Now Microsoft's Visual Studio Source Code is Open-Source for GNU/Linux, OS X, and Windows

Visual Studio Code is now licensed under the MIT license

During the Connect(); 2015 developer event that took place on November 18, 2015, in New York City, USA, Microsoft had the great pleasure of announcing that its Visual Studio Code integrated development environment software is now open source.

Immediately after the huge announcement, Microsoft published the Visual Code Studio sources on the GitHub project hosting website, urging the community to contribute to the development of the software in any way they can. "You spoke and we listened. With this release, VS Code development is now open source on GitHub," said Microsoft.

The cross-platform web and cloud development code editor (IDE) is now distributed for free as an open-source application on GitHub, licensed under the MIT license for all supported operating systems, including GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and, of course, Microsoft Windows.

The latest available release at the moment of writing this article is version 0.10.1, but Microsoft announced that it put the software in Beta and declared it "the most significant release since the launch," and just by looking at the release notes, we can notice that Visual Studio Code Beta is a massive update with numerous new features.

Among the most important ones, we can mention support for TextMate snippets, debug console improvements, easy variable selection, debug environment configuration, node.js debugging, improved debug hover behavior, improved syntax highlighting, environment variable substitution, and new difference view settings.

Steam for Linux Passes 1600 Games Exactly Three Years After Launch

Steam has changed the Linux ecosystem forever

Steam for Linux has been around for three years, and it completely changed the landscape, bringing a lot of games to Gnu/Linux and signaling to the industry that this OS is ready to become a gaming platform for who want to Switch to Gnu/Linux.

The launch of Steam for Linux back in November 2012 has done much more than just convince a lot of developers to port their games to the open source OS. It sent a clear signal to the entire community, not just gaming, that it’s time to look at Gnu/Linux more carefully and start building products for it and expecting more Gnu/Linux laptops for next upcoming years.

Let’s just take the example of Nvidia and AMD. Both companies had drivers for Linux users, but they were in a really poor state, and they didn’t seem to care. The advent of gaming changed all that and we now have much more frequent driver releases, and it’s clear that the developers from these companies have a lot more work to do. Also, Nvidia is working to port the available middleware as well.

Where is Steam for Gnu/Linux going?

Right now, there are over 1600 games (1618) on the Steam for Linux, and the number of releases increases all the time. More developers choose to port the titles for Linux users, developers change their engines to export for Linux, and feature parity between Windows and Linux graphics will be a fact once the new Vulkan (OpenGL spiritual successor) is released.

We can’t really say that Steam for Linux is a success, as it’s still too early to tell. What we do know is that Valve is also heavily investing a new Linux operating system named SteamOS, based on Debian, and it has big plans for the future.

Valve is playing the long game and they don’t seem to expect fast results. As it stands right now, the Linux users account for about 1%, but they do hope that’s going to change in the future, albeit not the immediate one.

Microsoft Names End Date For Windows, 7 Is Going Away, Keep Calm and Switch to Gnu/Linux

A new message inviting Windows users to adopt Gnu/Linux is making the rounds online

There are a lot of malicious Linux messages on the Internet against Microsoft, Apple, and others, but some of them are actually very well done, friendly, and could be easily adopted as a motto.

These types of messages are bound to increase in frequency as we approach the end of life for Windows XP, on April 8. Even if the message is not specifically targeted at Windows, everyone seems to assume that this is the case.

Fans of an older Windows operating system have reason to feel the pang of nostalgia today: Microsoft has quietly announced the end date for Windows 7. This end date will affect the sale of computers with the operating system pre-installed, but the announcement also lists two further dates when support will be cancelled.

According to their Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet page, the sale of new Windows 7 Professional machines from authorized retailers will end on October 31, 2016; the sale of Windows 7 Home machines ended last year in October. The end of the support for the OS was January of this year for the mainstream support, with the end of extended support coming around in January of 2020.

Interestingly, Windows 8 has a weird end of life schedule, too. Windows 8 pre-installed machines will leave the market before the end of the run for Windows 7 Pro, as retail sales of the devices will cease on June 30, 2016. Windows 8.1 machines get to hang on a little longer, ending on the same date as the sales of Windows 7 Pro machines, October 31. The end of mainstream support for 8.1 will be in January of 2018, with extended support ending in January of 2023.

