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On Wednesday, Acer expanded its gaming and green PC portfolios with an array of Windows 11 devices, including those that prioritize antimicrobial protection. The company also announced a laptop aimed at designers who specialize in 3D modeling. With the shift to hybrid work, Windows 11 represents a new era for the PC: an operating system that works how you work and is flexible, consistent and secure. Acer launched a line-up of green PCs in its Vero series, including the Acer Aspire Vero laptop for consumers and the Acer TravelMate Vero laptop for businesses. From PCs to peripherals, Vero devices share certain green guidelines, such as utilizing post-consumer recycled (PCR)…

What should you look for in a new PC running Windows 11? And what steps should you take as you prepare to buy? The Windows Resource Center presents five key factors to consider – including power, hard drive, touch screen and more – along with steps for finding and purchasing a new device, and even trading in your current computer, which could get you some cash back. Head over to the Windows Resource Center to find out more. Continue reading...

Back 4 Blood is available now for Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and with Xbox Game Pass. The game, which Turtle Rock Studios created about a hypothetical pandemic, was developed during a real one. Simon Mackenzie, lead writer for the company, shares the genesis of the game’s campaign narrative in a new post on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Wasteland 3 has been in the news lately, and now you can get the entire Wasteland 3 experience in one colossal collection for PC. In addition to the award-winning tactical RPG Wasteland 3, the Colorado Collection includes both The Battle of Steeltown and Cult of the Holy Detonation expansions, as well as the Colorado Survival Gear bonus items. Buy the Wasteland 3 (PC) Colorado Collection today. Continue reading...

We are pleased to announce that Microsoft has acquired Ally.io to help revolutionize how organizations use technology to bring deeper connection to work, purpose and results in the hybrid world. Ally.io, a leading OKR (objectives and key results) company, will join the Microsoft Viva family as part of our employee experience platform (EXP) designed to help companies embrace the new digital work life. Aligning employee work to the company’s strategic mission and core priorities is top of mind for every organization. To do this, leaders need to invest in tools that communicate transparency around big company bets and create ways to cascade aspirational goals and report r…

With Windows 11, a fresh perspective starts with the very first image you see on the screen: a desktop wallpaper that’s also a symbolic image of starting anew with this operating system. Inspired by flowers, this new blue beauty is called Bloom. The story of its creation spans a creative and dynamic collaboration between engineering, design and marketing teams at Microsoft, across an ocean during a pandemic and which incorporated a parallel workflow that caught the eye of Windows 11 designers. “It’s the same Windows that you know and love, but this is a new beginning, a new era,” says Christina Koehn, creative director for Windows 11, which became available Oct. 5. This n…

G5 Entertainment, the Swedish publisher and developer of free-to-play games for smartphones, tablets and PCs, is celebrating 20 years in business. Continuing to grow and develop new games with a team of over 800, the company has prepared a special landing page to mark the event where gamers can take part in activities and receive daily prizes, discounts and special offers. The anniversary campaign will run until Oct. 8. Head over to the anniversary page to take part in the celebration. Continue reading...

Today marks an exciting milestone in the history of Windows. As the day becomes October 5 in each time zone around the world, availability of Windows 11 begins through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs pre-installed with Windows 11 that can be purchased beginning today. Windows is a driving force for innovation. It’s an enduring platform for each one of us to create. And its home for over a billion people to do their jobs, live their dreams and connect with the people they love. We’re pumped to be launching Windows 11; the entire user experience brings you closer to what you love, empowers you to produce and inspires you to create. Windows 11 provid…

Today, Windows 11 availability begins both for new devices pre-loaded with Windows 11 and eligible Windows 10 devices. Windows continues to be integral to how more than a billion people connect, learn, play and work. Windows 11 brings you closer to what you love, empowering your creativity and productivity while advancing critical elements such as security and reliability. In this post I’ll explain the measured and phased rollout process for Windows 11, and how to get the upgrade when your device is ready. About the upgrade to Windows 11 Our launch approach to Windows 11 leverages the well-established systems and processes used for the 1.3 billion Windows 10 devices w…

