Microsoft modified Skype by adding cool new video message filters.
Microsoft Corporation is all geared up to bolster its voice calling platform Skype. In accordance to this, the company has rolled out various improvements that are aimed to enrich user experience. The company has added video message filters on its mobile application.
Thus the Skype application compatible with the Apple iPad and iPhone along with Google Android will make the entire Skype experience extremely vibrant, joyful and energetic. As per the Skype team these messages are basically short clips that can be sent to your Skype contacts. This is not it, the Microsoft users can also customize these video clips to add a personal touch to the messages.
Recently Snapchat came up with its video message filters that became extremely popular amongst the masses. Likewise, the Skype video message filters serve a similar purpose. However, the thing that will discriminate the feature by MSFT and Snapchat is that the video message on Skype can be viewed at any time and will not just be a missive. Moreover, you do not need to be online to view these messages.
On the bottom left of the screen when the Skype browser is launched, you will see a video message screen. You will have to activate the option to take advantage of this feature. The option will allow you to choose the video filter you like then simply preview it to check if it is as per your liking. Once it is chosen, start recording the video. The filters are a lot of fun and are added according to the season. This encompasses balloons, ghosts that add to the Halloween fever, face changing feature, costumes etc. Moreover, they also have some negative filters that make you look ghastly.
The experience is more engaging for Apple iPhone 6s users that since the device boasts of 3D Touch options that breathe in life to these filters. Skype also wants to make the platform better focusing more on customer experience thus they have also made several improvements that are aimed to load the conversations faster.
So now users will not have to deal with lag while using Skype. The initiative taken by the company is extremely smart since the competition in the industry is increasing on a rampant pace thus it is important to constantly improvise and intrigue the users. Skype is extremely popular since a fairly long span of time since it is considered to be a pioneer in this domain. They do have their niche audience but now all they need to do is hook them to the platform.
Microsoft has launched its flagship store at Fifth Avenue.
Apple recently announced to establish its flagship store. Thus, now following the lead of the tech giant, Microsoft Corporation has also established its first store at 53rd Street New York along with Fifth Avenue.
The idea behind this flagship store is to allow the Microsoft users to engage and interact with the company’s products through first-hands experience. The outlet has been designed in a manner that caters to the shopping culture at Fifth Avenue.
According to the company’s press release, the Windows 10 producer has been working hard to come up with this stores for more than six years approximately. The store currently has five floors that cover an area of 22,369 sq. ft. So a similar store service experience will be offered to visitors like the company’s retail outlets. The only thing that is an added advantage is the interactive experience that has not been offered at their other retail stores yet.
In 2009, the organization established its first retail store in Arizona, Scottsdale, whereas the first outlet by Apple was constructed in 2001. This does not mean that Microsoft retail is stumbling in any way since the company is already operating a series of stores in almost 189 global markets that have housed almost one billion people who have tried using their products and services.
David Porter, Chief Vice President of Microsoft’s Worldwide Retail and Online Stores’, mentioned in a comment, “Our store on Fifth Avenue — as well as every other one of our locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada — is here to showcase the best of Microsoft to the local community. We exist to build relationships with our customers, one person at a time, and we are excited to do that on Fifth Avenue starting today.”
As per the company, management is extremely happy with the launch of the flagship store and will be celebrating that throughout the day. Kevin Turner, the chief operating officer will commence the inauguration ceremony of the store. Once the ribbon is cut, a curtain will fall down and the store interiors will be revealed for the masses.
The good news is that the company will also offer tickets to its community concert to around a thousand people who are in line to grace the event. Pitbull will perform at the said concert. People can hardly wait and head up to Microsoft flagship store at Fifth Avenue. Experts also liked the idea and concept of such stores.
Apple comes up with a new shopping category for the holiday season.
Apple Inc. is all set for the upcoming holiday season by introducing a new category for shoppers on the company’s App Store, as reported by Fortune. The recent feature will house all e-commerce related applications in one category, which will enable all Christmas and Thanksgiving shoppers to shop with convenience. The company initially listed the shopping apps in the lifestyle section but now it will be moved to the 25th category of applications offered by the tech giant.
On November 5, the tech behemoth will reveal its recent shopping platform. It has been evaluated that the platform is becoming extremely popular due to the increase in demand of shopping via mobile phones and other portable devices. The reason why the handheld devices are contributing to shopping is that the traffic on Internet via these devices has increased in comparison to computers.
