Windows 10 Mobile Split Screen Concept Really Makes Sense

Microsoft might not be focusing too much on Windows 10 Mobile this year, but users know exactly how the platform can be improved, so they propose all kinds of innovative ideas in this direction.

The latest comes from reddit user aarontimothee who found a way to offer split-screen multi-tasking on devices running Windows 10 Mobile.

And this proposed concept certainly makes sense, especially because Microsoft has focused a lot on the one-handed mode that’s part of the operating system.

As the concept creator explains, the split screen mode is activated “when you press and hold start and enable the one-handed mode,” so instead “of a blank space in the upper part, the OS shows you the multitasking menu which lets you select an app to run in split screen.”

This idea is very similar to the multitasking system that was introduced with Windows 8 for touch-capable devices and which allowed users to run two or more apps side by side. A slider separating the app lets users automatically resize apps, but given the fact that on Windows 10 Mobile the available space is quite limited, such a feature would be harder to implement.

Keep in mind that this is just a concept for the time being and there’s no sign yet that Microsoft would implement such a feature, although there’s no doubt it would really come in handy.

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More Carriers Start Updating Windows Phone Devices to Windows 10 Mobile

Vodafone Australia has been one of the most vocal carriers during the development phase of Windows 10 Mobile, as new information regarding the testing schedule and the possible rollout of the new operating system is being frequently posted on its official page.

Now Vodafone has published details regarding the actual release of Windows 10 Mobile, revealing that devices running Windows Phone and connected to its network would start getting the new software this Friday.

Lumia 640, 640 XL, 735, and 930 are the first Windows Phone devices to be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile this month and although the company hasn’t yet said anything on any other model, more are expected to be included in the rollout in the coming weeks and months.

The case of unsupported devices
But it’s also important to note that as per Microsoft’s decision, not all devices would receive Windows 10 Mobile, as Redmond wants to upgrade only those Windows Phone models that can smoothly run the operating system.

In the original announcement, Microsoft said that it was aiming for “good customer experience” and this is the reason why some phones are left behind. Specifically, no Windows Phone model with 512 MB of RAM, as well as some more powerful devices such as the Lumia 1020, aren’t getting the upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile because of the impact it could have on customer experience.

“As Windows 10 delivers significant new innovations, many older devices are not able to successfully upgrade without an impact on the customer experience. Our goal is to only offer the Windows 10 upgrade to devices that we are confident can continue to deliver a good customer experience,” Microsoft said.

It’s worth mentioning, however, that although some devices aren’t getting the upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile, they can remain part of the Windows Insider program and run preview builds just like before.

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Microsoft Silently Changes Phone Windows 10 Upgrade Eligibility After Complaints

The release of Windows 10 Mobile was received with mixed feelings by the Windows Phone community, and while some users were very pleased to finally get the upgrade, others were extremely disappointed that so many devices were left behind.

Among them, the BLU Win Jr LTE, which Microsoft had clearly advertised as “upgradeable to Windows 10 Mobile” on the official online store page.

It’s no surprise that some buyers purchased the BLU model specifically for the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade, and the number of complaints posted on reddit (via WinBeta) has increased following Microsoft’s confirmation that this device will not be supported by the operating system.

Is this false advertising?
But what’s more interesting is that the software giant has actually got to read all these complaints posted online, so the company has decided to update the product’s description in the Windows Store to clearly state that the BLU handset only supports Windows Phone 8.1. Without telling anyone, that is, and probably hoping that no one would even notice.

“I received no official word from anyone at Microsoft - instead they chose to silently update the page and tell no one. This is SO shady,” the user who started the discussion on reddit and who spotted the update that Microsoft made on the page posted.

It’s hard to tell if this is false advertising or not, but there’s no doubt that Microsoft should have been more careful with such product listings, especially when it decided to leave models with 512 MB out of the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade rollout.

And without a doubt, Redmond needs to find a way to deal with these complaints because it’s very clear that the company’s decisions are already backfiring, and pretty much every single step draws more criticism from even the most loyal fans who supported Windows Phone when everyone else blasted it.

For the moment, it appears that Microsoft has no plan to change its mind, though, and with no second wave coming for Windows 10 Mobile, the new OS seems to become a very bumpy adventure for the company.

