Nexus project Ara

Google Ara: How the next Nexus project works

It’s time to get down to basics with the plug-and-play customizable smartphone platform known as Project Ara - or Google Ara. Paul Eremenko took the stage at Launch this week to show off a non-working prototype of the device we’ve seen several times in the recent past. This is Google’s vision, not just for the future of smartphones, but for the future of the individual parts of smartphones.

The device you’re seeing here is a high-fidelity industrial design prototype. While this is called "Project Ara" now, Eremenko suggests that, should it become a real device in the future (like Google Glass), it’d become Google Ara. As Eremenko takes the machine apart, piece by piece, it’s revealed that it all comes down to a piece of metal with a battery inside called an Endoskeleton.
Each slot in this Endoskeleton of Ara works with a 3 newton permanent magnet attached. Eremenko suggests that this is "just enough for you to put the modules in and be able to flip the device over without the modules falling out." You’ll also notice a bit of a lip over each segment to add a bit more hold - each area is a slot instead of a cubby.

The frame for this first iteration of Google Ara has a battery inside as well as connections between each of its slots. These connections allow for each module to communicate with the other, together creating a full smartphone experience. These connections use a protocol stack from MIPI (the mobile industry consortium) called M-PHY (on the physical layer), offering 10 Gigabits per 1x1 block.
In the base frame of Google Ara is a battery that's meant only as a reserve. To make the phone function fully, one of your modules must be a more traditionally-sized battery. The only thing Google restrains is the partitioning scheme - the 1x1, 2x1, etc sizing scheme for the hardware.
"Our goal here is to create a 3rd party ecosystem of module developers," says Eremenko, "to change the way innovation happens in the hardware space, and make it a lot more like the software and app store model."

Next what you’re seeing is a functional module. This module has a white enclosure - Eremenko is holding it in his hand - which is user-serviceable. This means that both the module bits inside and the casings are able to be swapped - you can make your phone look however you want as you make it function however you want.
Modules will be developed using a Module Developers Kit, that's an MDK, and we'll certainly be hearing a lot more about it as this project progresses. This includes an open platform specification and a reference implementation that allows developers to create for Google Ara. This developer program will be published in a little over a month.



Eremenko shows off a couple of custom-printed enclosures created by 3D Systems, a group that Google is partnered with for Ara to print 3D enclosures galore. This is the same company that’s 3D printing food, mind you.
"The consumer gets to decide exactly and only what functionality goes into the device," suggests Eremenko. "So if you don’t want a camera, if you want a really inexpensive and stripped-down phone, you can do that. In fact you can get a Wi-fi-only device."
The $50 Google Ara phone you may have heard of is also known - by the team here - as The Gray Phone. Working with only the basics - an application processor with Android, a display, and a Wi-fi module, this device is targeted at $50 for launch sometime in the near future.
"We're less interested in people's margins than we are in the pace of innovation in the hardware ecosystem." Eremenko continues, "I think that there are plenty of opportunities to make money out of a highly competitive ecosystem, but what we are after is getting the number of brains in that ecosystem up into the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. Comparable to Android app development."
New modules will be able to be printed. This opens up the door for at-home innovation and community-created creativity like we've never seen in the smartphone industry before.

One module could have a printed casing, but also a printed radio antenna, allowing the user to create connectivity to the carrier of their choice with only a file and the correct printer materials. You could also (even without printing yourself), hot-swap out a module to move your smartphone from one carrier to the other.
Another swapping opportunity comes in the containment of your data. Your identity - all of your settings and personal data - can be contained on one memory-based module that you can pull out easily. You can use this to switch between phones, to lend your phone to a friend, or whatever other odd bit you can think of.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore this environment through our Google Ara tag portal. We'll be following this one through the future - the long, expansive future, we hope!

Nokia's Android Phones Will Hurt Google, Not Microsoft

Nokia's Android Phones Will Hurt Google, Not Microsoft.

When the Finnish handset maker announced three handsets based on Nokia X software built on Android OS, many people saw it as a setback for Microsoft. Is Nokia trying to destroy the reputation of Microsoft's mobile platform before the 7.2 Billion dollar deal closes? The answer is a big "No". In fact, the Finns have taken Microsoft in confidence — otherwise you wouldn't have had Microsoft's fined tuned apps on Nokia X. Sure. Embracing Android just when the WP8 handsets have stared gaining momentum looks like a stupid move. However, if you look at the things closely, you'll realize that it's actually an incredibly bold (and somewhat risky) move from Stephen Elop, Nokia's CEO (soon to be the Head of Microsoft's Devices Business) to beat Google at its own game. No matter how weird it sounds, Android-powered Nokia handsets will be profitable to Nokia\Microsoft. Here's how:

Push WP Interface
The biggest strength of Microsoft’s platform is that it’s a completely fresh approach on smartphone interface. At the same time, it has also been the platform’s biggest issue. The tile based modern interface is unlike anything you see on the likes of Android and iOS. Because of this, users find the Windows Phone quite confusing. Well, a day or two is enough for anyone to get along with WP interface, but making the customer confident about that is the challenge Microsoft is facing now.

The solution: give customers Android devices with Windows Phone interface. That’s exactly what Nokia is doing. The company has replaced Android’s usual grid of icons, colourful app tiles. Even re-arranging these tiles is exactly like how it’s done on Windows Phone. The idea here that if a user gets used to the tile based interface, the person will eventually think about upgrading to Windows Phone platform that offers more responsive and dynamic tiles.

Slump Google's Revenue
Android being an open source software, is free for handset manufacturers. However, the search giant charges OEMs to licence its services including Play Store, Gmail, Maps, and Google Drive. Most manufacturers don't have software expertise and infrastructure to create and alternative for Google's offerings. So these companies end up paying certain amount of money to Google. On the other hand, Nokia is backed by Microsoft, who has an answer to every Google product. Since Nokia is going to be a subsidiary of Microsoft, it won't have to pay a dime. Moreover, in-app purchases will be powered by Nokia's own app repository. In short, Nokia X won't generate cash for Google.
The combination of Nokia and Android will definitely bite a big chunk of the smatphone market. Even if they grab 10-15 percent marketshare at the cost of conventional Android OEMs, it will result in millions of Android devices that don't generate revenue for Google.

