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Capcom’s futuristic blue bomber, the maverick hunter Mega Man X, is making a grand appearance in Minecraft. "As of now, the Mega Man X DLC by 57Digital has arrived and is live on Minecraft Marketplace," writes Per Landin on Minecraft.net. "Relive the glory days of one of the best platformers ever brought to the Super Nintendo as X dashes from 2D right into a blocky 3D adventure! This DLC is not only rich with reploids – it’s charged with iconic levels reminiscent of the original game in the X series, features 14 skins of familiar characters and unforgettable songs from the game’s soundtrack!" Head over to Minecraft.net for details, a video and more. Continue reading...

Two weeks ago, we introduced the world to the all new AI-powered Bing and Microsoft Edge — your copilot for the web. Since then, based on strong and positive product feedback and engagement, we’ve welcomed more than one million people in 169 countries off the waitlist into the preview. We continue to expand the preview to more people every day. Our preview community is actively using the breadth of new features across Search, Answers, Chat and Creation with total engagement up significantly. Feedback on the new capabilities is positive, with 71% of testers giving the new Bing a “thumbs up” on the new search and answers capabilities. We’re even more excited about the brea…

Now available to order online, the new Minecraft x Crocs footwear collection features five pairs of Crocs and two blocky sets of Minecraft-themed Jibbitz charms. The charms come in two different sets: a five-pack of flat charms featuring Steve, Alex, an Enderman, a creeper and a pig, and an exclusive 13-pack of 3D charms that includes various characters, mobs and blocks. And in addition to the physical Crocs, you can also download your very own pair of Minecraft x Crocs in the Dressing Room, for free. Simply launch Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and open the Character Creator to claim the item. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more and see the Crocs close-up. Continu…

How often do you share a screenshot to help others understand a problem or issue versus spelling it out in a lengthy email? If you’re like a lot of people, you may find sharing images an easier way of conveying a message and collaboratively finding solutions. With Dropbox Capture, an app available in the Microsoft Store to download onto Windows 10 and 11 PCs, you can record screenshots and videos, mark them up, and invite others to comment and markup through a shareable link that doesn’t require a sign-in. Users save time by consolidating feedback in one location. Aside from being a time saver, it’s also a tool that organizations can use as part of their onboarding or tra…

Twenty pieces of new Realms Plus content are coming this month for Minecraft gamers. "In Ninja Mash-up by Everbloom Games, you’ll get to fly over rooftops using your grappling hook, fight waves of mobs in the dojo and even test your skills against the clock," writes Sophie Austin on Minecraft.net. "Because this is a mash-up map, you’ll even get a Japanese-style texture pack you can use in your own worlds! So even when you return to your llama farm, you can still feel like every bit the epic ninja you are." Head over to Minecraft.net to find out about all the Realms content coming in February. To get it you just need to subscribe to Realms Plus via your Minecrafting device…

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 …

The newest addition to the HP Fortis PC portfolio is aimed at helping students and workers collaborate better, no matter where they are, with a durable and powerful Windows 11 laptop. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2023/02/HP-Pro-x360-Fortis-11inch-G11_AerialFlatLay-1024x1024.jpg The PC also includes a 360-degree hinge and interactive touchscreen. Students and workers who prefer using a digital pen can add an optional HP Slim Rechargeable Pen to take notes, draw and edit. Windows has been reimagined for a new era of digital learning. Affordable Windows 11 devices like this help educators unlock the full potential of every student, giving them po…

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…

At Information Systems Europe 2023 in Barcelona, Lenovo revealed a new solution aimed at helping people collaborate better at home and in the office: ThinkSmart View Plus. Powered by the Qualcomm QCS8265 chipset, this integrated device runs Microsoft Teams as a standalone 27-inch multi-touch display with premium video, audio and whiteboarding features. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2023/01/03_ThinkSmart_View-Plus_Phone_Booth_2000-1024x576.jpg Explore big ideas together on this device with a stylus pen and a whiteboarding application. Users can also hear and be heard more clearly with a premium soundbar with two 5w speakers and four-mic array, w…

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 …

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...

