Microsoft
Microsoft held its Build Developer Conference is San Francisco last April 2nd. One of the most interesting announcements made by Joe Belfiore is Windows Phone 8.1 update. If you're a fan of the mobile OS, you'll be blown away by a ton of additions that adds functionality to the phone, making it a feature pack smartphone. It jumped from a consumer communication device into an enterprise business friendly one, from a half-baked OS into a an almost complete one.
The make of the phone UI was inspired by Windows 8's Live Tiles that continues to feed live updates on the Start Screen. And speaking of Windows 8, it uses the Metro Interface and later was renamed to Modern. Microsoft is working hard to implement the One Windows ecosystem where every Windows device syncs with each other. This was properly implemented in OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive), where editing documents (including OneNote) can be continued on a tablet or another laptop and Windows Phone, as long as the user is signed in on all of these devices. Apps in the store are also saved as a history so that users can opt to download them in each of their devices.
Going back to Windows Phone, the 8.1 update is surprisingly an x.1 update when in fact it brought more to the table for the OS, making it the major update in the history of Windows Phone. It includes Cortana, the sassy and clever digital assistant, Action Center, the most requested feature, Sense Apps for Wi-Fi, battery, storage and data, file manager, Word Flow keyboard, Office, Internet Explorer 11, separate volume sliders for notifications and apps, automatic app updates, Project My Screen for displaying phone's content to the big screen or wirelessly via Miracast, Accessibility updated to run Narrator similar to Windows PC, a line of Xbox services, DirectX feature for gaming, Bing apps, Universal apps and enterprise features.
Apple
Come June 2nd is Apple's WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) which announced similar approach to its OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 bringing their PC and smartphones closer together. This is said to be an unexpected update that left the audience jaw-dropped and applauding unexpectedly after the announcement.
Apple added a sidebar Notification Center where you can add widgets from third parties that makes OS X function and look more like in iOS. Typing on the search field brings you to a window where everything from local content, apps and online results show up, similar to Bing search in Windows which renders a universal search locally and online.
Microsoft held its Build Developer Conference is San Francisco last April 2nd. One of the most interesting announcements made by Joe Belfiore is Windows Phone 8.1 update. If you're a fan of the mobile OS, you'll be blown away by a ton of additions that adds functionality to the phone, making it a feature pack smartphone. It jumped from a consumer communication device into an enterprise business friendly one, from a half-baked OS into a an almost complete one.
The make of the phone UI was inspired by Windows 8's Live Tiles that continues to feed live updates on the Start Screen. And speaking of Windows 8, it uses the Metro Interface and later was renamed to Modern. Microsoft is working hard to implement the One Windows ecosystem where every Windows device syncs with each other. This was properly implemented in OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive), where editing documents (including OneNote) can be continued on a tablet or another laptop and Windows Phone, as long as the user is signed in on all of these devices. Apps in the store are also saved as a history so that users can opt to download them in each of their devices.
Going back to Windows Phone, the 8.1 update is surprisingly an x.1 update when in fact it brought more to the table for the OS, making it the major update in the history of Windows Phone. It includes Cortana, the sassy and clever digital assistant, Action Center, the most requested feature, Sense Apps for Wi-Fi, battery, storage and data, file manager, Word Flow keyboard, Office, Internet Explorer 11, separate volume sliders for notifications and apps, automatic app updates, Project My Screen for displaying phone's content to the big screen or wirelessly via Miracast, Accessibility updated to run Narrator similar to Windows PC, a line of Xbox services, DirectX feature for gaming, Bing apps, Universal apps and enterprise features.
Apple
Come June 2nd is Apple's WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) which announced similar approach to its OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 bringing their PC and smartphones closer together. This is said to be an unexpected update that left the audience jaw-dropped and applauding unexpectedly after the announcement.
Apple added a sidebar Notification Center where you can add widgets from third parties that makes OS X function and look more like in iOS. Typing on the search field brings you to a window where everything from local content, apps and online results show up, similar to Bing search in Windows which renders a universal search locally and online.
