Microsoft just released a number of huge announcements yesterday, with one of the biggest being Windows 10. As earlier reports have indicated, Windows 10 will be one platform usable across all Windows devices included desktops, notebook computers, tablets and Windows Phones. Notable features include universal apps that look uniform on all devices, which will include Microsoft Office and photo app with more apps coming soon. Cortana will be available across the board and notifications that you clear in one device will be cleared in other devices. Project Spartan will replace Internet Explorer (finally). DirectX 12 will also make an impact with even better gaming graphics and possibly the ability to game from the Xbox to a laptop or desktop PC. The most important factor will be that the upgrade is free for Windows 7 users and above and all Windows Phone users. No news yet on a possible Malaysia release date but the first Windows 10 release for phones could be coming as soon as February 2015. Check out the videos in this article for yourself.

Microsoft has officially launched their new unofficial selfie smartphone for the masses, the Lumia 535. The most notable features of this smartphone include a 5MP wide-angle front camera, 5MP rear camera with LED flash and 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for just RM429. The version coming to Malaysia supports dual SIM and will pack in Windows Phone 8.1 with the latest Lumia Denim update right out of the box. It will be available next week in black, cyan, orange and white. In addition, units bought in December 2014 will also come with a free bundle worth RM99 which includes a 2200 mAh power bank, 16GB memory card, screen protector, keychain and notepad. Trying out the Lumia 535 first hand, the smartphone is quite thin and light with the usual polycarbonate backside and it certainly looks better than the rather chunky Lumia 530. Other tech specs and hands-on photos of the Lumia 535 are listed below:

• 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 8GB storage + 15GB OneDrive + up to 128GB microSD
• 5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Sunlight Readability
• 5MP rear camera with LED flash + 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens
• 1905 mAh removable battery
• 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm | 146g
• Supports dual-SIM
• Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia Denim
• RM429

The Lumia 535 is the first Windows phone to carry the Microsoft branding and it looks like the same device is all set to hit the Malaysian market pretty soon. It was recently spotted at the SIRIM database, which means the phone is already certified for our local market. The Lumia 535 is the successor to the Lumia 530 budget smartphone. It brings a lot of new upgrades, but retains some features from the earlier generation. For example, the processor remains the same as before with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor. However, Microsoft has increased the RAM capacity from 512MB to 1GB while the internal storage has also been upgraded from 4GB to 8GB. On the front, there is a 5-inch 960 x 540 pixel resolution IPS panel. At the rear, there is a 5MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash. The front camera now features a 5MP wide angle sensor, which should click better selfies than before. Microsoft has also improved the onboard battery to a 1905 mAh capacity one along with dual SIM card slots. Although Microsoft Malaysia has not yet announced any details for Malaysia release or pricing, we expect it to retail around RM400 with a possible Malaysia release date on 4 December 2015.

Microsoft is really offering an interesting smartphone with the official announcement of the Microsoft Lumia 535. The most notable features of the smartphone include a 5MP front camera, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, 5-inch display and an affordable price tag. In one move, it seems like they've shot down several of their own previous Lumia smartphones such as the Lumia 530 and Lumia 730 / Lumia 735. Other tech specs include a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, 5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens, 1905 mAh battery and coming with Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia Denim. It is also thin and lightweight at 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm and 146g with a dual-SIM version as well. Available in black, bright green, bright orange, cyan, dark grey and white, the Lumia 535 is set for €110 (RM456). No Malaysia release dates or pricing yet, but we expect it to be soon, if not this month then the next. In the meantime check out the video in this article.

Microsoft may be coming out with a new Lumia smartphone on 11 November 2014, as they have released a teaser image of a smartphone and the date "11.11.2014". From the shape of the curve, it seems likely that this new Lumia would be the Lumia 535 with one major feature being a front-facing camera (the Lumia 530 doesn't have one). Other tech specs could also include a larger 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution, 1GB RAM, a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front camera and 1900 mAh battery. The added features will likely mean an increase in price from the RM355 the Lumia 530 is currently retailing at, perhaps at RM399? No news about any Malaysia release dates just yet but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we find out.

The first Lumia smartphone to use Microsoft branding has appeared at China's TENAA as the Lumia RM-1090. While this is definitely not the expected replacement for the Lumia 1020, it could be something for the midrange as it features a rear camera with LED flash and a 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution. Other tech specs includes a 1900 mAh battery, 140.2 x 72.4 x 9.3mm measurements and support for dual-SIM slots and 3G with HSPA connectivity. The shots reveal a polycarbonate backside with rounded corners and we're guessing it could be a step below the Lumia 730.

While they were previously known as Nokia Lumia smartphones, Microsoft has officially confirmed that they will be dropping the Nokia branding from Lumia smartphones in the future. Windows Phone will also get dropped. Instead, Microsoft will be using their own branding so your next Lumia will be called the Microsoft Lumia smartphone. This applies to all Lumia smartphones for now, but not the older Nokia featurephones. Older Nokia Lumia users don't need to worry though as there are no changes in terms of support, tech specs, performance or features just yet. Nokia may be looking to resurrect the brand name elsewhere but for now Microsoft Lumia smartphones are here to stay.

We said it would happen and it has as Microsoft recently acquired Nokia for $7.17 billion (RM23.6 billion). The deal covers Nokia's Devices and Services along with the right to license Nokia's various phone patents. According to Microsoft, they will get the cash from overseas resources and close the deal by Q1 of 2014. Nokia are getting something out of it as well as Stephan Elop, Nokia CEO will get to lead the Microsoft Devices team where the rest of Nokia's employees will join him. The current head, Julie Larson-Green will focus instead on the Xbox and Surface devices. While this could result in a Microsoft Nokia Lumia Windows Phone, Microsoft have said that they will be keeping things short, so you can probably expect Microsoft Lumias and Ashas to hit the shelves soon. With Steve Balmer's impending retirement on the horizon, Stephan Elop looks like the most promising candidate for next head of Microsoft but it also means that he needs to step up Microsoft's new phone business, which looks more and more difficult with Nokia's resulting drop in share price. So far no news on when we'll all be using Microsoft Asha or Lumia phones but expect things to start shaking up here in Malaysia as these two gigantic companies shift gears. Microsoft will still support other Windows Phone partners like HTC and Samsung.