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$32 billion in revenue. That’s an incredible number that Satya Nadella and Amy Hood shared during the Q2 earnings call last week. Just as impressive is the commercial cloud revenue increase of 48 percent year-over-year to $9 billion. Did you know that 95 percent of Microsoft’s commercial revenue flows directly through our partner ecosystem? With more than 7,500 partners joining that ecosystem every month, partner growth and partner innovation are directly fueling our commercial cloud growth. One accelerant, the IP co-sell program, now has thousands of co-sell ready partners that generated an incredible $8 billion in contracted partner revenue since the program began in July 2017. It’s exciting to see the success of our partners, and to know we are collaborating with businesses of all types and sizes wherever there is opportunity. We’re working together with partners old and new to help them build their own digital capability to compete and grow. We’ve doubled down on our partnership with Accenture and Avanade, creating the new Accenture Microsoft Business Group to help customers overcome disruption and lead transformation in their industries. We’re partnering in new ways with customers like Kroger to bring their new Retail as a Service solution built on Azure, to use in their stores – and to sell to other retailers. Part of Microsoft’s digital transformation is moving beyond transactional reselling via partners, to a true partnership philosophy where we’re working together to develop and sell each other’s technology and solutions. Our partners are building on our technology, collaborating with partners across borders to build repeatable solutions, and creating new revenue opportunities that didn’t exist in the past. We focus as much on selling third-party solutions as our own, and the speed of the cloud enables all of us to accelerate value to our customers. I want to share more with you about how hundreds of thousands of Microsoft partners are powering customer innovation, and how we are evolving our partnership strategy in order to drive tech intensity for customers around the world. Partner success and momentum With hundreds of thousands of partners across the world, our partner ecosystem is stronger than ever. CSP: Through our Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, our fastest-growing licensing model, partners are embedding Microsoft technologies into their own solutions and delivering more differentiated, long-term value for customers. The number of partners transacting through CSP is up 52 percent, and they are serving more than 2 million customers. Azure Expert MSP: The Azure Expert MSP program has grown to 43 partners that deliver consistent, repeatable, high-fidelity managed services on Azure and are driving more than $100,000 per month in Azure consumption. A big part of this volume is in migration services, as SQL Server 2008 phases out this summer, followed by Windows Server 2008 a year from now. The opportunity for partners can’t be understated. Our estimates put the opportunity around $50 billion for partners to help customers move their existing on-premises workloads to Azure and start capitalizing on the benefits of the cloud. IP Co-Sell: Our industry-leading IP co-sell program that rewards Microsoft sellers for selling third-party solutions is a runaway success, generating $8 billion in contracted partner revenue since July. Our partners are reaping the benefits and seeing co-sell deals close nearly three times faster, projects that are nearly six times larger, and drive six times more Azure consumption. Building the largest commercial marketplace Gartner estimates the opportunity for business applications will be $133 billion this year, with independent software vendors (ISVs) driving more than half of that. So we are upping our commitment to ISVs by investing in Microsoft’s marketplaces, Azure Marketplace, and AppSource, to build the largest commercial marketplace in the industry. Our marketplace provides a frictionless selling and buying experience that brings parity to first and third-party solutions and meets the needs of both IP builders and software purchasers. Partners with solutions in our marketplace can sell directly to more than a billion customers and partners, and they benefit from lower deployment costs and flexible procurement models for software. Through the marketplace go-to-market services, we’ve seen partners achieve an average of 40 percent reduction in cost per lead, and a 2x lead conversion to sales rate compared to industry averages. New capabilities are coming soon to AppSource and Azure Marketplace. One of the biggest developments is the ability for partners to offer their solutions to our partner ecosystem through the CSP program, with a single click. We’re also improving the user experience and interface with natural language and recommendations features. And by setting up private marketplaces, partners will be able to customize the terms for any specific customer—billing or metering their services on a per-user, per-app, per-month, or per-day basis to meet customer needs. And soon we’ll be offering curated portfolio IP & Services solutions that leverage Azure, Dynamics, Power BI, Power Apps, and Office. AI for enterprise IDC estimates that global spending on cognitive and artificial intelligence systems is expected to triple between 2018 to 2022, from $24 billion to $77.6 billion. And just like Microsoft transformed the way people work and live by making personal computing widely accessible in the 1980s and 1990s, we plan to do the same with artificial intelligence. Our aim is to make AI accessible to and valuable for everyone. We’ll do it by focusing on AI innovations that extend and empower human capabilities, while keeping people in control. Our partners are finding huge success and growth in the AI space. Through our AI Inner Circle Partner program, partners provide custom services and enhanced AI solutions to customers and have seen more than 200 percent growth in their AI practices year-over-year. As we encourage partners to go all-in on AI, we need to make sure they have substantial resources and training. So, we’ve developed AI Practice Development Workshops, Advanced Education, trainings in the classroom, online, and at events. So far, since July, more than 29,000 people have been trained across Microsoft’s data and AI portfolios. Our popular AI Partner Development Playbook and library of online resources—collectively with more than 1 million downloads—have put answers at the fingertips of partners launching and expanding their AI services. New HR skills playbook and tools The latest in our series of Cloud Practice Development Playbooks, released today, is an outstanding human resources guide for partners and customers. We collected input from more than 700 partners to develop “Recruit, Hire, Onboard & Retain Talent.” It is a hands-on guide to walk partners through the HR process of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding employees. Alongside the playbook, we’re launching a new learning portal on MPN that simplifies partner training, and a new Partner Transformation Assessment Tool to help partners map resources and investments against solution areas and workloads. Partner opportunities ahead Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. And we know that partners make more possible. As a customer-first, partner-led company, we start with the needs of our customers and work with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for each organization. We look forward to continued evolution in the Microsoft-partner relationship this year—with more innovation in AI, more co-selling opportunities, and more ways to connect partners to customers and to other partners through Azure Marketplace and AppSource. I invite you to learn more about how Microsoft leaders from the Azure, Dynamics, and ISV teams are supporting our partners, and how partners can capitalize on the opportunities ahead. The post Inspired and powered by partners appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

The internet is a dynamic place that is changing every day, so today, Safer Internet Day, is a great time to take a moment to evaluate your family’s digital habits and online safety, and ensure you have all the proper guardrails in place. As the lead of strategy and product for the family team, and a mom of two, it’s something I think about all the time, at home and at work. Yet I hear from a lot of people that they don’t know what tools are available or how to use them. I think most parents today wonder how to ensure their children are safe when using technology, be it playing the latest games, using apps, or simply browsing the web from their many devices. Today, I am sharing a few tips that I personally use with my kids that might help your family. Take advantage of free, built-in features in the devices you use. Go to account.microsoft.com and set up a Microsoft account to take advantage of all the great family settings across Windows, Xbox, Microsoft Launcher for Android, and the web. Family settings are a free set of features that span devices and can help you set guardrails that work for your family – manage screen time, set permissions for games or apps purchases, enable safe browsing on the web, and more. And we’re excited that we’re making the consent process for a child account easier than ever, eliminating the need to enter a credit card to confirm an adult account – which is often a barrier for families in this process. Beginning now on Xbox, and coming to Windows, mobile apps and the web over the coming months, the process is simpler and more efficient for parents, requiring only an e-signature. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/60246a8aa70aaa4e4113f3952869a43c-1024x578.png Have an open dialog with your children about expectations and appropriate digital behavior. While there are tons of tools and apps available to track your child’s behavior or monitor their every move, there is a lot to be said for using digital time as a learning opportunity. I always encourage people to sit down with their kids and talk about what is expected of them, what is good and bad online, and to discuss what the appropriate guardrails are going to be before you set them up. This can help foster an ongoing conversation and empower kids to be a part of the process in learning how to manage their own relationship with technology. Set a good example. Just like our kids wanted to cook or vacuum like us when they were small, they are still looking to us as their example as they get older. The best way to teach our kids about responsible digital habits and online safety is to demonstrate good behaviors ourselves. Visit microsoft.com/family for more information and tips. My team and I continue to work hard to build features that can help families thrive in our digital world – we are excited to bring you more this year! The post Keeping kids safe in a digital world appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Do you enjoy using the digital pen to edit PowerPoint presentations? Thanks to the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, now you can do even more. The AI-powered PowerPoint Designer has gotten smarter. Designer can now recommend slide designs based on handwritten ink. Or, if typing is more your style, Designer can take a simple block of text, understand the context using AI, and then provide design ideas using icons and Smart Art. To provide even more design options, there are now 350 new icons in the library. If you prefer to sketch out your thoughts first, now you can ink* your ideas and AI will transform them into perfectly formatted slides. An inked bulleted list will transform into perfectly formatted text. Or, if you’re inking a flow chart or diagram, you can draw both words and shapes, and PowerPoint will convert them into text and snapped shapes in one fell swoop. Check it out in action: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/6d6f931f4ac39485efec58c58b63ddd3.gif If you like this, check out more Windows 10 Tips and the Windows Community’s video about Al and digital pen. *Touch-capable tablet or PC required. Pen accessory may be sold separately. The post Windows 10 Tip: AI-powered PowerPoint Designer gets smarter appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18329 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. This build won’t be available for these Windows 10 editions in the following languages: Windows 10 Home: RO-RO, SK-SK, SL-SI, SR-LATN-RS, TH-TH, UK-UA Windows 10 Home N: RO-RO, SK-SK, SL-SI Windows 10 Pro: FR-CA, IT-IT, JA-JP, KO-KR, NL-NL, PL-PL, SR-LATN-RS Windows 10 Pro N: RO-RO, SK-SK The 19H1 Bug Bash has continues to run until February 3rd, 2019. Make sure you head over to Feedback Hub for Quests to try out. If you missed Tuesday’s special edition Bug Bash webcast you can watch it on demand here! 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 development cycle (which currently is 19H1). What’s new in Build 18329 Introducing Top apps in Search Get quick access to the apps that you use the most, just open Search Home and you’ll see them under Top apps—no typing required! One more way Search helps you find the things you need. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/d85da03dd6098a0de4436d12ee639871.png This change is rolling out server-side, so you may see it outside the bounds of this flight. Stay tuned for more improvements. Run Desktop (Win32) apps in Windows Mixed Reality In this update, we added the ability to launch Desktop (Win32) applications (such as Spotify, Paint.NET, and Visual Studio Code) in Windows Mixed Reality, just like how you launch Store apps. Please keep in mind this is feature is still in development and we are actively working on addressing bugs. You may find ways to “break” the feature, and when you do, please file a feedback via Feedback Hub! https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/1c2b7cd94f45d399347d07d734bfc699.png To use this feature, bring up Pins Panel, then go to all apps, where you will find a folder named “Classic Apps (Beta)”. In this folder, you will be able to select and launch any Desktop (Win32) applications. ADLaM and Osage keyboard support Building on the font support we announced recently, today we’re introducing keyboard support for ADLaM and Osage. ADLaM script is used to write Pular/Fulfulde, the language of the Fulani people of West Africa. Osage script is used to write the Osage language spoken by the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. Here is an example what you’d see on the touch keyboard when using ADLaM: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/e81b028d7074f6fd9a735a86b5207d51.png To try this out yourself, just go to Language Settings, click Add a preferred language, and search for ADLaM or Osage: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/d2aa6812c112664b20cea231afdee1ce.png Other Updates for Insiders Mail & Calendar version 16.0.11231.20082 Currently rolling out to Insiders in Fast, this app update brings: Dark mode now extended to Mail and Calendar items: Building on our previous release of Dark mode in Mail and Calendar, we have extended our dark UI to more parts of our app. With this update, Dark mode now works when composing a new message, updating a calendar item or reading your email. This helps provide a calmer reading experience for people that work in a low light environment or just prefer screens that are less bright, and helps to reduce eye strain. To turn on Dark mode, go to settings, select “Personalization”, and choose “Dark mode”. For those who already have Dark mode enabled, you will see it expand to cover your email reading and compose experiences after receiving the update. If you prefer to view a particular email in light mode, look for the sunshine icon in the command bar to “turn on the lights” and view the email with a white background. This can help if a particular email is not formatted well for Dark mode. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/a07ce709c7d8c8de8375f2de7299f577.jpg Default Font: We are introducing a top customer requested feature: Default font. Now you can customize how new messages will look. If you create a new mail or reply to an existing mail, the text you type will be in the font face, size, color and emphasis you have selected. To change your default font, go into settings and select “Default font”. Default font applies per-account and does not roam to other devices. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/02/903ecf0374c8e44a69da3ebef2025cc8.png These updates are the latest in a series of updates we’ve made based on your feedback, and we’re looking forward to hearing what you’d like to see improved next! General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC REMINDER: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. The setting is designed to be on by default, however the default state is not currently in effect for current Insider Preview builds. