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Hey Minecraft fans: are you in the mood for a pink blouse, chain bracelets and creeper face mask? Or maybe a ragged scarf and brown boots? You’re in luck; different tops, bottoms, outerwear, gloves, accessories and footwear are now available for you to mix and match thanks to a slew of free Items that just dropped in the Character Creator dressing room. Head over to Mincraft.net to find out how to get your virtual hands on the new items. Continue reading...
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Microsoft introduced on Tuesday Windows 11 SE, built specifically to support the K-8 classroom, and announced an ecosystem of Windows 11 SE devices. The devices include the new Surface Laptop SE, custom built for students and starting at $249, as well as devices coming from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, JK-IP, Lenovo and Positivo, powered by Intel and AMD. “We have heard from educators that they need options that are simpler, secure and work on more affordable devices,” says Paige Johnson, vice president of Education Marketing, in a blog post. “This expanded portfolio complements our current Windows 11 devices for learning, providing even more choices for schoo…
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Lots of kids face especially tough challenges in school – whether it’s due to neurodiversity, physical disabilities or the challenges of poverty. A new feature story from the Microsoft Stories team describes how teachers are finding that tech tools can be used as leveling blocks to help address many of the different kinds of inequity in schools. Introduced on Tuesday, the new edition of the Windows 11 operating system, Windows 11 SE, and the lower-cost devices it supports, such as the Surface Laptop SE and others from Microsoft partners, join a range of learning technology aimed at helping educators give students the individualized support they need to succeed. Head over …
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Forza Horizon 5 is available now on PC on Windows and Steam, Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass including console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta). You can download the game today and choose from the following bundles: Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition or Premium Edition. Head over to Xbox Wire for details on the bundles, images from the game’s action in the ever-evolving landscape of Mexico, and to view the trailer. Continue reading...
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October was a big month for PC gaming, and a recap at Xbox Wire goes over the news, updates and releases that made it so significant for keyboard warriors. Among the headlines: the launches of Age of Empires IV and Back 4 Blood – as well as many others through Xbox Game Pass for PC; the availability of the Minecraft PC Bundle; and the updates that came with Windows 11 that can make your games look and run better than ever. Head over to Xbox Wire to get all the details. Continue reading...
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Total War: Warhammer III is coming Feb. 17, and will bring its massive Warhammer Fantasy armies to Game Pass for PC on day one. The release will usher in the first Games Workshop and Creative Assembly strategy series title to come to Game Pass for PC. It’s also a conclusion to the story the series has been marching toward for the last five years. “This will be undoubtably be the biggest and best Total War: Warhammer game ever,” says Creative Assembly’s Ben Barrett in a post on Xbox Wire, “featuring six factions, nine unique legendary lords and endless replayability.” Head over to Xbox Wire for details and images from the upcoming title. Continue reading...
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Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition launches in early access starting tomorrow, Nov. 5, at midnight local time. Premium Edition owners can preload Forza Horizon 5 today and explore the open world of Mexico ahead of global launch on Nov. 9. In addition to early access, the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition and Premium Add-ons Bundle on Xbox or Windows PCs include the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership and two game expansions when they become available. Head over to Xbox Wire for details, and to check out the newly released launch trailer celebrating the game’s release. Continue reading...
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If you’re looking for a Windows 11 laptop that you can use for both work and play, ASUS has a great option to consider: its new Vivobook 13 Slate OLED. This 2-in-1 device is a detachable that has a 13.3-inch OLED Dolby Vision touchscreen with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Corning Gorilla Glass covers this super-bright and responsive 550-nit touchscreen for viewers to enjoy a cinematic experience with Dolby Atmos audio. Dive deep into your films and TV shows with this PC’s impressive detail, brighter highlights and intense blacks. The ultrawide 100% DCI-P3 color gamut ensures vivid colors and is PANTONE Validated for professional-grade color accuracy. It also has a fast …
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Game Pass subscribers running Windows 10 and 11 can now cross-play with any other Minecrafter – regardless of platform – through the Minecraft: PC Bundle. Just choose which game to launch based on whom you want to play with. This will be easier with the introduction of a special feature – the unified Minecraft launcher. Instead of having separate launchers for the Bedrock and Java Edition, you will be able to start both versions of Minecraft from a single game launcher. Find out more on Minecraft.net. Continue reading...
