The Latest Windows Phone News

Microsoft's marketing chief confirms new 'breakthrough' phone, talks Windows 10 upgrade push

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...akthrough-phone-talks-windows-10-upgrade-push

Flanked by Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft veteran Chris Capossela appeared on Windows Weekly via Skype to provide insight into the company’s activities over the past year.

Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer and former speech writer for Bill Gates offered tantalizing details around Redmond’s phone hardware efforts, yielded no concessions on the relentless and unclear upgrade push in Windows 7 and 8, and spun Azure as being light years ahead of Google and Oracle’s business cloud efforts.

Surface Phone

In the interview, Foley pressed Capossela about Microsoft’s lagging mobile efforts, saying she’s “abandoning hope” in Windows and considering an iPhone purchase. Confirming that the company is working on a “breakthrough” phone that’s the “spiritual equivalent” of the Surface tablet line, Capossela asked for more patience, saying “we need time to actually go build that.” Although he never referred to the new phone using the Surface or Surface Phone brand, the specificity of Capossela's comments appear to confirm that Microsoft is working on a high-end handset separate from the usual Lumia design.

Windows 10 Mobile

On the software front, Capossela acknowledged the lack of some mainstream and specialized apps, and the need to attract younger consumers to Windows Mobile, conceding that Snapchat, for instance, is key to this effort.

Specifically, Capossela reiterated the Universal Windows Platform strategy: create phone momentum around universal apps by leveraging the ubiquity of Windows PCs.

“The more we get a big install base for Windows 10, the better off our phone is… getting 110 million people to upgrade in the first 10 weeks… and in the New Year we’ll probably have more to share on the latest numbers… Just getting the install base to be really large is so critical to getting back to writing windows apps, and it’s really our best shot at phone apps… That is the strategy to getting our developers back in the fold.”

Windows 10 Upgrade Push(iness)

Capossela revealed some frank and fascinating insight on how Microsoft views the recent pushback against its aggressive Windows 10 upgrade screens presented to users of previous versions. For example, a recent "Get Windows 10" dialog shows no clear and obvious way to decline the upgrade. Not backing down at all, he said the company is “really trying to push people to get to Windows 10… we’re going to keep at it,” adding that “it’s hard to move anyone to a new model without angering some people.”

Microsoft’s marketing chief, with a touch of paternalism, justified the pushy tactics: “We do feel a responsibility to get people to a much better place.” Citing security concerns and device incompatibilities with previous versions of Windows, he joked that users can stay with Windows 7 “at their own peril… We do worry when people are running an operating system that’s 10 years old, that the next printer they buy isn’t going to work well… or [they get] Fallout 4 and it doesn’t work on a bunch of older machines.

“We’re willing to put up with some level of discomfort if we feel like we’re getting more and more people to a safer, better operating system that’s frankly better for everyone in the ecosystem… it’s better for Intel, Dell, HP… our customers.”

Ultimately, Microsoft wants consumers to view updating their PCs in the same way they accept the latest software on their mobile devices. Capossela noted, for instance, that people are “comfortable” with updating their Xbox, iPhone and Android devices.

Another tidbit: Satya Nadella and the senior leadership team are intimately involved in influencing the upgrade screens and language presented to users of Windows 7 and 8, providing direct feedback to designers for what is clearly a strategically important experience for Microsoft.

HP Falcon smartphone is real, said to debut at MWC 2016

http://www.neowin.net/news/hp-falcon-smartphone-is-real-said-to-debut-at-mwc-2016

It was only a couple weeks ago when we caught wind of a mysterious smartphone device running Windows 10 Mobile. Code-named the "HP Falcon", the device sported some impressive hardware but only existed as a benchmark product. Now, German tech news group Dr. Windows claims to have the inside scoop on this "Falcon" device and when it could be revealed.

