News Bot

Microsoft launched an international ad campaign on Thursday to raise awareness and excitement around Windows 11. The campaign is centered on the 60-second ad you can watch below. Set to the music of the new single “All Starts Now” by Odessa featuring Tim Myers, the ad follows its hero as she explores the visually stunning new Windows, walking past apps in the new Microsoft Store, playing games with Xbox’s Master Chief, realizing Windows 11 widgets emerging from a beautiful cloud and chatting with a friend who though on the other side of the world seems close enough to touch, all representing the seamless experiences that Windows 11 makes possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FKtTg5VRSU View: https://youtu.be/8FKtTg5VRSU Continue reading...

At Tech World 2021, Lenovo introduced the 14-inch Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon and the new 16-inch ultra-slim Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro consumer laptops. Lenovo also recently revealed a refreshed ThinkBook business laptop portfolio. Select devices will include a FREE Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below*). Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love, empowering your productivity and inspiring your creativity. Start is now at the center, making it easier to quickly find what you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier. Windows has always been about helping you work how you want, by offering flexibility of multiple windows and the ability to snap apps side by side. Windows 11 introduces Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops to provide an even more powerful way to multitask and stay on top of what you need to get done. Another critical part of bringing you closer to what you love is bringing you closer to the people you love. With Windows 11, Chat from Microsoft Teams is integrated in the taskbar. Now you can instantly connect through text, chat, voice or video with all of your personal contacts, anywhere, no matter the platform or device they’re on, across Windows, Android or iOS. You can also instantly mute and unmute, or start presenting directly from the taskbar. [caption id=attachment_176210" align="alignnone" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/Yoga-Slim-7-Pro-AMD_cloudgreydualsides-1024x1024.jpg Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro[/caption] Creators making the shift to hybrid living will find in the Yoga Slim 7 Pro a pumped-up PC with a bigger screen, extreme graphical performance and more horsepower for running large apps and files faster. It has a large 16-inch QHD In-Plane Switching (IPS) touch QHD+ and a 16:10 layout for multi-tasking. It’s also TÜV Eye Comfort certified and capable of reproducing 100% sRGB color gamut. Its touchpad is 11%  bigger than the previous gen for increased comfort and responds to gestures. Powered by up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processors for advanced platform responsiveness and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU to accelerate graphical performance for immersive entertainment, the Pro offers extreme efficiency with a combined TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 80W. The Yoga Slim 7 Pro comes with a smart noise cancelling mic to reduce the ambient sound around you for fewer distractions on video calls. Find out more at Lenovo. *The Windows 11 upgrade will be delivered to qualifying devices late 2021 into 2022. Timing varies by device. Certain features require specific hardware (see aka.ms/windows11-spec). Continue reading...

Lots of people have found that working from home isn’t all they thought it’d be, in large part because they haven’t learned how to unplug from work. Thankfully, finding the ideal work-life balance is within reach. The Windows Resource Center has compiled a listing of tools and ways to help you work smarter so you can cut loose sooner. They include: Microsoft 365 to help you be more productive on the go, setting your Outlook calendar to carve out free time, ways to managing your notifications so they don’t disturb your private time, Together Mode in Microsoft Teams to help you gather with friends online, and more. Head over to the Windows Resource Center and remember: you have permission to pause. Continue reading...

The virtual world of Microsoft Flight Simulator just got a major update. World Update VI: Austria, Germany and Switzerland is now available for free to all users of the game, which is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S. “Renowned for its glorious mountain ranges, ubiquitous castles and stunning vistas, this region comes to life with World Update VI,” writes Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, in a post on Xbox Wire. “Our latest World Update contains new aerial imagery, high-resolution elevation maps and several brand-new 3D cities in Germany, Basel in Switzerland, Graz and Vienna in Austria. The update drastically enhances the visuals of these three countries and the beautiful mountain-ranges of the Alps.” Fly over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

(Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. It should be simple to catch up on the things we care about. Yet, I find it can be overwhelming. I’m inundated by news, information and on-going alerts across online sources, media channels and devices. It turns out, I’m not alone. In a recent Forrester survey[1] commissioned by Microsoft, we found that on average, people spend seven hours a day online, use six different feeds on a regular basis and check their feeds five times a day. There’s so much to catch up on, but there are only so many hours in a day. I don’t want to lose time navigating notifications, validating sources and switching devices. Instead, I want to start with what matters. I want to start with articles I’m interested in from publishers I trust. I want both breaking headlines and content pertaining to my interests. I want content on a range of topics all in a single destination. I want access to this on my PC and my phone. To address this need, we’re introducing Microsoft Start. This personalized news feed and collection of informational content provides news from premium publishers, timely updates tailored to your interests, and is available when and where you want it. Microsoft Start will begin rolling out today and is conveniently available: As a standalone website (available on Microsoft Edge and Chrome) – MicrosoftStart.com As a mobile app on both Android and iOS From the News and Interests experience on the Windows 10 taskbar From the Widgets experience in Windows 11 From the Microsoft Edge new tab page https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/Scrolling-feed.gif (Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. Start with personalized news and premium content from your preferred publishers Microsoft Start builds on Microsoft’s legacy with online and mobile consumer services like MSN and Microsoft News. MSN has been bringing customers news and online content for over 25 years and will remain available. We will continue to build on our commitment to news and our publisher ecosystem, adding value for both partners and customers alike. Microsoft Start brings new technology to content experiences, including Microsoft’s latest advancements in AI and machine learning, coupled with human moderation, to help people stay up to date with information that is personalized for their interests. I’m tired of sifting through a bunch of articles I’m not interested in. I often find that tracking down quality content requires some effort; regardless of if I’m looking for a specific headline or simply exploring different topics. The feed from Microsoft Start streamlines this process. I can now start with articles I want to read. The feed curates content – based on my interests – from over a thousand global premium publishing brands. The more I engage with the content, the more refined my feed becomes. When I see an article or publisher I like (or don’t like) I can immediately indicate this to further tailor my experience. I can even jumpstart the personalization process by directly managing my interests. I simply need to click the ‘Personalize’ button to get started. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/Managing-Interests.gif (Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. Start with the information you need. Stay for the content you love. I no longer need to check 5+ feeds to stay up to date. Instead, I’ve started getting updates on the news and so much more in a single engaging and informative place. Looking for the latest scores? Searching for my next stock pick? Making sure the weather won’t impact my plans? Microsoft Start has me covered. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/Weather-experience.gif (Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. Sometimes, I just need a quick update. For this, my feed includes information cards on topics like weather, finance, sports and traffic. I can adjust which information cards are included in my experience and solely focus on the information I desire. Unlike in other feeds, a single glance can keep me updated across a range of my interests. When I want more information on any of these topics, I can dive into an immersive experience for additional details. Now I can start finding hyper-local and up-to-the-minute forecasts that let me know exactly where and when it's going to rain. Interactive maps on air quality, severe weather and more leave me prepared all year long. Now I can start getting a pulse on the stock market in minutes with up-to-date data and breaking financial news. Having setup my watchlist, I can start my day with information tailored to the companies and currencies I'm interested in. Now I can start to understand local congestion before I leave for a quick errand. Now I can start getting all the latest scores, upcoming schedules, detailed stats and news for my favorite sports teams in one place. Start with personalized and timely information, when and where you want it I often jump between my laptop and my phone to stay informed. Yet, each time I switch devices it feels like I’m starting from scratch. Now, I can get started where I left off. When I’m logged in using my Microsoft account, Microsoft Start showcases consistent content regardless of how I access it. Microsoft Start on the PC – I can now start my day on the PC with information on my news and interests only a click away. I can go directly to the Microsoft Start website from Microsoft Edge or Chrome. Moreover, there are even more convenient ways for me to access the experience from Windows and Edge: News and interests on the Windows 10 taskbar is the fastest way for me to stay up to date on my Windows 10 PC. I can open my feed by clicking the weather icon in my taskbar. Then when I click on any content, I land in Microsoft Start. Windows 11 brings me closer to the news and information I care about faster with Widgets – a new personalized feed powered by AI and best-in-class browser performance from Microsoft Edge. The Microsoft Edge New Tab page helps me stay informed when I’m browsing, by providing personalized news and articles from Microsoft Start. Regardless of how I like to stay informed, Microsoft Start makes it simple. Microsoft Start is available as a mobile app on both iOS and Android https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/MobileAppPlusIcon_800x600.jpg (Disclaimer): Pre-release software shown. Subject to change. Even though I spend quite some time on my PC, I am often on the go. The great news is that I can carry this experience over to mobile with the Microsoft Start app. The mobile app makes it easy for me to stay informed on the go as my personalized experience travels across devices. All my interests and preferences set in the PC are synced to my mobile, just by logging in with my Microsoft account. The mobile app further connects me to the world around me, with location-based services and advanced search that inspires me to be closer to my community. Whether I’m looking for a new business in town or searching through voice or image, it has never been easier to get the information that I need. The mobile app helps improve my productivity and helps save me time. I have one-click access to daily activities like search, weather, finance, news and shopping, allowing me to get things done in a fast and smooth way without leaving the app. Get started today Microsoft Start provides personalized news from premium publishers, is tailored to your interests and is available when and where you want it. The rollout starts today. PC users: Visit MicrosoftStart.com Mobile users (Android, iOS): Download the Microsoft Start mobile app https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/MobileApp_QRcode_800x600.jpg It starts today! [1] Microsoft Digital Distraction Study, a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting, 2021 Continue reading...

Minecraft fans should mark their calendar for Oct. 16, when the Minecraft Live streaming event will begin at noon ET. You can watch the show at Minecraft.net/live or on the Minecraft YouTube channel. “The guest list includes new and familiar faces from Mojang Studios, our amazing community and a surprise appearance or two,” writes Sofia Dankis on Minecraft.net. “On the menu you will find in-depth interviews, exciting reveals, a nail-biting vote and puns galore!” View the official invite post here. Continue reading...

