Registration Open For Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2013, Prize Money Boosted

Registration Open For Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2013, Prize Money Boosted 

After the success of  'Blue Hat' Security Contest, now it is the time for Microsoft’s Imagine Cup. Redmond based software giant Microsoft has been organizing its Imagine Cup student technology competition for the last 10 years and today, the company opened registration for the 2013 edition of this event. Students ages 16 and older can now register for their national events and the winners of these local events will be flown to St. Petersburg, Russia, where the worldwide finals will take place from July 8 to 11. For this edition of Imagine Cup, Microsoft has doubled the prize money to $300,000. Since the first Imagine Cup in 2003, says Microsoft, over 1.65 million students across the globe have participated in Imagine Cup and a number of the teams that made it to the finals (and many that have not) went on to create startups.

Here is Microsoft’s description of the new core competitions:

• World Citizenship: Honors the software application developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity. For example, a project might address education-, social- or healthcare-related problems.
• Games: Honors the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms (Windows 8, Windows Phone, Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit, and Xbox Indie Games).
• Innovation: Honors apps that give consumers inspiration and innovation at their fingertips, whether it be a new spin on social networks, online shopping or search, built with Microsoft tools and technology.

The winners of each of these competitions will get $50,000. In addition to the core competitions, students can also compete in a number of online challenges focused on specific technologies and platforms, including Windows 8, Windows Azure and Windows Phone. For detailed information click Here.

-Source (Microsoft, Imagine Cup & TC)

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Microsoft Releases SkyDrive For Android Phones

Microsoft Releases SkyDrive For Android Phones

Few weeks ago software giant Microsoft announced to release an official SkyDrive app for Android phones.  So finally the application is ready to download and use. This new app for Android is similar to other mobile apps for Windows Phone and iOS and is a key part of making sure your SkyDrive files are accessible and shareable from all your devices. The app was mainly designed to work best with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though it will work on Android 2.3 and above. "In building the new SkyDrive app for Android, we wanted to ensure we kept the same intuitive design of all SkyDrive experiences while also making use of Android design patterns and conventional interactions, so this feels natural for people with Android phones," Mike Torres, group program manager for SkyDrive Apps, wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

Brief Description:-

SkyDrive is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. With SkyDrive for Android, you can now easily access and share files on the go. You can also upload photos or videos from your phone to SkyDrive.

Features:-

• Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you.
• View recently used documents.
• Choose multiple photos or videos to upload from your phone.
• Share your files and photos – send a link in email or in another app.
• Open your SkyDrive files in other Android apps.
• Manage your files – delete, or create new folders.

The official SkyDrive app is now available in the Google Play store. For more information and to download click here.

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Outlook.com -A New Email Service Introduced By Microsoft

Outlook.com -A New Email Service Introduced By Microsoft  

After successfully revamping it's popular mail service Hotmail through it's look and features with the name of 'Newmail', now the software giant Microsoft has launched a new email service that shares the name of its famed email software, Outlook. Outlook.com is accessible as a preview now, and anyone can sign up for an account. If you already have a Hotmail or Live email address, you can convert that to an Outlook.com address in the settings now. The old Hotmail/Live address remains active--users will still get mail sent to the old addresses--unless you explicitly choose to delete it. The interface is based on Metro, the user interface you see in Windows Phone and the upcoming Windows 8. This means you get a clean, uncluttered design and simple icons familiar to anyone who has used a Nokia Lumia smartphone. Microsoft is not requiring everyone that has a Hotmail account to switch to the new address, but it seems the plan is to eventually have everyone move over.

Research firm comScore says Hotmail has 41 million monthly unique visitors; AOL, 24 million. That makes them the No. 3 and No. 4 e-mail providers in the U.S., behind Yahoo Mail, with 84 million unique visitors, and Gmail, 68 million. Worldwide, more than 324 million people still use Hotmail monthly, making it the top provider globally. But Hotmail's user base is on the decline.

Like many email clients, you get a list of folders on the left navigation bar. What's interesting is the Quick Views dropdown below the folders, which lets you filter certain kinds of email. By default, it filters emails with documents or photos, flagged messages and those that give you shipping updates. That last one will be useful for those who frequently shop online and are always expecting packages. These categories can be customized to suit your needs.

