Category: microsoft

Enjoy your music collection anywhere from #OneDrive with #XboxMusic app in selected regions by @Tiwaash #Microsoft

You can access all your personal music collection from OneDrive with Xbox Music app starting from today across all Windows devices by uploading music files to a new “Music” folder OneDrive and access them on Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices along with Xbox 360 & Xbox One.

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Anyone having a Microsoft account in selected regions can add music to OneDrive and play over Xbox Music. The selected regions are:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,  Germany,  Ireland,  Italy,  Mexico, Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Norway,  Portugal,  Spain,  Sweden,  Switzerland,  United Kingdom,  United States.

You don’t need a music pass subscription to play your music from OneDrive instead if you do have an Xbox Music Pass, you will get an extra 100GB of storage on OneDrive for free for all your music. You may need Xbox Live account in order to have your music from OneDrive show up in the Xbox Music app for Windows Phone 8.1.

So enjoy your music and let us know how do you find this new experience in the comments below or tweet us using #TechBuzzIreland.

Stay tuned for more tech buzz.

Windows 10 Technical Preview gets a new update with Build 10041 by @Tiwaash #Microsoft #Windows10

There is good news for all the Windows 10 Technical Preview users. Microsoft had released a new update to the Windows 10 Technical Preview.

The new Build 10041 had the following enhancements

  • Improved Start experience
  • Improvements to Virtual Desktops
  • Cortana made available to new markets on desktops
  • New network fly-out from the taskbar
  • Engagements to Photos app
  • New text input canvas
  • Some experiments with Lock screen

Improvements to Windows Insider Program

The Windows Feedback app now has the ability to filter feedback as well as suggestions versus problems. “Me too” functionality shows up in search results so you can quickly add your “Me too” to items from directly from the search results view. Performance improvements around launching the app, category download, search results, and submitting feedback.

For the Insider Hub, the “Your Progress” page is updated to track how many missions you’ve completed, how often you’ve responded to requests for feedback, how much feedback you’ve submitted, and the number of up-votes your feedback has received. Microsoft will be continuing to deliver news, new missions, alerts, and other content (including opportunities to win prizes!) through the Insider Hub that won’t necessarily be blog posts or tweets from me, so keep checking there for new information.

For detailed change logs please visit here.

Stay tuned for more tech buzz.

The #MicrosoftBand finally leaves the US,Available from 15th April in the UK by @jimboireland #Microsoft

Finally for those those seeking the Microsoft Band there is good new,With MS having a habit of containing things in certain regions the Band will now go on sale outside the US from the 16th of April.This means buyers from Ireland can have an easier time to purchase it either online or if you are travelling to the UK or have relations living there that can post it over.

Its also available on the Amazon US site now too you can see HERE

Today, Microsoft Band will be available in the UK for pre-order for £169.99***, from Microsoft stores along with key retail partners in the UK, including Amazon, Curry’s PC World, Dixons Travel, Harrods, and O2.  It will go on sale beginning April 15th. We are excited to expand to an additional market, and to incorporate the feedback of more customers into our future product and service updates.

On the Microsoft blog.

We’d like to thank our customers for their response to Microsoft Health and Microsoft Band thus far. Our mission is to help them live healthier and be more productive – both through bringing our experiences to new customers, including those in the UK, and through our new partners in the US. We’re excited to continue delivering on our mission, while shaping our product and experiences regularly through customer feedback.

Source

15 Seconds – A simple arithmetic game for Windows Phone. by @jimboireland #Apps #Windows

There is many of math games on the windows store and many will no doubt come,and there is a new one thats just hit the store called 15 seconds by a dev called Soham Garud.

There is 3 difficulty levels to test your maths skills,there is 4 game options which are addition,subtraction,multiplication and division.

 

You have 15 seconds to solve maximum problems.Scoring 1 second for each correct answer,collect all 10 achievements to become a math wizard.You can track your score in each level of the mini games.

The game is free to download and you can get it below by clicking the store image.

 

Official #GAA App for Windows Phone gets updated. #GAA #WindowsPhone by @jimboireland #Sports

Users of the GAA Windows Phone app should note there is a new update for the official App.

The App gives us latest news,fixtures,results,photos,videos,venue info and a map with traffic flow and directions,also in this update it has CORTANA integration,Cortana is still not available here but you can change your settings to avail.

 

Features of the App.

  • You can pin fixtures,results and venues to your start screen
  • Remembered settings to remember your favourite county and sport
  • Driving directions from the venue map
  • Traffic flow integration with venue maps using Bing Maps
  • Cortana integration – you will need to change settings to UK/US
  • An improved UI including performance improvements.

 

Download the App HERE

Google kills Softcard support for Windows Phone users #Ouch #Google #Softcard by @jimboireland

Google have recently acquired the technology from SoftCard and without hanging about they kill support for Windows Phone,however MS keep proving apps for Google and Apple alike so where is the love,there is none it seems.

On their website the following reads.

 

 

 

What does the deal mean for Softcard users?