ASUS continues to empower creative professionals with an expansive selection of laptops, PCs and OLED displays, including the ProArt Studiobook 16/Pro 16 OLED, the Vivobook Pro 14X, Vivobook Pro 16X and Zenbook 14X OLED. At its Create the Uncreated launch event, the company revealed all these and more in an array of new ProArt solutions. All announced laptop and PC models come with Windows 10 and will include a FREE Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below*). If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle complex CAD models, 3D product design or high resolution video editing, the ProArt Studiobook Pro 16 OLED is an appealing contender. You can choose between one powered by an AMD Ryzen 5000 Series or a 3rd Generation Intel Xeon workstation processor, and up to pro-grade NVIDIA RTX A5000 or A2000 graphics. Either way, it makes light work of super-complex, heavily multithreaded photorealistic rendering, visualization, simulation or analysis applications. This laptop is ISV certified for supporting top industry-standard creative applications and employs NVIDIA Studio Drivers to ensure maximum performance, reliability and wide software compatibility. For professional-grade visuals, a 16-inch 4K OLED HDR 16:10 display delivers 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. With the ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED, you also have the choice between it being powered by an AMD Ryzen 5000 series or Intel Core i9 processors and pro-grade NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or 3060 graphics. A 16-inch 4K OLED HDR 16:10 display delivers visuals with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, PANTONE Validated and Calman Verified certifications, along with factory-calibrated Delta-E < 2 color accuracy and VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black accreditation. Both laptops provide a built-in ASUS Dial, a completely new physical rotary control that lets users interact with creative apps in the most natural and immersive way possible. This intuitive controller gives instant and precise fingertip control over parameters in compatible Adobe creative apps, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Photoshop Lightroom Classic and After Effects. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/09/ASUS-Vivobook.jpg The Vivobook Pro 14X/16X OLED delivers the speed and accuracy needed to realize creative visions, with a 14-inch or 16-inch NanoEdge 4K/2.8K OLED display, AMD Ryzen 5000 H Series Mobile Processors or 11th Generation Intel Core H-series processors and up toNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics. The exclusive DialPad gives users precise and intuitive control of creative tools. The Zenbook 14X OLED and Zenbook 14 Flip OLED are slim, light and compact laptops with a 16:10 4K OLED HDR NanoEdge touchscreen that displays the deepest blacks and the most vivid colors. Powered by the latest 11th Generation Intel Core processors or AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series processors, these laptops deliver maximum performance with ASUS Intelligent Performance Technology, while the precision-engineered 180-degree ErgoLift hinge, ScreenPad and NumberPad ensure a premium experience. Head over to ASUS Global News to find out more about these laptops, as well as other displays, peripherals, a desktop, a projector and a motherboard in the new lineup. *The Windows 11 upgrade will be delivered to qualifying devices late 2021 into 2022. Timing varies by device. Certain features require specific hardware (see aka.ms/windows11-spec). Continue reading...

Launched on Wednesday, the Homecoming update for State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition adds the fifth open-world map to the game, along with new content and gameplay improvements. “Players may start new communities or move their existing communities to this iconic map, where they will discover loot, easter eggs and story missions exclusive to Trumbull Valley that can’t be found anywhere else,” writes Wonder Russell, comms director at Undead Labs, in a post on Xbox Wire. Trumbull Valley is at the heart of lore for State of Decay, which is available for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Although the setting may be familiar to returning players, the map is set after the events of State of Decay 2: Heartland, creating an entirely new experience. Head over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

Car fans got revved up at this year’s gamescom event with a brand-new look at the first eight minutes of Forza Horizon 5, which you can view now on Xbox Wire. The Forza team also unveiled its cover cars, the Mercedes-AMG ONE pictured above and the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands. Forza Horizon 5 will become available on Nov. 9 for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Head on over to Xbox Wire for more and to watch that new video. Continue reading...