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on. We fixed an issue resulting in many Win32 apps having an unexpectedly long launch time due to being incorrectly suspended by the OS in the last two flights. We fixed an issue where the Windows Insider Program settings pages via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program had a bug preventing Narrator and Screen Reader programs from properly reading the page. We fixed an issue from the previous flight where Desktop Window Manager would crash if multiple Office and/or video playback applications were running on the same screen on devices with Multiplane Overlay Support. We fixed an issue resulting video playback going black after rotating a device from landscape to portrait. We fixed an issue resulting in a green screen with error Kernel_auto_boost_lock_acquisition_with_raised_irql when using an Xbox controller with your PC. We fixed an issue resulting in USB devices, including mice and keyboards, potentially not working after updating to recent builds. We fixed an issue resulting in intl.cpl hanging when copying settings. We fixed an issue resulting in Microsoft Edge not being able to access local IPs. We fixed an issue resulting in not being able to extend your monitor to a second screen connected via Miracast. We fixed an issue where when you opened a new Notepad window and pressed CTRL + F, the Find window would unexpectedly be populated with the search query from the last time the Find window was used in a previous Notepad instance. We fixed an issue from the previous flight that caused consistent black screens when using Remote Desktop, DisplayLink, or Miracast if you are on an AMD or Nvidia driver. Known issues The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes. Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue. While night light functionality is back up and running, you may still find issues with other blue light reduction software not working. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue. The value in Narrator Settings “Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and control” might be empty. To work around this issue, use the Narrator command Narrator key + v to change the verbosity level, then close and reopen Settings app again. After upgrade, there might be two Narrator voices talking at the same time. Reboot the machine once, this issue will go away. Windows Sandbox may launch to a black screen for some users. Taskbar icons may stop loading and appear blank. Some of the Real-Time Protection options for Malwarebytes Premium are not able to be turned on. You may see an error when unzipping files. The brightness slider may not work. Opening Color filters setting in the Ease of Access setting will crash the Settings app. Known issues for Developers If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings. REMINDER: Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These simplified versions of some of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button. Microsoft Ignite | The Tour The Windows Insider Team is hitting the road for Ignite The Tour! If you can be in Washington D.C. on February 4th- 5th, or in Sydney on February 13th – 14th, please come and see us. We will be hosting an Insider session at each conference as well as an “off hours” event for Insiders in each city! Join the Bing Insider Program Who will be the next Super Bowl champion? Bing predicts the Patriots will take home the title this year, but be sure to check out the season stats, injury report, and previous Patriots/Rams matchups to see if you agree. Don’t forget about another Super Bowl highlight – the ads! Use Bing to explore the best Super Bowl commercials of all-time and even get a sneak peek of commercials running during this weekend’s game. If you want to be among the first to learn about these Bing features, join our Bing Insider Program. No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18329 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

Computing is embedded all around us. Devices are increasingly more connected, and the availability of data and information is greater now than it has ever been. To grow, compete and respond to customer demands, all companies are becoming digital. In this new reality, enterprise technology choices play an outsized role in how businesses operate, influencing how employees collaborate, how organizations ensure data security and privacy, and how they deliver compelling customer experiences. This is what we mean when we talk about digital transformation. As our CEO Satya Nadella described it recently, it is how organizations with tech intensity adopt faster, best-in-class technology and simultaneously build their own unique digital capabilities. I see this trend in every industry where customers are choosing Microsoft’s intelligent cloud and intelligent edge to power their transformation. Over just the past two months, customers as varied as Walmart, Gap Inc., Nielsen, Mastercard, BP, BlackRock, Fruit of the Loom and Brooks Running have shared how technology is reshaping all aspects of our lives — from the way we shop to how we manage money and save for retirement. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month, Microsoft customers and partners highlighted how the Microsoft cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) play an ever-expanding role in driving consumer experiences, from LGE’s autonomous vehicle and infotainment systems, to Visteon’s use of Azure to develop autonomous driving development environments, to ZF’s fleet management and predictive maintenance solutions. More recently, at the National Retail Federation (NRF) conference, Microsoft teamed up with retail industry leaders like Starbucks that are reimagining customer and employee experiences with technology. In fact, there is no shortage of customer examples of tech intensity. They span all industries, including retail, healthcare, automotive manufacturing, maritime research, education and government. Here are just a few of my favorite examples: Together with Microsoft, Kroger – America’s biggest supermarket chain – opened two pilot stores offering new connected experiences with Microsoft Azure and AI and announced a Retail as a Service (RaaS) solution on Azure. This partnership with Kroger resonates strongly with me because I first met with the company’s CEO in 2013 soon after joining Microsoft. Since then, I have witnessed the Kroger-Microsoft relationship grow and mature beyond measure. The pilot stores feature “digital shelves” which can show ads and change prices on the fly, along with a network of sensors that keep track of products and help speed shoppers through the aisles. Kroger may eventually roll out the Microsoft cloud-powered system in all its 2,780 supermarkets. In the healthcare industry, earlier this month, we announced a seven-year strategic cloud partnership with Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA). Through the partnership, WBA will harness the power of Microsoft Azure cloud and AI technology, Microsoft 365, health industry investments and new retail solutions with WBA’s customer reach, convenient locations, outpatient health care services and industry expertise to make health care delivery more personal, affordable and accessible for people around the world. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/Walgreens-1024x683.jpg Walgreens Boots Alliance will harness the power of Microsoft Azure cloud and AI technology and Microsoft 365 to help improve health outcomes and lower overall costs. Customers tell us that one of the biggest advantages of working with Microsoft is our partner ecosystem. That ecosystem has brought together BevMo!, a wine and liquor store, and Fellow Inc., a Microsoft partner. Today, BevMo! is using Fellow Robots to connect supply chain efficiency with customer delight. Power BI, Microsoft Azure and AI enable the Fellow Robots to provide perfect product location using image recognition to offer customers different types of products by integrating point of sale interactions. BevMo! is also using Microsoft’s intelligent cloud solutions to empower its store associates to deliver better customer service. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/Fellow-1024x682.jpg In automotive, companies like Toyota are breaking new ground in mixed reality. With its HoloLens solution, Toyota can now project existing 3D CAD data used in the vehicle design process directly onto the vehicle for measurements, optimizing existing processes and minimizing errors. In addition, Toyota is trialing Dynamics 365 Layout to improve machinery layout within its facilities and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist to provide workers with expert support from off-site designers and engineers. Also, Toyota has deployed Surface devices, enabling designers and engineers to fluidly connect in real time as part of a company-wide investment to accelerate innovation through collaboration. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/Toyota-1024x683.jpg Digital transformation is also changing the way we learn. For example, in the education space, Law School Admission Council (LSAC), a non-profit organization devoted to law and education worldwide, announced its selection of the Windows platform on Surface Go devices to digitize the Law School Admission test (LSAT) for more than 130,000 LSAT test takers each year. In addition to the Digital LSAT, Microsoft is working with LSAC on several initiatives to improve and expand access to legal education. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/SurfaceGo-1024x682.png Beyond manufacturing and retail, organizations are adopting the cloud and AI to reimagine environmental conservation. Fish may not be top of mind when thinking about innovation, but Australia’s Northern Territory is building its own technology to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources for future generations. For marine biologists, a seemingly straightforward task like counting fish becomes significantly more challenging or even dangerous when visibility in marine environments is low and when large predators (think: saltwater crocodiles) live in those environments. That is where AI comes in. Scientists use the technology to automatically identify and count fish photographed by underwater cameras. Over time, the AI solution becomes more accurate with each new fish analyzed. Greater availability of this technology may soon help other areas of the world improve their understanding of aquatic resources. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/Australia-1024x576.jpg With almost 13,000 post offices and more than 134,000 employees, Poste Italiane is Italy’s largest distribution network. The organization delivers traditional mail and parcels but also operates at the digital frontier through innovation in financial and insurance services as well as mobile and digital payments solutions. Poste Italiane selected Dynamics 365 for its CRM, creating the largest online deployment in Italy. The firm sees the deployment as a critical part of its strategy to support growth, contain costs and deliver a better, richer customer experience. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/prod/2019/01/Poste-Italiane-1024x684.jpg These examples only scratch the surface of how digital transformation and digital capabilities are bringing together people, data and processes in a way that generates value, competitive advantage and powers innovation across every industry. I am incredibly humbled that our customers and partners have chosen Microsoft to support their digital journey. The post From shopping to car design, our customers and partners spark innovation across every industry appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

If you like the flexibility of editing Word documents using digital pen, note that the Windows 10 October 2018 Update now makes it easier for you. Using Ink Editor*, you can already do things like remove and highlight text. Now, there are pen gestures that make editing a document from start to finish easier, including adding line breaks, inserting new words as well as splitting and joining words. Check it out in action: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/d4e4e6e09c9f7c8029cd7e3adf28f8a2.gif If you like this, check out more Windows 10 Tips as well as videos from the Windows Community about handwriting on Windows 10 touch-enabled devices and a Windows engineer who channels his passion for note-taking into improving that handwriting experience. *Touch-capable tablet or PC required. Pen accessory may be sold separately. The post Windows 10 Tip: New pen gestures make it easier to edit appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 started using Microsoft To-Do with Cortana. Check it out in action: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/ff02b65645cef0f00c18e7073a411aca.gif For more details, visit the Tech Community blog post. Please note: The Cortana/To-Do integration is only available in English and in the following regions: Australia, India, U.S., and U.K. If you want to access from a different region, change your language and region settings. The post A faster and easier way to stay on top of your tasks – Cortana with Microsoft To-Do appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 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 development cycle (which currently is 19H1). What’s new in Build 18323 Improved RAW image format support Do you like taking pictures in Raw image formats and wish that the Raw files from your camera were natively supported by Windows? Good news! Targeting 19H1, we’ve been working hard to release a new store-delivered Raw codec package that dramatically improves native raw file format support in Windows. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/996b3f7520f84c11f8bf569a734a7928.jpg By downloading the new Raw Image Extension (Beta) package from the store, you can now view image thumbnails, previews, and camera metadata of previously unsupported raw files right in File Explorer. You can also view your raw images – at full resolution – in apps such as Photos or any other Windows app that uses Windows Imaging Component framework to decode raw images. How to test Please note – to install the package, 19H1 Build 18323 or later is required. Open the following link in Edge to install the current beta package: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9NCTDW2W1BH8. We have also created a 19H1 Bug Bash quest for directions. If you are running Build 18323 or later, click on this link to open the quest in Feedback Hub. Known issues Exposing camera properties stored as EXIF/XMP metadata is not currently working for some raw image formats. File Explorer hangs when the view state is changed to “Details Pane” and a raw file that activates the new raw codec package is selected. Opening some raw images in Photos app using the new store-delivered raw codec pack gets stuck at low resolution thumbnail image. How to provide feedback We would love to get your feedback. Please send your feedback through Feedback Hub under “Devices and Drivers > Video Playback” category. Improving Light Theme We introduced the new Light Theme in Windows 10 with Build 18282 and today’s build has some improvements to Light Theme worth taking note of based on your feedback: We fixed an issue where the text in the battery flyout might become unreadable in light theme due to it being white. We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in the network flyout wasn’t visible in light theme. We fixed an issue where the autoplay icon in the systray wasn’t visible in light theme. We fixed an issue where impacting the network and volume icons in the notification area where after switching to light theme they wouldn’t update from white to black until explorer restarted. We fixed a similar issue where not all supported app icons in the taskbar would switch colors on the taskbar when switching between light and dark theme (particularly on the secondary monitor). We’ve made some adjustments to address issues where when using light theme white icons in notifications weren’t readable. We’re updating the Settings icon to now be dark grey in the taskbar when light theme is enabled rather than black. General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC REMINDER: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on. We fixed an issue causing Update Orchestrator Service to stop working periodically. As a result of this issue, you might have seen an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. This issue also resulted in restart using Update and Restart to sometimes just restart you back into the base OS. Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build. We fixed an issue resulting in night light not working recently. We fixed an issue where the quick actions section of Action Center would be missing sometimes recently. We fixed an issue where closing an open Excel window from the taskbar might cause Excel to go non-responsive. We fixed an issue an issue where the WIN + Ctrl + <number> hotkey wasn’t working. When using your accent color on the taskbar has been enabled, the taskbar and start jump lists will now also be accent-themed. For the time being we’re returning the Volume Mixer link in the volume button context menu to its October 2018 behavior while we look at improving the experience based on feedback. We fixed an issue where themes and Microsoft Edge extensions downloaded from Microsoft Store wouldn’t appear in their respective locations after the download finished. We fixed an issue impacting Action Center reliability in recent builds. We fixed an issue where you might see multiple Focus Assist notifications in the Action Center at a particular time. We’re adding Nearby Sharing to the list of default Focus Assist exceptions. We fixed a recent issue where if you used the screen snip quick action in the Action Center then the resulting screenshot would have the Action Center in it. We fixed a recent issue that could result in not being able to launch UWP apps from the Start menu sometimes. We fixed a recent regression resulting in File Explorer sometimes hanging when interacting with MP4s and folders that had MP4s in them. We fixed an issue where Cortana would close immediately if opened from the Start screen when using tablet mode. We fixed an issue impacting Snipping Tool reliability. We fixed an issue resulting in Ctrl + P not activating the Print command in Snip & Sketch in recent flights. We fixed an issue resulting in Snip & Sketch potentially crashing when closing many Snip & Sketch windows in a row. We fixed an issue where rebooting would set Nearby Sharing back to an off state if it had been turned on. We fixed an issue where the lock screen preview in Lock Screen Settings wasn’t showing in recent builds. We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in Settings was overlapping the text fields when manually configuring your IP address. We fixed a rare issue that could result in the screen locking up when using the Surface Dial. We fixed an issue where the tooltips in the Emoji Panel were truncated on the bottom. We fixed an issue where the Windows feature update might fail but would still be listed as a successful update in Windows Update history page. We fixed an issue where you might see a Windows Update icon in the notification area saying there was an update when no update was available. We fixed an issue where you couldn’t type on the touch keyboard when “Turn on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse” since focus would move away from the text field and set to the keyboard itself. We fixed an issue on certain devices that could sometimes result in the screen staying black on boot until CTRL + Alt + Del was pressed. We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices experience increased battery drain on the last few flights when in Disconnected Standby Mode. We fixed an issue for devices with multiple monitors resulting in Task View (WIN + Tab) sometimes showing UWP app thumbnails on the primary monitor rather than the monitor where the app was open. We fixed an issue where some key labels were cut off in Armenian full touch keyboard layout. We fixed an issue when using the full touch keyboard layout in Korean where pressing the FN key unexpectedly highlighted the IME ON/OFF key. We also fixed an issue for this language where tapping the tab key wouldn’t insert a tab. Thanks everyone who shared feedback about the new Japanese Microsoft IME we’ve been working on. With today’s build the IME and settings pages are returning to the ones that we shipped with the October 2018 Update, while we take your feedback into consideration. We fixed an issue where Narrator sometimes did not say anything when reopening Action Center after it was dismissed using the Esc key. We fixed an issue where Narrator did not speak the volume level value when using the hardware volume button to change the volume setting. We fixed an issue where Narrator command read from current location did not work when on a heading in Wikipedia. We fixed an issue where Narrator announced read-only at the end for links. We fixed an issue where Narrator continuous reading command read the last word of a sentence twice on a web page in Microsoft Edge. We fixed an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they might not receive policies. We fixed an issue where signing out from inside Windows Sandbox resulted in a blank white window. We fixed an issue resulting in running c:\windows\syswow64\regedit.exe not launching regedit in recent builds. Settings header rollout update: This is now available across most regions for Insiders in Fast using Home edition and Pro editions of Windows that are not domain joined. Small app update: Thanks everyone who reached out about the grid alignment issue in the Calculator – this has been fixed with the 1812 version of the app. Known issues While with Build 18323 we fixed the recent spike in Update Orchestrator Service crashes, if you’re on a base OS that’s impacted by the crash, you will still see the symptoms described above until you’re on 18323. The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes. Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue. While night light functionality is back up and running, you may still find issues with other blue light reduction software not working. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue. USB devices, including mice and keyboards, may no longer work after updating. Possible workarounds are to change which USB port it is plugged into or connect the device through a USB hub. You may consistently see black screens when using Remote Desktop, DisplayLink, or Miracast if you are on an AMD or Nvidia driver. We’re working on a fix, but in the meantime, you can work around this issue by enabling the following registry key and rebooting: reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm /v EnableFrontBufferRenderChecks /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f. The value in Narrator Settings “Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and control” might be empty. To work around this issue, use the Narrator command Narrator key + v to change the verbosity level, then close and reopen Settings app again. After upgrade, there might be two Narrator voices talking at the same time. Reboot the machine once, this issue will go away. Windows Sandbox may launch to a black screen for some users. The Insider Program Settings pages currently have a bug preventing Narrator and Screen Reader programs from properly reading the page. A fix will be available in an upcoming build. Taskbar icons may stop loading and appear blank. Desktop Window Manager will crash if multiple Office and/or video playback applications are running on the same screen on devices that have Multiplane Overlay Support. Known issues for Developers If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings. REMINDER: Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These simplified versions of some of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button. Join the Bing Insider Program Welcome to the world of words. Whether you’re trying to win a game of Scrabble or just learn new words, Bing can help. Discover words that start with, contain, or end with certain letters, and sort them by length or popularity. If you want to be among the first to learn about these Bing features, join our Bing Insider Program. Microsoft Ignite | The Tour The Windows Insider Team is hitting the road for Ignite The Tour! If you can be in Johannesburg on January 28th-29th, Washington D.C. on February 4th-5th, or in Sydney on February 13th-14th, please come and see us. We will be hosting an Insider session at each conference as well as an “off hours” event for Insiders in each city! No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 place where we have continuously invested in offering choice and flexibility with our fully managed community based open source relational database services, spanning MySQL, PostgreSQL and MariaDB. This builds on our other open source investments in SQL Server on Linux, a multi-model NoSQL database with Azure Cosmos DB, and support for open source analytics with the Spark and Hadoop ecosystems. With our acquisition of GitHub, we continue to expand on our commitment to empower developers to achieve more at every stage of the development lifecycle. Building on these investments, I am thrilled to announce that we have acquired Citus Data, a leader in the PostgreSQL community. Citus is an innovative open source extension to PostgreSQL that transforms PostgreSQL into a distributed database, dramatically increasing performance and scale for application developers. Because Citus is an extension to open source PostgreSQL, it gives enterprises the performance advantages of a horizontally scalable database while staying current with all the latest innovations in PostgreSQL. Citus is available as a fully-managed database as a service, as enterprise software, and as a free open source download. Since the launch of Microsoft’s fully managed community-based database service for PostgreSQL in March 2018, its adoption has surged. Earlier this month, PostgreSQL was named DBMS of the Year by DB-Engines, for the second year in a row. The acquisition of Citus Data builds on Azure’s open source commitment and enables us to provide the massive scalability and performance our customers demand as their workloads grow. Together, Microsoft and Citus Data will further unlock the power of data, enabling customers to scale complex multi-tenant SaaS applications and accelerate the time to insight with real-time analytics over billions of rows, all with the familiar PostgreSQL tools developers know and love. I am incredibly excited to welcome the high-caliber Citus Data team to Microsoft! Working together, we will accelerate the delivery of key, enterprise-ready features from Azure to PostgreSQL and enable critical PostgreSQL workloads to run on Azure with confidence. We continue to be energized by building on our promise around Azure as the most comprehensive cloud to run open source and proprietary workloads at any scale and look forward to working with the PostgreSQL community to accelerate innovation to customers. For more information on Citus Data, you can read the blog post from Umur Cubukcu, CEO and co-founder, here. The post Microsoft acquires Citus Data, re-affirming its commitment to Open Source and accelerating Azure PostgreSQL performance and scale appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

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 enforcement mode. (Intersection) Scenario 2 – Enforce 2 or more “base” policies simultaneously to allow simpler policy targeting for policies with different scope/intent, e.g., Base1 corporate standard policy that is relatively loose to accommodate all organizations while forcing minimum corp standards (e.g. Windows works + Managed Installer + path rules). Base2 team specific policy that further restricts what is allowed to run (e.g. Windows works + Managed Installer + corporate signed apps only) (Intersection) Scenario 3 – Supplemental policies deployed to expand Base policy, e.g., Azure host baseline policy restricts tightly to just allow Windows and hardware drivers allows supplemental policies. Exchange Azure team supplemental policy adds just the additional signer rules needed to support Exchange team signed code. (Union) What’s New in Windows Admin Center Thank you for your continued interest in Windows Admin Center! Following the update to our generally available channel earlier this month, the Windows Admin Center Preview resumes with this 1812 release. This is the first release where you’ll be able to preview the dark UI theme, which is still a work in progress. Other new features are: Power configuration tab on the server settings page, where you can change the configured power profile. If the server has an IPMI-compatible BMC, you’ll find the BMC serial number and a hyperlink to its IP address on the Server Overview page. If Windows Admin Center is installed in service mode, you can now use PowerShell to automate the following (examples included below): Import/export of connections (with tags) Extension management We have also improved the High-Availability deployment experience and script. View the new documentation here. Dark Theme (preview) To enable the dark theme, enter the experiment key msft.sme.shell.personalization on the advanced tab of the global settings. This will enable a new personalization tab, where you can toggle to the dark theme. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/36c899f4735f02049c0e0c9c727eab9e.png NOTE: Dark theme is still a work in progress, please do not report bugs at this time. Configure Windows Admin Center using PowerShell After installing this release, you’ll find two new PowerShell modules that you can use to automate Windows Admin Center configuration when it is installed as a server service. NOTE: Windows Admin Center installed in desktop mode is not supported. Extension management # Add the module to the current session Import-Module "$env:ProgramFiles\windows admin center\PowerShell\Modules\ExtensionTools" # Available cmdlets: Get-Feed, Add-Feed, Remove-Feed, Get-Extension, Install-Extension, Uninstall-Extension, Update-Extension # List feeds Get-Feed "https://wac.contoso.com" # Add a new extension feed Add-Feed -GatewayEndpoint "https://wac.contoso.com" -Feed "\\WAC\our-private-extensions" # Remove an extension feed Remove-Feed -GatewayEndpoint "https://wac.contoso.com" -Feed "\\WAC\our-private-extensions" # List all extensions Get-Extension "https://wac.contoso.com" # Install an extension (locate the latest version from all feeds and install it) Install-Extension -GatewayEndpoint "https://wac.contoso.com" "msft.sme.containers" # Install an extension (latest version from a specific feed, if the feed is not present, it will be added) Install-Extension -GatewayEndpoint "https://wac.contoso.com" "msft.sme.containers" -Feed "https://aka.ms/sme-extension-feed" # Install an extension (install a specific version) Install-Extension "https://wac.contoso.com" "msft.sme.certificate-manager" "0.133.0" # Uninstall-Extension Uninstall-Extension "https://wac.contoso.com" "msft.sme.containers" # Update-Extension Update-Extension "https://wac.contoso.com" "msft.sme.containers" Export/import of connections # Add the module to the current session Import-Module "$env:ProgramFiles\windows admin center\PowerShell\Modules\ConnectionTools" # Available cmdlets: Export-Connection, Import-Connection # Export connections (including tags) to .csv files Export-Connection "https://wac.contoso.com" -fileName "WAC-connections.csv" # Import connections (including tags) from .csv files Import-Connection "https://wac.contoso.com" -fileName "WAC-connections.csv" Windows Admin Center Known Issues Extension Manager If you have upgraded from an older version, extension manager will display an old version number for pre-installed extensions, however the actual tool UI will be up to date. This will block you from removing pre-installed extensions. Extensions from feeds will continue working normally. To resolve this issue, close Windows Admin Center, delete the ‘%ProgramData%\Server Management Experience\Extensions’ directory, and restart Windows Admin Center. Available Content Windows Server vNext Semi-Annual Preview The Server Core Edition is available in the 18 supported Server languages in ISO format and in English only in VHDX format. Windows Server Core App Compatibility FoD Preview Windows Server Language Packs Windows Admin Center 1812 The following keys allow for unlimited activations of Windows Server Previews: Server Standard: V6N4W-86M3X-J77X3-JF6XW-D9PRV Server Datacenter: B69WH-PRNHK-BXVK3-P9XF7-XD84W This Windows Server Preview will expire July 5th, 2019. Symbols are available on the public symbol server – see Update on Microsoft’s Symbol Server blog post and Using the Microsoft Symbol Server. Matching Windows Server container images will be available via Docker Hub. For more information about Windows Server containers and Insider builds, click here. How to Download Registered Insiders may navigate directly to the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. If you have not yet registered as an Insider, see GETTING STARTED WITH SERVER on the Windows Insiders for Business portal. We value your feedback! The most important part of a frequent release cycle is to hear what’s working and what needs to be improved, so your feedback is extremely valued. For Windows Admin Center, Send us feedback via UserVoice. We also encourage you to visit the Windows Admin Center space on the Microsoft Tech Communities forum to collaborate, share and learn from experts. For Windows Server, use your registered Windows 10 Insider device and use the Feedback Hub application. In the app, choose the Windows Server category and then the appropriate subcategory for your feedback. In the title of the Feedback, please indicate the build number you are providing feedback on in this format: [server #####] Title of my feedback We also encourage you to visit the Windows Server Insiders space on the Microsoft Tech Communities forum to collaborate, share and learn from experts. Windows Server Bug Fixes We fixed an issue where a password change could result in the next unlock hanging for domain joined AD users. We fixed an issue addressing frequent access violations in bindflt!BfNormalizeNameComponentExCallback. We fixed an issue where SRV2.sys may crash with an access violation when attempting to connect to a client machine with a null name string. We fixed an issue where OpenId Connect sign-on applications may experience high latency in ADFS authentication when using SAML and Oauth code flow. We fixed an issue where an occasional corruption may occur in UserName information on events retrieved using PowerShell cmdlet Get-RemoteAccessConnectionStatistics. We fixed an issue where using classic file explorer in Server core from the App Compat FOD, clicking Eject on a USB device would notify the user that the USB Drive is currently in use, resulting in a hung eject operation. We fixed an issue where virtual machine runtime state (VMRS) files failed to load. An affected system may report a failure in looking up or receiving the VM from the source host due to the data being invalid (0x8007000d). Windows Server Known Issues [New] Dynamic Update Setup on Server shows “Installing Windows 10” instead of Server. [New] Scheduled startup tasks may fail to run. An event is logged, ID 101 with the error code ERROR_LOGON_FAILURE when the failure occurs. [New] A virtual machine may not report all virtual fibre channel (vfc) LUNs after powering on if there are 2000+ vfc LUNs. WMI queries from the host show the LUNS available. Restarting the VMMs may show the LUNS again as available. [New] DCPromo fails if the interface metric of the physical NIC is