Assuming the source is correct, the "HP Falcon" is actually made by Hewlett-Packard and will be a business-oriented device. The Falcon would be the first smartphone to run Windows 10 Mobile that doesn't carry the Lumia branding and is said to be unveiled at the 2016 Mobile World Congress event. If you're unfamiliar with this emerging device, below is the spec listing that passed through GFXbench.

Windows 10 Mobile could arrive January 12

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-mobile-could-arrive-january-12

The rumor mill has been abuzz this weekend with various sources stating Windows 10 Mobile will be shortly available for Windows Phone 8.1 devices. First we had the @LumiaHelp account on Twitter who said that Windows 10 Mobile will become available "soon". Secondly, we got news from NokiaPowerUser (NPU) whose sources claim that Microsoft is preparing to make some Mobile related announcements on January 12.

@Devangtwi_1991 Win 10 Mobile will become available soon. Lumia 950 & 950 XL ship with Win 10, w/ additional devices to follow shortly. ^MS

— Lumia Help (@LumiaHelp) January 2, 2016
We know Microsoft is gearing up to officially release Windows 10 Mobile for older devices but as with all unverified rumors this info should be taken with a pinch of salt.. NPU also claims that the Lumia 850 will be unveiled at a rumored January 12 'event'.

When the new updates are made available for users, Microsoft may be able to push the update to devices without the carriers' involvement. We know that users on Windows 10 Mobile can get updates to new versions directly from Microsoft without being approved by carriers, but it's unclear whether this update from Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 Mobile will require carrier approval.

Source: NPU

Microsoft now selling the Lumia 550 unlocked in the US

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Microsoft-now-selling-the-Lumia-550-unlocked-in-the-US_id77110

Back in early December, Microsoft launched the entry-level Lumia 550 in several markets across the globe, and now it looks like the Redmond-based tech giant is ready to sell the smartphone unlocked through its US web store as well.
Previously, the Microsoft Lumia 550 was available from third-party retailers such as B&H Photo Video, but now that the phone is available from Microsoft itself, we can say that the device has officially launched on US shores.

The unlocked Microsoft Lumia 550 is priced at $139 over at Microsoft.com, which is $10 cheaper than what B&H is asking for the same device. Unfortunately, though, Microsoft only sells the black version at the moment, while B&H also has the white version on sale. As an unlocked smartphone, the device can work with both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.


At $139.99 with no contractual obligations, the Microsoft Lumia 550 is the cheapest way to get your hands on a smartphone that landed with Windows 10 Mobile out of the box, although you shouldn't expect to get top-class performance at this price point.
Compared to the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL flagships, the Lumia 550 has a much more modest nature. It integrates a 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 chipset (literally the slowest chip that Qualcomm currently manufactures), 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, a 5MP primary camera, and a 2MP secondary shooter on the front.

Did HP drop a teaser of its upcoming Windows 10 Mobile 'Falcon' into a recent press image?

http://www.neowin.net/news/did-hp-d...ws-10-mobile-falcon-into-a-recent-press-image

Two days ago, HP announced the new EliteBook Folio, which was "built in collaboration with Microsoft and Skype for Business to deliver a first-class experience for users", and an image was made available to the press of this new device, which you can see below.

However, as Microsoft Insider pointed out, it seems that there is a little more to this picture than initially meets the eye. If you concentrate on the top left portion of the image, you can see what is obviously a Windows 10 Mobile phone, because even though it's quite blurry, we can still make out its distinctive tiled interface. Other key points include an obvious rounded bezel with what looks likemetal edges, and a button on the side.

Pre-orders open for Coship Moly X1, an ultra-thin $299.99 Windows 10 Mobile handset

http://www.neowin.net/news/pre-orde...an-ultra-thin-29999-windows-10-mobile-handset

Although the previous generation of Windows smartphones were dominated by releases from Nokiaand Microsoft - Lumia devices still account for 97% of all Windows handsets - more companies are continuing to join the platform following the launch of Windows 10 Mobile. The latest to offer a handset running Microsoft's new OS is a company that goes by the name Coship, which will be shipping its handset at the end of the month.

