Saturday, February 9, 2013

Software : Microsoft seeking further unification of Windows and Windows Phone

Software : Microsoft seeking further unification of Windows and Windows Phone

Microsoft seeking further unification of Windows and Windows Phone

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Microsoft seeking further unification of Windows and Windows Phone

Microsoft is seeking a software engineer to help unify the Windows Phone and Windows 8 developer platforms, allowing apps to seamlessly work on both.

The company posted a job opportunity on Friday in search of an individual who could work alongside the team in charge of making Windows Phone apps work on Windows 8/RT and vice versa.

In the past, Microsoft has been clear in its desire to create a unified Windows platform, where Metro-style apps in the Windows Store 'just work' on both platforms.

Those plans, which don't include traditional desktop-style apps, now seem to be in motion.

Bringing platforms together

The job posting reads: "Are you excited about Windows Phone? Are you passionate about delivering the best possible experience to the developer community? Do you wish the code you write for Windows Store apps would just work on the Windows Phone and vice versa? If so, then this is the role for you!

"We are looking for a highly motivated and technically strong SDET (software development engineer in test) to help our team bring together the Windows Store and Phone development platforms.

"You will work closely with your developer and PM (program manager) counterparts to solve the technical challenges of bringing a platform built for desktops and tablets to the phone form factor."

BBC to offer some programming on the iPlayer before TV

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BBC to offer some programming on the iPlayer before TV

The BBC plans to screen selected shows through its online iPlayer platform before they're screened on television, it has emerged.

The Telegraph reports that the Corporation will embark on a 12-month trial during which 40 hours of regularly scheduled programming will air online first.

The decision, which may be seen as a direct response to competition from Netflix, was approved at the BBC Trustees' meeting back in December, according to the report.

There's no news yet on which shows will be part of the trial, but it seems unlikely that web viewers will get access to the Beeb's staple content before it's transmitted to the living room TV set.

Web-first vs catch-up

The iPlayer continues to grow in popularity, hitting a record 187 million video requests during January alone on desktops, laptops, mobile devices and through apps on Sky+, Xbox 360 and more.

Now, the BBC wants to see whether this can be exponentially increased by dangling the carrot of web-first content, rather than the only delivering from the archives.

It also appears that Auntie is conscious of the trend towards monthly subscription services like Netflix and Lovefilm.

With Netflix opening up House of Cards, its first major original series, to viewers in the UK at the back-end of last week, the Beeb is no longer trading blows dealing with a TV and film re-run merchant.

Windows Phone 8 scores Spotify app

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Windows Phone 8 scores Spotify app

Bit by bit, applications for Windows Phone 8 are accumulating in the Windows Phone Store, and Friday Microsoft added yet another to the mix.

Spotify, service of so many songs, is now available in beta for download on newer Windows devices. Though it might be imperfect (due to the whole beta-dom) at least it's available.

The app itself is free, as are the tunes for the first 30 days. After the free trial runs its course, however, users will have to pay US$9.99 a month for premium access.

Spotifiers will know (or perhaps not) that the premium service runs on all devices - phones, tablets, desktops, laptops - with no ads, while the free and unlimited (US$4.99/month) are restricted to just laptops and desktops.

Spot on

Those looking to get the app on their Windows Phone 8 handset should note that the roll out is just getting underway, meaning it might be a few hours before it appears in search or is downloadable in all regions.

Perhaps the app's sweetest selling point is its access-granting powers to playlists and downloads when there's no internet connection - perfect for those pesky times when you're Wi-Fi is spotty and you need a music boost.

The ability to access tunes on any playlist simultaneously on a Windows Phone and PC is also a pretty nice perk.

The Spotify app is a score for newer devices, which up until now was only been available on earlier Windows phones. The apps for Windows Phone in general have been perceptively thin compared to those for the iPhone and Android handsets.

Microsoft tells us the Windows Phone Store is home to over 125,000 apps, significantly trailing Apple's 775,000 apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Microsoft has some catch up to do, but at least it's got a way to make some "we can do this" playlists.
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