Extreme Tech Support Members Area

Desktop gamers in search of a new rig can now check out Alienware’s redesigned Aurora R16, which comes with Windows 11. It improves upon the Aurora R15 with a quieter system, lower CPU and GPU temperatures and a new space-saving form factor – all while delivering the elite gaming performance expected from Alienware. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2023/08/awaurorar16-xsy-05-bk-liquid-cool-copy-1024x565.jpg The Aurora R16 is the company’s first desktop to include the Alienware Command Center – a centralized dashboard to quickly get to game-specific profiles and themes, lighting, macros, audio and more. Like its predecessor, the Aurora R16 is desig…

Collaboration is a key component of Microsoft’s success. Our partner ecosystem consists of more than 400,000 partners worldwide, and they play a key role in making new technology available to customers, especially in today’s AI-focused world. Microsoft Inspire is a chance to acknowledge the role our partners play in customer success and to share new opportunities and ways to engage with Microsoft products. To recognize the impressive achievements of our collaborators, we kicked off Microsoft Inspire by celebrating the finalists and winners in the 2023 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, which were announced in late June. The awards highlight partner success and innov…

We launched the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program last October to meet the changing needs of customers and help our partners succeed. With its robust set of dedicated partner offerings, including new Solutions Partner designations that align to our six commercial solution areas across Azure, Modern Work, Security and Business Applications, we created a place where partners can continue to thrive. Today, I want to detail some of the new investments we’re making to continue to support more of our partners as they invest with Microsoft, grow their businesses and deliver customer success. These investments, like the Cloud Partner Program itself, are designed to not only help…

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2023/01/Judson-Blog-Hero-FY23-Q2-GettyImages-1337196402-1-1024x683.jpg Photo credit: Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images In a rapidly shifting economy, organizations are relying on cloud technologies and intelligent platforms to drive cost efficiencies, while continuing to innovate across their businesses. To provide resiliency and scalability of operations, leaders are collaborating with their customers and partners to design new solutions for the emerging trends and challenges of today’s world. This co-innovation approach results in shared success and new opportunities, from accelerating the pace of digital transformation …

Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship Windows 11 PC lineup: the Galaxy Book3 series, led by the company’s new premium PC: Galaxy Book3 Ultra. The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 features a 2-in-1 convertible form factor with touch screen and S Pen functionality, while the Galaxy Book3 Pro is the thinnest and lightest clamshell device in its lineup. Samsung designed this series for those who need multi-device connectivity and premium hardware to supercharge their productivity and creativity. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2023/01/Galaxy-Book3-Ultra_Pro_Pro360-1024x768.jpg Enjoy seamless phone-to-PC connectivity with the new Link to Windows/Phone Link fea…

Just three months ago, we unveiled the new AI-powered Microsoft Bing and Edge to reinvent the future of search with your copilot for the web. We aimed to tackle a universal problem with traditional search – that nearly half of all web searches go unanswered, resulting in billions of people’s searches falling short of the mark. We launched the new Bing to bring you better search results, answers to your questions, the ability to create and compose, and with a new level of ease of use by being able to chat in natural language. Bing combines powerful large language models like Open AI’s GPT-4 with our immense search index for results that are current, cited and conversation…

For some people, it takes a long time to figure out what their life’s passion is going to be. Jonathan Morris started his journey as an entrepreneur in the fourth grade, when he sold sports-team themed bookmarks to classmates. Much later, in 2014, he channeled that enterprising spirit into opening his first official business – a barbershop in Fort Worth, Texas. “It’s in me to take ideas I’m fixated on and cultivate them into experiences that other people get to share as well. My hypothesis was that other people are likely to feel the same way,” says Morris, who grew up in Denton, Texas, but moved to Fort Worth (a half-hour west) 10 years ago from Dallas. “At that time, I …

In March, we introduced the world to Microsoft 365 Copilot – your copilot for work. We’re excited to share the next step in our journey as we bring Copilot to more customers and introduce new capabilities. We’re also releasing new data and insights from our 2023 Work Trend Index on how work is changing in the era of AI. Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program Since March, we’ve been testing Copilot with 20 enterprise customers, learning alongside companies like Chevron, Goodyear, General Motors and Dow. Their overwhelming feedback is that Copilot has the potential to revolutionize work. They point to how it is a game changer for meetings and is beginning to transfo…

