Microsoft Mathematics : Software for Algebra, Calculus and Graphing

Scientific calculators and graphing calculators are good, but when it comes to PC, there are not that good easy to use programs that are both free and high quality.

There are some awesome software, such as Mathematica and Maple, but they are overkill overkill for high school student or even college ones, plus they require systematic study of those programs first. This is where Microsoft Mathematics comes in handy!

Microsoft Mathematics, used to be a paid software when there was Encarta ruled the reference world! When Microsoft decided to discontinue the Encarta series, the fate of Microsoft Mathematics was not clear, but in 2011, Microsoft, released Microsoft Mathematics 4.0 for free.

StoreDot Develops Super Quick Recharge Battery

We all know how difficult it get sometimes to go out and out phone's battery is 'dead', and to charge it, it would take hours - that is the story of Lithium-ion batteries.

Now, StoreDot has developed and demonstrated new kind of battery made out of bio-organic materials, that can charge in seconds.

StoreDot demonstrated this battery in Microsoft's Think Next symposium held in Tel Aviv, Israel. The battery was used in Samsung Galaxy S3, and from 27% battery to 100%, it took only just 26 seconds to charge.

For now the technology is limited and not to expect this battery in your next smartphone, but this tech has much potential. StoreDot says that manufacturing the components (nanocrystals) for the battery is fast and inexpensive. 

Check the video below.

 

Source: Neowin, Image: StoreDot

Microsoft Adds New Criteria For Adware–Effective from 1st of July, 2014

Microsoft Malware Protection Center is making changes to classify a program as adware. Advertising as become the central source of income even in the tech field, so MMPC is making new criteria to identify them.

The programs that do not follow the new rules will be detected as adware and will be removed from the system immediately.

Here is the new criteria that MMPC is putting forward.

The advertisements that are opened by these programs must:

• Include an obvious way to close the ad.
• Include the name of the program that created the ad.

The program that creates these advertisements must:

• Provide a standard uninstall method for the program using the same name as shown in the ads it produces.

MMPC's new adware policy will come into effect on July 1, 2014, this will gives developers three months to make necessary adjustment their products.

Source: Microsoft MMPC blog

Warm Water Discovered on Saturn's Moon Enceladus

Few days ago, scientists announced that they have discovered water reserve in one of Saturn's moons. Enceladus is just 300 miles in diameter and 5th largest moon of Saturn.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft, with close flybys captured the geysers and its locations. Not only just water, it also detects carbon based organic molecules - which can be a building blocks for life as we know it.

Bing Knowledge Widget - Brings The Power Of The Internet to Your Website

Bing has been engaged in a hard battle with Google over the "Search Ownership" for the internet, and Bing has been releasing some original ideas into the wild and catching up quickly with Google. But so many features are there, but when it comes to search results, Google's are the most relevant, some say in US, the Bing results are comparable to Google's.

Reversible USB Cables - The Hassle Will be Over

It is always hassle when it comes to plug in the USB devices, 99 per cent time you always try to connect in the wrong direction and then plug it right.

Apple engineered this issue by introducing the Lightning Cable for their iPhones and iPads - you can plug the cable whichever direction you want (up or down), isn't that handy?

USB, being universal connector for every single electronic device, now going to support this reversible feature, as part of USB 3.1 Type-C standard, the new connector will be small, reversible and faster.

The final design and specifications are yet to be finalized in the middle of 2014. New Type-C connector will not be compatible with current USB connectors and cables, as new one is designed for "future performance".

Source: arstechnica, techcrunch

Windows Phone 8.1 is Here - Meet Cortana!

This year's //build conference Microsoft has revealed lot of cool stuffs - Windows 8.1 Update that is optimized for keyboard and mouse, Start menu in future Windows and also long awaited Windows Phone 8.1

Even though it is called Windows Phone 8.1, the feature list is much bigger and many useful new features been added - few of them are, Notification Center, Wi-Fi Sense, Battery Saver, Home Screen Wallpaper and so on, but there is this one feature that beats them all - Cortana, voice activated personal assistant.

Cortana is powered by Microsoft's Bing and it has feature set that spans beyond that of Siri and Google Now. Like Siri or Google Now, Cortana can set alarms, add reminders, open music and search for various stuffs on the Internet, but she also can do some extra gimmicks such as opening apps with specific query, personalized reminders for particular time and person.

 

Cortana is also a learning assistant, as you use the phone, she will learn your styles, queries and so on, even she comes with personal notebook where you can manually specify or teach Cortana about you and your needs.

Cortana is being released as beta product, but as far as she performs, she can compete with Siri and Google Now.

Windows Phone 8.1 will be released for general customers in next few months.

Images: The Verge

Source: Gizmodo, The Verge