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Now, with Microsoft To-Do and Cortana integration, you can save time and stay organized — Cortana helps by adding your reminders and tasks to your lists in Microsoft To-Do, so you can stay on top of what matters most. With Cortana, you can use your voice on your PC or your phone — your choice. Streamline your tasks — your lists and reminders from across Microsoft To-Do, Cortana and tasks in Outlook can now become one — centrally located in your Microsoft To-Do app. Use Microsoft To-Do anywhere: on your Android or iPhone, with Cortana, or on your Windows 10 PC. You can also access Microsoft To-Do from the web. It’s automatically synced so you never miss a beat. Get star…

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Please note that due to a small outage in our build publishing system, this build will be rolling out to Windows Insiders over the next few hours so it may not be immediately available at the time of publish of this blog post. The 19H1 Bug Bash has officially kicked off as of yesterday! It will run from January 23th, 2019 to February 3rd, 2019. Head to the Feedback Hub for Quests to try out. There will also be a special Bug Bash edition webcast on Tuesday, January 29th at 10am PST. REMINDER: As is normal with builds early in the developm…

Data and analytics are increasingly at the center of digital transformation, with the most leading-edge enterprises leveraging data to drive customer acquisition and satisfaction, long-term strategic planning, and expansion into net new markets. This digital revolution is placing an incredible demand on technology solutions to be more open, flexible, and scalable to meet the demands of large data volumes, sub-second response times, and analytics driven business insights. Microsoft is committed to building an open platform that is flexible and provides customers with technology choice to suit their unique needs. Microsoft Azure Data Services are a great example of a pla…

Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are pleased to release a new Insider Preview build of the Windows Server VNext Semi-Annual Channel release, and Windows Admin Center Preview 1812. PLEASE NOTE: In-place upgrade will fail for this build – a clean install is required. What’s New in Windows Server WDAC – Composable (stacked) code integrity policies for supporting multiple code integrity policies WDAC brings you the ability to support multiple CI policies. Three scenarios are now supported: Scenario 1 – Deploy a “base” policy in enforcement mode and deploy a second “audit” policy side-by-side to support validation of policy changes before deploying in enf…

Did your child get a new laptop during the holidays? They – and you – are probably excited to explore the possibilities and potential of this technology, especially for their education. You’re likely also concerned, because we all know the online world is full of dangers, such as identity theft, phishing and spam. But there are ways to counter the dangers and keep your family safe while they’re using their new devices. One thing you can do is set up a family group of accounts, which helps families stay connected and keeps kids safer on Windows 10, Xbox One devices and Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. Sign in with your Microsoft account, select Create a …

https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/0b1cb406a46fe16528934704408b610c.png Users of the newly redesigned Microsoft News app for iOS and Android have given the release high marks in their feedback, plus some interesting feature suggestions. One of the top requests has been for the ability to choose a more compact layout of the news feed. In response, the Microsoft News team announced Thursday the new Layout Choices feature for your news feed on your phone. “This feature puts you in control of the layout for your news feed: standard, compact or text-only,” Senior Program Manager Lance Lee said in a blog post. “While the standard layout p…

In 1979, Microsoft made the Puget Sound region our home when the company’s first 30 employees moved into an office building next to The Burgermaster in Bellevue. Over the decades, we’ve grown from a small start-up to become one of the world’s leading technology companies. And along the way, the entire region’s economy has diversified and expanded, bringing new jobs, people and prosperity. It’s an amazing place to call home and it’s a community that has always helped nurture Microsoft’s success. But the Puget Sound area’s growth has also created new challenges. In recent years, our region hasn’t built enough housing for the people who live here. Since 2011, jobs in the …

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/prod/prod/2019/01/ICJF-OMB-Photo-e1547660171148-1024x768.jpeg ICFJ training in the field. As part of our mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, Microsoft recognizes not just the fundamental need for a free press, but also the fundamental need for the free press to adapt to how people seek information. Technology has empowered citizens to find, create and share information in unprecedented ways. How can we help journalists around the world tell stories, from sports updates to watchdog investigations, in ways that promote transparency, understanding and engagement? To…

