Microsoft Windows 10 event 2016 is today: Here's how to watch live stream and what to expect

Microsoft's 'What's next for Windows 10' event on Wednesday is expected to be its yearly Windows 10 event which will see some major updates around the operating system. The Redmond giant however this year is likely to make fewer announcements compared to last year. The Microsoft event time 10am EDT (or 7:30pm IST) on Wednesday. Several announcements are expected from the company, from details about the next major Windows 10 update, to new Surface devices, and an new Paint app. The Microsoft event live stream will also be available on the company's site.

Microsoft has released several preview builds to people who are part of the Windows Insider programme. We can also expect the company to reveal upcoming updates planned for Windows 10 in 2017.

After years, Microsoft's Paint app in Windows is likely to get an update with some new features that are expected to add more utility to the tool. The redesigned app is expected to include support for 3D objects and this support can prove to be extremely useful for the developers and artists who will be working on apps meant for the company's augmented-reality platform HoloLens. A leaked video allegedly showed the new Paint app working and how easily 3D objects could be created and moved around in the workspace. 

Apart from software-related announcements and incremental updates to certain features in Windows 10, Microsoft is expected to showcase an all-in-one (AIO) PC under its Surface brand. The upcoming AIO under Surface branding is codenamed "Cardinal", as per the earlier report. It is expected to be showcased in three screen sizes - 21-inches, 24-inches, and 27-inches. Rumours claim that the Redmond giant may unveil all three at the event or at least one will be showcased. Unfortunately, the specifications of the alleged AIO PC have been successfully kept under wraps and speculations will likely begin as we approach closer to the event.

Microsoft is said to be launching the Surface AIO PC as a consolation of sorts as the unveiling of the second-generation Surface Book was reportedly shifted from the second half of 2016 to first half 2017 due to delay in CPU shipments by Intel. Previous reports have already suggested that Microsoft is working on a Surface Phone which is said to debut in early 2017.

The company is also rumoured to launch a new Surface Laptop, according to leaked trademark filing. Unfortunately, details around the Surface Laptop are scarce at the moment. Apart from the alleged Surface laptop, Microsoft has been also reportedly after Surface Studio, Surface Dial, and Dial trademark filings.

The Redmond Giant has already revealed that the event will be all about Windows 10 and Cortana started giving hints about Microsoft's Windows 10 event when users asked to "spark your imagination."

Microsoft can be expected to announce new updates to its Cortana digital voice-assistant as well. Recently, researchers at Microsoft claimed that their speech recognition system reached 'human parity'.

Windows Central also reports that Microsoft may finally reveal its competitor to Amazon Echo and Google Home. The new voice-activated speaker is rumoured to be dubbed HomeHub and will marketed as a product for being part of user's living room. Report claims that most of the features of the HomeHub will be controlled via Cortana.

Microsoft announces October 26 Surface and Windows 10 event

Microsoft’s next big event is happening on October 26 and in all likelihood, the Redmond-based software maker has few hardware devices to show off. For Microsoft, October has always been about Surface branded hardware. Last year, Microsoft stunned the world by announcing Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book.

However, it seems like a quite event this time around. According to ZDNet, Microsoft’s October 26 will be more about Windows 10 and less about Surface hardware. The focus is reportedly around Windows 10 Redstone 2 update and Microsoft is reported to showcase third party OEM products.

Microsoft is widely rumoured to announce Surface All-in-One type device at this event. There are reports indicating Microsoft’s plan to announce a new type of Surface keyboard and mouse at this event. With Intel’s seventh gen Core i processors hitting notebooks, Microsoft would use the stage to demonstrate partner products – especially at a time when PC sales are going down globally.

ALSO READ : Microsoft’s new Paint app for Windows 10 looks like awesome

One thing is certainly sure – Microsoft won’t be launching a new fitness band and there are also no likelihood of Surface branded smartphone. Lately, Microsoft has taken great deal of time to unify Windows 10 across platforms and recently delivered Project Centennial – which acts as a bridge between traditional Windows program and Windows Store apps.

