Software : Nokia shareholders ready to give Microsoft deal thumbs up |
- Nokia shareholders ready to give Microsoft deal thumbs up
- Samsung pulls Android 4.3 for UK Galaxy S3, S4 update withdrawn stateside
- Office Remote app for Windows Phone is the PowerPoint user's new BFF
- Microsoft outs 3D Builder for Windows 8.1 to aid support for 3D printers
- What was he in again? Google Play Movies brings info cards to the UK
| Nokia shareholders ready to give Microsoft deal thumbs up Posted:  Today's the day Nokia shareholders vote to approve the sale of the company's devices and services to Microsoft, but the majority of them already appear to have given the deal the go-ahead. Reuters today reported that Nokia shareholders appear ready to approve the previously announced sale to Microsoft of the onetime mobile goliath's devices and services businesses. More than 99 percent of shareholders already registered their approval in advance of Tuesday's vote, which amounts to roughly 45 percent of the total Nokia shares, but requires only the approval of majority shareholders. The Microsoft buyout, which also includes a 5.44B Euro (about US$7.37B, UK£4.57B, AU$7.82B) payment for licensing Nokia patents, is expected to infuse the onetime Finnish giant with nearly eight billion Euros (about US$10.84B, UK£6.72B, AU$11.5B) when it closes in early 2014. Thank you for the musicWhile many outsiders rightfully assume Microsoft is picking Nokia's cupboards clean of all the best stuff, a new report claims that may not be entirely true. According to Unwired View, the previously Lumia exclusive Nokia Music may not be packing its bags for Redmond, instead staying behind with the company's map software for a multi-platform expansion. Screenshots dug up by Chinese website CTech seem to indicate that Nokia Music could wind up on Windows, OS X, iOS and Android courtesy of an HTML5 app that will also work on all leading web browsers. Nokia already attempted the same feat a year ago with its free HERE Maps app for iOS, but there's no word on exactly when the HTML5-powered version of Music might actually make its debut.
|
| Samsung pulls Android 4.3 for UK Galaxy S3, S4 update withdrawn stateside Posted:  Samsung has temporarily withdrawn the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for its Galaxy S3 handset in the UK following complaints, as Samsung contends with update problems on both sides of the pond. The long-awaited S3 update, which took the device directly from Android 4.1 to 4.3, arrived in the UK two weeks ago but brought several issues along to the party, angering those who'd jumped to upgrade their device. Among the reported flaws were rapidly increased battery drain, random freezing and alarms not going off (yeah, we've heard that one before), while some apps failed to work altogether. Samsung has finally responded with an official statement, withdrawing the download until the issue can be fixed. "As we are currently investigating the reported issues with Galaxy S3 4.3 Jelly Bean update, the upgrading service has been temporarily suspended," Samsung Mobile UK told the SamMobile blog in a statement. "We are committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience, and will ensure to resume the upgrading service at the earliest possibility." Trouble abroadMeanwhile, across the Atlantic, AndroidPolice reported that mobile carrier AT&T has pulled another Android 4.3 update, this time for the current flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Neither Samsung nor AT&T have commented on why the update has been pulled, but TechRadar has asked AT&T and will update this story if a response is forthcoming. Seemingly, the respective Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 updates were brought forward so Samsung could offer more devices to support the struggling Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which was only compatible with the Galaxy Note 3 at launch. Perhaps testing wasn't as vigorous as it has been in recent times?
|
| Office Remote app for Windows Phone is the PowerPoint user's new BFF Posted:  Microsoft's second screen endeavours have developed further with the launch of the Office Remote app for Windows Phone 8, giving the handset full control over the Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps. The app, which is similar to the SmartGlass mobile app for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, allows users to swipe and glide their way through documents, presentations and spreadsheets on their PC. The standout use, of course, will be the ability for users to wirelessly control Office presentations, using Bluetooth to navigate between slides and point out objects on screen using a remote laser pointer. At present, Office Remote is only available for WP8 and only compatible with Office 2013 for Windows 8 and Office RT for the ARM-based OS, but it will prove useful for those folks who tick all Microsoft's boxes. Diversity on the way"With Office Remote you can start your PowerPoint presentation, advance the slides, see your speaker notes, and control an on-screen laser pointer with a touch of your finger - all from your phone," said project manager Burt Van Hoof. "You can also navigate between Excel worksheets and graphs, and control data slicers from the palm of your hand," he wrote. "And you can scroll through a Word document or quickly jump to specific sections or comments. You can also navigate between Excel worksheets and graphs, and control data slicers from the palm of your hand. And you can scroll through a Word document or quickly jump to specific sections or comments." Microsoft said the initial launch is just the beginning with a roll out coming to a "diverse society of devices" in the future. We can presume that to mean an iOS and Android version of Office Remote might be in tow. |
| Microsoft outs 3D Builder for Windows 8.1 to aid support for 3D printers Posted:  Microsoft has released a new app for Windows 8.1 machines, allowing users to create 3D-printable items. The free 3D Builder app comes with a host of pre-conceived templates, including everything one could need to create their own 3D-printed model train set, with their Windows 8.1 compatible 3D printer. As well as host of other templates, like lego-style bricks, money clips, cookie cutters, snowflakes, pendants and the rest of it, users can also build their own items from scratch. Microsoft is also enabling users (albeit a very small number of users with Windows 8.1 and a 3D printer at this stage) to combine presets into one larger object. Ornaments, toys and more.."3D Builder has a catalog of objects you can create from ornaments to toys and more. The clean, simple user interface lets you scale, rotate and adjust what you want to print," wrote Microsoft's Kristina Libby on the official Windows blog. "Add multiple objects to a single print – even stack or push objects into one another to create new ones. Printing 3D objects created in other applications or ones that are downloaded from the Internet is really easy with the 3D Builder app and touch as well." The app is available to download from the Windows Store now and, if you're in the market for a 3D printer, Microsoft is also keep to point out it is now selling the MarkerBot Replicator 2. |
| What was he in again? Google Play Movies brings info cards to the UK Posted:  Google has rolled out an update for its UK Play Movies app for Android, introducing the handy information cards that rolled out in the US earlier this year. The feature allows users to pause the video and view information about the actors currently on screen, the related movies and TV shows, as well as information about the soundtrack (sorry Shazam). Users can tap on the lovely actors' faces to see their filmographies, age, birthplace and the other associated items available from the Google Play store. The feature is similar to the Amazon X-Ray for the Kindle Fire and saves a trip to IMDb when trying to answer the age old 'what else has she been in?' question. More Jack Black information"Next time you're watching a movie on Google Play you can find out that it's Jack Black, who was born in Hermosa Beach, California and is 44 years old," the company wrote on the Google UK Google+ page. "In the UK, we've added info cards to the Google Play Movies & TV app so you can easily learn more about the actors, related films and even what song is playing in many of your favourite movies." |
| You are subscribed to email updates from TechRadar: All latest Applications news feeds To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment