Tag: Microsoft

When it comes to Personal Assistants on phones, we tend to think of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa most often while iOS users tend to think of Siri.  But Microsoft Cortana slowly and quietly continues to develop and made inroads on both Android and iOS.  A new report suggests that Cortana is about to go even further into both platforms.

The Verge is reporting that Microsoft is working on integrating Cortana in Outlook for both Android and iOS.  This would allow for things like emails to be read to you while you are on-the-go but could also allow for dictation of emails.

The Microsoft OneDrive for Android app has a new update rolling out that brings several improvements in photo editing and storage.  The new build is version 4.5 for those keeping score at home and is in the Play Store now.

Within the OneDrive app, this update allows you to crop, rotate and chose filters of photos with the improved Scan feature.  There is also improvements to to the navigation of the Photos view in the app which will make it quicker to search through your photos.  This will be particularly handy for those who have a lot of photos stored in OneDrive.

Microsoft Edge for Android, the Redmond, Washington company’s mobile variant of their Windows 10 browser, has a new update that brings some improvements for personalization.  The new build is version 1.0.0.1656 for those keeping score at home.

With this update, you can now more personalize the Newsfeed on the New Tab in Microsoft Edge.  Support has been added for the language and geographical area for news feeds.  By default, this will be set to the language and region you are in but by going to Settings>New Tab Page, you can have the news feed in different regions and languages.

Microsoft Skype has a new update rolling out in the Play Store today that brings improved audio controls to the messaging and communications apps.  The new build is version 8.15.04 for those keeping score at home.

In this new update, you can now switch between your audio sources while in a call.  You can switch between your phone’s build-in speaker/microphone, a wired or Bluetooth device without having to drop the call.  As you switch, you will lose a couple of seconds of audio, especially when moving to a Bluetooth connected device.  This new flexibility should make it easier to start a call while at your office, then move it to your car’s Bluetooth speakers so you can continue the call on your way home.

In a move that will surprise some, Microsoft has announced that the upcoming Microsoft Office 2019 release will only be able to run on Windows 10 PCs.  According to the announcement, the following platforms will be able to run the perpetual version of Office

• Any supported Windows 10 SAC release
• Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2018
• The next LTSC release of Windows Server

Further, Microsoft will not support MSI installs for Office 2019 but will be installed only by click-to-run technology.  MSI’s will be offered for the server products.

Microsoft’s Sean Lyndersay took to Twitter a couple of days ago to let users of Microsoft Edge, the mobile browser for Android and iOS, has expanded to several new countries as far as availability.

Also, Edge for iOS and Android is released or rolling out in most English- and French-speaking markets, as well as in Germany, Austria, Portugal and Brazil. 🇩🇪🇦🇹🇵🇹🇧🇷

— Sean Lyndersay (@SeanOnTwt) January 24, 2018

The news is great for those who like Edge on their devices, especially those that are using Windows 10 on the desktop where you have cross-platform benefits like bookmark and password syncing.