Dark mode in Outlook mobile app

App users' favorite demand of dark mode has been made available in Outlook mobile app for Android and iOS. Dark mode has started rolling out since Aug. in Outlook for iOS and Android.
Dark mode provides added comfort when a bright screen may not be appropriate. It provides the users the choice and flexibility.

Adapting to work life flow, Outlook focuses its design on the context of where people want to use Dark Mode. When asked, people found the experience comfortable and aesthetically pleasing while keeping their email and calendar content crisp and clear. This way, Outlook helps you stay connected and organized so you can get things done wherever you are such as dimly lit living rooms, home offices or airplanes.

 (Dark Mode experiences on iOS : pic courtesy Microsoft Design)

This experience is in keeping with other modern apps that aim to ease viewing and reduce eye strain and to help optimize battery life. Once iOS and Android devices support dark themes, Outlook plans to automatically switch to Dark Mode based on their device settings in addition to Outlook in-app options. One can switch to dark mode from Apps settings.

Microsoft Press free ebook : Creating Mobile Apps with Xamarin.Forms

The third and final version of the Microsoft Press ebook -

Creating Mobile Apps with Xamarin.Forms: Cross-platform C# programming for iOS, Android, and Windows by the legendary author Charles Petzold is now available for download.

Download PDF  (~56 MB PDF)

EPUB and MOBI versions will be made available in the future.

This is the third version of the ebook about writing applications with Xamarin.Forms, the mobile development platform for iOS, Android, and Windows unveiled by Xamarin in May 2014. (The first two versions of this book were Preview Editions.) The two previous versions of this book were called Preview Editions because they were not complete. At 1200 pages, this is the first edition that can claim to be complete, even though several topics are not included and Xamarin.Forms continues to be progressively enhanced with no sign of slowing down.

This book is for C# programmers who want to write applications using a single code base that targets the three most popular mobile platforms: iOS, Android, and Windows, encompassing the Universal Windows Platform and Windows Phone.
Xamarin.Forms also has applicability for those programmers who eventually want to use C# and the Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android libraries to target the native application programming interfaces (APIs) of these platforms. Xamarin.Forms can be a big help in getting programmers started with these platforms or in constructing a prototype or proof-of-concept application.
This book assumes that you know C# and are familiar with the use of the .NET Framework.

(Source)

Microsoft Universal Mobile keyboard- switch between iPad, Android and Windows devices

Microsoft has introduced Universal Mobile keyboard for your tablets and Smartphones. And you can be on any OS, be it your iPad, iPhone, Android device or your Windows tablet, you can easily switch between them with a flick of a switch! Pair with up to 3 devices with different operating systems and easily switch between them.

“The compact and light weight design of the Universal Mobile Keyboard was built with portability in mind with its protective cover and built-in stand that holds your tablet or smartphone. Just flip the cover open to power-up and make a Bluetooth connection, then set your device into the integrated stand—you'll be typing in seconds. Shutting down is just as fast. Simply close the cover to turn off the keyboard—it's that easy. The rechargeable battery provides up to 6 months of usage on a single charge. But if you're ever low on power when you're heading out, don't worry—just do a 10 minute quick charge and you'll have plenty of power for a full day's work. “

There is no dedicated Windows specific key but dedicated keys for Android and a CMD for Apple users. So people can use shortcuts found in respective OS.

Check the demo video:

Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard

For more details please check here.

Gmail App for iOS updated

Gmail has updated its controversial Gmail App for iOS. These are the updates -

 

You can set a custom signature for your mobile messages and a vacation responder, both available through the gear icon at the top of the menu view.

Also you can now open up a canvas and scribble a message that will be attached to your email. iPad users can give it a try.

Another update is about change of the notification sound that it’s easier to distinguish when you've received an email.BUT I haven’t heard any Sound Notifications when a new mail arrives. Checked in General Settings also still the problem persists. Gmail Please look into it.

UPDATE 16/12/11 : Since morning I can hear the ‘Ding’ when a new Mail arrives. Seems it has been corrected.