Here’s an interesting mention from the Fact Sheet that comes with no fanfare or explanation: Windows 10 mainstream support is slated to end in five years; extended support will end in ten years. While this probably only indicates that Microsoft is preparing for service pack updates–as the case with the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 dates, meaning we can expect a different time frame for any versions like Windows 10.1 or later–it does call into question the “software as a service” shift that was to take place with the new OS. The early reports from industry experts had a “the last software you’ll ever need” feel to their assessment due to the changing SaaS model of charging for new cloud-based features.

The Gnu/Linux community is expecting that a number of Windows users will choose to stop using Windows products and switch to a Gnu/Linux distribution. That is very unlikely, but it hasn't stopped people from constantly inviting users to try Linux and from modifying well-known memes in order to get the message across. Xiaomi's long-rumored Gnu/Linux laptop will be entering production in the first part of 2016, which will be serious competition with windows.

If you have seen any more interesting and funny Linux messages, don't be shy and leave a comment in the section below.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 2 dual-mode notebook

Lenovo has planned to sell the IdeaPad Flex 2 multi-mode notebook in India for a price of Rs 42,250 for users who are not interested in carrying multiple devices all the time. Like its Yoga counterparts, the laptop can act as a tablet when its display is flipped backwards. The company has a range of such gadgets on offer and only recently it launched slates under the Yoga brand which can be used in various modes.

To make the Flex 2 capable of offering the functionality of a tablet, it has been fitted with a 10-point multi-touch display apart from the AccuType keyboard which also graces the gadget. This screen claims to render visuals in 1366 x 768 pixel resolution and can bend up to an angle of 300 degrees. This flexibility lets you have a makeshift stand to position the notebook on a table.

The Flex 2 includes 720p Webcam, USB 3.0 ports, memory card slots, HDMI ports, connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 4GB of DDR3L RAM and high performance GPU Nvidia GeForce GT 740M . It can be customized with a fourth generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors and a 45Wh battery stays under the hood to deliver battery life of about 9 hours runs on Windows 8 .

Its exterior measures 13.51 x 9.87 x 0.23 inches and weighs in at around 2 kilograms. The device is drenched in the shade of black and features silver-grey edges. And as it sports an HD webcam, you can engage in video conferencing over the internet as well. Wireless communication options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are present along with connectivity ports for USB and HDMI cables. It even has a memory card slot.

Microsoft Surface Desire Tablet

Microsoft Surface is an upcoming series of tablets designed and marketed by Microsoft. It was announced by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at a Los Angeles event on June 18, 2012, at Milk Studios.

The Surface will be available in two versions, "Surface" and "Surface Pro". The "Surface" model will run the Windows RT operating system and use an ARM CPU. The "Surface Pro" model will run the Windows 8 Pro operating system and use an Intel CPU.The display is a 10.6 inches (27 cm), 16:9 widescreen HD Display (Surface), or Full HD Display (Surface Pro).

The perceived success or failure of what was shown is obviously subjective, and comes down to whether or not you believe in what Microsoft is showing. Moreover, can Microsoft's strategy with the Surface -- and all Windows 8 tablets, for that matter -- succeed in not just being a No. 2 to the iPad, but in being a true iPad rival?

Difference ipod-microsoft surface:

Apple's iPads run iOS while MacBooks run OS X, and the two approach each other without meeting or sharing apps. The disadvantage is that an iPad can't be a true Mac replacement. Windows 8 tablets are full-fledged computers capable of running both tablet apps and full computer applications. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft is ahead of the game or muddying the waters. Meanwhile, the Surface RT only runs apps, like the iPad.

its release date is in mid of January 2013

Microsoft has not confirmed a price for the Surface tablet, but rumors have circulated that the device will cost about $199. If the purported price of the Surface tablet is correct, it will be the cheapest full-sized tablet to be released this fall

the iPods support the keyboards via Bluetooth..they can't be directly connected..

where the surface comes with that facility.the surface can be used as tablet and laptop as well..hope Microsoft  surface is going to come up more with their own hardware like surface


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Microsoft Surface Shames Partners in Best Possible Way

You could be mistaken for believing that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was channeling the spirit of Steve Jobs during the launch event of Microsoft's new Surface tablets. Tell me if you think this sounds familiar:

"We believe that any intersection between human and machine can be made better when hardware and software are considered together."