Life seems to be moving at a faster pace, with demands for our time growing and multitasking being the norm at home and at work. Here at Microsoft Edge, we understand the crucial role that a web browser plays in your online life, and we strive to build features that help you make the most of your time. Yesterday, we announced the limited public preview of Edge Workspaces, which allows you to browse the web in a shared space along with your friends and family to get more done, together. Today, we are excited to share more of what is new in Edge to help you stay organized and productive. First, Edge is now the first and only browser with an integrated AI image generator. We…

For Dr. Alper Kaya, the darkest days of his life happened about 10 years after he found out he had ALS. Based in Turkey, the ophthalmologist felt fortunate in that the disease progressed slowly, after the initial diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 1990. He could still perform surgeries, help patients and play classical guitar – one of the constants in his life, ever since he was a teenager. After about a decade, he lost the use of his hands to do those things he loved. He lost hope, too. At the time, it felt unbearable. But with the help of his daughter, he found other ways to make music again. Assistive technology gave him the ability to blow into a MIDI wind …

Space engages people of all ages by sparking curiosity of the unknown. With NASA’s progress toward its first lunar missions in more than 50 years, a new generation of Americans can witness the awe-inspiring power and joy of a moon landing. It can also inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to pursue space-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, from astronauts to engineers and physicists to technicians. In recent years, we have witnessed significant diversity milestones in space exploration. Among these are the first all-female spacewalk and NASA’s diverse international crew of astronauts for the Artemis II lunar mission, where the …

Today I am sharing Microsoft’s 2022 Global Diversity & Inclusion Report, our fourth annual report and our ninth year of releasing our global workforce demographic data. This year’s data shows that globally we are a more diverse Microsoft overall today than we have ever been, with the highest year-over-year representation progress of the past five-year period for many employee communities. We’re motivated by our ongoing progress, and this year’s growth feels particularly meaningful in the context of significant challenges around the world. As one of the most transparent companies of our size when it comes to the diversity and inclusion data we share, we are continua…

Devices with “Red, Green, Blue” (RGB) lights can help users personalize their Windows experiences beyond the screen. With the latest feature update, Dynamic Lighting on Windows 11 enables users to control their RGB devices right in Windows Settings. They can use it to extend their Windows accent color onto the devices around them, synchronize RGB effects across devices from different brands and exercise finer control over how their apps control their device’s lights. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2023/09/9a921c9e-856f-43e0-b5ad-2439ef0d00ae.png Dynamic Lighting helps create cohesion across the RGB devices market and enables new and engaging ex…

The Age of Empires IV Anniversary Update is coming on Oct. 25. So is the Season Three: Anniversary Update, bringing new civilizations, challenges, achievements, features and more. And October marks the 25th anniversary for Age of Empires. Get a sneak peek at all the celebratory in-game events, with unique challenges and rewards starting on Oct. 25. You won't want to miss out on all the fun in Age of Empires IV, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition with celebratory cakes, castles and capybaras. Continue reading...

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2023/04/Hero-image-April-24.jpg © Bolbik / Adobe Stock This past quarter has put a spotlight on advancements in generative AI, and the possibilities of its application to deliver pragmatic business outcomes. For organizations around the world, there is incredible opportunity to enhance products and services while unlocking innovation and business value to help shape the future of industry. The pace and scale of technological innovation happening today is unprecedented and breathes optimism into a demanding economy. Those leveraging the Microsoft Cloud — the most trusted, comprehensive and integrated cloud — are b…

At Snapdragon Summit 2022, Qualcomm Technologies outlined its vision to advance mobile computing and revealed technology that will unlock a new generation of AR glasses. Qualcomm Technologies and Microsoft are advancing AI capabilities and transforming modern laptops with the powerful performance, neural processing and industry-leading efficiency of Snapdragon compute platforms. This collaboration on Snapdragon has enabled new AI-accelerated experiences for Windows 11 users, including Windows Studio effects such as Voice Focus, Background Blur, Automatic Framing and Eye Contact. The launch of the Surface Pro 9 5G, featuring the Microsoft SQ3 powered by Snapdragon, highlig…