Microsoft is currently two major software updates under Redstone 2, likely to be available next year. The Verge reports Microsoft will also showcase some cross platform gaming strategy tying Xbox deeper into Windows 10 at this event. Microsoft also doesn’t seem to be in a mood to refresh Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book with new Intel Kaby Lake processors. According to The Verge, Microsoft won’t be refreshing existing Surface devices and will showcase OEM products instead.

Microsoft’s event is scheduled for October 26 at 10 AM Eastern time and do stay tuned for more updates just ahead of the launch.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Pro 4 launched in India, prices start at Rs 73,990

Microsoft has released its Surface Pro range of professional-grade tablets in the Indian market for consumers as well as enterprise users. The Surface Pro 3 models start at Rs 73,990, while the pricing for Surface Pro 4 begins at Rs 89,990.

The company said both tablets will be exclusively available on Amazon.in for the first six months. Buyers can book the device starting January 7 and deliveries will start January 14.

Interested users can book a demo for the Surface Pro 4 at their office. No more than three units can be ordered per customer, however. If you want to check out the tablet in person, the company is demoing it at five Microsoft Stores: Noida, Gurgaon, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

The successor to the 2013's sleeper hit Surface Pro 3, the Surface Pro 4 was unveiled at an event in October last year. It offers substantial hardware specs improvement over the Surface Pro 3.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 comes with a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display with 2736x1824p resolution and runs the Windows 10 Pro operating system. It is available in three processor options: Intel Skylake Corem3, i5 and i7; buyers can choose between 4GB, 8GB and 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage. The top model, with i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, costs Rs 1,44,990.

It is powered by Intel's 6th-generation Core processor varying from core M3, to Core i5, to Core i7. As for graphics, the Surface Pro 4 has Intel HD Graphics 515, Intel HD Graphics 520, and Intel Iris Graphics correspondingly.

For connectivity, Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has USB 3.0 port, card reader, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and MiniDisplay Port. The front camera has 5MP resolution, while the rear camera features an 8MP sensor. The tablet comes with Dolby audio for sound enhancement. Battery life of Surface Pro 4 is 9 hours, Microsoft says.

In India, the company is offering three variants of the Surface Pro 4 on Amazon India. These variants are as follows:

Surface Pro 4 with Core i5/4GB of RAM/128GB SSD (Price Rs. 89,990).

Surface Pro 4 with Core i5/8GB of RAM/256GB SSD (Price Rs. 1,20,990).

Surface Pro 4 with Core i7/8GB of RAM/256GB SSD (Price Rs. 1,44,990).

The company is selling the Surface Pen, an accessory for the Surface Pro 4, at a price point of Rs. 5,990. The Surface Pro 4 Type Cover keyboard, which is available in blue and black colour options, is priced at Rs. 12,490, and features additional ports and sensors. No prices for the Surface Dock have yet been provided.

Microsoft is also making the Surface Pro 4 available to enterprise users. These users will be able to buy the Surface Pro 4 via authorised retail partners. HCL is the official distribution partner. The enterprise users have the following Surface Pro 4 variants to choose from:

The Surface Pro 4 with Core M/4GB RAM/128GB SSD.

The Surface Pro 4 with Core i5/ 4GB RAM/128GB SSD.

The Surface Pro 4 with Core i5/ 8GB RAM/256GB SSD.

The Surface Pro 4 with Core i7/ 16GB RAM/128 GB SSD, and 

The Surface Pro 4 with Core i7/ 16GB RAM/512 GB SSD variants are available on special order.

Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL Specification and Price in India

Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL will arrive in India by December, Nadella announced. With such a delayed launch, Microsoft will miss out on some of the biggest festivals(Diwali) in India, when the consumers shop the most for new products, smartphones and gadgets. 