It's a page ripped right out of the Apple playbook, and I don't blame Microsoft for taking matters into its own hands. In fact, Microsoft's self-made tablets look like the best thing to happen to the PC industry in a long time. Nevermind the fact that Microsoft is competing with its own partners. The company just helped them by putting them on notice.

Leading up to the launch of Windows 8, I've seen a lot of laptop-tablet hybrid designs that attempt to marry the two classes of products. Some are Ultrabooks with touch capability while others are slates that detach from a dock. But the Surface is the first hybrid that feels like a fully integrated and holistic solution. The premium magnesium design screams “high-quality,” while the sturdy kickstand that folds out from the device is ideal for entertainment and typing.

Which brings us to the Touch Cover. It's an ingenious accessory that attaches to the device magnetically but does Apple's Smart Cover one better by building in a ultrathin, pressure-sensitive keyboard and touchpad. Add in Office 15 and you have the Microsoft equivalent of the iPad Pro.

The Surface will come in two flavors, one powered by an Nvidia ARM processor running Windows RT and another with an Intel CPU running Windows 8 Pro. The former product looks like it has more potential for success because it’s lighter (1.5 versus 2 pounds) and will be cheaper. The Surface for Windows 8 Pro looks more like an enterprise play, with the distinct advantage of supporting Microsoft’s huge library of desktop apps.

Nevertheless, both Surface tablets seem to cater more to mobile professionals than everyday consumers. After all, lots of iPad owners seem content typing on a touch screen. But to me, that’s a smart move. I’ve yet to use the iPad for work on a regular basis because it simply doesn’t do enough for me as a productivity machine. There’s a real opening here for Microsoft.

The Surface launch event left a lot of questions unanswered. We don’t know the exact resolutions of the screens, just a vague ClearType HD for the ARM tablet and Full HD for the Intel one. And we don’t know the rated battery life of either product. Most important, Microsoft hasn’t yet provided details on pricing, although the company does say the Surface for Windows RT will be priced competitively with other ARM-based Windows 8 (we’re guessing $500 to $600) slates and that the Surface for Windows 8 Pro will have a similar cost to an Ultrabook (probably about $1,000).

Microsoft shouldn’t be the least bit skittish about going head to head with its Windows 8 licensees. It should be proud of the Surface’s sexy industrial design and for forcefully rebutting Apple CEO Tim Cook's claim that putting PCs and tablets together is like mashing together refrigerators and toasters. If Microsoft’s partners are wise, they’ll turn that jealousy into inspiration — or just get out of the way.

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Microsoft terminates Windows Gadgets with extreme prejudice

Hey, Windows users! Microsoft has some bad, or possibly good, news.

It's recommending that all users disable the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets — immediately.

"Disabling the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets can help protect customers from vulnerabilities that involve the execution of arbitrary code by the Windows Sidebar when running insecure Gadgets," states a security advisory released Tuesday (July 10) by Microsoft.

"In addition, Gadgets installed from untrusted sources can harm your computer and can access your computer's files, show you objectionable content, or change their behavior at any time."

Fidget, widget, gadget

Gadgets are those little mini-applications, resembling animated icons, that hang around the desktop to tell you the time, weather, news headlines and so on. (Other software makers, including Apple and Yahoo!, call them "widgets.")

'Gadgets installed from untrusted sources can harm your computer.'
- Microsoft security advisory

Gadgets, and the Windows Sidebar they live in, first appeared in 2007 as a default setting in Vista. Many users hated them, complained that they took up too many computer resources and turned them off immediately.

Windows 7 has Gadgets built in as well, but they're turned off by default. Instead of being in a sidebar pinned to the right edge of the screen, Gadgets are in a floating window that can be placed anywhere on the desktop.

If you're running Windows 7 and really want to see them, right-click on your desktop and select "Gadgets."

But Microsoft now wishes you really wouldn't. Its security advisory points to a download page that contains a tool users can run to disable Gadgets and, in Vista, the Sidebar. 

The page where Microsoft used to host additional Gadgets for download now states, "The Windows website no longer hosts the gadget gallery."

Pre-emptive execution

Graham Cluley of the British security firm Sophos thinks Microsoft's sudden decision to kill a five-year-old piece of software has to do with a presentation, entitled  " We Have You by the Gadgets," scheduled for the Black Hat security conference later this month in Las Vegas.