Promote Microsoft Services
Lack of Google services on Nokia X is an opportunity for Microsoft to deliver its services to millions of new users. Bing traffic is already seeing an increase with the rising popularity of Windows Phone platform. With dirt-cheap Android phones from Nokia, the user base will at least double in no time. People who have bothered with OneDrive cloud service, will actually give it go and pit it against Google’s offering. Similarly, Outlook and Skype will give the Gmail and Hangouts a run for its money.

Microsoft seems to have realised that once you have the users, revenue follows. So the idea here is to make people get used to MS services, which will make the WP switch easier. The need of the hour for the company is making its services popular rather than hoping to make money out of Windows Phone licencing fees.

More Revenue For Nokia
After off-loading its Devices & Services business to Microsoft for around 7.2 Billion dollars, Nokia still retains HERE maps and NSN businesses. The Finnish company has to find avenues to bring in cash after selling its devices business. Windows Phone devices are powered by Nokia’s HERE maps. As they say more the merrier, Nokia can generate more revenue by introducing its offline sat nav expertise to wider audience. Since Google’s Play Music service doesn’t work in India yet, Nokia’s Mix Radio can be an instant hit among Android users.

OneDrive vs.Dropbox vs.Google Drive vs. Box

OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box: Which cloud storage service is right for you?

Which cloud storage service is for you?

Microsoft gave its cloud storage service a makeover today, replacing the now-defunct SkyDrive with the shiny, new OneDrive. After a legal battle, Microsoft changed the name and used the opportunity to add a few new features to its cloud option.

Though not much about SkyDrive changes in the switch to OneDrive, we're taking this opportunity to outline the differences and give you a guide to the other popular cloud storage options out there. Whether you're unhappy with your current cloud service or have never dabbled in keeping your files in the cloud, this primer will help you get acquainted with the major (and some of the minor) players out there.




OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive)

First up is OneDrive, Microsoft's storage option. Those who use Windows 8 and 8.1 have OneDrive built into their operating system, where it shows up in the file explorer next to all of the files on your computer's hard drive. However, anyone can use it on the Web, by downloading a desktop app for Mac and earlier versions of Windows, or the OneDrive Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and Xbox apps.

You can store any kind of file in the service, including photos, video, and documents, and then access them from any of your Windows PCs or mobile devices. The service organizes your files by type for you, so it's easy to find what you need.

OneDrive's biggest strength is that it works closely with Microsoft Office apps, such as Word or PowerPoint, so when you launch one of those applications you'll see a list of recent documents, including those saved to OneDrive. If you have an Office 365 subscription and open a document saved in OneDrive, you can collaborate on it in real time with other people. You'll even be able to see the changes they make as they make them. With the launch of OneDrive, Microsoft updated its Android app to add automatic photo uploads, meaning that when you shoot a photo with your phone, it's automatically saved to OneDrive. That same feature has been available on iOS and Windows Phone for a while.

Microsoft is hoping that OneDrive will be the place where you store your photos, and the company is working on technology that will eventually sort all of the photos you take based on how important and meaningful they are. For instance, if you take a photo of your kids, a picture of a special meal, and a shot of your parking space so you can find your car later, OneDrive would be able to understand the importance of each picture, save the ones it thinks are the most useful, and trash the rest. That's still big-picture stuff for OneDrive, but it gives you an idea of the direction Microsoft is moving in.

Where it excels

OneDrive works seamlessly with Windows devices because it's baked into the Windows operating systems running on PCs, tablets, and Windows Phone. It's easy to open and edit files from OneDrive in Microsoft's other applications, such as Word or the Photos app. Since OneDrive is closely tied with Office, it's a good choice for anyone who uses Office frequently.

Where it falls flat

If you don't have all Windows devices, OneDrive doesn't have as much appeal. There are apps for other devices, but it's clear that OneDrive is really meant for the Windows set.

In order to use OneDrive, you must sign up for a Microsoft account, which gives you access to Outlook, Xbox Live, and other Microsoft services. Whether or not you want all those extras is up to you.

One last note; Microsoft has a stricter code of conduct for the files you upload to OneDrive than any other cloud service. You may not store any file that depicts any kind of nudity, or that incites, advocates, or expresses pornography or racism, to name a few. It's tough to say how vigorously Microsoft enforces these restrictions, but they are nonetheless part of the Terms of Service you agree to when you sign up to use OneDrive.

Best for: If you have a Windows PC, tablet, and phone, and need to get to your files from any device with little effort.




Dropbox

Dropbox is a favorite in the cloud storage world because it's reliable, easy to use, and a breeze to set up. Your files live in the cloud and you can get to them at any time from Dropbox's Web site, desktop applications for Mac, Windows, and Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or compile your own), or the iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Kindle Fire mobile apps.

You can store any kind of file in Dropbox, by either uploading to the Web site or adding it with the desktop apps. Those apps live in your file system so that you can easily move files from your computer to the cloud and vice versa by dragging and dropping them into your Dropbox folder. The service automatically and quickly syncs your files across all of your devices, so you can access everything, everywhere. There is no size limit on files you upload to Dropbox with the desktop or mobile apps, but larger files can take several hours to upload, depending on your connection speed.

Dropbox gets a lot of praise for its clean design, and rightfully so. Though I am not a fan of Dropbox's Web site because the design is very basic and it doesn't give you many options to view and organize your files, its mobile apps and desktop apps are beautiful and easy to navigate.

Dropbox gives its users plenty of opportunities to get extra storage to beef up the paltry 2GB you get when you sign up. If you participate in the quick Getting Started tutorial, you get 250MB. Turn on the automatic photo upload feature on any of the mobile apps to get 3GB of extra space (you can get only 3GB total, not per device). You can earn 500MB for each friend you refer to Dropbox who actually signs up for the service, up to 16 GB total, or 32 referrals. If you have a brand-new HTC or Samsung phone on select mobile carriers (T-Mobile and Sprint, to name a few) with the Dropbox app pre-installed, you can earn up to 48GB of additional storage for up to two years, depending on the device.

Where it excels

Dropbox's greatest strength is that it works equally well on PCs and Macs, Android and iOS. The service is so simple and elegantly designed, that it's easy for anyone to master. Its desktop applications seamlessly blend with your computer's file system.

Where it falls flat

In my experience, Dropbox's Web site design is one of the weakest of the cloud storage services. It's simple and clean, but you can't control the way your files are displayed. However, you do get many more sharing options on the Dropbox Web site, which almost makes up for the bare bones design.

Best for: Simple sharing when you use tons of different kinds of devices.


