Windows 10 For Phones Shows Up In Online Logs

Quite a lot of movement on the Windows 10 for Phones front after Microsoft seeded the first preview version to a select group of internal testers. Expected and quite normal when a thousand people have access to it.

You can read up on how that happened here.

Microsoft, on the other hand, is quite keen on keeping all details secret for the time being, to the point that there is not set date for when the first preview version will be made available for users.

Work on this new mobile OS continues, however, and it has recently been spotted online, revealing a new browser that might be offered with the new operating system.

This post on Reddit has specifics on the user agent string that could be included in the default web browser on Windows 10 for Phones. It is now marked as Android 4.2.1 and using Edge 12.0.

Curiously interesting, as you can see below:

Windows Phone, as you may well be aware is set to debut with a new browser codenamed Spartan. This new solution is also available on the desktop, and it of course, utilizes the new Edge rendering engine on both platforms.

Redmond is expected to keep Internet Explorer as the online choice in this first preview build that is set for debut in around a week or two from now. Joe Belfiore said at the January 21 event that Spartan could be released, three, four, even five months from now.

But as the logs show, it is being tested, as Microsoft rushes to complete development of this brand new solution for its upcoming operating platform.

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AMD Promises Drivers For Windows 10 Preview Builds

The last few Windows 10 preview builds were far from stable, but things improved a fair bit over the year, after Microsoft unleashed build 9926 to Windows Insiders towards the end of last month.

However, the driver issues still persist for many users — particularly for graphics.

The myriad of tablet devices, along with various GPUs on the desktop side of things mean that most drivers are not exactly optimized. And considering the fact that many people are using these Windows 10 versions on their main computes, several issues have emerged online.

On the AMD side of things we have confirmation via their Windows 10 information page that the existing driver packages are compatible with technical preview builds.

However, with the latest 9926 build some users have come across stability and performance problems. One common issue is the device detection issue. The Microsoft Answers forum is filled with posts where users are getting a “code 43” in Device Manager for their AMD graphics card.

Luckily, AMD is working on this problem, and new drivers for Windows 10:

@CrazyCatsGot2@GabeAul Hi! We are working on a solution, which is coming soon! Note the latest post by @AMD’s Pete: http://t.co/ss59O1yh3T

— AMD Radeon Graphics (@AMDRadeon) February 3, 2015

Pete Leventhal, the Director of Software Engineering at AMD has posted in the forums above, confirming that they are working with Microsoft to fix this issue on a priority basis.

Nice show of readiness from AMD to push an update for users that are running an unfinished version of the operating system. Fingers firmly crossed for a new release soon that fixes these (and other such) problems on the graphics side of things.

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Windows 10 Momentum Keeps Windows Phone Growing

Although Microsoft shared details of Windows 10 and the next version of Windows Phone at its high profile January 21 event, the new platform has been in spotlight far longer than that.

In fact, ever since the company confirmed that name of the new OS as Windows 10 — the hype train has been chugging along for months now. It seems that the new strategy that the software titan has set in place for its operating platforms is something that has started to interest users.

The newest statistics from Kantar World Panel show that while the Windows Phone platform continued its decline in some countries, it has gained ground in other.

Microsoft’s platform was down in the UK and China, while it ticked up in France, Australia and Germany.

Worth mentioning that these numbers are from December, meaning before the January event. But then again, rumors about Windows Phone have been swirling around for a fair while now.

In United States, though, Windows Phone managed to increase its share from 3% in November 2014 to 3.8% the next month. It still makes for a 0.5% decline from the figures recorded in December 2013, when it was powering 4.3% of smartphones in the country.

Things went from bad to worse in China, as Windows Phone share dropped from 1.1% in December 2013 to 0.7% by the end of this past year.

Users in Germany, however, purchased more Windows Phone in December 2014, as market share in the country increased to 7.4% — a subtle increase from 7.1% in November 2013 but a solid one from the figures of 5.9% in December 2013.

Overall, it must be said, that expectations are high when it comes to adoption of Window Phone, as we move towards the release of the final version of Windows 10 for Phones later this year.

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Care For A Windows 10 Start Menu That Activates Via Hover?

A delightful suggestion, and one that could be easily implemented. The Windows 10 Start Menu is still a work in progress, even though it may look like something that is nearly finished.

And that is because it has come a long way from when it was first unveiled at BUILD 2014.

Fans of this trademark Windows feature, however, believe it can be further improved in terms of usability, if not design. One of the more interesting proposition is to change the default behavior of the Start Menu to make it easier for mouse users.

As posted here on UserVoice, the idea is to make the Start Menu available whenever the mouse cursor is moved to the bottom left corner of the screen.

The Start Screen, on the other hand, should be accessible by double-clicking the Start Button.

Microsoft has up until now based the default behavior of the Start Menu on the Continuum feature that allows people using 2-in-1 and hybrid devices to jump from the desktop to the Modern UI without losing their work — the Start Menu simply becomes a Start Screen by going full screen.

