Android app virtualization specialists BlueStacks have announced a version of its cross-platform software support for Windows 8, adding titles created for Android phones and tablets to the Metro UI of Microsoft upcoming OS.

The new version of BlueStacks App Player software will come preloaded on some new Windows 8 PCs later in the year, the company has confirmed.

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Microsoft is testing prototypes of Kinect-enabled notebooks using motion-sensing as an interface forWindows 8, it is been revealed, ahead of what are believed to be plans to license the technology to laptop vendors.

Specially modified ASUS netbooks are being used to demonstrate the system, which builds on Microsoft freshly-announced Kinect for Windows hardware, The Daily reports the ultraportables replace the single webcam above the screen with a row of sensors that can track movement.

 

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Windows users can now enjoy the benefits of high quality video, granted they have a webcam capable of recording HD video, as well as a fast enough internet connection.

This update also finally sees the integration of group screen share, which enables sharing your screen in conference calls, rather than with just one person at a time. Group screen share is currently only available to Skype Premium members, however.

Features and improvements of Skype 5.8 for Windows are:

• Full HD video-calling

• Support for Facebook audio and video-calling (beta)

• Group screen sharing

• Hide offline Facebook contacts

• Push to Talk

• Skype updater service

• Bing Toolbar integration

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The previously rumored Google cloud storage service "Google Drive" is now official and it's launching Next week to all google users, Keep your eyes on out Google+ Page HERE to be the first to get your Google Drive account.

 

 

 

 

It is no surprise that it will roll out for free. As Google is planning to start-up this new service with 5 GB of Free storage to all its users. Of course you can buy more, but 5GB Free is better than Dropbox's 2 GB that is included with every account and its not easy to get more free space on Dropbox, unless you are an HTC user.

 

 

 

 

Just as Dropbox, Drive will be available for both PC and Mac users and have a web interface, like Dropbox, plus a close integration with Docs and Gmail. Naturally, Android and iOS apps will be available at launch as well, which is firmly believed to happen some time next week.

 

 

 

 

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Not only is a Windows Phone Skype app incoming, but Microsoft will "further integrate" the VoIP service into future versions of its smartphone OS, according to Skype CEO Tony Bates. Details on the nature of the deeper integration are still unclear, though the assumption is that just as Android allows outgoing and incoming calls to be routed over either traditional mobile networks or via VoIP Windows Phone will give users the option to choose the cheapest route for their calls, as well as presumably sync Skype contacts with the handset address book and show presence status.

 

Microsoft acquired Skype back in October, at the time promising a "ubiquity of the Skype experience" and reassuring users that "communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus." At the time, that was seen as a commitment to maintaining versions of Skype for Mac, Android, iOS and other platforms.

Interview Video Below!

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Up until this week, Google Calendar and Windows Phone did not play together nicely. You could only sync one Google calendar per account and had to use a JavaScript hack to sync more. Wekll, those days are gone now that Google updated its Sync product to let Windows Phone users select multiple Google calendars. Customers with a Windows Phone can navigate to m.google.com/sync on their phone and setup the calendars they want yo sync. Besides Calendar Sync, Google also lets you configure which addresses you want to send mail as if you use custom addresses in Gmail.

Google Official Press Release:

We launched a few new features on Google Sync for our Windows Phone (7.5+) users. Multiple Calendars is a feature that lets you select which of your Google Calendars are synced to your device. Just navigate to m.google.com/sync on your phone's browser and configure the calendars you would like to see. From that page, you can also configure which addresses you send mail as if you have custom addresses in Gmail. We've also improved search to look beyond the conversations that are stored locally on your device so that you are able to find more of your conversations, faster.

 

 

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Microsoft Windows Phone Tango update is the rumored codename for the next version of Windows Phone OS. Previous reports suggested that the update is designed to drive down the cost of manufacturing Windows Phones, but how does Microsoft plan to achieve this? We have heard that Microsoft biggest work with Tango is reducing the RAM requirement for Windows Phone. We have been informed, but cannot immediately verify, that Microsoft will actively support just 256MB RAM, from the standard 512MB found in today devices. Although this is a current hardware requirement, most devices use 512MB of RAM.

A leaked Windows Phone roadmap showed that Tango will arrive in Q2 of 2012, a date range that appears to be accurate. Coupled with Microsoft plans to allow OEMs to support new chipsets, and the alleged 256MB memory requirement. There will be more details on Windows Phone updates at Mobile World Congress next month in Barcelona.

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Angry Birds Space released yesterday for all Mobile platforms and desktops too, along with a WEB version of the game too... but Windows Phone users did not get the game on their store and they wondering if rovio, eveloper of Angrybirds games, will ever release a version for WP Plt.

Today, Rovio CEO Mikael Hed confirmed that a Windows Phone version of the latest Angry Birds game is in the works, with no further details or date provided we can only wait for it!

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The LG Miracle Windows Phone 7.5 is by now no secret to anyone who follows tech blogs even from time to time, since it is been leaking like a rusty pipe in the last couple of days, but now we even have another video of its pre-production version, thanks to the guy who bought it from a tester.

Said to feature a 4-inch NOVA display with the obligatory WVGA resolution, 1GHz Snapdragon, NFC-support and 5MP rear camera, it is apparently not meant to wow us with specs, but rather positioning itself for the affordable category.

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Nokia has just announced the Lumia 800 and 710 Windows Phone-based smartphones. As usual, Nokia has prepared extensive marketing materials on their new devices and video will obviously be an important part of the Lumia advertising campaign.

Videos Below!