Google Drive

What started as just a handful of helpful online office tools called Google Docs, has transformed into Google Drive, a complete office suite with cloud storage. You get a little bit of everything with this service, including a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation builder, plus 5GB of storage space.

If you already have a Google account, you can already access Google Drive. You just have to head to drive.google.com and enable the service. You get 15GB of storage for anything you upload to Drive, including photos, videos, documents, Photoshop files and more. However, you have to share that 15GB with your Gmail account, photos you upload to Google+, and any documents you create in Google Drive.

While you can access any of your files from the Drive Web site, you can also download the Drive desktop app for Mac and PC to manage your files from your computer. You can organize all of your files in the desktop app, and they'll sync with the cloud so you can get to them anywhere.

Drive is built into Google's Web-based operating system Chromium, so if you have a Chromebook, Google Drive is your best cloud storage option. Like other cloud storage services, Drive has apps for iOS and Android, so you can manage your files from your phone.

Google Drive has the benefit of a built-in office suite, where you can edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, even if you created the document in another program. The service also a large collection of extras, such as third-party apps that can send faxes or sign documents.

What I like most about Google Drive is that you can drag and drop files into the Drive Web site and they'll be uploaded automatically. You can also preview attachments from Gmail in Google Drive, and save those files to your cloud.

Where it excels

Google Drive requires very little setup if you already have a Google account. What's more, if you use Gmail, it's easy to save attachments from your e-mail directly to Drive with just a few clicks.

Where it falls flat

While you can organize your files and photos in Google Drive, there's no way to automatically upload photos from your phone directly to the service. Instead, Google has an Auto Backup feature in the Google+ mobile apps, which sends your photos to your Google+ profile. I'd like for Google to create a central space where I can store and upload all of my files that combines the best of Google+'s photo editing features and Google Drive's document editing tools.

Best for: Google diehards, or anyone who wants a few office tools with their cloud storage.



Box

Anyone can sign up for a free individual account on Box, but the service's endless list of sharing and privacy features were built specifically for business and IT users. Beyond the basic cloud storage setup, where you can store just about any kind of file, Box lets you share files with colleagues, assign tasks, leave comments on someone's work, and get notifications when a file changes.

You can preview files from Box's Web site and even create basic text documents in Box. Like other cloud storage services, you can download a desktop app and sync your files between your hard drive and the cloud.

Box also gives you a lot of control over the privacy of your files. For example, you can decide who in your business can view and open specific folders and files, as well as who can edit and upload documents. You can even password-protect individual files and set expiration dates for shared folders.

Business users can also connect other apps, such as Salesforce and NetSuite, so that you can easily save documents to Box. There are also plug-ins for Microsoft Office and Adobe Lightroom that let you open and edit files saved to Box from those applications.

Where it excels

For business customers, Box is a great choice because it comes with so many tools for collaboration and file privacy control.

Where it falls flat

While anyone can sign up for a free individual account on Box, the service's endless list of sharing and privacy features can be lost on someone who's just using the service for personal storage. Because of all those features, it can feel overwhelming to navigate the Box Web site if you're only trying to manage a few files and folders.

Best for: Teams of employees working together on projects, and large companies that need a place to securely share documents with everyone.

Laptop buyer's guide: 2014 Edition

CES has been over for a month now, which means it's high time we update all our buyer's guides with some of the new stuff that was just announced. In the coming weeks, we'll have fresh tablet and phone picks, but today, we're all about the laptops. Whether you're in the market for an Ultrabook, convertible, gaming rig or a Chromebook, we've got a suggestion that should fit the bill. Read on to see what made the cut -- and what's been dropped from our guide since last fall.

Convertibles

When Windows 8 first came out, PC makers were experimenting with all sorts of inventive designs in an effort to figure out what consumers actually wanted. In those early months, we saw laptops whose screens could rotate, pop out, detach and fold over. Others had a sliding design, and one even attempted two screens. The results were mixed -- so mixed, in fact, that our last two laptop buyer's guides have had just two recommendations in the convertible category. Now that these companies have had a chance to go back to the drawing board, we're starting to see more form factors we'd actually want to use.

Dell XPS 12

The Dell XPS 12 has always been on this list, so you can bet we have effusive things to say now that it's been upgraded with Haswell, NFC and a larger battery (50Wh, up from 47Wh). All told, between the beefier battery and new chipset, Dell is promising this thing will last 9.5 hours on a charge -- more than three hours longer than the OG model. Otherwise, it's the same machine it always was, with a 12.5-inch, 1080p screen that flips around in its hinge so that you can show off presentations and stuff to people sitting opposite you. It might not be quite as versatile as the Yoga, but we love it anyway for its solid build quality, attractive design and unusually cushy keyboard. After all, if you can't enjoy one of these convertibles in regular notebook mode, why even bother?
The bottom line: Even if you rarely use it in tablet mode, the XPS 12 makes an excellent Ultrabook, especially now that Dell's refreshed it with Haswell and a bigger battery.
Key specs: Up to a 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-4650U CPU, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 5000, 12.5-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,000 and up from Dell

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro

Even back when we included just two convertibles on this list, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 was always one of them. Though lots of companies make missteps with their first-gen products, Lenovo won us over right away with the Yoga, whose screen could fold all the way back into tablet mode. Over time, though, as rival companies began upgrading their wares, the original Yoga started to seem stale. Well, just in the nick of time, Lenovo gave it a makeover. The new version, the Yoga 2 Pro, comes standard with a 3,200 x 1,800 screen, making it one of the crispest you'll find on a 13-inch Ultrabook. It also comes in a thinner, lighter package, and runs on Haswell processors for faster performance and longer battery life. Best of all: The price is low compared to other premium Ultrabooks.
As a side note, Lenovo also has the ThinkPad Yoga, whose keyboard flattens out as you flip the screen over. Even then, we'd only really recommend it if you want pressure-sensitive pen input, as the machine itself is noticeably thicker and heavier than the Yoga 2 Pro (in large part thanks to that newfangled keyboard!).
The bottom line: The most versatile Windows convertible is back with a slimmer, lighter design, sharper screen and longer battery life.
Key specs: Up to a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-4500U CPU, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 13.3-inch (3,200 x 1,800) display.
Price: $1,049 and up from Lenovo