Today, we are thrilled to announce Windows 11 will start to become available on October 5, 2021. On this day, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin rolling out to eligible Windows 10 PCs and PCs that come pre-loaded with Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase. A new Windows experience, Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love. As the PC continues to play a more central role in our lives than ever before — Windows 11 is ready to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. Here are 11 highlights of this release The new design and sounds are modern, fresh, clean and beautiful, bringing you a sense of calm and ease. With Start, we’ve put you and your content at the center. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what device you were viewing them on. Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops provide an even more powerful way to multitask and optimize your screen real estate. Chat from Microsoft Teams integrated into the taskbar provides a faster way to connect to the people you care about. Widgets, a new personalized feed powered by AI, provides a faster way to access the information you care about, and with Microsoft Edge’s world class performance, speed and productivity features you can get more done on the web. Windows 11 delivers the best Windows ever for gaming and unlocks the full potential of your system’s hardware with technology like DirectX12 Ultimate, DirectStorage and Auto HDR. With Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate you get access to over 100 high-quality PC games to play on Windows 11 for one low monthly price. (Xbox Game Pass sold separately.) Windows 11 comes with a new Microsoft Store rebuilt with an all-new design making it easier to search and discover your favorite apps, games, shows, and movies in one trusted location. We look forward to continuing our journey to bring Android apps to Windows 11 and the Microsoft Store through our collaboration with Amazon and Intel; this will start with a preview for Windows Insiders over the coming months. Windows 11 is the most inclusively designed version of Windows with new accessibility improvements that were built for and by people with disabilities. Windows 11 unlocks new opportunities for developers and creators. We are opening the Store to allow more developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their apps to the Store, improving native and web app development with new developer tools, and making it easier for you to refresh the look and feel across all our app designs and experiences. Windows 11 is optimized for speed, efficiency and improved experiences with touch, digital pen and voice input. Windows 11 is the operating system for hybrid work, delivering new experiences that work how you work, are secure by design, and easy and familiar for IT to deploy and manage. Businesses can also test Windows 11 in preview today in Azure Virtual Desktop, or at general availability by experiencing Windows 11 in the new Windows 365. Thank you to the Windows Insider Community The Windows Insider community has been an invaluable community in helping us get to where we are today. Since the first Insider Preview Build was released in June, the engagement and feedback has been unprecedented. The team has also enjoyed sharing more behind the scenes stories on the development of Windows 11 in a new series we launched in June, Inside Windows 11. We sincerely appreciate the energy and enthusiasm from this community. Rolling out the free upgrade to Windows 11 in a phased and measured approach The free upgrade to Windows 11 starts on October 5 and will be phased and measured with a focus on quality. Following the tremendous learnings from Windows 10, we want to make sure we’re providing you with the best possible experience. That means new eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first. The upgrade will then roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device and other factors that impact the upgrade experience. We expect all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022. If you have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know when it’s available. You can also check to see if Windows 11 is ready for your device by going to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates*. Ready to elevate to 11? There’s never been a better time to purchase a new PC October 5 is right around the corner — and there are a few things you can do to get ready for Windows 11. First, if you’re in need of a new PC now — don’t wait. You can get all the power and performance of a new Windows 10 PC and upgrade to Windows 11 for free after the rollout begins on October 5**. We’ve worked closely with our OEM and retail partners to bring you powerful Windows 10 PCs today, that will take you into the future with Windows 11. Here are a few to check out. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/08/SUR21_Laptop4_Feature_Platinum_15_RGB-1024x576.jpg Surface Laptop 4 offers style and speed. Do it all with the perfect balance of sleek design, speed, immersive audio and significantly longer battery life than before. Stand out on HD video calls backed by Studio Mics. Capture ideas and use your favorite Microsoft 365 applications on the vibrant PixelSense touchscreen display in 13.5-inch or 15-inch models. Choose between 11th Gen Intel Core processors or AMD Ryzen Mobile Processors with Radeon Graphics Microsoft Surface Edition. Click the link above to learn more about Surface Laptop 4, including available color finishes and material options. We’ll be relaunching the PC Health Check app soon, so you can check to see if your current PC will be eligible to upgrade. In the meantime, you can learn more about Windows 11 minimum system requirements here. If you’re preparing for the upgrade and you’re not already using OneDrive, check it out. It’s a simple way to help keep your files secure and make it easier to transition through the upgrade or to a new device. For organizations that are managed by IT, today we announced new capabilities coming in Microsoft Endpoint Manager to help you to assess your readiness for Windows 11 and hybrid work at scale. You can learn more in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Tech Community blog. For customers who are using a PC that won’t upgrade, and who aren’t ready to transition to a new device, Windows 10 is the right choice. We will support Windows 10 through October 14, 2025 and we recently announced that the next feature update to Windows 10 is coming later this year. Whatever you decide, we are committed to supporting you and offering choice in your computing journey. The first version of a new era of Windows As Panos shared in June, Windows is more than an operating system; it’s where we connect with people, it’s where we learn, work and play. We can’t wait to see what Windows 11 empowers you to do and create. *Note, certain features require specific hardware; see our Windows 11 specifications page for more information. **The Windows 11 upgrade will start to be delivered to qualifying devices beginning on October 5, 2021 into 2022. Timing varies by device. Continue reading...