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Microsoft Teases Windows 10 Mobile Launch As Rollout Is Expected to Start Today

Windows 10 Mobile is expected to debut today, and a new website released by Microsoft in anticipation of the release seems to confirm that this is indeed the case.

Microsoft has never provided us with anything more than an “early 2016” launch target for Windows 10 Mobile, so when the company publishes a website saying that “the latest and greatest Windows experience is now on Lumia smartphones,” it’s very clear that something is happening behind closed doors.

And that something appears to be the imminent rollout of Windows 10 Mobile, which, according to people close to the matter, is projected to begin on March 17 on select phones.

Not much is known about how the upgrade is going to be offered, but it appears that Microsoft might be aiming for a manual push at first, requiring users who want to download the new operating system to follow a few steps in order to get it. An automatic stage is expected to kick off later this year, but for the moment, details on when and how this would begin are missing.

Easy upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile
Microsoft claims on the new website that Windows Phone users will “enjoy a free and easy upgrade” when Windows 10 Mobile is officially released.

“Get ready for exciting new Windows 10 features on your Lumia. Take care of everyday tasks faster with an improved Action Center, enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with the Microsoft Edge browser, and do more on the move with universal apps like Maps, Calendar and Photos,” Microsoft says.

An official announcement that would provide all details, including the list of models getting the update in the first wave, is expected to be released later today. We’re pretty sure that some Windows Phone users are still skeptical that the upgrade is coming today, but it finally seems that it’s happening. It was a long wait, but it’s happening.

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Not Everyone’s Giving Up on Windows Phone: Starbucks Working on Official App

If you’re a long-time Windows Phone user, you probably know that several companies have decided to abandon their apps on the platform, citing the rather small market share as the main reason.

All these departures put Windows Phone’s future in jeopardy, and it’s not a secret that many rushed to predict the death of the platform not a long time ago. But it appears that not everyone is jumping ship these days, and some developers are actually interested in building apps for Windows phone.

Case in point, Startbucks, as the company has recently confirmed that it’s working on a Windows 10 app (via WinBeta) without providing timing information to let us know when this is supposed to happen.

Starbucks app features on non-Windows platforms
In case you’re wondering why you need a Starbucks app, you’d better look at the iOS or Android version that’s already up for grabs (by the way, the iPhone client has no less than 235,000 ratings, which is living proof that a Starbucks app is really needed).

The official app provides you with options to check your Starbucks card balance, reload the card and view recent transactions, leave a digital tip for a specific purchase, get rewards as part of the loyalty program, send gifts to friends, and find the nearest stores, get directions, and check out opening hours.

And last but not least, it also includes information such as the music playing in Starbucks stores and allows you to place an order and pick it up from a nearby store without waiting in line.

There’s no evidence that all these features would arrive on Windows phones too, but this is probably the plan. And the best of all is that a Starbucks app for Windows 10 will most likely be universal, which means that it’ll work on both PCs and smartphones once it gets the green light.

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Microsoft Announces 2016 Pi Day Discounts on Phones and Laptops

Microsoft’s celebrating Pi Day with some pretty great discounts on products that are usually hoarded in its store, so if you’re looking to buy a new laptop and phone, there’s no better time to do it than today.

Specifically, Microsoft is offering price cuts not only for its own devices, be they tablets or gaming consoles, but also for other Windows products, such as laptops manufactured by Dell.

If you’re looking for a Surface available at a special price, Microsoft is selling the Surface Pro 4 with a $100 (€90) discount, but also bundles for Surface Book, Surface 3, and Surface Pro 3 with important discounts. For instance, a Surface Book Bundle that includes the actual device, a sleeve, 2-year warranty, and one year of Office 365 can be yours for just $1,758 (€1,580).

Windows phone discounts
As far as phones are concerned, the discounts here are not as good as on laptops and PCs. The only Lumia on sale on Pi Day is the 435, which comes without a contract but locked on T-Mobile for just $49 (€41). Otherwise, you get to choose from HTC One M8, BLU Win HD LTE, and a few other models, all available on just a small discount.

