Windows 8.1 Update August Update is Here

By Rich W Woods

Back on April 8, 2014, Microsoft released Windows 8.1 Update. While it was long believed that the August update would be called Windows 8.1 Update 2, that’s not what happened.

Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 Now Available

By Rich W Woods

Windows Phone Update, not to be confused with the Windows Phone 8.1 update is available to download to all developer preview users. This comes before most Windows Phone users got Lumia Cyan.

If you are on the Preview for Developers program, all you need to do is update your phone. If you are not on the Preview for Developers program and you don’t have a Lumia 1520, you’re missing out on a whole lot of cool stuff. Here’s how to get it:

Windows Phone 8.1 Update Could Ship as Early as Next Week

By Rich W Woods

I know what you’re thinking. Most of us don’t even have Lumia Cyan yet and we’re getting and update to it already. If you are using a Nokia Lumia 625, 925, 1520, or 1320 you weren’t thinking that at all because you have Lumia Cyan already. So what happens if you are one of the ones using Preview and Cyan comes to you after this comes out? Likely, you will have to use the Nokia Software Recovery Tool, restore factory settings, install Cyan, and upgrade to Update 1.

Microsoft vs Apple part 16: Windows 8.1 Update vs Mac OS Yosemite Preview

By Rich Woods

This is a bit of a touch comparison. Like most Apple products, Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite works best if you use an iPad and iPhone while Microsoft is becoming more of a cross platform company.

iOS 8 Beta 2 is Here a Day Late

By Rich Woods

Many reports have rumored that the iPhone 6 will come in August this year instead of the usual September release. This is because there is a certain amount of time that is the average between WWDC which is usually in late June and the iPhone event. This year WWDC was on June 2. Some assumed that an early WWDC meant an early iPhone.

Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite Update 1 is Finally Here

By Rich Woods

Unlike the typical name for an Apple beta which would be something like iOS 8 beta 2, the new Mac OS X beta has a more Mocrosofty name. Just like Windows 8.1 Update 1, this one is called Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite Update 1.

Non-Developers can now Download Mac OS X Betas

By Rich Woods

It’s hardly believable, but it’s true. You no longer have to be a developer to get the latest beta updates to Mac OS X.

Microsoft has always given the general public access to betas or previews of new software but this is the first time Apple has done it. Prior to April 22, if an Apple user wanted to get the latest beta versions of Mac OS it would cost $99 per year for a Mac developer account and if he wanted the latest iOS beta it would cost another $99 per year for an iOS developer account.

Microsoft vs Apple part 14: Windows Phone 8.1 vs iOS 7.1

By Rich Woods

iOS 7 and Windows 8 were complete redesigns of their predecessors. They were both met with mixed reactions. Windows Phone 8 wasn’t as much of a redesign from Windows Phone 7 as Windows much, but it was a huge step forward. As you could see above, this is the 14^th part of this series and since Microsoft and Apple usually seem to move in parallel, I try to write up a comparison of their competing products as they come out.

The Most Important Update in Windows Phone 8.1

By Rich Woods

Windows Phone 8.1 is the biggest update to Windows Phone since Windows Phone 8. Obviously, the most famous part of that update is Cortanna, the digital assistant that performs tasks like Siri and performs web searches like Google Now. Cortanna is great, as well as the notification center as well as the ability to have a picture in the background of the start menu.

Windows Phone 8.1: User Guide and Review: part 1

By Rich Woods

Windows Phone 8.1 is a big leap from Windows Phone 8. There are so many new features, it’s hard to tell where to start. But there are a lot of changes, so here’s a quick guide of some useful tips. It just came out today, so I’m going to call this part 1 assuming that there will be more to come.

If you have a Windows Phone and don’t have the 8.1 update yet, follow the instructions here.

Let’s start with the most famous part of the Windows Phone 8.1: Cortanna. Windows Phone already had a digital assistant that wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t intelligent, but it got the job done. If you used this, you may be a bit confused. The old digital assistant was activated by pressing the Home/Start key. Cortanna is activated by pressing the search key. Cortanna takes commands like Siri and gives you updates like Google Now. Unlike Siri, Cortanna cannot be activated while the phone is locked.