With Outlook.com, you can also turn on a reading pane that lets you read the message either below or on the right of the email list. As a security measure, it shows a blank message by default, and not the first one in your inbox--you have to explicitly click on a message to show it, reducing the risk of being exposed to malicious emails by accident.

On the far right is an advertisement column. This shows a random selection, unlike Gmail, which uses targeted ads based on the content of your email messages. 

To find out more about the features and design of Outlook.com it will be best if you try it out yourself, just visit www.outlook.com and sign up for an account, or simply switch your current Hotmail/Live email to an Outlook.com one.

-Source (Outlook.com, Cnet)

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Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 8 Codenamed “Apollo”

Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 8 Codenamed “Apollo”

Few days ago in a report we have said that Microsoft is expected to launch it's own tablet (Microsoft Surface) while aiming to compete with iPad. Redmond based software and hardware giant just unveiled the next big step in its mobile software, Windows Phone 8 codenamed “Apollo” Windows Phone 8 brings the platform in line with other mobile OSes by adding support for muti-core processors, higher screen resolutions and newer wireless technologies like near field communication (NFC). Importantly, Microsoft has re-coded Windows Phone from the ground up for the new version. Previous versions of Windows Phone were based on Microsoft’s old mobile OS, Windows CE, but now the platform will share the same source code as the company’s coming desktop OS, Windows 8. That has big consequences for developers and consumers. For developers, it will be extremely easy to create a Windows Phone app if they already have a Windows 8 app that runs in the Metro environment (and vice versa). For consumers, it means more apps and better hardware to run them. It also has the effect of rendering every current Windows Phone obsolete, since those phones won’t be able to run the new software. They will, however, get an upgrade to Windows Phone 7 to 8. Windows Phone 8 adds support for many new hardware features. The most anticipated is support for multi-core devices, which have become common on both Android and iOS platforms. There’s also support for better screen resolutions, including 720p and 1,280 x 768 (WXGA). That’s not quite retina, but it’s better than the 800 x 480 screen of the Nokia Lumia 900, one of the current leading Windows Phones.

New Features At a Glance :-

• Support for multi-core processors. Existing support for single core has been a major concern for some high-end users wanting faster processing ability.

• Two new high-definition screen resolutions for the coming OS. They are 1280 x 768 and 1280 x 720.

• Removeable micro-SD support for the first time to allow expansion of base storage.

• A busier start screen with room for more live tiles than in Windows Phone 7.5. Today's Windows Phones have room for up to eight live tiles and WP8 will have room for up to 32 live tiles, which can be sized differently.

• IT support. Adminstrators will see some gaps in the existing OS filled, including support for encryption and secure boot in WP8, as well as the ability to allow IT to deploy apps without going through Windows Marketplace.

• Built-in Nokia Navteq map technology, with turn-by-turn driving instructions in many countries.

• Full Internet Explorer 10 support with more features of HTML 5 added. Belfiore said that Windows Phone 8 with IE10 will download Web pages slightly faster than three other popular smartphones on the market.

• Native code support, a feature seen as useful to developers eager to move their apps from iOS or Android to Windows Phone. 

-Source (Mshable & CW)

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Microsoft Introduced Dedicated Windows Phone Store (Waha Store) in UAE

Microsoft Introduced Dedicated Windows Phone Store (Waha Store) in UAE 

Software giant Microsoft in collaboration with global wireless distributor Brightpoint Middle East has launched a dedicated Windows Phone E-commerce store in the United Arab Emirates. The site, named the Waha Store (after oasis) will provide a convenient, reliable and centralized destination for consumers across the country to purchase the latest Windows Phones from a variety of OEMs. Shoppers will have the opportunity to compare various models, read reviews, and watch demo videos. The Waha user interface mirrors the Windows Phone experience, enabling shoppers to immediately familiarize with the operating system and ‘Metro’ design style. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to compare various models, read reviews, and watch demo videos, to get a good understanding of the product range and features. The site’s integrated social media platform will bring people together, by allowing them to make recommendations and share their activities with friends, family and colleagues.
The newly-designed user navigation reflects how people work, play and communicate: so-called hubs (such as contacts, photos, and games), bundle applications and the internet are organised into useful topic areas and help users to efficiently manage their work and private life.