Sony VAIO Duo 13

Remember we said some companies made missteps their first time out? We give you Sony. The VAIO Duo 11 didn't make our original list. In fact, no slider Ultrabooks did. The propped-up display eats up too much of the potential keyboard space, we said, leading to a compromised typing experience. The Duo 11, in particular, also suffered from short battery life and an ugly hinge design that left too many of the mechanical bits exposed.
Fortunately, Sony went back to the drawing board and returned with a much-improved follow-up, the VAIO Duo 13. With its "Surf Slider" hinge, the Duo is now much easier to open with one hand, and the back side has been cleaned up as well. Interestingly, though this rocks a larger 13.3-inch screen, the dimensions are about the same, and the weight is only slightly heavier. The secret? Thinner bezels to maximize screen real estate. But wait, we're not done yet: There's now a clip to hold the included pressure-sensitive pen. The keyboard, meanwhile, is more comfortable this time around, even if the touchpad is a bit cramped. And the battery life is much longer too, thanks to a fresh Haswell processor.
The bottom line: Sony got the slider design right on its second try, thanks to a completely revamped hinge, a more spacious keyboard and longer battery life.
Key specs: Up to a 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-4650U CPU, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, up to Intel HD Graphics 5000, 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,400 and up from Sony

High-end notebooks

Just because every PC maker is experimenting with some strange, convertible form factor, doesn't mean regular, old notebooks are going the way of the dodo. In fact, most of the laptops we've seen this season are standard notebooks, many with touchscreens attached (at least in the case of Windows machines). In fact, with the exception of the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, Dell XPS 12 and Sony VAIO Duo 13, all of the high-end systems on our list actually do hew to this design. Find our favorites below.

Acer Aspire S7-392

If there's one theme coursing through this guide, it's that Intel's new Haswell processors have transformed laptops with poor battery life, and turned them into lean, mean, all-day machines. That couldn't be truer of the Acer Aspire S7, which came out in 2012 to mostly rave reviews. Well, raving about everything except the runtime, which topped out at around four hours. Recently, though, Acer refreshed its 13-inch flagship Ultrabook with Intel's fourth-generation processors, and is now promising up to seven hours of juice (we got seven and a half). Aside from that very important under-the-hood change, Acer didn't alter the design much; the keyboard layout is similar, as is that white Gorilla Glass lid. Also, until recently, the only display option in the US was a 1080p IPS panel. This month, Acer finally started offering the choice of a 2,560 x 1,440 screen. About time, we say.
The bottom line: The new S7 addresses all the shortcomings of the previous model, and is now one of our favorite Ultrabooks.
Key specs: Up to a 1.8GHz dual-core Core i7-4500U CPU, 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 256GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 or 2,560 x 1,440) display.
Price: $1,350 and up from Acer

Apple MacBook Air

Apple's current MacBook Airs look just like the ones that came out in 2012, but they still bring some meaningful improvements. In particular, they come complete with Haswell processors and the promise of much longer battery life (up to nine hours on the 11-inch model, and up to 12 on the 13-inch version). And remember, Apple has a tendency to make conservative battery life claims -- in fact, we got nearly 13 hours on the 13-inch model when we took it for a spin. Meanwhile, Apple also switched to faster PCIe SSDs, which yield much faster I/O speeds. On top of all that, Apple dropped the starting price of the 13-inch model by $100, making it that much easier for us to recommend. The only thing you might want to keep in mind is that the new Retina display MacBook Pro offers similar battery life and doesn't weigh that much more, so you might be tempted to get that instead if you want a sharper screen and don't mind a little extra heft.
The bottom line: No, there's still no super-sharp Retina display, but the unbelievably long battery life more than makes up for it.
Key specs: 11-inch model: up to a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i7 CPU, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 5000, 11.6-inch (1,366 x 768) display; 13-inch model: up to a 1.7GHz dual-core Core i7 CPU, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 5000, 13.3-inch (1,440 x 900) display.
Price: $999 and up (11-inch)/$1,099 and up (13-inch) from Apple

HP Spectre 13 Ultrabook

HP took its time refreshing its line with new designs and fresh processors, but it looks like the delay may have been worth it. HP recently announced the Spectre 13 Ultrabook, and it's better than its predecessor in almost every way. In addition to running Haswell Core i5 and i7 processors, it's available with a 2,560 x 1,440 display for an extra $70 -- a first for HP. Additionally, it has an extra-wide touchpad with "Control Zones" on the sides that give you tactile feedback as you're doing things like exposing the Charms Bar or swiping in from the left to cycle through open apps. As for performance, we've already begun testing one, and can attest that it delivers both long battery life and brisk SSD speeds.
The bottom line: The Spectre 13 remains one of the few Ultrabooks available in the US with a screen sharper than 1080p.
Key specs: Up to a 1.8GHz dual-core Core i7-4500U CPU, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 or 2,560 x 1,440) display.
Price: $1,000 and up from HP

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Lenovo's X1 Carbon hasn't had a spot in our laptop buyer's guide since last spring. A curious thing, considering it was once our favorite business Ultrabook -- heck, one of our favorite Ultrabooks, period. Eventually, however, even the best products grow stale, and indeed, it took Lenovo a while to deliver a refresh. Finally, though, we have a revamped model with a lighter design, sharper screen and up-to-date processors. Without overwhelming you with speeds and feeds, here's what you need to know: The new X1 weighs just 2.8 pounds (make that three if you add a touchscreen). Either way, it's shockingly light for a 14-inch system. Also, in keeping with modern-day specs, the X1 now has a 2,560 x 1,440 screen option and a battery rated for nine hours of runtime. Be warned: Lenovo did tweak the keyboard, adding an "adaptive" panel up top, but fortunately, it doesn't appear to interfere with the typing experience (or the TrackPoint, for that matter).
The bottom line: The refreshed X1 Carbon returns with a sharper screen, improved battery life and an even lighter design.
Key specs: Up to a 2.1GHz dual-core Core i7-4600U CPU, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 14-inch (1,600 x 900 or 2,560 x 1,440) display.
Price: $1,299 and up from Lenovo

Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus

Samsung went a long time without refreshing its Series 9 Ultrabook, save for adding a 1080p screen option in 2012. Finally, though, the company announced a proper replacement, the ATIV Book 9 Plus. Though it's similar in design to the aluminum version that came out in 2012, this steps up to a much sharper screen -- a 13.3-inch 3,200 x 1,800 panel with enough pixel density to surpass even the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. On the inside, it makes use of Haswell processors, solid-state storage and a battery rated for 12 hours of runtime (we managed nearly nine hours in our video rundown test). The only unfortunate thing is that thanks to the added touchscreen, the ATIV Book 9 Plus is heavier than it used to be: 3.06 pounds versus 2.55. Make no mistake: It's still plenty portable, but there are even lighter touchscreen Ultrabooks out there.
The bottom line: One of our favorite Ultrabooks from 2012 gets refreshed with an eye-melting 3,200 x 1,800 display and a more robust battery.
Key specs: Up to a 1.8GHz dual-core Core i7-4500U CPU, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 13.3-inch (3,200 x 1,800) display.
Price: $1,400 and up from Samsung

