The HTC One M8 for Windows marks a new tack Microsoft hopes will lead to greater popularity for Windows Phone. The basic idea: Let handset makers reuse high-end Android hardware.

Rival Android could be the cavalry coming to the rescue of Windows Phone, in Microsoft's latest maneuver to advance its smartphone operating system.

The underlying notion is this: Microsoft wants to make it easier to introduce devices that use the Windows Phone software. That was the message delivered this week's announcement of the HTC One M8 for Windows Phone.

Specifically, Microsoft has tweaked its Windows Phone 8.1 software so that hardware makers can lean on the hardware and reference designs they're already using to build devices for Android-based phones in order to build a Windows Phone device.

"We wanted handset makers like HTC to be able to leverage their engineering investment and provide them with a real choice," said Darren Laybourn, vice president of engineering for Microsoft in an interview following the launch of the HTC One M8 for Windows. "We feel the software should be the differentiator and not the hardware."

For four years Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone operating system has limped along, trying to gain traction against the much more popular Apple iOS and Google Android devices. But Windows Phone handsets remain niche products. In fact, they only garnered about 2.5 percent of the worldwide smartphone market in the second quarter of 2014, according to IDC.

Microsoft has struggled to convince hardware partners to make phones running the Windows Phone operating system in what has turned into a chicken-and-egg scenario. Device makers don't want to dedicate resources to building a Windows Phone because there are so few customers. But without the devices -- especially iconic ones that offer cutting edge components and technology -- the operating system will never gain popularity among customers.

Management knows that Microsoft's mobile ambitions are doomed if it can't break that pattern. The solution depends on finding a way to get device makers other than Nokia, whose handset operations Microsoft acquired earlier this year for more than $7 billion, to build high-end smartphones using Windows Phone.

With the release of the latest software, Windows Phone 8.1, and now the launch of the HTC One M8 for Windows, Microsoft has come up with a new approach that could point the way past this dilemma.

"Ideally, I'm sure that Microsoft wants HTC, Samsung and others to produce exclusive designs for their software," said Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research. "But I think they recognize the market reality now. And they're willing to let dedicated hardware go to get more high-end Windows Phone smartphones on the market."

Will Windows Phone OS v8.1 run on HTC One M8?

The information floating around is that, the One M8, If the news is true, there are high chances that the bootloader for the HTC One M8 will be supporting the Windows Phone operating system.

The news comes in from various sources that the upcoming Windows Phone from HTC, the One W8, has an open bootloader which can possibly install an Android OS too. Since the One M8 and One W8 are almost (reportedly) identical in specifications, there are all possible chances of the bootloader being compromised to install the two operating systems.

It will be just a matter of time when developers will be able to crack the internals of the bootloader and enable users to install Windows Phone 8.1 on the Android-running handsets. Also there will be high chances of users dual-booting Android and Windows on the same handset.

This would make the HTC handsets the best of both worlds and enthusiasts and app developers can use the same handset to test out their applications across platforms.

Specificatios

HTC has announced the HTC One M8... and. This time, though, it runs Windows Phone and is a Verizon-exclusive called the "HTC One M8 for Windows." HTC is the first OEM to take advantage of changes in Windows Phone 8.1 that allow for OS-agnostic smartphones, allowing (Verizon) customers to pick their hardware first and software—Windows Phone or Android—second.

The hardware is exactly the same as the Android version. That means you get all the good stuff from the HTC One M8: a 5-inch, 1080p LCD, a 2.36GHz Snapdragon 801, 2GB of RAM, a 2600mAh battery, and massive BoomSound speakers, all wrapped in an aluminum shell.

Double tapping on the screen will wake up the device, just like the Android version. That's good news, because the top-mounted power button is almost impossible to hit on a device this large.

HTC's questionable "UltraPixel with Duo Camera" system is still here, too. The main camera uses a 4MP sensor, and there's an entire extra rear camera to apply a fake depth-of-field effect to pictures. The M8 was one of the first Android phones with this feature, but it was immediately replicated by Google, Samsung, and everyone else in software, making HTC's additional camera look a little silly. We didn't find it very compelling in the Android version, but it's easy to ignore.

