The idea of a Chromium based Edge probably came from Mobile

When Microsoft announced a new browser replacing the clunky Internet Explorer with a refreshed, lightweight and modern browser, the industry had a lot of expectation from the new browser, Microsoft Edge. Though, what followed was a release of a half baked browser with the initial version of Windows 10. The blue logo with "e" didn't help with the visual cues for user as well. That combining with the lack of extension and customization, Microsoft had a browser which needed some serious attention.

It's been three plus years since that happened, Microsoft has been refining Edge and adding new features to it but rather slowly as compared to the competition. The updates came with the major Windows 10 updates, that happened at irregular points of time before Microsoft decided to stick to two releases from last year. Extension support came almost after one year and the selection is still limited. Meanwhile, the demise of Windows 10 Mobile relieved the Edge team of updating it's mobile browser but Microsoft knew they had to keep their browser relevant to users, only way to achieve that was to release the browser to other mobile platforms. Hence they released Edge for iOS and Android, only this time, the browser was based on the web engine supported in the platforms, WebKit for iOS and Blink for Android.

Windows 10 Build 14390 is available for PC and Mobile.

Hello Insiders, we have a new build waiting for us to test. Just like the previous builds, this one too concentrates on fixing those last of few bugs remaining in Anniversary update. We might very well get the RTM as soon as next week which will then be followed by small cumulative updates in order to make the Anniversary update available on August 2 worldwide for the general public.

Microsoft has fixed several bugs, significant ones include Improved Battery Life on Windows phones and overall polish and performance. Amazon assistant is a new extension available for Microsoft Edge. This build takes us almost there!

Improvements and fixes for PC

• You should no longer see the error code 0x80004005 when enabling Developer Mode on the “For Developers” Settings page if your PC is using a non-EN-US language.

Known issues for PC

• AWARENESS: A recent fix went into place for the Hyper-V firmware that will that affect the ability to boot Windows Server 2016 Tech Preview 5 VMs with Secure Boot enabled. A fix for TP5 builds has been developed however, due to release schedules, the Insider Preview build changes will be released before the TP5 fix is released. During that time, if you try to boot a new TP5 VM with Secure Boot enabled, it will fail. The workaround is to disable Secure Boot during this period.

Windows 10 Build 14383 is available for PC and Mobile.

Microsoft has just released a new build to insiders in the fast ring. Windows 10 build 14383 as expected brings a lots of fixes as the anniversary update is nearly done and set to be released on August 2 for both PC and Mobile devices. Microsoft will continue to release builds mostly with fixes this month. Key fixes include improved accessibility to Extensions in Store and battery life in mobile ( Yay!).

Improvements and fixes for PC

• The link to “Get more extensions from the Store” under the Extensions pane in Microsoft Edge now takes you directly to the Store to download available extensions.
• We have changed the keyboard shortcut to invoke Cortana in listening mode to Win + Shift + C based on feedback from Insiders experiencing a large number of unintended activations of Cortana while in listening mode. Speaking “Hey Cortana”, when enabled in Cortana Settings, continues to invoke Cortana in listening mode as it always has.
• Going forward from this build, updates to the Quick Action area of Action Center will be preserved across upgrades.
• We fixed an issue where disconnecting the Surface Book from an external monitor set as primary might result in the Surface Book screen showing in portrait rather than landscape until having detached and reattached the screen.
• We fixed an issue where the Settings app was showing media controls in the taskbar preview window.
• We fixed an issue where dragging the file comparison or manage library dialogs between two monitors with different DPIs would result in the dialog content no longer displaying correctly
• We fixed an issue where the checkmark used to indicate a selected state in app bar toggle buttons wasn’t visible in high contrast, for example in the Photos menu under “…”.
• We fixed an issue where connecting to a PC using Remote Desktop when a maximized window is immediately behind the Remote Desktop dialog would result in the subsequent the Credential UI window being displayed behind the maximized window.
• We fixed an issue where, with certain monitor configurations, Explorer.exe would hang after a tooltip is displaying.

The top 3 YouTube apps for Windows 10 devices

"What !? Windows 10 doesn't have a official YouTube app?" This is something I have heard from my friends, specially in the case of Windows 10 Mobile. For the record, Windows (phone) never had a official YouTube app. Thank Google for that. But that doesn't mean that there is no way to access YouTube. You can do so using your web browser to access the mobile site for occasional browsing and watching videos. This won't suffice if you want save videos offline, get notification from your favorite channels and other advanced features which you can find in the official YouTube app in other platforms.

Fortunately, there are several beautiful third party apps that are equivalent to the official apps. Here is a list of such apps.

1) Tubecast

Multitasking : A video running in the bottom left corner while browsing other videos.

