In the News

Microsoft’s Lumia 540 Dual Sim which was announced last month is all set to be launched. The smartphone sports a 5-inch 1280×720 IPS display and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor and 1GB RAM. It has 8GB internal memory, which is expandable upto 128GB via microSD card.The Windows Phone 8.1 powered device boasts of an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, and 5MP front camera, as well as a 2,200mAh battery.

Microsoft’s upcoming operating system Windows 10, due for release this summer, will come in seven different editions, to suit the varied needs of consumers, small businesses and large enterprises. The major update to the ubiquitous software will be launched in 190 countries and 111 languages and in a bid to provide a more personal computing experience across a range of devices – from PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens and Surface Hub. It will also power Internet-connected devices like elevators, ATMs, hear rate monitors, etc.

Microsoft India will train 800 teachers of Sri Chaitanya Schools as the schools embark on their digital classrooms program. Sri Chaitanya Schools recently announced adopting Microsoft India’s Edu-Cloud infrastructure and 14,000 Windows-based tablets for their students and teachers of Class 3, 4 and 5 in 80 schools to connect, collaborate, create, and share content, with an aim to make teaching and learning fun. The teachers’ training will be as per the recommended guidelines of the Microsoft’s well-known, global ‘Partners in Learning’ (PiL) program.

Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users as well as smartphones and tablets running Windows OS in the first year. Also, Windows devices will get free updates for a lifetime to keep the system more secure. The upgrade will enhance the performance, security, add new features, and functionality to your existing system without any additional charges.

Microsoft’s Gabriel Aul wrote that that Insiders will be able to upgrade to the RTM (Release to manufacturing) version at no charge. This is the version that PC makers load onto their machines before shipping them out to consumers. Microsoft already plans to offer free upgrades from Windows 7 and Windows 8 to the consumer version of Windows 10 within the first year of the operating system’s launch.

Microsoft-owned Skype cleared the way for anyone to use a new feature that translates video chats or instant messages in real time. People no longer need to sign-up to use a preview version of Skype Translator, which handles spoken English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin. The number of languages translated jumps to 50 for written instant messages, with missives written in one language arriving converted into a preferred language.

Microsoft is investing in undersea cables to connect its global data centers in a bid to bolster its cloud business capabilities amid fierce competition. The Redmond, WA-based company plans to connect its data center infrastructure in North America with Ireland and the U.K. through deals with Hibernia and Aqua Comms. The two cables will transfer data across the world to customers at rapid speeds, which Microsoft hopes will give it an edge over its competitors while expanding the reach of its cloud business.

Microsoft has announced that the May system update has officially gone live and this particular update brings plenty of goodies for Xbox One. Front of center of this particular release are a couple of social aspects that should make it even easier for Xbox One users to communicate and find new friends to play games with.

Dell has announced several new storage offerings designed to help businesses and organizations cost-effectively adapt and scale their data centers to keep pace with ever-increasing IT demands. Dell has launched Dell Storage with Microsoft Storage Spaces, designed to support Microsoft’s SDS capabilities on Dell’s enterprise-class server and direct attached storage hardware.

2D and 3D design developer Autodesk has announced its partnership with tech-giant Microsoft. With this collaboration, Autodesk will be installing its 3D printing platform on Windows 10. It also intends to make its 3D modelling software interoperable with Microsoft’s mixed reality environment, Microsoft HoloLens.