"We will be talking about the Windows Gadget platform and what the nastiness that can be done with it," state the presenters in less-than-perfect English on the Black Hat website. "We will be talking about our research into creating malicious gadgets, misappropriating legitimate gadgets and the sorts of flaws we have found in published gadgets."

Presumably, the presenters will demonstrate how easy it is to create Trojan-horse malware in the form of gadgets.

It's likely that the problem lies with third-party gadgets, not Microsoft's own, but Cluley found it noteworthy that Microsoft isn't even trying to fix the problem.

"Microsoft hasn't issued a security patch to fix the vulnerability," he wrote on Sophos' Naked Security blog. "They're suggesting you completely nuke your Windows Sidebar and Gadgets."

Gadgets have not yet appeared in the preview versions of Windows 8, due this fall, and likely never will.

Microsoft's secret weapon in mobile gaming: DirectX on Windows Phone 8

Not many people remember this, but the original Xbox got its name from Microsoft's plans to deliver a "Direct X Box" to the home console market. Feeling the need to counteract the growing influence of consoles at the turn of the century, Microsoft sought to bring DirectX — its proprietary collection of programming interfaces (APIs) used to build games for Windows — to the living room. 

While its first attempt was rightly derided as a chopped-down desktop PC dressed up in home entertainment garb, the consequent Xbox 360 has been a runaway success with users, and its slim second iteration has also been a fantastic feat of hardware engineering to boot. And it all started with that seemingly innocuous group of APIs. Now, Direct X is coming to Windows Phone.

Before we all get too far ahead of ourselves, let's recall just how many years it took Microsoft to perfect its home console recipe with the Xbox. Wading into a new market is always difficult, mistakes will inevitably be made along the way, and progress will be slower than interested observers will want it to be. So no, you won't soon be taking your Crysis 2 gaming session on the road with just the Windows Phone handset in your pocket. But the potential is most certainly there.

Whereas the commonalities between the original Xbox and the desktop PC were initially scorned, with Windows Phone 8, being similar to Windows is the point. Obviously not in hardware terms, but Microsoft's message from the Windows Phone Summit is crystal clear: the software underpinnings of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 have a "shared core," which is composed of the same kernel and multiple other coding interfaces that make it easy for developers to port apps between the two. The reason I consider DirectX the most critical one among them should by now be self-evident, but it's easy enough to illustrate by pointing out that DX incompatibility is the main reason why the Mac has long trailed far behind Windows in terms of desktop and laptop gaming.

WITH WINDOWS PHONE 8, BEING SIMILAR TO WINDOWS IS A GOOD THING

Microsoft has already signed up third-party middleware providers like Havok and Autodesk to support WP8, with yesterday's Summit including multiple demos showing off the Havok Physics engine. The most encouraging aspect came at the end, when Head of Product Management Andrew Bowell noted that it took Havok" under three weeks" to port its rather gruesome "full fat" body simulation asset.

Yes, Havok already supports Android, iOS, and plenty of other platforms, but it's just another solid piece in the mobile gaming puzzle that Microsoft is putting together. Adding native development support, giving game makers access to the low-level APIs that they've wanted and been denied on Windows Phone until this new version, is going to drive a lot of interest. Microsoft is still going to face challenges in increasing its smartphone market share, but at least now games like Shadowgun won't be prevented by technical barriers from appearing on its platform.

Beyond giving devs access to mature and familiar tools in DirectX, Microsoft offers another big advantage over Android: a consistent hardware platform. Calling Android fragmented may sound like a tired and ancient complaint, but it remains sadly valid. If Android devices could offer consistent baseline specs to game developers, we wouldn't need things like the Tegra Zone or Play Station Mobile to tell us where to find games with higher-quality graphics. Microsoft may be in the midst of performing another hardware reset with Windows Phone 8 — the lack of backwards compatibility to Windows Phone 7 devices is a bitter pill to swallow — but its continued focus on standardized specs gives game makers a set of goalposts that isn't shifting as rapidly as on Google's platform.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO, BUT WINDOWS PHONE'S GAMING POTENTIAL NO LONGER HAS A CEILING

In choosing the snapdragon S4 Plus as the processor and a high-res 1280 x 768 as the max resolution, Microsoft is going for the best currently available technology with its new platform. That's a lesson learned from its initial launch of Windows Phone 7, which ran very smoothly in itself, but was released on a Snapdragon core that was immediately superseded by faster and more efficient parts.