Starting today, Windows 11 users around the world have access to a brand-new Microsoft Store. Let’s explore what’s in store for you! 1 – The best apps and entertainment for your Windows device Whether you use a desktop PC, a tablet or one of our new Surface devices, the Microsoft Store connects you with experiences that help you do more of what you love. With a newly expanded catalog of apps, games, movies and TV series, the redesigned Microsoft Store is ready for you – with content that’s tested for security, family safety and device compatibility. Here’s some ideas to get started, if you’re using the new Microsoft Store: Looking for the latest in entertainment? St…

Earlier in the year my colleague Jeff Petty shared with you the accessibility improvements and features that were coming to Windows 11. Now that the day is here, I wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain at our accessibility journey and how our team made Windows 11 the most inclusively designed version of Windows yet. Our ambition: Beyond possible, efficient, and yes, delightful It all starts with our ambition: Here in the Windows team, we aspire to create efficient, fun and delightful experiences for people with disabilities and without. We root our ambition in the principles of inclusive design, which celebrates and draws inspiration from people with differe…

Players of the Minecraft for Windows 10 Starter Collection are in for a month of fright and fun with the Minecraft Spookyfest now underway. In store are some special Halloween items, including: Oct. 13: The Spooky Gourdian – a free Minecraft Dungeons-inspired Character Creator item based on the Jack-O-Lantern (free until Nov. 2) Oct. 19: The Cauldron Cover – a paid Minecraft Dungeons-inspired Character Creator item based on the Cauldron Oct. 26: Halloween Fiends – a free skin pack (free until Nov. 2) Also, if you buy select Minecraft items between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, you get a special code for a free Minecraft Crafty Costumes Skin Pack with five spooky skins to use…

More than 40 million people in the United States have a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people with disabilities, exacerbating what the World Health Organization termed the Disability Divide. Disability is a growing demographic, it was pre-pandemic, but even more so post, with “Long Covid” recently designated a disability. This year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” hit at the center of what people with disabilities face given the pandemic and gives voice to what we too believe at Microsoft. We consider disability a strength. By ensuring t…

On Sept. 30 the Marvel’s Avengers experience, including all previously released free content, became available with Xbox Game Pass for PC, console and cloud. “Every player with an Xbox Game Pass membership can experience the full game and all our post-launch Heroes and missions,” writes Hunter Wolfe in a post on Xbox Wire. “This includes four story campaigns that showcase one or more Hero’s unique abilities, as well as our Avengers Initiative – our evolving online multiplayer world that lets you and three friends play as any Hero in our roster and embark on global adventures.” Head on over to the Xbox Wire post to find out more and view the trailer and images. Continue…

Recently, the United Nations General Assembly met for their 76th session to realize their vision of building resilience with hope: helping the world to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people and revitalize the U.N. As a partner to the U.N., Microsoft deeply supports this vision. We’ve been driving for progress on several fronts, notably by: Investing in our global skills initiative, recently expanded with skilling resources for small- to medium-size businesses, to help drive an inclusive skills-based economy. Doubling down on accessibility to close the disability divide and scale accessible tech…

John Porter is an input and accessibility designer who is unable to use what so many take for granted: a keyboard and mouse. Porter relies almost entirely on his voice and speech recognition technology, in addition to switches (a series of buttons with pre-defined actions to cover a small range of motion) to interact with his PC. Working on Windows 11 as part of the Modern Input & Accessibility team, he’s been creating solutions to help others who use their PCs in different ways. “My role on the team is to think about how we can create new and more inherently inclusive input modalities that will not only address the needs of customers with disabilities, but have mains…