Anurag Gupta, president of Brightpoint Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Our expertise in offering e-commerce and supply chain solutions will make Waha the go-to place for all UAE customers who have been awaiting a well-functioning channel to access Windows Phones. We look forward to supporting Waha’s launch in other countries in the Middle East and Africa, as we continue to expand our presence in the region.”
“We are very pleased to bring Windows Phones to early-adopter smartphone consumers in the UAE, where there has been growing excitement about the launch,” said Samer Ramez Abu-Ltaif, regional general manager, Microsoft Gulf Region. “Customers need a dependable way to obtain accurate information on, and securely purchase, the latest mobile handsets; and Waha Store provides exactly that – your Windows Phone oasis.” Unfortunately the store precedes the availability of the Windows Phone Marketplace in the region, but this will become available in the UAE “in the next few months.”

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HTC Is Going To Release First Windows Phone 7 Handset (HTC Kaixuan) For China

HTC Is Going To Release  First Windows Phone 7 Handset (HTC Kaixuan) For China

Finally the Microsoft Mobile OS reached the key market of China. Taiwanese smart phone maker HTC has planed to release what could be the first Windows Phone 7 handset for mainland China. The HTC Kaixuan (triumphant return) will be launched later this month, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. HTC is already accepting pre-orders for the device on its online store in China for 4,399 yuan (US$698). Microsoft had said it expected its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS to launch in China during the first half of this year. Handset makers Nokia and ZTE also plan to release Windows Phone 7 smartphones in 2012.
HTC, however, said the Kaixuan is different in that its Windows Phone 7.5 OS has been localized for Chinese users. For instance, the Kaixuan comes installed with Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter. Windows Phone 7 is however coming to China at a time when Google's Android OS is dominant, with a 56 percent share of the market in 2011, according to research firm Canalys. Android's open source nature has been the big reason behind the success of the OS, said Canalys research director Nicole Peng. This has allowed Chinese companies and developers to build a strong ecosystem around Android, resulting in localized versions of the OS and apps specially built for average Chinese consumers, she added. To compete with Android, Microsoft will need to develop the same kind of ecosystem for its Windows Phone 7 OS, which it so far lacks in China. "For Windows Phone 7, the biggest problem is the system is not localized enough," Peng said.

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview & Windows Server 8 Beta By Microsoft (Freely Downloadable)

Microsoft Released Windows 8 Consumer Preview & Windows Server 8 Beta (Freely Downloadable)

A double boom for Windows lovers. Software giant Microsoft has officially released the Consumer Preview Windows 8 & Windows Server 8 Beta.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview :-

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers a more robust experience for testing the world's most popular operating system and is available to the widest range of people yet following the initial release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview late last year. The Developer Preview received more than 3 million downloads.

"With Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one," said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft. "The Windows 8 Consumer Preview brings a no-compromises approach to using your PC."

The test "beta" version of the revamped system was introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the planet's largest cell phone trade show, and borrows some of the look of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 software for Windows 8. Windows 8 doesn't have the traditional "Start" menu, and applications are spread across a mosaic of tiles in a design Microsoft calls "Metro" -- seen as an attempt by the company as a scramble to preserve its market share. And executives said it powers up on PCs in eight seconds, much faster than the previous version.

What is New In Windows 8 Consumer Preview :-

• Broad range of product changes and improvements. Since the Developer Preview in September, designed to preview the programming platform, Windows 8 has progressed across every dimension. From completing the user experience for touch, keyboard and mouse to refining the development platform, the Consumer Preview improves performance, quality and reliability across all subsystems.

• With the added features, it represents a more complete view of the capabilities of Windows 8. Windows Store with new apps. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview marks the beta opening of the Windows Store, which is filled with a variety of new Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft. During the Consumer Preview, these apps are available to try and experience at no cost to users. The Windows Store will offer personalised recommendations, and Windows 8 gives users the ability to take their apps and settings with them across multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while offering developers the greatest opportunity of any platform.

• Connecting to the cloud across Windows-based PCs and Windows Phone 7. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers seamless integration with the content people care about across their Web services. An optional additional sign-on with a Microsoft account provides access to a host of features, including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across your Windows-based PCs and your Windows 7 phones.

• Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5. The best way to experience the Web on Windows is with Internet Explorer 10. The browser has been re-imagined to create a new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an edge-to-edge user interface that is all about less browser and more Web. Fast and fluid, Internet Explorer is hardware-accelerated to enable Web performance.