None of the foregoing factors are guarantees for success, as Microsoft's timing and execution with Windows Phone 8's release will still be decisive, but there's great reason to feel encouraged about the future of mobile gaming on Windows Phone 8. Whereas Android has a massive and hungry audience and seemingly no consistent way to sate it, Microsoft looks to have all the pieces in place to deliver compelling new gaming experiences. The former is the opportunity, the latter is the tool with which to exploit it.

Now it's just a matter of convincing game makers to make games — shouldn't be too hard, right?

Apple's war with Google heats up

When Apple Inc kicks off its annual conference for software developers on Monday, all the power players in the Apple universe will be on hand, save the one that is in many ways driving the agenda: Google Inc. 

More than ever, the consumer electronics juggernaut finds itself in a pitched battle with the online search giant - in smartphones, cloud computing and the never-ending competition for the hearts and minds of the best software developers.

Apple is expected to announce its own mapping application, challenging the position of Google Maps as one of the most-valued features on the iPhone. It will unveil closer integration of its iPhone apps and iCloud storage service with all its devices, the latest riposte in its battle with Google's Android smartphone software.

When Apple Inc kicks off its annual conference for software developers on Monday, all the power players in the Apple universe will be on hand, save the one that is in many ways driving the agenda: Google Inc.
More than ever, the consumer electronics juggernaut finds itself in a pitched battle with the online search giant - in smartphones, cloud computing and the never-ending competition for the hearts and minds of the best software developers.

Apple on Monday is expected to announce its own mapping application, challenging the position of Google Maps as one of the most-valued features on the iPhone. It will unveil closer integration of its iPhone apps and iCloud storage service with all its devices, the latest riposte in its battle with Google's Android smartphone software.

It may promote the latest in Siri, the voice interface that the company thinks can continue to set the iPhone and the iPad apart from the Android pack.

And there will likely be a new line of Macintosh laptops too - underscoring the leverage that a full line of hardware products can bring to what is mainly a software war with Google.

Apple is looking to differentiate its mobile devices from Google's Android by further enticing consumers deeper into its app ecosystem, said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Gartner Research.

"It's all about loyalty and basically leveraging the opportunity of selling more to them," she said. "I don't think the consumers in the mass market are necessarily tied into the Android ecosystem in the same way that consumers on the Apple side are."

Battling in many arenas, the rivals employ different weapons. Apple's vise-like grip on its ecosystem - with the closely managed app store and its seamless integration with the hardware - stands in sharp contrast to Google's free-for-all approach.

An Apple computer is shown on Google's company campus in Mountain View, California February 9, 2010.

The open system approach, reminiscent of Microsoft Corp's hugely successful strategy of creating standard-setting software that runs on a variety of hardware, has allowed Android to capture the market lead in smartphones (albeit with nothing close to Apple's profit margins).

Android has also helped create several potent hardware rivals to Apple. Samsung Electronics' Android-driven Galaxy S III is drawing favorable comparisons to iPhone and Amazon.com Inc's cheaper Kindle Fire is challenging Apple in tablets and digital content.

Apple's expected move to replace Google Maps with its own mapping application is a particularly dramatic example of how the rivalry between the companies has been evolving.

Google has invested huge sums in its mapping technology over the years, and about half of its map traffic now comes from iPhones and iPads. Among other things, the traffic from those devices reveals valuable location data that helps improve the mapping service and provides features like real-time traffic reports.

Apple has spent three years preparing to take mapping back. It has integrated technology from acquisitions such as 3D mapping company C3 Technologies, Canadian startup Poly9 Group and mapping service Placebase, said ISI analyst Brian Marshall.

"As Apple builds out its Siri service, they build out the iCloud infrastructure and more capability into its operating system, location data is going to become important," said Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu.
"This could help their advertising business too."

MULTI-PRONGED BATTLE

In what was seen as a pre-emptive move against Apple's upcoming maps service, Google on Wednesday showed off its own mapping capabilities, including soon-to-be-launched 3D features.

While Google executives avoided any comment on the possibility of being ousted as a default service on Apple devices, one executive said the integration with Google's search engine provides a mapping service that is far more useful than a product that simply uses a "geocoder.

Apple began to use its own geocoder - technology that uses geographic coordinates to create a digital map - for the Google-based maps on its smartphones late last year, a move that was seen as a precursor to Apple using its own map software.

Another software upgrade that fans and developers are hoping for is Siri, a popular voice-enabled personal assistant service that Google has yet to match.