Earlier this year we announced four exciting features coming to Windows 11 designed for and with people with disabilities: system-wide live captions, Focus sessions, voice access and more natural voices for Narrator. As those features start to become available today, we wanted to pull back the curtain and share a bit more about how the culture of inclusion within the Windows engineering team has helped to foster the development of more inclusive and delightful Windows experiences for everyone. That culture has three main ingredients: people, process and ambition. The makeup of our team: as diverse as the communities we aim to empower On the Windows Accessibility team …

Last month we introduced the new AI-powered Bing and Microsoft Edge, your copilot for the web – delivering better search, complete answers, a new chat experience and the ability to create content. Already, we have seen that chat is reinventing how people search with more than 100 million chats to date. We’ve seen people use chat in a variety of ways, from refining answers to complex questions to using it as a form of entertainment or for creative inspiration. Today we’re taking the chat experience to the next level by making the new Bing more visual. We’re excited to announce we are bringing Bing Image Creator, new AI-powered visual Stories and updated Knowledge Cards …

Today, Microsoft is announcing new advances to Azure Quantum aimed at accelerating scientific discovery. From the Iron Age revolutionizing agriculture to the Silicon Age revolutionizing how we communicate, new materials have always created inflection points for societal progress. Advances in this space will be transformative. For example, the transportation industry can develop more efficient and powerful batteries. Pharmaceutical researchers can develop new drugs. The chemistry industry will be able to discover safer and more sustainable compounds for the products we use daily, like electronics, paints and textiles. And most importantly, scientists will be able to so…

Forza Motorsport’s general manager Dan Greenawalt and creative director Chris Esaki have spent decades rebuilding cars. “It’s a constant sort of passion,” Esaki says. The game they reimagined will both thrill experienced racers and immerse beginners. Forza Motorsport is now available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S consoles, Windows PC and Steam, and Cloud Gaming (Beta). Head over to Source to find out more. Continue reading...

Xbox Wire went behind the scenes at Tango Gameworks to look at the inception of an idea as it moved through the entire creative process, right up to its full release. That idea, which started as “an action game where everything that you do matches with the music and creates a living soundtrack” – took five years to develop into Hi-Fi Rush. It’s a game that “pleasantly knocked its custom-built guitar over our heads with its crisp, rhythm-based gameplay, excellent soundtrack, and memorable characters, all wrapped up in a unique world for us to explore,” writes Xbox Wire’s Mike Nelson. Hi-Fi Rush is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and with Xbox Game Pass and PC …

Satya Nadella shared the below communication today with Microsoft employees. We’re living through times of significant change, and as I meet with customers and partners, a few things are clear. First, as we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, we’re now seeing them optimize their digital spend to do more with less. We’re also seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one. At the same time, the next major wave of computing is being born with advances in AI, as we’re turning the world’s most advanced models into a new computing platform.…

Microsoft looks to generate $5 billion in revenue from LSEG and the financial services sector through 10-year strategic partnership. Today, we announced a 10-year strategic partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), a world-leading financial markets infrastructure and data provider. Following LSEG’s acquisition of Refinitiv, a market leader in data services, LSEG has differentiated itself in the market with an end-to-end proposition across trading, execution, data and analytics solutions. Together we look forward to empowering the future of financial markets by delivering next generation data, analytics and workspace solutions that transform how firms c…

We know the important role your PC plays every day for hybrid work, learning, entertainment and gaming, and we are committed to supporting our customers using Windows 10. Today, we are announcing the availability of the Windows 10 2022 Update (also known as Windows 10, version 22H2). Based on customer feedback we are providing a limited scope of new features and functionality delivered via a familiar, fast and reliable update experience. Version 22H2 will continue the recent Windows 10 feature update trend of being delivered in an optimized way using servicing technology. A scoped and streamlined update Windows 10, version 22H2 will have a limited set of features focu…

Lenovo has started its CES 2023 announcements a few weeks ahead of the annual event, unveiling several Windows 11 PCs that include ThinkPad X1 laptops that have more recycled materials, a new generation of IdeaPad Pro and a refresh of the compact IdeaCentre Mini. In line with its vision of achieving net-zero by 2050, Lenovo continues to increase its use of recycled and recyclable materials in its products and packaging, and collaborating with industry partners to help increase its devices’ energy efficiency. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 includes 90% recycled magnesium in the palm rest and a 55% recycled aluminum bottom cover, while the ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 has 90% recy…