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Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14965 for Mobile and PC to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Language Packs for PC have been slightly delayed for this build. For those of you with Language Packs installed, we recommend holding off checking for updates and taking this build until the Language Packs are published. We expect these to be fully published later today. What’s new in Build 14965 Controlling external monitors from tablets just got easier (PC): You can now drive content on a second display from your tablet without ever having to attach a mouse. The virtual touchpad lets you do more with a …

Today, I’m pleased to announce the availability of Microsoft Azure from datacenters in Germany that offer a first-of-its-kind model developed in response to customer needs. The Microsoft Cloud Germany provides a new, differentiated option to the Microsoft Cloud services already available across Europe. Customer data in the two new German datacenters is managed under the control of a data trustee, T-Systems International, an independent German company and subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. It provides additional controls for customers’ data, as access is only provided with the permission of customers, or the data trustee. Microsoft’s commercial cloud services in these new …

Calling all fans of racing, cars and everything in between – your Australian adventure is about to get a whole lot cooler! As shared on Xbox Wire, Forza franchise developer Turn 10 Studios is proud to announce that Forza Horizon 3 is this year’s best-selling, highest rated racing game which further strengthens Forza as the most successful racing franchise on any platform this generation. Thanks to the biggest Forza launch to date, more than five million fans played Forza games in September on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Arriving today is the Alpinestars Car Pack, which brings seven new cars to Forza Horizon 3. Arriving today is the Alpinestars Car Pack, whi…

Katie Stone Perez brims over with excitement when talking about Xbox games. All Xbox games. Today the senior program manager for Microsoft’s independent developer program, ID@Xbox, is particularly enthused about “The Hole Story,” a new game about a budding young archaeologist named Wendy who digs in her backyard and discovers a portal to a strange land. The game, written and prototyped by a group of high school students, was selected from the Girls Make Games summer camp competition and will soon publish through ID@Xbox, which “enables qualified game developers of all sizes to unleash their creativity” though Xbox One and Windows 10. “Just a few years ago, it wouldn…

Since the release of Halo 5: Guardians last year, the team at 343 Industries has continued to provide free content updates, expanding the experiences available to players within our community and supporting the game post-launch. Today, we are releasing Anvil’s Legacy, which is our ninth major, free update for Halo 5: Guardians on Xbox One. In it, we are releasing two new maps and a bunch of new REQ content, but perhaps the biggest news relates to Forge. Along with Anvil’s Legacy, we are finally bringing the Forge toolset to Windows 10 PCs with the release of Halo 5: Forge. The precision, speed and control available on PC using keyboard and mouse will make it …

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https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/81bbf5f5030986def6ab3cbffac2839e.jpg Today, we’re excited to announce that Gears of War 4 has been released to manufacturing ahead of its Oct. 11 worldwide release. This event, also known as “Going Gold,” is a major milestone in development, marking the release of the gold master disc to Xbox replication facilities around the world. Play Video Restricted Content Confirm your age to continue month JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember day 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 year 20162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000…

https://mscorpmedia.azureedge.net/mscorpmedia/2018/02/00164904-033_wm-1-1024x731.jpg A St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientist holds a flow cell used for genomic sequencing of pediatric cancers. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Healthcare is an industry that touches all of us, given the most basic of human goals: we all want to lead healthy lives. Last year we embarked on Healthcare NExT, a Microsoft initiative which aims to accelerate healthcare innovation through artificial intelligence and cloud computing. By working side-by-side with the healthcare industry’s most pioneering players, we are bringing Microsoft’s capabilities in groun…

Today’s Windows 10 tip is all enabling beautiful photography to show up automatically on your lock screen with Windows Spotlight images. Windows Spotlight updates daily with images that highlight beautiful scenery from around the globe. Images are also selected to depict a spirit of action, whether it is discovery and exploration, creating, curiosity or fearlessness. Windows Spotlight is also used to help you get the most out of Windows, including sharing tips and tricks. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/c6919e087fda6838b1658cef7a1053ff.gif To enable Windows Spotlight images on your lock screen simply head to Settings > Personalization > Loc…

Today, Alcatel announced the IDOL 4S with Windows 10 smartphone, featuring powerhouse flagship mobile specs, an in-box VR experience and innovative Windows 10 capabilities including Continuum*, Cortana** and Windows Hello***. The IDOL 4S will be available at T-Mobile stores starting next week. The flexible IDOL 4S with Windows 10 is built for professionals, gamers and general tech enthusiasts alike. It comes with a premium dual-glass and metal-framed design and all the productivity features you need, such as Continuum, which puts PC-like productivity right in your pocket. With Continuum, you can connect your IDOL 4S with Windows 10 to a second screen, keyboard and mo…

https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/38845c7c46f00d38f3ee27e8573b4676.jpg The day racing fans have been waiting for is nearly upon us: Forza Horizon 3 is almost here! If you’ve pre-ordered (or purchased) the Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition, you’ll be able to start your engines on September 23. If you grabbed the Deluxe or Standard versions of Forza Horizon 3, you can hit the road starting on September 27. To get you pumped for some gorgeous high-speed action, the team at Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios has released the official launch trailer for Forza Horizon 3. This time, you’re in charge of the Horizon Festival. Customize everything, hire a…