HTC is the first manufacturer to enter the wild new world of OS-agnostic smartphones enabled by Windows Phone 8.1. With the new update, the OS gained the ability to use on-screen navigation buttons, just like Android. That, along with Microsoft's enhanced hardware support in 8.1, means OEMs could finally build devices that aren't tied to a specific OS. Just build something with a screen, and the proprietary buttons can be added in software.

The M8 for Windows even works with HTC's Dot View case, thanks to new APIs in Windows 8.1 Update. The Dot View Case is full of little holes and displays the time and weather through the holes when the case is closed. Cortana even works without opening the case.

We know now that htc installed Android and Windows OS on the-same hardware, but what we don't know, is the steps by which they did it and the tools required. so that owners of this smartphone can switch OS whenever they feel like.

Leave your comments below.

Norwegian software maker Opera signed a deal to take over the browser building unit of Microsoft's Nokia mobile phone unit and reported second-quarter earnings above expectations on Thursday, sending it shares sharply higher.

"We have signed a strategic licensing deal with Microsoft. We are basically taking over the browser building department in Nokia," Opera Chief Executive Lars Boilsesen said. "This means that Opera Mini will become the default browser for Microsoft's feature phone product lines and the Asha phones product lines."

The deal will be profitable from the start, he added.

Opera shares rose 6.5 percent to 80.45 crowns a share by 0304 EST on the deal and the earnings report.

"All the current user base will be encouraged to upgrade to Opera Mini and all the new phones will come with Opera Mini pre-installed as a default browser. This is a great deal for us. We have dreamed of this for more than 10 years."

In a separate statement, Opera said the licensing agreement applies to mobile phones based on the Series 30+, Series 40 and Asha software platforms.

"As part of the agreement, people who use the current browser for these phones, Xpress, will be encouraged to upgrade to the latest Opera Mini browser. Factory-new devices will have Opera Mini pre-installed."

In the second quarter, Opera's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 24 percent to $27 million, beating forecasts for $24.7 million.

The firm said it now sees full-year EBITDA in a range of $117 million to $124 million, up from a previous guidance for $110-120 million, and it sees revenues at $480-500 million versus a previous forecasts for $435-460 million.

64-bit technology has been around for over ten years in the desktop arena, but it is finally making its way into our pockets with the Tegra K1 Denver, Snapdragon 808 and the Samsung Exynos 6 and Exynos S. The shift to 64-bit technology in the mobile sector brings with it some technical advantages which have been a staple of desktop PCs and mainframe architecture for a long time. But how exactly will 64-bit processors make our smartphones better? We can give you a handful of reasons. 

 Faster speeds

The increased address space that is associated with 64-bit architecture opens the gates for exponentially greater usable memory. Whereas the limit was previously set at 4 GB of RAM, 64-bit chips can support 16 exabytes, that is 16 billion GB. Needless to say, the RAM limits are endless with 64-bits. Once new devices have been established with eight or even 16 gigabytes of memory, the true advantages will truly be felt. Because the data throughput of the memory is much higher than that of the flash memory, working with multiple open apps will feel significantly faster. If operating systems are refined even more to be even more power efficient too, we are again looking at exponential speed improvements.

Greater security

Thanks to the support for very large numbers, incredibly complex encryption is also possible, which are going to be much harder to crack than what we currently have. Therefore, 64-bit chips will allow you to better encrypt your data against unauthorized access than anything you have seen before.

Faster playback of 4K videos

New instruction set architectures allow for intelligent management of many concurrent commands. This is particularly useful when playing high definition content, because those processes are performed in parallel. In 64-bit environments, the architecture will allow 4K videos to play liquid smooth even with simpler processors because they can leverage their resources better. The reverse is also true this: the recording and real-time compression of your videos will be made easier on your processors in a 64-bit environment.

Smooth gaming experience

The same rules that apply for video also applies for games: graphics processing will be optimized for parallel computations. Here the new processors will be able to play to their strengths. Both graphically and in gameplay, the effects of 64-bit chips will be felt in a greater level of detail or more AI opponents. Games will not only be more beautiful, but also more jam-packed with in-game content.

Less power consumption

Talk about 64-bit chips revolves around reduced power consumption and longer battery life for good reason: firstly, calculation times can be reduced, since many complex processes can be divided into fragments run in parallel; and secondly, the CPU load is reduced, as more applications than ever before can be permanently parked in RAM. Therefore, both your CPU and flash memory can go to sleep for longer periods than before.

