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Following the last few years of record-breaking natural disasters, it’s clear that weather prediction accuracy isn’t just for making daily decisions when going outdoors – it can save lives. From deadly risk of hurricanes to lightning storms to flooding, there’s a critical need for a high-accuracy weather forecast tool. To meet the needs of our users, we decided to build our own weather forecast system in Microsoft Start. Using industry-leading machine learning, AI and other innovative technologies over the last two years, Microsoft built one of the world’s leading weather forecasting capabilities. In a new, independent study commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Fore…

To empower people to unlock the joy of discovery, feel the wonder of creation and better harness the world’s knowledge, today we’re improving how the world benefits from the web by reinventing the tools billions of people use every day, the search engine and the browser. Today, we’re launching an all new, AI-powered Bing search engine and Edge browser, available in preview now at Bing.com, to deliver better search, more complete answers, a new chat experience and the ability to generate content. We think of these tools as an AI copilot for the web. “AI will fundamentally change every software category, starting with the largest category of all – search,” said Satya …

Sea of Thieves' third time-limited Adventure, The Shrouded Deep, and the long-awaited Pirate Legend Voyage, Legend of the Veil, are playable now. The connected stories both involve the Veil of the Ancients, a magical artefact that can grant its user the ability to travel between the living world and the spectral Sea of the Damned. "In The Shrouded Deep, players join forces with Belle and famed Megalodon hunter Merrick, and attempt to summon that great pale leviathan: the Shrouded Ghost," writes Mike Chapman, creative director for Rare, in a post on Xbox Wire. "Be prepared for a monster hunt that’ll live on in legend as you seek to liberate the Veil of the Ancients from th…

Today, Yusuf Mehdi announced the latest Windows 11 innovations that bring the power of AI to enhance what you can achieve using your PC, plus many new features and experiences ranging from accessibility to security. Windows is a tool that more than a billion people around the world use to connect, learn, play and work. In this blog I’ll share how to get the new Windows 11 features, details on our approach to availability and further Windows roadmap information. How to get the latest innovations We are committed to delivering continuous innovation to Windows 11 to provide you with the best experiences, when new features are ready, via our familiar processes. Today, Co…

Content is at the heart of the Windows PC experience – from the apps that fuel productivity, to movies that transport and games that connect. Our passion for helping developers more easily bring their apps to customers inspired us to redesign the Microsoft Store on Windows. We also embraced a new set of Open App Store Principles that welcomes all developers to bring the best apps and games to your Windows 11 device, from apps using their own commerce to third-party storefronts. We are energized by the response and feedback from our community that show us these changes have made an impact. The past 12 months have been a record year, with over 900 million unique users world…

Minecraft fans can now get their virtual hands on new Avatar Legends downloadable content from Nickelodeon and Gamemode One. "Drawing from both 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'Avatar: The Legend of Korra,' this immersive DLC sets you on a mission to become the Avatar: the only one who can bend all four elements and restore harmony to the world’s four nations," writes Sophie Austin on Minecraft.net. "Explore iconic locations from both series, and meet familiar friends and foes from the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads on your epic quest!" Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more and watch the video. Continue reading...

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2023/07/1-GettyImages-1421511938-1024x683.jpg Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images Over the past six months, I have witnessed the staggering speed and scale of generative AI technology adoption, and how it has opened doors for organizations to imagine new ways to solve business, societal, and sustainability challenges. For many with modernized data estates fortified with the Microsoft Cloud, advanced AI technology is already unlocking innovation and delivering greater business value. At our annual partner conference Microsoft Inspire, I had the chance to speak with our partner community about the critical role they play i…

Today we’re reaffirming our long-standing approach to put people in control of their Windows PC experience and to empower developers to take advantage of our open platform. We want to ensure that people are in control of what gets pinned to their Desktop, their Start menu and their Taskbar as well as to be able to control their default applications such as their default browser through consistent, clear and trustworthy Windows provided system dialogs and settings. Third party applications running on Windows and Microsoft’s own apps and features will have access to methods for pinning to these key user experiences and access to directing users to change defaults. Apps may …

Italy and Malta come alive with rich detail of the region’s grandeur in the latest free World Update of Microsoft Flight Simulator. "Fly throughout the historic cities of Rome and Venice, soar above Mediterranean coastlines and navigate sheer-faced peaks, all rendered in lifelike realism with World Update IX: Italy & Malta," writes Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, in a post on Xbox Wire. "The Microsoft Flight Simulator team has refined this area with the latest geospatial data available, including digital elevation modeling, aerial and satellite imagery, and triangulated irregular network (TIN) modeling of 20 cities, including Rome, Naples, Venice and…

