As Apple acquires Shazam to deepen music knowledge, Microsoft's Cortana loses ability to recognize songs

The shutdown of Microsoft's Groove Music service has eliminated music recognition capabilities in the software giant's Cortana personal assistant, giving Apple's Siri — and its tight integration with Shazam — a leg up on the competition.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 29

Apple's iTunes will not make promised year end debut on Microsoft Store

Earlier this year, Apple and Microsoft announced plans to release iTunes on the Windows Store, now called Microsoft Store, by the end of 2017. That timeline has been pushed back as Apple works to deliver an optimal user experience.

Mikey Campbell 8 years ago 9

'Intentional' event redirects cloud traffic from Apple, Google & others through Russia

Internet traffic coming into and out of Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and other companies was briefly redirected through a Russian provider on Wednesday, in what appears to have been a deliberate move.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 22

Apple, other companies pull Skype from Chinese app stores at request of government

Microsoft, Apple, and others have been forced by the Chinese government to withdraw the Skype app from app stores in the country — and at present there is no timetable for its return to availability.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 22

Skype for iOS borrows from Snapchat by adding machine learning-based photo filters

Microsoft has updated Skype for iOS to include new Snapchat-style filters in the iPhone and iPad messaging app, with the additional stickers and photo effects borrowing heavily from Sprinkles, an experimental iPhone camera app that relied on machine learning Microsoft released in April.

Malcolm Owen 8 years ago 3

Microsoft kills Kinect just as Apple dives into facial recognition with iPhone X Face ID

With days until the launch of the iPhone X and its Face ID camera array, Microsoft's own motion sensing and facial recognition system for Xbox, dubbed Kinect, has been officially discontinued after a long period of languish. AppleInsider explains how Apple and Microsoft's separate facial recognition technologies — one failed, one upcoming — both share common roots.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 39

Microsoft revamps Cortana app for iOS with new look, streamlined UI

Microsoft on Thursday updated its Cortana virtual assistant app for iOS, delivering a redesigned user interface that streamlines access to key features like reminders and daily calendars.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 10

As rumors of custom Apple MacBook CPUs persist, Microsoft teases ARM Windows laptops with multi-day battery life

Microsoft's ARM-powered laptop initiative could offer users exceptional battery life that could last for multiple days on a single charge, possibly paving the way for Apple to do the same with its more powerful A11 Bionic processor — should it so choose.

Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen 8 years ago 56

Microsoft reveals Surface Book 2 hybrid tablets, claims they're twice as powerful as Apple's MacBook Pro

Microsoft is continuing its attempts to compete against Apple's MacBook Pro and iPad Pro lines with an updated version of its tablet-notebook hybrid, with the Surface Book 2 boasting a new larger model and a USB-C port, alongside expected performance improvements.

Malcolm Owen 8 years ago 67

Microsoft pulls plug on Windows 10 Mobile, says userbase too small to support apps

Having long stuggled for marketshare versus the Apple iPhone and Google Android devices, Microsoft is effectively giving up on Windows 10 Mobile for the time being, a company executive said over the weekend.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 55

Microsoft brings Windows 10's Edge browser to Apple's iPhone in early preview form

Microsoft on Thursday launched a preview version of its Edge Web browser for the iPhone, intended to let Windows 10 users move more seamlessly between desktop and mobile.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 24

Microsoft partners including Samsung, Dell, Lenovo to launch slew of Windows VR headsets in coming weeks

In its push into the virtual and augmented reality market, which the company has branded as "mixed reality," Microsoft is leveraging its army of hardware partners, many of whom are releasing new virtual reality headsets over the next few weeks.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 14

Microsoft teases major Office for Mac updates, public version coming soon

Microsoft on Monday issued a number of so-called "Insider Fast" builds of Office 2016 for Mac to Office Insider beta testers, teasing a slate of upcoming features that should roll out to consumers in the coming weeks.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 34

Apple switches from Bing to Google as default search platform in Siri, iOS Search, and Mac's Spotlight

Apple is switching from Microsoft's Bing to Google as the default Web search provider for Siri, iOS Search, and Spotlight on the Mac, the company announced on Monday.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 49

Microsoft launches My Workspace Office 365 toolbar for Apple's macOS

Microsoft this week debuted a new tool for Office 365 users on the Mac, bringing quick access to apps, files and information to the macOS menu bar.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 8

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