Sony VAIO Pro 13

Sony broke a lot of hearts when it discontinued its super-thin, super-light Z series. Fortunately for VAIO fans, though, the company last year came out with the Pro 13, a 2.34-pound, carbon fiber machine that's the spiritual successor to the ol' Z. Sony says it's the lightest touchscreen Ultrabook of this size, which sounds about right to us: This thing feels utterly insubstantial in the hand. In addition to that featherweight design, the Pro 13 offers PCIe SSDs, a 1080p display with wide viewing angles, a backlit keyboard and built-in NFC. Battery life is rated at seven hours (thanks, Haswell!), but you can double that with an external sheet battery (another nice carryover from Sony's older machines). Most importantly, though, Sony slashed the starting price of the 13 to $1,250, down from around two grand. There's also a less-expensive 11-inch version, the Pro 11, but the keyboard is a tad cramped, and you won't get those fast PCIe SSDs (just regular solid-state drives).
The bottom line: Sony's discontinued Z series laptop gets a new life with the Pro lineup, which offers great battery life, crisp displays and a much more reasonable starting price.
Key specs: Up to a 1.8GHz dual-core Core i7-4500U CPU, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,150 and up from Sony

Budget and mid-range

Acer M5-583P-6423

Acer's M5 always makes our list for offering good specs at a decent price, and for being surprisingly lightweight, at that. Be warned that Acer had to cut corners in some areas to make that price point; the build quality is fairly mediocre, and you'll have to make do with a spinning hard drive. That said, we appreciated the narrow bezels on 2012's M5, and we have a feeling the battery life will be more impressive this time around too. Of note, this model replaces the M5-583P-6428, which held a spot in our laptop buyer's guide for two straight seasons running. The main difference is that this has 6GB of RAM instead of 8GB, which allowed Acer to push the price down to $630 from $700. Wanna go even cheaper? The Acer V5-473P-6459 goes for $600 with 4GB of RAM and a smaller 14-inch screen.
The bottom line: Acer's mid-range laptops were already well-priced, but they've lately seen price cuts that have made them even more tempting.
Key specs: 1.6GHz dual-core Core i5-4200U CPU, 6GB of RAM, 500GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 15.6-inch (1,366 x 768) display.
Price: $600 from Best Buy

HP Envy TouchSmart 15t-j100

The Envy TouchSmart 15 (once called the dv6) steps into the modern age with an aluminum chassis, backlit keyboard and a touchscreen with up to 1080p resolution (1,366 x 768 is the standard). Also offered with AMD processors (that'd be the TouchSmart 15-j070us ), it starts at $750 whether you go with a quad-core A10 chip or a dual-core Core i5 processor. As a performance machine, it comes standard with speakers and a subwoofer for your audio needs, and can be configured with up to a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU.
The bottom line: A great pick for mid-range budgets, with enough flexibility that you can turn it into a performance powerhouse.
Key specs: Up to a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4702MQ CPU, 6GB to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage with a 24GB SSD, up to a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU, 15.6-inch (1,366 x 768 or 1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $750 and up from HP

Samsung Chromebook

It's taken a while, but we think we can finally start recommending Chromebooks to regular consumers. Not the Chromebook Pixel, necessarily -- that's not a practical purchase for anyone -- but the cruder, less expensive variety. Specifically, Samsung's $249 Chromebook, which got a significant price cut after Sammy moved from an Intel Celeron processor to a homegrown Exynos 5 Dual SoC, based on ARM's Cortex-A15 chip. To be sure, you may suffer a slight performance hit as a result, but this new, lower-powered chip is still hearty enough to support everything Chromebooks were built for: namely email, web surfing and video streaming. Meanwhile, the comfortable keyboard and trackpad make it a pleasure to use -- something we can't even say about some pricier laptops. As a runner-up, the new Toshiba Chromebook is also a good choice. That model brings longer battery life (nine hours versus six and a half) and boasts a more powerful Haswell processor. Just remember that it costs $300 and is noticeably heavier, so it's not necessarily a slam dunk, either.
The bottom line: With more bang for your buck than any other Chromebook, Samsung's offering is great if all you want is a cheap secondary laptop and would have spent all your time in the browser anyway.
Key specs: 1.7GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (5250), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, integrated graphics, 11-inch (1,366 x 768) display.
Price: $230 from Amazon

Sony VAIO Fit 14 and 15

Sony turned heads when it announced that all of its laptops -- even the low-end ones -- would boast some fairly cutting-edge specs. In particular, the company promised that nearly all its new notebooks would rock 1080p touchscreens with NFC, backlit keyboards and webcams making use of Sony's own Exmor R sensors. It all sounded swell, but there was one problem: Some of these laptops shipped with Ivy Bridge processors, and at a time when Haswell was coming out, no less. Finally, though, Sony's upgraded its entry-level Fit line with the latest Intel Core chips, which means we can finally recommend them here in our buyer's guide. Whether you buy the 14- or 15-inch model, both start at $580, with the lowest-end Haswell model starting at $630. Even when we tested the Fit 15 with Ivy Bridge, we enjoyed solid performance and fast-boot up times, and we suspect that with Haswell, you'll also get longer battery life.
The bottom line: You'll be hard-pressed to find an entry-level laptop with better specs than Sony's recently refreshed Fit series.
Key specs: Up to a 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-4650U CPU, 4GB to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage, up to a 2GB NVIDIA GT 740M GPU, 14- or 15.6-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $580 and up from Sony

Toshiba Satellite P50

All told, Toshiba sells several laptop lines, starting with the "L" and "C" series at the bottom, moving up to the "S" (for "speed") and the "P" (for "premium") lines. Because even the P series is fairly affordable, though, there's no reason not to just focus your search there. In particular, we recommend the 15-inch P50, which offers a nice mix of higher-end design elements and robust performance. With the latest models, Toshiba's made the aluminum chassis up to 25 percent thinner. It's also added features like an optional touchscreen and an HDMI 1.4 port for 4K output (should you actually have some compatible content). Rounding out the list, Toshiba included Sleep and Charge/Sleep and Music ports as well as Harman Kardon speakers with DTS sound -- pretty much what we've already come to expect from Toshiba's high-end machines.
The bottom line: Toshiba's P series is as feature-rich as ever, except now it's significantly thinner.
Key specs: Up to a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU, 6GB to 12GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage with an 8GB SSD, up to a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M GPU, 15.6-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $650 and up from Toshiba

Performance powerhouses

Sometimes an Ultrabook just isn't good enough. Maybe you want discrete graphics for editing photos or chopping HD video. Maybe you're looking for a little more processing power, better speakers or -- gasp! -- an optical drive for burning the occasional Blu-ray. Whatever it is, we've got the selection narrowed down to three. (No promises on the BD-RW drive, though.)