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The last 18 months have resulted in a sea change throughout every industry – from the adoption of telehealth in healthcare to digital wallets in financial services to curbside pickup and contactless shopping in retail – and digital technology has been at the forefront of this seismic shift. My own habits have changed as well, to the point I can’t imagine going back to a world lacking technological flexibility and digital dexterity. In other words, thank goodness I can get away with sometimes forgetting my wallet at home. Digital technology is now more necessary than ever, for every organization in every sector, as we move into an era in which people expect their digita…
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https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/11/Steven-Worrall-Blog1.png Steven Worrall, right, with Mia Leech Morrison, a student at Rosemeadow Public School in New South Wales, Australia, and a participant in the Mini-Digital Custodians program, and her proud dad. The illustrated images are connected to Indigenous heritage and were designed by Mia and her peers using Paint 3D and Minecraft. The Cammeraygal people are the traditional custodians of the land where I’m writing this. They are one of the many tribal groups who have occupied the Sydney basin district for tens of thousands of years along with the many other First Nations tribes across the Austra…
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Today, we are excited to announce that Microsoft has acquired Two Hat, a leading content moderation solution provider offering protection measures for online communities with a vision to build better experiences for everyone. Globally, growing amounts of harmful content shared online have increased the need for effective and proactive content moderation. For any online community to thrive, content moderation is a critical investment to ensure positive user experiences and maintain engagement over time. Microsoft and Two Hat share a vision for using advancements in moderation technology to nurture and protect diverse, global online communities. This acquisition is an im…
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Age of Empires IV is available now with Xbox Game Pass for PC and Ultimate, and available to buy at the Microsoft Store for Windows PC and Steam. To celebrate the launch, the World’s Edge team is taking over Times Square in New York City by spanning multiple city blocks with large digital screens, a living diorama and an AR experience. If you’re in New York City you’re invited to share your experiences there. Head over to Xbox Wire for all the launch news and tips on how to get started playing the new game. Continue reading...
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The last year has brought unrelenting headlines about cybersecurity attacks. Foreign governments have tampered with the software supply chain, targeted on-premise servers, and hacked into sensitive government files. Criminal ransomware groups have attacked schools, penetrated hospitals and shut down a critical national pipeline. As we documented in the recent Microsoft Digital Defense Report, these attacks are growing and becoming more sophisticated. We’ve entered a new international era that falls short of war but with constant foreign cybersecurity attacks that threaten not only our businesses, but our students, healthcare and daily lives. We recognize that no one ha…
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Are you an IT pro planning to attend the virtual Microsoft Ignite event Nov. 2-4? If so, be sure to check out the core sessions, interactive experiences and deep dives that will help you deploy Windows 11, optimize device management and keep users protected and productive. You’ll find it all listed here, but here are key sessions to catch: Agile, collaborative, secure: Why adopt Windows 11 today Tuesday, Nov. 2: 11:30 a.m. PT Aidan Marcuss, Wangui McKelvey Join Windows CVP Aidan Marcuss and Microsoft 365 GM Wangui McKelvey for a tour of the value Windows 11 offers commercial organizations today—and a discussion of upcoming investments. From signature experiences tuned for…
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What can you do while waiting for the Oct. 28 launch of Age of Empires IV? Join the pre-launch hijinks of course. The World’s Edge team behind the game has booked a castle and built a giant fully functional trebuchet, which it will use to fling a load of assorted items including armor, a sheep (plushie-form only; no animals will be harmed) and other ammunition. Joining the fun is former World’s Strongest Man and star of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, a.k.a. The Mountain. Head over to Xbox Wire to read all about it and find out how to watch the festivities on the Xbox YouTube channel. Continue reading...
