Microsoft

Microsoft is bringing integrated developer environment Visual Studio to the Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2016

Visual Studio, an integrated development environment from Microsoft, is coming to the Mac. That's according to Redmond's prematurely published and now-deleted press release that TechCrunch spotted Monday. Microsoft's Xcode of sorts, Visual Studio is used to develop native Windows apps, as well as websites, web apps and Azure-driven cloud services.

Visual Studio for Mac should be formally announced at the Connect() conference later this week. Microsoft previously brought its cross-platform code editor, Visual Studio Code, to macOS.

Join Microsoft’s Skype Insider initiative to beta-test upcoming features

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 9, 2016

Microsoft is launching a new Skype Insider initiative which invites users to download pre-release builds and test upcoming features before they're rolled out to everyone.

Microsoft already has similar programs available for Windows and the Xbox and now Skype users can sign up online at the Skype Insiders registration form. If you decide to participate in the program, you will be permitted to install pre-release builds of Skype alongside your current version of the app.

Microsoft was working on its own Touch Bar

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

As you know, Apple recently unveiled its new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar touch display. What you may not know, is that Microsoft was at one point working on a Touch Bar-esque keyboard feature of its own.

The Verge points to a website for Microsoft's applied sciences group, which highlights concepts revolving around keyboard innovation. The group rounded out the initiative in 2009 with an "Adaptive Keyboard."

Skype for iPhone gains Siri messaging integration, other new features coming soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 27, 2016

Microsoft today refreshed Skype for iPhone and iPod touch and Skype for iPad with the ability to send messages to your Skype contacts using Siri. Just say something along the lines “Send message to John on Skype saying what's up?” and Siri will do the right thing.

Earlier, the app integrated with iOS 10's CallKit to make VoIP Skype calls behave like traditional phone calls with Lock screen, Phone, Favorites and Contacts integration.

And earlier this week, Microsoft announced a number of other changes that will be coming to Skype for iOS in the coming weeks.

Skype for iOS picks up new contact notifications & iOS 10 CallKit toggle

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2016

Two weeks ago, Microsoft-owned Skype launched a major update with Siri, Phone, Contacts and Lock screen integration, courtesy of iOS 10's new CallKit framework which allows calls from VoIP apps to behave like normal phone calls.

Today, both Skype for iPhone and Skype for iPad received a minor refresh which brings out a toggle for enabling or disabling CallKit integration, the ability to get new contact requests as a notification and under-the-hood fixes and improvements to make the app run more reliably on iOS 10 devices.

Skype for iOS updated with Siri, Phone, Contacts and Lock screen integrations

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 29, 2016

Microsoft today announced availability of freshly updated Skype for iOS apps. Bumped to version 6.25, both Skype for iPhone and Skype for iPad now include SiriKit support that lets them integrate with Siri so you can call people and send messages using just your voice. The apps also take advantage of CallKit, which allows VoIP Skype calls to behave like normal cellular calls with fullscreen contact images on the Lock screen and integration with Phone's Recents and Favorites on iSO 10 devices.

New Surface ad wants you to think that your Mac “ain’t fast enough”

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 15, 2016

It's been only three days since Microsoft's advertising department unleashed a new ad salvo at Apple's direction in the form of a commercial for its Surface Pro 4 tablet/laptop hybrid and now it's posted yet another video to conveniently reiterate its message ahead of iPhone 7's launch tomorrow. Titled “Power of Touch”, the 30-second commercial doubles down on the ”the Mac lacks a touchscreen” theme.

Not only does Microsoft poke fun of the fact that Macs are long overdue for a refresh (yours supposedly “ain't fast enough” lately), but also disses the Mac for not shipping with a detachable keyboard or a stylus.

New Surface Pro 4 ad pokes fun of the Mac because it doesn’t have a touchscreen

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2016

Microsoft over the weekend fired another ad salvo at Apple's tablet/computer strategy with a new (somewhat) amusing commercial. Simple titled “Get the Surface Pro,” the 30-second ad highlights Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 hybrid device which includes a stylus and comes with a detachable keyboard and an Intel chip allowing it to be transformed into a computer that runs Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Using the same singer from the previous commercial, the new video informs us that “If you try to write on a plain old Mac, the difference can be seen. It doesn't work.”

New Surface Pro 4 ad calls MacBook Air “less useful, like a hat for your cat”

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 29, 2016

Following its recent iPad Pro-dissing commercial, Microsoft today released another nicely done Surface Pro 4 ad which takes aim at the MacBook Air, calling it “less useful, like a hat for your cat”. Surface ads have successfully promoted competitive advantages of the hybrid device, which comes with a detachable keyboard, pen, touchscreen and more. And thanks to an Intel chip, it runs the full Office suite and most other Windows programs, like Photoshop.

What’s a computer? Just ask Cortana.

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Apple's most recent iPad Pro commercial attempts to position the powerful tablet as the ultimate computer, but Microsoft begs to differ.

But in its latest commercial for the Surface Pro 4 laptop/notebook hybrid, the Windows maker challenges Apple by basically saying that just because you call something a computer doesn’t mean it fits the description.

“Cortana knows that the Surface Pro 4, with its powerful Intel Core processor, detachable keyboard with real keys and a trackpad, pen, touchscreen, full Office and external ports fits the description. Everything else is just late to the party,” says Microsoft.

Microsoft’s mobile Office apps pick up support for drawing with a finger/stylus on iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

Microsoft today issued updates to its mobile Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps on the App Store, adding support for drawing with your finger on the iPhone. Back in January 2016, the Windows maker brought its inking tools to the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil support. With the latest update, iPhone owners can take advantage of the Draw tab to draw, highlight and annotate documents with their finger or a stylus.

Did Microsoft just make the best camera app with Pix for iPhone?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Microsoft Pix, a smarter camera app that helps you take better pictures without extra effort, is now available for download from the App Store. Microsoft says its app is “a bit like having a professional photographer inside your camera” in that it uses advanced artificial intelligence, computational photography and video stabilization to automatically pick the right settings to help boost and improve your iPhone photography skills.

Grab Microsoft Pix from the App Store for free and let us know if it impresses you.