Tubecast is one of the finest and full featured YouTube client that you will ever find in Windows. The interface is clean and slick. You can log in using your Google account and bring your favorite channels at the finger tips. You can also comment in a video without leaving the screen and the app supports swipe gestures making navigation a breeze in touch enabled devices. Offline videos (Preload) are supported and you can choose between SQ,HQ or HD for saving that video. It has a live tile and supports push notifications to keep you updated.

Microsoft Edge will become my primary browser but WHY ?

If you have been following me for a long time, you probably know that Chrome has been my browser of choice since I started blogging but that is about to change for several *good* reasons. With the recent tests and improvements made to Edge, it is time to reconsider the options available in the market.

What's wrong with Chrome ?

Chrome once represented what a modern browser should be. Be it the extensions and themes support or the simplicity of it's UI combined with good performance kept me hooked to it for a long time in my desktop. It still has all these features with Sync using Google account being a very useful feature for Android users.

WhatsApp for PC : Hands on and the (im)possibility of UWP app

WhatsApp announced their desktop apps for PC and Mac, which is nothing more than a web wrap of WhatsApp Web but with notifications directly in your computer.

Opening the app presents you with the same UI that you find in WhatsApp Web. The login process is also similar, you open WhatsApp in your phone and scan the QR code, voila ! All your chats are synced to your desktop.

The application has a set of options in the menu bar. Under WhatsApp menu you have "new chat", "new group", "Profile status" and "Log out" which are pretty obvious and useful. The "+" sign also allows you to start a new chat with your contacts.

Windows 10 Build 10586.318 available for PC and Mobile devices. Full changelog

Microsoft has released this month's cumulative update for both smartphones and PC's running Windows 10. The update pushes the build number to 10586.318 and it is available for Windows Insiders in Release Preview Ring and to devices running Windows 10 officially. As it is another cumulative update, there is no new features added but there is a good amount of bug fixes for the two platforms. Here are the changes

Windows 10 PC

• Improved reliability in a number of areas including Cortana, Bluetooth, Shell, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, Miracast, and USB.
• Fixed memory leak that occurs when opening a portable document format (PDF) form multiple times.
• Fixed issues with text alignment for right to left languages in Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge.
• Fixed issue that affected Bluetooth function when a PC resumes from sleep.
• Fixed issue where user accounts weren't locked out after a number of failed sign in attempts.
• Fixed issue with revised daylight saving time.
• Fixed issue that sometimes corrupts CompactFlash cards inserted into a card reader.
• Fixed additional security issues with kernel mode drivers, remote procedure calls, the Microsoft Graphics Component, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, Windows Shell, Windows Journal, Virtual Secure Mode, Schannel, and Jscript.
  

Windows 10 costs upto $199 after the offer ends, Upgrade now !

Microsoft has confirmed that the free upgrade to Windows 10 will be ending on July 29 as it was announced last year during the launch. As of now 300 million devices are in Windows 10 and Microsoft plans to get on 1 billion devices to Windows 10 in the next few years, for this target. free upgrade is supposed to act as a catalyst to the growth of the new platform. With less than three months remaining for the offer, the pricing of Windows 10 has reached the internet.

Here is the how the pricing of Windows 10 looks like after the offer ends

After July 29, 2016

Windows 10 Home: $119.99

Windows 10 Pro: $199.99

The pricing is very similar to how Microsoft priced their previous generation operating systems. Even the retail editions of Windows 10 which are available for purchase in Microsoft Store lists the same pricing. So it is pretty obvious that Microsoft would not change the pricing. In case you are wondering what are the differences between Home and Pro editions, you can find them here.

Microsoft has been very committed to actively update Windows 10 with new features and reliability updates. November update ( aka TH2 or build 10586) brought a plethora of improvements over the initial version such as improved snapping,colored title bars and more optimizations to the overall performance and reliability.

[Updated] Unlisted changes and issues in Windows 10 Mobile 14327

Microsoft dropped a new build earlier today for Fast ring Insiders for their mobiles, Windows 10 Mobile build 14327 comes with a couple of noteworthy features with messaging and availability of Cortana in new languages. The build packs a quite a bunch of bug fixes, importantly the app launch issue from start screen and apps list. You can find them here.

Now let's jump into the unlisted bugs and changes in the build.

1) Battery settings gets a better UI.

  Battery saver settings were merged under a single screen in the last build, this build further polishes the UI, the remaining percentage is shown in bigger font with the estimated time remaining under it. Also you can now find a quick link to battery saving tips in the bottom of the settings screen. I personally feel that battery life is a little bit improved over the previous build.

2) Store now shows notification for app updates and app installs. 

Lumia 650, Tip of the ice berg ?

Microsoft's latest Lumia has been under the scanner from last week for its fantastic design and also for its lower than expected internals. So why ? Why has Microsoft kept the specifications of their Windows 10 mid ranger below expectations ? There is one answer, Windows 10!