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https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/10/JMJ_9590-1.jpg Attendees at a recent National Association of Black Journalists event. Photo courtesy of Jason M. Johnson/NABJ In our jobs as storytellers for Microsoft, we’re called to improve our storytelling every day, and the best way I’ve found to do this is to look at great stories – whatever the form – and learn from them. That’s why I’m especially excited to team up with the National Association of Black Journalists on the NABJ-Microsoft Storytelling Fellowship Program designed to develop emerging storytellers, offer a platform to amplify their voices and share learnings along the way. Starting toda…
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If you’re looking for technology to pursue your creative passions, you have a new option to consider: the Dell XPS Desktop. Powered by Windows 11, this PC ushers in an expansive suite of next-gen performance technologies and a more robust cooling architecture, making it the most powerful XPS Desktop ever made [1]. Designed to bring you closer to what you love, Windows 11 empowers your productivity and inspires your creativity. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/10/New-XPS-Desktop-internal-airflow_2000-1024x819.jpg Digital content creators – such as photographers, graphic designers, music producers and many others – can tap into a “Creator Editi…
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Demand for data and digital services is expected to continue its exponential growth over the coming years, with global internet traffic projected to double by 2022. The Microsoft cloud is the trusted cloud for everyday digital experiences at work and at home – from critical applications for life and safety services, education institutions and governments to advancing scientific research surrounding the world’s most pressing challenges – like climate change. Underpinning the cloud are physical datacenters, networking and fiber connected to the world’s energy grids. Customers already benefit from the cloud’s ability to provide massive efficiency that reduces the collective …
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Today, we are announcing the availability of the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability public preview. It is an important moment. The work to reduce carbon emissions has become a global priority that requires focused and urgent action by all of us individually and collectively. We believe this new offering can make an important contribution to this effort, helping customers move toward more sustainable operations. Around the world, governments and companies – Microsoft included – have stepped forward the past two years with important carbon reduction pledges. But as the world heads to the 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow – or COP26 – to share net zero ambitions, …
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Millions of real-time strategy fans around the world have enjoyed playing the Age of Empires series for nearly 25 years. With a focus on real historical events dating all the way back to the Stone Age, the series tasks players with determining how those events played out, allowing them to experience history as it was or create a new history of their own. Now with Min Spec Mode, players on older and lower-powered machines can experience the latest in the series: Age of Empires IV. “When looking to bring this new game to the franchise, we knew we needed to support a diverse set of PC configuration,” said Michael Mann, executive producer at World’s Edge. “Even looking …
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https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/10/Hero-art-Oct-25GettyImages-993313430-1024x683.jpg Photo credit: Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images As countries have begun to ease travel restrictions, I’ve had increasing opportunities to meet customers face to face. During my visits, customers shared how they are bringing to life digital optimism to overcome business challenges, especially during the pandemic. Customers are increasingly capitalizing on the value of the Microsoft Cloud to enable continuous innovation. What’s more, they are recognizing the advantages of digital transformation go well beyond a simple cost-benefit analysis. With the Microsoft C…
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On Thursday Xbox Wire shared how 343 Industries and Xbox took everything they learned from bringing Halo: The Master Chief Collection to PC to making Halo Infinite a game that looks, feels and plays like a PC shooter should, all the while honoring the legacy of what makes Halo, Halo. Head over to the post to read all about it and watch the video to hear directly from both the PC team and the Sandbox team at 343 Industries about how they built Halo Infinite to be a great PC experience in-game, out-of-game and off the screen. Continue reading...
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Today, I am sharing Microsoft’s 2021 Diversity and Inclusion report, our third annual report and our eighth year of releasing our global workforce demographic data publicly. This past year was a challenging time for so many people, communities and organizations. Ongoing acts of hate and violence in the U.S. and around the world have continued to move racial injustice to the forefront of social consciousness, while the global pandemic has exacerbated inequities and upended our lives. In the face of these realities, the sense of urgency to solve some of the biggest systemic problems of equality and inclusion is palpable. This report is an opportunity for us to quantify t…
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Eternal Return launched on Oct. 19 as a free-to-play title on Windows PC, with Perks for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. The game, a mix of popular genres combined into a multiplayer online survival arena, has a solid esports and competitive scene. Head over to Xbox Wire to read all about it. Continue reading...
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