Figures were cited by Fortune from Flurry, app analytical platform, owned by Yahoo in order to add weightage to the claims. More than any other category, the apps which catered to mobile shopping was used almost 174% more in FY14 than any other year in the history. According to a survey conducted by Google, during the holiday shopping season almost 54% of individuals who wish to shop will actually sue smartphones.
This is actually great news for retailers having apps like Groupon, Amazon, eBay, Walmart along with other applications that are used for comparison of prices or reviewing of products. Moreover, payments services, such as Apple Pay, will also be a part of the category for Apple users. The Apple Pay incorporates the NFC technology that allows mobile payments to be made instantly. The service is being sued in United Kingdom and United States where it will soon be expanded to other regions across the globe.
Jennifer Bailey, who is the Vice President of Apple Pay, stated that the applications which link themselves to Apple Pay actually pushes shoppers to spend more on the site since it curbs down the hassle to add the card details and shipping information. Fortune also cited Alan Tisch, Chief Executive Officer of Spring, who has agreed with the statement mentioned above and believes that by suing Apple Pay, the checkout time minimizes by almost 50%. Thus, this makes the checkouts relatively easier.
This is great news for vendors and shoppers since the hassle to search will simply minimize now and makes it convenient for them.
Apple has finally launched the Facebook messenger for its Apple Watch which will enable the users to send and receive voice messages, emojis etc.
Apple has now officially launched Facebook messenger on its Apple Watch. The new Facebook messenger on Apple watch will now allow users to send stickers, voice notes, likes, emojis and much more. Facebook messenger on WatchOS2 was released on Thursday and is supported only by the latest version of IOS software. The updated app is now available for download from the iTunes store.
The WatchOS2 users can now easily access to their Facebook messages using the FB messenger. The messenger on watch will be useful when you have your handset in your bag and you want to reply to a message promptly. For that you can use your Apple watch. You can not answer the messages either by sending stickers, like or select from predetermined answers.
The messenger will also allow the users to send and receive voice messages using a built-in microphone in the watch. Photos can also accessed from the watch. The watch however won’t support animated sticker and GIFs. If you are used they will show as static on the messenger app. The app is handy as users can send and receive messages quickly as they won’t be able to send long messages through the app.
It needs to be seen whether the Facebook messenger app will work well with the watch or not. Facebook messenger can now also be accessed from iPad’s multitasking apps. The messenger contacts and conversations can now also be searched from the screen of users’ iPhones as announced by Apple and Facebook.
So you can now keep yourself updated with your friends and family even without your phone and laptop through the Apple watch Facebook messenger. It needs to be seen when Apple will launch the full version of the much awaited Facebook app which the company had hinted to launch soon back in March 2015. Analysts in the tech industry who have been keeping a track on the giant’s movement on its smart watch are of the opinion that this step of the iPhone makers is a huge step for the social networking giant, as it will help it to get more users on his network. On the other hand, for all its valuable customers which are opting for the smart watch, the tech company has already announced that all the users have to do is to update their OS on the Watch and they will be good to go.
Dice Dave goes blunt while giving his perspective on Xbox.
It is a known fact that Microsoft Corporation’s Xbox One is not doing as well as Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4 hardware functionalities and sales on an average. At this point the Windows maker is trying its best to break this massive lead; it is still uncertain whether Xbox One will be successful in making a mark. This fact was admitted by Phil Spencer who is the head of Xbox but now another party having thorough knowledge about gaming that is Electronic Arts Inc.’s DICE has also passed his verdict on the issue.
Electronic Arts is said to be a popularity that is behind various top notch games and digital content. They are the mastermind behind "Star Wars Battlefront" which will release soon. Moreover, Battlefield is equally their creation. According to Alan Kertz mentioned while exchanging a series of statements on Twitter stated about the Xbox One “is an inferior horse in the horsepower race” that is destined to be behind the PS4 this generation”. Where Mr. Alan is confused that why people beat about the bush” on matters that are so straightforward. According to him, despite MSFT’s numerous efforts they can succeed top some extent to bag customer trust and loyalty but they themselves cannot deny the fact that the PlayStation 4 is relatively more successful and powerful than Microsoft Xbox One.
