Microsoft Ending Support for Lumia Photo Apps in Windows 10 Mobile

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)

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”

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)

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 […]

Is Microsoft Giving Up on Smartphones? (Updated)

Update: Paul Thurrot reported this morning (4/28/2015) that Microsoft “will most likely announce this week that it will enable customers to run Android apps on their Windows 10 phones, tablets and PCs.” That’s pretty strong language, and Thurrot has connections. I doubt that he’d state it so firmly, and write such a strongly-worded post in […]

Microsoft Lumia 640 No-Contract T-Mobile Version: $89?!? (Updated: Removed?)

Update 2: Well, Microsoft has removed the listing for the Lumia 640 from the Microsoft Store. Check back to see that what means. Update: After I posted this on Twitter, T-Mobile replied with what could be taken as confirmation: So, the Microsoft Store has the upcoming Lumia 640 listed at $89 for the no-contract T-Mobile […]

Stuck in Windows (on Phone) Limbo

In what would have seemed a shocking development to me a year ago, I’m carrying an iPhone 6 as my daily driver. I’ve written about this before: after using Windows Phone and iOS for a few months each, I’ve lost my taste for Android. No offense intended to any Android fans, but my Nexus 5 […]

90 Days Later, My Microsoft Lumia 830 RM-985 Still Doesn’t Support Lumia Camera 5

I try to be a patient person. It’s difficult for me–I want something, I have a hard time waiting for it. When it comes to promises that companies make about their products, I try doubly hard to be patient–nobody’s perfect, things don’t always work out as planned, I’ve been known to be late myself, etc. […]

Surface Smartphone Concept: An Active Digitizer is Different Than a Capacitive Stylus

I’ve written about this before, and it’s worth repeating: there’s a difference between a “stylus” and a “pen” when it comes to input on a tablet or smartphone. I bring this up because of CNET’s article, “Does Surface Pro 3 offer clues to Microsoft’s next flagship phone?”: The number of devices launched with stylus support […]

Microsoft’s Strategy in 628 Words

Twitter is great for teaching a person to be short and sweet in their writing. Unless you continue tweets, which I never do, you’re stuck with 140 characters or less to convey complete thoughts. That’s a challenge for any writer, and if nothing else Twitter has taught me to be more concise when the need […]