Microsoft has been trying to boost the market share of Windows phone since it bought Nokia, they've been releasing low end phones back to back but the consumer interest remained the same. Even though the low end Lumias pack enough power to provide exceptional value for money, unfortunately they never took off. Of course devices like Lumia 640,535 & 540 were hit in the Asian and European markets.

Halting Android Windows Bridge (Astoria) makes sense!

I know most of the people who follow Microsoft closely were elated when they announced Project Astoria in BUILD conference, a Windows Bridge for porting Android apps. That meant that the app gap will finally be covered as developers would find it easy to bring their apps to Windows (Phone) Platform. Microsoft even went ahead and set core of Windows 10 Mobile to run Android apps via side-loading!

 

But then it happened, Microsoft slowly back tracked the progress of this specific bridge and remained tight lipped for what seemed to be a very long time until recently. They removed the core components of Android subsystems with newer builds and I think that was because it had significant impact on performance the OS. I had always wondered how Microsoft could bring Android apps without the well known problem of Android, performance!

Windows Update MiniTool lets you control Windows Updates in Windows 10

If there is one thing that most power users regret over upgrading to Windows 10 is, it will be the lack of controlling Windows Updates as they could do in the previous versions of Windows. Windows 10 Home is set to automatic updates while the Windows 10 Pro offers a little more control by deferring the updates for few months. Also I personally find the new Windows Update lacking a lot of information, importantly the size of updates is a big deal for me as it would help to calculate the required time for the process. This is where Windows Update MiniTool comes as a handy solution.

The tool provides the necessary details and goes beyond the basics by providing granular control over how Updates are installed in your PC. You can actually select any of the given modes such as Download only,Notification mode, Schedule or Disable it completely though it is not recommended to do so.

How to set a custom search Engine as default in Microsoft Edge Mobile

If you're using the latest build of Windows 10 Mobile preview ( Build 10581),then you all know that the default search engine in Microsoft Edge is Bing and there is no way to change it. But you can change it with a couple of changes.

Follow the steps to set the search engine of your choice. In the below example, I will set Google as the default one.

By default Bing is the only search engine in Edge

1) Navigate to www.google.com

2) Now Open settings in Edge browser and set the website preference to "Desktop".

Windows 10 event : Watch it live !

So the big day for Microsoft is here. Today's Windows 10 event will mark the official announcement of many new devices from Microsoft with Windows 10 Mobile being one of the important announcements and yes, we are getting the Windows flagships after a long time, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.

What to expect : 

Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL 

Microsoft has already confirmed these devices. Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL are bound to arrive with 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch display, respectively, both boasting QHD resolution. The larger model takes advantage of a Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, while the smaller one relies on a Snapdragon 808 processor with the same amount of RAM and storage. The Lumia 950 XL works with a 3,300mAh battery, while the Lumia 950 has a smaller 3,000mAh battery. Both the models will have expandable storage with a Micro SD card slot supporting upto 128GB.

Lumia 950

Lumia 950 XL

They share a 5MP front shooter with Iris scanner for Windows Hello and 20 MP PureView rear camera with triple LED flash.Both these devices will feature Continuum and have USB type C connectors for quick charging and wireless charging is included.

Nearly 700,000 apps in Windows Store !

Windows 10 is having a successful run across the globe despite the privacy problems. Softpedia reports that Microsoft has stated that there are 669,000 apps available for download in Windows Store. This includes mobiles,tablets and PC's combined and it is not clear on how many of them are Universal apps.

It is interesting to see the growth rate of Windows 10 and Apps, definitely there is a increase in interest from the developers to bring their apps to Windows Store as it has the potential to reach millions of people using Windows in devices with different form factors, all with a single code. Also the report states that the number of apps is rapidly growing as hundreds of apps are added each day. Even though it sounds quite positive, Microsoft should make sure that the quality of the apps is maintained as the numbers make no sense when the apps are just clones or fake. They have already faced this scenario with Windows 8.x and with Windows 10 in 75 million devices already and still rolling out to millions of people coming from Windows 7, Microsoft should take care of this issue seriously.

Getting Windows 10 ISO? A small tip for you people

Windows 10 is everywhere! Running on more than 18 million PC's within few days of the launch is a very impressive record and all credits go to  Microsoft for that. But sometimes, the upgrade doesn't go well or you may need to upgrade multiple PC's for which the Windows Update mechanism turns out to be painfully slow and uses lot of your data. Most of you must have come across the Windows 10 media creation tool which will let you download the Image file and use it in other PC's but still I find that tool lacks the capability of pausing and resuming the download.

I found this new trick when I was browsing the Download Windows 10 page in Lumia 535, the website showed direct links to the ISO files rather than showing Windows 10 Media Creation tool which makes downloading Windows 10 ISO via a download manager like Internet Download Manager which can help in managing the download flexibly with ability to pause and continue whenever you want to.