Conclusion

The transition to 64-bit architecture was almost overdue. Several high-end smartphones like the LG G3 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S with 3 gigabytes of RAM showed that we had arrived at the limits. These are now passé and a new era is dawning! If you trust Google's statements at the I/O developer conference, on the software side most existing apps should continue to run smoothly following the transition to Android 5.0 and 64-bit mobile computing. The new ART (Android Runtime) environment offers native 64-bit support, and 85 percent of the apps from the Play Store will run immediately in the new environment.

What are your expectations?

Sony Corp said on Tuesday that sales of its PlayStation 4 video game console, launched in November, has surpassed 10 million units.

In April, the Japanese company said it had sold over 7 million PlayStation 4 units as of April 6 and was struggling to keep up with consumer demand.

The console went on sale on November 29 in the United States, Western Europe and Latin America, around the same time that rival Microsoft Corp's Xbox One was released. That console topped 3 million units in sales as of the end of last year.

Microsoft said in April it had shipped 5 million Xbox One units to retailers worldwide since the launch.

Many readers will have heard of WhatsApp or possibly use this messaging app themselves. Not so many will have heard of the modded WhatsApp Plus version, but if you have you might be interested to hear that WhatsApp Plus APK 6.13 is now available.

Some of you may be considering switching from WhatsApp to this modified version, and as you would expect there are some differences between the official WhatsApp for Android and the free WhatsApp Plus app. For a start the app is also known as WhatsApp+ or WhatsApp Plus Holo, and the icon is blue rather than green.

Just like WhatsApp, the modified app is a cross-platform messaging app. It’s said to work well and be easy to install, although you will have to remove your original WhatsApp before you install WhatsApp Plus. The Plus version does have some features that the original WhatsApp does not.

These include free visual themes, with more than 700 on offer, additional emoticons, edit file sharing options, and menus for editing appearance and settings. If you’re interested in this alternative to the official WhatsApp and want to download WhatsApp Plus 6.13 you can do so at WhatsApp Plus Android APK 6.13 here. You’ll find all of the versions along with a changelog for each.

Let us have your comments about WhatsApp Plus.

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Intel on Monday introduced its Broadwell processor platform to the world, and it is an impressive piece of technology. Stepping outside of its normal two-step process of first releasing the processor and then updating the platform, Intel is doing both this cycle, and the end result is a massive step forward in terms of size and power efficiency. Intel is stepping solidly into turf once owned by the ARM technology most commonly found in tablets and smartphones.

With Haswell Refresh fully behind us and 2014 now in to its second half, Intel is turning their attention to their next generation of products and processes. Intel’s tick-tock methodology coupled with the long development periods of new products means that the company has several projects in flight at any given time. So while we have seen the name Broadwell on Intel’s roadmaps for some time now, the reality of the situation is that we know relatively little about Intel’s next generation architecture and the 14nm process that it is the launch vehicle for.

Intel Core M

Today’s preview and Intel’s associated presentation are going to be based around the forthcoming Intel Core M microprocessor, using the Broadwell configuration otherwise known at Broadwell-Y. The reason for this is a culmination of several factors, and in all honesty it’s probably driven as much by investor relations as it is consumer/enthusiast relations, as Intel would like to convince consumer and investor alike that they are on the right path to take control of the mobile/tablet market through superior products, superior technology, and superior manufacturing. Hence today’s preview will be focused on the part and the market Intel feels is the most competitive and most at risk for the next cycle: the mobile market that Core M will be competing in.