At IFA 2022, ASUS shared the availability to order its 17.3-inch foldable OLED Intel Evo-certified laptop, a 2-in-1 Windows 11 PC, the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. It’s a device that aims to satisfy both work and downtime needs anytime, anywhere, with its versatility, power and security. Its design enables it to have two sizes of OLED display in one PC. It has a large 17.3-inch 2.5K touchscreen that folds in the middle to create two seamless 12.5-inch 1920 by 1280 displays. When it’s fully folded and closed along its 180-degree hinge, it's a 12.5-inch device. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2022/08/Zenbook-17-Fold-OLED_UX9702_Scenario-Photo_1920-10…

At CES 2023, AMD revealed a considerable lineup of new processors for desktops and laptops, GPUs and Windows 11 AMD Advantage-certified laptops. This technology aims to deliver enough horsepower for daily tasks, gaming, hybrid work, remote learning and more. AMD introduced additions to the Ryzen 7000 Series Desktop Processor lineup with the Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 7 7700 and Ryzen 5 7600 Series processors, aimed at delivering better gaming performance at lower power. Built on the “Zen 4” architecture and featuring a 65W TDP, the new Ryzen processors are optimized for both efficiency and performance. AMD announced additional 7000 Series Mobile processors with the new Ryzen 704…

Governments and public sector customers around the world are looking to accelerate their digital transformation, creating opportunities for social and economic growth and enhancing citizen services. Today, I am excited to announce Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, a new solution that will enable public sector customers to build and digitally transform workloads in the Microsoft Cloud while meeting their compliance, security and policy requirements. Today, public sector customers can harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud, including broad platform capabilities, resiliency, agility and security. With the addition of Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, they will have greater …

Obsidian Entertainment and the Pentiment team announced on Wednesday that the game will launch Nov. 15 for Windows 10/11 PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Pre-orders for the game are now open as well as pre-installs being available with Game Pass. "Explore history in the modern time through the style of illuminated manuscripts and early modern woodcuts," writes Mikey Dowling, director of Communications for Obsidian Entertainment, in a post on Xbox Wire. "Pentiment is a narrative-adventure game set in 16th century upper Bavaria in the time of the Holy Roman Empire. You will take on the role of Andreas Maler, a very clever journ…

As Dusk Falls is now available. The game comes with Xbox Game Pass for PC, console and cloud, and is available for purchase on Windows, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. “As Dusk Falls is an interactive narrative for all levels of players, something meant to be experienced with a group,” writes Kelly Lombardi, product marketing manager for the game, on Xbox Wire. “Inspired by prestige TV shows, the team at INTERIOR/NIGHT has crafted an uncompromising tale of family, resilience and sacrifice. You will learn more about the Walker and Holt families and how their lives were destined to intersect. You’ll make choices within the game to navigate tough scenarios …

As innovation has progressed through radio, the internet, Wi-Fi, smartphones, and the Internet of Things, we have consistently faced security concerns with each technological milestone. Every new and disruptive technology comes with both opportunities and challenges. With AI, we are heeding this lesson from the past and proactively addressing the security challenges that will inevitably arise. Yet while the AI revolution feels like the biggest innovation in a generation, scaled quantum computing is set to disrupt many aspects of technology again — and we must prepare for it now. Quantum computing at scale has the potential to help solve many of the world’s most c…

Fallout 76’s Expeditions update is here, inviting players to go beyond the borders of post-nuclear Appalachia and explore new territory. "Go on a journey to The Pitt, a city built upon the irradiated remnants of Pittsburgh that players first encountered in 2009 as downloadable content for Fallout 3," writes Parker Wilhelm, PR and marketing content manager for Bethesda Softworks. "Battle vicious Trogs and other hazards as you navigate violent tensions between the local union faction and the wild fanatics that besiege them." The launch of Expeditions also includes an all-new season for players to dive into. Rack up S.C.O.R.E. and unlock Pitt-themed cosmetics, currency and m…

Alienware revealed new gaming devices today, including a revamped Aurora R15 Gaming Desktop. It will be among the first Windows 11 PCs to feature the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs. The new Alienware Aurora R15 debuts several improvements to achieve higher thermal efficiency and help ensure peak performance including: 240mm liquid cooling anchored in a five 120mm fan layout, hexagonal side-venting to generate additional airflow to the GPU, 80 Plus Platinum-rated power supply options and more. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2022/09/Aurora-R15-Tenkeyless-Gaming-Keyboard-QD-OLED-Gaming-Monitor-1024x526.j…

