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Microsoft appears to quietly close Windows 10 Mobile App Store

Soumyakanti — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 15:53:02 +0000

Microsoft has recently taken a significant step in phasing out its Windows 10 Mobile platform by quietly shutting down the core functionalities of its Microsoft Store app store on this platform. This closure signifies the end of an era for Windows 10 Mobile and the classic generation of Windows Phone systems. The Lumia 950 series was the first to feature Windows 10 back in 2015.

Windows 10 Mobile App Store’s homepage is apparently not accessible

Users have reported that the store’s homepage is no longer accessible, and the pages designated for app downloads and updates fail to load correctly. Additionally, the app details page is experiencing intermittent issues. This decline in functionality follows Microsoft’s decision in December 2019 to end support for all Windows 10 Mobile devices, a move paralleled by the closure of the Windows Phone 8.1 store in the same period.

Despite the termination of device support, the Microsoft Store app store remained operational for a time. Microsoft had assured users that while the operating system would not receive further updates, the app store would continue to function, leaving the app and software support to the discretion of developers and OEMs.

An important feature of Windows 10 Mobile is its support for sideloading, allowing users to install applications outside of the Microsoft Store. This capability remains a vital alternative for users, especially in the wake of the store’s malfunction. Intriguingly, some users have reported that the store resumes normal function upon installing the latest offline package, suggesting a potential workaround for accessing the store’s services.

Microsoft has shifted its primary focus away from mobile platforms and is now concentrating on AI and the PC market. There have been rumors suggesting that the company is actively working on the development of Windows 12. Recently, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made a significant statement, acknowledging that discontinuing Windows Phone was a mistake.

Despite the PC market being a lucrative area for Microsoft, the mobile device market is still expanding and evolving, especially with the emergence of new products like foldable devices. Many smartphone companies joined the market relatively late but have achieved success through perseverance. While Microsoft entered the smartphone arena somewhat belatedly, it was during the early days of smartphones, and thus, missed out on this opportunity.

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RIP Omegle! Popular video chat platform shuts down after 14 years

Soumyakanti — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:13:07 +0000

After a 14-year journey, Omegle, the popular platform for anonymous online chat, has officially ended its services. The founder, Leif K-Brooks, cited unsustainable financial and psychological pressures as the reasons behind the site’s closure. Omegle, which was launched in 2009, gained fame for connecting users randomly for one-on-one interactions without the need for registration, offering anonymity and a space for social exploration.

End of an Era: Omegle’s Closure Highlights Struggle Against Online Misuse

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Omegle experienced a significant increase in user engagement, serving as a vital social outlet for many isolated individuals. It provided various features, including text, voice, and video chats, as well as the option to filter connections based on shared interests. However, Omegle faced substantial challenges related to misuse, including reports of racism, sexism, pedophilia, and a rise in child sexual abuse and nudity on the platform.

To address these issues, Omegle implemented measures such as moderated chat rooms, collaborations with law enforcement, and raising the minimum age to 18. Nevertheless, the absence of a reliable age verification process often allowed abusive behavior to go unchecked, resulting in severe criticism and scrutiny.

Leif K-Brooks’ decision to close Omegle reflects the complex landscape where the management of such a platform and the battle against its misuse became overwhelming. Despite Omegle’s initial goal of promoting cultural exchanges and offering a space for unbiased advice and companionship, the darker aspects of its use became too challenging to handle. In his farewell message, K-Brooks acknowledged the meaningful connections and even marriages that Omegle facilitated. However, the site’s closure highlights the ongoing concerns about online safety and the responsibilities of digital platforms.

Omegle’s legacy is a mix of positive social connections overshadowed by the harsh realities of online abuse. As the industry moves forward, the void left by Omegle’s departure and the ongoing need for safe online communication spaces remain critical issues for future digital platforms to address.