It isn't a high-end device by any means, but it does offer some compelling components at a reasonable price. The specifications for the Moly X1 are listed below:

• 5.5" 1080p display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
• 2GB RAM with 16GB of storage with microSD expansion
• 2600mAh battery rated at 300 hours of standby, 7 hours of talk
• 13.0MP rear camera with 5MP front-facing camera
• Bluetooth 4.0 A2DP/HFP/OPP
• Wi-Fi supporting b/g/n
• Dimensions: 154.8 x 78.6 x 6.9mm

Coship isn't the first brand we have seen outside of Microsoft to offer something new, with brands like NuAns from Japan, Alcatel and others going the distance with their own Windows 10 Mobile offerings. Acer has even thrown its hat into the ring with its own high-end handset that should entice those looking for something other than Microsoft's own Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950.

With the platform gradually gaining momentum, other manufacturers may well showcase new Windows 10 Mobile handsets at this year's Mobile World Congress, which takes place in Barcelona next month.

The Coship Moly X1 is now available for pre-order from Amazon via a third party for $299, with shipments due to begin on January 25.

Source: Amazon via WMPoweruser

For some reason, VAIO announces a Windows 10 phone

Be interesting to see how good the hardware is.

http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/03/vaio-made-a-windows-phone/

Japan is getting more Windows Phones. In October, Windows Japanannounced that six companies were tackling Windows 10 for mobile, and following the gorgeous NuAns phone, VAIO has revealed its second eversmartphone. (The funny part is that VAIO's once-parent company went so far as to make a Windows Phone slider, but it never saw the inside of a phone store.) Anyhow, here's the VAIO Phone Biz. It's for business use. It's not a slider, and it's launching next month, but only in Japan for now. Let's see if it's worth getting jealous about.

VAIO's Windows Phone runs Windows 10, and (on paper) has the specifications to make that work -- especially when it comes to Continuum: running a PC environment entirely from your phone. There's an octocore 1.5GHz Snapdragon 617 processor and a full 3GB of RAM, while the screen is an unassuming full-HD resolution. (Then again, if you're streaming to your full-size monitor like a true businessperson, maybe that's less of an issue?) The phone itself is a rather pretty, familiar-looking slab of metal, laser-etched and looking a great deal more glamorous than its rebadged, underwhelming Android predecessor.


While VAIO hopes to concentrate sales inside businesses, it will also launch the phone with help from MVNO stores across Japan. It's a SIM-free model, and it appears that there's no big phone carrier that'll be carrying the phone.) My biggest question is why VAIO chose to make something so nice for Windows 10 Phone -- when Microsoft itself saw sales drop 49 percentlast time it checked. It seems like a risk for the now independent, smaller company.

Classier design, accompanied with an arguably more precarious mobile operating system, the phone will be priced at 50,000 yen, around $432. Which is (at least) far less than an Evangelion phone costs.

'Dozens' more employees are getting fired in Microsoft's phone division

http://www.neowin.net/news/dozens-more-employees-are-getting-fired-in-microsofts-phone-division

Over the past couple of years Microsoft has fired tens of thousands of people across the entire company but perhaps some of the worst cuts have been felt by the mobile vision, those employees that came over after the acquisition of Nokia. After a $7.6 billion write-down, more than 7,800 former Nokians lost their jobs, with another few dozen pink slips will be going out shortly.

The news come from Finnish newspaper Helsigin Sanomat, which claims the affected employees are mostly in the marketing department. Microsoft has also confirmed to Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet that any new firings are not part of the original 7,800 that were announced last year.

Over the previous quarter Microsoft has only sold 4.5 million Lumia devices, and the company warned that even fewer sales are expected to take place over the coming months as the software giant is cutting back on the number of phones it launches and will instead focus on some key categories and device, like the long-rumored Surface phone.

As usual, this is a hard but occasionally necessary side of the smartphone business, though that may be of very little comfort to those that have lost their jobs.