Students who are learning in school and at home need PCs that can give them features they need to succeed in their studies, such as data security, powerful processors, HD webcams and technology that reduces eye strain. But those devices also need to be rugged enough to stand up to the hybrid learning experience, which includes frequent movement through hallways, sports fields, commuting and at home. Acer’s latest additions to its TravelMate B series of Windows 11 laptops check off all those boxes, as they’re military-grade standard MIL-STD 810H-compliant, that means they could withstand drops as high as 48 inches (122cm). Reinforced I/O ports and spill-resistant keyboards…

Minecraft Legends will officially release on Tuesday, April 18. "That's the day you’ll become the hero that bravely fights back against the piglins’ Nether corruption," writes Cristina Anderca on Minecraft.net. "You'll explore a vivid open world filled with treasures and perils, turn old enemies into new friends, meet new mysterious characters and strategize with your allies in epic battles against the vicious piglins." Minecraft Legends will be available on Windows 11|10, PC Game Pass, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5|4, Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Visit Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

It’s an exciting time in technology, not just for our industry but for the world. The Windows PC has never been more relevant in our daily lives, and this is increasingly the case as we approach the next wave of computing led by the mass adoption of AI. Today’s major update to Windows 11, that I am pumped to introduce, meets this new age of AI and reinvents and improves the way people get things done on their PCs. Launched just over a year ago, Windows 11 gave the PC a modern refresh and all new experiences that enable each of us to connect, participate, and be seen and heard. Since the launch, Windows 11 users continue to be more engaged than Windows 10 users and our US …

Celebrate the coming of 2023 in Minecraft Marketplace with free worlds and Character Creator items, plus deals of up to 75% off selected content until Jan. 3. "Each year we try and give back some of the creativity and joy that you, our community puts into Minecraft by showering you with our gratitude – and gifts," writes Sophie Austin on Minecraft.net. "That’s why we’re stuffing the next five weeks full of fun, freebies and discounts, starting Dec. 20! Come with me for a secret, and a sneak peek of what celebratory delights await you this New Year." Head over to Minecraft.net to watch the video and find out what Minecraft has in store for you to ring in 2023. Continue …

In Camp Enderwood, the latest free downloadable content for Minecraft, there is an activity for you whether you just want to sit by the campfire with a marshmallow or face what mysteries lurk in the woods. "One of the best parts of summer camp is all the different people you meet, and everyone is welcome at Camp Enderwood," writes Cristina Anderca on Minecraft.net. "That’s why we’re not only releasing the DLC, but also six new Mattel Creator Series sets that will allow you to express yourself in-game and IRL. These sets are available now and come with action figures inspired by in-game Minecraft player characters, as well as accessories that you can use to customize them …

Soccer Celebration, new to the Minecraft Marketplace, offers a journey from rookie to full-time pro as you engage on a quest to compete in a championship game. Partake in rigorous and challenging training drills to hone your skills on the road to stardom. Improve your shots, dribbling, passing, tackling and control until you’re ready to join the team of your dreams. Once you’ve succeeded, you’ll be able to explore and customize your own stadium to your heart’s content and put your personal mark on your team’s home turf. Find out more at Minecraft.net. Continue reading...

As companies and employees settle into new work norms post-pandemic, we’re living through a once-in-a-lifetime shift in work patterns. Whether work happens from home, at the office, in a warehouse or on the go, work is no longer a place, but an experience that transcends place and time. Over the past two-and-a-half years, new patterns of work have emerged that put people, communications, and workflows at the center. In that time, Microsoft Teams has grown to 270 million monthly active users, becoming the most ubiquitous platform for workplace collaboration and business processes. Teams’ growth is a sign of how work has changed, and where it’s going. People crave dee…

Each April, on Earth Day, the world takes a moment to reflect on our natural environment, and evaluate our impact on that environment. Microsoft has committed to become carbon negative, water positive and zero waste company by 2030, all while protecting ecosystems. Microsoft is focused on building a more sustainable future – a goal that is shared with Windows 11 PC partners. Microsoft and its device partners are addressing sustainability objectives through the design, use and end of life management of Windows devices. Microsoft has identified six specific ecosystem wide objectives to address with these partners: improved energy efficiency, sustainable packaging, increase…