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display

We've always liked Apple's Retina display MacBook Pros, but we could never recommend them without a caveat: They were good (really good), but only if you could afford them. Recently, it's become a little easier to suggest them -- especially the 13-inch model, which has seen a $400 price drop (the 15-incher is cheaper too, but only by $200). The 13-incher in particular is now closer than ever to the 13-inch MacBook Air in both weight and thickness, with just half a pound between them. And thanks to a new Haswell processor too, the battery life is also fairly similar; we got over 11 hours of runtime in our battery rundown test, compared with nearly 13 for the Air. All told, you'll be faced with a difficult choice: Buy the MacBook Pro for its stronger graphics or get the Air for its lighter weight and slightly longer battery life? It all depends on your priorities.
The bottom line: Apple's Retina display MacBook Pros are easier to recommend now that the prices have dropped, and now that the battery life has improved.
Key specs: 13-inch: Up to a 2.8GHz dual-core Core i7 processor, 4GB to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage, Intel Iris graphics, 13.3-inch (2,560 x 1,600) display; 15-inch: Up to a 2.6GHz quad-core Core i7 CPU, 8GB to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage, Intel Iris Pro graphics or a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU, 15.4-inch (2,880 x 1,800) display.
Price: $1,299 and up (13-inch)/$1,999 and up (15-inch) from Apple

Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 fell off our shortlist for the summer buyer's guide just because it was getting long in the tooth and hadn't yet been updated with Haswell. Since, then, though Dell has come out with a redesigned model, complete with fourth-generation Intel processors and a 3,200 x 1,800 screen option. So with that, it's returned to our laptop buyer's guide with a vengeance. If you check out Dell's site, you'll see it's available in two configurations, with the higher-end $1,999 model matching the 15-inch Retina display MacBook Pro spec-for-spec in nearly every case (weight, screen quality, graphics, et cetera).
The bottom line: Windows users who always wanted a machine as light and powerful as the Retina display MacBook Pro with just as sharp a screen now have a solid option in the new Dell XPS 15.
Key specs: Up to a 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7-4702HQ CPU, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage with a 32GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 4400 or a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU, 15.6-inch (1,920 x 1,080 or 3,200 x 1,800) display.
Price: $1,500 and up from Dell

Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p

When the IdeaPad Y510p came out, Lenovo was quick to clarify it's not a gaming laptop, per se. Instead, the company would rather you think of it as more of an all-around multimedia machine, the sort of thing you'd use to edit full HD video or batch-edit lots of photos. And while we would indeed recommend this to anyone planning on doing serious editing, we'd also suggest gamers take a look: The system comes standard with a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU, and almost every configuration sold has a 1080p display to match. Even design-wise, it straddles the line: The red backlit keyboard suggests this is a gamer's machine, regardless of what Lenovo says, but thanks to an otherwise simple chassis, it's still restrained enough that you can use it in public. Obviously, we still recommend it, even after all this time, but if you can wait until March, Lenovo will be releasing the similar IdeaPad Y50, which will have a 3,840 x 2,160 screen option.
The bottom line: Powerful enough for a gamer, but discreet-looking enough for everybody else.
Key specs: Up to a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU, 8GB to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage with an optional 24GB SSD, up to a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M GPU or 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU with optional Ultrabay SLI graphics, 15.6-inch (1,366 x 768 or 1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,169 and up from Lenovo

Gaming systems

We know what you're going to say, dear readers: Gaming laptops are overpriced, and it's better to just build your own desktop anyway. We don't necessarily disagree. If, however, you don't mind paying a premium, they're a good way to enjoy still-playable frame rates, even while on the go.

Razer Blade

After wowing us with its 17-inch, absurdly thin Razer Blade laptop, Razer is back with a 14-inch model (yep, also called the Razer Blade). Like its big brother, now called the Razer Blade Pro, it costs a pretty penny, with a starting price of $1,800. As before, then, you're not getting the best bang for your buck, but if you insist on a lightweight form factor and strong performance and can only really compromise on price, this could be the thing for you. What's interesting is that Razer got rid of its Switchblade UI -- that secondary LCD that doubled as a touchpad -- a move that allowed the company to achieve the smaller, thinner laptop we have here. All told, rock-solid build quality, fast performance and surprisingly long battery life make it a good pick for on-the-go gamers, but for the money, we wish it had a higher-res screen.
The bottom line: Razer expanded its gaming lineup to include a smaller, 14-inch model. It's as thin and powerful as you'd expect, but it's about as expensive too.
Key specs: 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4702HQ CPU, 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 512GB of internal storage, Intel HD Graphics 4600/2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GPU, 14-inch (1,600 x 900) display.
Price: $1,800 and up from Razer

Alienware 17

After years of just simple CPU refreshes, Dell finally unveiled an entirely redesigned line of gaming notebooks, with screen sizes ranging from 14 to 18 inches. For the purposes of this guide, we're focusing on the in-between-sized one, the Alienware 17, but really, we'd recommend any of them, with the caveat that the specs (especially screen quality) improve as you go up in size. Whichever you choose, Dell has retired the old plastic chassis and switched to a metal one, replete with a magnesium lid and aluminum body. These new systems also have even more customizable LED lights than before: Not only are there multiple keyboard zones, but the touchpad also fully lights up, and you can change the color of that glowing alien head on the lid. Rounding out the design changes, Dell gave the keyboard more depth, moved the vents to the back edge where they're not in the way and introduced Klipsch speakers across the board.
The bottom line: The biggest name in gaming laptops recently came out with a line of brand-new models. If you trust the Alienware brand, this couldn't be a better time to take a look.
Key specs: Up to a 3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4930MX CPU, 8GB to 32GB of RAM, up to 2TB of internal storage with an 80GB SSD, up to a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M GPU, 17.3-inch (1,600 x 900 or 1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,499 and up from Dell

