Android, Apple, Business, Companies, Entertainment, Hardware, Mobile Computing, Operating Systems, Opinion, Software Programs, VR World, Windows Phone

HTC Brilliantly Mocks the Smartphone Sizzle Video

HTC Behind The Scenes Sizzle 980

In an age of where we get these fantastic and whimsical smartphone sizzle videos, HTC satirically breaks down for us what goes into making a sizzle video.

Read More...

分析

MICROSOFT的WINDOWS PHONE在印度遇上難題

隨著Google(那斯達克交易代號:GOOGL)在推出Android One之後,進一步掌控入門機型,平價手機部門勢必會出現重大變化。 Microsoft(那斯達克交易代號:MSFT)靠著Lumia 520,向來在這個部門維持極為優異的表現,Lumia 520也是這間軟體(現在包括硬體)製造商最成功的手機產品。然而這款手機主要出在採用512 MB RAM所造成的侷限和缺少前置鏡頭,以及市面上有多款採用Android的其他選擇,加上還以相近的價格提供更完善的功能集,都吸引使用者改用其他體系的產品。考慮到這一點,Microsoft打算改變在印度的裝置產品組合,更積極的把焦點擺在平價部門。 再度鎖定入門機型 改變包括將裁撤Asha系列,Microsoft也會在這個價格區段中,推出Windows Phone的軟體。最平價的Windows Phone裝置Lumia 530在印度現在要價$140美元($8,500印度盧比),這樣的價格當然會嚇跑想找較便宜產品的買家。以Android One手機為例,$104美元(6,300印度盧比)的價格可謂來勢洶洶。 目前在$80美元($5,000印度盧比)至$125美元($7,500印度盧比)的區段中,還沒有推出任何Windows Phone裝置,但預期這種情況很快就會改變了。Microsoft不僅會提供更平價的Windows Phone手機,這間製造商還打算只以自己的品牌為名,推出一系列功能手機。這個打頭陣的系列裝置要價$40美元($2,500印度盧比)至$80美元($5,000印度盧比),可讓第一次購買的消費者使用網際網路和其他基本功能。此外,Microsoft也提到他們正與印度通訊業者積極合作,推出類似Lumia 635的4G版手機。4G服務即將成為主流,而在入門機型推出4G裝置,必定會大幅拉抬裝置的銷售量。 雖說上述變化聽來很有意思,但我們也許還得等一段時間,才會親眼見識計畫成真。Microsoft銷售總裁Chris Weber表示可能需要12到18個月的時間,才會推出新的裝置產品組合。隨著Android One氣勢日益增長,要是Microsoft短期內沒有推出更多裝置供使用者挑選,恐怕在這個部門就沒多少競爭優勢了。 Microsoft在印度市場擁有一批忠實使用者,所以表現向來相當不錯。但是這間製造商依然得面對固有的挑戰。和市場上其他體系的裝置相比,Lumia 530有一堆嚴重的缺點,例如缺少前置鏡頭,以及採用512 MB RAM,因此侷限能安裝在裝置上的內容。事實上,和Lumia 520及Lumia 620相比,Lumia 530和Lumia 630並沒有改變多少,而且Microsoft也被點出沒對任何手機進行重大改變這件事。在此同時,Android裝置在硬體和支出價值上則是大有改進。這種情況不只發生在入門機型,Microsoft在中階類別也面臨類似的問題。 中階部門也來勢洶洶 Microsoft在印度以$440美元($27,000印度盧比)的價格推出Lumia 830,這將是Windows Phone 8.1首度在這個國家推出中階機型。這間製造商也計畫在今年晚期,於印度推出Lumia 730。雖說這兩款裝置都搭載新的硬體及軟體功能,但是Microsoft的產品組合中,依然存在一項明顯缺失。 Microsoft今年針對中階部門推出的產品包括Lumia 730和Lumia 830,並將Lumia 830封為今年的旗艦機款。這就表示Lumia 830會成為印度價格最高的Windows Phone裝置。由於想要更強大機種的使用者會選擇6吋的Lumia 1520,因此就沒有任何旗艦級的裝置能和高階的Android裝置一較高下。 這種疏漏大部分是Microsoft自找的,因為他們沒法將Lumia 930打進印度市場。公司並未解釋原因,就從印度的網站上移除這款裝置,也沒有提到是否會在印度正式推出。印度好幾位使用者反應裝置過熱的問題,可能就是Microsoft決定不在印度發行裝置的原因。但是沒有任何Windows Phone裝置落在$490美元(30,000印度盧比)至$650美元(40,000印度盧比)這個價格區段,確實是一大弱點。 每個體系都必須存在旗艦裝置,強調平台可提供的最佳功能。說也奇怪,今年是由HTC奪得這項榮耀,HTC推出One M8 for Windows,這款裝置應用與HTC推出與One M8相同的硬體,卻搭載Windows Phone,而非Android。無法在高階部門推出裝置並不表示這種裝置就不存在。今年稍早時,有許多傳言指出Microsoft正著手發展搭配創新3D觸控動作辨識介面的高階裝置。據說這項技術是以Kinect體感控制器為基礎,此外還謠傳Microsoft將在11月正式公佈這個在內部以McLaren為代號的裝置。 Microsoft確實說過不再繼續發展3D觸控手機的原因,但若是這間軟體製造商想把握任何機會,延續在印度和其他全球市場的強勁表現,就一定要推出更多種裝置。隨著Nokia的手機分部全面整合至Microsoft,這間軟體大廠的目標,就是在手機部門掌握更龐大的市佔率。

Read More...

Analysis, Android, Business, Hardware, Mobile Computing, Operating Systems, Opinion, Software Programs, VR World, Windows Phone

Microsoft to Lay Off 18,000, Most Ever in Company History

Microsoft Logo

As Microsoft’s Satya Nadella takes the reigns of the company, it appears as though he’s pushing for some serious blood letting from within the company that currently employs 125,000 people. This enormous 18,000 person layoff figure is mostly thanks to their acquisition of Nokia’s handset and mobile division, which brought on 25,000 people. Out of the 18,000 figure, nearly 12,500 will come from the former Nokia division that they had acquired, which is somewhat to be expected but also incredibly infuriating. Sure, there are going to be a decent amount of redundancies between Nokia and Microsoft, but this amounts to a 50% cut of all

Read More...

Mobile Computing, Operating Systems, Software Programs, VR World, Windows Phone

Windows Phone 8.1 Update Preview Live Today

For those of you that missed Microsoft’s announcement of the Windows Phone 8.1 update, they said that the update would be rolling out over the course of the next few months across the world. However, the developer preview (basically accessible to anyone that’s interested) is available today. That includes a whole host of small improvements across the OS as well as the addition of Cortana. Windows Phone Central actually has a quick guide of what you actually need to do in order to get your hands on Windows Phone 8.1. The one important thing to note, however, is that only users with Windows Phone 8

Read More...

Business, Hardware, Mobile Computing, Operating Systems, Opinion, Software Programs, VR World, Windows Phone

Microsoft's New Strategy – Clean Up Windows, Become Strong 3rd Competitor

Microsoft Logo

If you haven’t been following Microsoft lately, then you’re missing out on what could be one of the most significant changes of strategy I’ve seen in a long time. They have slowly been making baby steps towards reorganizing and reconsidering how they address mobile. I have been following Microsoft’s attitudes towards mobile since Windows Mobile 5.0 and even owned a fair amount of Windows-based devices over the course of that time. However, Microsoft made a lot of mistakes along the way and is finally making major changes to remedy them. And with the smartphone market being a virtual duopoly between Android and iOS it comes

Read More...