Tag: Microsoft

Nokia Lumia 735 review

Nokia would like as many people as possible to get a Windows Phone in their hands and enjoy the experience. In fact Microsoft would also like that as it helps build out their platform even further, which is why the two companies working together under the Microsoft brand going …

Would you buy a phone with “Microsoft” on the front?

Here’s a question for your Friday morning. Imagine yourself in a mobile phone shop. To your right there’s a stack of iPhones with the instantly-recognisable Apple logo. To your left, some Galaxy handsets with the Samsung branding. Then, in the centre, a phone with this written on top.. …

Nokia. Thank you for the memories.

Bear with me here, because I’m in a rather strange mood after listening to a pirate radio DJ shouting “Oh my days” several times this morning and “Oi Oi” quite a lot. I think it’s gone to my head. Nokia, as you’ll know already, is dead. We all …

Windows Phone on the cheap from a company we’ve never heard of

Budget Windows phones have previously performed pretty well for Microsoft and now there’s a phone company called “BLU” selling cheap Windows Phone devices (or Windows phones as I guess we have to call them now) on Amazon. The first device is called the “Win HD” and has 1GB …

Hands on with the Lumia 930 camera

A decent camera is something most of us want, myself included. Let’s not forget that we used to use small 5 megapixel lenses that would never be able to replace a point and shoot camera. Thankfully Nokia were one company who decided to focus on this area, no …

Microsoft continues killing off Nokia name

It seems that Microsoft have started the process of moving the business and branding from Nokia to Microsoft directly. If you head over to Nokia’s UK website you now get redirected to Microsoft’s own website. This doesn’t come as a complete surprise, there have been rumours that new …

Lumia 930 free wireless kit offer back on

For those who are happy to forsake the Glance and Micro-SD features on the soon-to-be-available Lumia 830, the superior-specced (is this a word?) Lumia 930 has had a price drop and the offer of a free wireless kit revitalised.  When it was first released in the summer those …

Goodbye Nokia.

I’m always banging on about it, but brand is a major fact when people are buying a phone. Buy an iPhone and the Apple logo on the back is part of what you’re after. Say “Nokia” to someone and, unfortunately, a lot of people will think of something …

Lumia 730 and 735 Launched. Can I take a selfie?

Two additional Lumia handsets have just been launched by Microsoft – the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735. They are, to quote the PR people, “Built for Skype and selfies”. If you’re into that, these might be for you. So, to Skype and take snaps of yourself …

Windows 9 anyone?

Microsoft has made no secret of the fact that, in the future, it is aiming for a unified OS, be it for phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.  Windows 9, or ‘Threshold’ as it is being referred to, is widely expected to be shown off to the world at a …

Free PCs with new TalkTalk broadband package

Here are some thrilling clichés: Everyone loves something for free; If it looks too good to be true it probably is. Microsoft and TalkTalk have signed a deal for customers taking out a new subscription to ‘Simply Broadband’ package.  For the princely sum of £217.40 for the year …

Microsoft Surface 2 price reduction at Tesco

  One of the great things about supermarkets nowadays is that you might simply pop in with the intention of buying a pint of milk and some scampi fries, but you can easily leave having spent lots of money on electronic bargains.  Case in point, Tesco has reduced the …

New Nokia Lumia 830 to Microsoft Mobile branded

It has been rumoured for a while that we would see the Lumia 830 at IFA on September 4th, along with a 730. Along with what specs the phone will have, there was also a few rumours flying around as to what sort of branding the phone would …

Can surface keep up with the changing Microsoft?

Surface… No longer is it the large boardroom/restaurant table. It’s that small tablet sized computer we now hold in our hands. Ever since it launched it has been something you either love or hate and sadly it may not survive too much longer if Microsoft continues the way …

Microsoft begin Nokia bloodbath

With the name “Nokia” now forever connected to Windows Phone, Microsoft are having to make some pretty big decisions. One of the first is to layoff a massive 12,500 staffers from the Nokia team. Yes, 12,500. The cuts from the mobile business form the bulk of the 18,000 …

The next Microsoft Android phone is apparently coming soon

Remember the fuss about a Nokia phone running Android? Is it still one of your deepest darkest desires? Well it looks like Microsoft are actually going to release another Android phone, again for emerging markets and again with a pretty basic spec. So no Android version of the …

Got an iPhone? Get ready for Bing

In a move announced at the Apple WWDC yesterday,  a search engine known as “Bing” looks set to become the default search system for iPhone users. Apple seem to be further distancing themselves from Google and, after ditching Google Maps, Apple will get into bed with Microsoft instead. …

Nokia and Lumia names to continue

With Microsoft about to complete the deal to purchase the Nokia handset division, there was a lot of speculation. Would we then see the end of the Nokia or Lumia brand on future phones or will these become Microsoft products? However, the good news for Nokia fans around …

Microsoft giving free Nokia Lumia phones to Android and iOS owners

Microsoft isn’t a company that uses subtle marketing techniques, their ham-fisted Scroogled campaign has lost them a lot of respect, so this time their giving people phones in order to get them to switch from Android or iOS to the Windows Phone platform. The deal is that if …

Nokia Normandy could this be the replacement for the Asha range?

