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Summer is in full swing. It’s hard to imagine but back-to-school is quickly approaching. There is still a lot of uncertainty in terms of what form the new school year will take. Regardless of whether our children will be returning to school in person, hybrid or online, every parent knows that back-to-school usually requires planning and shopping. Staying organized while maximizing precious time is key. This month, the Microsoft Edge Team is excited to introduce new features to help you make the most of your time online, save money while you shop and help keep your family safer online. If you’re running a Windows PC, you already have Microsoft Edge installed, so launch it and check it out! For those of you who haven’t tried Microsoft Edge yet, download it and please let us know what you think. Here’s what’s new in web experiences this month: Plan your shopping with Microsoft Edge and the Back-to-School hub on Microsoft Bing https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/Bing-BTS-Hub.gif Regular readers of this blog know that I love shopping online. However, back-to-school can be a very stressful time and shopping can be time-consuming and expensive. That's why I’m excited to announce our Back to School hub on Microsoft Bing. The hub aggregates relevant products and shows me deals, helping me save time and money as I get my children ready for a new school year! Microsoft Bing organizes results into top product categories so I can see everything from must-have supplies to extras to help make my kids’ brand new school year great. The Back-to-School hub also layers in additional information where available to help me find what I need quickly, such as price drop notifications, similar products, item details and more. This experience is then made even better when shopping in Microsoft Edge, with built-in tools to provide the best online shopping experience of any internet browser. With features like coupons, cash back rebates, price history and more, I can shop with confidence that I’ve maximized my time and savings. Stay safer online with Microsoft Edge https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/WIN_Edge_Password-Strength_16x9_en-US.gif A new school year, virtual or in-person, usually comes with sign-ups for a lot of things: school billing accounts, school-related apps, extra-curricular activities and more. Sign-ups for those are usually online, which means more log-in credentials to create and manage. I know it’s important to ensure everyone in my family is using strong, unique passwords across multiple accounts to better protect against online threats. However, it's not always obvious what makes a strong password and sometimes, in a rush, we default to passwords we’ve used before! That’s why I’m so excited to announce the password health dashboard. Microsoft Edge will now tell me whether the password I’ve saved is strong enough, and it will also indicate whether I’ve used that password across other sites. On top of all of this, I am excited to announce a new feature that allows me to use my saved credentials to sign into other apps and browsers on my mobile phone. Microsoft Edge on mobile makes it easy to take my saved login information from my browser and use it to log into the apps I use on my phone like Instagram, Pinterest and more! This entire suite of security features is of course rounded out with Password Monitor in Microsoft Edge, which has been keeping me safer by letting me know whether my saved credentials have been found in a known data breach. I also use password generator which helps me create new, strong passwords, and I can have autofill remember it on my behalf. All of this is designed to put you first and help you – and the ones you love – stay safer online. Stay on top of your inbox and calendar with the Microsoft Outlook extension https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/WIN_Edge_Outlook-Extension_16x9_en-US.gif Like you, I’m juggling a lot during the day. Any tool that can make it easier to stay focused is always welcome. This month, I’m excited to introduce a new extension in Microsoft Edge to help you do just that. The Microsoft Outlook browser extension brings you the power of mail, calendar, contacts and tasks while letting you stay focused on the web page you’re visiting. Without opening a new tab, I can send and receive email, and manage my calendar, tasks and more. I can quickly access my Outlook work account or personal Outlook.com or Hotmail account without switching to another tab or app. Download the extension from the Edge Add-Ons store to try it out today. Save your web captures to Collections During the school year, I like to have dinners for the week planned out, and I usually search the web to find new foodie recipes. I have been using the web capture feature in Microsoft Edge to screenshot recipes and mark them up to highlight ingredients I need. One of the top pieces of feedback we have received is to offer the opportunity to save web captures to Collections. So, this month, we’re giving you another way to save and revisit your captures, with an option to save to a new or existing collection in Microsoft Edge. We hope this addition continues to help you organize the content you find across the web. To save web captures to Collections, select Add to Collections. Share your response to the news and headlines on the New Tab Page Now on my New Tab Page in Microsoft Edge, I can use emojis to like, love, or share other thoughts about the news and content feeds I’m interested in, and I can see an aggregate count of how others have responded, too. I can read comments from others, or sign in, set up a profile and take part in the conversation. This feature of the New Tab Page is currently available in a limited number of countries, but we will be expanding within the coming months. We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and that you continue to stay safe in these uncertain times. We also hope that our new features help you save time and money and stay safer online. Please continue to send us your feedback as we work to make the web more innovative and open for everyone! Continue reading...

