So, I gave up a long time ago on Windows phones and Windows 10 Mobile when I just couldn’t find a good way to keep up with my ebook reading. There was a slew of other things I couldn’t do on the platform, but the lack of a decent Kindle reader was the kicker. Nevertheless, […]
Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore kind of misses the point about Windows 10 Mobile
July 31, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Have an out-of-warranty Nexus 6P with the boot loop error? You can’t even pay Huawei to fix it
July 21, 2017 by 2 Comments
I bought a Nexus 6P from Amazon in April 2016, wanting a relatively up-to-date Android device at a reasonable price. I liked the phone well enough — it wasn’t perfect, the camera was a bit slow, and the headphone volume was a bit low. But it served me well enough for a little over a […]
What in the world is going on with Microsoft’s Surface Book 2?
January 20, 2017 by 1 Comment
I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to Microsoft’s Surface Book 2. It’s highly pertinent — my Surface Pro 4 (and the Surface Pro 3 that preceded it) was a great machine for my previous workflow, but the screen’s just too small and the Type Cover too constraining for what I’m doing lately. I’m […]
Asus ZenWatch 3: A quick unboxing
November 7, 2016 by 1 Comment
So, I was surprised last Friday to see that Amazon has the Asus ZenWatch 3 available for order. Most sites still indicate the new Android Wear device as “coming soon,” including Asus’ own web site, and so I was quite pleased when I saw it available for order. I received the watch this morning, and […]
What’s going on with The Tech Chat?
November 5, 2016 by 1 Comment
You might have noticed that I was spending some time over at WinBeta.org as a Senior Editor–you can check out all of my writing there via this link. I was having a blast, and as a long-time WinBeta reader, I couldn’t think of a better site for my Microsoft-focused ramblings. I’m also working as […]
Microsoft Ending Support for Lumia Photo Apps in Windows 10 Mobile
September 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I was just thinking this morning about how Microsoft will handle the old (Nokia) Lumia photo apps that are preloaded on my Lumia 830. Will apps such as Lumia Storyteller, Lumia Beamer, and Lumia Refocus continue to be supported in Windows 10 Mobile, or will they be phased out in deference to the stock apps […]
Is Windows 10 Continuum the Key to Microsoft’s Smartphone Strategy? (Updated)
July 10, 2015 by 3 Comments
Update 7/14/2015: As Windows Central reports, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (speaking at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference) seems to agree with my position here: When I think about our Windows Phone, I want it to stand for something like Continuum. The bottom line is, Nadella is no idiot, and Microsoft’s strategy is indeed deep and compelling. Read the […]
Microsoft: “Use the Phone That’s In Your Pocket”
May 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
This video previewing Microsoft’s upcoming Phone Companion app for Windows 10 seems to summarize Microsoft’s strategy when it comes to smartphones. At about the 3:10 mark, Joe Belfiore (Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group) says: Today, people have this expectation that they’ll be able to take whatever device they have and have all of their […]
No, Microsoft Isn’t Giving Up on Smartphones (Updated)
April 29, 2015 by 1 Comment
Update 5/26/2015: So, Microsoft has made it official that Cortana will be available on Android and iOS. Does that change this equation? After all, Cortana was one of the value-added technologies that would have made Windows 10 Mobile unique on smartphones. My guess is that, in the and, Microsoft’s positions on phones, and maybe even […]
Microsoft Surface 3 Bundle Pre-Order at Costco for $699.99
April 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft recently announced its most recent Surface device, the Surface 3, to a bit of fanfare and generally positive previews. The Surface 3 is the direct replacement for the Surface 2, and serves as a sort of entry-level version of the Surface Pro 3. It uses an Intel Atom processor, can be configured with up […]