Recent News

A Telsyte research report has found that two-thirds of organisations that have deployed and measured Internet of Things (IoT) solutions have achieved 28 per cent cost reductions in their day-to-day operations. Commenting on the findings, Microsoft Australia Internet of Things lead Lee Hickin said, “There are clear signs that organisations are beginning to realise the power of the Internet of Things.”

Microsoft has published a high-end video showing its vision of the future. The 6-minute video is dominated by screens of all shapes and sizes: flexible handheld screens, giant screens appearing in walls, screen covering windows, screens on bracelets. The video predicts the future of many technologies already coming out of Redmond: augmented reality (HoloLens), stylus-drive touchscreens (Surface), video conferencing (Skype), gestures (Xbox Kinect), and wearables (Microsoft Band).

Good news for Windows phone users: Microsoft is working on a new app that will give users real-time updates about where their friends happen to be. Called “People Sense”, the app will help users pull up directions to friends’ whereabouts and message or call them to let them know that they are on the way.

Microsoft, after offering free Office 365 subscription to eligible students in the US, has expanded the program outside the country. The Redmond giant said, “Millions of students around the world are eligible for free Office from their school and we’ve made it easy for all eligible students globally to sign up themselves to get Office 365 and install free Office.”

Microsoft’s Bing has correctly predicted the Super Bowl and World Cup winners; more recently Microsoft turned its attention to Sunday’s Academy Awards. Of the top 24 categories at this year’s Oscars, Microsoft’s Bing correctly predicted 20 winners for an 83 percent accuracy score, including all of the most prestigious Academy Award picks.

Windows is more secure than the Fort Knox-like Linux and OS X. This fact has been revealed by National Vulnerability Database that details security issues detected in different operating systems and software titles.

Domestic smartphone maker Lava has expanded its Xolo portfolio with a new Windows-based smartphone, Xolo Win Q1000. The smartphone, priced at Rs 8,499, features a 5-inch HD (720x1280p) IPS display with OGS technology and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor.

Lenovo launched the Yoga 3 Pro ‘ultrabook’ notebook in India, with prices starting from Rs. 1,14,990. The ultrabook features Lenovo’s signature 360-degree hinge design concept. The device comes with Windows 8.1 64-bit or Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit operating system options, with 8GB of RAM, a choice of a 256GB or 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and an Intel Core M-5Y70 Processor.