• Preview of new hardware capabilities. At the event, Microsoft also showcased Windows 8 running on a wide range of new x86- and ARM-based reference hardware. This hardware will be available to select developers for trial and testing as previously announced.

Additional details can be found on the official website of Microsoft Windows. Also Microsoft makes Windows 8 Consumer Preview is made available for free Download

Windows Server 8 Beta :- 

The beta of Windows Server 8 is now available for IT professionals and software developers around the world to download. In the Windows Server official Blog Bill Laing, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Corporation Said - In September we introduced Windows Server “8” with a preview to help developers and hardware partners prepare new and existing applications, systems and devices. The response from that community, along with hundreds of customers in our early adopters program, has been incredibly positive. A common theme of feedback has been how broad and deep the new capabilities are. Now is the time for you, IT professionals in organizations of all sizes, to get your hands on this new release, discover the new capabilities and contribute to the development of what we call the cloud-optimized OS.
I’ll highlight in this post just a few examples of new capabilities that you’ll want to explore. With the new Hyper-V we are taking virtualization above and beyond to provide a multi-tenant platform for cloud computing. For example, with Hyper-V Network Virtualization you can create virtual networks so different business units, or even multiple customers, can seamlessly share network infrastructure.  You will be able to move virtual machines and servers around without losing their network assignments. In Windows Server “8” we are delivering high availability and disaster recovery through software technology on much more cost effective hardware. For example, with File Server Transparent Failover you can now more easily perform hardware or software maintenance of nodes in a File Server cluster by moving file shares between nodes with little interruption to server applications that are storing data on those file shares. We’re also delivering a tremendous amount of new capabilities for multi-machine management and automation. You will want to explore the dramatic new improvements to Server Manager, as well as the new Windows PowerShell. With 2,300 commandlets provided out of the box, Windows PowerShell allows you to automate everything you can do manually with the user interface. And, with technologies like Intellisense, we’ve made it very easy for you to master all of that power. Additionally, Windows Server “8” provides a powerful server application platform that enables you to develop and host the most demanding of application workloads. For example, with .NET Framework 4.5 you can take advantage of new asynch language and library support to build server and web applications that scale far beyond what other platforms provide. Our new IIS 8 web server provides better security isolation and resource sand-boxing between applications, native support for web sockets, and the ability to host significantly more sites on a server.

For Additional Information & To Download Windows Server 8 Beta Click Here

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Microsoft Planned To Release Skype Application For Windows Mobile

Microsoft Planned To Release Skype Application For Windows Mobile

Microsoft Corporation has planned to release Skype video-calling application for its Windows Phone. The application will be avalable on April this year. Terry Myerson, head of the Redmond, Washington-based company’s mobile business, said in an interview last week. It will unveil the software today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and release a version for beta testers. Terry Myerson, head of the Redmond, Washington-based company’s mobile business, said in an interview last week. It will unveil the software today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and release a version for beta testers.
Microsoft bought Skype to gain customers and enhance its existing products -- such as Windows phones and Xbox game consoles, along with Internet-calling and videoconferencing software. Skype customers made more than 300 billion minutes of calls last year, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said in January. The service, which handles both voice and video calls, is the top provider of international calling. Windows Phone has just 2 percent of the mobile operating- system market, and lags behind Apple Inc. and Google Inc. in providing apps. Both those rivals already have Skype apps.
Microsoft bought Skype to gain customers and enhance its existing products -- such as Windows phones and Xbox game consoles, along with Internet-calling and videoconferencing software. Skype customers made more than 300 billion minutes of calls last year, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said in January. The service, which handles both voice and video calls, is the top provider of international calling.
Windows Phone has just 2 percent of the mobile operating- system market, and lags behind Apple Inc. and Google Inc. in providing apps. Both those rivals already have Skype apps.

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Windows Phone App Analyser By David Rook aka SecurityNinja

 Windows Phone App Analyser By David Rook aka SecurityNinja

David Rook, (aka SecurityNinja) has officially released Windows Phone App Analyser. Version 1.0 of the application allows for the evaluation of Windows Phone 7 .xap files and supports the automatic decompilation of the .dll files within them. The tool is inspired by static security analysis tool Agnitio, also from Security Ninja, and presents a tree view of the contents of the .xap file allowing manual review of the files; clicking on .dll files decompiles them to .cs files for viewing or passing to an automated review using CAT.NET or FxCop. 