MSI GT70

The 17-inch MSI GT70 excels where you'd expect it to (graphics performance), and also in some areas you wouldn't -- namely, battery life. Even with 2012's chips, it lasts nearly three hours on a charge, but with a new Haswell processor, you can expect runtime in the four-and-a-half-hour range. Performance aside, it also has an exceptional keyboard: sturdy, tactile and loaded up with customizable backlights. The one thing you should keep in mind is that the benefit of having a 1,920 x 1,080 display is mitigated somewhat by the fact that the viewing angles are so narrow. Oh, and if you want something smaller, MSI is now selling the 14-inch GE40; it's reasonably priced, starting at $1,300, but it's not as configurable as, say, the Alienware 14.
The bottom line: Strong performance, a great keyboard and long battery life (for a gaming machine, anyway) make this worth considering.
Key specs: 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU, 8GB to 32GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage and up to three 128GB SSDs, up to a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M GPU, 17.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,500 and up from MSI

ASUS G750

If you're looking for a Haswell-powered gaming notebook, we'd advise you not to count out ASUS and its Republic of Gamers line. Its refreshed 17-inch G750 laptop, available in three configurations, packs a 2.4GHz quad-core processor similar to what you'll find on competing models, like the MSI GT70 detailed above. For the money, though, it starts with more RAM, and has a lovely design defined by brushed-metal surfaces. Additionally, ASUS has added an amplifier inside the headphone socket, so you should expect better in-game audio with this generation.
The bottom line: ASUS' 17-inch gaming machine is back with a new processor, fresh graphics and improved audio quality -- something the notebook wasn't known for in previous generations.
Key specs: 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4700HQ CPU, 12GB to 32GB of RAM, up to 1TB of internal storage with an optional 256GB SSD, up to a 4GB NVIDIA GTX 780M GPU, 17.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080) display.
Price: $1,283 and up from Amazon

ReVo IX

Guwahati teen develops computer system that uses microchip instead of hard disk

Indian school boy builds a computer without a hard disk.
Guwahati schoolboy Afreed Islam has developed a prototype of a computer system that uses a microchip, embedded with an operating system, which allows dependencies on both Windows and Linux-based software simultaneously.


Afreed a student of Little Flower School, Hatigaon, has named his invention Revo Book. He says that the microchip replaced both mechanical and electronic hard disk drives that also doubles as a storage unit and therefore does not run the risk of data loss or system crash.

He has also developed an operating system called ReVo IX which he has installed on the microchip. He stated that his system comes with an integrated firewall, and works as a complete independent operating system. He added that he has applied for a patent for the OS.

“A hard disk drive always runs the risk of data loss as it has moving parts which may crash due to shock and also when brought in a strong magnetic field. However, the microchip has no moving parts and is also not influenced by magnetic field, therefore there is little risk of data loss of the microchip-run computing system invented by Afreed,” explained Anupam Barman, Senior Systems Consultant at the Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited, who was also present at the launch of Afreed’s invention.

“The idea to develop the system came to my mind first when I was studying in Class VII and encountered some problems while operating the computers which my parents had bought for me,” said Afreed. Afreed has partnered with a German company for manufacturing the computer system.

Recently 15 year old, Angad Daryani who calls himself a 'maker,' has built a low cost 3D printer called 'Sharkbot'. The printer is based on his own versions of the open-source RepRap 3D printer. Daryani plans to begin marketing his Shark-Bot range of printers at a price as low as Rs 20,000 in the next 2 months in India.

Windows app templates

Templates in Window App :

1. Create an empty app, which allows you to build an app from scratch by adding Sections and Data Sources and configuring its content and style using your own creativity.
2. Create an app from a template, which allows you to start with a previously generated app as a guide. Use a pre-configured app setup with your own customized content and layout, and you can also add new Sections and Data Sources. Click on a template tile in order to display more information about that app’s layout and purpose as well as screenshots.
Once you have selected the type of app you want, insert a name, add a description, and select an icon. The icon must be in .png format and measure 160 x 160 px. Now it’s time to add Application Sections and Data Sources.

What is a Data Source?

 

A Data Source is what you want to be displayed in your app – YouTube videos from your favorite channel, your store’s inventory, images from your Flickr account, etc. Data Sources are displayed in your app through Sections. Every Section you create must be connected to a Data Source, and multiple Sections can be connected to a single Data Source. When you create a new Section, you will be given the option to use an existing Data Source (if one exists) or to add a new one. You can edit your Data Sources by clicking on the name of the source you’d like to change.

What are the different Data Sources?

 
RSS – A list of sets of information based on an RSS feed that you enter when creating the data source.
Youtube – A list of videos with titles and descriptions based on a YouTube channel or search that you enter when creating the data source.
Flickr – A list of images and their corresponding data based on a Flickr UserId or search that you enter when creating the data source.
Bing – A list of news search results based on a Bing search that you enter when creating the data source.
Html – A single page of static text that you enter.
Collection – A list of items with columns of characteristics. This is your personal data that does not depend on a website.

What can I do with a Collection?

 

A Collection is the Data Source that allows you to upload data that does not depend on a website – store inventory, contact info, daily diet, favorite musicians, etc. Before entering any data in a Collection, you can edit the possible columns of data. Add a column for every bit of information you want to display for each item and select what type of data it is. There are many types of information you can add: Address, Album Name, Artist Name, Image, Int, E-Mail, Phone Number, Song Name, and String. Changing the data type for each piece of information is important because it allows you to include a variety of additional actions in your app. Your data can be static or dynamic.

Static Resources vs. App Studio Data Services

For Collections, there are two data storage options: Static Resources and App Studio Data Services.
Static Resources means the data will remain constant and does not depend on an internet connection. If you change the data in App Studio, your app will not automatically update.
App Studio Data Services means the data is stored in App Studio and depends on an internet connection. If you update your data in App Studio, your app will automatically update. This allows you to create live apps that don’t need to be updated when you want to change data.

What is an Application Section?