Available beginning today, Psychonauts 2 is a game full of challenges and secrets, along with a broad suite of accessibility options to make sure players of different ages and needs can enjoy the adventure. You can play Psychonauts 2 on Windows, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and with Xbox Game Pass. Find out more on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

The Minecraft team asked its friends at Razzleberries and GameMode One to create maps specifically for the mobile version of Minecraft, and available for all Bedrock players. The first map is now available for free in Minecraft Marketplace. In Minecraft: Emerald Tycoon by Razzleberries, you’ll find different stations that generate emeralds. As you progress, you’ll be able to upgrade both the function and look of the stations. You can also unlock new biomes as well as challenging themed areas. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

Twelve Minutes – a game about knowledge, how we accumulate it and how we can apply it to change an outcome or solve a puzzle – is now available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and with Xbox Game Pass. You’ll hear familiar voices in this interactive thriller about a man trapped in a time loop: James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe. Find out more on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Before moving to Seattle with her husband seven years ago, Priya Chauhan had never worked in digital design. She came from the print publishing world, where she worked on children's books, coffee table books, travel guides, catalogs, window display posters, chocolate and biscuit tins and all kinds of seasonal marketing. If you lived in London at that time, you probably saw her designs throughout the city and in magazines. [caption id=attachment_176128" align="alignleft" width="520]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/08/Dorothy2-2-819x1024.jpg Dorothy Feng (Photo by Ulysses Curry)[/caption] As a student at Duke University, she originally thought she would end up in clinical psychology or research. But she had always been interested in design, teaching herself Photoshop and creating freelance illustrations in her free time. Then, in her sophomore year, she joined a tech group at the school called Hack Duke, which focused on organizing hackathons. She became the group’s director of design, which entailed marketing assets such as branding and website design. That led to more exposure to people in the tech space and consulting for tech incubation start-ups, which is how she began to do UX design. Feng also took a computer science class. She did well and thought she was going to be a software engineer. But she met someone who interned as a product designer, who introduced Feng to the intersection of design and tech – a combination that appealed immensely to her. It would change the course of her life, as she had never thought that there was a way to combine art/design with technology. “It was a huge shift in my career path,” says Feng, who interned for Microsoft before starting a full-time position in 2018. “I majored in psychology and computer science and at that time, I did not see an intersection. Someone told me those are two completely opposite things; how would I make that work? But, I'm interested in both. When I studied psychology, I was very deeply rooted in writing and focused on research, but on a higher level that has helped me approach design in a very methodical way.” But the artsy side of Feng draws inspiration from nature, its simplicity and complexities, as well as daily life, appreciating what she sees around her when she’s walking in her neighborhood. She even gets ideas from the grocery store, through how aisles are laid out and the checkout experience. I think people probably are going to be surprised. Working at Microsoft, she used that knowledge of knowing how things are built to create rapport with developers, but she also had a solid understanding of design. “Throughout my journey as a designer, I leaned quite heavily on my background in psychology. I've written a lot of psychological research papers and I'm really familiar with synthesizing different areas of research,” she says. “That gave me a really deep understanding of the need to incorporate user feedback and research into my work. I couldn't design anything without consulting research.” Feng says user feedback shaped the experience and validated the need for the space widgets occupy, “where people can see everything that they care about, that’s easy to access and can fully customize.” Find out more about Windows 11 and stay tuned for more stories about the people bringing Windows 11 to you. Top photo: Dorothy Feng (Photo by Ulysses Curry) Continue reading...

At its latest Unpacked event, Samsung announced two new smartphones: the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. The company’s partnership with Microsoft, which delivers a seamless bridge between Windows PC and mobile devices, has also expanded to further integrate Microsoft Office, Teams and Outlook into the smartphone experience. For instance, when you unfold a Galaxy mobile device, you can see a presentation in full-screen detail and the faces of your co-workers on the Teams call underneath. Also on that Teams call, pull up the Whiteboard and draw what you’re explaining on the board with an S Pen. With Microsoft Outlook’s dual-pane mode for Galaxy devices, you can read a full email while previewing others on the side, just like on a desktop. "With the Multi-Active window, you can run multiple apps at the same time,” says Patrick Chomet, executive vice president, head of Mobile Products & Experiences at Samsung. “For example, you can open Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and easily drag and drop a table right into your presentation. Now, you can even run two instances of the same app." https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/08/072821B_Samsung_Partnership_YPA_Messsages_Social_1200x1200px-1024x1024.jpg The Z Fold3 is a multitasking powerhouse with a 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display, so you can immerse yourself in theater-like viewing experiences and stay fully engaged in your favorite content. With minimum pixels applied on top of the camera hole, it’s like having an unbroken canvas for your apps. The new Eco2 display technology applied to the screen provides 29% more brightness while consuming less energy. It also offers the first ever S Pen support on a foldable device. The Z Flip3 has a sleek, compact and pocketable design and a redesigned Cover Screen that is now four times larger, which makes it easier to view notifications and messages without having to open the device. Users can keep up with their schedule, check the weather and monitor their daily step count with new widgets; or coordinate the wallpaper with their new Galaxy Watch4 or Galaxy Watch4 Classic for a matching look. The third generation of these devices incorporates key improvements that Samsung foldable users have asked for—making them more durable with more optimized foldable experiences than ever before. For the first time ever on a foldable smartphone, Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 are equipped with IPX8 water resistance so you can have more peace of mind*. Both devices are also built with the strongest aluminum ever used on a Galaxy smartphone. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protects against scratches and accidental drops, while with the new protective film and optimized display panel layers, the Main Screen is 80% more durable than previous devices. The Z Fold3 costs $1,799.99, while the Z Flip3 will sell for $999.99. They’re now available for pre-order with availability expected Aug. 27 starting from the U.S., Europe and Korea. Find out more at SamsungMobilePress.com. *IPX8 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Not dust-resistant. Continue reading...