larger than Loopback Interface [New] ADFS Requests with invalid domain suffixes fail after a long delay (around 3 minutes) with error DS_NAME_ERROR_DOMAIN_ONLY. This can cause queued legitimate requests to experience delays or also timeout. Server FODs are not retained after in-place (or B2B) upgrade [New] Domain Controller rename updates incorrect attributes in AD leaving orphaned data behind (ValidateSPNsAndDNSHostNameActual). This can be reproduced by adding a new FQDN, setting it as primary, restarting the domain controller, then removing the current FQDN. Checking the msDS-AdditionalDnsHostName, msDS-AdditionalSamAccountName and servicePrincipalName attributes will incorrect values. [New] Invalid file may be created in %Systemroot%\System32\LogFiles\Sum by User Access Logging [New] Windows may attempt to reuse an expired DHCP lease if the lease expired while the OS was shutdown. Self-service users cannot install Feature on Demand (FOD) packages and Language Packs for Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and Autopilot scenarios. A container host may become unresponsive due to a deadlock when attempting to mount a volume. On an affected system, Docker hangs on all commands. The operating system has an unnecessary utility account for Windows Defender Application Guard. When a Windows Defender Application Guard container crashes, the resulting type of dump may be unexpected. [New] CPU spike may happen when Windows Server logs obsolete Windows Error Reporting reports PnPDriverInstallError and PnPDriverImportError. Terms of Use This is pre-release software – it is provided for use “as-is” and is not supported in production environments. Users are responsible for installing any updates made available from Windows Update. All pre-release software made available to you via the Windows Server Insider program are governed by the Insider Terms of Use. No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows Server vNext Insider Preview Build 18317 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 family group, and invite family members to join. Once they accept the invitation, you can do things like block inappropriate apps and websites, receive activity reports and set screen time limits. Once you set up your group, you can add or remove members. Check it out in action: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/b6dafd2cb9525b7a80d5f02517c46e85.gif Other things you can do for your family: Make sure your child is safe through location sharing. Turn on Ask a Parent, which requires adult approval for the things your child wants to buy in Microsoft Store, except what they get with gift cards or money in their Microsoft account. Schedule events on your family calendar. Track kids’ spending and add money to their Microsoft accounts. Sign in with your Microsoft account, find your child’s name, then select More options> Spending. On some specific websites and apps, parents who want to protect their kids will need to adjust safety settings. If you like this, check out more Windows 10 Tips. The post Windows 10 Tip: Did your child get a new laptop? Help keep them safe appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 provides a modern and beautiful experience, you can choose to see more news stories at a glance in the compact or text-only views.” Check out the blog post for additional images, info and more. Don’t have the Microsoft News app yet? Get it now for your iOS or Android device. The post Choose your own layout with updated Microsoft News app appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 region have grown 21 percent, while growth in housing construction has lagged at 13 percent. This gap in available housing has caused housing prices to surge 96 percent in the past eight years, making the Greater Seattle area the sixth most expensive region in the United States. Read more about this initiative on Microsoft on the Issues. The post Microsoft announces commitment to help affordable housing in the Puget Sound region appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

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? Today, we’re proud to announce the Microsoft Modern Journalism grant program in collaboration with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). Based in Washington, D.C., ICFJ has a track record of fostering news innovation, building investigative networks, running exchange programs and promoting diverse voices. Its global mission — to build the expertise and digital skills that journalists need to deliver trustworthy news essential for vibrant societies — has so far created a community 100,000-journalists strong in 180 countries. Sharon Moshavi, ICJF’s senior vice president of new initiatives, shares their view and vision about our new partnership this way: “We’re thrilled to partner with the Microsoft Modern Journalism Initiative to support reporting projects focused on data analysis and immersive storytelling. Through these projects, we aim to highlight innovative ways that journalists can enhance news coverage and connect more deeply with audiences.” The grant program will operate in two phases: The first will award funding and hands-on data journalism training to two alumni of ICFJ programs. Data journalism grounds stories in fact, makes the information transparent to its audiences, and distills the essential pertinent narrative from what could otherwise be an overwhelming swamp of information. By honing the journalist’s digital skills, we’re addressing what ICFJ has defined as a “perilous” gap in newsrooms. The second phase will award grants for funding and training journalists need to pioneer storytelling using immersive technologies like livestreaming and mixed reality. While data invites fact-based exploration on a large scale, immersive storytelling can be remarkably intimate. It is in these shared experiences where knowledge may become understanding, observation may engender empathy, and learning may translate into action. We look forward to announcing our winners in March. In the meantime, we encourage you to see, support and join in the kind of work that ICFJ does, be it a sobering virtual tour of the largest slum in Karachi, Pakistan, the fifth most populous city in the world, or a heartening partnership of a global conglomerate and environmental and social nonprofits to safeguard water quality in Nairobi. These stories the world over remind us of the challenges that face all of us, and how much we depend on sharing stories in ways that touch us, educate us and, most importantly, inspire us to act for the best. The post Teaming up to help journalism thrive in the digital age appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

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 development cycle (which currently is 19H1). What’s new in Build 18317 Separating Search and Cortana Going forward, we’ll be decoupling Search and Cortana in the taskbar. This will enable each experience to innovate independently to best serve their target audiences and use cases. Some Insiders have had this update for a few weeks now, and we appreciate all the feedback we’ve received about it so far! For those new to this update, when it rolls out to you, you’ll find clicking the search box in the taskbar now launches our experience focused on giving you the best in house search experience and clicking the Cortana icon will launch you straight into our voice-first digital assistant experience. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/c9dd8ecdbb0f7b0ce3831be85a48b026.png Other available Search and Cortana settings have also now been split between the two, along with the familiar group policies. This change is one of several we’ve made throughout this release to improve your experience in this space, including updating the search landing page design, enhancing your search results, and integrating Microsoft To-Do with Cortana. If you have any further feedback, please don’t hesitate to share it with us here. Note: Cortana is currently only available in supported markets. The next step in improving Start reliability As some of you may already know, up until now Start in Windows 10 has been hosted by something called ShellExperienceHost.exe. In order to provide you the best possible Start experience, we’re separating it into its own process, called StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. This has a number of benefits, including simplifying debugging and insulating Start from potential issues impacting other surfaces. This has been running as an experiment for a few weeks now and we’ve seen measurable improvements in the reliability amongst those that have the change, so we’re rolling it out to everyone. We’re also making a change so that Start no longer suspends, which improves launch time. A Better Font management experience in Settings Insiders today can now drag and drop font files from File Explorer into the modern Settings > Fonts page to install them. After installation, click on the font in the Font page, to view the different font faces associated with the font and all the details of the font. You can also uninstall the font from this font details page. Drag and drop font installation by default is installed as a per-user font which does not require elevation, hence it will not be available for other users. To install the font for all users in the device, use the “Install for all Users” option by right clicking the font on file explorer. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/3fcadff7866df87552a0b651a4c741c2.gif A simpler Windows Insider Program Settings page We are introducing a simplified Windows Insider Program Settings page via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program with Build 18317. The goal is to make the end-to-end experience of signing up for the Windows Insider Program and setting up your PC to take new builds much easier by simplifying the experience and removing some of the clutter. You’ll find that all the same functionality is still there. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/ba12422c13676fde90b6cd646c1026d8.jpg Under “Pick your Insider settings” is where you can change your Insider ring on your PC. Windows Console Updates We’ve made several fixes & improvements in Windows Console in and leading up to build 18317, including: Fixed spurious text artifacts being displayed when running cscope in a Linux VM via ssh Fixed GitHub issue 296 where the incorrect mouse button ID was being reported when a mouse button was released, resulting in an “unexpected mouse-drag behavior” regression Fixed GitHub Issue 313, enabling colors above index #15 to be set via VT OSC 4 Colors <= 99 fixed in this build Colors > 99 fixed in up-coming build [*]Corrected sizing issues for Linux alt-buffer apps (e.g. vim, emacs, etc.) resulting in more reliable resizing [*]Fixed some issues with Consoles growing in height if scroll-forward is disabled [*]Fixed ConPTY, enabling underline VT sequences to now pass correctly, allowing ConPTY-enabled apps (e.g. VSCode’s integrated terminal) to correctly receive and display underlined text [*]Made ConPTY flush its output buffer before terminating ensuring apps receive all input and display correct output [*]When running Tmux, correctly restore state after Win + D, resulting in Tmux’s last line of text rendering correctly [*]Fixed Console to preserve a Console window’s currently colored text when executing Cmd.exe [*]If using raster fonts, Console now correctly preserves the user’s font after running .NET Core code (which defaults to UTF-8 codepage 65001) [*]Correct how Console scrolls text region, fixing how text is rendered in Linux’ `screen` [*]Significantly improved performance of ConPTY – perf now very close to “raw pipe” General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC We fixed an issue resulting in File Explorer unexpectedly having a lock on USBs when trying to safely eject them. We fixed an issue resulting in frequent bugchecks (GSODs) in the last two flights, citing an error with bindflt.sys. We fixed an issue resulting in frequent bugchecks (GSODs) in the last flight, citing error KERNEL_LOCK_ENTRY_LEAKED_ON_THREAD_TERMINATION. We fixed an issue resulting in not being able to connect to VMs using Hyper-V console after upgrading to recent flights. This issue also impeded the ability to connect to VMs with Enhanced Sessions enabled. We fixed an issue resulting in some full screen games showing a black screen in recent flights even though they worked in windowed mode. We fixed an issue resulting in CDP User Service periodically unexpectedly using a high amount of CPU in recent flights. We fixed an issue causing text in the Windows Security app to be incorrect or potentially missing altogether. We fixed an issue from recent flights where clicking the network button on the sign-in screen didn’t work. We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices not being able to wake from hibernation recently. There were two possible symptoms on wake if you were impacted – one was a black screen, one was a screen that continued to say “hibernating…”. We fixed an issue resulting in Display Settings crashing in recent builds. If you were impacted, this would have also had the symptom that clicking System or Ease of Access from the main Settings page may crash Settings. We fixed an issue with certain touch keyboard languages where pressing AltGr + [any key] on the full layout would dismiss the touch keyboard. We fixed an issue where Windows Sandbox wouldn’t launch on PCs with multiple GPUs. When Scan Mode is on and Narrator is on a slider, the left and right arrows will decrease and increase the slider. Up and down arrows will continue to navigate to the previous or next paragraph or item. Home and End will move the slider to the beginning or the end. The Narrator list of headings command now works as expected in Chrome. We improved Narrator support for Microsoft Teams. For cursor and pointer, fixed returning to the right mouse pointers when changing back to the original size and colors. We fixed an issue where some devices would fail to install an update with error code If you are updating from 18309 or newer this issue will be fixed for this update, if you are updating from a build prior to 18309 it will be fixed for the next update. Known issues Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) will not work on the build and likely cause a bugcheck (GSOD). If you require WSL to work, please pause taking flights until the issue is fixed. The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes. Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build. Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue. When attempting to update this build some S Mode devices will download and restart but fail the update. Night light functionality is impacted by a bug in this build. We’re working on a fix, and it will be included in an upcoming build. When you open Action Center the quick actions section may be missing. Windows feature update may fail but show up as a successful update in Windows Update history page. If this happens you will see more than one successful install for the same update in the history page. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. There is an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they may not receive policies. Those policies are not applied and left in a “pending“ state on the server. The workaround is to go to Settings/Accounts/Access work or school and “Disconnect” your Azure AD account and then re-enroll. Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue. Update Orchestrator Service stops working periodically. A fix will be included in an upcoming build. As a result of this issue, you may see an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. If you see this, restarting using the power menu in Start (“Update and restart”) should work, although there’s a chance that it won’t. Closing the lid to a laptop and re-opening can cause icons in the task bar to appear blank. To fix this open task manager and restart explorer.exe or reboot. If you download a theme from Microsoft Store, it won’t appear in Themes Settings. Known issues for Developers If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings. Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These “lite” versions of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/b215982bfdb009243df11a2835d207e7.jpg REMINDER: The 19H1 Bug Bash starts next week! The 19H1 Bug Bash in Feedback Hub will span from January 23th, 2019 to February 3rd, 2019 – we look forward to seeing your feedback! There will be a special bug bash edition webcast on Tuesday, January 29th at 10am PST. Join the Bing Insider Program Searching on Bing can be music to your ears! Keep up to date with Billboard’s Top 100. Discover trending music and explore music videos and lyrics to your favorite songs. If you want to be among the first to learn about these Bing features, join our Bing Insider Program. No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18317 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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. The program – which aims to help readers understand critical issues, outline potential solutions and connect people to opportunities to help make a difference – was a unique exploration into the potential of online journalism. The response has been remarkable. The MSN News team announced Tuesday that its readers donated over $1 million in 2018. “That money has gone to more than 20 different charitable organizations in the U.S. and around the world,” said Cody Bay, senior news editor, in a blog post. “Disaster relief, cancer research, missing children, biodiversity, military veterans, Special Olympics athletes and gender equality are just a few of the causes we have supported together. We have raised not just money, but awareness on issues like depression (Germany) and elder loneliness (UK), and driven actions such as 7,000 blood donation registrations in Switzerland – the equivalent of saving 21,000 lives.” In the U.S., the MSN News team put a special focus on the issue of poverty in America during the holiday season, featuring more than 20 articles and slideshows from its content partners over two weeks. These pieces explored the root causes of poverty, shared what it means to not have enough, and focused on supporting the organizations that are providing solutions. To find out more about the articles and organizations supported, head over to Bay’s post on the Microsoft News blog. The post MSN readers donate $1M to causes in the news in 2018 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 improve app compatibility. We work very closely with partners to measure, validate and improve application compatibility for every supported version of Windows. Testing is a critical step, but we also know that testing is not enough to fully understand our dynamic ecosystem, so we invest in new methods and product improvements. Once we discover that an OS change has impact to an application or a class of applications, we partner with internal and external developers to implement mitigations in the OS or the application. Because these fixes can take time and our goal is to limit the impact of any issues to our customers, we take specific steps to prevent customers from having a bad experience while fixes are developed, flighted and deployed. We work across several areas to ensure compatibility: proactive prevention, issue discovery and investigation, internal and external partner engagements, and compatibility mitigations. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/65a6e64bd7045fa97f2a352e558d1107.jpg Proactive prevention Our Windows Application Compatibility team focuses on preventing app issues by partnering with Windows feature development teams to make Windows more compatible and resilient. As teams work on new features for each new release, they bring code changes to the Windows code base. We use static and runtime analysis tools to help us detect changes in APIs to determine if there are any potential compatibility breaks caused by these code changes. We especially monitor changes that may impact 3rd party, independent software vendor (ISV) apps such as antimalware and antivirus (AV) solutions and then closely collaborate with them to address changes needed before new releases. Additionally, using machine learning models, we are developing new capabilities to understand how our code changes during active development cycles and build a risk-based recommendation model that prescribes apps we should test. As these models mature, we expect to continuously improve our time to issue detection metrics by tailoring our testing coverage to catch compatibility issues faster. Issue discovery and investigation Every time we change our code, there is potential to impact an app. We must balance enabling innovation and raising the security bar in the OS with continuously monitoring and assessing any impact on apps. To maintain compatibility in Windows 10, the team validates thousands of apps internally each week. These apps serve as our issue detection canaries and are chosen based on telemetry (popularity) from the ecosystem or based on risk level and partner feedback. We also employ app selection criteria based on an app’s API usage and its unique way of exercising underlying OS platform capabilities. As the partial list below suggests, we consider many device/form factors and application categories in a complex matrix. Partial view of categories covered by our internal test matrices Device/Form Factors Application Categories · Desktops & PCs · First-party devices · Third-party devices · ARM64 devices · Tablet PCs · Gaming consoles · Mixed reality devices · Virtual reality devices · Accessibility · Security & antimalware · Business, finance & home office · Communication & social · Utilities & developer tools · Enterprise, cloud & server · Entertainment · Graphics & gaming · Music & MP3, photo & video · Personalization (photo & video) · Peer to peer We verify app compatibility continuously; it starts seconds after a new build completes and continues with each flight, quality and feature update. Our multi-layered approach includes the following types of testing: Automated application compatibility integration tests – Large and complex projects like Windows require participation and collaboration from thousands of engineers, working on different branches of the source code every day. Before a branch can be integrated into the main Windows development branch, it is subjected to automated tests, referred to internally as “gates.” Our app compatibility gates test the primary functionality of first- and third-party apps. For desktop versions alone, we test hundreds of different apps for every completed build of Windows, across all branches. This type of testing adds up; we run more than 280,000 individual app compatibility tests each day. Results are reported within two hours of build completion, helping ensure that any failures are understood and addressed, and that Windows remains stable. Daily automated application compatibility tests – As code changes reach the main Windows development branch, we also run a broader set of automated tests covering around 2,500 apps to detect any new compatibility-related breaks. The results of these daily scheduled test are analyzed on the same day, allowing engineering teams to detect and fix issues that are not caught during prior branch-level integration testing. Manual application test passes – We leverage automation heavily today and will continue to invest in additional automation. But we also rely on manual verification to ensure there are no end-user experience regressions. The automated solutions often find functional regressions. But, to validate the experience we often need to experience the application as our end users would. Here are few examples of end user scenarios that we validate manually: Automation can display a menu and make selections from that menu. However, it can’t easily verify that each menu item is visible and usable by the end user. Automation cannot evaluate app behaviors that change when a specific peripheral type(s) is connected/attached to the device. Data and analytics-based issue detection: Our teams also make use of telemetry signals to detect and predict potential regressions impacting the app ecosystem with new OS releases or OS flights to Windows Insiders. Through telemetry, we monitor app crash signals closely to determine if there are any increases. Similarly, our automated user feedback monitoring systems sort through thousands of feedback items daily to help us detect potential compatibility issues impacting Windows customers; we make these a priority to resolve. With this level of ongoing app compatibility testing and monitoring, our goal is to maintain high compatibility pass rates with every release of Windows 10. We execute these tests against both Windows 10 feature updates and then monthly quality updates to help keep our compatibility at the highest levels possible. Internal and external partner engagements Finding a compatibility issue through testing or telemetry is just the first step. We also work with partners to resolve compatibility issues and update either the app or the OS. To do this, we partner closely with many internal and external teams to drive resolution for newly discovered compatibility issues during the development cycle. External partners include external ISVs and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Below are two examples of external engagements: Desktop App Assure Program: We are confident in the app compatibility promise we make. That’s why at Ignite in September 2018, we announced the Desktop App Assure Program, which provides app remediation services to our commercial customers as they deploy Windows 10, Office 365 ProPlus and subsequent feature updates. Desktop App Assure service is available to address valid application compatibility issues at no additional cost. The program is designed to: assist customers in remediating custom-developed line-of-business apps engage 3rd-party independent software vendors to help remediate their Windows 10 apps and issue support statements for Windows-as-a-Service address issues found in Microsoft first-party products (including Office macros and add-ins) AV vendor engagement: Many Windows 10 devices use 3rd-party antimalware and antivirus (AV) solutions; these apps sometimes have compatibility issues. Approximately 80 independent software vendors (ISVs), covering +95 percent of the ecosystem, (e.g., Avast, Kaspersky, McAfee, Qihoo, Sophos, Symantec, Tencent, Trend Micro, etc.) participate in our MVI (Microsoft Virus Initiative) program. We maintain a close relationship with these vendors to provide a “better together” integration experience that protects our shared customers from malicious software. Many AV vendors also participate in our Security Update Validation Program (SUVP) program to validate security updates (discussed in a December 2018 blog). Similarly, we run hundreds of AV products in our compatibility labs to report results on Windows 10 feature and quality updates. We are very committed to continue expanding on collaboration opportunities with AV vendors to maintain highly compatible and secure experiences for our customers. Compatibility mitigations Depending on the issue, timeline and the ability of internal or external partners to resolve issues, the Windows application compatibility team evaluates a range of mitigations to prevent customers from experiencing a compatibility issue. These fall into two basic types — shims and blocks. A shim is a method to help an app or feature to function as expected, even if OS functionality may not fully support it or has changed. Blocks are simpler and preclude a user from installing a Windows 10 update that would create a compatibility issue. When we place a block due to a compatibility issue with an app, we will not install the update on devices that have the affected app installed until that issue is resolved. When the issue has been fixed, re-tested and fully deployed, we then remove the block. We have recently begun providing greater transparency about these blocks on the Windows 10 Update history page. While we have rich capabilities to mitigate issues through blocks or shims, we consider this only for temporary cases and prioritize fixing the issue and updating the OS for a complete resolution. We are committed to providing fully compatible app experiences on Windows devices. Today we do this through proactive prevention, a multi-level validation approach, engagement with a vibrant and diverse ecosystem and compatibility mitigations. We will continue to innovate in the methods we use, and our goal is nothing short of full compatibility with each update experience. The post Application compatibility in the Windows ecosystem appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 identities on the device manages the cloud connection and its renewal provides a plug-in model for platform components, which allows easy onboarding to various Azure services, including discovery, initialization, error reporting and state aggregation comes with a set of ready-to-ship plug-ins for commonly used platform components leverages Azure IoT Module twin such that a separate UWP app is no longer required in order to connect to Azure IoT Hub Microsoft Azure IoT Device Agent V2 is available for both Windows 10 IoT Enterprise- and Windows 10 IoT Core-based devices and includes the following open-source libraries and executables out of the box: Limpet.exe that allows local processes to use TPM for storing and retrieving Azure connection strings Azure IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service (DPS) client that enables zero-touch, just-in-time provisioning to the right Azure IoT Hub Azure IoT Hub Device Management (DM) client that provides remote device management capabilities such as device info, certificate management, factory reset, reboot management, remote wipe, time management, Windows telemetry management and Windows update management Getting started Here is a link to the quickstart to get started with the preview. For quick prototyping and testing we have added one-click install of Azure DPS and DM clients in Windows Device Portal for Windows 10 October 2018 update. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/02af2c9d07527a81b5a452c952512e3f-1024x323.png Want to learn more? You can learn more about Azure IoT Device Agent as part of our end-to-end Azure IoT solution at the IoT in Action Virtual Bootcamp. Register at IoT Webinars. We want to hear from you! As always, your feedback is very important to us! Please share your comments, questions, or concerns on our github page. We’re listening! The post Microsoft Azure IoT Device Agent V2 Public Preview now available appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 you left off [1]. Go back and forth in time by easily scrolling back to find things you were working on earlier today or earlier this week [1]. Share or remove activities whenever you want from a specific day or hour. It’s available in preview on Android phone via the Microsoft Launcher app and will be coming soon to preview for iPhone. Check it out in action: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2019/01/8f7d7e790253e14f84d7eaf3e763208c.gif If you like this, check out more Windows 10 Tips. [1] Timeline shows 7 days of past activities, including activities done on a tablet and laptop when users are signed into their Microsoft accounts. The post Windows 10 Tip: Timeline for phone appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 that will help ensure security for billions of connected devices. Our partners are bringing the edge to life, and it’s amazing to see so many examples of that on display here at CES. Modern PC experiences We think of the personal computer as the ultimate intelligent edge – it’s the device that has transformed the world of creativity and productivity, and help us get more done. The level of innovation we’re continuing to see in the PC space is fueling new scenarios, breakthrough levels of performance and new cloud-connected experiences. Modern PCs are sleek, fast, secure and durable, and have long battery life, offering beautiful designs across all price points. Premium PCs like the HP Spectre Folio and the LG Gram 17″ provide elegant designs with amazing battery life, are great to use and have the latest and greatest features – showcasing the best that Windows 10 has to offer. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/af6990d12c8a092882f80cd0767a2a06-1024x498.jpg Acer Swift 7 There are sleek, mid-range, long-lasting 2-in-1s like the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or thin and light such as the Acer Swift 7 that can slip right into your bag. We also see a growing number of highly affordable laptops that are secure, easy to use online or offline, and are great options for work or play. To see them in action, check out the ASUS Vivobook 14/15 X412/512 or the Dell Inspiron 5482 2-in-1 or Samsung Notebook Flash. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/073738c2ed1aa5a8f2642b9ee92f102c-1024x581.png ASUS VivoBook 14 Treat yourself to all the power and performance you want and expect from Windows, at the price that’s right for you. Connectivity everywhere Another area where we’re seeing PC innovation is in the connected computing space. These devices will change your expectations of a PC, as they are always securely connected, and provide all-day battery life to help you be even more productive. Where LTE was once “nice to have,” more and more users are seeing the benefits of being always connected to what is important to them, both at home and at work. The investments Microsoft and partners like Intel and Qualcomm are making in connected computing are transforming work and life, and we firmly believe that fast, affordable and ubiquitous cellular connectivity, driven by LTE and now 5G, will become core to the way people work across devices. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/dd7f0528b9a5647a0be2096345734381-1024x498.png HP Spectre x360 Check out the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS (Windows on Snapdragon) or the HP Spectre X360 13″ to learn more. Power of PC gaming Windows 10 is the biggest PC gaming platform out there – and we’re adding new features that bring immersive gaming to life in incredible new ways. Our partners are driving innovation by leveraging these new Windows features and releasing new powerful gaming rigs, with the latest silicon, graphics and performance enhancements for the gaming community. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/76c91f3035da57b5be98b1479263a9f4-1024x683.jpg Samsung Notebook Odyssey With Windows 10, you get the latest in gaming innovations, including support for HDR screens and 4K, and now DirectX Raytracing – which gives graphics better lighting, shadows and reflections. It’s a whole new visual experience that you can only get on Windows 10 gaming rigs. Windows 10 also has Game bar, which lets you record, broadcast and customize your gameplay. It’s the one-stop shop that allows you to control individual audio settings, take screen recordings, and instantly stream live gameplay to Mixer. No additional software is required. