Office For iPad Gets Printing Support In First Update

Printing from tablet devices is a rather amusing proposition. In the early days several tablets lacked this functionalities. Even right now printer support is sporadic, particularly on Android slates, though the situation has immensely improved.

Now, many were surprised to find out that Office for iPad did not come with printing support.

The versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint on Apple’s tablet that launched in late March were missing the crucial feature, and users that wanted the ability to print documents from these apps had to wait until Microsoft added it in.

And the company has done just that in this first update for Office for iPad that has just gone live. Documents made or edited in the apps can be sent to an AirPrint printer.

Printing is not the only new feature in this update, however.

SmartGuides are also added in the PowerPoint app that allows for better alignment when placing text, images and shapes in a slide. A very handy feature, and a welcome addition, along with the usual round of unnamed bug fixes and improvements.

Although Microsoft announced in early April that Office for iPad was downloaded 12 million times, the latest statistics are not available this time around.

Windows 8.1 App Watch: Rabbids Big Bang

When it comes to wacky characters, none are wackier than Rabbids. These creatures have found noted success in a number of games on multiple platforms, and now they are taking over the Windows world.

Ubisoft is now offering this universal game free of charge, both for Windows and Windows Phone users.

Your task in this puzzle game is to pilot a rabbit in space, and collect as many coins and items as possible. You get access to jetpacks to ease your way through the missions and fight plant gravity. Pretty okay concept as far as concepts go.

Here is what the zany official description has to state:

“Forget the Milky Way! This is the Rabbids Way! Rabbids Big Bang is the first Rabbids physic-based game on mobile devices that lets you pilot a Rabbid in space with the tip of your finger!”

Now there are 10 different galaxies, each of which offer 15 different missions for a total of 150 levels.

A raking system tracks your progress and achievements as you advance through the game. Several customization options to help you change the look of your character are also included. While the gameplay is all right, the visual presentation really takes the cake, with its distinct colorful style.

This was a paid game in the past, and only recently has gone free. No idea for how long this promotion lasts but if you are interested, grab it right away. It supports all versions of Windows, including ARM.

Are You Game For A Cloud Based Windows Operating System?

This week started with some bombastic news yesterday, when some early rumors about what Microsoft is working on next popped up, courtesy of the friendly neighborhood Wzor.

According to the famed leaker, Redmond has started work on a cloud-based version of Windows.

And what’s more, this is to be offered completely free to users — with room for paid premium features as subscriptions, of course. But essentially, users will be getting Windows as a Service (WAAS) on their chosen device. Or devices.

Now, before someone quips about Chromebooks, yes, this notion is similar, but not entirely unexpected. Some very early rumors pointed to this being Windows 10, a completely cloud powered experience.

The big question, friends and foes, is whether this is something you would bite?

Do you see yourself, running a cloud powered operating system? I am sure Microsoft would want to put in a substantial amount of offline features, or at least tools and options that work when Internet access is unavailable. But the core experience will rain from the clouds.

So then, this is the place to talk about it.

Are you guys and gals ready for Windows Cloud? Or if given a choice, same feature set, would you still choose the traditional option of a paid standard, by the books operating system?

Let’s get those keyboards working, shall we?

Unified Pricing Scheme Results In Strange Windows Store Price Changes

BUILD 2014 is mostly about coding and build applications for the various Microsoft platforms, and true to the nature of the event, the company highlighted a number of important new changes at the event earlier this month aimed at developers.

End users, however, will be most interested in knowing that soon they will be able to download universal Windows and Windows Phone apps.

Now this welcome new addition also comes with a unified pricing scheme. Without getting technical, this is a way to remove the price point differences between Windows Store and Windows Phone Store apps; mobile users will now be able to download apps for as little as $0.99 or $1.29.

Those of you that have any interest in the mobile world will be aware that these are two of the most popular price points for applications; the former more so.

In fact, as Microsoft says here, apps priced in this range now make up a healthy 55 percent of Windows Phone transactions. And in order to lower the cost barrier, the company changed some things up over the weekend. Developers are now reporting that their app prices have just been revised.

Additionally, Redmond has also made some more adjustments taking into account local factors like taxes and changes in foreign exchange rates to alter the prices.

Interestingly, Microsoft is yet to clear the confusion on how these changes are reflected, as the updates to pricing do not appear to be consistent. Some apps that cost $0.99 before, now retail for $1.29. This is as odd as it is unconventional.

A little openness should clear off the air.

For developers and end users, both.

Start Menu Will Return In A Future Windows 8.1 Update, Microsoft Confirms

Well, it’s official people. The Start Menu will return to Windows in a future update. Microsoft shared this exciting news at BUILD 2014, saying that they want to make the operating system more appropriate for desktop users.

Appropriate is the correct word, alright.

This was confirmed by Terry Myerson of Microsoft, who although refused to provide any specifics on when exactly this might happen, said that this feature will be returning in a future update.