Dawn of the Dukes, the second expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, is now available. Challenge friends with two additional civilizations, as well as new units and technologies. Battle your way across Central and Eastern Europe with three new campaigns, overwhelming opponents with sheer military might and economic productivity, or with highly disciplined and technologically innovative armies. Find out more over at Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

In the newly released Gears 5 Operation 8, you’ll see two new characters: Ketor Vrol and Bernadette Mataki. You’ll also find a brand-new multiplayer map called Ritual, new achievements, an updated Tour of Duty and more. Find out more at Gears 5. Continue reading...

If you’re looking for a new career, you may well be wondering where to start. A good place is a new page on the Windows Resource Center that identifies four steps to take and gives you pointers to move ahead. You’ll find out about jobs that have the greatest number of openings and the skills you can learn online to compete for them. You’ll get a pointer to a new template from Microsoft Word to help make your résumé and cover letter stand out from the pack. You’ll get tips on organizing your online search and those results, so you can quickly get to them later. And you’ll get a tip on using Microsoft Teams to network. Head over to the Windows Resource Center and good luck with your career search! Continue reading...

As a kid, Charles Taylor was always interested in tech – though he didn’t know exactly what that meant, beyond translating to a job related to computer science. Growing up in Littleton, North Carolina – an actual little town with less than 700 people – he went to school with the same group of about 60 kids through high school graduation. He would be one of the first in his family to attend college. Taylor went to Duke University. He took classes in computer science, visual and media studies and information science, trying to get a feel for a future career. He questioned whether it was the right fit. Then a work-study program at a Duke University medical center connected him with a mentor, an IT chief who took him under his wing and opened him up to new possibilities, in product management. He introduced Taylor to new design prototyping tools and encouraged him to talk to people and come up with solutions to their problems using those tools – a mindset he’s adopted into his daily workflow. “As all the pieces started to come together, I realized he was starting to show me what it could look like to be in the tech industry through a different lens, exposing me to other paths,” Taylor says. “He was the first one to put it in my head that I didn’t need to be a software developer or a technical expert to be successful in the industry.” It would take a few more years exploring strategy, design and engineering in corporate settings, before he found his way to Microsoft, where he’s now a taskbar product manager working on Windows 11. “I wanted to pursue product management at a company that had a really great connection with customers; a great mission, in terms of impact; and I wanted to work on experiences that were bigger than just internal facing,” Taylor says. “It’s important for me to work on something I’m passionate about, something I can be a great advocate for the people who actually use the product. As a product manager, it’s really important you can empathize with your customers and design for a broader, wider and more diverse group, folks you don’t usually get to hear from. Windows just seemed like a really great place for me to work on something that I use, both in my personal and professional life.” Taylor has become a steward for customers through his work on Windows 11, driven by the realization that the PC plays such an important role for people in so many ways, whether it’s empowering other businesses to deliver their products to their own customers, inspiring creativity, keeping families connected, or even bringing people together for entertainment purposes. “The PC is such a central aspect across so many lenses of lives,” he says. In improving upon a much-used part of the desktop, he put a big emphasis in taking the best of Windows and making it accessible to everyone. “My goal, with Windows 11 and all the releases thereafter, is to get at the root of what the problems are and determine how we can elegantly solve those problems in a way that’s not only meeting their needs, but also delightful.” The biggest change in Windows 11 for the taskbar is where it lives: still at the bottom of the screen, but now in the center. “As devices continue to evolve, wider screens have become the norm for TV, monitors and other screens. So we’ve put the taskbar at the forefront of device.” The taskbar represents the hub from which people switch and launch apps, he says, so it has to work harmoniously. Here, the intersection with Start makes it of upmost importance and daily use for most people. Christian Valencia, whose team helped reimagine the Start experience for Windows 11, also places a premium on listening to feedback. Research showed people wanted a cleaner and simpler Start, and that since so many people have smartphones, design paradigms from those devices could successfully carry over into a new Start – being able to pan different pages with touch, for instance. As shown in the video above, Valencia’s team saw how people arranged what they envisioned for Start in modular pieces, and they found that Search, Apps and Files came up most often as what people used at Start. Valencia, who has been at Microsoft for nearly eight years, says that it seems like he was meant to work on Windows. [caption id=attachment_176088" align="alignright" width="768]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/08/Christina-1-627x1024.jpg Christina Koehn (Photo by Ulysses Curry)[/caption] After that, she landed a contract role at Microsoft that turned into a full-time position. This fall, she will celebrate her 12th anniversary with the company. She’s worked on Bing, Bing apps for Windows 8 (her introduction to the Windows ecosystem), Windows 10, MSN, the Edge browser and the Microsoft Store. And over the years, she saw how the company’s growth mindset propelled teams to work together, culminating in Windows 11. “We are all working for our customers, trying to solve problems, to do what’s right for people using our products,” Koehn says. “Marketing, developers, PMs – all these different disciplines came together to make this product. We took advantage of the brain trust in the diversity of people throughout the company and focused on the needs of customers. As designers, we have empathy for the people we’re designing for. Not that we haven’t done it in the past, but we really pointed the focus on human needs first.” Koehn built upon the Fluent design style Windows 10 introduced (after the Metro design style of Windows 8), signatures of which include added depth, light and color in icons, rounded corners, fewer pixels – overall a softer, more simplified feeling. At the same time, she considers it a visual rejuvenation. Her team focused on fonts, typography and iconography. “We want people to feel more comfortable,” Koehn says. “What people need is their computing to adapt to them. An operating system like Windows, it’s got over a billion people using it. Computing really can empower people and must adapt to scale for all different needs.” Find out more about Windows 11 and stay tuned for more stories about the people bringing Windows 11 to you. Top Photo: Charles Taylor (Photo by Ulysses Curry) Continue reading...