Lumia 950 and 950 XL owners can choose the Accessories bundle, which includes a car charger, a screen protector, and a protective case, all for just $59 (€55).

Microsoft Band 2 is the product getting the biggest discount, as it can be yours on Pi Day for just $174.99 (€150). Clearly, this is quite a good deal for those who want to purchase the Band 2, as it’s one of the biggest price cuts it has received since its launch in late October.

You can check out the full list of discounts by clicking the link in the first paragraph, and you obviously need to hurry up because these prices are available while supplies last.

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VLC for Windows 10 Mobile Not Yet in the Works As Many WP Models "Might Not Get the Upgrade"

Now that Windows 10 Mobile is just around the corner, more and more developers are looking at the platform to update their apps and add compatibility to make sure all Lumia devices getting the upgrade will be able to use them flawlessly.

Not the same can be said about VideoLAN, the famous creator of VLC, the multimedia player that's almost on every single Windows PC out there.

VideoLAN developer Thomas Nigro has explained on Twitter that work on a Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile version of VLC hasn't started yet because the team thinks that many existing Windows Phone users won't actually get the upgrade to the new operating system.

Full focus on the Windows Phone version

So for the moment, the company is trying to finalize work on the existing Windows Phone version and only then focus on the Windows 10 Mobile release. In the meantime, Microsoft is also expected to publicly announce the new mobile OS and the devices supporting it, and this should help the team go forward with the development of VLC.

"We're working on a Windows 8.1 release and preparing the Windows 10 port, it takes time for many reasons. We'll give news. But currently, honestly, we're still focusing on Windows 8.1 instead of Windows 10 because we think many WP8.1 won't receive W10M. We'll start working fully W10/W10M when we think we have a good last release to send to the WP8.1 that will not see W10M,” Thomas Nigro explained in a series of tweets.

Windows 10 Mobile is expected to officially roll out to Lumia devices in the coming weeks, but some phone models in select countries have already started receiving the new operating system. Microsoft is, however, likely to make an official announcement by the end of the month.

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Windows 10 Mobile to Launch in France Next Week

As we told you not a long time ago, Microsoft officially started the rollout of Windows 10 Mobile, and T-Mobile Poland is one of the first carriers to offer the new operating system to its customers.

But without an official announcement from Microsoft, it’s very hard to predict when the new OS could land on your Windows Phone handset. And yet, if you live in France, this could happen as soon as next week.

French carrier Bouygues Telecom has confirmed for FraWin.com (via Neowin) that devices in their network will start getting the upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile next week, with the company even providing a list of Lumia models that are scheduled to receive the new bits.

Included devices

Lumia 635, 640, 640 XL, 730, 735, 830, 930, 1520, and 532/535/540/636/638 will all be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile, the carrier says, thus confirming that the majority of devices will be included in the first wave. Interestingly, only a few Lumia models appear to be left behind in this initial rollout, and the big news is that the most popular devices, including the flagships 930 and 1520, are among the first to be updated.

The version that the French carrier is expected to ship is 10586.63, which is none other than the latest insider build released by Microsoft to fast ring users earlier this week. If everything goes according to plan, the company itself could make the same build available for slow ring users too, before general availability that could be announced in the coming days as well.

At this point, Microsoft continues to remain tight-lipped, even though it is very clear that Windows 10 Mobile is just around the corner, especially after getting confirmation from so many carriers across the world.

Once again, we’ve reached out to Microsoft for more information on the planned rollout of Windows 10 Mobile and will update the article should we hear anything new.

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Microsoft Could Unveil Lumia 750 at MWC 2016, Phone Receives Certification

We already know Microsoft is expected to launch at least one mid-range Windows Phone handset in the first quarter of the year, but it's still unclear which device will be unveiled first.

Rumor has it the Redmond-based company has about three phones in the pipelines: Lumia 650, Lumia 750, and Lumia 850. Aside from the Lumia 650, none of the other smartphones have been confirmed by Microsoft yet.

There have been many reports in the past about various Nokia branded smartphones certified with different model numbers.

For example, a certain Nokia RM-1182 has been spotted not long ago in Indonesia while the RM-1152 has been approved in the United States.

