Microsoft’s Arrow project is now official and it’s called the Microsoft Launcher. This is an Android Launcher, basically, a skin that runs on top of your phone’s Android software, just like HTC’s Sense or Samsung’s custom UX.
The Microsoft Launcher, however, is ALL about Windows and getting more Windows-related stuff up and running on peoples’ Android phones. Bing sits at the center of the device, replacing Google, and is joined by a host of additional Microsoft services.
For instance, the Microsoft Launcher will pull daily wallpapers from Bing for a constantly updating wallpaper on your device. Interested in searching online, yep, Bing’s got your back.
Microsoft has also customised the software to include things like folders, which look very similar to iOS’s implementation, and has also changed the look and feel of the icons throughout.
I think it looks pretty smart, if I’m honest, though I definitely would not swap out Google for Bing, especially on an Android phone. Why would you? It makes no sense. I mean, I guess it might if where you work is Microsoft-focused, but most places have moved past that now.
Where things get a little more interesting, however, is Microsoft Launcher’s ability to communicate and share things with your PC. It works a little like Apple’s Handoff, just between Android phone and PC.
You can look at and augment OneDrive documents or Outlook emails on your Android phone, for instance, and then pick them up on your PC. This is a pretty nifty trick for an Android phone, so hats off to Microsoft for thinking outside the box on this one.
The Microsoft Launcher is currently in beta at present, though a gold standard release is expected very soon. In other Microsoft-related news, the company’s Edge browser is now available for Android too.
by rgoodwin via Featured Articles
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