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/57a592b603164d27a3ae5205f69704b6-1024x625.png Lenovo Legion Y740 At CES, partners including ASUS, Acer, Dell and Lenovo announced gaming PCs featuring the new Nvidia RTX 20 Series chips, which enable raytracing. This amazing advancement in silicon takes immersive gaming to a whole new level, thanks to the power of Windows 10. Also, partners including ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI are bringing thin and light PCs traditionally targeted at gamers to new audiences, such as creators who also benefit from powerful processors and incredible graphics, allowing them to build large design or video files seamlessly. Check out Xbox Wire for the latest on the new gaming PCs announced at CES. Internet of Things IoT is another area where we’re seeing innovation throughout the ecosystem with partners bringing new intelligent edge and intelligent cloud solutions to meet customer’s needs. IoT is transforming the way businesses operate – helping them increase operational efficiency, reduce cost, improve customer experiences and digitally transform their products and services. Consumers are also using connected IoT solutions in new ways. Fitness, connected home, shopping, finance, and so many more areas in which industry is delivering new IoT-based devices and experiences that help customers seamlessly stay connected and be more productive. Microsoft is excited to partner with the broadest set of IoT ecosystem partners – hardware manufacturers, solution providers and aggregators – to supply a diverse portfolio of IoT solutions to businesses and customers across industries and scenarios. Below are a few that we’re showcasing at CES. Retail solutions Global retail trends point to an enormous IoT growth motion with 70 percent of retailers planning to invest in IoT by 2021. We are seeing these investments improving the retailer’s own operations, creating new customer interactions, both in-store and online, as well as transforming personalized shopping experiences. For example, this holiday I didn’t have to wait in any lines to buy gifts. I used an app on my mobile phone, like SKIP’s frictionless shopping solution which we are showcasing at CES this year. With SKIP, a shopper can enter the store, scan any item they pick up along their shopping journey and simply exit the store. The charges will be automatically billed to the shopper’s SKIP account. This type of simplified mobile checkout solution helps retailers enhance customer experiences and lets retail employees focus on more important things. It’s not just the in-store experience that’s changing. We are also showcasing Mobiliya’s Asset Tracking and Monitoring solution which leverages low-cost IoT sensors using RFID, sonar and Bluetooth technologies to track assets both indoor and outdoor. This solution improves operational efficiencies, increases visibility and enhances supply chain management for both retailers and their suppliers. We are also demonstrating Genetec’s Retail Sense Video Analytics solution. Powered by Microsoft Azure, Genetec’s solution enables retailers to use their existing camera systems to layer on this analytics solution to track key retailer metrics such as: customer counting, dwell-time and heatmapping, directional analysis, and occupancy. Using this data, store operators can make adjustments to displays and fixtures, store staffing schedules and much more in improving their overall in-store shopping experience. Connected cars in the year ahead The auto industry is also innovating on the intelligent edge. Several of our auto partners including ZF, LG Electronics (LGE) and the BMW Group announced new Azure and Microsoft AI solutions this week. Securing connected devices It’s clear at CES that everyone is making IoT devices and solutions available – everything from household appliances and health monitors, to cars, toys and industrial equipment. Because these devices can be cloud-powered or run without connectivity, a holistic security approach must be taken, from hardware to software and the cloud. For instance, Hampton Products International, makers of the ARRAY By Hampton family of connected devices, has selected the Microsoft Azure IoT cloud platform to power its next-generation smart devices and future IoT product development. Avnet, AI-Link and Seeed are making it easier for customers to develop secure, connected microcontroller-unit (MCU) devices by making an Azure Sphere starter kit and Azure Sphere modules available. This will help secure the billions of MCU-powered devices that ship every year, helping make the devices we put in our homes more secure. To learn more about partners who have announced new connected devices and solutions, check out The Azure IoT blog by Sam George. The post Intelligent edge devices and experiences come to life at CES 2019 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 development cycle (which currently is 19H1). What’s new in Build 18312 Reserving disk space to keep Windows 10 up to date In 19H1, we’re making a few changes to how Windows 10 manages disk space. Through reserved storage, some disk space will be set aside to be used by updates, apps, temporary files, and system caches. Our goal is to improve the day-to-day function of your PC by ensuring critical OS functions always have access to disk space. With reserved storage, updates, apps, temporary files, and caches are less likely to take away from valuable free space and should continue to operate as expected. Reserved storage will be introduced automatically on PCs that come with 19H1 pre-installed or on PCs where 19H1 was clean installed. For Windows Insiders who want to try this feature out right now – just run through this quest. After completing the quest, reserved storage will kick off with the next flight. (If you do the quest before installing Build 18312 – reserved storage should kick off for this flight.) For more details on reserved storage coming in 19H1, read this blog post here.. FLS Slot Limit Increase As PCs get more powerful, musicians have created increasingly complex projects with more tracks, more instruments, and deeper effects chains. As a result, some of those musicians were running up against a FLS (Fiber Local Storage) slot allocation ceiling that prevented them from loading into their DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) as many unique plugins as they’d like. This build greatly raises that per-process FLS slot allocation ceiling, allowing loading potentially thousands of unique plugins. Beyond musicians, this change will positively impact any application that dynamically loads hundreds or thousands of unique DLLs that have statically-linked Visual C++ runtimes, or otherwise allocate FLS slots. Reset this PC UI Improvements We added new UI for Reset this PC as part of Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. The new UI provides a more consistent experience across devices with different configurations and requires fewer clicks to complete. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/f4b3de4b2e9d34605fa0622bf196318a.gif Windows Subsystem for Linux Command Line Tool Improvements We added new command line options to the WSL command line tool (wsl.exe) for easier WSL management and added functionality based on your feedback. Below is a summary of changes. You can read about more details in our release notes and on our command line blog. Consolidated command line options – The wsl command line tool now includes options to manage your WSL distros that are included in the wslconfig command line tool. We intend to only update the wsl tool with the latest management options moving forward. Import a distro for easy sideloading including to non-system drives – Use the “–import” option to imports a tar file as a new distribution. You can specify the distribution registry to the location of your choice including non-system drives. Export your WSL distribution for simpler environment management – Use the “—export” option to export a distribution to a tar file. Your distro will export to your default downloads location. General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC We fixed an issue where the Network shares page in File Explorer used black text in dark theme. We fixed an issue impacting Microsoft Edge reliability in the last few builds. We fixed an issue where USB printers may appear twice in Devices and Printers under Control Panel. We fixed an issue where the console would lose color when spawning a new Command Prompt. Following up on our work earlier this release to make the console scrollbar dark when dark theme is enabled, the title bar will also now bar dark (if you haven’t chosen in Settings to use your accent color in the title bar). We’re adding a group policy for disabling acrylic on the sign-in screen. This can be found in Group Policy Editor under Administrative Templates > System > Logon > “Show clear logon background”. We fixed an issue where custom desktop/Lock screen images deployed by a runtime provisioning package would be removed after Windows Update. We fixed an issue where the shadow behind a flyout might zoom in after the flyout appeared. We fixed an issue where, if enabled, the Windows Start Up Sound might not play after turning on from shutdown or after updating. We fixed an issue where the File Properties dialog wouldn’t show the full timestamp if “Conversational format” was selected for the Date Modified column in File Explorer. We fixed an issue where the hyperlink colors needed to be refined in Dark Mode in Sticky Notes if Insights were enabled. If you were experiencing Sticky Notes stuck on Loading with Build 18309, please check the Microsoft Store for Sticky Notes version 3.5.4. Known issues The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes. Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). Clicking your account in Cortana Permissions doesn’t bringing up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in) for some users in this build. Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue. When attempting to update this build some S Mode devices will download and restart, but fail the update. Night light functionality is impacted by a bug in this build. We’re working on a fix, and it will be included in an upcoming build. When you open Action Center the quick actions section may be missing. Clicking the network button on the sign-in screen doesn’t work. Some text in the Windows Security app may not currently be correct, or may be missing. This may impact the ability to use some features, such as filtering Protection history. Windows feature update may fail but show up as a successful update in Windows Update history page. If this happens you will see more than one successful install for the same update in the history page. Users may see a warning that their USB is currently in use when trying to eject it using File Explorer. To avoid this warning, close down all open File Explorer windows and eject USB media using the system tray by clicking on ‘Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media’ and then selecting the drive to eject. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. There is an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they may not receive policies. Those policies are not applied and left in “pending“ state on the server. The workaround is to go to Settings/Accounts/Access work or school and “Disconnect” your Azure AD account and then re-enroll. [ADDED] We’re investigating issues with Windows Sandbox not loading on PCs with multiple GPUs. Known issues for Developers If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings. REMINDER: 19H1 Bug Bash Mark your calendars, the 19H1 Bug Bash in Feedback Hub will span from January 23th, 2019 to February 3rd, 2019! No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service, Dona <3 The post Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18312 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 grew up in retail, spending weekends at grocery stores with my dad rearranging coffee cans as part of our family business. Later I ran CRM and digital marketing for Gap Inc.’s brands. Now, I’m feeling even closer to retailers today than ever because I’m working for a company committed to building and maintaining retailers’ trust, working together to deliver intelligent solutions that help retailers delight shoppers, empower their employees, transform their supply chains and reimagine their businesses. Given my retail background, I particularly appreciate Microsoft’s commitment to be a good partner by recognizing that retailers’ customers, employees and data belong to them. We want to put retailers in control of the pieces they need to make their businesses wildly successful for years to come. So how is Microsoft delivering on that promise? Bringing customer-first innovation to market At Microsoft, we look to bring to market products and services that work seamlessly together to help retailers do more and take advantage of the latest technologies like AI, machine learning and IoT across the entire organization. Leading retailers are already using the Microsoft Cloud as a competitive differentiator, from using AI to create transformative customer and employee experiences, to embracing IoT to leverage their supply chains for maximum customer impact, to using cloud-based business applications to manage everything from the customer journey to operations. In an industry experiencing accelerating change, Microsoft and its partners are creating the solutions to help our customers keep up. Empowering employees with the right tools is an area I think is especially ripe for innovation. For example, Firstline Workers, such as retail associates, are the first point of contact between a company and its customers or products, and are the lifeblood of the retail industry. They represent a retailer’s brand and need better access to resources and expertise to deliver great customer experiences and drive the bottom line. There’s also a huge opportunity to give these employees a more streamlined experience at work by modernizing some of the busy work that takes time away from customer service, such as scheduling and task management. That is why I’m excited to announce new capabilities in Microsoft Teams for Firstline Workers. The new streamlined, mobile Teams experience makes it easy for them to connect with anyone in the organization and access just the apps and services they need while on the job. In addition, a new schedule management tool in Teams called Shifts makes it easy for managers to create and share team schedules. It includes a geo-enabled time clock feature so employees can easily clock in and out from their mobile device. And a new task management tool lets corporate employees assign and track tasks at a specific retail location, strengthening the connection between corporate offices and retail stores, and helping drive a consistent experience across stores. Microsoft built all this innovation to help retail employees and other Firstline Workers get out of the backroom and onto the store floor, interacting with customers, creating great experiences and building loyalty. As always, it all comes back to the customer. Putting our trusted business model to work for our customers I’m proud to say retailers are already realizing the value in working with us and our partners to drive success. Just in the past few months, we’ve announced incredible partnerships with some of retail’s biggest names, including Starbucks, Walmart and – one that’s particularly close to my heart – Gap, Inc. And just this week, we announced a partnership with Kroger to power a new connected-experience store pilot and jointly bring digital solutions to market that will empower other retailers to transform their own operations and create their own amazing customer experiences. For each of these customers, we’re bringing to bear our technology and our brightest retail minds to help them build a foundation for success in this ever-changing market. We don’t just sell another commodity to retailers. Our superpower is bringing together our global network of partners to work side-by-side with retailers and understand their greatest challenges and opportunities. Together, we go beyond simply finding solutions – we’re redefining categories and establishing new business models. This is how we’re enabling intelligent retail – by offering the best-in-class solutions and industry expertise that’s helping retailers know their customers better, empower their people in new ways, deliver on an intelligent supply chain and reimagine retail. I’m excited to highlight many other retail brands in our booth at NRF that are working with Microsoft and our partners to embrace intelligent retail: On the heels of this week’s news, I’m excited to showcase Kroger’s Microsoft Azure-powered Retail as a Service (RaaS) offering to NRF attendees. The solutions are not only enabling Kroger to transform the grocery experience for its customers with a personalized guided shopping experience, but are also opening a completely new revenue stream for Kroger, as they partner with us to market the solutions to other retailers. Centered around Kroger’s EDGE Shelf, which uses digital displays instead of traditional paper tags to indicate everything from prices and promotions to nutritional and dietary information, RaaS connects the shelf to the company’s Scan, Bag, Go® to create a unique guided shopping experience for customers. Starbucks is using Azure Sphere within select equipment to enable its partners (employees) more opportunity to engage with customers. This includes everything from beverage consistency, waste reduction, the management of energy consumption and predictive maintenance. Arts and crafts supply store Michaels is working with Microsoft partner TokyWoky to identify potential ambassadors online and leverage their knowledge and expertise to build a digital community of makers. Using Microsoft Azure, Azure AI and Power BI, TokyWoky’s 24/7 chat technology helps retailers like Michaels provide their customers with a human, personalized experience that’s not restricted by the size of its customer service workforce. TokyWoky’s platform encourages customers to assist and answer questions from other customers, all within the Michaels site, resulting in four- to six-times more questions being answered than before. The solution also creates continuous user-generated content across michaels.com, which helps to drive trust and conversion. Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona (GCNA) partnered with DXC Technology to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 as its retail management and Point of Sale (POS) solution. DXC’s Dynamics-based solution enables GCNA to collect detailed information on the items it sells. This is combined with category detail on items its stores produce from donated goods (collected from a GCNA proprietary and custom application) to maximize revenue. This is especially important for GCNA, whose revenue directly funds its mission – to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build stronger communities, and move towards its vision – to end poverty through the power of work. Italian luxury lifestyle brand Stefano Ricci is using partner SBSoft’s Dynamics-based CRM4Retail solution to give employees a high-level view of information to help them provide the white-glove experience its shoppers expect. Online, the database produces recommendations based on how customers are navigating the website. The application for stores helps retail employees understand and anticipate customer needs and answer customer questions in a matter of seconds. It also assists in the development of targeted, data-driven campaigns and promotions. Wine and liquor store BevMo! has partnered with Fellow Inc. to use its Fellow Robots to connect supply chain efficiency with customer delight. Delivered using Power BI and powered by Microsoft Azure, Azure AI and Azure Machine Learning, the robot provides perfect product location using image recognition and utilizes suggestive selling to offer customers different types of products and integrate point of sale interactions. A new integration point from Fellow to the “My Retailer app” of each retailer helps customers locate their favorite items in the store and suggests other items the customer may like. BevMo! is also using Microsoft’s intelligent cloud solutions to empower its store associates for better customer service. Retailers such as children’s clothing brand Polarn O Pyret is turning to the Unified Commerce Alliance(UCA) solution – powered by Azure AI and data platform and Dynamics 365 for Retail, in addition to partner-driven solutions from Avensia Storefront, Episerver and InRiver PIM – to help them reimagine retail by joining and sharing data and business logic from different systems and channels through a single, secure and scalable system in the Azure cloud. The UCA cloud solution provides one source of truth across all retail functionality – POS, pricing, campaign, stock and warehouse management. This one-stop shop provides everything a retailer needs to manage all digital store experiences, online and offline. Connect with us at NRF Microsoft will have a big presence at NRF – including 20 solution demos in our booth, sessions led by our retail experts and tours of our own Microsoft Store to show how Microsoft runs on Microsoft – and if you plan to be there, come see us! Visit us in booth #3301 to experience for yourself the solutions and customer stories I mention above, or attend one of our sessions on the show floor – I’m leading a Big Ideas session where I’ll talk about what we learned over the holiday season and chat with retailers you know and love about how they’re working with Microsoft to create amazing experiences for their customers. In addition, myself and my colleague Alysa Taylor, Corporate Vice President for Business Applications and Industry Marketing, will be one of several “women rocking retail” to participate in The Girls’ Lounge at NRF (Microsoft is also a sponsor!) And don’t miss Chris Capossela, our Chief Marketing Officer, as he leads a session on Tuesday highlighting the importance of brand. And of course, you can visit Microsoft’s NRF page to keep up to date on the latest news developments. Despite retail’s breakneck rate of change, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a retailer. I’m excited to be a part of it, bringing Microsoft’s solutions and trusted business model to my retail colleagues around the world. And I’m here to tell every retailer: if we don’t have a solution for your business, we – along with our hundreds of global partners – will build it for you. I can’t wait to see what we’ll create together. The post Microsoft at NRF: Delivering on the promise of intelligent retail appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

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 their smartest yet. Whether you’re a digital nomad, business professional, digital content creator or designer, see how these technologies in the new Yoga S940, Yoga A940, Yoga C730 with AMOLED and Yoga Mouse with Laser Presenter can help you get things done faster and make life easier. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/a94b4032e2f576efe2625e26f02b3101.png Yoga S940 ultra-slim laptop With the rise of work-life integration, remote work and the gig economy, video meetings and conference calls can happen anytime, anywhere – sometimes in environments that are less than ideal, from a noisy coffee shop to a crowded co-working space. But what if your laptop can solve that when you’re on your next video call with the boss? The new Yoga S940 ultra-slim laptop can do just that and more. Its new AI features [1] can automatically filter out ambient noise and blur out distracting backgrounds during video calls, so that your dog’s barking and the neighbor’s car honking doesn’t have to disrupt video calls with colleagues, friends or family again. Camping out at a co-working space and need to step out for a coffee break? The minute you look away from your laptop screen, the Yoga S940’s AI sensors [1] can detect your absence and auto-lock the display to protect your data from unwanted eyes. It can also detect and alert you when a nosy neighbor is shoulder surfing from your screen. Beyond the added benefits of security and privacy, the Yoga S940 has attention-sensing AI technology, which can help increase productivity too. Look from your main laptop display to a second screen, and it can automatically track your movement and shift open windows and content to a connected external monitor for a seamless and intuitive user experience. All these are part of an entire suite of Lenovo Smart Assist AI-enabled features available on the new Yoga S940 [1]. Lenovo Smart Assist includes hands-free PC log-in through its built-in infrared camera and Windows Hello for an added layer of security and convenience, and voice-matching personalization to respond to just your voice when speaking to Amazon Alexa or Microsoft Cortana from across the room [2]. The Yoga S940 learns from your usage patterns to optimize its performance. For instance, it’ll auto-adjust its power settings for longer-lasting power so that you get every last squeeze out of the up to 15 hours of battery in FHD [3]. The Yoga S940 is also the world’s first laptop with Contour Glass that wraps around its bezels – reducing the look of its already razor-thin bezels for a streamlined design [4]. It will start at $1,499.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo and Micro Center starting in May [5]. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/ac2917a158293ef51b42f0b711ba39b1-1024x577.png Yoga A940 all-in-one desktop For artists and designers, nothing is better than sketching with a pencil on paper, right? The new Yoga A940 all-in-one desktop is here to challenge that notion. Built for digital content creators, the Windows 10 Yoga A940 is a powerful creative canvas with a large 27-inch optional 4K IPS touchscreen display with Dolby Vision. It features a rotating hinge that enables the display to tilt to a comfortable 25-degree drafting mode, for remarkable flexibility and stability when drawing, sketching or annotating with a digital pen. A mouse and digital pen are all convenient ways of inputting information on your computer with one hand. But wouldn’t it be even faster and more productive to be able to multitask with both hands? Then check out the Lenovo Precision Dial, a controller that’s tailor made for designers, photographers and videographers to make precise selections and adjustments to their content. Time to watch that video project you’ve been working on? Experience it on the Yoga A940’s Dolby Vision-enabled 4K wide-angle display, boosted by Dolby Atmos Speaker System for rich, moving audio through speakers custom designed and tuned by Dolby. A second set of speakers under the rotating display ensures powerful sound even in drafting mode. It also comes with a range of Lenovo Smart Assist [1] AI-enabled features for greater productivity and privacy. With up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processors, AMD Radeon RX 560 discrete graphics, up to 32GB DDR4 memory and up to 512GB PCIe SSD or 2TB SATA HDD storage [6], the Yoga A940 could be the ideal centerpiece in any content creator’s home or workspace. The Lenovo Yoga A940 will start at $2,199.99 and is expected to be available starting in March [5]. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/78abf7cc8ea9ee3c24b7453f31bf9795-1024x499.png Yoga C730 2-in-1 convertible laptop Equipped with JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos, which delivers immersive audio over any pair of headphones, the 15-inch Yoga C730 2-in-1 convertible laptop gets an upgrade with up to a 4K AMOLED display. Portable and powerful, the Yoga C730 features 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processors, Windows Ink for digital pen input, Windows Hello for instant log-in, and the smart convenience of Cortana and Alexa [2]. The 15-inch Lenovo Yoga C730 with AMOLED will start at $1,649.99 and is expected to be available starting in April [5]. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/b4977353c0a6e80ddaaa68b7bfdbb9ce-300x300.png Yoga Mouse with Laser Presenter Modern professionals have more than enough to carry with them when running from one meeting to the next – from laptops, phones, chargers and more. With this in mind, Lenovo streamlined two accessories into one and designed the latest generation Yoga Mouse with Laser Presenter. With just one twist, it converts from an ergonomic mouse with up to 1,600 DPI for high-precision tracking on nearly any surface into a flat, fully functional laser presenter (and vice versa). No more fumbling with a handful of devices at your next presentation with the latest Yoga Mouse in hand. It will start at $69.99 and is expected to be available starting in June [5]. Find out more about Yoga products and other Lenovo announcements at Lenovo’s CES site. At CES, Lenovo also introduces the latest generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga laptops with a focus on making incremental – but noticeable – refinements in virtually every area to offer broader improvements for the discerning end-user. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/d6e3e79650f416b9cff24c105d63acfc-1024x577.png 7th generation X1 Carbon The 7th generation X1 Carbon will be available with a visible carbon fiber weave top cover. Lenovo named its flagship notebook X1 Carbon to call attention to the product’s material. Following customers’ suggestions, the premium X1 Carbon model with 4K Dolby Visiondisplay, has an optional top cover where the weave is evident to further highlight the use of carbon fiber in the construction of the world’s lightest commercial 14-inch notebook. Now just 14.95mm thin and starting at 2.5 pounds, it features a Dolby Atmos Speaker System and four far-field microphones enhancing the conferencing collaboration experience. With the system being digital assistant ready, you can use your voice for commands to Cortana in Windows 10 or Amazon Alexa for PCs. If you need to travel, the battery ensures you can continue to be productive for up to 15 hours. And when you need access to large amounts of remote data, LTE-A Wireless WAN will power through the biggest of files, now available with CAT 16 LTE, offering gigabit speeds where supported. The 2019 ThinkPad X1 Yoga is an all-new, full precision-machined aluminum design in a beautiful iron grey chassis. Aluminum is just as strong as carbon fiber, but requires extra thickness, which usually makes it heavier. Lenovo’s engineering team overcame design challenges to create a thinner, lighter and smaller design than the previous generation ThinkPad X1 Yoga. The 4th-generation multi-mode laptop is thinner (15.2 mm) and lighter (1.3 kg) with a 17 percent footprint reduction, thanks to narrower bezels, and is wrapped in a precision-machined aluminum chassis. The X1 Yoga now supports all docking solutions, including ThinkPad Mechanical Dock. Lenovo have also introduced a new ultra-wide ThinkVision P44w display. If you are a multi-display user, you will recognize the challenges and pitfalls of bezels and managing several displays and associated cables. The new ThinkVision P44w eliminates those frustrations. The 43.4-inch display offers an ultra-wide 32:10 aspect ratio with a resolution of 3840×1200, giving a screen real-estate equivalent to two 24-inch 16:10 displays. Dual integrated USB-C ports allow two video inputs that can simultaneously transfer data, video and audio signals as well as provide up to 90W charging power. Understanding that gamers need to be ready to play in any scenario – on their couch, at their desk, or in a hotel room far away from home – Lenovo Legion is committed to providing high-performance tools so they can play how they want, wherever they want, for a fun and immersive experience. This year, Lenovo Legion laptops have been upgraded so that they are in step with the higher performance that players demand. Available with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, Intel Core processors and Windows 10 Home, these laptops offer blazing-fast gaming speeds to play the latest releases, for photo and video editing, to binge-watch shows, or to multitask doing all these things simultaneously. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/57a592b603164d27a3ae5205f69704b6-1024x625.png Lenovo Legion Y740 The Lenovo Legion Y740 has what the most serious core gamer needs. The cutting-edge GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU is available on the 15-inch model, giving it more than enough power to run the latest action-filled titles. Its 17-inch sibling supplies even more power, with up to the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU, upgraded from the last generation’s GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs. Both sizes come with up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, optional 32GB DDR4 2666Mhz memory, 100 percent anti-ghosting CORSAIR iCue RGB backlit keyboard and system lighting with more than 16 million color customization options. The Lenovo Legion Y740 also features Dolby Atmos Speaker System with Dolby Sound Radar for rich moving audio that places you inside the action from speakers custom designed by Dolby. The 17-inch Lenovo Legion Y740 Laptop will start at $1,979.99 and the 15-inch model will start at $1,749.99. Both are expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in February [5]. With up to a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU and Intel Core processors, the 15-inch Lenovo Legion Y540 also packs a hefty amount of power at a more accessible price point. Competing on the go with your multiplayer online battle arena team? It weighs only 5.1 pounds for portability and gives you a white, backlit keyboard offering under 1ms input response time for the win. It also comes with Harman Kardon speakers and supports Dolby Atmos for loud and clear sound. The 15-inch Lenovo Legion Y540 Laptop will start at $929.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in May [5]. With the Lenovo Legion M500 RGB Gaming Mouse, core gamers can add accuracy and responsiveness to their peripheral arsenal. With ergonomic textured grips, you won’t lose track of where you are or cramp up in the heat of an intense player vs player game. It’s also totally customizable, with additional side buttons for any abilities you need to hit on a whim. It will start at $59.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in April [5]. Mechanical keyboards are also integral to an avid gamer’s toolkit, so meet the new Lenovo Legion K500 RGB Mechanical Keyboard, which delivers ultra-fast response time for more precise combinations. It will start at $99.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in April [5]. Knowing your surroundings is the key to success in any gaming situation. Whether you’re trying to hear the footsteps of an enemy or keeping up to date with build orders in a real-time strategy game, the new Lenovo Legion gaming headsets present the right tools. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/e7133ab96818b806ac8620ab5c498d1f-1024x577.png Lenovo Legion H300 Stereo Gaming Headset The Lenovo Legion H300 Stereo Gaming Headset is made for those who want to play all day or all night while staying comfortable. It will start at $59.99. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Legion H500 Pro 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset offers driverless 7.1 surround sound right out of the box. It will start at $99.99. Both headsets’ retractable boom mics provide clearer communication and portability, engineered to hear your teammate’s callouts. Both are expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in April [5]. Your games will sound good with the new Lenovo Legion gaming headsets, but you’ll also want great visuals to match. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/e45df7016945619d72819868f09f47f4-1024x577.png Lenovo Legion Y44w Monitor Featuring an ultra-wide 43.4-inch curved display with 3840 x 1200 resolution and a peak display brightness of 450 nits, the Lenovo Legion Y44w Monitor creates a panoramic field of view. Whether it’s for racing titles or fighting sims, this monitor is designed to catch every frame of the action with its 144Hz refresh rate. It will start at $1,199.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in April [5]. The 27-inch Lenovo Legion Y27gq Monitor with 2560 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate is designed to give players the opportunity to take advantage of every possible frame. And with NVIDIA G-SYNC HDR technology built in, it’s designed so that flickering or screen tearing don’t take away from the gaming experience. It will start at $999.99 and is expected to be available at Lenovo.com and select retailers starting in April [5]. Find out more about Legion devices and other Lenovo announcements at Lenovo’s CES site. Further product specs, images and more are available on the Lenovo StoryHub newsroom. [1] Lenovo Smart Assist features are expected to be available starting May 2019. Users will be automatically prompted by Lenovo Vantage to access those features. Features will vary per product. [2] Cortana is accessible through the Windows 10 start menu, and Alexa for PC is accessible through Lenovo Vantage during the initial set-up. Both come with far-field voice recognition technology, with recommended use of up to 4 meters away on Cortana, and up to 2.74 meters on Alexa. Alexa is available on select Lenovo PCs in the US, UK and Germany. [3] All battery life claims are approximate and based on test results using the MobileMark 2014 ver 1.5 battery life benchmark test. Actual results will vary, and depend on numerous factors including product configuration and usage, software, operating conditions, wireless functionality, power management settings, screen brightness and other factors. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See MobileMark 2014 ver 1.5 – BAPCo for additional details. [4] Based on research conducted by Lenovo on December 1, 2018 of PCs sold by major PC manufacturers shipping > 1 million units worldwide annually. [5] Prices do not include tax, shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates may vary by geography and products may only be available in select markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice. [6] Actual available capacity is less and varies due to many factors, including formatting, partitioning and operating system, etc. which utilize part of this capacity. The available capacity may change with software updates. The post CES 2019: Powered by AI, the next-gen Lenovo Yoga family delivers a safer, smarter, more personalized and immersive experience, while gaming gets a performance boost with new Lenovo Legion devices appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 for facial recognition to log you in with Windows Hello. Just sit down with your device and start working without a touch, without a password. And when you step away for a break, it will know you’re gone and lock itself to preserve battery life and maintain security. A CES 2019 Innovation Honoree, the Latitude 7400 2-in-1 is the world’s smallest commercial 14-inch 2-in-1. It will also be the first Latitude to use Dell’s ocean-bound plastics packaging. This Latitude is also expected to deliver the longest battery life in its class. It’s designed for 24 hours of run time [1] on a single charge, and Dell’s ExpressCharge gets the battery back up to 80 percent in just an hour. Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 will be available in early March, starting at $1,599. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/26bb9ea86831cafc1ca799d9e268167c-1024x683.jpg XPS 13 Also announced at CES, Dell has added a new top-mounted innovative webcam and a new frost color option to the XPS 13, the highest performance 13-inch laptop in its class and now even more powerful with the latest quad-core 8th Generation Intel processors. Another CES 2019 Innovation Honoree and Dell’s most award-winning product ever, the XPS 13 is sought-after by professionals and consumers alike. At just 2.25mm, Dell’s smallest HD webcam ever enables the XPS to maintain its trend-defining Infinity Edge display despite moving the camera to the top of the display for a better video experience. The XPS 13 is also the first laptop in Dell’s portfolio to launch Dolby Vision, unleashing the potential of HDR to deliver ultra-vivid picture quality. The Dell XPS 13 is available on Dell.com starting at $899.99 and Microsoft.com and in limited quantities in select Microsoft stores. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/9a1444ced48b16532614bc2d47e0e4a7-1024x661.jpg 13-inch Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 In other news, the new 13-inch and 15-inch Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 devices now include a first-of-a-kind Active Pen garage that provides storage for the included full-size Active Pen [2]. The new keyboard combines the power button and fingerprint reader into a new power key, simplifying the look and making way for a number pad, available now for the first time on a narrow-border 15-inch 2-in-1. The devices also include innovative Adaptive Thermal technology that enables each system to adjust its performance profile based on usage, generating less heat when you’re watching movies on your lap and ramping up to maximum power for productivity on a desk. Hot air is directed out of hidden vents through the hinge, removing hot-spots and preventing accidental blockage from a pillow or couch cushion. Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 is expected be available mid-2019. Dell Cinema, the most immersive content experience on a PC (available on XPS and Inspiron 7000 laptops), continues to advance with new features and updates. Sit back and enjoy richer, deeper colors with CinemaColor 2.0, enhanced by Dolby Vision on the XPS and select Inspiron PCs. Dolby Vison content can deliver highlights up to 40 times brighter, and blacks up to 10 times darker. CinemaSound 2.0 enhances volume, bass and dialogue. Sound Optimization on Dell’s 2-in-1s automatically adjusts equalization for the best experience, no matter the position of the device. Waves MaxxAudio NX tracks head movements via the device’s webcam to provide 360 audio enhancement, keeping the sound oriented with the user’s position. Additionally, CinemaStream 2.0 enhances the video streaming experience with up to 10 times less buffering and up to six times improvement in video quality [3]. It automatically detects and prioritizes the most critical network traffic to maximize bandwidth for live-streaming and video chats for a seamless, stutter-free experience. Since its launch at CES 2018, Dell Mobile Connect has facilitated more than 30 million phone calls and text messages, helping users avoid having to split their attention between their PC and smartphone. Dell has strengthened this offering with the additional functionality of wireless file transfer capability, allowing Android users to drag and drop any file from their phone to their PC and vice versa, even without an internet connection. Dell is also revealing a cutting-edge future capability of integrating the smartphone into the VR experience, allowing VR gamers to receive notifications, conduct phone calls, reply to text messages and even access all their mobile applications by pulling up a virtual 3D model of their phone and operating it with touch inside the VR experience. Dell Mobile Connect is available on XPS, Inspiron, Vostro, Alienware and Dell G Series devices. Also at CES, Dell and Alienware are bringing innovation front and center to satisfy the growing PC gaming market, with high-end, thin, light and affordable machines for amateur and professional gamers. They’re also partnering with esports brands like Team Liquid and Riot Games to make the gaming experience more competitive, personalized and accessible. Alienware marks CES 2019 as a brand milestone with the debut of a totally new design identity, Alienware Legend, which sets a new bar of excellence for what gamers want most – performance and function. Alienware evaluated multiple concepts and chose one that was the biggest and boldest departure from its current look and the sea of sameness in the industry. Alienware Legend stays true to the brand’s core design tenets, taking cues from its deep roots in sci-fi culture and its early industrial designs, to distinguish the brand from the rest of the industry. The new Legend design is optimized with cutting-edge thermal and cooling technology to achieve and sustain unparalleled power, improved AlienFX lighting, ultra-thin screen borders, and a new “three-knuckle hinge” design which reduces the overall dimension while creating a stronger assembly, all combining to yield the ultimate gaming experience. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/5e25d90a8dedb7163485df4efb124e71-1024x683.jpg Alienware Area-51m Alienware Area-51m, the world’s most powerful 17-inch gaming laptop [4], is the first product to reflect the new Legend brand identity, almost 20 years after Alienware launched the first gaming laptop with upgradeable graphics, praised for its performance and expect to garner multiple CES awards. This second flagship notebook with upgradeable graphics and processors is the first and only laptop with a 9th Generation 8-core desktop processor, 64 GB [5] of memory, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet technology, upgradeable graphics [6] and desktop processors, and a 17-inch laptop with a narrow-bezel display with 144 Hz. The Area-51m also has cutting-edge thermal and cooling technology, with 50 percent more performance and 32 percent less volume than its predecessor. It’s also packed with an array of gaming must-haves, including the latest Tobii eye-tracking technology and the latest Alienware Command Center. Alienware Area-51m with Legend design will start to ship on Jan. 29, starting at $2,549. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/474a374f5be05aa80464aea5216aa7ad-1024x1024.jpg Alienware m17 Alienware also introduced its thinnest and lightest 17-inch gaming notebook, the new Alienware m17, adding to the recently announced Alienware m15, for gamers on-the-go who prioritize weight and thinness for mobility. Powerful enough to handle high-graphic games, yet portable enough to take with you from destination to destination, the m15 weighs only 4.76 pounds [7], while the m17 is just 5.79 pounds. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/9c9da539b169a81f205eaad5ae1eeeff-1024x1024.jpg Alienware m15 Available now: Alienware m15, starting at $1,379.99. Available on Jan. 29: Alienware m15 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPU, starting at $1,579.99; Alienware m17, starting at $1,649.99. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/715005aa600c94e6db826627742e6223-1024x1024.png Dell G7 17 For those looking for an affordable yet powerful gaming system (or buying their first gaming system), check out the new G Series. The G5 15 and G7 (in both 15-inch and 17-inch models) are redesigned to deliver enhanced performance with upscale features in a sleek chassis. The thinnest G series to date with beautiful narrow borders, the G5 and G7 incorporate 8th Generation Intel CFL-H 6-core CPUs and the latest NVIDIA RTX graphics up to 2080, optimized for demanding AAA game titles and versatility for everyday use. They also come with the option of a blazing 144 Hz refresh rate, G-Sync display panels, a 4-zone RGB keyboard with customizable backlighting, and will now ship for the with Alienware Command Center for the first time. The Dell G5 15 Special Edition is also available in alpine white, with a clear panel on the bottom of the system to show off the blue fans of the cooling system. Available Jan. 29: Dell G5 15, starting at $999.99; Dell G7 17, starting at $1,380; and Dell G7 15, starting at $1,099. Alienware made more than 30 updates to its proprietary Alienware Command Center, the central hub where users can customize all aspects of their experience including system and peripheral lighting, power management, thermal control, overclocking, audio and content organization. Alienware Command Center now offers GPU overclocking (and underclocking), an Alienware first, allowing changes to take effect at the system level and work in conjunction with CPU and RAM overclocking as well as thermals; and user interface improvements to make Alienware Command Center easier to use. Alienware doubles down on esports through continued Team Liquid expansion in 2019, with the opening of their second training facility in Utrecht, Netherlands, the future European headquarters and additional training hub for Team Liquid athletes competing across the world. Team Liquid athletes will now stream, train and even help in the development across the full portfolio of Alienware desktops, laptops, premium displays, gaming headsets and peripherals. Nurturing further innovation in the multibillion-dollar esports industry, Alienware has forged a new multi-year partnership with Riot Games. A year in the making, this new partnership is designed to help gamers become esports players and help professionals compete at a higher level. For professionals, Alienware Aurora desktops and AW2518H monitors will facilitate the NA LCS (North America League Championship Series), EU LCS (Europe League Championship Series) and a mix of global competitions such as MSI (Mid-Season Invitational), ASE (All-Star Event) and WC (World Championship). For fans, Alienware will introduce a special VIP seating section at the playoffs and finals of LoL tournaments, offering select fans the opportunity to play while they watch. Visit the Dell CES 2019 press site for product information, images, releases and more. [1] 24-hour run time based on MobileMark 2014 tests using optional 78WHr battery [2] The first 2-in-1 with a full-size pen garage in the hinge. Based on Dell internal analysis, November 2018. [3] Based on Dell internal analysis, November 2018. [4] When equipped with Intel Core 19-9900K processor, 64GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and NVIDIA GeForce RTX (8GB) graphics. Based on internal analysis of competitive gaming laptops as of Dec 2018. [5] System memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors. [6] Limited to same generation of NVIDIA RTX 20 Series [7] Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability. The post At CES, Dell and Alienware show off new and improved PC, software and gaming innovations appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

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 a customized LED Indicator Bar, a comprehensively redesigned keyboard and 15 hours of battery life. Consumers get a bonus in the box: the Active Pen, with more than 4,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, which could inspire them to write, draw and create both for work and fun while on the go. The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro will be available in early 2019. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/82183206106ada900c8a54b8805e645c-1024x682.jpg Samsung Notebook Flash With its typewriter keyboard the 13.3-inch Samsung Notebook Flash may look retro, but its fun, distinctive look comes with very modern features that won’t leave a big hole in your bank account. Equipped with Gigabit Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to easily stream or surf online. You can also log-in instantly with a fingerprint scanner, so you can get to work immediately and securely. It offers expandable storage with a Universal Flash Storage/MicroSD Memory Slot, multiple port options to suit a variety of needs and nine hours of battery life. It will be available Jan. 15, starting at $349 at Amazon and Samsung.com. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/mswbprod/sites/2/2019/01/76c91f3035da57b5be98b1479263a9f4-1024x683.jpg Samsung Notebook Odyssey With reduced bezels that leave more room for its display to shine, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey and its 144Hz G-Sync display give players a deep, immersive and interactive gaming experience. It also comes packed with all the hardware you need to emerge victorious from every battle: the latest Intel 8th generation hexa-core i7 processor to keep even the most intense games running smoothly, and a high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX series graphics card that can handle the richest graphics without any lag. Under the hood, the two redesigned Jet Blade blowers sport 83 blades each and a new penta-pipe cooling system allows the machine to run as fast and as cool as possible no matter how intense the gaming session gets. Find out more at Samsung. The post CES 2019: Samsung unveils 3 new PCs: Notebook 9 Pro, Notebook Flash and Notebook Odyssey appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...