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18317 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. REMINDER: As is normal with builds early in the development cycle, builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some. If this makes you uncomfortable, you may want to consider switching to the Slow ring. Slow ring builds will continue to be higher quality. If you are looking for a complete look at what build is in which Insider ring – head on over to Flight Hub. You can also check out the rest of our documentation here including a complete list of new features and updates that have gone out as part of Insider flights for the current…

https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/6e886d7e945caa74e310744477e74833-1024x578.jpg Eduardo Garcia, left, is served a warm meal during a community Thanksgiving celebration at the California State University-Chico in Chico, California, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. The construction worker says that years ago, he helped construct the Chico State auditorium where the meal is being held, plastering the outside walls. Garcia lost the Paradise home he lived in from a wildfire, and his immediate family lives in Hawaii. (AP Photo/Kathleen Ronayne) When the MSN News team launched MSN Causes a little over a year ago, they weren’t sure what to expect. Th…

Our application ecosystem is incredibly diverse, encompassing tens of millions of applications (apps) with numerous versions, languages, architectures, services and configuration options. While our ecosystem is complex, our vision is simple. All apps on Windows devices should just work! Customers should update with confidence, never worrying about compatibility across Windows versions. Achieving this goal requires innovative approaches to predict and prevent issues and traditional approaches like testing. In this installment of our quality blog series, Mete Goktepe from our Windows Application Compatibility team describes the various programs and technologies we use to im…

We are excited to announce the availability of the public preview of Microsoft Azure IoT Device Agent V2 for Windows 10 IoT. Customers across industries, whether in an industrial setting or retail environment, are looking for ways to remotely provision and manage their IoT devices. Direct device access may not always be feasible when IoT devices are out in the field or on the factory floor. Microsoft Azure IoT Device Agent enables operators to configure, monitor and manage their devices remotely from their Azure dashboard. Microsoft Azure IoT Device Agent provides an open-source, ready to build package that does the following: creates and manages the Azure IoT Hub ide…

Since April, you’ve had Timeline on your Windows 10 PC. It aims to end the frustration we’ve all encountered digging through emails and file folders for a document we just can’t find. Timeline makes it way easier to find what matters to you across your devices. You can also pick up what you were doing — even if it was on your iOS or Android device — on your Windows 10 PC when you’re ready to get back to it. Now with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, your PC’s timeline is available on your phone, so you can scroll back in time to find the files and websites you were using on your phone, computer and tablet. Basically, you can pick up where you left off, wherever y…

https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/83d0880cde15c8ae9f68fe47d8d5c201-1024x578.jpg Microsoft and our partner ecosystem are delivering intelligent cloud and intelligent edge solutions that help customers manage their digital lives and achieve more. We’re also supporting businesses by providing the platforms, devices and solutions that power a new era of productivity, creativity, simplicity and security. At CES we showcased partner solutions and innovation across the intelligent edge including: modern PCs, connected computing devices, powerful gaming PCs, exciting IoT retail experiences and new Azure Sphere modules and starter kits tha…

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18312 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. REMINDER: As is normal with builds early in the development cycle, builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some. If this makes you uncomfortable, you may want to consider switching to the Slow ring. Slow ring builds will continue to be higher quality. If you are looking for a complete look at what build is in which Insider ring – head on over to Flight Hub. You can also check out the rest of our documentation here including a complete list of new features and updates that have gone out as part of Insider flights for the current…

A few days from now, retailers from around the world will converge in New York for the National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show, the world’s largest retail conference. Every year, this event feels like a fresh beginning for retailers; just off their busiest time of year, they’re ready to not only celebrate but also reflect on what went well and improvements for next year. And every year, it feels like the stakes have never been higher – changing consumer demands combined with a retail model that’s constantly in flux creates an urgency to figure out what’s next. I love coming to NRF. I joined Microsoft about five months ago, but I’m a retailer at heart. I literally gre…

Technology from phones to smart homes has been getting safer, smarter, more personalized and immersive. Facial recognition and sensors for biometric authentication, cinema-quality entertainment on the go, and voice recognition to activate multiple virtual assistants that co-exist are now all possible. Evolving needs – such as desiring security and privacy without sacrificing convenience, or immersive entertainment without compromising on portability – have driven these advancements. PCs have been quietly progressing in the same direction too. Artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with advanced audio and display technologies are making Lenovo’s next-gen Yoga computers th…

