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De-crapping the Windows Store, take two

Last August, Microsoft announced efforts to remove misleading and deceptive applications from the Windows Store. Apps needed to have clear names and proper categorization, plus they couldn’t use misleading icons.Less than a year later, Microsoft has announced a new effort to remove misleading and deceptive applications from the Windows Store. While this new decrapification process isn’t identical to the old one, it nonetheless feels very similar.

Read on, source: De-crapping the Windows Store, take two | Ars Technica

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Android M makes another attempt at automated device backups

We’ve got the Android M preview installed on some devices already, and we’re beginning to dig down past the major improvements that Google announced on stage earlier today. One of these is an improvement to Android’s backup system—if you choose to back up your device with a Google account, apps that target Android M and newer will have all of their data and settings backed up by default. That data can then be downloaded and restored to your phone if you get a new one or need to wipe it for some reason.

Read on, source: Android M makes another attempt at automated device backups | Ars Technica

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Try to contain your joy: Microsoft emits Windows Server 2016 with nano-services

Ignite 2015 Microsoft has shipped the second Technical Preview of what it’s now officially calling Windows Server 2016 and has announced Azure Stack, a new offering that bundles up Redmond’s public cloud infrastructure into a version that can run in customers’ own data centers.The new Windows Server build was released to coincide with Redmond’s inaugural Ignite conference in Chicago this week, an event that combines the former TechEd with a variety of targeted events that Microsoft used to hold for various products throughout the year.

Read on, source: Try to contain your joy: Microsoft emits Windows Server 2016 with nano-services • The Register

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FACT: Windows 10 will gobble up Android apps … and iOS apps, too

Build 2015 Microsoft does plan to get Android code working with Windows 10 – so the rumors are true, sort of.But what the software giant actually has planned is more nuanced than just borrowing apps from the Google Play store, and it involves courting iOS developers, too.At the Build developer conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, Microsoft executive VP of operating systems Terry Myerson outlined an ambitious plan to fill out the anemic Windows Store with new apps, and it involves reusing code from as many sources as possible.Note we said “reusing,” not “running.” This isn’t a strict Android-compatibility play like BlackBerry tried with its latest OS. Microsoft will get developers most of the way by allowing them to repurpose the Java and C++ code from their Android apps, but also wants them to tailor the apps to take advantage of what Windows has to offer.

Read on, source: FACT: Windows 10 will gobble up Android apps … and iOS apps, too • The Register