In our multitasking world, when you’re playing PC games, there’s a good chance you’re doing a lot of other things, too. Gaming industry insights show 82% of people use their mobile phones for messaging during gaming sessions, while 61% listen to music and 49% watch game-related live streams, view video content and browse websites [1]. With this in mind, HP has created the world’s first dual-screen gaming laptop [2], the OMEN X 2S. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/05/e44977e42a198053b16021421b6681c0-1024x576.jpg OMEN X 2S Players will be able to message friends in WeChat and WhatsApp, browse the perfect songs to accompany their ses…

There was a lot of good stuff happening this week at Microsoft in education, communication, accessibility and industry news. Let’s dig in! To drive breakthroughs in education, Microsoft announced Intune for Education, a new, simple tool to help schools set up devices in classrooms and not have to touch them again for the rest of the year. The cloud-based application and service makes it easy for teachers and IT admins to set up and manage shared devices. Microsoft also announced the availability of new, powerful and affordable Windows 10 PCs for students from Acer, HP and Lenovo, with prices starting at $189. “We want to help all students – all over the world –…

Did you know that with Windows Hello, you can sign into your Windows 10 devices* in less than two seconds**? Windows Hello uses biometric sensors to recognize your face or fingerprint instantly and unlocks your device without needing a password. To get started, check to see if your device works with Windows Hello: https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/2da94c2bd7c828bc1ad5a7e9219936f9.gif Go to Windows Settings (or simply type Windows key + I) > select Accounts > Sign-in options > Windows Hello If it doesn’t, you have a couple of options. Consider buying a new PC, fingerprint accessory or camera accessory so that you can use the facial …

Since the global financial crisis of 2008, many countries have struggled to return to strong economic growth. Nonetheless, small and midsize businesses (SMB) continue to be an engine for economic growth. According to the International Organization for Standardization, SMBs are responsible for 50% of worldwide economic output. Business owners are all over the map when it comes to their needs and level of understanding, so Microsoft’s vision is to create technology that allows you, the small business owner, to do more. We have worked with partners like Toshiba to create devices that run all the required apps, like Office and QuickBooks, so you can focus on running you…

We’ve been investing heavily over the last year in education software to drive a breakthrough in learning outcomes. We’ve developed technology like Windows Ink in Windows 10, which enables students to write on their device as naturally as a piece of paper, delivering up to 36 percent better test scores in math and science. Office 365 delivers productivity for the modern classroom with powerful intelligence features to help students become better writers, presenters and data analysts, while empowering students and teachers to create, edit, share and grade assignments with OneNote. With OneNote Learning Tools, students can de-clutter screen views to aid concentration, helpi…

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…

The European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) takes effect one year from tomorrow. While some companies have started working towards GDPR compliance, Gartner believes that less than 50 percent of all organizations will fully comply with the GDPR when it goes into effect on May 25, 2018.* We know that the cloud can help dramatically increase that compliance rate, and we are dedicated to helping our customers on this journey. With roughly 160 GDPR requirements ranging from how you collect, store and use personal information, to mandating a 72-hour notification for personal data breaches, it’s clear that using cloud technology can help accelerate the …

Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14951 for Mobile and PC to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. What’s new in Build 14951 Refining the customization experience for precision touchpad (PC): Since last week, we’ve continued working in this space, and have another set of improvements headed your way. To start with, we’ve hooked up our keyboard shortcut picker, so now if you choose that option on the Advanced gestures page, you’ll be presented a recorder so you can capture your favorite key combo – perhaps WIN + Alt + D or WIN + F to start with? Secondly, we’ve added a Change audio and volume option to the…

https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/18e4098315490b6040887e2481bb6fb7.jpg Today, the Microsoft Casual Games team is proud to announce that Microsoft Mahjong, the classic tile-matching game, is now updated for Windows 10 with Daily Challenges, a new look and feel, and 20 new puzzles exclusively for Windows 10. You can now enjoy a total of more than 40 puzzles for hours of tile-matching fun! Microsoft Mahjong is now a Universal Windows App, which means new experiences can be created and added to the game faster than ever on both Windows 10 PCs and Windows 10 mobile devices. Head over to Xbox Wire to read about all the new features in the game available…

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first Weekend Reading of 2017. We know many of you are still climbing your mountain of post-vacation emails or getting re-acquainted with commuting schedules, but please allow us to distract you with our top news from an exciting first week back in the office. https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/8b79d6d0e46fad15b4bb7fb740fdb2c1.jpg At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft partners put their innovation on full display. Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, MSI, Samsung and Toshiba introduced new Windows 10 devices in a variety of form factors to empower gamers and the creator in all of us. VR-ready ga…

We hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of This Week on Windows! Read this week’s Windows 10 tip on how to enable the dark theme in Microsoft Edge, check out BIO-key’s new Windows Hello fingerprint accessories and catch up on all of this week’s news from Ignite. Here’s what’s new in the Windows Store this week: Candy Crush Saga – Level 2000 – Free https://extremetechsupport.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/9fd7ee74a90d838304c9c733d4bd6b2e.jpg In the latest update to Candy Crush Saga, the carefree Candy Universe is in a panic over the pending arrival of level 2000. How will their world change? Get ready for a color-bomb kickoff, then work to collect 2 green, 20 blue …

We have all heard the mind-blowing statistics around growth in the number of mobile and digital devices, and the amount of data generated every day. These trends represent the digital shift our society is undergoing, and they are also having an acute impact on the business world. Every company in every industry around the world is now being challenged to transform from being an organization that uses digital technology, to being a digital organization. With mobile devices outnumbering the people who use them, it seems like everyone is a technologist to a certain extent. But inside companies, it is still IT professionals who are best positioned to turn technology into a…

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…

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...