Source: Helsigin Sanomat via: ZDNet

HP's new Windows 10 Mobile phone, codename 'Falcon', expected to launch as the Elite x3


Back in December, a Windows 10 Mobile device was spotted on a benchmarking site, identifying itself as the 'HP Falcon'. Some additional details emerged later that month, suggesting that HP would be targeting the device at business buyers - much the same as VAIO's new Windows 10 Mobile handset, the Phone Biz, which was unveiled last week.

And now, thanks to serial leakster Evan Blass (better known as @evleaks), it seems that the future identity of the device has been revealed too.

Windows 10 Mobile-powered HP Falcon is coming to market as the HP Elite x3.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 12, 2016
According to Evan, the handset - which has so far only been known by its 'Falcon' development codename - will go on sale as the HP Elite x3. That certainly lines up with the notion that it will be aimed at business buyers; HP uses Elite branding for its business-focused devices, which includes the Elite x2 tablet.

Another HP device that shares that branding is the company's new EliteBook Folio, which it unveiled last month; notably, a press image of the new notebook included an unidentified Windows 10 Mobile handset, which may well have been a teaser for the Elite x3 phone.

The Elite x3 is expected to have a 5.8-inch display with Quad HD resolution, and the latest Snapdragon 820 processor, along with support for the PC-like Continuum feature in Windows 10 Mobile.

Source: @evleaks via MicrosoftInsider.es

It's official: Microsoft unveils ultra-thin, metal-bodied Lumia 650, priced at $199

http://www.neowin.net/news/it039s-o...tra-thin-metal-bodied-lumia-650-priced-at-199

After weeks of leaks and rumors, Microsoft finally unveiled the Lumia 650 today. The device was revealed without fanfare and with no launch event; instead it was announced in a post on its Devices Blog.

The Lumia 650 is Microsoft's fourth handset to run Windows 10 Mobile out of the box, following in the footsteps of the Lumias 550, 950 and 950 XL, which it unveiled last October. The ultra-thin device features metallic bodywork and a 5-inch AMOLED screen.

It seems that the 650 is being aimed at business buyers, although the only real explanation for that is this paragraph in the blog post, written by Microsoft's Samuli Hänninen:

I’ve had an opportunity to talk with our business customers as well as our Windows fans and something that consistently comes up is that this ever expanding mobile world is quickly becoming chaotic. It’s in that spirit that we designed the Lumia 650 to bring first class to business class; giving our customers the best of Microsoft productivity and security, all wrapped in a beautiful slim package. By providing a consistent experience across PC and phone through the power of Windows 10, we think professionals and Windows fans alike will love using it every day.

The product information page on Microsoft's website also emphasizes that the Lumia 650 is "built for business", although the device doesn't appear to include any unique features not available on its other handsets that make it uniquely suited to business customers. Its main specs include:

• 5-inch AMOLED with HD (1280x720px) resolution and Gorilla Glass 3
• Quad-core 1.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB onboard storage (plus microSD card support up to 200GB)
• 8MP rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and 720p video recording at 30fps
• 5MP front-facing camera with continous autofocus, 'video light' and 720p video at 30fps
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with support for Wi-Fi calling
• 4G LTE connectivity (bands 1, 3, 7, 8 and 20)
• NFC support
• microUSB 2.0 with Type B connector
• Removable 2000mAh battery
• 142 x 71 x 6.9mm; 122g

Indeed, the Lumia 650 lacks one of the key features of Windows 10 Mobile that Microsoft has been promoting towards business customers: the PC-like Continuum feature that allows users to connect a mouse and keyboard to a handset, and then connect the handset to a larger display, effectively turning it into a mini-PC, complete with desktop-style user interface and Start menu. The Lumia 650's relatively low-end specs don't support Continuum, and while Microsoft Office, Cortana and OneDrive are also highlighted as benefits of the device for business buyers, these features are available not just on other Windows 10 Mobile handsets, and older Windows Phones, but even on Android and iOS.

