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We have a lot of work to do in the tech industry to create inclusive work environments at scale. Far too many talented people avoid choosing or decide to leave roles in tech because their team culture doesn’t value their background which results in them feeling unwelcomed or excluded. Strong research suggests that those who have exposure to strategies for overcoming obstacles, navigating conflict and creating inclusive environments improves the effectiveness of students, employees, mentors and leaders. When we think about the culture we aim to cultivate at Microsoft, we want to create an environment where employees feel they can thrive. Our outlook is informed by a gro…

This morning Satya Nadella and Ryan Roslansky, the CEO of LinkedIn, sat down to talk about the key secular trends they’re seeing as people and organizations everywhere adjust to hybrid work. Their conversation is part of an effort between Microsoft and LinkedIn to help leaders and their teams navigate this new world of work, and here I’ll share more about the trends we’re seeing, the data behind them and the product updates we’re announcing today across Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva and LinkedIn. As Satya and Ryan mentioned, the evolving Delta variant is compelling many of us to adjust plans for reopening worksites. It’s a stark reminder that this is the new normal…

Microsoft launched an international ad campaign on Thursday to raise awareness and excitement around Windows 11. The campaign is centered on the 60-second ad you can watch below. Set to the music of the new single “All Starts Now” by Odessa featuring Tim Myers, the ad follows its hero as she explores the visually stunning new Windows, walking past apps in the new Microsoft Store, playing games with Xbox’s Master Chief, realizing Windows 11 widgets emerging from a beautiful cloud and chatting with a friend who though on the other side of the world seems close enough to touch, all representing the seamless experiences that Windows 11 makes possible. https://www.youtub…

At Tech World 2021, Lenovo introduced the 14-inch Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon and the new 16-inch ultra-slim Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro consumer laptops. Lenovo also recently revealed a refreshed ThinkBook business laptop portfolio. Select devices will include a FREE Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below*). Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love, empowering your productivity and inspiring your creativity. Start is now at the center, making it easier to quickly find what you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier. Windows has alwa…

Lots of people have found that working from home isn’t all they thought it’d be, in large part because they haven’t learned how to unplug from work. Thankfully, finding the ideal work-life balance is within reach. The Windows Resource Center has compiled a listing of tools and ways to help you work smarter so you can cut loose sooner. They include: Microsoft 365 to help you be more productive on the go, setting your Outlook calendar to carve out free time, ways to managing your notifications so they don’t disturb your private time, Together Mode in Microsoft Teams to help you gather with friends online, and more. Head over to the Windows Resource Center and remember: yo…

The virtual world of Microsoft Flight Simulator just got a major update. World Update VI: Austria, Germany and Switzerland is now available for free to all users of the game, which is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S. “Renowned for its glorious mountain ranges, ubiquitous castles and stunning vistas, this region comes to life with World Update VI,” writes Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, in a post on Xbox Wire. “Our latest World Update contains new aerial imagery, high-resolution elevation maps and several brand-new 3D cities in Germany, Basel in Switzerland, Graz and Vienna in Austria. The update drastically enhances the visuals of these three countri…

(Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. It should be simple to catch up on the things we care about. Yet, I find it can be overwhelming. I’m inundated by news, information and on-going alerts across online sources, media channels and devices. It turns out, I’m not alone. In a recent Forrester survey[1] commissioned by Microsoft, we found that on average, people spend seven hours a day online, use six different feeds on a regular basis and check their feeds five times a day. There’s so much to catch up on, but there are only so many hours in a day. I don’t want to lose time navigating notifications, validating sources and switching devices. Instea…

ASUS continues to empower creative professionals with an expansive selection of laptops, PCs and OLED displays, including the ProArt Studiobook 16/Pro 16 OLED, the Vivobook Pro 14X, Vivobook Pro 16X and Zenbook 14X OLED. At its Create the Uncreated launch event, the company revealed all these and more in an array of new ProArt solutions. All announced laptop and PC models come with Windows 10 and will include a FREE Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below*). If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle complex CAD models, 3D product design or high resolution video editing, the ProArt Studiobook Pro 16 OLED is an appealing contender. You can choose between one po…

Minecraft fans should mark their calendar for Oct. 16, when the Minecraft Live streaming event will begin at noon ET. You can watch the show at Minecraft.net/live or on the Minecraft YouTube channel. “The guest list includes new and familiar faces from Mojang Studios, our amazing community and a surprise appearance or two,” writes Sofia Dankis on Minecraft.net. “On the menu you will find in-depth interviews, exciting reveals, a nail-biting vote and puns galore!” View the official invite post here. Continue reading...

Launched on Wednesday, the Homecoming update for State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition adds the fifth open-world map to the game, along with new content and gameplay improvements. “Players may start new communities or move their existing communities to this iconic map, where they will discover loot, easter eggs and story missions exclusive to Trumbull Valley that can’t be found anywhere else,” writes Wonder Russell, comms director at Undead Labs, in a post on Xbox Wire. Trumbull Valley is at the heart of lore for State of Decay, which is available for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Although the setting may be familiar to returning players, the map is set after the event…

Car fans got revved up at this year’s gamescom event with a brand-new look at the first eight minutes of Forza Horizon 5, which you can view now on Xbox Wire. The Forza team also unveiled its cover cars, the Mercedes-AMG ONE pictured above and the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands. Forza Horizon 5 will become available on Nov. 9 for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Head on over to Xbox Wire for more and to watch that new video. Continue reading...