The Windows Phone App Analyser also allows researchers to run Microsoft's own Capabilities Detection tool which works out what capabilities the app uses and allows comparison with the app's manifest declarations. 

Key Features Of Windows Phone App Analyser :- 

• Analyse Windows Phone application source code from a security point of view.

• Automatically decompile Windows Phone .xap application to easily analyse the original source code

• Launch and review results from third party scanning tools (CAT.NET, FxCop and the capabilities detection tool).

Features such as keyword editor, store paths to scanning tools so you don’t have to browse to them, option to automatically execute automated scans etc., will be included in the next couple of releases. 

For detailed information & to download Windows Phone App Analyser Click Here

 

 

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Microsoft Testing To Fix The Windows Phone SMS Vulnerability

Few days ago we have covered that Khaled Salameh discovered a serious vulnerability on Windows phone 7.5 "Mango". He reported this vulnerability to WinRumors & Microsft. 

Now Microsoft has found the root cause behind the SMS vulnerability in its Windows Phone operating system. Although it’s good that Microsoft has found a fix for the bug in Windows Phone devices, the exploit may also affect its other applications. So far it’s known to work not only through SMS messages but also through Facebook chat or Windows Live Messenger. The malicious code could be used to crash Windows Live Messenger in a way that would prevent all your contacts from signing in.

Microsoft is still investigating its other products that may be affected, including its desktop applications. Salameh revealed that the following applications are vulnerable to the SMS attack string: Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail, Silverlight-based apps, Visual Studio 2010, Expressions Blend, and Windows Presentation Foundation-based apps.

Update: Microsoft's Greg Sullivan, senior product manager of Windows Phone, has confirmed that the company is working with device partners to issue a fix, but refused to reveal any timings for its release. "We are working on an update to address the issue and will work with our partners to coordinate its release," said Sullivan in a statement issued to us on Thursday.

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Windows 8 Adds Built In Synchronized Password Manager

Microsoft hopes to simplify the task of managing multiple passwords with the next major release of its popular operating system. According to the Windows 8 blog, a new feature will allow users to put an unlimited number of individual passwords behind one master password, and have them synchronize across all other Windows 8 machines they use.

Since the Live ID is the only password you'll need to know, you can set complex and unique passwords for multiple websites -- so if one site gets hacked and your credentials are stolen from their servers, you entire digital lives won't be at risk. Windows 8 will automatically enter your login information when visiting a saved website. This is similar to what services like 1Password and LastPass currently offer.

If your Windows Live ID password is somehow lost or stolen, there will be a number of safety features in Windows 8 designed to detect compromise and limit account usage until you can successfully recover access to it. For instance, users can request a confirmation code be sent to a mobile phone number or email address registered with Windows Live. Also, even if your credentials are compromised, you will still have full access to your PC since Windows 8 will accept the last password successfully used to log onto the system.

Microsoft says it will also offer a a number of "convenience" sign-in methods such as Picture Password and biometrics -- they didn't go into details but promised to do so in a future update. 

Video Demostration By Microsoft:-

For more information and further details Click Here

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SMS Attack Vulnerability In Windows Phone 7.5

Khaled Salameh discovered a serious vulnerability on Windows phone 7.5 "Mango". He reported this vulnerability to WinRumors & Microsft.  If and when a security patch will be released from Microsoft's end to fix the issue is still unclear.

In an exclusive report it has been said that the Messaging Hub on Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" devices can be completely disabled using a specially crafted SMS message. When a Windows Phone device receives the message, it causes the device to reboot and prevents the Messaging Hub from loading despite repeat attempts to open it. This Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack can also be exploited by sending a message from Facebook chat or Windows Live Messenger to the phone.

Video Demonstration:- 

Tom Warren fo WinRumor says that the only way to fix a device affected by the problem is to perform a hard reset and wipe the device, during which all personal data will be lost. They have also tested the attack on several phones such as the HTC TITIAN and the Samsung Focus Flash. These included devices running the 7740 build (7.10.7740.16) of Windows Phone 7.5 and Mango RTM build 7720 (7.10.7720.68). 