The service could come out of its beta testing phase and show up on the iPad when Apple unveils iOS6 or the next version of its mobile operating software.

Siri, which has been plagued with connectivity and other issues, is still in beta test version.

Apple's global war on Google and Android in the courts is one sign of how seriously it is taking the potential threat. The consumer device giant is seeing limited success, though, in courtrooms for various patent infringement cases it has against Android manufacturers.

Apple said this week it is mulling a legal order to stop the U.S. launch of Samsung Galaxy S III phone later this month. Samsung is one of the biggest Android phone manufacturers.

In another of the many lawsuits worldwide pitting Apple against Motorola Mobility, now owned by Google, a federal judge canceled a scheduled trial as neither could prove damages. That decision particularly hurts Apple because the iPhone maker was seeking an injunction barring the sale of Android products, said Brian Love, a professor at Stanford Law School.

"The Android side is likely thrilled to simply have the case go away," Love said.
Apple declined to comment on the case.


MACBOOK REDESIGN IN THE WORKS


Where Apple has the upper hand is in its hardware - groundbreaking in design, vastly popular with consumers for its ease of use.

The redesigned MacBook laptops to hit the stage next week are expected to include high-definition screens and Intel Corp's Ivy Bridge cutting-edge processors. Some even expect the iPad's "retina" display to show up on the MacBook line.

This would be Apple's first big redesign of the MacBook Pro since mid-2009. With the new lineup, it hopes to fend off budding competition from rival manufacturers who are pushing a spate of new, thinner laptops called "Ultrabooks."


Windows 8, a new version of Microsoft's flagship operating system that runs on tablet computers as well as PCs, will bolster PC makers' ability to offer premier computers rivaling Apple's MacBook line.

Already, about 20 touch-enabled ultrabook designs with various styles of foldable, detachable or sliding keyboards running the new Windows 8 system are in the pipeline.

The MacBook line generated 13 percent, or about $5 billion, of Apple's fiscal second-quarter revenue. Unit sales of the aging lineup were up 7 percent from the previous year but were down 23 percent sequentially.



 Whatever the case, Apple fans and partners can look forward to a fairly action-packed week.
"Apple is very serious about getting far in front of Windows 8 and Ultrabooks," said Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes. But "software and services will be the focus, with major enhancements to Maps, iCloud and Siri, which developers and users can take advantage of."

Microsoft takes on Apple with plans to bring Xbox gaming to tablets and smartphones as firm launches 'next-generation smart TV'

Microsoft has revealed plans to bring its Xbox gaming service to tablet computers and mobile phones.
New software called 'Smart Glass' will let console owners use their phone or tablet as a remote control for their games console, and to see information about shows as they watch.
They can also 'beam' video and music from their phone to their Xbox.

Launch: Microsoft's Phil Spencer speaks at the Xbox briefing event in Los Angeles on Monday

Network: Future versions of the console will work with smartphones, tablet computers and televisions

Smart Glass: The new technology is believed to be an attempt to compete with the likes of Apple

Connected: The next generation of televisions is expected to be hooked up to the internet by default

Browser: A new version of Internet Explorer is designed to work with the XboxSpectacle: R&B star Usher performed at the Microsoft event which came ahead of the E3 convention

Anticipation: Queues for the Microsoft media briefing show the excitement around the new Xbox launch

'Every TV becomes smart next-generation TV,' said Xbox's Don Mattrick at a glitzy press conference which featured a performance from rap star Usher.
It comes as Apple is also believed to developing a smart TV which some analysts say could be on sale early next year.

Xbox showed a demonstration of its technology using HBO show Game of Thrones, with users seeing a map of the show's locations which changed in real time as the episode progressed.
The software is set to be launched later this year, and is expected to be free for console owners.

'This is a breakthrough in entertainment that makes all your devices work together,' said Mark Witten of Xbox live. 'Xbox Smart Glass works with TV, phone and tablet.'
Microsoft also revealed it is releasing a version of its Internet Explorer web browser for the console, which will let users use a phone or remote as a trackpad to navigate web pages.
The company also unveiled a new music service for its Xbox console designed to take on iTunes and Spotify.
Called Xbox Music, it is set to launch later this year, and will also work on phones and tablets running Microsoft software.
It will allow users to download and listen to music through their living room TV, as well as on their mobile. The firm also showed the service running on tablet computer, but refused to reveal any details of pricing.
The firm also showed off a raft of new games for its Xbox console at the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles, including a new version of the hugely popular Halo and Call of Duty.
Microsoft has also signed a deal with Nike to create a new fitness game using the Kinect camera, which can track players as they work out, and even let them work out with others.
'Nike plus Kinect training will give you access to the same training as our elite athletes,' said Nike's Stefan Orlando.
'You can earn fuel points, and be reminded via your phone every time you are due a workout.'