Explore new places, be somebody different and discover new ways to play with community creations from Minecraft Marketplace. The latest one comes from The Misfit Society: MLB Home Run Derby. Join your favorite Major League Baseball team and swing for the fences in a fast-paced home run competition. Test your reflexes and accuracy in every MLB ballpark, faithfully re-created in Minecraft. Find out more over at Minecraft.net and download Minecraft for Windows 10 if you haven’t got it already. Continue reading...

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition has added two brand-new kingdoms: the Ethiopians and the Hausa, in the game’s latest civilization expansion: The African Royals. Gain new Alliances with every Age and use your Influence to hire units and research technologies. In addition, experience three all-new Historical Battles, 15 new African maps, 5 new Indigenous African Civilizations to ally with, and play your way through several new Achievements. Read all about it at Age of Empires. Continue reading...

The post Go behind the scenes of making Windows 11 features appeared first on Windows Experience Blog. Continue reading...

If you’ve followed the story of the Arch-Illager and found the shards from the Orb of Dominance, now it’s finally time to end its seemingly infinite influence and reach the conclusion, with the availability of Echoing Void, Minecraft Dungeons: Ultimate Edition - Windows 10 latest downloadable content, on Windows PC and Xbox One. Plenty of challenges and treasures await you in Minecraft’s darkest dimension, as you face new enemies like the Enderlings, collect legendary gear and make your way through three challenging missions using everything from elytra gliding to shulker flying. Find out more at Minecraft.net. Continue reading...