Still, this is a fascinating suggestion, and is at least worth a look.

Maybe as an option?

Who knows!

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Finding a Replacement Charger for the Surface Pro

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We have five of the original Surface Pro's in use in our house. How that happened is a long story, but suffice to say they all get significant use by my wife and kids. We have four kids, so the older three each have their own, my wife has hers, and I have a spare for testing purposes. Right now, my personal Surface Pro is being utilized for keeping up on the latest Windows 10 Builds. Windows 10 works great on it, by the way.

As you know, my daily driver is the Surface Pro 3, and unlike some of you (you know who you are) I will not install a beta Build on it. I have enough work to do without having to throw my hands up every time a Windows 10 beta feature stops me from being productive. So, thankfully, the original Surface Pro is available.

With so many of the devices in the house, you have to expect problems, particularly with the power adapter. My youngest son would lose his head if it were not attached, and he's the first one I blame when a TV remote goes missing. He's lost his Surface Power adapter three times that we know of – how many times he didn't admit it is unknown, but I'm sure there are many. After using Sherlock-like deductive skills, we can eventually figure out where he left it – usually at a friend's house. So, that, along with general wear-and-tear, means I need options for replacing the power brick, or having extras on-hand in case a cord gets sliced accidentally (which it has).

Recently, Microsoft stopped selling the power supply for the original Surface Pro. I'm not sure exactly when that was, but only discovered it recently during our last missing adapter drama. Microsoft's online store just says, "no longer available." So, what to do?

For me, any scenario like this warrants an immediate click to Amazon.com. What I found and what I received, is a functional power supply for the Surface Pro. It's not anything amazing like Microsoft's original, but it works and it's only around $15.00.

You can get it here: VicTec Wall Charger AC Adapter Power Supply Cable For Microsoft Surface 10.6 Windows 8 Pro

It does have a single drawback. Though it works wonderfully for supplying power to the Surface Pro, it does not have the integrated USB charging port that the original power adapter included. I don't count that as a huge loss, just as long as it works and fills my needs – and it does.

Incidentally, the company also provides one for the Surface Pro 3 and is only $29.99 versus Microsoft's $79.99. Unlike the one for the original Surface Pro, this one does offer the integrated USB charging port, though it has a bit different configuration than the original:

The Surface Pro 3 version is available here:

VicTec Wall Charger AC Power Adapter For Surface Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Tablet PC Windows 8 – 12V 2.5A

So, there you go. Nice to know there are options. I ended up ordering four of the Surface Pro versions and I'm positive I'll be ordering the Surface Pro 3 version in the future. My only fear is that if my youngest son realizes I have extras, his carelessness could get worse.

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Surface 2: Get ‘em While the Gettin’s Good

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There's been some noise over Surface 2 availability recently. Surface 2 was definitely an improvement over Microsoft's original tablet release, but was also a sort of stop-gap measure before delivering a true solid performer in the Surface Pro 3.

Still, the Surface 2 is used by many. I spent some time in Redmond last year, in attendance with a bunch of MVPs, and they gobbled up the discounted Surface 2's like they were candy. Surface 2 has a lot of value as a second screen, particularly for surfing the web and watching video.

Some have raised concerns over the Surface 2 availability, so I spoke with Microsoft today.

"We are no longer manufacturing Surface 2; however, those still eager to buy Surface should visit Microsoft Retail Stores, MicrosoftStore.com, third-party retailers and resellers for the latest availability." –Microsoft spokesperson

So, it seems if you still want one of these, your best bet is to do some local hunting, as I'm sure the ones from the online store will be snatched up first. $449 is a smart purchase.

Some have asked if this includes the Surface Pro 2 since, on the surface (pun intended), this seems like a simple hardware manufacturing story. The communication only addresses the Surface 2 – on purpose, I believe. Thinking about it, it makes perfect sense considering the Surface Pro 2 runs Windows 8.1 Pro but the Surface 2 is still being powered by Windows RT 8.1. And, I think this gives us deeper insight to what Microsoft might be planning for Windows 10 support for the Windows RT operating system.

During the Q&A portion of Microsoft's last Windows 10 event, Terry Myerson suggested that Microsoft "is working on it" in relation to supporting a Windows 10 upgrade for Windows RT. Later it was further suggested that some, but not all, Windows 10 features might come to Windows RT. Then, yesterday I cobbled together some notes I took during a conversation with a Microsoft person to talk about how upgrades might work for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Notably absent from that conversation was any reference to Windows RT.

And, I believe that says something without really saying something. Don't you?

So, logically the next question that continues to burn the cockles of everyone's mind is: if Microsoft is beginning to stop manufacturing newer devices, does that mean that the Surface Pro 4 is just around the corner?