Mr. Kertz while explaining his stance over the matter was extremely straightforward and blunt. For developers it is not really common to criticize one brand and take the side of others at such an open platform since in this scenario, Mr. Alan Kertz is actually working for both the companies. When you will go through the conversation, you are liable to see two types of people. The principal ones are those who are cheering him and appreciating him for the audacity he has to speak up making it extremely argumentative and constructive whereas the other people are criticizing him for his approach.
A pretty vague statement was when Mr. Alan Kertz claimed that since they haven’t done well lately, they are not likely to do well in the times to come to which are extremely absurd. The prior performance is never a threshold to judge and label. Instead of this, if the Xbox comes up with a price point along with a unique product lineup then things can change for them eventually.
Making such blunt comments can disrupt the ties between the two companies.
Microsoft to reign over the music industry with Groove.
Microsoft Corporation is trying its best to offer the best services where they are working really hard to offer the best product offerings. They are extremely diligent and are devising ways to attract consumers. The company at this point of time understands that the market for music streaming services is extremely competitive thus they are trying its best to make a sound mark.
Initially it was said that the company made its debut by launching Zune music streaming which is now turned down by MSFT. So now to compete with industry giants like Apple’s music streaming service known as Apple Music and Spotify they are all set to launch Groove Music.
As per the early signs, Groove Music service has been successful in gaining its ground when compared to the more dominant players in the music streaming business. This can be judged since the service can support the Sonos speakers along with the embedded support for iHeartRadio that shows that the company is making successful efforts to make a mark.
So initially Zune was not a part of popular music streaming service ever thus Groove at least has established itself as the upcoming competitor. So now with the launch of this service in Microsoft users can have a music streaming service which they can call as their own whereas the company stands a chance to fight and establish itself. So all it needs to do is improve its service to actually fulfill its promise.
The company has now introduced a unique feature which is gapless audio playback. So the audio player now has the ability to jump on the next track immediately without pausing. This feature is available in the current version of Groove that is 3.6.1352. So all those who wish to listen to music without any hindrance and love their current playlist would certainly enjoy interruption free experiences.
For all those who are using the contemporary version of Groove dealt with a good amount of time interruption when each song ended. So now, all Groove users can embrace the change with the recent update. It needs to be noted here that these features are only available for Microsoft Windows 10 only and are also not available for Windows 8.1 until any notification is made in this regard by the company.
Microsoft at this point is multitasking in a good way to engage consumer and establish its niche once again. If they get successful then nothing can stop them from reigning over the industry.
With Skype for Business, Microsoft makes it easier to communicate with one another, share resources and create an interactive meeting by simply making sue of one app.
Microsoft Corporation has unveiled its iOS app for “Skype for Business” on Wednesday.the service devised by Microsoft Communication will not officially replace the contemporary Lync Tool by the company.
The service was launched in August and since that time the service was in its preview mode but now the app can be downloaded from Apple’s app stores or iTunes Store.
The application itself caters to all video and voice call features along with instant messaging and conference calling that is also available in the company’s standard application. However, there are certain other features that solely target business acquainted users. A blog was published by the company where Mr. Praveen Maloo, the marketing director highlighted the company’s strategy for this venture.
There were various sign in problems that users had to deal with on Lync 2013 app that ran on iOS 9. So the new application gives enterprise and business users with a more secure platform allowing them to integrate Microsoft’s Active Directory in a better manner. The Skype dashboard has also been updated by the company enabling them to display the conversation, search bar for contacts along with the bar that has schedules regarding the upcoming meetings. If users click on the right, they can join the conversation whereas when clicked on the left, the user gets access to meeting details. All the recent conversations can then be synced on all devices where the search bar has some top notch searching capabilities.
The meetings schedule can be put by the company on full screen mode where the fresh buttons that are enlarged can be used to add a contact directly to the meeting. Also, the conversation can also be muted whenever required. If there is any shared content, Microsoft users can also view that allows the Skype video can also be viewed by the speaker so that they can actually keep pace with what’s happening around them. Moreover, the option to add PowerPoint slides to the app in the times to come here. However, for now, users can view presentations through desktop sharing. So now attending meetings has become relatively easier for people even if they are not present at their desks.
The company’s service will give enterprises a wider canvas that is using Apple operating system iOS. This service can undoubtedly connect company employees across the globe making it easier for them to communicate with one another, share resources and create an interactive meeting by simply making sure of one app.