Aspiring pilots have the chance to soar for the first time on a console now that Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S. From light planes to wide-body jets, you’ll test your piloting skills against the challenges of real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain and lightning – all in a dynamic and living world. With the power of satellite data from Bing Maps and cloud-based AI using Azure, you’ll travel the entire planet in amazing detail with over 37,000 airports, 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountain ranges, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic and more. Simmers can expect the same level of depth as the PC version, with the most authentic and realistic flight simulator the team has ever created and available to the widest audience ever. Read more about it on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Among the prominent trends highlighted at Microsoft Inspire, our annual partner conference, was “digital optimism,” where the Microsoft cloud is playing an outsized role in many key areas defining the future of global business, including hybrid work, resilient global supply chains, inclusive economic development, global sustainability and cybersecurity. This optimism reflects how customers are increasingly seeking ways to innovate and future-proof their business models with the cloud. It also underscores how Microsoft and our global partner community are co-developing digital solutions that help these customers create lasting value amid pandemic-related market shifts, despite industry or geography. This past quarter highlighted technology’s critical role across industries. Microsoft acquired Nuance to address healthcare industry needs by combining our cloud, AI solutions and expertise. We are working with AT&T to move its 5G mobile network to the Microsoft cloud to support evolving customer needs, and Mars to optimize operational speed and intelligent manufacturing supply chains using Azure. We are co-innovating with Morgan Stanley by bringing together technology and engineering expertise to solve financial industry challenges and a have a partnership with Standard Bank, driving innovation and resiliency to promote economic growth in Africa. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/THIS-MET-photo.jpg The Met Office is building the world’s most powerful weather and climate forecasting supercomputer in collaboration with Microsoft. In the public sector, our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Army used Microsoft’s HoloLens to create devices that fundamentally change how soldiers operate and redefine what they can do. Microsoft donated Azure credits to the National System of Unemployment in Brazil to help with economic recovery, skilling and sustainability, and Chile’s Immigration Department launched a digital transformation initiative so people can obtain an electronic visa quickly. We are also partnering with the Met Office to build the world’s most advanced weather and climate forecasting supercomputer to protect people, businesses and infrastructure in the U.K. from the impacts of extreme weather. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/DCPS-Image-1-1024x555.png District of Columbia Public Schools expands the learning universe for students with Microsoft Teams and Surface. In education, hybrid environments are the new normal and our technologies and devices break down classroom barriers. Dubai College built a new learning model to provide live video lessons and course materials using Teams, OneNote and Surface devices. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is using a range of Surface devices to integrate mobility across multiple campuses, professional services staff and academics, and Washington State University is using Teams and Surface devices for student athlete coaching, academic support and team building. District of Columbia Public Schools shifted 117 schools to remote learning, while four of The Russell Group universities enabled secure remote learning with Azure Virtual Desktop. Beyond the classroom, Cogna Educação in Brazil used Azure cloud services to unify its entire academic management platform, and the University of North Carolina Charlotte developed an Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS) and IoT technology-based solution to retrofit streetlights as multivehicle smart charging stations. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/NFL_Banner-Image-1920x1080-1-1024x533.png The NFL huddles with Microsoft Teams to digitize collaboration and deliver virtual game day experiences. In media and communications, we partnered with WPP to launch Cloud Studio, an innovative cloud platform on Azure that will arm its creative teams with technology to collaborate and create anywhere. In China, Samsung deployed Microsoft Azure Metrics Advisor to improve customers’ entertainment experience. Multinational telecommunications services provider Telefónica is revolutionizing secure data management through on-premises mobile edge computing within a private 5G network for safer and more efficient data management. Malaysia-based Axiata Group is tightening its cybersecurity using Azure Sentinel and Microsoft 365, including password-less solutions, and Nokia built an app on Power Platform to generate more accurate reporting in less time, resulting in improved service delivery performance and customer satisfaction. We also partnered with customers across the sports industry to develop interactive fan experiences throughout the pandemic. Mexico-based events specialist AS Deporte consolidated its platform using Microsoft cloud solutions to strengthen and simplify its management and operations. Using AI and machine learning, LaLiga is reinventing interactive audiovisual experiences and formats, while the NBA is delivering fans powerful insights behind every shot, pass and play. The NFL is using Teams to digitize collaboration and deliver virtual game day experiences, the Los Angeles Clippers are engaging fans with a hyper-personalized game night experience using Dynamics 365 Marketing, and the Miami Dolphins are using Power Virtual Agents and Power BI for an automated and predictive website experience. YouTube Video Click here to load media Anheuser-Busch InBev is taking advantage of Microsoft technology to dramatically transform its operations and ensure the perfect sip is delivered to customers every time. In retail and consumer goods, companies migrated to SAP on Azure to facilitate their business-critical workloads and increase scalability, including Campbell Soup Company, L’Oréal and Mondelēz International. Belgium-based is creating the brewery of the future by developing a digital factory platform based on a unified AI and Azure Digital Twin environment, delivering the perfect sip to customers and transforming its operations. Kraft Heinz is using Teams to keep its workforce connected and products on shelves worldwide. Goodyear turned to Teams on RealWear devices to bring engineering experts into plants virtually for equipment installation or troubleshooting, and Hasbro is virtually testing Monopoly boards using real-time insights from families. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/Humana-food.png Humana is working to end food insecurity — 14 meals at a time. Across industries, customers continue to embrace digital innovation. Japanese automaker Toyota is bringing together fusion teams comprising professional and citizen developers to build an internal vehicle delivery application. Nationwide is using Microsoft 365 accessibility features to build an inclusive culture that supports its customers and employees. Stanley Black & Decker adopted IoT and edge solutions to increase equipment efficiency, reduce operating costs and improve manufacturing agility, and thyssenkrupp Steel Europe kept its remote work and manufacturing process secure through an agile digital culture using Microsoft 365. Jefferies is using Microsoft compliance solutions to maintain financial services regulatory restrictions, while Royal Bank of Canada created a privacy platform on Azure Confidential Computing that relies on secure enclave technology to keep client information protected, confidential and highly secure. AXA is building a digital healthcare platform to simplify the healthcare journey and empower customers with an integrated ecosystem, and Humana is using leveraging Power BI and Azure for an assessment and tracking system with AI-powered predictive models to identify people lacking reliable access to food. Tetra Pak is driving organization-wide sustainability by implementing IoT solutions to create smart factories. Energy momentum continues as we partner with customers, including Williams, BHP and Chevron to achieve ambitious sustainability goals and increase efficiency. Microsoft also launched a new sustainable datacenter region in Arizona to enable state agencies and customers to run Azure applications securely and resiliently. I am both heartened and excited to see how customers around the world are using digital technologies and embracing digital optimism to transform the way they do business — becoming more efficient, achieving greater agility and paving a path toward a more sustainable and secure future. Technology has a critical role to play in advancing businesses and industries forward, and I am grateful for the trust our customers continue to place in Microsoft as their digital partner of choice. The post Digital optimism: Customers drive cloud and industry innovation with Microsoft technology appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...