Today, the same RM-1182 device branded as a Microsoft Mobile smartphone has just received its certification in China.

This is just another step that will allow the Redmond-based company to launch its mid-range Windows Phone handset on one of the world's largest smartphone markets, China.

The Chinese version of the smartphone won't come with fast charging

Since Microsoft's RM-1182 has already been approved in the United States, there's a high chance that the smartphone will be unveiled very soon.

As NPU points out, the RM-1182 has been certified in China on December 28, so it does seem to be a very new device that's likely to make its debut in the coming weeks.

The smartphone that appears in the official document that leaked online mentions a China Unicom version of RM-1182, which does not seem to support fast charging. Aside from that, there aren't any details on the phone's specs.

The next significant event that Microsoft might use to announce some of its smartphones powered by Windows 10 Mobile operating system is Mobile World Congress 2016, which is scheduled to kick off in late February.

Samsung confirmed it will launch its Galaxy S7 flagship smartphones a few days ahead of Microsoft, but the latter has yet to announce its own even at MWC 2016 trade fair.

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Microsoft Update Lets Windows 10 Mobile Testers Switch to Stable Builds Without Reset

Windows 10 Mobile is believed to be just around the corner (the rumor pointing to a January 12 launch proved to be fake, by the way), so Microsoft is making more changes to prepare the transition of users from the insider program to stable builds.

A new update to the Windows Insider app that has been released today (this is the second update to the app released by Microsoft in just two days) is specifically supposed to make it easier for insiders to opt out of the program and just stick to a stable build.

Right now, if you don’t want to use a preview build of Windows 10 Mobile anymore, your only option is to opt out the program and then hard-reset the phone to return to a stable build.

Leave the program and use the same build

But thanks to this new update, you can leave the program and continue using the operating system without the need for a reset. Since Windows 10 Mobile preview builds are usually ahead of stable versions, you can remain on the current one until a newer stable release becomes available, so your phone will then be updated automatically.

Certainly, this is very good news for Windows insiders who don’t want to stick to a preview build after the final operating system becomes available, especially because many are using their phone to try out these early versions.

Windows 10 Mobile is expected to launch in the coming weeks for a series of Lumia models, but the rollout is likely to take place in stages, so some specific devices won’t be included in this initial release.

Devices such as Lumia 640, 640 XL, 830, and 930 are likely to get Windows 10 Mobile this month, while the rest of the lineup could receive it in February, as part of a second wave.

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Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Mobile Build 10549, but There's a Catch

Microsoft tipped a new Windows 10 Mobile preview build for this week, though it didn't confirmed an exact release date. True to its promise, the Redmond-based company has just released Windows 10 Mobile build 10549.

As the title says, there's a problem with this build that will require you to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 in order to upgrade to this build.

According to Microsoft's Gabriel Aul, the company's engineers have discovered a bug yesterday that caused phones upgrading from build 10536 to get stuck at a blank screen after this new build is installed.

It looks like Microsoft preferred to release the update nonetheless rather than making Windows Phone fans wait a little bit longer for the bug to be fixed. So, the new build has been released as a single update from Windows Phone 8.1.

You will have to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 to upgrade to this build

If you want to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile build 10549, you will first have to go back to Windows Phone 8.1 using the Windows Device Recovery Tool.

Then, you should install the Windows Insider application, choose the Fast ring, and reboot your smartphone. After that, the new Windows 10 Mobile build 10549 should download and install on your device.

But if you think the process of getting to Windows 10 Mobile build 10549 is too complicated and not worth your time, then you can remain on build 10536 since Microsoft is working to ensure that you will be able to receive the next one.

However, those who decide to upgrade to build 10549 should be pleased to know that they will help Microsoft “test the upgrade path that millions of Windows Phone 8.1 customers will take to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile,” and receive the company's appreciation at the same time.

The new build brings improvements to Cortana, messaging app improvements and diverse emoji. Lots of fixes have been provided in this build as well, and Lumia 1020 users will be pleased to know that Lumia Camera app will no longer by uninstalled.

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Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL Cameras: 5th Generation OIS, Improved Dynamic Exposure

Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL are the two Microsoft devices that are thrown in the smartphone battle against Samsung Galaxy S6, Note5, and iPhones, so the Redmond-based software firm paid a lot of attention to every single detail in an attempt to offer really good value for the money.