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Fortnite officially exits China, as Beijing tightens restrictions around game makers

Sean — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:26:17 +0000

Earlier this month, we had reported on Fortnite shutting down its servers for its mobile port in China. Now, it seems the decision is official as the company behind the title failed to win approval in the region.

For those unaware, Fortnite’s mobile version had launched in China in a testing build. However, this testing version had been available in the country for three years, as the game never fully launched in the region. This was due to the game requiring government approvals to launch or sell copies/virtual items in China. The licensing process to get this approval has become increasingly more difficult with each passing year.

Starting from 1st November 2021, no new user was able to sign up or download the popular battle royale game and as of November 15, the servers of the game have been officially shut down. While the official reason was never revealed, it is likely due to the aforementioned strict rules and regulations. The news also arrives as China tightens restrictions around game makers.

The local government had recently introduced a new regulation that restricted gaming hours for children below the age of 18 that are now only allowed to play video games three hours per week. Furthermore, the games that do end up launching in the region also have to undergo several changes to fit the strict standards set by the government.

Fortnite is officially shutting down in China on November 15

Sean — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 07:32:42 +0000

The developers of Fortnite, Epic Games, have officially announced that it will be shutting down its popular battle royale title in China. The publisher revealed this news on its official website in China and stated that it is ending the “test” version of the game in the region this month.

According to the official post, no new user will be able to sign up or download the massively popular battle royale game as of 1st of November 2021. Furthermore, Epic Games will be completely shutting down its servers in the region on November 15. In this post, the studio also thanked its players for “boarding the bus” and participating in the game. Unfortunately, Epic Games did not offer any specific reason as to why it has decided to pull out the mobile port of one of the most popular multiplayer game currently in the market.

Although, it might have to do with the various restrictions it had faced in China. For those unaware, China had recently introduced a new regulation that restricted gaming hours for children below the age of 18 that are now only allowed to play video games three hours per week. Notably, the games that have launched in China have to undergo several changes to comply with local standards.

This holds especially true for battle royale entries that have to remove any form of blood while also ensuring that the BR game is portrayed as a military training simulator rather than a last man standing game. Despite being a major franchise, Fortnite was never really that popular in China to begin with. While the PC version had dominated PUBG PC, PUBG Mobile has been more successful in the handheld gaming segments. Till date, the game in China was missing many features and updates, including in app purchases and certain DLC contents as well.

China-based Comio shuts down operations in India, Country CEO blames parent company

Jeet — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:24:04 +0000

Comio, a China-based smartphone manufacturer, has shut down its operations in India effective immediately, just about a year later it started its operations in one of the largest smartphone markets in the world. The company has confirmed that it will seize to exist and close the entire operations by February 2019 after settling all pending issues.

Comio India has also filed a police complaint against its Chinese parent company Topwise Communications for closing its operations immediately without honoring the commitments and withdrawing their after-sales services.

The development comes to light after the Comio India CEO Sanjay Kalirona shared an email to all of their distribution channels stating that the company has been forced to shut down its India operations. He revealed that the company was forced down this path following lack of capital investment from the parent company.

Citing lack of support from the Chinese promoters and some personal reasons, Sanjay Kalirona announced that he had stepped down from the Board of the Company, though he continued to work as the CEO. He says that the Chinese management and himself decided to close Comio India operations and at the end of October and planned to settle all pending issues in the next three to four months.

He further adds that the company also decided to continue the after-sale service operations for another one year. However, he alleged that all the Chinese team members left India in the first week of November abruptly, and asked the team in India to shut down its operations immediately.

After the brand’s arrival in the Indian market last year, the company had projected to sell about one million units of Comio branded smartphones in India by March 2018. However, the company was able to sell almost nine lakh devices in its one-year journey.

Last year, in November, Comio had revealed that it is going to establish its India R&D operations and had also started assembling its smartphone models in the country locally and planned to strengthen. It was also planning to establish its brand presence with a network of 30,000 retailers, 800 distributors, and over 800 after-sales touch points.

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