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Lenovo is refreshing its Windows-based ThinkPad and ThinkVision lines with redesigned and re-engineered devices, including the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4, the ThinkPad L13 Gen 2, L13 Yoga Gen 2, ThinkVision M15 mobile monitor and ThinkVision T24m-20 display. The X1 Extreme Gen 4 is available with the latest NVIDIA RTX mobile graphics, up to 64GB DDR4 memory and dual Solid-State Drive (SSD) support. You can also upgrade it with optional 5G Wireless WAN for high-speed access to cloud data. To make the most of remote work, it has an edge-to-edge 16-inch display (with options up to 4K with Dolby Vision support), a new FHD webcam, dual noise-cancelling microphones and a user-fa…

Microsoft is joining the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) to advance the protection of space-based critical assets vital to government agencies and the global economy. As the first hyperscale cloud service provider to join this member organization, we will share our unique global threat insights to protect critical infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity expertise in the space community. Through Microsoft’s founding membership in the Space ISAC we look forward to supporting the mission to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry, to enhance the community’s ability to prepare for and respond to cyber vulnerabilities, incidents an…

To celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th birthday June 23, free downloadable content tied to the speedster is now available for Minecraft for Windows 10. You’ll find rings to collect, along with plenty of obstacles to dash past, bosses to defeat and momentum to build towards a high score. Find out more on Minecraft.net. Continue reading...

Getting on top of your finances is critical to making sure all your hard work isn’t for naught. But where do you begin? The Windows Resource Center has compiled a page of resources and information to help you make sense of your money. It involves setting goals, understanding where your money is going, automatically tracking where your money goes and saving money when shopping online. For each, tools and tips are provided to help you take the next steps to financial stability. Head over to the Windows Resource Center to get started. Continue reading...

The latest Sea of Thieves content update, Season Three, is now available and free for all players with Xbox Game Pass and across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam. In addition to that, players can join forces with Captain Jack Sparrow in “Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life” – a new story campaign that brings “Pirates of the Caribbean” sailing into the Sea of Thieves. All players can earn Renown and rewards, with optional Trials to boost progress. They can also buy a Plunder Pass to expand the reward pool. Find out more over at Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

In more than a decade working at Reallusion – a 3D and 2D software and content developer that specializes in Windows-based real-time animation and creation tools – Enoc Burgos has seen a lot of changes in the industry, but one thing is consistent in his role as director of partnership marketing: being able to support and empower up-and-coming creators who lack skills and/or resources to develop their vision. Authors use Reallusion software to make trailers for their books, students and professors tap into the technology to create more realistic training sessions and movie studios find the company’s iClone -- an animated storyboard that helps preview scenes that need to be…

It has been one year since we outlined a set of actions and commitments our company would take over the next five years to address racial injustice. These commitments stem from a belief that the work we must do as individuals and as an organization toward justice and equity is urgent and requires intention and sustained engagement. It’s critical that this not be something we only care about at one time of year, or for one year in a lifetime – but instead that we commit to the ongoing exploration needed to help us be as informed, effective and sustainable as possible in how we approach change. Our approach combines financial investments, technology and intellectual capi…

When Sea of Thieves Season Three launches June 22, you’ll also see “Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life” – an original story that brings Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew sailing in from beyond the horizon to spark new adventures spanning five narrative-driven Tall Tales. A special Xbox broadcast catches up with the Rare and Walt Disney Games teams behind this collaboration to offer some insights into its creation. Both talk about the vision, the ambition, the care and attention poured into every aspect of this dream crossover – and just some of the features they’re most excited for fans of both franchises to experience. Read more and check it out over at Xbox Wire. Contin…

With 62% of parents planning to purchase more back-to-school items online this summer, they can start saving now on tech and accessories for the upcoming school year. To help parents plan ahead, starting June 21, Microsoft Store’s upcoming sale will have discounts on laptops, PCs, accessories and more. Here are some of the top deals to kick off back-to-school shopping: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Tournament-287x300.jpg Up to 50% off Razer accessories To get the most out of your gaming session, select Razer accessories, including the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition and the Razer Kraken Ultimate, will be 50% off. Play comfortably for h…

It’s a wrap on Season 1 of Envision. We finished the online series with a sense of optimism and an eye toward the future. This past year has been a proving ground for so many organizations to test their digital transformation progress, to become more agile and resilient, and to reimagine their business for the future. It’s an exciting time to be in tech! Now, how can leaders use technology for the hybrid future that lies ahead, helping them move faster and driving continuous innovation? We explored this and other timely topics during the Envision Season 1 finale. Envision is our series for business leaders presented by Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft. Accenture CEO…

After a three-year hiatus, the Razer Blade 14 is back, highlighting a new partnership with AMD. The Windows 10 laptop becomes the first Razer Blade ever to have an AMD processor. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-core processor features a base clock of 3.3GHz with a max boost clock of up to 4.6GHz, so it can quickly dispatch dense workloads, reduce latency when gaming and chew through 3D renders at breakneck speeds. Gamers can also add up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, and up to a Quad HD 165Hz display. Built with NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, the RTX 30 Series offer improved ray tracing and advanced AI features to create more visually immersive worlds. Both IPS-gra…

During the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase June 13, a lot of news came out on new games. We’ll highlight a few here, but be sure to go over to Xbox Wire to get the full download. Forza Horizon 5, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s breakout hit open world driving game Forza Horizon 4, arrives Nov. 9 on Xbox consoles, PC on Windows and Steam and Xbox Game Pass including console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta). In this game, you lead breathtaking expeditions across Mexico in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars. Discover living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, pristine beaches, vast canyons and a towering snow-capped volcano – the highest point e…

Editor’s note: In acknowledgment and celebration of Pride, Microsoft executive co-sponsors of Global LGBTQI+ Employees and Allies at Microsoft Employee Resource Group (GLEAM) Ann Johnson and Liat Ben-Zur got together (virtually) for a personal conversation about leadership, allyship, intersectional identities, bias and the powerful advocacy work of communities across the company. This is an edited version of their chat. Liat: Ann, would you share some insights about your personal and professional path and how that connects both to what we do in GLEAM, and to how you approach your role leading teams at Microsoft? Ann: First, it’s so great to be having this talk. You …

Right now is a great time to get set for gaming this summer. Xbox’s Deals Unlocked sale offers savings on everything from epic exclusive games to gaming PCs to accessories through June 17. Of course you’ll find discounts on Xbox Game Studios titles, but you’ll also find great deals for PC gamers, including gaming PCs starting at $699, up to 60% off on select PC digital games and savings of up to 25% on select gaming accessories. Head over to Xbox Wire for all the deals and details. Continue reading...

Ahead of the first-ever Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on June 13, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the importance of gaming to Microsoft and in the world. “As a company, Microsoft’s all-in on gaming. We believe we can play a leading role in democratizing gaming and defining that future of interactive entertainment,” Nadella said. Nadella and Spencer touched on Microsoft’s earliest days of gaming, cloud computing and empowering creators, and shared new updates on how Xbox Game Pass is changing the way people discover, connect and play. Another blog post dives deeper into Xbox Game Pass and shares new updates on its success and what’s next …

This past year has been difficult for many of us in the Black and African American communities. Technology brought images of violence against our community to the forefront of the public consciousness, and the pandemic revealed its deep economic fault lines. At times, the depth of the systemic racial inequality that has occurred in the United States for five centuries and still exists today can feel overwhelming. We have an opportunity to harness data and technology to accelerate and scale equitable solutions. That change starts with each of us. What motivates me is my African American son and daughter and what they experience in society. To work on racial equity issues e…

Caves & Cliffs: Part I, an update introducing new mobs (living creatures in the game) and blocks for Minecraft users, is launching on Tuesday for Windows 10 and other gaming platforms. Head over to the post on Minecraft.net to find out more and view the trailer. The characters you’ll see sure are cute, but they range from the axolotl predator to goats that are highly fond of ramming. So watch yourself; you might end up bumped into the glow squid. Continue reading...