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Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 4 Is Now Available

An updated platform preview of IE10 for the Windows Developer Preview is now available for download. This IE10 preview adds even more support for HTML5 technologies, enabling richer Web applications with significantly improved performance. IE10’s hardware acceleration of technologies like SVG, CSS3 transforms and animations delivers faster rendering than other browsers. 

The browser will not only power app-like websites, but will also power Windows 8's Metro-style apps, which resemble those running on the company's mobile platform, Windows Phone.

The company has also published test drive demos for several of the new HTML5 features implemented, listed by the blog post as follows:

• Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) for safe use of XMLHttpRequest across domains.
• File API Writer support for blobBuilder allowing manipulation of large binary objects in script in the browser.
• Support for JavaScript typed arrays for efficient storage and manipulation of typed data.
• CSS user-select property to control how end-users select elements in a Web page or application.
• Support for HTML5 video text captioning, including time-code, placement, and captioning file formats.

Click Here to know more details form IE 10 official Blog. 

&

To Download Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 4 Click Here

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Windows Phone 7 Connector For Mac By Microsoft Corporation

Windows Phone 7 Connector is a simple, easy-to-use application designed to sync your favorite media files from your Mac, with your Windows Phone 7 or Zune HD. You can also sync photos and videos you captured on your phone with your Mac, and when needed, update your Windows Phone 7 software. Microsoft’s latest release of the Windows Phone 7 Connector is said to fix a number of bugs, including the spotty connectivity that a number of users have reported.

Features:-

• Full sync and import support for Apple Aperture software
• Drag and drop import of files from Browse Device
• Ringtone transfer support (for phones running Windows Phone 7.5 or later)
• Improved video conversion process with user configuration options
• Support for Windows Phone Marketplace (for phones running Windows Phone 7.5 or later)
• Localization support for 13 additional languages
• Improvements to backup and restore operations
• Improved configuration for podcast sync and photo import
• Improved iTunes import support in certain languages
• Improved metadata support for videos

Fixes :-
• Added additional error codes and help references for device update
• Resolved connectivity issues with certain devices
• Resolved album art display issues for certain device

For More Information & to Download Windows Phone 7 Connector For Mac Click Here 

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Nokia Maps Compromised

After Nokia drive get hacked now the Nokia XDA developper has confirmed that Nokia Map get hacked Nokia Maps and is now available for all Windows Phone 7 (WP7) devices . The new app launched with the Lumia 710 and 800 would very soon be available for other WP7 devices as well according to Nokia, but now you can test it out now by downloading the XAP file.
The app can only be installed in a unlocked WP7 device (dev-unlock or ChevronWP7 Labs). Nokia Maps is was developed specifically for their new line of WP7 phones and Nokia were banking on this as one of their key selling points. Now that two exclusive apps have already been leaked at a very early stage even before the phones hit the market, it hurt the sales of the new devices as they loose some of the exclusivity. At this point, Nokia can’t really do much about this, but just wait and hope that the new Lumia duo has enough going for it for them to stand out in the competition.

-News Source (Engadget, Tech2)

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"Asha" News Smartphone By Nokia (Lumia 800 & Lumia 710)

Amid loss of market share to Apple and Samsung in the smartphone category, Finnish phone maker Nokia has launched two new phones with Windows Operating System in the price range between Rs 19,000-Rs 29,000. In a bid to retain its leadership position in the Indian market, the company also announced a new series — Asha, a Hindi word for hope.

Nokia has for the first time showcased six new phone models at the ongoing Nokia World 2011 conference, that includes four models of the ‘Asha’ series priced between €60 (about Rs 4,100) and €115 (about Rs 8,000), and two new smartphones with Windows operating system platforms branded as ‘Lumia 800’ and ‘Lumia 710’ priced at €420 (about Rs 29,000) and €270 (about Rs 19,000) respectively.

The company plans to launch the new products across the globe, including India starting this year end. Nokia will soon roll out a marketing campaign ‘The Amazing Everyday’ globally to support the new launches. 

Commenting on the ‘Asha’ series, Stephen Elop, Nokia president and CEO, said: “Asha signifies Nokia’s focus on connecting million of people to new opportunities that help them reach their aspirations.” 

