Leaving the Microsoft Ecosystem (Preview)

Inspired by this post from Brad Sams on Thurrott.com.

Shuttering the Microsoft Band/Health platform may be just the spur I need to exit the Windows ecosystem entirely, as I have been slowly leaving Windows behind. I've left the Lumia ICON on Verizon for a Nexus 6P on Project Fi and traded in my Surface for a Pixel C.

My Band has been refusing to charge, and neither Best Buy nor the nearest Microsoft Store have stock handy for a replacement. I've since bought a Fitbit Alta (and, later, a Charge 2) and resurrected an Asus ZenWatch for testing purposes.

The only remnants of Microsoft's ecosystem at this point are my desktop, personal laptop, and the few apps I still use on my phone.

Microsoft Reader Redux

Courtesy of MSPowerUser by way of Paul Thurrott.

Microsoft has released an internal build for Windows 10 Mobile that shows off a new store for e-books. MSPowerUser stated that Microsoft "started building in features related to the Books store late last year" when ePub support was built into the Edge browser. However, Microsoft has been working on this for quite some time. In fact, Tom Warren of The Verge reported in 2014 that Microsoft was attempting to build an 'Xbox Reader' app. Also, Microsoft invested in Barnes & Noble's Nook business in 2013 amid rumors that the software giant would eventually purchase it. Until the deal fell through. In any case, this is long overdue and may give me incentive to return to Microsoft's ecosystem full time. Adding a book store gives me another reason to look forward to the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Windows 10 Insider Preview,Windows 10,Creators Update,Barnes and Noble,E-Books,E-Reader,ePub,Microsoft Edge

Looking ahead for Windows 10

Microsoft released build 15002 to its Insiders today, and it's a doozy. Among the changes are several improvements to the Edge browser and the Windows shell. Feel free to read the blog entry linked above. Also check out PC World's in-depth article and Paul Thurrott's impressions.

I'm not going to lie. This build has me looking forward to the upcoming Creators Update in the spring.

Technorati Tags: Windows 10 Insider Preview,Windows Insider Program,Windows 10,Creators Update