Though schools have returned to in-person learning, that doesn’t erase the digital paradigm shift that was brought on by the pandemic. At the Future of Education Technology Conference in New Orleans, Lenovo announced refreshed and new solutions aimed at supporting hybrid learning styles and ongoing technological pivots by students and teachers. Lenovo’s latest Windows 11 laptops and convertibles are built to withstand the challenges of education at every level. Lenovo DuraSpec provides a series of hardware features and testing methods to ensure the company’s devices withstand the rigors of daily indoor and outdoor classroom life. These protective innovations built into th…

Last year, I had the opportunity to speak with customers across a wide range of sectors about how they are approaching the current economic climate. Whether they are focusing on increasing efficiency or driving cost savings, we are all essentially trying to do more with less and prioritize investments that will drive the most important and meaningful outcomes. Unfortunately, these resource constraints are coming at a time when data sources and data volumes continue to rise at staggering rates. According to a study published by the IDC, the amount of new data created, captured, replicated and consumed is expected to double in size by 2026. [1] This surge in data means IT d…

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 …

Today, we are announcing the third phase of our long-term partnership with OpenAI through a multiyear, multibillion dollar investment to accelerate AI breakthroughs to ensure these benefits are broadly shared with the world. This agreement follows our previous investments in 2019 and 2021. It extends our ongoing collaboration across AI supercomputing and research and enables each of us to independently commercialize the resulting advanced AI technologies. Supercomputing at scale – Microsoft will increase our investments in the development and deployment of specialized supercomputing systems to accelerate OpenAI’s groundbreaking independent AI research. We will also…

Bee Poshek found community as a full-time streamer and content creator after the pandemic disrupted a completely different career path. “As an educator, one of my favorite aspects of teaching was kind of stripped out from under me – not getting to see students in person,” says Poshek, who was working at a university in Wisconsin. “I didn’t get to connect with them in that way or have deeper conversations. I also felt like students were going through some of the hardest things that I’d ever seen them go through and the systems in place were not giving me the tools I needed to really be able to help them.” Poshek, who uses they/them pronouns, burned out. Their disabil…

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.…

The final free adventure in Minecraft’s New Year’s celebration is now here. Monster Attack: Nian from Next Studio pits you against a giant beast attacking the town. Talk with villagers to find your way, and collect special weapons to defeat your foe. Once the beast is defeated, ride the weapons to victory. To enter the adventure, simply open up the Marketplace on your Minecrafting device and download. Find out more. Continue reading...

January brings 16 new pieces of Minecraft Realms Plus content. To get your hands on it all, you just need to subscribe to Realms Plus via your Minecrafting device. "This month we’re going to journey to alien dimensions, ride dragon horses, create our own skyblock adventures and more," writes Sophie Austin on Minecraft.net. "Plus, we’ll be discovering some hidden twists along the way." Head over to Minecraft.net to survey the new offerings, find details about Realms Plus and choose your subscription. Continue reading...

The Minecraft Marketplace is brimming with content to transform you from a farmer to a fighter, a builder to a burrower. Behind every door is a new story. What'll your next story be? Head over to Minecraft.net to explore some of the content bundles available, and be sure to check out the official trailer that gives you a taste of the excitement that awaits. Continue reading...

Today, Microsoft is announcing the acquisition of Fungible Inc., a provider of composable infrastructure aimed at accelerating networking and storage performance in datacenters with high-efficiency, low-power data processing units (DPUs). Fungible’s technologies help enable high-performance, scalable, disaggregated, scaled-out datacenter infrastructure with reliability and security. The Fungible team will join Microsoft’s datacenter infrastructure engineering teams and will focus on delivering multiple DPU solutions, network innovation and hardware systems advancements. Today’s announcement further signals Microsoft’s commitment to long-term differentiated invest…

https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2023/01/Satya-M12-photo-1024x683.jpg Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella with Manny Medina, cofounder and CEO of Outreach, one of M12’s portfolio companies. As we begin a new year, I am delighted to share some exciting changes we’ve made at M12 to better deliver value to our portfolio companies and to Microsoft. While I experimented with ChatGPT while writing this blog post, and have been impressed by its results, I decided on a traditional, human approach. 2022 was quite the year overall, with some exceptional volatility in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. We whipsawed from valu…

CES always brings exciting new developments in hardware, and never more so when it comes to gaming devices. CES 2023 is no exception, bringing us early looks at portable-but-powerful laptops, beefy home rigs, future-proofed AI chips, and more. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a sampling of the new Windows 11 PCs announced at CES 2023 from several of our top partners. Each one is designed to run the newest, most demanding games, not least from PC Game Pass. Even better, every single gaming PC comes with at least a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included*, helping you jump straight into a game the moment you get your hands on your new device. Head over to Xbox Wir…

At CES 2023, one of the most influential tech events in the world, new Windows 11 PCs showcased innovation throughout its partner ecosystem. These include advances from silicon partners Intel, AMD and NVIDIA, as well as the latest consumer, commercial and gaming devices from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and other gaming device partners. This technology reinforces how relevant the PC is in daily life; to connect, create, work, learn and play – from anywhere. It does all that while being accessible and secure, freeing up time and peace of mind to be creative. As an ecosystem, Microsoft is focused on achieving consistent sustainability targets across Windows 11 devices. Wit…