So. over the last few weeks the interwebs have been getting in all sorts of a muddle over a phone called the Nokia Normandy. This phone is purportedly Nokia’s Android handset. What? Nokia running Android? Yep, you read that right. It is believed that the boys and girls …

Rumour – Microsoft considering free Windows Phone version

Windows Phone, as an OS, has a cost attached to it. It’s an actual financial cost that needs to be paid by manufacturers who use the mobile OS. Trouble is, Microsoft have just bought the phone-making side of Nokia, and guess who provided the bulk of their Windows …

Analyst – Microsoft rake in $2 billion a year from Android

We’re never overly keen on “analysts” who “estimate” figures, but we’ve known for quite some time that Microsoft have been making a good return from patent royalties. Put simply, Google have to pay Microsoft a fee for every Android handset because of Microsoft patents used in the OS. …

Show me yours and I’ll show you mine. It’s 27 feet wide

Y’know, some people think I’m bonkers, but I just think I’m free. I’m just living my life, there’s nothing crazy about me. Now I’ve given you a personal insight into my life, come and have a look at my 27 foot-wide Windows Tablet. I wake up everyday, it’s …

Windows Phone Update 3 Improvements revealed

With the Windows Phone sales share figure rising (at least, according to Kantar) and more than 175,000 apps now available, things are looking a little better for Windows Phone. Update 3, as it’s now known, has a number of improvements. Not only that, but there’s a developer preview …

Microsoft gift cards incoming?

Microsoft have long sold access to their Xbox Live service in the form of cards available at many retail outlets but until now Windows Phone users have been unable to make purchases in the same number of ways that iTunes and Google Play users currently can. This however …

HTC and Microsoft discuss handsets

It is no secret that HTC are struggling, they recently revealed that have made a loss for the first time ever and the leaks and rumours only really point to one device that is rather underwhelming (One Max). So what do they do next? Android just isn’t working …

Microsoft announce the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

The mobile world has been a busy place today with announcements all over the globe. It started in Korea with LG, moved to London with Tesco, onto China with Oppo and finally on to New York for Microsoft. Microsoft have announced today the latest in its Surface range …

No more Skype updates for Windows Phone 7

Got one of those old-fashioned Windows Phone 7 devices? Yes. I know. They’re not old. Microsoft, however, is ending support for their very own Skype app on the OS. Sure, the product will still be available, but it won’t be updated. Windows Phone 7 users probably won’t be …

Nokia Lumia 1020 – Unboxing

A nice package arrived via DHL this morning, it contained a handset I have been VERY excited about getting hands on time with away from a promotional stand or dark room. That is of course the Lumia 1020 complete with massive 41 megapixel camera! Nokia also posted it …

Microsoft come out fighting – Lumia 1020 vs iPhone 5s

So, as we mentioned yesterday, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is being offered by various companies and they’re falling over themselves to tell us about their particular deal. Clove are selling it for £588 SIM-free and you’ll get a free wireless charging pad, wireless charging cover, camera grip and …

NokiaSoft – A new chapter

Yes, it’s happening. It makes sense and it’s something that critics always told us was the game plan… “Microsoft just sent Elop in to trash Nokia so that they can buy them on the cheap in a few years time”, they said. However, even the biggest supporters started …

Ballmer to retire

Steve Ballmer, top dog at Microsoft, is set to retire. Over the years Steve has been more than just the CEO, he’s been a rather vocal and infamous figurehead who doesn’t shy away from the limelight. His retirement date is set to be sometime within the next 12 …

Microsoft re-release that nice YouTube app for Windows Phone

A few months ago Microsoft released a really good YouTube app, it had some great features including blocking adverts and downloading videos. Google didn’t like it though and made Microsoft withdraw it, which they did and last night they re-released it. They sort of did anyway, as there …

Sky kills off SkyDrive. Send in your name suggestions!

Here in lovely Britain you can walk down any high street, past the rows of empty shops and then into a massive out-of-town shopping centre. In said shopping centre, where the parking is free and there’s actual people, you can ask anyone about “Sky” and they’ll instantly know …

Microsoft update OneNote and Skype for Android

Microsoft had a busy day yesterday, not only did they push out an update for the  Windows Phone Facebook app, they also published a completely redesigned version of OneNote and Skype for Android. Both apps continuing there distinctly Windows Phone feel. OneNote What’s new in this version: * …

HTC, Sprint and Microsoft join forces – The HTC 8XT

HTC look to have taken some parts from their excellent Android-powered HTC One here. Meet the 8XT. It’s powered by Windows Phone 8 but has dual front-facing stereo speakers, Beats Audio and BoomSound technology like the HTC One. Available from “later this summer” it’ll go for just $99.99 …