Latest Software & Apps News
Microsoft acquires data startup Osmos to bolster Fabric and AI data engineering
Microsoft has acquired **Osmos**, a data onboarding and transformation startup, to strengthen its Fabric data platform and simplify data ingestion for AI workloads. The deal, announced in early January, aims to give developers no-code/low-code tools to clean and move data from disparate business systems into Microsoftâs analytics and AI stack.
Analysts view the move as part of a broader push to own more of the AI data engineering pipeline across enterprises.
Microsoft open-sources XAML Studio to accelerate Windows UI prototyping
Microsoft has **openâsourced XAML Studio**, a tool for rapidly prototyping Universal Windows Platform (UWP) XAML interfaces, giving developers free access to its codebase. The tool offers live editing, binding debugging, and data context editing, allowing faster UI experimentation without full Visual Studio setups.
Openâsourcing is framed as part of Microsoftâs strategy to lower barriers for app developers and expand its open tooling ecosystem.
QwikOS launches âuniversalâ humanoid robot OS and app store
Startup **QwikOS** has launched what it calls the first **universal operating system and app store for humanoid robots**, targeting fragmentation across robot platforms. Available via iOS and Android apps, QwikOS provides a hardwareâagnostic layer where developers can publish robot capabilities and users can install them across different humanoid devices.
The platform adds monetization tools so developers can sell motion behaviors and AIâpowered task modules, aiming to create a crossâhardware robotics app economy.
Online OCR software market projected to reach $208.5B by 2031
A new market report forecasts the **online OCR (optical character recognition) software market** will generate about **$208.5 billion by 2031**, growing at a 17.2% CAGR from 2024. Growth is driven by digital transformation, paperless workflows, and cloud document management across sectors like BFSI, retail, and healthcare.
Cloudâbased OCR apps are highlighted for lower upfront costs, scalability, and easy integration with existing business systems, especially for SMEs.
Wall Street turns bullish on cloud and AI software platforms
Analysts at firms such as D.A. Davidson and Piper Sandler argue **AI is not killing software vendors**, noting improving sentiment and rational valuations across SaaS and infrastructure names. They highlight platforms like Datadog, Snowflake, ServiceNow, and others positioned for consumptionâbased pricing as AI agents increase data and transaction volumes.
The report suggests software customers are less paralyzed by AI fears and are resuming longerâterm app and cloud commitments.
Calibrate Software recognized among top global B2B service providers
Custom development firm **Calibrate Software** has been named to the **2025 Clutch 1000** list, ranking among the top 1,000 service providers out of 350,000 on the platform. The recognition is based on verified client reviews, portfolio strength, profile optimization, and established market reputation.
Calibrate focuses on bespoke web and mobile apps, UI/UX design, AI automation solutions, and largeâscale cloud and eâcommerce migrations for global clients.
AIâdriven DevOps and automation tools gain traction in early 2026
Industry analysis points to rapid adoption of **AIâassisted DevOps and infrastructure automation platforms**, which help provision and manage cloudânative applications with fewer manual steps. Tools in this category aim to standardize deployments, reduce configuration errors, and free developers to focus on higherâlevel app logic.
This trend is framed as part of a broader move toward more accessible, automated software development workflows.
Open-source initiatives expand access to advanced development tools
Recent moves by major vendors to **open source key developer tools**, such as Microsoftâs XAML Studio, are reshaping access to professionalâgrade software engineering capabilities. By releasing source code and encouraging community contributions, these initiatives lower costs for individual developers and startups building Windows and cloud apps.
Analysts suggest this could pressure competitors to similarly open portions of their app development stacks.
Humanoid robotics apps edge toward consumer-style distribution
With the QwikOS launch, humanoid robot capabilities are being packaged into **appâstore style marketplaces**, mirroring distribution models in mobile and desktop software. Robot owners can browse, install, and configure new behaviors and AI skills via a single interface instead of vendorâspecific firmware or bespoke integrations.
The approach is expected to reduce deployment friction and may speed up realâworld use of robots in logistics, retail, and services.
Cloud-based document and photo apps see parallel market expansion
Market research linked to OCR trends indicates that **cloud photo editing and document apps** are also experiencing strong growth as part of wider digitization. Enterprises and individual users increasingly favor apps with AI enhancements, collaboration, and crossâplatform access for managing visual and text content.
Vendors that integrate OCR, editing, and workflow automation in unified cloud apps are expected to capture a larger share of this expanding market.