For now, the Softcard app will continue to work. Users can continue to tap to pay, redeem offers and apply loyalty at more than 275,000 locations across the U.S. Google has acquired some technology and intellectual property from Softcard and we encourage our Android users to download Google Wallet. In the near future, the Softcard app will shut down and all wallets will be terminated. A specific termination date will be provided soon.

Is there a way to automatically move my payment and loyalty cards to Google Wallet?

No. In order to use Google Wallet you must separately sign up for a Google Wallet account and enter in your payment and loyalty cards.

What happens to my personal information?

The information you have shared with Softcard will not be shared as part of this deal.

What happens to payment and loyalty cards in my wallet?

This information will not be shared as part of this deal. Once your wallet is terminated your wallet payment credentials and loyalty cards can no longer be used.

Should I terminate the wallet myself?

Your wallet will be automatically terminated in the near future. In the event you would like to manually terminate your wallet before that time, please contact your mobile carrier.

What about Softcard for Windows?

The Softcard for Windows Phone app will also be terminated. A specific termination date will be provided soon.

This has left many fans of Windows Phone quite annoyed,what do you think of this news,shout off below..

 

Source

#Mash&Co – Interactive animations for kids and family on #WindowsPhone by @jimboireland #Apps #Kids

Kids love to play games and there is never enough,my daughter checks the store every day,with my observation of course and she is always adding or deleting games on her Lumia 625,its very hard to keep her happy at times and i find most of the time kids go by the thumbnail photo and point to it and request it,however its always worth noting you should always read up some more on the game prior to downloading.

 

 

Mash&Co is a multimedia episodic app for pre-school kids and families ,parents can monitor their kids performance with this app and watch their skills grow too.

The app has animated digital novels,cartoon series and mini games which is quite cool all this in one application.There is a multi touch UI which is colourful and fun so all can get involved and its also safe along with a stimulating environment.

Features

Interactive animated tales – Animated series of Mash and Periwinkle who are the characters, Mini Games ,Various chapters of animated tales which children can interact and progress which progresses stimulation,creativity and attention. Also non verbal language ensures all kids around the world can play and get involved. The first three contents are free in this version so there will be add ons to buy,you can put this game in the Kids Corner of your Lumia device too..

The Game is free to download and is 16MB you can download it right HERE 



 



	


	
	






	
	

		
The Nokia 215 now available in the UK and Ireland by @jimboireland #Nokia215 #Microsoft
	


	

		
The Nokia 215 is the latest series 30 handset from Microsoft offering an internet ready handset thats in a candybar form which is available in single and dual sim.


The Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual-SIMDual-SIM are targeted towards the first time mobile phone users, with good smooth looks and great build quality, which will surely remind us of Nokia. These will be launched in three vibrant colours – Green, Black and White.


Being a true Internet- ready device, Nokia 215 & Nokia 215 Dual-SIM comes pre-installed with Facebook and Messenger with instant notifications keeping you connected with friends and family while you’ll be able to check your friends’ news feeds and update your status. These devices also have Opera Mini Browser and Bing Search installed letting you browse website and search content on the web.


However the price is higher than the estimated launch price and as usual early adopters will be fleeced by online sellers which is nothing new to be honest but its always best to shop around.




Amazon UK  have the 215 priced at £32.79 which converts to roughly €44.36 plus shipping costs this is nearly double the price quoted at announcement. You can buy it HERE from Amazon.


Irish Online seller phonesonline.ie also have the 215 listed on their website priced higher again,priced at €59.99 If interested you can purchase it HERE 




 


 


Amazon france also have it listed but its not worth the mention as Amazon.de have it much cheaper listed at a much more realistic price as seen below,you can pick it up HERE if you are interested and they ship to Ireland and the UK,if you encounter shipping issues you can also use Parcel Motel  to get hold of it.






 

	


	
	






	
	

		
Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter now available to buy in Ireland. #Microsoft #Wireless by @jimboireland
	


	

		
Microsoft have made the Wireless display adapter available for people to buy in Ireland along with other select markets,its a similar idea to the HD-10 which we have been using since last December but this might suit others more so than the HD-10.




 


 


Whether you’re playing a movie for movie night or sharing photos from your last trip, the Wireless Display Adapter makes it easy to share. Just plug in the adapter, pair your devices, and you’re ready to send all of your multimedia content from your phone, tablet or laptop to the big screen—all wirelessly.


This adapter takes the pain out of sharing during meetings. Everyone on your team can quickly share their content without ever having to pass around an HDMI cord. Need to work on something else while you project? No problem, just extend your screen and you can get other stuff done while you share.




Miracast is a wireless technology that supports 1080p video quality and 5.1 surround sound streaming between mobile devices and large displays. There’s no restriction to what you can share with Miracast as long as all devices are Miracast-enabled, and this adapter works with both Windows and Android.


If this does not suit check out the HD-10 which we use and find it very efficient and flawless our review can be seen here


If you want to buy the adapter its going to cost €69.99 and you can buy it on the Microsoft Store –  Direct link.