Watch Windows 10 Unveiling and system requirements

For Windows watchers out there, Microsoft has released a recording of the media briefing which happened yesterday in San Francisco in which Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 technical preview.

You can watch the full video from here

Windows 10 represents a major change over for Microsoft as it can run all forms of devices ranging from Phone to 80" screens. Windows 10 provides the best experience based on which device you are using. For instance,if you are rocking a Windows Phone you are going to have the familiar start screen and apps and if you are using Windows 10 in a PC then you are going to get the new start menu which will replace the Start screen. The thing is that there will only one app store which means that you can have all your apps in any of the device powered by Windows. You can read more about the new features of Windows 10 from here.

Windows 10 will run in the same hardware as Windows 8.1 runs which means that users can easily deploy Windows 10 when it's out.

· Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2
· RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
· Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
· Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

Windows 10 announced

Well, this is something that we have never expected. Yeah I was thinking that Mr.Terry was kidding everyone when he said that the next version of Windows will be called Windows 10 instead of Windows 9. But he was pretty sure on what he was saying and he went to talk about the new features that technical preview will bring tomorrow.

Mr.Terry Myerson and Mr.Joe Belfiore during Q/A session

Windows 10 carries the same vision that Microsoft had announced with Threshold back in April. In fact they showcased some of the important changes to Windows such as Start menu and Apps in desktops. Windows 10 brings the same to the table with a bit more refining done around the corners.Here are the new features

The Start menu looks very similar to the one showed off in build and it pretty much does the same work as it did before,you can perform a universal search right from the start menu or using the search button from the taskbar which comes handy for convertible users. When I talk about the convertibles, I get the point that Microsoft has performed a study on how users interact with convertibles and they're calling the changes they made based on the study as "Continuum", A UI that smartly adapts to how it's being used.

Start screen 2.0 or Continuum !

The next major change is that you can run Apps in the desktop just like how the traditional apps work.They can be snapped just like how you do in Windows 7.

The task view button is a new arrival in Windows 10 and it lets you to see the apps that you are running and manage them easily in a single place.

Snapping has never been so much productive, in Windows 10 you snap upto 4 apps in the desktop and work with multiple apps at the same time.

As expected, Windows 10 brings Virtual Desktops in action and they are quite useful when you are doing both home and office work in the same PC. You can keep things neat and separated in their own desktops.
Watch the video below to get a glimpse on how things work in Windows 10.

Here are some interesting things that happened in the announcement of Windows 10 "If you look at Windows 8 users on touch devices, they have higher satisfaction than those on Windows 7 devices. Windows 7 users have higher satisfaction on mouse and keyboard devices than Windows 8." "We want all these Windows 7 users to have the sentiment that yesterday they were driving a first-generation Prius... and now with Windows 10 it's like a Tesla." "In Windows 8 when users launched a modern app, it sort of had a different environment." Q: Any incentive for Windows 7 and Windows XP users to upgrade?
A: "We want to talk about the overall product family." No news on upgrade pricing, etc.
Q: You mentioned screens ranging from 4 inches to 80 inches. Is Windows 10 the next version of the phone operating system too? A: Yes. You can read more at The Verge and the official blog post. The preview site is on and check back soon to get Windows 10 technical preview !

Windows 10 : Notification center in action

It's Windows 9 everywhere. One more video from WinFuture shows us how the Notification Center in Windows 9 works.

Windows 9 is making headlines often these days and it comes with a set powerful features which will appeal the consumers to switch from older version to the latest of Windows family. The notification center is a major improvement over the notifications seen in Windows 8.1. Now you can see what happened and what is happening right from a single notifications Windows which sits in the taskbar.

It seems that all the pre-installed apps have been updated to give notifications which can be recorded in the notification center. This feature was one of the most rumored feature for Windows 9 when talks started about it.It's getting better as we talk.

Windows 9 : Virtual Desktop in action !

Want to get a taste on how Windows 9's virtual desktops work ? Here is the answer in the form of a video.

Here is a short overview, You can open up to 7 virtual desktops in total and you can run different apps in different desktops. When you have open applications in different desktops, you can hover over the desktop to see what's running inside and directly go to your application of your choice. Virtual desktops may be a bit confusing for average Joe's out there it is turning out to be a important and very useful feature for the power users in Windows 9. Windows had this feature for long enough but this the first time that this feature is built right into the core of Windows.Most of the Linux distros had this feature but implemented in a different manner, overall the native Windows implementation looks solid and easy to use.Microsoft is putting much more focus in the desktop right now and is yet to improve the Start screen and Start menu is now well integrated with Windows.

So do you think that Virtual desktops will make Windows much more easier to use and how will it help you to boost the productivity of your work ?