 

 

 

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Windows 8 is shaping up to be the best OS Microsoft has had in years, but limitations around ARM-based tablets and concerns over x86-based model pricing could sour the platform launch later this year. Microsoft has mandated that ARM Windows 8 machines expected to be the bulk of low-cost Windows 8 tablets must have their Secure Boot system locked down, ComputerWorld reports or in order words users must not be allowed to load non-Windows platforms onto ARM hardware.

According to a document titled Windows Hardware Certification Requirements, which Microsoft released last month, the company confirms that it is up to manufacturers as to whether Secure Boot is locked down or not. For x86-powered PCs, notebooks and tablets, OEMs are free to decide which way to leave the settings

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Windows 8 tablets will be put through the same strict regime as Windows Phone 7 devices as to what hardware goes in them and what OEMs are allowed to put. This was to be expected from Redmond, as the company has set a goal to keep solid user experience across its different devices. Interestingly enough, Microsoft seems to be allowing both tablets and convertibles to run its tablet version of Windows 8.

Requirements

Tablets running Windows 8 are reuired to have five hardware buttons: power, rotation lock, Windows Key, volume up, volume down. Note that the back, search and camera buttons from Windows Phone 7 are not included in the specs. For the Displays, the minimum native resolution required is 1366 x 768 at a depth of 32bits. Microsoft oblige OEMs to make the dimensions of the display panel to match the aspect ratio of the native resolution. However, the native resolution of the display panel can be greater than 1366 x 768 so we can Expect a Full HD 1080p Tablets to come soon enough.

Other requirement includes at least 10GB of space to be at the user disposal as well as WLAN, Bluetooth 4.0, Direct3D 10 GPU w/ WDDM 1.2 driver, camera capable of shooting 720p videos and all kinds of sensors including a light sensor, magetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, Also USB 2.0 and stereo speakers are required.

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Multiple sources have reported seeing impressive demos of Windows 8 running on high-profile devices from key manufacturers already and the word is developers are expected to receive a stable build of Windows 8 suitable for ARM architecture come February.

"In October of last year, it [Windows 8 on ARM] scared the industry because it was unstable. But what we are seeing now is quite stable," one industry insider told the team at CNET. "We have not heard this directly from Microsoft, but we have heard this from the hardware partners that [Microsoft] is working with. We've been promised something in the February time frame."

There are a number of key reasons why bringing Windows 8 to ARM is so significant. For one, Windows 8 using ARM architecture would be far less costly than with an Intel equivalent. An Intel-based Windows 8 device showcased at CES this year, would have been considerably cheaper as a cosmetically identical ARM-based unit.

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Windows 8 now has a specific launch date for the Consumer Preview version of Microsoft next PC operating system. Today, Business Insider reports that media invites have been sent out revealing that that the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, also known as the Windows 8 beta version, will be launched on Wednesday, February 29. The company is launching the beta version as part of its activities for the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, which is being held from February 27 to March 1.

The actual launch will be part of a press event for the Mobile World Congress which will be held from 3-5 pm on February 29. It is likely that Microsoft will be making some additional announcements at the event that will related to its Windows Phone business.

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We know that Nokia Lumia 800 had battery related issues and Nokia investigation revealed that they were caused by a software glitched. They promised a fix for early this year and they just delivered on that promise.

The update is ready and it starts rolling out today. Nokia say the update is happening in stages over the next two weeks half of the Lumia 800s will get it this week and the other half are getting it next week.

Battery fix aside, the update (version 1600.2483.8106.11500) also includes some Wi-Fi connectivity enhancements.

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Late last month we reported on a rumor that said Nokia was going to introduce two new color variants of the Lumia 800. A French website said that white and yellow will soon join the existing color choices: black, cyan (blue), and magenta (pink).

What they failed to say was when those color variants would launch and in which markets. Now thanks to XDA Developer forum member, who was "playing with my app that browses nokia firmwares", we now know that Nokia plans on brining a white Lumia 800 to Switzerland. Also in his firmware app are indicators that there are several different models of the Lumia 800: versions 1 for example exists in Spain, France, and the UK, which are the first markets that got the device; version 2 is in Ireland, Norway, and Taiwan, and version 3 is in Singapore and Hong Kong.

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We know that the next version of Windows Phone codenamed Tango, will reduce the hardware requirements of the OS so that it could run on devices with slower and cheaper hardware.

Now, Microsoft has announced that Tango will have support for additional languages as well. This is necessary for Microsoft if it intends to sell Windows Phone devices in as many locations as possible. Mango currently supports 35 different languages but Tango is expected to take that number to 120.

Microsoft has also said that with the next release, developers will be able to develop apps and games for the OS using C++, although it is unclear whether next release refers to the next version of the OS or the SDK.

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The powerful messaging integration is one of the best features of Windows Phone and an alleged screenshot from the upcoming Tango update shows Skype and Google Plus integration into the messenger hub.

After Microsoft acquisition of Skype, it was pretty clear that we will see Skype added to WP7 arsenal but everyone expected that it will take until the next major version, Apollo, before it appears. This screenshot shows that the integration will happen sooner and will add Google social network to the mix.

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Facebook has Officially launched "Messanger for Windows" the first official Facebook Messenger client for Desktops PCs, Not just for chatting but also for Messaging, Sending files and see Notifications without a need of any browser.

In fact, after the client leaked back in December, Zuck and Co. unceremoniously dumped the executable on the web, opened up the help page and did so without any info about the App back then.

Now the program is getting a proper launch, complete with a landing page and a press release. There is not much here to shock or surprise Messenger for Windows allows you to chat with your Facebook friends in a simple tabbed interface, check your news feed and delivers notifications to your desktop.

 

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Massenger for Windows [Download]

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