Which means that Windows 8.1 users can expect it later this year.

A few screenshots were also posted during his keynote, and as expected, the new Start Menu features the perfect blend of the classic design along with just the right touch of the Modern UI — list of installed apps and Live Tiles will also be available in this new Start Menu.

Interestingly, this screenshot also shows that users will be able to launch Metro apps in their very own windows, confirming that the company is ready to mix the Modern UI and desktop in the future.

Previous rumors have hinted that these features will be part of Windows 9.

And while it is possible that such a change might only be reserved for the next full version of the operating system, it makes more sense to release these features to users as part of a second major update to Windows 8.1.

But before we get to that part, take over the comment box and let your thoughts be known. Excited for this return of the classic feature? Bet you are!

Windows 8.1 Update Now Available For Download On MSDN

Just as Terry Myerson was talking about it in his keynote at BUILD 2014, Microsoft released the new Windows 8.1 Update on MSDN so that premium subscribers can download and deploy the files before general release on April 8.

The update is available in two different flavors — as it should be.

Subscribers can grab the MSU installers for their current versions, or opt for a fresh install by downloading the standalone ISO files that can be used to clean install the operating system without the need to download Windows Updates.

And as reported earlier users are required to download and install all necessary updates to Windows 8.1 released up till now, before they can enjoy Windows 8.1 Update 1.

Onto some statistics, then.

The Windows 8.1 Update ISO comes in at 3924 MB. And this form can be used to install any of the available versions of the operating system, including Core, Embedded and Server 2012 R2.

On the other hand, the MSU Installers for Windows 8.1 come in at 360 MB for the x86 version and a substantial 770 MB for the x64 builds of Microsoft’s flagship operating platform. These are some solid downloads, but so is the feature set that this refresh of the OS brings.

If you are a MSDN member, you can go ahead and check out these downloads on the Subscriber Downloads section of the site. If not, then April 8 is not all that far away, anyway.

Microsoft will roll out this new version next week, free of charge to all Windows 8.1 users.

Why Windows 8.1 Update 1 Just Has To Be More Than What We Have Seen So Far?

So you all have heard the news. Or shall I say gossip? Microsoft have maintained the policy of absolute silence about where the upcoming versions of its two leading platforms are heading.

But there has been enough chitchat about Windows 8.1 Update 1 and Windows Phone 8.1.

The mobile platform looks like it is about to go from sedatives to steroids. And that’s all good. It was due a detailed look. I bet it’s going to hit the competitors in the pocket with some of the reported features that Microsoft is set to include in Windows Phone 8.1.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Update 1, which is just shaping up to be a feature pack release; a minor feature pack release at that.

Sure there are small (read: much needed) tweaks here and there, some UI enhancements, and some necessary groundwork for future advances. But I’ll be darned if what we have seen so far cannot be coded over a week, what with the thousands of software engineers working at Microsoft.

Heck, with the right paperwork, many of these enhancements can be coded in over a weekend. This is not something that requires 4 months of work. Not something that should require 4 months of work.

For the detractors Update 1 looks to be as interesting as a sleeping pill on screen.

Few will become converts based on these small improvements.

That is unless, Microsoft have been keeping the real goods secret. There have been enough hints here that the company might be saving it for BUILD. We are yet to see lengthy blog posts doing a features breakdown as with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

There are doubts that even the two leaked builds were not RTM final.

If Windows 8.1 Update 1 does indeed bring around more than what the eyes have seen, then it would be quite a sight. If not, then as they say, no money, no honey.

Nokia Announces A Redesigned 3310 With 41 Megapixel PureView Camera

The technology industry has developed a quaint habit of April Fool Day jokes in recent years, and while most are either full hits or misses, some of these jokes are in the zone.

And although Samsung and HTC revealed their jokes one day early, Nokia is smack on time with their.

Nokia has announced that is launching a redesigned 3310 handset with the latest version of Windows Phone and a 41 megapixel camera. Those of you out of the loop might care for some statistics — the 3310 launched in 2000, and in these 14 years the handset has sold 125 million units to date.

This makes it not just one of the most successful mobile phones of all time, but as iconic a device as they come. With this relaunch, the company can add to those millions.

Anyway, the prank is available here on the official site.

The company also posted press renders of this new Nokia 3310 with PureView imaging capabilities. Nokia says that the device runs a modified version of Windows Phone 8 that fits the unique ‘ClearDiamond’ 3-inch touchscreen. You go, Nokia!

The rest of the hardware specifications are standard affair.

This redesigned Nokia 3310 comes with a dual-core processor running at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and 32GB internal memory, which can be further expanded up to the highs of an additional 64GB thanks to the included microSD card slot.

Nokia 3310 will be available in the trademark colors, though there is no word on the price tag yet. But expect to pay a fortune, when (and if) a device like this ever makes its way to the market.

Don’t know about you guys, but I’d be totally down for this. For the nostalgic factor, alone!