them through a series of challenges. Players can earn...
Microsoft has now released the full version of their SDK tools for the Microsoft Band, allowing Windows, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android app developers to start making full-featured third-party apps for the fitness wearable. Microsoft released a preview of the SDK tools in February, but it only supported access to a limited number of the Microsoft Band's hardware and features, such...
Microsoft has posted a new video showing how simple it should be to port current Android apps to work on Windows 10, and even incorporate links to Microsoft services and features. The "bridge" between Android and Windows 10 for app developers was announced on Wednesday during Build 2015 under the code name Project Astoria. The video shows how developers can upload their Android app...
Microsoft keeps telling us its transforming, becoming something bigger and better than ever before. This past week shows that this isn't just marketing talk, and that we're ultimately the ones to benefit from this. Just before Build 2015 began, I had the privilege to sit in on a special presentation by Microsoft's General Manager of Developer Experience, Bryan Biniak. He was speaking...
Microsoft has revealed even more details about how the Windows Store will be improved for Windows 10 app developers, including support for subscription billing and better ways for consumers to find new apps. During its Build 2015 keynote on Wednesday, Microsoft talked about adding carrier billing in the store across all Windows 10 devices, along with the introduction of a Windows...
Microsoft has a lot on their plate this year with Windows 10, Phone, Surface, Cortana, and more. One of those to-do items to finish is the new Microsoft Edge Browser, formerly known as Project Spartan. The browser is coming along nicely, but like many things on Microsoft's roadmap, there is still much more to come. In a deep dive session this evening on Microsoft Edge, Microsoft's...
Today at a developer session in Build, we got to see a demo of Windows Hello. It's a biometric authentication which can provide instant access to your Windows 10 devices. Windows 10 supports three types of biometric authentication: fingerprint, face, and iris. We recorded the demo of unlocking a computer and making an app purchase by placing your face in front of the camera. Watch the...
Project Spartan is no more. Well, in name, at least. During day one of Build 2015 Microsoft finally announced the true and proper name for its all new web browser for Windows 10. And that'd be Microsoft Edge. Project Spartan had a lot of supporters when it came to its name. The Halo connection coupled with its assistant, Cortana, seemed like a great match. Microsoft decided otherwise...
Microsoft's newly announced Windows 10 compilers for Android and iOS apps have some very interesting code names, as do the tools for turning Windows desktop apps and web apps into ones that can work under the company's universal app plans for Windows 10. Microsoft's umbrella name for these tools is the Universal Windows Platform Bridges. The Android version has the code name "Project...