Fall is officially here. It’s hard to believe, but we’re in our second year where our lives continue to be impacted by the pandemic. Still, many families like mine are well into the school year routine, whatever that may look like. Fall is a very busy time with school, extra-curricular activities, work, meal planning, holiday planning and more. Maximizing time and money is key to getting through this busy time of year, especially when it comes to holiday shopping and family travels. Microsoft Edge is committed to putting your family first. This month, we’re excited to introduce new features to help you save time and money so you can focus on what matters most to you and y…

Last year, we reimagined Microsoft Envision as a digital series for senior business leaders from around the world and across industries to come together and discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities during these extraordinary times. Co-produced by Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft, the series builds on our long-standing strategic alliance to help clients overcome disruption and lead transformation in their industries. In Season 1, we explored topics like digital resilience, unlocking employee potential, the importance of zero trust and the power of a growth mindset. Featured speakers included Avanade CEO Pamela Maynard; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella; barrister and …

Season Four is the latest Sea of Thieves content update, available now for free for all players with Xbox Game Pass and across Windows 10, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Steam. Get the update and dive into the Sunken Kingdom to solve puzzles and unearth the secrets of its Siren Shrines, or battle through waves of Ocean Crawlers and Sirens to raid the Siren Treasuries. Seasonal progression allows all players to earn renown and rewards, with a fresh array of trials and deeds to boost progress and an optional Plunder Pass to expand the reward pool. Head on over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

Seaside Story is a new map from Gamemode One for Minecraft for Windows 10 Starter Edition. It’s designed for mobile users but also works for all Bedrock players. Available for free until April 22 of next year, Seaside Story is a place where you can catch more than 20 types of fish, exploring and unlocking biome after biome after you customize your own boat and upgrade equipment. Read all about it and download now on Minecraft.net. Continue reading...

HP’s newest Windows 11 devices are designed for people who learn, play and work from home, at the office and on the go. Along with the company’s new premium and mainstream PCs, HP will also begin shipping Windows 11 across its existing portfolio beginning later this fall. Select devices will include a FREE Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below*). The HP Spectre x360 16 – the first HP consumer notebook made with recycled CNC aluminum to help reduce its environmental impact – includes a 5 MP IR camera that makes it easy to login using Windows Hello. The camera also features a physical shutter controlled by a hot key, with an on-screen display shown in all apps tha…

When Microsoft pledged to be carbon negative by 2030, we recognized that the path to get there involved the advancement of key climate technologies to enable us to both reduce and remove carbon. That is why we backed our carbon negative commitment with two financial vehicles that will help us reach our goals — a $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund and a comprehensive carbon fee applied across our entire carbon footprint — enabling us to operate as both an investor and a customer of carbon reduction and removal solutions. But in our work, we have learned that the market needs to go even further, faster. Such an acceleration will require investments outside of our fee and ou…

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/09/Larger-Hero-MariaDeLourdesSotomayorMehdi_r06a.jpg Maria de Lourdes Sotomayor Mehdi teaching in Mexico Photo courtesy of Yusuf Mehdi. Today kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time of the year where we recognize the customs, legacies and achievements of the Hispanic and Latinx community in the U.S. This year it is an incredible honor for me to be an executive sponsor of the HOLA employee resource group at Microsoft, an amazing community of more than 4,000 members who are seeking to drive change inside and outside the company. There are so many people of Hispanic and Latinx descent whose significan…

I don’t know a single person who enjoys managing passwords. Given how much of my life is spent online and in various apps, keeping track of it all, ensuring they’re unique and regularly updated – it can quickly become overwhelming for me – and I’m a techie! Which is why I’m so excited about today’s announcement that now you can remove the password from your Microsoft account and sign in using passwordless methods like Windows Hello, the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app or a verification code sent to your phone or email. This feature will help to protect your Microsoft account from identity attacks like phishing while providing even easier access to the best apps and ser…

Hey, Gears 5 fans: Four new characters are joining the fight for Operation 8 Drop 2: Alicia Valera, Michael Barrick, Oscar Diza and the Rager. Meet them, find maps, view the trailer and rewards, and more on the Gears 5 blog. Gears 5 is available on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Continue reading...