The global pandemic severely impacted our global economy and many small- to medium-size organizations had to adapt to stay in business. As a result, we’ve seen smaller organizations make technology decisions quickly while rethinking how to use digital tools better for their organization — not only to overcome roadblocks, but to stay ahead of the curve. At Microsoft, we’re committed to empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As part of that commitment, we’re supporting post-pandemic recovery and working to build an inclusive, skills-based economy. Last summer, we launched our global skills initiative, which has helped more than 30 million individuals worldwide learn new digital skills. Today, we’re expanding these efforts to also help small- to medium-size organizations develop the right skills to achieve their goals. By centralizing skill-building resources and working with local organizations to offer impactful support, we’re making it easier and more accessible for small- to medium-size businesses to build a strong foundation of digital skills so they can take full advantage of their technology for long-term success in a digitally enabled economy. Small organizations face big challenges As a pillar to their communities, it’s critical that small- and medium-size businesses continue providing the jobs and services that contribute to a thriving local — and global — economy. Digital tools are essential to helping these businesses respond to changes in the market, streamline their organization, protect against threats and plan for long-term resiliency. However, one in five small businesses and nearly one in three medium-size businesses say a lack of employee skills has been their biggest challenge in responding to the pandemic. With high customer expectations for digital literacy — and a surge in connected digital experiences — small- and medium-size businesses need to continuously learn new ways to use technology for greater customer connection, efficiency and agility. Moreover, businesses in underrepresented groups and communities — many of which experience disparities in access to capital, education and employment — face an even larger skills gap. This past year’s closures, declines in sales and reduced workforce has resulted in overwhelming risks to these organizations. In the United States, for example, the number of Black-owned small businesses fell by 41 percent during the pandemic and Latinx business ownership declined by 32 percent, compared to 17 percent among white business owners. Globally, female-owned businesses were 5.9 percentage points more likely to have closed than male-owned businesses. Building strong digital skills to build a stronger business As organizations become increasingly reliant on technology, digital skills are fundamental to helping small- and medium-size businesses evaluate and implement the right digital tools, in the right way. By building their digital skills, small- and medium-size businesses raise their knowledge capital or their full body of knowledge, including organizational processes and employee talent, putting them at a greater competitive advantage in a digitally enabled economy. To develop the skills that can help them reach their goals, small- and medium-size businesses need to identify the approach that works best for their organization such as the right skills for their business needs, affordability for their budget and flexibility for their schedule. With limited time and resources, these businesses are facing immense pressure to keep up with shifts in how we work and live, and it’s critical that they’re equipped with the skills that can help them develop long-term strategies for their business and reimagine new paths for success. To fulfill our commitment to creating an inclusive economy, we’re providing skill-building resources designed to help these businesses continue to transform and thrive. How Microsoft is helping small- and medium-size businesses develop digital skills for success One of the ways Microsoft is supporting smaller businesses as they recover from the pandemic and build a more profitable future is through digital skilling, which means developing the skills required to navigate a digital world. Because small business owners want to focus on growing their business — not on searching for the right training resources — our goal is to make it easier for them to find what they need, when they need it. To reach businesses virtually wherever they are, we’re taking a more flexible and accessible skill-building approach by providing many digital skilling resources via e-learning and online training assets. Through our resource hub, businesses can explore proven expertise, technical training, online workshops, best practices and more. We’ve also aligned the resources to the top priorities of small- and medium-size businesses so they can start building skills focused on what matters most to their organization: Connecting with customers and growing business. The right digital skills to use technology for customer relationship management (CRM), digital marketing, advertising and branding will help businesses better serve their customers and reach new audiences. Keeping employees engaged and productive. Whether a business has only one employee or a large team, digital skills can help their people stay collaborative and focused while engaging with meaningful projects. Achieving greater efficiency to save time and resources. Because tech enables businesses to quickly address customers’ needs and streamline manual processes, businesses should learn how to use tools that work together to help them keep departments connected, lower overhead costs and maximize efficiency. Increasing security in a digital world. By educating and skilling employees through best practices, businesses are better able to use the technology that can help them protect customers’ and employees’ data. In avoiding breaches, these businesses can avoid the associated high costs and reputation loss. Flexing to meet market opportunities. As businesses become more digitally enabled and skilled, they can analyze available data, understand trends and move more quickly