The camera installed on the two phones received particular attention during the development process and Juha Alakarhu, who is a camera developer at Microsoft, revealed on Twitter some of the improvements they made to the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL cameras in order to make them better than those being used by rivals.

First and foremost, it's worth mentioning that both devices come with a 20-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics, which is pretty much the same configuration used in the past on other Lumia devices.

Under the hood

But it's all changed under the hood, Alakarhu explains, because the new Camera features ISO12800, F1.9, natural pixel processing, RGB flash, content aware exposure times, next-generation dynamic exposure and fifth-generation OIS.

The camera can record videos at 60 FPS in 1080p and at 30 FPS in 4K, which according to Alakarhu, makes the camera available on the new Lumia models “the best we ever made.”

The content aware exposure times and the significantly improved dynamic exposure are technologies that should help significantly improve the quality of photos in low-light conditions, with the phone supposed to do the hard job and adjust everything automatically. While you'll be able to control this manually too (although the OS is unlikely to give you this option, but third-party apps could bring advanced photographic controls), Microsoft plans to offer customers a point-and-shoot experience out of the box.

The triple LED flash with RGB support will contribute to better contrast and sharper objects, while natural pixel processing is there to reduce noise to a greater extent.

Microsoft hasn't yet posted any camera samples, but Alakarhu says that more information in this regard will be published online soon in a series of blogs. Most likely, the company's planning to release several blog posts before the two devices go on sale in order to boost customer appeal as much as possible.

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Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Officially Introduced in India for $265

It's only been several hours since Microsoft unveiled its first Windows 10 Mobile devices, Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 550, but they won't be available until at least later this month.

However, customers in India will still be able to grab a new Windows Phone handset, which wasn't available in the country until this week.

The Lumia 640 XL LTE is a mid-range smartphone still powered by Windows Phone 8.1 right out of the box. The good news is Microsoft has already confirmed the Lumia 640 XL LTE will eventually receive an upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile.

Anyway, customers who want to give this mid-range smartphone a try will be able to do so for only Rs 17,399 ($265 / €235).

For the time being, the Lumia 640 XL LTE is only available via major carrier Airtel, but it is likely to go on sale at other authorized retailers.

It comes with both 4G LTE and dual-SIM support

Moving on to specs, the Lumia 640 XL LTE is a mid-range handset powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot.

The “XL” tagline suggests the smartphone packs a large display, so expect a 5.7-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720p) resolution.

Another strong point of the Lumia 640 XL LTE is the 13-megapixel photo snapper on the pack, which features autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording, while in the front there's a secondary 5-megapixel camera for video calls and selfies.

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery that should provide up to 30 hours of talk time or up to 39 days of standby time.

“We understand the needs of the Indian consumers and with the Lumia range we have always focused on complementing the needs of the customers across segments by delivering new experiences and features. Lumia 640XL LTE is power-packed offering great productivity at power of 4G,” said TS Sridhar, director, Microsoft Mobile Devices.

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Microsoft Releases Official Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL Photos

We all know that both the Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950 XL are just around the corner and Microsoft plans to unveil them on October 6, but once the company posted them in the official online store we finally got the very first confirmation that this will indeed happen.

At that time, the product pages for the new Lumias were unavailable, as Microsoft clearly wanted to stir up interest without actually revealing too much information (not that we didn't know everything about the two devices already), but now more photos were published in the store and provide us with a quicker look at the phones.

Familiar Lumia design

As you can see for yourselves, the two Lumias look just like in the photos that got leaked not a long time ago and feature the familiar Lumia design that has been used even before Microsoft took over Nokia.

The Lumia 950 XL will come with a 5.7-inch display that will boast a resolution of 1440x2670 pixels, as well as a 20-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel unit on the front for selfies and video calls.

A Snapdragon 810 processor will also be offered, and so will be 3GB of RAM, and 32 GB of storage. MicroSD card support will be available for expanded storage. The 950 XL will come with a 3,300 mAh battery, but for the moment it's not yet clear if it is removable or not.