Building on more than 30 years of purposeful innovation, Dell unveiled at CES 2019 a host of new and improved products and software experiences across its award-winning Latitude, XPS and Inspiron portfolios. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/8f6600388a0285cae9f09177a75c9335-1024x498.jpg Latitude 7400 2-in-1 Because everyone can use more time, the new Latitude 7400 2-in-1 has the ability to wake itself and be ready to go before you even touch it. The world’s first PC to use a proximity sensor enabled by Intel Context Sensing Technology, it includes ExpressSign-in. It detects your presence, wakes the system and immediately scans …

At CES 2019, Samsung unveiled the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro and the Samsung Notebook Flash. The former delivers style and top-of-the-line features you need, while the latter combines premium features at a reasonable price. Samsung also introduced its latest powerhouse mobile computing technology for gamers: the Samsung Notebook Odyssey. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/be4935c01c77c88e67fa09422cdf843a-1024x578.jpg Samsung Notebook 9 Pro The ultra-slim Samsung Notebook 9 Pro comes with a cool metal exterior and diamond-cut bezels, plus inside, it provides ultra-fast processing and Gigabit Wi-Fi. Running on Windows 10, it also has …

With the new Your Phone app, you get instant access to your Android phone’s photos and texts on your computer – no need to dig for your phone to text or email yourself photos. It’s one of many new features that debuted with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Snap a pic on your Android phone, see it on your PC. You can also drag and drop photos from your phone onto your PC. And you can copy, edit or ink that photo, right from your PC. Text your friends, group message and type with a keyboard. With Your Phone app, you can view, send and receive the SMS from your Android, on your PC. Android 7.0+ are compatible with Your Phone app*, which also helps link iPhones to yo…

At CES 2019, ASUS unveiled two new ZenBooks, a StudioBook and three additions to the VivoBook family – as well as the latest from the Republic of Gamers and TUF lines. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/6656d4a9a287b26ac18327e629dce9c2-1024x687.png The ZenBook S13 (UX392) is an ultrabook that combines powerful performance and portability in a small chassis. The 13.9-inch Full HD display is surrounded by ASUS’ most impressive NanoEdge display to date – an ultra-thin 4-sided bezel, providing the industry’s biggest screen-to-body ratio at 97 percent. The thinnest laptop at 12.9 mm with discrete graphics (provided by the NVIDIA GeForce…

https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/af6990d12c8a092882f80cd0767a2a06-1024x498.jpg At CES 2019, Acer introduces the thin and light Swift 7 (SF714-52T) with a new premium chassis. An honoree of a CES 2019 Innovation Award, its ultra-narrow bezels make it virtually borderless, giving the Swift 7 a 92 percent screen-to-body ratio. It’s feather-light too, so that traveling professionals who carry a notebook through the day will rejoice at its weight: just two pounds. Designed for portability, it’s made with magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminum alloys, which also keeps the keyboard sturdy and provides solid support while typing. These…

https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/1b5547eb82cbf81fd0e47019a80ee1fb-1024x498.png At CES 2019, HP’s latest products reveal powerful new ways for consumers to connect, create and compete. The HP Spectre x360 15 will be the the world’s first 15-inch laptop with an AMOLED display, the latest addition to an already redesigned premium PC. Initially unveiled late last year, the dramatically reinvented HP Spectre Folio – the world’s first leather convertible PC – is now available in Bordeaux Burgundy and with a 4K display option exclusively via HP.com for a starting price of $1,309.99. Do more with less when you use the ultra-slim HP…

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18309 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. REMINDER: As is normal with builds early in the development cycle, builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some. If this makes you uncomfortable, you may want to consider switching to the Slow ring. Slow ring builds will continue to be higher quality. If you are looking for a complete look at what build is in which Insider ring – head on over to Flight Hub. You can also check out the rest of our documentation here including a complete list of new features and updates that have gone out as part of Insider flights for the current…

Your family has a weekend free and you’re trying to figure out what to do during that precious time together. But instead of asking each person individually or using social media, it might be easier – and more efficient – to gauge the group’s preferences through a survey or a quiz. Now you can easily create either or both with Microsoft Forms, a simple, lightweight tool. Since Forms was released for education and commercial organizations, millions have used it. And now consumers can use Forms Public Preview to create, run and analyze results from surveys and quizzes. Simply share a link or QR code, and your friends and family can access your form from virtually a…