Feeling stressed? Take a break, and consider playing a video game, which research has shown can have a positive impact on mental and emotional health. Plus, games help bring people together and make very real social connections, which bring even more positive impacts. Head over to the Windows Resource Center for tips on using video games for a healthy escape. You’ll find out about ways to make new friends playing games, how to access a wide range of games to match your interests and how to set boundaries for yourself and others so gaming doesn’t interfere with your responsibilities. Continue reading...

Did you miss the Warhammer Skulls Showcase on June 3? Not to worry; you can catch up with it now thanks to the recap on Xbox Wire. In addition to videos featuring world premieres, reveals and announcements from leading studios and franchises, you'll find out about discounts and promotions good through June 10, including titles for Windows PC. Don't miss the annual festival of all things Warhammer video games. Head over to Xbox Wire now. Continue reading...

At the height of the pandemic, when the ongoing economic downturn challenged businesses everywhere, two young women in Seattle did the unthinkable: They opened their own store. Was it crazy or brave? Definitely a little bit of both, say Kaitlin Uemura and her business partner, Kaitlin Madriaga. It’s been a whirlwind few months since the pair opened Sairen, a small boutique selling clothing and accessories in the city’s International District. They’ve had to deal with vandalism, slow foot traffic and a fitful economic recovery, but they’re pursuing a dream and growing it a little every day, betting that in the end, the risks will be worth it. Microsoft Store celebrated Nat…

Warhammer Skulls, the annual festival of all things Warhammer video gaming, is coming to Xbox and Windows PC for the first time June 3. To kick off the launch, there will be a special Xbox specific Warhammer Skulls Showcase live streamed to Xbox’s Twitch and YouTube on June 3 at 10 a.m. PST, featuring world premieres, reveals and announcements from leading studios and franchises. Head over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

PC Minecrafters! New downloadable content is now yours with Ben 10, which comes in two different modes: Story and Free Roam. In the former, step up and face an epic challenge in recovering lost alien DNA from the Omnitrix. In the latter, access all the alien DNA right away. You can also claim Ben’s t-shirt, the free Character Creator item that’s also available now. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

Alienware has launched its thinnest 15 and 17-inch gaming laptops, introducing the first-ever Alienware x15 and Alienware x17. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/AW-x15_angled_front_fully-open_left_whitespace-1009x1024.jpgPlay the latest and greatest game titles with confidence, thanks to patent-pending cooling technologies, the latest performance components, framerate-splitting displays and Legend 2.0 design features. You can learn more about X-Series through the Alienware Update livestream event at 3 p.m. EDT June 1. There you’ll see: a deep dive into Alienware’s newest products, fun game play with a few special celebrity guests and a chan…

HP has expanded its commercial lineup with new Elite and Pro desktop PCs to meet the demands of multi-task workdays. Everyone from frontline heroes to home office workers need speed, flexible connectivity options and always-on reliability to handle demanding tasks, intense graphics and complex workflows with large files and applications. While laptop use has increased throughout the pandemic, the desktop PC remains critical for business resiliency and continuity – because not all hybrid work is mobile. Powered by Windows 10 Pro [1] and AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 series processors [2], the HP EliteDesk 805 G8 Series and HP ProDesk 405 G8 Series PCs feature rich graphics and multi-…

Pride at Microsoft is a grassroots phenomenon created by employees across all continents. It’s an opportunity to give visibility to LGBTQI+ identities on a global scale by bringing Pride to our products, bringing messages of empathy and inclusion to billions of people, and donating to LGBTQI+ nonprofits working toward equity for all. This year Microsoft is making the largest and most inclusive Pride themed products in our company’s history. Created with and by employees from the LGBTQI+ communities, these Pride products center on the intersectionality of the LGBTQI+ movement across race and ethnicity. Embracing 19 flags representing various gender identities and sexual…