The smaller Lumia 950 will have a 5.2 screen with a resolution of 1440x2560 pixels and pretty much the same specs, except for the processor which is likely to be a Snapdragon 808. The battery will also be smaller – only 3,000 mAh.

Both models will come with an iris scanner for Windows Hello, USB Type-C, and support for Microsoft's new Continuum features that will allow the phones to become mini-portable PCs.

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Microsoft Lumia 950 XL vs. Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Which One Should You Buy?

If you're looking for a new phablet this fall, choosing one might be harder than you think simply because the main competitors in this business have already launched (or are getting ready to) new devices that come with fresh designs, upgraded hardware, and plenty of innovative features.

Microsoft isn't quite a top mobile player for the moment, but it certainly hopes to become one, so the company's betting big on the upcoming Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, with the latter to be its own challenger in the phablet race.

Lumia 950 XL will soon join a select club of devices, which also includes the iPhone 6s Plus, Apple's latest device that's already up for purchase in the United States and which will soon become available for buyers across the world too.

So if you've already narrowed down your choice to these two devices, read on to find out which one is better than the other and in which areas.

Display

Microsoft's Lumia 950 XL will come with a 5.7-inch QuadHD display (AMOLED very likely) and will have a resolution of 1440x2560 pixels. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 will be used for protection.

The iPhone 6s Plus uses a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and state-of-the-art features such as Force Touch.

As you can see, the new Lumia has a bigger display and since it's believed to be AMOLED, it could provide crisper colors and a better contrast. On the other hand, Apple's IPS display is extremely well-optimized and perfectly balanced for good contrast, vivid colors and sunlight readabilty, so it's very likely to excel in terms of power usage, which should make the iPhone last longer than Microsoft's device.

Performance

Microsoft will equip the Lumia 950 XL with a Snapdragon 810 processor, which is very likely to be optimized for both performance and low battery usage (with the focus on the latter). The exact speed of the CPU is not yet available, but it will be coupled to 3GB of RAM, which Microsoft says should be enough for running Windows 10 Mobile flawlessly.

Apple, on the other hand, goes for the A9 chipset, which is a dual-core unit running at 1.8 GHz. The company says that it's already faster and more energy-efficient than its predecessors. Benchmarks have shown that the new A9 chip is faster than the processor used by key competitors, including Galaxy S6 Edge and Nexus 6.

Apple also uses 2 GB of RAM, which is double the amount of the memory used on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Overall, Apple's iPhone 6s Plus is very likely to be faster and snappier than the new Lumia, which thanks to Qualcomm unit, might always keep an eye on power consumption.

Storage and cameras

In terms of storage, Microsoft will offer just a single option – 32 GB, with microSD card support for a maximum of 128 GB of more capacity.

Apple doesn't have microSD card support, but instead offers a choice of three different models, namely 16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB, so the top version reaches the amount of a Lumia with an additional card.

The Redmond-based software giant will equip the Lumia 950 XL with a 20-megapixel rear camera with Zeiss optics, OIS, dual-LED Flash and PureView technology. It has a 1/2.5” sensor size and can shoot videos in 2160p@30fps and 1080p@30fps. A 5-megapixel front unit with a wide angle will be there for selfies and video calls.

The iPhone 6s Plus comes with a 12-megapixel camera which features a resolution of 4608x2592 pixels, OIS, dual-LED flash, and 4K videos. It supports the same video recording modes as the Lumia. The rear camera is a 5-megapixel unit with HDR support.

While the real-life camera capabilities of the two devices aren't yet known, it's believed the iPhone will offer superior photo quality given the software optimizations that Apple has become famous for. The iPhone 6 Plus can already shoot outstanding photos with just an 8-megapixel camera, so a 12MP unit and additional software optimizations should make it far superior.

Battery

Microsoft will equip the Lumia 950 XL with a 3,300 mAh battery, while the iPhone 6s Plus comes with a non-removable 2,915 mAh unit. While autonomy figures aren't yet available, it's no secret that Apple offers excellent battery life and the iPhone 6 Plus is living proof, so expect its successor to beat competition as well.