Price : 

Microsoft's Nadella did not reveal the price of the Lumia flagships in India, but the US pricing gives a diminutive hint. Lumia 950 was launched with a price tag of $549, which roughly translates to Rs. 35,800, while the Lumia 950XL starts from $649, approximately Rs. 42,300. Of course, there will be a change in price when the handsets are launched in India but not with a huge margin.

Both smartphones are equipped with top of the line hardware, high-resolution cameras, Windows Hello, the biometric scanner(unlocks the device by just looking at your face) for added security and Liquid Cooling technology. The smartphone also comes with the much touted Continuum feature using which users can connect their smartphone to a full-size monitor.  A dedicated dock will need to be bought separately to use this feature. The Lumia 950 XL and the Lumia 950 comes loaded with Microsoft Office Universal app, virtual assistant Cortana and online cloud storage, One Drive.

Microsoft Display Dock

Microsoft Lumia 950 specifications :

It is a compact version of the Lumia 950 XL and comes equipped with a slightly smaller 5.2-inch QHD display (1440×2550 pixels)(564 ppi). The Lumia 950 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM.

Microsoft Lumia 950XL specifications : 

It sports a 5.7-inch QHD display (1440×2560 pixels) (518 ppi)and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM.

Both Phones in common : 

Both the phones come equipped with a 20-megapixel rear camera with 4K video recording, OIS, and an f/1.9 aperture, apart from a 5-megapixel sensor placed upfront with an f/2.4 aperture and full-HD video recording. The rear camera module features a triple-LED RGB flash module, and the phones feature dedicated camera buttons. 

Both the phones in 32GB of internal storage, the smartphone also supports expandable storage that supports microSD cards up to 2TB. It is equipped with a 3,300mAh battery that also supports Wireless Charging and Qualcomm’s QuickCharge feature.

The phones also feature USB Type-C port (USB 3.1), which Microsoft says with the inbuilt fast charging can charge 50 percent of the battery in just 30 minutes. 

Connectivity : The smartphone is equipped with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, GPS.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella attend Future Unleashed event in India

Future Unleashed event in Mumbai on Thursday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Speaking of Indian origin, said the company will help solve India's problems. Satya said that when Bill and Paul started Microsoft, the aim was to bring the computer on every desktop. Now we bring the power of technology in the hands of every person on earth to.

 All the dignitaries present at the event said Satya Nadella congratulated for their achievements applauded him. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the group to the extent that technology all move to the digital world to Nadella mission has a chance to become Gandhi.

Anand Mahindra said that Gandhi had preferred to do things on a small scale and highly accurate role model for the tech world. But he did say that Microsoft is taking steps for the way in front of her Nadella chance that it can become digital's new Gandhi. Many dignitaries were present on the occasion of India Inc, including chief Shikha Sharma of Axis Bank and Tata Starbucks CEO Avani Davda also included.

Nadella said Microsoft is going to bring a program for start-ups, which is a platform to bring together all data and technology will be used to help solve the problems of the population. Nadella said of his startup program, the program will relate only to the Prime Minister's vision. Industry leaders and government officials to address Nadella said that cloud computing is the future as well as the promotion of and emphasis on mobility.

Nadella said today  using cloud computing and data for small Business all processes are improved. As well as healthcare and education systems are also changing. These institutions are able to do it better and have fewer resources to get more output.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis authentic Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik  told that the administration has already brought 42 government services online, and soon he will bring all government services on a single platform. He also explained that the procedures for the administration to implement various projects and simple is also gradually reduced.

Fadnavis Smart City State Administration is making further use of the technology is to promote sustainable development by avoiding waste. He said that the villages are smart.  Arisaal Fadnavis the government in 2016 as the first digital village Arisaal 50 and is working on the goal of digital villages.

Fadnavis the use of technology in education is very important.

Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra Mahindra Group's technology in the field of democracy and decentralization focused on bringing together the Governments and citizens can be added.

