Windows & Windows Phone stores now comprises over 560,000 apps!

Microsoft has just updated its official combied number of Modern apps that are currently available in its Windows & Windows Phone stores to a whooping number of 560,000 apps.

Last updated, Microsoft said the store contained 527,000 apps from both stores last year.
Its a good news for Windows and Windows Phone fans and users out there. The updated stats comes even as Microsoft gets ready to move all of its Modern apps to one app store for the launch of Windows 10 later in 2015 .

Source : Microsoft

Microsoft prepares to preview Windows 10 for phones

A good news for all the Windows Phone users and fans ! Microsoft seems to be preparing to preview its latest version of Windows Phone later this month. The software giant released a "Phone Insider" app this week ahead of January 21st press event where Microsoft will be revealing its plans for Windows 10 across phones and tablets. 

According to sources, the company will also be talking about a number of features aimed at Windows 10 for phones, including some user interface changes designed to more closely align its mobile operating system with its desktop platform and Xbox One console.

Microsoft also seems to be making changes to Windows 10 on the desktop to include light and dark themes that would match the phone and tablet editions. As it is currently being called as Windows Mobile and Windows 10 mobile internally at Microsoft, the next big mobile OS will include a combination of the Windows Phone and Windows RT operating systems. Microsoft has already started making universal apps for Windows and Windows Phone platforms.

While the company will reveal its developer and app plans further at the Build event held on 21st January, the event will be more focused on the consumer features of both the desktop and phone/ tablet operating system.
Microsoft is also expected to introduce a new name for its combined Windows RT and Windows Phone OS at the event.

The recently released "Phone Insider" app provides similar access to the Windows 10 insider program for desktop. Microsoft will be discussing more about this app on 21st January event, however the app currently only works for Microsoft employees at present.

One thing is for sure, Microsoft's 21st January event will be full of suspense and excitement for both developers and the consumers and all those who will be watching the event live that day. The Verge will be live from Microsoft's press event next week,  so stay tuned for more details on both "The Verge" and your very own "Windows Avenue" blog post. 

Windows 7 mainstream support ends this Tuesday and patches will continue until 2020

Its finally and end of the first phase of support for Windows 7 as Microsoft's self-declared deadline to offer mainstream support for the OS ends on Thuesday the 13th of January. However, the company has declared that it will offer extended support for Windows 7 for another 5 years, until January14 , 2020.

This means that Microsoft won't be making any more changes to Windows 7 in terms of its design or features. It also won't provide complementary phone or online support anymore. SO what does this mean for over 50 percent of PC users worldwide who still have Windows 7 installed?

A year ago, Microsoft had ended all official support for Windows XP, but the OS which launched in 2001 is still used by a large fraction of PC users world wide. However, its a fact that still , Windows 8 and 8.1 have so far not claimed a large amount of market share. Hence, Microsoft clearly would like for Windows 10,  which is due for launch this year, to be more successful. Hopefully, it seems likely that many Windows 7 users will bypass Windows 8 and 8.1 entirely and move onto Windows 10. 

Fingers crossed !

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft responds to Google for publishing Windows 8.1 vulnerability before being fixed

Microsoft has Hit back at Google for making Windows 8.1 vulnerability issues public. Chriz Betz who heads the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), published a new blog post on Tech Net where he talks about security and how tech companies shall work together to protect consumers against threats from exploits in software in a better way, something the company feels Google disregarded .

The blog talks more on preventing the full public disclosure of security vulnerabilities in software, which Microsoft believes is to be best kept under wraps.

Betz also stated that Microsoft requested Google to avoid releasing said details before January 13.

The blog concludes by re confirming that software is by no means perfect. It is made by humans after all . Here's hoping the giants behind our favourite devices band together to keep everyone safe from attacks and cyber crime.