Pricing

Microsoft Lumia 950 XL pricing information is not yet available, but it's believed that the device will be slightly cheaper than the iPhone 6s Plus. Pricing for Apple's new device starts at $749 in the United States for the 16GB version.

The bottom line

Choosing between the iPhone 6s Plus and the Lumia 950 XL is not an easy thing to do and it might all be in the end just a matter of personal preferences.

iPhones have always been pioneers of premium design, but Microsoft is expected to go for a similar approach with the Lumia 950 XL, so new materials are very likely to be used. And yet, everyone expects the iPhone 6s Plus to offer superior performance, cameras, and battery life.

Lumia 950 XL, on the other hand, comes with Windows 10 Mobile, which is the smartphone version of Windows 10. The new OS is based on universal apps, which run on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, and includes a single store for all devices, with Microsoft planning to offer a seamless transition from one to another. Features such as Continuum, which allows the new Lumia to connect to a monitor and convert to a small PC, will also be offered.

So the choice is hard, but the iPhone might win in extra time. Microsoft is still a rather new player in the mobile industry, so with little luck, the Lumia 950 XL might have a chance to succeed against the other phablets on the market. On paper, it might seem the better choice, but in reality, the iPhone 6s Plus might be out of its league for the moment.

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Microsoft Might Delay Lumia 950/950 XL Until Windows 10 Mobile TH2 Is Ready

Microsoft's new Windows 10 Mobile flagships, namely the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, will launch on October 6 during the company's hardware event in New York, but it turns out that we might have to wait a little bit longer to get our hands on them.

Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley claims in this week's edition of Windows Weekly that both devices will hit the shelves with Windows 10 Mobile Threshold 2, the first update that's supposed to be ready in early November.

Previously, it was believed that Microsoft would ship the new high-end Lumias with TH1 and deliver TH2 via the built-in phone update function when it was ready, but it turns out that the company has since changed its mind.

TH2 to be ready in November

If this is indeed true, then sales of the new Lumias might start in November, which is the date when all the other Windows Phone models could get the update to Windows 10 Mobile too.

The original plan was to release the new phones with TH1 and hold back the release of Windows 10 Mobile for Windows Phone handsets until TH2 development was completed. When that happened, the new Windows 10 Mobile devices were supposed to receive it via phone update, while all devices were planned to get the upgrade to the new OS directly to TH2.

The aforementioned source claims that the RTM version of Windows 10 Mobile is already done and Microsoft is now working on patching and fixing bugs before the grand debut. Several updates have already been delivered internally to make sure prototype devices get to test this final build thoroughly.

Keep in mind that this is still part of the unconfirmed rumor section, so don't take anything for granted until Microsoft says something about it. We're only a couple of weeks away from the public unveiling of the new Lumias, so more information should be provided very soon.

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Microsoft Launches Xbox Beta App for Windows 10 Mobile

The new Xbox application released by Microsoft this week will allow users to remain connected to the Xbox Live community. Even though it's still in beta, it already provides users with various features, like the ability to view activity feeds and send messages.

Also, users will be able to watch game clips, find new friends, and much more, directly from their Windows 10 Mobile while on the move.

You will be able to share game clips and view achievements and Gamerscore across Xbox One and Windows 10 devices. The option to start party chats with gamers on PC and Xbox One is available too.

Keep in mind, though, that this application is only compatible with Windows 10 Mobile, so if you don't have one of the preview builds installed, you will not be able to download it.

Expect many updates in the near future

It's also worth mentioning that most of the features that the application has to offer require an Internet connection. Moreover, Xbox Live features will only be available with supported games in Xbox Live supported countries.

Here is the complete list of features of Xbox Beta for Windows 10 devices:

- Stay connected to the Xbox Live community. View activity feeds, send messages, watch game clips, find new friends, and more across Windows 10 devices;

- Party chat with other gamers on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One, and join them in cross-device multiplayer with games like Fable Legends and Gigantic;

- Stream and play games from your Xbox One to any Windows 10 PC in your home;

- Celebrate your epic gaming accomplishments. Share game clips and view your achievements and Gamerscore across Xbox One and Windows 10 devices.

You can now download Xbox Beta for Window Phone for free via Windows Store. The application is fully compatible with all devices powered by Windows 10 Mobile.

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