Their iCloud is also updated where formerly, you can only access your documents online, now it can be done offline, similar to OneDrive's approach that can save files offline and syncs to the cloud when connected to the internet. Handoff is a new feature where Apple devices communicate with each other by syncing documents you're working on, and websites you're browsing. It's like continue where you left off but the big difference is it's with every device that's nearby that gives the continuity in your tasks. And continuity is experienced further in placing phone calls and reading and sending text messages. Now you can receive text and calls on iMac so you don't have to fuss looking for your phone if you're already in front of your computer.
Apple also introduced QuickType which is similar to Windows Phone's Word Flow where swiping will get the job done together with the powerful text prediction.
Apple also introduced QuickType which is similar to Windows Phone's Word Flow where swiping will get the job done together with the powerful text prediction.
Siri, Apple's digital assistant, is now hands-free. Just say "Hey Siri" and you can activate her to listen by voice. This is similar to Google Now's "OK Google" voice command.
Google
It was June 25th when Google held their Google I/O conference in San Francisco. Many are waiting for Google's big bang for Android. Then came the first keynote that introduced the many changes to the Android platform. Here comes Google's "Material Design". Android has gone flat? More striking colors in apps and animations were added in the interface. This looks like "Modern" in Microsoft's Windows 8 when they introduced their flat design known as "Metro" for its interface back in 2012 that was later renamed. Big, bold font for a cleaner, easier reading, where Windows now uses Segoe UI, Google tweaked some of their official font to look "clean". Sending text message and accepting calls are available in desktop Chrome which is similar to Apple's continuity between devices. They also updated the keyboard for Aldroid L to have a functionality similar to Windows Phone's Word Flow keyboard and iOS's QuickType.
Now, Google is pushing devices (AndroidOne) with 512 Mb RAM and they've updated their latest entry level software, Android L, to be optimized for low-memory devices. Way back in April, Microsoft made their Windows Phone 8.1 update run smoothly with limited memory phones. Now what's new with Google after all?
Now What?
Microsoft's addition of some of its features is said to play catch up on Android and iOS. Google may have introduced a revolutionary software to the crowd yet it looks like Android is now playing catch up with Windows Phone. Most of its UI changes were inspired by Windows Phone's bright and bold colors and flat design interface. Google should have done this years ago.
Now, the three tech giants are getting head to head as they push several innovations that could now compete with each other. Features can be confusing with different names and trademarks but putting them together makes them a worthy "trival" (three rivals). Let's wait and see who pushes the changes first and who re-brands it. Sounds interesting? How fast technology evolves!
It was June 25th when Google held their Google I/O conference in San Francisco. Many are waiting for Google's big bang for Android. Then came the first keynote that introduced the many changes to the Android platform. Here comes Google's "Material Design". Android has gone flat? More striking colors in apps and animations were added in the interface. This looks like "Modern" in Microsoft's Windows 8 when they introduced their flat design known as "Metro" for its interface back in 2012 that was later renamed. Big, bold font for a cleaner, easier reading, where Windows now uses Segoe UI, Google tweaked some of their official font to look "clean". Sending text message and accepting calls are available in desktop Chrome which is similar to Apple's continuity between devices. They also updated the keyboard for Aldroid L to have a functionality similar to Windows Phone's Word Flow keyboard and iOS's QuickType.
Now, Google is pushing devices (AndroidOne) with 512 Mb RAM and they've updated their latest entry level software, Android L, to be optimized for low-memory devices. Way back in April, Microsoft made their Windows Phone 8.1 update run smoothly with limited memory phones. Now what's new with Google after all?
Now What?
Microsoft's addition of some of its features is said to play catch up on Android and iOS. Google may have introduced a revolutionary software to the crowd yet it looks like Android is now playing catch up with Windows Phone. Most of its UI changes were inspired by Windows Phone's bright and bold colors and flat design interface. Google should have done this years ago.
Now, the three tech giants are getting head to head as they push several innovations that could now compete with each other. Features can be confusing with different names and trademarks but putting them together makes them a worthy "trival" (three rivals). Let's wait and see who pushes the changes first and who re-brands it. Sounds interesting? How fast technology evolves!
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