Tag: Microsoft

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Cortana BETA for Android Available to All on Google Play – No Google+ Required

cortana vs google now on android somegadgetguyWe’ve been seeing leaked versions of Microsoft’s digital assistant popping up on Android forums, but Cortana for Android is now available as a public BETA for everyone, no special login or credentials required.

One of the more popular features found on Windows Phones, Cortana can replace Google Now as the search and assistant on Android devices. Known for having more personality, she often does a better job of responding to casually delivered commands. We showcased some of her capabilities here in this older review of Windows Phone.

You can grab the BETA for yourself by going to this preview page, and happily you wont need to sign up for any Google Plus community or developer access. Enjoy!

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The Windows 10 Review – Should You Upgrade Your PC?

It’s time to review Windows 10! Microsoft’s newest OS had a very public run in its Preview BETA form, but now the official release is here! Let’s kick the tires and take it for a spin!

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AT&T First to Offer Surface 3 with LTE

surface 3 attServices are becoming ubiquitous. It matters less which glowing rectangle we reach for, we want access to our data and our favorite programs. Including LTE in tablets is already gaining in popularity, and Microsoft is now building it into their newest version of their Surface tablet PC.

The Surface 3 is a mid-range solution, which for many folks can handily replace both a laptop and a tablet. It’s a smart play for adding cell phone data, as it’s focused on portable productivity, which Microsoft has been pushing with recent updates to Office and OneDrive.

It also fills a serious gap in Microsoft’s lineup, as there haven’t been many slates sporting LTE and running Windows.

AT&T will be the first carrier to launch the Surface 3 LTE, and they’ll kick off with a sale. You can snag a Surface 3 for $399 with the purchase of any Lumia phone on AT&T Next. You can read the full pres release below.

Continue reading “AT&T First to Offer Surface 3 with LTE”

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Microsoft Rebrands ‘XBox Music’, Now ‘Groove Music’

microsoft groove musicGoogle and Apple recently made some noise about their streaming radio offerings, and now it’s Microsoft’s turn. While their core XBox Music Pass service wont be changing radically, it will be getting a Windows 10 face lift, with some more intuitive controls, better integration with OneDrive for storing your music collection in the cloud, and eventually an updated app will be released for iOS and Android devices.

Plus it’ll get a new name, moving forward as “Groove”. You can catch the full details and pricing below, or sign up now by installing the Windows 10 Insider Preview.

Continue reading “Microsoft Rebrands ‘XBox Music’, Now ‘Groove Music’”

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Lenovo LaVie Z 360 Review – World’s Lightest Touchscreen Ultrabook

After reviewing the LaVie Z laptop, my biggest complaint was how used to a touchscreen I’ve become on Windows laptops and convertibles. Thankfully there is a touchscreen version, and today we’re going to take a look at Lenovo’s LaVie Z 360!

Shop the LaVie Z 360 on Amazon
LaVie Z Speaker Test
Non-Touchscreen LaVie Z Review

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Microsoft Security Software Will Now Remove ASK Toolbar and Search Hijacking

It’s kinda sad how far ASK has fallen. From the cute Ask Jeeves to now being considered malware by Microsoft.

And with good reason. The Ask toolbar is an insidious little piece of software which hijacks your search options and adds an ugly bar to your browser.  I once reinstalled an OS just to completely rid a system of browser add ons, of which Ask was one.

java-ask-toolbar-installationIt’s exceedingly rare to find knowledgeable computer users who intentionally use it. That was likely Ask’s problem. Not enough people using their search engine, so they partnered with other companies to try and sneak their software onto your computer. The frustration of clicking through a program installation, and having to pay close attention to make sure no crapware is included.

Thankfully Microsoft Security Software will now scan for and remove search hijacks like these. It’s a long overdue move, but a welcome one. Microsoft’s free security software is actually quite good, and this makes it a little better at helping users with a very common security concern.

(via Microsoft Protection Center)

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Lenovo LaVie Z Ultrabook Review: Shockingly Light, Powerful Portable Laptop

It’s insane how light this laptop is. Lenovo and NEC partnered to build a notebook PC with one goal in mind: The World’s Lightest Laptop. No performance compromises as the LaVie Z is packing a Core i7 processor, but did they have to skimp elsewhere? Let’s take a look!

Shop the LaVie Z on Amazon.
LaVie Z Speaker Test.
More info on the LaVie Z.

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Lenovo Yoga 3 11 Review – It Bends, It Flips, But Can it Keep Up?

Lenovo’s third iteration of the Yoga laptop is an ambitious product. Trying to compete against laptops and tablets, while maintaining better-than-tablet performance, in a fan-less shell.

Has Lenovo bitten off more than they can chew? Let’s take a look at the Yoga 3 11!

Shop the Yoga 3 11
Yoga 3 Speaker Test (Laptop Mode)
Yoga 3 Speaker Test (Stand Mode)

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