Today, we are thrilled to announce Windows 11 will start to become available on October 5, 2021. On this day, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin rolling out to eligible Windows 10 PCs and PCs that come pre-loaded with Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase. A new Windows experience, Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love. As the PC continues to play a more central role in our lives than ever before — Windows 11 is ready to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. Here are 11 highlights of this release The new design and sounds are modern, fresh, clean and beautiful, bringing you a sense of calm and ease. With…

Available beginning today, Psychonauts 2 is a game full of challenges and secrets, along with a broad suite of accessibility options to make sure players of different ages and needs can enjoy the adventure. You can play Psychonauts 2 on Windows, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and with Xbox Game Pass. Find out more on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

The Minecraft team asked its friends at Razzleberries and GameMode One to create maps specifically for the mobile version of Minecraft, and available for all Bedrock players. The first map is now available for free in Minecraft Marketplace. In Minecraft: Emerald Tycoon by Razzleberries, you’ll find different stations that generate emeralds. As you progress, you’ll be able to upgrade both the function and look of the stations. You can also unlock new biomes as well as challenging themed areas. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

Twelve Minutes – a game about knowledge, how we accumulate it and how we can apply it to change an outcome or solve a puzzle – is now available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and with Xbox Game Pass. You’ll hear familiar voices in this interactive thriller about a man trapped in a time loop: James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe. Find out more on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Before moving to Seattle with her husband seven years ago, Priya Chauhan had never worked in digital design. She came from the print publishing world, where she worked on children's books, coffee table books, travel guides, catalogs, window display posters, chocolate and biscuit tins and all kinds of seasonal marketing. If you lived in London at that time, you probably saw her designs throughout the city and in magazines. [caption id=attachment_176128" align="alignleft" width="520]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/08/Dorothy2-2-819x1024.jpg Dorothy Feng (Photo by Ulysses Curry)[/caption] As a student at Duke University, she originally thoug…

At its latest Unpacked event, Samsung announced two new smartphones: the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. The company’s partnership with Microsoft, which delivers a seamless bridge between Windows PC and mobile devices, has also expanded to further integrate Microsoft Office, Teams and Outlook into the smartphone experience. For instance, when you unfold a Galaxy mobile device, you can see a presentation in full-screen detail and the faces of your co-workers on the Teams call underneath. Also on that Teams call, pull up the Whiteboard and draw what you’re explaining on the board with an S Pen. With Microsoft Outlook’s dual-pane mode for Galaxy devices, you can rea…

In the newly released Gears 5 Operation 8, you’ll see two new characters: Ketor Vrol and Bernadette Mataki. You’ll also find a brand-new multiplayer map called Ritual, new achievements, an updated Tour of Duty and more. Find out more at Gears 5. Continue reading...

Dawn of the Dukes, the second expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, is now available. Challenge friends with two additional civilizations, as well as new units and technologies. Battle your way across Central and Eastern Europe with three new campaigns, overwhelming opponents with sheer military might and economic productivity, or with highly disciplined and technologically innovative armies. Find out more over at Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

If you’re looking for a new career, you may well be wondering where to start. A good place is a new page on the Windows Resource Center that identifies four steps to take and gives you pointers to move ahead. You’ll find out about jobs that have the greatest number of openings and the skills you can learn online to compete for them. You’ll get a pointer to a new template from Microsoft Word to help make your résumé and cover letter stand out from the pack. You’ll get tips on organizing your online search and those results, so you can quickly get to them later. And you’ll get a tip on using Microsoft Teams to network. Head over to the Windows Resource Center and good luck …

As a kid, Charles Taylor was always interested in tech – though he didn’t know exactly what that meant, beyond translating to a job related to computer science. Growing up in Littleton, North Carolina – an actual little town with less than 700 people – he went to school with the same group of about 60 kids through high school graduation. He would be one of the first in his family to attend college. Taylor went to Duke University. He took classes in computer science, visual and media studies and information science, trying to get a feel for a future career. He questioned whether it was the right fit. Then a work-study program at a Duke University medical center connected h…

Explore new places, be somebody different and discover new ways to play with community creations from Minecraft Marketplace. The latest one comes from The Misfit Society: MLB Home Run Derby. Join your favorite Major League Baseball team and swing for the fences in a fast-paced home run competition. Test your reflexes and accuracy in every MLB ballpark, faithfully re-created in Minecraft. Find out more over at Minecraft.net and download Minecraft for Windows 10 if you haven’t got it already. Continue reading...

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition has added two brand-new kingdoms: the Ethiopians and the Hausa, in the game’s latest civilization expansion: The African Royals. Gain new Alliances with every Age and use your Influence to hire units and research technologies. In addition, experience three all-new Historical Battles, 15 new African maps, 5 new Indigenous African Civilizations to ally with, and play your way through several new Achievements. Read all about it at Age of Empires. Continue reading...

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If you’ve followed the story of the Arch-Illager and found the shards from the Orb of Dominance, now it’s finally time to end its seemingly infinite influence and reach the conclusion, with the availability of Echoing Void, Minecraft Dungeons: Ultimate Edition - Windows 10 latest downloadable content, on Windows PC and Xbox One. Plenty of challenges and treasures await you in Minecraft’s darkest dimension, as you face new enemies like the Enderlings, collect legendary gear and make your way through three challenging missions using everything from elytra gliding to shulker flying. Find out more at Minecraft.net. Continue reading...