While three Asha models will be launched this year, one model will be launched early next year. For more information click Here

  

-News Source (Yahoo, Nokia) 

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Nokia is Developing "Meltemi" Linux OS For Low-end Smartphones

Nokia has underlined the importance of low-cost smartphones and now it appears that the company is developing a Linux-based OS for smartphones that will cost less than US$100 without subsidies.
The new OS is code-named "Meltemi," and the project is being led by Mary McDowell, Nokia's executive vice president in charge of mobile phones, according to sources familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The company has been hinting at plans for a reboot of its low-end smartphone portfolio. At its Connection event in Singapore Nokia said that Qt -- a Linux-compatible cross-platform application and user interface framework -- would be a good fit for lower-end devices, and before that McDowell said that Nokia needs to find a replacement for Series 40, according to Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner.
"So if you put the two together, we can see where this would fit in," said Milanesi.
Series 40 is the OS Nokia today uses on its feature phones, a product segment that is going away as users want smartphones. Nokia dabbled with a Linux phone two years ago, introducing the N900 running Linux. On the record, Nokia is keeping mum about its plans.
"Of course, we don't comment on future products or technologies. However, I can say that our Mobile Phones team has a number of exciting projects in the works that will help connect the next billion consumers to the Internet," a spokesman said via email.
Nokia choosing Windows Phone over Android has put the company in a tight spot when it comes to low-end smartphones. There is no question that Android is pushing the price of smartphones to levels that are considerably lower than that of smartphones based on Windows Phone in the near-term, which means that Nokia has a gap in its portfolio, according to Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight. "That means Nokia either needs to scale up Series 40 and make it a more robust competitor with a smart-like experience or look at alternative options, and [Meltemi] could be one of the other options," said Wood.
Nokia can't afford to bet its entire future on Windows Phone and if it wants to remain the volume leader it needs to step up its efforts in the low-end smartphone segment, he said.
The low-end smartphone market is increasingly important and will become the largest smartphone market segment, according to Francisco Jeronimo, research manager at IDC. Sales of less expensive smartphones are already growing faster that high-end models in Western Europe and the availability of low-end smartphones will be crucial to increase sales in emerging markets, he said.

The opportunity is so big that no one can afford to ignore it, not even Apple, Jeronimo said, adding that he won't be surprised if the company releases a cheaper version of the iPhone next week. For Nokia, a logical venue for the public launch of Meltemi would be at Nokia World in London at the end of October. The drawback is that Meltemi risks being drowned by the expected launch of Nokia's first Windows Phone, according to Wood. 

-News Source (PC World)

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Zeus Strategy Followed By SpyEye & Here The Victim is Android Users

In the world of Windows malware, SpyEye is a widespread malicious toolkit for creating and managing botnets. It is designed primarily for stealing banking credentials and other confidential information from infected systems. SpyEye is a major competitor of the infamous Zeus toolkit.

Zeus (also known as ZBot) generated a lot of interest in the mobile security community a couple of months ago when an Android version was discovered. Of course, we did not have to wait long before a version of SpyEye targeting Android was also developed, and sure enough a malicious SpyEye Android app was discovered a few days ago.

The functionality of Zeus and SpyEye on Windows is quite similar, so I was curious as to how similar their respective Android versions would be.

Zeus for Android purports to be a version of Trusteer Rapport security software. This social engineering trick is used in an attempt to convince the user that the application they are installing is legitimate.

SpyEye for Android, now detected by Sophos products as Andr/Spitmo-A, uses a slightly different but similar social engineering technique. When the user of a PC infected by the Windows version of SpyEye visits a targeted banking website, and when the site is using mobile transaction authorization numbers, the SpyEye Trojan may inject HTML content which will instruct the user to download and install the Android program to be used for transaction authorisation.

The SpyEye application package does not show up as an icon in the "All apps" menu, so the user will only be able to find the package when the "Manage Applications" is launched from the mobile device's settings.

The application uses the display name "System" so that it seems like a standard Android system application.

When installed, Zeus for Android displayed a fake activation screen, and Spitmo is again very similar. However, Spitmo uses different tactics to convince the user that it is a legitimate application.