The announcement does not include any mention of support for dual-SIMs either - another feature popular with business users who frequently travel to other countries. Update: As @teroalhonen pointed out, a dual-SIM version is available; Microsoft just didn't make any mention of it in its blog post.

You can get a quick overview of the Lumia 650 in Microsoft's video below:



The Lumia 650 will go on sale "in select European markets" from February 18, with a suggested retail price of $199 USD before taxes and subsidies. That converts directly to £137 GBP / €178 EUR / Rs.13,550 INR / $279 AUD - but those conversions should only be taken as a rough guide, as local pricing may differ in specific markets.

The Lumia 650 is rumored to be the last handset in Microsoft's Lumia range, as the company is said to be focusing its mobile development efforts on the 'Surface phone', expected later this year.

Microsoft job listing suggests HTC is making Windows 10 Mobile devices

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-job-listing-suggests-htc-is-making-windows-10-mobile-devices

Windows Phone is a dead product in the eyes of many as of late. Since the launch of the Lumia 950/950XL, there's been little news regarding Microsoft's latest mobile OS. Still, Microsoft hasn't stopped from following through with developing the Lumia 650nor has it stopped OEMs like the VAIO and HP from developing new Windows 10 Mobile devices. Knowing this, it may come as no surprise that HTC could be continuing its partnership with Microsoft in the form of new devices.

According to a Microsoft job listing, first reported by WMPU, the company is currently seeking Director of Account Management for Taipei, Taiwan - the location of HTC's headquarters. If you dig into the job listing, there's a section that directly points to "Windows 10 Mobile and Microsoft services" being "combined with HTC's devices" - a good indication of what is coming as a result of the two companies collaborating.

"This person will lead all aspects of sales and business development interaction with HTC, one of our top 3rd party phone device partner accounts. Being the HTC AM will have a heavy emphasis on coordinated strategy development with OSG, Marketing, and OEM. Impact must be driven through senior executive levels up to and including CEO level with the goal to build product portfolio that highlight focused user scenarios around our Windows 10 Mobile and Microsoft services combined with HTC’s devices, applications, and services"

Could Microsoft be working on adopting the next HTC flagship phone to W10M? Since HP's Elite X3 is expected to be a business-minded device and the VAIO is not destined to leave the shores of Japan, there are many questions surrounding the future of W10M. If you're a fan of Microsoft's mobile OS, you'll at least be relieved to hear that its OEM partners aren't ready to give up on the platform yet.

Source: Microsoft Jobs via WMPowerUser

Windows 10 Mobile upgrades will begin on February 29, says Microsoft Mexico

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-...ll-begin-on-february-29-says-microsoft-mexico

Microsoft had originally planned to begin rolling out Windows 10 Mobile to its Windows Phone 8.1 devices at the end of last year, but in December, it revealed that owners of those handsets would have to wait until "early next year".

Several of Microsoft's carrier partners were apparently under the impression that it would begin upgrading devices last month, but reports of a further delay until February proved to be correct. However, there have still been no official announcements about the rollout - although asWinPhoneMetro spotted, one part of the company apparently revealed its upcoming release date earlier this week.

On its Facebook page, Microsoft Mexico told customers on Monday that the update will be available from February 29, also reminding them that not all devices will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft confirmed to Neowin last year that ten of its Windows Phone 8.1 handsets would initially be eligible for the upgrade.

Incidentally, back in September, photos taken at a Microsoft Mexico event prematurely confirmed many of the details about the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the company's latest Windows 10 Mobile flagships, two weeks before they were due to be announced.