 
Application Sections are the pages of your app. You can add up to 6 distinct Application Sections to your app. There are two types: Sections and Menus.
A Section is a group of pages that are connected to one Data Source. All Sections have a main page that shows your data on a high level and can also have additional pages with more detailed data. Your detail pages act as a pivot and will thus display side-by-side once you click on an individual item on your main page. For example, the main page of your Starters Section shows an image with the name of the dish. Click on a dish, and you can see the image enlarged and with a description below. Swipe to the right to see the price or the recipe…whatever you want to show! This is very useful, especially when there is more information about an individual item than what can optimally fit on a single page.
A Menu is an individual page that contains a list of items that can be either Sections or Actions. Section Items link you to a new Section in the app. Action Items let you link to an external website or complete a variety of different actions (link to What are the different actions). You can also create a custom Action Item. Each Section listed in the Menu can be connected to a different Data Source. Menus let you show more information because they can have multiple Sections, so they are very useful when you want to show more information than what can fit in 6 Sections.

Panorama Control

Navigation in Windows Phone 8 apps starts with a Panorama. A Panorama is a list of sections the user will see when he or she opens the app. Everything an app can have can be displayed in a different section.

What does "Bind to data" mean?

When you start editing a page in your app, you’ll see a bind to data icon () next to each Content item. Binding means you connect part of a Data Source to a certain area of a page. You can see the options that are available for each Content section by clicking on the binding icon and hovering over Data.

What does "Add an Action" mean?

When you start editing a detail page that depends on a Collection with certain data types, you’ll see a small add an action lightning bolt icon () for each Content item. An action is something that will occur on your phone when you click on that piece of information in your app – call a number, send an email, etc. There are a variety of possible actions, but keep in mind that only the actions that correspond to the types of data in your Collection will appear.

What are the different Actions?

 
Call Phone: Call the number (data type phone) that you entered for that item.
Email: Send an email to the email address (data type email) you entered for that item.
Nokia Music - Play Artist Mix: Play a music mix in Nokia Music for the artist (data type artist) you entered for that item.
Nokia Music - Artist: Display the Nokia Music singer information for the artist (data type artist) you entered for that item.
Nokia Music - Search: Search in Nokia Music for the artist (data type artist) or album (data type album) you entered for that item.
HERE Maps - Directions: Open a map to show directions from your current location to the address (data type address) you entered for that item.
HERE Maps - Address: Open a map that shows the location (data type address) that you entered for that item.

Configuring Application Sections

Add a new Section or Menu by clicking on the plus sign () near Application Sections. Then you can edit an Application Section by clicking on its name. For a Section, you will see its corresponding Data Source and Section Pages. Edit the parts of a Section by clicking on the pencil next to its name. For a Menu, you will see its Menu Page and Menu Items that can each be expanded. To edit Menu Items, you must first click on the pencil next to the Menu name and then click on the pencil next to the item you want to edit. When you edit a Section, you can change the content through binding and add actions. You can also change the layout that determines the available content fields and add Extras to the application bar, like share, text to speech and pin to start.

What are Style, Tiles and Splash?

 
Style: Change the colors of your text, background, foreground and application bar or select an image for your background.
Tiles: A Tile is an image that represents your app and acts as a shortcut on the Start screen of your device. All apps have a default Tile to be displayed (the smallest icon). You can also add a few more tiles:
Cycle template: This Tile cycles through a slideshow of up to 9 images from the Collection that you indicate.
Flip template: This Tile has a “front” and a “back” and constantly flips between the two.
Iconic template: This Tile is static and constantly displays the data you input.
Splash & Lock: Upload the background image that will appear on the splash screen and the lock screen.

Getting the app done

How do I get my app on my device?

First you must install the Windows Phone App Studio certificate on your device. Press the magnifying glass () at the bottom of your device to launch Bing search, and then press the eye icon () that appears at the bottom of the screen. Point the phone’s camera at the QR code that opens with the certificate link, and the phone will automatically scan it. Click “add” and the certificate is successfully installed once it returns to the original Install the certificate page.
Once your certificate is installed and your app is generated, follow the same instructions to scan the QR code. Accept the installation, and your app will now appear in your app list!

How do I publish my app?

In order to publish your app, you must be registered at Dev Center! Follow the instructions here to register.
To give your apps the best chance of passing certification, remember the following:

1. You need to create your own unique 300x300 PNG tile to represent your app.
2. Create at least 1 (and up to 8) 768x1280 or 1280x768 PNG screenshot(s). Only use in-app content, do not stretch the image, and make sure your screenshot does not show the off screen edges of the phone. There are various ways you can take your screenshots:
   • Use the screenshot capture function on any Windows Phone by pressing the power button + start button
   • Use the screenshot tool in the Windows Phone emulator in the Windows Phone SDK
   • Use the screenshot capture tool in the Nokia Remote Device Access tool
   For more detailed instructions, go here.
3. Make sure you use your own unique app title, app Logo, Pin to start tile, and long description.
4. Do not use the template placeholder text ([insert name here]) or template app content.

Check out this website for the rest of the publishing steps!

Multilingual Support

When you create an app, you can easily change the default language that will be displayed in the Windows Store in the first "App Information" step. In order to add additional languages to your Windows Phone application, you need to download the source code for the application and edit it using Visual Studio.

The initial resource file you use to capture UI strings that are being localized is called AppResources.resx and is located in the app’s Resources folder of your project.

On the project’s Properties page in the Supported Culture box, select the language(s) you would like your app to support. Visual Studio will create a new resource file for each supported language that is an exact copy of the default language resource file (AppResources.resx). It will automatically rename it using the culture’s locale code, such as AppResources.en-US.resx.

Replace the default language values in each supported language resource file with translated values, and you are done!

How do I enable ads on my app?

In order to enable advertisements in your Windows Phone application, you need to do the following:

• Install the tools - Install Visual Studio, and install the latest version of the Windows Phone SDK
• Obtain an AdUnitId and ApplicationId keys - Register your app at the Pubcenter site with your Microsoft Account, create a Windows Phone 8 app (ApplicationId), and create an AdUnitID
• Update the App Studio code
  • Download the App Studio source code for the application by clicking “Download Source Code” after you’ve generated your app.
  • Open the XAML code and find the AdControl line in the file View/YourFirstPage.xaml. The code is commented, so if you want to use it, you need to uncomment it.
  • Replace the AdUnitID and ApplicationID in the code - In the AdControl XAML, there have two important properties: AdUnitId and ApplicationId. The current values of these two properties are intended for demo purposes only. Before publishing your App to the Windows Phone Store you need to replace these two values with the values you obtained through PubCenter.
    
    < ads grid.row="1" height="80" width="480" isautocollapseenabled="True" isautorefreshenabled="True" adunitid="Image480_80" applicationid="test_client" />