To improve governance of the companies mentioned is one of those local circles. This is a startup which members of a community of people that can be added immediately to provide features such as blood donation to help.

E-Commerce :

Satya Nadella raved about the growing e-commerce space in India. Describing the progress of e-commerce as ‘mind-blowing, he further announced partnerships with JustDial, Paytm and Snapdeal.

According to Microsoft, the objective of these new partnerships is to help create ‘new marketplaces, new services and new experiences’ for its customers. In essence, these e-commerce companies will leverage Microsoft’s cloud and mobile technologies as well as services like Bing, Skype, and Cortana.

JustDial will leverage Bing and cloud-based analytics, while the Paytm app and Paytm wallet will be integrated into Cortana. Using the aforementioned apps, Cortana will be able to help users pay their bills and carry out other kind of transactions as well.

Snapdeal, on the other hand, will use Skype, Bing and Cortana to enhance customer experience. Furthermore, it will also use Microsoft’s cloud platform to create a virtual automotive dealership, which is expected to change how customers decide on what automotive to buy. Microsoft already has an official store on Snapdeal, which it launched in June.

Keynote :

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Silicon Valley, the Redmond-based company said it is also working on making affordable Internet access available to 5 lakh villages in the country.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will meet Microsoft chief Satya Nadella today to discuss the company’s plan to provide broadband connectivity in villages, sources say.

I am amazed at the energy and ingenuity in India, says the India-born CEO.

Today's world is mobile first and cloud first.

Work is not a place you go to, work is when you make things happen where you are.

Nadella shows his e-mail Inbox with mails from his senior leadership team.

We have launched an India-specific cloud service.

Technology cannot substitute great teachers but we can help the State in its efforts to bring in good education.

We need to create new types of computing, computers.

Microsoft to launch Surface Pro 4 in India in January 2016.

Microsoft Surface Book Specification

The Last night Microsoft event talked about futuristic technology, competitive devices and most importantly focused on delivering comprehensive experience be it home or enterprise users.

Blame the rumor mills for not leaving any mystery about the new smartphones and Surface tablet, but Microsoft did manage to surprise, actually impress, us with its very first laptop, called Surface Book. Other notable announcements were about the Windows Hello and the thrilling holographic reality gaming via HoloLens.

Microsoft’s new devices and its futuristic technology indicate it is now making all out efforts to break away from the ‘service provider’ stereotype. However, its Windows 10 – the integrated OS for PCs and mobile devices – is going to play a key role. But what is overwhelming to see is that Microsoft is working to build a comprehensive experiences for users.

Is Microsoft the new Apple?

I know it’s blasphemous for me to say that Microsoft has assumed Apple’s role in leading the personal technology segment. Apple is credited for pioneering the tech with its unique and innovative products and services. Without taking credits away from it, recent moves such as iPad Pro launch and large screen phones, it appears Apple is playing a catch up game with the market. Microsoft, on the other hand, looks to have set its sights on the future with its initiatives such as Project X Ray and HoloLens.

iPad Pro Vs Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Surface Book Specification 

• Size: 9.14 x 12.3 x 0.51-0.90 inches (232.1 x 312.3 x 13.0-22.8 mm)
• Weight: 3.34 lbs. (1515 g), GPU: 3.48 lbs. (1579 g)
• 13.5-inch PixelSense Display with 3000 x 2000 resolution and 267 ppi
• 6th Generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor
• Intel HD graphics 520/NVIDIA GeForce graphics
• 8/16 GB of RAM
• 128/256/512GB/1TB of SSD storage
• Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE support
• Full-size SD card reader
• Two USB 3.0 ports and Mini DisplayPort
• 8.0MP rear-facing auto-focus camera, with 1080p HD camera
• 5.0MP front-facing 1080p HD camera
• Windows Hello face-authentication
• 36W power supply
• Up to 12 hours of battery life
• Windows 10 Pro operating system
• Surface Pen

Verge Video: CEO Satya Nadella's vision for Microsoft