Microsoft takes a bite out of Apple with their new devices, and more news

Microsoft has given us plenty of news to fill the show this week, with their newest Windows 10 update and lots of hardware… oh, and we have some Facebook news too. Okay, let’s start with the Facebook who have started previewing their new LIKE option. While many expected a dislike like button, what we have instead been given are a choice of 6 options to show our feelings on a post - a heart, smiling face, happy face, surprised face, sad, and angry. Unfortunately though this is currently only being tested in Spain and Ireland. Before diving into Microsoft’s hardware - let’s take a sneaky peak at the next Windows 10 update, snappily titled 10565, and now available for Windows Insiders. This update brings some interesting developments: Edge browser previews, an integrated Skype messaging system, and plenty more. Expect news on that soon. Now, on to last week’s big news, Microsoft’s device-event. This press conference saw the Redmond Company introduce exciting new hardware - and the headlines came quickly, with outlets declaring this the best hardware event Microsoft has ever done: with interesting products, powerful enhancements, and exciting surprises. First the company laid down some figures: 110 million devices now have Windows 10 installed and Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will be among the first universal apps for the OS: letting you move seamlessly between Windows 10 phones, tablets, and PCs. Next the company explained how Windows 10 will improve gamers experience when it comes to Xbox One this Christmas. Among other things, this update will improve streaming compatibility with PCs, letting you enjoy 360 games from your computer. Though unfortunately Cortana won’t appear on the console until next year. Microsoft also touched on their augmented reality Holo-Lens, the glasses that will let you merge reality and the digital world. One example of this blending is Project X-Ray, a game that adapts to any environment to provide you with fun action perfectly mapped to the space you are in – impressing tech which opens many possibilities, but with the development kit currently only available to order for 3 grand, it could be a while until we all get to play. Athletes also get the new Microsoft Band for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, a wearable that will track vital signs, calorie consumption, analyze training times, and other health stats. It will even let you reply to messages using voice to text messaging. With GPS, ultraviolet to measure sleep patterns, Cortana, and more, Microsoft really have squeezed in everything they could for the $249 asking price. With the warm up over, the conference moved on to the fourth edition of the Surface and the new all-powerful Lumia 950. Both of these devices focused on their versatility. The powerful Lumia phone was particularly shocking here. Stuffed with powerful processors and “continuum technology” this phone will dock with a keyboard, mouse, and screen allowing to be used like a like a desktop PC – which it almost is thanks to its 8 core processor, 3 GB of RAM, and up to 64 GB of memory. In addition, Microsoft introduced the all new Surface Book - the first laptop that Microsoft has ever made. And it is a real beast that will let you smoothly edit video - thanks to its amazing NVIDIA GeForce graphics chip - without scarifying its 12 hour battery live. So far the news today, next Monday back with more. Meanwhile, do not miss Vicia2 Thursday and 5 apps that have to try on Friday.