Apps and Services | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:09:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Apps and Services | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Microsoft set to buy SwiftKey for around $250 million https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/microsoft-set-to-buy-swiftkey-for-around-250-million/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/microsoft-set-to-buy-swiftkey-for-around-250-million/#respond Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:09:25 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=282753 SwiftKey, one of the most popular third-party keyboard apps for both Android and iOS smartphones, is set to be acquired by Microsoft the company has confirmed. Reports currently put the buyout figure at around $250 million, this acquisition would also mean that future Windows smartphones could come with SwiftKey pre-installed. While acquiring the app itself …

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SwiftKey, one of the most popular third-party keyboard apps for both Android and iOS smartphones, is set to be acquired by Microsoft the company has confirmed. Reports currently put the buyout figure at around $250 million, this acquisition would also mean that future Windows smartphones could come with SwiftKey pre-installed.

While acquiring the app itself is a big part of this deal, there is more to it than that as the SwiftKey team will be transferring over to Microsoft's research team in order to develop future technologies.

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Microsoft has been focussing on pushing its apps and services onto other platforms like iOS and Android over the last year and this seems to be the latest example of that. Right now, while the acquisition has been confirmed, we don't have confirmation on how much Microsoft paid for SwiftKey. However, a report from The Financial Times suggests that it went for $250 million.

KitGuru Says: I've been a SwiftKey user for a few years now myself. From the sounds of it, Microsoft is more interested in the team behind the app rather than the app itself. Do any of you use SwiftKey? 

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Microsoft is making its own Android launcher https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/microsoft-is-making-its-own-android-launcher/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/microsoft-is-making-its-own-android-launcher/#respond Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:14:14 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=261162 Microsoft has opened up to working with Android over the last year or two. The company is all set to bring Cortana to Android when Windows 10 launches and now it is working on its own Android Launcher, which could end up being its most significant step in to Android so far. The launcher is …

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Microsoft has opened up to working with Android over the last year or two. The company is all set to bring Cortana to Android when Windows 10 launches and now it is working on its own Android Launcher, which could end up being its most significant step in to Android so far.

The launcher is currently known as the ‘Arrow Launcher' and it is in closed beta right now. In order to actually use it right now, you would need to request an invite for the Google+ community. The launcher includes three main pages, one for ‘people' like your contacts and phone number, a main home page, which is where you will find apps.

arrowlauncherpages

Apps on the main home page will be split in to recently installed and frequently used. Finally, there is a notes and reminders page, which will allow you to quickly set up reminders for later and take notes on the fly. Then at the bottom of each page will be a dock for you to place apps on, which is pretty standard in Android launchers.

It seems Microsoft's aim is to keep things simple, keeping a look similar to stock Android along with some useful features- the quick access to notes is a pretty nice touch.

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KitGuru Says: Microsoft failed to really steal market share away from Android and iOS with Windows Phone, so now the company is taking the fight to their doorstep with apps and services of its own for each platform. Do any of you currently use an Android Launcher? I tend to stick to the Nova launcher whenever I'm on Android.

Via: Microsoft News

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