It applies for the following Android permissions:-

• android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED
• android.intent.action.NEW_OUTGOING_CALL

This allows the malware to intercept outgoing phone calls. When a number is dialed, the call is intercepted before the connection is made and the dialed phone number is matched to a special number specified by the attacker in the alleged helper application installation instructions. If the number matches, Spitmo displays a fake activation number, which is always 251340. Once installed, the functionality of Zeus and SpyEye are pretty much the same. A broadcast receiver intercepts all received SMS text messages and sends them to a command and control server using an HTTP POST request. The submitted information includes the sender's number and the full content of the message.So far, it does not seem that this attack is widespread, but it shows that the developers of major malicious toolkits are closely watching their competition and matching the latest features. It also seems that support for Android is increasingly becoming an important part of their product strategy.

-News Source (N.Security)

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Nokia will Launch Mobiles with Microsoft Platform In 2011

Nokia is facing steep competition from competitors in several products. At the top end of the market it is struggling against smart phones such as Apple's iPhone, Research in Motion's Blackberry as well as Android, and on the lower end against emerging market phone makers who are dropping their prices.Nokia will start to deliver the Windows-based mobile phones in bulk next year, CEO Stephen Elop said in a speech at a technology trade show in Singapore. Finnish handset maker Nokia Corp. plans to introduce its first mobile phones using the Microsoft Windows operating system this year, the company's chief executive said Tuesday.  "Our primary smartphone strategy is to focus on the Windows phone," Elop said. "I have increased confidence that we will launch our first device based on the Windows platform later this year and we will ship our product in volume in 2012." Elop has acknowledged Nokia has been too slow to meet the challenge from competitors and has hinted that the company would drop its cellphone prices. Last month, the company warned both sales and profit margins in the second quarter would be substantially below previous forecasts. Nokia also unveiled Tuesday its N9 smartphone, which is based on the MeeGo platform. The company said it plans to launch up to 10 new Symbian-based smartphones over the next 12 months. Elop said the N9 would go on sale later this year, but declined to specify the date or price. Nokia developed MeeGo last year in a partnership with U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp. In February, Nokia turned to Microsoft's Windows Phone software as its main smartphone operating system.

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ESET Released Antivirus for Android in Beta

ESET is well-known in the PC arena for its NOD32 antivirus and ESET Smart Security suite. The company's existing mobile security product supports Windows Mobile and Symbian devices. ESET Mobile Security for Android Beta (free, direct) extends the same protection to the Android realm.

ESET Mobile naturally includes protection against Android malware. It checks processes and new apps in real time and also scans for threats on demand. Some mobile security products eliminate almost all antivirus configuration settings. Lookout Mobile Security is an example. ESET includes a full set of configuration choices, much like what you'd find in a PC-based antivirus. It uses heuristic analysis, it can quarantine suspect files, and it optionally scans inside archives, among other things.

Like Kaspersky Mobile Security 9, Norton Mobile Security 2.0 Beta, and others ESET Mobile can respond to coded SMS messages by locking the phone, transmitting its GPS location, or wiping all data from the phone. You can't track the phone by logging in to a Web site the way you can with GadgetTrak Mobile Security for Android & Blackberry 3.1, Mobile Superhero, and others, but ESET's SMS response to a location request includes a Google Maps link.

A thief who attempts to evade ESET's protection by swapping out the SIM card won't get far. Insertion of a SIM card not already marked as trusted will cause the phone to automatically lock and secretly send an alert SMS to one or more predefined contacts. The alert SMS contains the new SIM card's phone number, the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) number and the phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. ESET also protects against uninstallation on Android 2.2 and later.

ESET's antispam feature isn't as ambitious as that of PrivacyStar and Mr. Mr. Number, which use crowdsourcing to block known spam callers. You can set ESET to block specific blacklisted numbers or to block all incoming calls and texts that don't come from your contacts. The app retains information about blocked contact attempts, so you can review the contact log and make any necessary adjustments.

The most unusual feature ESET offers is the security audit. This isn't an audit of app permissions like that found in Lookout and in Webroot Mobile Security for Android. ESET audits the device daily and automatically fixes everything it can. You can also manually run an audit at any time. ESET alerts if battery power or free disk space are too low. It reports security problems with Bluetooth, GPS, and GSM Network as well as with installed applications and stored data. The included Task Manager lets you view running processes and terminate non-system processes.

This app, currently in beta testing, can be downloaded from the Android Market or directly from the ESET Web site.

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