Broadwell version of  Windows 9

Apple will resist putting touch on a MacBook Air because it wants customers to buy both a laptop and an iPad, but Microsoft doesn't have those concerns. The Broadwell version of Surface running Windows 9 could become both a MacBook Air and an iPad killer. I don't think customers will buy both a light laptop and a tablet if presented with an alternative that does an excellent job replacing both. The prototype tablet Intel is showcasing with the launch -- which runs full OSes like Windows and OS X -- is actually both thinner and lighter than an iPad Air, which creates an interesting problem for the slowing tablet market. What if you could get full Windows and OS X in a form factor thinner and lighter than an iPad Air? Intel Broadwell architecture Last week I was informed on Intel's announcement, and while it was easy -- way too easy -- to get lost in how they made this happen, the reality is that this may be the most significant technical advancement that Intel has made in a processor since the creation of x86. There is really very little, including process technology, that has been left unchanged by this move. This was the culmination of a massive near company-wide effort to counter the threat represented by ARM, to create PC-level performance in an ARM-level energy and heat envelope. In other words, this was one of the most massive efforts I've ever seen Intel -- or any company -- undertake, and the result is stunning. To that end Intel’s preview is very much a preview; we will see bits and pieces of Broadwell’s CPU architecture, GPU architecture, and packaging, along with information about Intel’s 14nm process. However this isn’t a full architecture preview or a full process breakdown. Both of those will have to wait for Intel’s usual forum of IDF. Desktop and Tablet are fully Supported The showcase prototype tablet is thinner and lighter than an iPad Air, and it runs full operating systems and their mobile counterparts. Both Apple and Microsoft have been hinting at converging their mobile and desktop platforms to maximize their apps and minimize their support costs, but they have been somewhat reticent -- in part because tablet platforms couldn't support their desktop efforts, and desktop platforms wouldn't work in a Tablet like the iPad Air. Well, that just changed -- and right now, Intel is the only vendor that can cover the tablet and desktop segments adequately with a single architecture. Part of this is getting the thermals of the processor down so that, like ARM, you don't need a fan. Diving into matters then, Core M will be launch vehicle for Broadwell and will be released for the holiday period this year. In fact Intel is already in volume production of the Broadwell-Y CPU and production units are shipping to Intel’s customers (the OEMs) to begin production and stockpiling of finished devices for the holiday launch. NOTE:  Now on their latest iteration with Broadwell, the company believes they’re turning a corner and have the technology they need to be a leader in the high performance mobile market. It's important to note that despite Intel's best intentions here, Broadwell and Core M remain targeted at premium devices. You won't see these parts in cheap tablets. The duty of doing battle with ARM remains Atom's alone.  Apple's Thin Problem This brings up a problem, though. If Apple and Microsoft can create a thinner, lighter, tablet for their OS X and Windows platforms with a touchscreen, then what happens to tablets? Ever since the iPad came out, folks have been trying to use it for work -- but that hasn't proven very successful. For instance, some peers were trying to use iPads as their primary mobile platform a year ago, and most were either on MacBook Air or Surface products at the last briefing. Now they still want to carry a very thin and light product with good battery life, but the iPad just isn't doing it for them. Present these folks with a laptop with performance size and weight in line with an iPad, and suddenly you wonder why you need an iPad anymore. This creates a rather impressive advantage for Microsoft and Windows 9 to take the market back from Apple. Microsoft's Windows Opportunity You see, while Apple will resist putting touch on a MacBook Air because it wants customers to buy both a laptop and an iPad, Microsoft doesn't have those same concerns. The Broadwell version of Surface running Windows 9 could become both a MacBook Air and an iPad killer as a result, because it will be an ideal blend of both products. I don't think customers will buy both a light laptop and a tablet if presented with an attractive alternative that does an excellent job replacing both. That is what Windows 95 provided. Before Windows 95, DOS was more business and the Mac was more personal. Windows 9 will provide a similar blend between laptops and tablets, and business and personal uses -- particularly when placed on Broadwell -- and we may quickly find that a lot of the more recent Apple converts will convert back as a result. Certainly Apple, which also uses Intel, could do the same thing. However, because it is afraid of collapsing the iPad into the MacBook Pro and losing the revenue, it won't -- handing Microsoft back the market. Granted, Microsoft will have to execute at Windows 95 levels, but its current CEO is far closer to Bill Gates and far more likely to do this than its last CEO was. Intel's Microprocessor Create The Inovation I think we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg with Broadwell. Once you get a fully capable processor into an ARM thermal envelope, you can do some incredible things in a lot of markets. Embedded products -- like those put in cars and homes -- get much more interesting, designs for tablets and PCs potentially far more creative, and products that only could exist in people's minds take form in reality. I think Broadwell will shake up the PC market a lot. Ramping into its launch, PC segments already were growing, while tablet segments were hurting. I think Broadwell creates half of the equation needed for another Windows 95 event, and now we'll see whether Microsoft can step up to this with Windows 9. Apple's betting no -- and I know of at least one time when that didn't turn out so well.