Source: Microsoft Mexico (Facebook) via WinPhoneMetro / WMPU

Photos and specs revealed of HP's powerful new Windows 10 Mobile handset, the Elite x3
Looks like a nice device..

http://www.neowin.net/news/photos-a...ul-new-windows-10-mobile-handset-the-elite-x3

Now, the first photos of the device have been revealed by Hungarian site Tech2, and the report also claims to have revealed its key specs:

• 5.96-inch display with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC
• 4GB RAM
• 32GB onboard storage (plus microSD card support up to 200GB)
• 16MP rear camera
• 8MP front-facing camera

• USB 3.0 port with Type-C connector
• Qi wireless charging
• Iris scanner
• Fingerprint scanner
• IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance
• MIL-STD-810 rating, assuring device protection for drops from up to 1 meter
• The images show an asymmetrical speaker grill at the bottom of the Elite x3, along with B&O branding; many of HP's other devices also include audio features co-developed with B&O. The spec details in the report mention a 'dock connection' - this is likely a reference to the handset's support for the PC-like Continuum feature in Windows 10 Mobile.
  
  Despite its mighty specs, the HP handset isn't expected to be aimed directly at the consumer market, but rather at business buyers, as the 'Elite' branding suggests.
  
  Source: Tech2.hu via WMPU
  

HP Elite x3: A closer look at the mighty new Windows 10 Mobile phone, designed for business

http://www.neowin.net/news/hp-elite...windows-10-mobile-phone-designed-for-business

Six years ago, Microsoft announced that HP would be one of its launch partners for Windows Phone 7 – an announcement that proved to be somewhat wide of the mark, as HP not only abandoned the platform before it officially launched, but in the years since then, it hasn’t launched a single Windows Phone handset.

But on Sunday, HP unveiled a new Windows 10 Mobile device – and not just any device either. The new HP Elite x3 is the most powerful Windows handset ever – even more so than Microsoft’s latest flagship phones – and it not only represents the company’s fresh commitment to the mobile platform, but also a compelling and distinctive proposition that sets it apart from all other Windows handsets to date.

Make no mistake: the Elite x3 is a fiercely powerful device, featuring Qualcomm’s latest range-topping Snapdragon 820 SoC, along with 4GB of RAM, and a generous 64GB of storage. But the new device isn’t being aimed at the consumer market, despite its mighty spec sheet. Instead, HP is aiming it squarely at business customers. Indeed, the whole reason for the device existing is to complete HP’s Windows 10 proposition for corporate users, offering them an across-the-board solution from desktop-based systems to portable and ultra-mobile devices.

So why the top-of-the-line specs? After all, unlike consumers – especially those who regularly read technology sites – who tend to demand all of the very latest new features, businesses are generally more practical when it comes to buying hardware. Indeed, businesses simply don’t lust after killer specs in the same way that consumers do – so has HP got it wrong with the Elite x3?

That’s a question that I put to Daren Ng, HP’s Director of Mobility and Commercial Solutions for Asia Pacific and Japan. The simple answer, he said, is ‘no’. In fact, HP has considered this very carefully, not simply building a device with uber-specs for the sake of it, but rather, taking into account exactly what its business customers need.

As you would expect of a technology giant with such prowess in the corporate space – HP is the world’s largest vendor of business PCs – the company has been working closely with its customers to determine their needs, both today and into the future. Consequently, the Elite x3 has been developed not only to satisfy their immediate requirements, but also to ensure that it continues to fulfill those demands for longer than the 18- to 24-month lifecycle of most consumer devices.

But HP is also keeping a close eye on one of the key trends in business devices: the overlap between personal and professional lives of the user. BYOD (‘bring your own device’) is the term that most people will be familiar with on that front – but an increasingly common alternative to that is COPE (corporate-owned, personally-enabled). This alternative allows a business to provide devices to its users, with software fully configured and managed to its own specifications, while allowing the user to enjoy the usage and experiences that they’d get on a handset that they’d purchased for themselves.

With the Elite x3, HP has given careful thought to COPE device management - and not merely as an afterthought to the development process - thanks in no small part to the feedback it’s received from its business customers.