I believe it is, and will be released as part of the Windows 10 launch wave later this summer. I believe Surface Pro 4 will be the first device out the door that comes with Windows 10 preinstalled. I'm already dusting off my comfortable shoes and polishing my wallet to stand in line.

However, it's just my opinion how the whole Surface Pro 4 thing will go down. If you ask Microsoft (and, I did), this is what they say…

"As we've said before, there is a roadmap of products, but we have nothing further to share." –Microsoft spokesperson

"As we've said before…" Sounds like something I'd say to my kids after they've asked me the same question 10 times and I responded with the exact same answer each and every go round. It amounts to a verbal slap in the face, but that's OK, at least they're listening to me.

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Enabling “Hey Cortana” in Windows 10 Build 9926

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As you probably know by now, Cortana has made her first PC appearance with the release of Windows 10 Build 9926. Microsoft delivered Cortana as a digital assistant for devices with Windows Phone 8.1 on April 2, 2014. But, that's not exactly where the digital assistant got its start. Xbox and gaming fans know that Cortana originated as a fictional AI character in the Halo video game series.

As a digital assistant for devices, the name Cortana was only a project codename. But, based on customer feedback, is one of the only products to retain the codename after release, just because of how cool it is.

Cortana gets much of her intelligence through integration with Bing, Microsoft's Search engine, but is also tied to the Microsoft Cloud infrastructure, allowing capabilities to be updated continually.

In Windows Phone, you can enact Cortana's powers a couple ways. Just using the smartphone's Search function, Cortana is at the ready to serve answers to your questions. Using the Cortana app, you can get customized news, weather, alerts, and many other things, but tap the microphone button and you can speak directly to Cortana and she'll respond. She'll even read your incoming text messages if you tell her to do so. The smartphone I use is the HTC M8 Windows Phone with the Dot View case (detailed reasons HERE). The Dot View case gives me an even different option for initiating a conversation with Cortana. I simply swipe down the front of the case and Cortana waits for my voice direction. It's a hugely valuable function, particularly when driving.

Cortana has truly become a staple in my life. It's amazing how quickly you can integrate something when it's good and useful. Cortana is just that. She's now indispensable.

In Windows 10 Build 9926, and just like with Windows Phone, Cortana powers the new Search, and functions much the same way. Just like Windows Phone you can use your voice to make requests and Cortana keeps track of all the same things offered with Windows Phone 8.1. But, Windows 10 Build 9926 brings something extra to the table – something I've been clamoring for since my very first week using Cortana. Something I hope comes as part of a future update for Windows Phone.

Cortana can now also be configured on a Windows 10 PC or tablet to wait and listen for you to require her service. After a quick setting change, all you have to do is say "Hey, Cortana" with your request and she's already preparing a response. I have so wanted this feature to come to Windows Phone for so long.

One way to set this up (and also gives you a tour of the Windows 10 landscape) is to:

1. Swipe from the right, or tap the Notifications icon in the Windows 10 System Tray to reveal the new Action Center (Notifications) – read about the Action Center here


2. Tap the All Settings option.

3. On the Settings screen, open System – Display, notifications, search, power

4. Highlight Cortana & Search and open the Customize Cortana & search settings

5. Locate and flip the On switch for the Let Cortana respond when you say "Hey Cortana"

But, probably the simplest way is to just open Cortana on the taskbar, access the dropdown menu by opening the Settings menu (the 3 lines that look like a hamburger), and go straight to Cortana Settings.

Now, when you say "Hey, Cortana," she'll be ready and waiting for you, too. There's a small caveat with this that should be noted, though, and it's something that will take a bit of practice to master. When you say "Hey, Cortana" you must be prepared to utter your full request straight after. If you pause after "Hey, Cortana," even briefly, she'll move on, ask "Yes? How can I help?" and stop listening until you voice-prompt her again. I'm sure this will be fixed in future Builds, but it's good to know for now.

One additional feature I'd like to see added, is the ability to customize Cortana's secret phrase. Imagine an office full of cubicles, full of coworkers, all running Windows 10 with Cortana enabled. A single person using "Hey, Cortana" would set off a pretty comical scene that stretched across the entire office. Plus, you don't want your cubicle buddies to be able to initiate Cortana on your PC. No telling what they'd ask her while you were away. And, I can just picture the IT folks handing out browser history reports and asking "now, why again, are you searching for hot Russian babes with a Pop-tart fetish?"

So, yeah. This needs to be customizable per person.

One other caveat, particularly for Surface (and other tablet) users. If you allow the tablet to go into Standby, Cortana stops listening. I'm sure there would be a battery detriment for giving Cortana listening capability when in Standby and or running over the Windows lock screen, but if plugged into power (like inserted into a docking station), it shouldn't matter. I'd love it if Cortana could be used to "wake" my Surface Pro 3.

Still it’s a fine feature and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I expect the same capability to show up next month when the first Windows 10 bits for Windows Phone deliver.

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