Microsoft

Algoriddim’s djay Pro is now on Windows 10 with Surface Studio & Dial integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

djay Pro, Algoriddim's award-winning iPhone, iPad and Mac app aimed at pro and wannabe DJs, is now available on PCs as a native Windows 10 application.

The app features built-in support for iTunes, Windows Media Player and Spotify music, plus Surface Studio and Surface Dial integration. Built specifically for Windows 10, djay Pro provides a complete toolkit for DJs of all skill levels.

Some of the more powerful features include pristine sound quality, high-definition waveforms, four decks and audio effects, as well as native support for external audio interfaces and over 60 MIDI controllers from Pioneer DJ, Reloop, Numark and others.

Microsoft’s new Mac to Surface Assistant does exactly what the name says

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 19, 2017

Microsoft is simplifying the process of moving your Mac stuff over to the Surface laptop/tablet hybrid devices. As noted on Twitter three days ago, the Windows maker recently released a brand new app, Mac to Surface Assistant, provided as a free download from the Microsoft website. The migration tool requires an external USB drive and lets Apple users move all their photos, videos, music, mails, contacts, calendars and other files from a Mac to a Surface with a few clicks.

Apple and others join Google in resisting FBI warrant seeking emails stored outside US

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 8, 2017

Business Insider reports that Apple has joined Amazon, Microsoft and Cisco in filing a joint amicus brief in support of Google's opposition to a warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seeking to extract emails stored on non-US servers.

In response to the FBI warrant, a court in Pennsylvania recently ruled that Google must hand over emails stored on non-US servers. The joint filing claims the warrant could set a troubling precedent and force Google to violate foreign data privacy laws.

Cortana 2.0 for iPhone brings overhauled interface and faster performance

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2017

Microsoft today rolled out a major update to its Cortana personal assistant app for iPhone, with enhancements like faster page transitions, improved app responsiveness and overhauled user interface all part of the update. The new version arrived three months after its release on Android. Design improvements in Cortana 2.0, a free download from App Store, include a fresh new look with an improved user experience, immersive full-page answers and overhauled calling, texting and reminders.

New Apple ads continue positioning iPad Pro as being better than a computer

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 17, 2017

Apple today published four new ads on its YouTube channel that continue to position its iPad Pro tablet as being better than a computer. The four new commercials, running sixteen seconds each, use the tagline “Real Problems... Answered” and appear to be based on typical PC user tweets.

The videos promote the tablet as a device that's free of wires, immune to viruses, faster than most laptops and able to run Microsoft Office apps and connect to fast LTE cellular networks.

Give the new ads a quick watch, then meet us in comments.

New malware uses auto-running macros in Word documents to infect your Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 9, 2017

Taking advantage of a primitive Windows technique relying on automatically-running macros embedded in Microsoft Word documents, a new type of Mac malware attack has been discovered recently. As first noted in a research compiled by Objective-See, the technique used may be crude but once an unsuspecting user opens an infected Word document and chooses to run the macros, the malware installs itself silently on the target Mac and immediately attempts to download a hazardous payload.

Apple and other tech giants file legal brief opposing Trump’s immigration order

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial executive order that would bar Syrian refuges and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the country is being formally challenged by Apple and 96 other companies, Bloomberg said Monday.

Apple, Google, Facebook, Intel, Airbnb Netflix, Snap, Uber, Zynga, Levi Strauss, Chobani along with many other companies have all signed an amicus brief, which is a legal filing that lets outside parties offer non-binding opinions to the court.

Outlook for iOS picks up third-party integrations with Evernote, Trello, Giphy & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 2, 2017

Two years ago, Microsoft launched Outlook for iPhone and iPad to critical acclaim. Celebrating the milestone, the Windows maker announced it's bringing third-party integrations to your inbox with add-ins in Outlook for iOS.

Not unlike Airmail or Readdle's Sparrow, Outlook brings some of your favorite apps straight to your inbox so you can turn any email into a Trello card, save conversations in Evernote, translate messages in seconds and more.

Apple along with other tech giants working on a letter opposing Trump’s travel ban

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 2, 2017

Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Uber and other technology giants, along with an unidentified consumer goods and manufacturing company, are working on a letter to formally oppose U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban which has barred Syrian refuges and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the country.

Having obtained a draft of the letter, Recode reports that parties from other industries will also sign on in their support of immigration into U.S.

macOS 10.12.4 properly displays icons for Windows executable files in Finder

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 26, 2017

Yesterday's beta release of what would become the fourth major software update to macOS Sierra doesn't just bring iOS's Night Shift mode to your Mac. Aside from that feature and things like an updated PDF API, expanded Dictation support or the ability for Siri to look up cricket scores and rosters, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 includes better handling of Windows executable files in the Finder.

As discovered by Microsoft's Mac product designer Vaclav Vancura, rather than use a generic icon to represent Windows executables like before, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 now actually parses .EXE files for native Windows resources such as icons.

Microsoft: more Mac users than ever switching to Surface over MacBook Pro “disappointment”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2017

If you believe Microsoft, Apple fans are so disappointed with the new MacBook Pro that they're now switching to Surface PCs and laptops in droves. In a blog post Monday by Brian Hall, CVP Microsoft Devices Marketing, trash-talked the new MacBook Pro, openly calling it a “disappointment”.

In the same breath, he suggested that the excitement of new Surface products coupled with the supposed MacBook Pro disappointment is now encouraging more people to switch from Macs to Surface than ever before.

Microsoft brings Solitaire to iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2016

Microsoft's version of Solitaire has been available on Windows PCs for more than 25 years, but up until now the game has not expanded to other platforms. With Microsoft Solitaire Collection for iOS, the Windows maker is finally bringing its version of the classic card game to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Available free in the App Store, the app includes 5 of the top Solitaire games that you can play for free—Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Tripeaks and Pyramid.

As a bonus, daily challenges will extend longevity of the game and built-in support for Xbox Live will keep your achievements, competitions and game progress in sync between Windows 10 and iOS devices.