Microsoft officially cancels 'Project Astoria' plans for porting Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile

http://www.androidcentral.com/micro...-plans-porting-android-apps-windows-10-mobile

After months of silence, Microsoft has now officially revealed it has canceled plans to offer developers bridge tools to port Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile, also known as "Project Astoria". Those plans were first revealed at the 2015 Build developer conference.

Microsoft announced Project Astoria alongside "Project Islandwood", which offered iOS app developers a way to port their creations to Windows 10 Mobile. Today, Microsoft stated:

"We received a lot of feedback that having two Bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing. We have carefully considered this feedback and decided that we would focus our efforts on the Windows Bridge for iOS and make it the single Bridge option for bringing mobile code to all Windows 10 devices, including Xbox and PCs. For those developers who spent time investigating the Android Bridge, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the iOS Bridge and Xamarin as great solutions."

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Xamarin, a company that has created tools for making mobile apps for iOS, Android and Windows that can share common code and thus be quickly released for all three platforms.

NYPD Blue: All 36,000 Big Apple cops will be soon using customized Windows Phones

http://www.phonearena.com/news/NYPD...-soon-using-customized-Windows-Phones_id78941

Ironically, Windows Phones are doing a great job keeping crime down in the Big Apple (as in Apple iPhone). 25,000 of New York's Finest already carry a customized Windows Phone handset as part of their regular patrol gear, and the remaining 11,000 officers belonging to the NYPD will be receiving the same phone in the weeks ahead. What model is being employed by the NYPD is unknown. Last week, Microsoft received an order for four million Windows 10Mobile smartphones to be delivered to the Department of Defense over the next year.

Microsoft implies Windows Phone 8.1 users will receive Windows 10 Mobile build 10586.122

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...will-receive-windows-10-mobile-build-10586122

Microsoft released Windows 10 Mobile build 10586.122 today. Along with a list of fixes, they dropped some big hints that this will likely be the build that non-Insiders receive upon upgrading to Windows 10 Mobile from Windows Phone 8.1.

If you’re a Windows Insider who is willing to help test the upgrade path that most customers will be taking from Windows Phone 8.1 – you can use the Windows Device Recovery Tool to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 and then download the Windows Insider app from the Store and jump into either the Slow or Release Preview rings to pick up Build 10586.122 for your phone. Make sure to send feedback on any issues you encounter through the upgrade process or after the upgrade completes. We appreciate Insiders helping us test out the upgrade from Windows Phone 8.1 to help ensure our customers have a great experience.

Last week, we reported that the "official" Windows 10 Mobile update will not be bundled with device specific firmware. Because of this, users can upgrade through the Release Preview ring and get the exact same update as they would if they waited for the "official" update.

Of course, nothing is finalized until that update actually rolls out to Windows Phone 8.1 users. We've seen issues before where Microsoft identified an important bug and had to hold off on releasing a new build in order to fix it. As it stands right now, though, it seems clear that the firm's plans are to roll out build 10586.122 to non-Insiders.

Source: Windows Blog

Bank of America to launch Universal app for Windows 10 phones and PCs "very soon"

http://www.neowin.net/news/bank-of-...l-app-for-windows-10-phones-and-pcs-very-soon

Last January, Bank of America (BoA) announced that it was terminating its Windows Phone app; a few weeks later, the app was removed from the Store, and the company directed users to access their accounts via its website instead - although, embarrassingly, it failed to realize that its mobile site didn't work properly on Windows Phones.

But in December, BoA revealed that it was developing a new app for Windows 10 - and asMSPoweruser reports, the company has now said that its release is just a few weeks away:

The app is coming very soon, in the next few weeks, and it will be available on Phones, Tablets and PCs with Windows 10.

BoA is embracing Windows 10 beyond just the development of a new app for the platform. It said in August that it was planning an "enterprise-wide" migration to Microsoft's new OS "as soon as we can".

Source: MSPoweruser

Hands on with Windows 10 Mobile build 10586.164

http://www.neowin.net/news/hands-on-with-windows-10-mobile-build-10586164