In one of the day's stranger announcements, Microsoft has announced a brand new smartphone automation service for Android devices, dubbed on{X}. On{X} combines an Android application with a Javascript-based back-end, hosted on Microsoft's onx.ms site, and allows numerous tasks to be triggered based on location, date, speed, weather and countless other conditions. Essentially, it's a bit like Tasker, only controlled remotely via a web interface, with a few more options.
Conspicuously absent is any support for Microsoft's own smartphone OS, Windows Phone. As on{X}'s functionality relies on capabilities not present in Windows Phone, the Android platform is a natural place to test things out while Microsoft prepares the next version of its OS.
To get started, you'll need to grab the app from Google Play, and sign in using your Facebook account. Then, from the onx.ms site, you can add rules based upon MS's own "recipes," through a visual interface, or by directly editing code. Once you're done, you can even upload your own recipes for others to use -- a surprisingly open approach from the team at Microsoft.
Unfortunately we haven't had much luck getting the Facebook login to work, so bear in mind that things may be a little shaky to begin with.
Hit the link below to get started, or join us after the break for Microsoft's introductory video. And if you've managed to get it working, be sure to let us know got on down in the comments.
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