MICROSOFT RELEASES THEIR OWN SOCIAL NETWORK SOCL FOR PUBLIC

In a world where social structure plays a major role more and more companies are trying to pump into the competitive world of social networking to grab a piece of the action after seeing how Facebook rose from a room in Harvard to a full blown 100 Billion Dollar IPO. Last year we saw the attempt of Google doing it with their Google+Social network and this year Microsoft takes the leap of faith with their brand new website called so.cl.

The name might sound a bit odd at first but Microsoft believes that the social network will specifically cater in connecting students from across the globe. We all know that Facebook’s initial objective back in 2004 was to connect all guys studying at Harvard University. So the question is with Facebook domination this segment of the industry do we see a place for so.cl? In 2011 we all saw how Google+ was all hyped up and compared to Facebook. Many critics thought that Facebook’s domination will finally be over with Google jumping into the niche but after a few months things looked rather flat for Google and we saw Facebook crossing the 900 million user mark.

The reason why so.cl might attract certain audience is the fact that it integrates searching the web and social networking into a seamless environment. In fact when you join so.cl the first page that you are going to land looks a lot like a windows phone layout with various tabs covering different topics which you can browse further.

Microsoft has been respectful to Facebook by offering a Login with Facebook button on their social networking platform as well.  This gesture passively displays yet another confirmation of Social Media domination from the industry giant Facebook.Most of the features of so.cl are pretty similar to other social networks. The peer to peer connection happens with the help of a follow button similar to that of Twitter. You have your own personalized feed, profile pages, and you can browse through various topics using the explore button.

A significant new addition to this new network is a feature called Video Party. The dedicated button to start a video party can be found on the top right hand sidebar. Video Party allows you to stack up multiple videos and watch them together while you guys can still enjoy commenting and sharing your views. It’s like watching a concert or a sports match together virtually with your friends.

So.cl is still pre-mature and I am sure that Microsoft will be improving and adding lots of features to this website. I am keen on seeing how users respond to yet another Social Network and how it will integrate with later version of Windows Mobile.

Microsoft’s on{x} pushes mobile automation to new heights, but only for Android users [video]

Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled a new app and set of APIs called on{x}, which pushes smartphone automation to new heights. The app allows users to write custom scripts that automate various smartphone functions based on time, location and a number of parameters similar software does not currently support. On{x} opens the door to a wide range of functionality that isn’t widely available anywhere else, but for the time being, users with smartphones powered by Microsoft's own Windows Phone platform won’t have access to any of it.

In a demonstration video posted by Microsoft on Tuesday, Microsoft researchers provide a number of intriguing examples of functionality that might be automated by on{x}. In one example, the app automatically sends a text message to the user’s boyfriend when she leaves work to let him know she is on her way to meet him. In another, the app’s “modeOfTransport” API is utilized to make a smartphone automatically adjust its settings based on whether the user is walking, running or driving a car.

While writing the scripts to trigger various actions does require some programing knowledge, Microsoft includes a number of “recipes” for various actions on its on{x} website that can be pushed to devices without any alterations needed on the part of the user. Users can manage all of their recipes on the on{x} website as well, and new ones can easily be sent to devices right from the site’s control panel.

So what’s the catch? In an interesting twist, on{x} is only available for Android devices.

Microsoft set to release Office for iOS and Android tablets in November

BGR has learned from a reliable source that Microsoft is currently planning to release the company’s full Office suite for not only Apple’s iPad, but for Android tablets as well. The company is targeting November of this year for both launches. Additionally, our source has seen Microsoft Office running on an iPad first-hand and has said that it looks almost identical to the previous leak from The Daily a few months back, despite the fact that Microsoft flat out denied that the app was authentic. It is also plausible that Microsoft Office will be coming to the iPhone and iPod touch rather than only the iPad, as we’re told the loading screen in the app clearly said “Office for iOS” and not just iPad.