to embrace market opportunities. As part of our commitment to supporting small- and medium-size business growth, we’re working with local organizations such as chambers of commerce, nonprofits and partners. By joining forces for a greater collective impact, we hope to expand and deepen how we reach small- and medium-size businesses — especially in underrepresented communities — to provide them with the tailored support they need. Reshaping small- and medium-size businesses for the future We believe that continuous skill-building can help businesses remain adaptable, resilient and innovative. That’s why we’re helping empower small- and medium-size businesses with the resources that can help them reimagine how to reach their goals today for a more profitable tomorrow. Visit aka.ms/SkillsForSMBs/US to discover the skill-building resources that can fuel forward-thinking small- and medium-size businesses. The post Our commitment to helping small- to medium-size businesses build skills for success appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Helping organizations strengthen cloud security and Zero Trust At Microsoft, we are committed to supporting organizations in their digital transformation and helping them to deliver secure and seamless experiences. Since IT modernization often spans multiple clouds, cloud security and identity are top of mind for most of our customers. Modern identity security needs to protect all users and resources consistently across multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. Today, Microsoft is taking a significant step toward this goal with the acquisition of CloudKnox Security, a leader in Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM). CloudKnox offers complete visibility into privileged access. It helps organizations right-size permissions and consistently enforce least-privilege principles to reduce risk, and it employs continuous analytics to help prevent security breaches and ensure compliance. This strengthens our comprehensive approach to cloud security. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/Win17_15021_00_N12-1024x729.jpg Microsoft acquires CloudKnox to offer unified privileged access and cloud entitlement management. As organizations adapt to hybrid work and more and more cloud services are deployed, new service entities that collaborate and exchange data without human interaction, such as virtual machines and containers, are proliferating. The growth of these service accounts and identities and their increasing volumes of permissions, privileges and entitlements exposes organizations to new attack vectors. Left in blind spots or uncontrolled, these permissions leave business critical systems open to infiltration and disruption. High-profile breaches demonstrate how quickly bad actors can move laterally by exploiting misappropriated privileged credentials. While organizations are reaping the benefits of cloud adoption, they still struggle to assess, prevent, enforce and govern privileged access across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Even if they piece multiple siloed systems together, they still get an incomplete view of privileged access. Traditional Privileged Access Management and Identity Governance and Administration solutions are well suited for on-premises environments, however they fall short of providing the necessary end-to-end visibility for multi-cloud entitlements and permissions. Neither do they provide consistent identity lifecycle management or governance in multi-cloud and cloud-native environments. In January, when I shared the five identity priorities for 2021, I stressed the importance of a Zero Trust security approach that verifies explicitly, grants least privileged access and always assumes breach — with identity as your first line of defense. As the corporate network perimeter disappears, it’s crucial to establish a strong cloud identity foundation, so you can enforce least privileged access to protect business-critical systems while improving business agility. We’re committed to making it easier to enforce least privileged access for all user and workload identities. The acquisition of CloudKnox further enables Microsoft Azure Active Directory customers with granular visibility, continuous monitoring and automated remediation for hybrid and multi-cloud permissions. We are committed to providing our customers with unified privileged access management, identity governance and entitlement management including: Automated and simplified access policy enforcement in one integrated multi-cloud platform for all human and workload identities. The widest breadth of signal-enabling, high-precision machine learning-based anomaly detections. Seamless integration with other Microsoft cloud security services, including Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Defender and Azure Sentinel. Our acquisition of CloudKnox, like our recent acquisition announcements on RiskIQ and ReFirm Labs, shows our focus and execution in acquiring, integrating and expanding the strongest defenses for our customers — from chip to cloud — backed by more than 3,500 defenders at Microsoft and the more than 8 trillion security signals we process every day. Microsoft is uniquely positioned to help empower and defend the future of hybrid work and multi-cloud environments, providing essential visibility, control and monitoring Zero Trust demands. We’re excited to bring the CloudKnox team and technology to Microsoft and our joint customers and look forward to their contributions. We’ll share more information as we integrate CloudKnox with Microsoft’s identity, security and compliance solutions. The post Microsoft acquires CloudKnox Security to offer unified privileged access and cloud entitlement management appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Biomedical data are being generated and digitized at unprecedented rates. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, massive amounts of data have been used to rapidly understand, predict and treat COVID-19. With so much data at their fingertips, biomedical researchers across the globe are turning to cloud services to analyze vast datasets and extract lifesaving insights. Today, we are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Microsoft and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to accelerate biomedical research in a post-pandemic world. As an approved cloud platform for the NIH’s Science and Technology Research Infrastructure for Discovery, Experimentation, and Sustainability (STRIDES) Initiative, Microsoft Azure will bring the power of the cloud to the biomedical research community. Using Microsoft Azure’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, NIH and NIH-funded researchers will be able to optimize processing, storage and analysis of large datasets and computationally intensive workloads to understand and treat our toughest human diseases. We are proud to be a part of the program and contribute to these essential research efforts. Harnessing the power of the cloud to accelerate biomedical research discovery The NIH STRIDES Initiative accelerates biomedical research by providing access to cost-effective, advanced cloud technology and services. Through its partnerships, the STRIDES Initiative offers NIH and NIH-funded researchers access to rich datasets and state-of-the-art computational infrastructure, tools and services at a discounted rate. It also supports researchers through consultations, cloud training, program set-up and reporting services. “We believe the cloud can help democratize access to the most advanced analytical technologies and enable researchers to perform complex analyses without the need for local infrastructure. Expanding our network of providers and access to the most advanced computational infrastructure, tools and services provides the flexibility that our researchers need to move research forward,” said Andrea T. Norris, Director of NIH’s Center for Information Technology and NIH Chief Information Officer. “Partnering with Microsoft Azure as a cloud service provider furthers our goal to enhance discovery and improve efficiency in biomedical research.” Using cloud services improves efficiency and facilitates reproducible science. Migrating to the Microsoft Azure cloud can help biomedical researchers quickly run complex workloads, easily access and manage research data and collaborate seamlessly with colleagues around the world. Through the STRIDES Initiative, Azure customers will have access to the latest cloud and AI technology, enterprise-level support from biomedical research subject matter experts and custom training to maximize their research in the cloud – all at a discounted rate for STRIDES Initiative participants. Supporting researchers in many biomedical disciplines through collaboration At Microsoft, we have an approach to healthcare innovation that’s both ambitious and broad. Our team is committed to democratizing technology through public-private partnerships, open-source software and data transparency. We believe the future of healthcare should be built by many and accessed by all. Collaborations between technology companies and research organizations makes our approach a reality. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced a partnership with the Broad Institute and Verily to accelerate innovations in biomedicine through a secure, scalable and open source biomedical research platform, called Terra. The platform empowers researchers across the globe to access data, run analysis tools and collaborate. Terra is actively used by thousands of researchers, including NIH-powered projects like the All of Us program and BioData Catalyst. It is connected to many large NIH-funded datasets that are in the cloud – and more. We have already seen leading healthcare and research institutions like UCLA Health adopt Microsoft Azure to speed medical discoveries and improve patient care. With its advanced AI and machine learning tools, Microsoft Azure efficiently organizes, processes and analyzes the system’s vast stores of medical data at lightning speed. The solution provides UCLA Health with advanced computing tools to enhance collaboration among researchers and more rapidly interpret and mobilize insights. As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we must work together to advance the treatment of human diseases. We are honored to collaborate with the NIH to help researchers solve these challenges, in support of a healthier and more sustainable global population. To learn more about Microsoft Azure through the NIH STRIDES Initiative, visit Microsoft Strides - Contact Us The post Partnering with the NIH to advance biomedical research appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Minions x Minecraft DLC has launched in Minecraft Marketplace, bringing to that world a look for every plan, ruse, or misadventure. They are always ready to go the extra mile. Minions aren’t the only new arrivals in the Overworld. A whole slew of villains, including all six of the Vicious 6, also known as the world’s most notorious collective of villains and breakout stars from the upcoming “Minions: Rise of Gru,” are here too. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

While we are excited for the next generation of Windows with Windows 11, we are also focused on supporting the more than 1.3 billion monthly active devices on Windows 10. Today, we are introducing the next feature update to Windows 10: Windows 10, version 21H2. Windows continues to play an important role in people’s lives as they continue to work, learn and have fun in hybrid and remote environments. Our goal is to provide new features and functionality via a fast and reliable update experience to help keep people and organizations protected and productive. Version 21H2 will continue the recent feature update trend of being delivered in an optimized way using servicing technology. Today I will share details on scope, how we plan to service the release and next steps. Updated features delivered in a fast, familiar way Windows 10, version 21H2 will have a scoped set of features focused on productivity and security, prioritized to meet our customers’ needs based on feedback. New features focused on productivity, management and security include: Adding WPA3 H2E standards support for enhanced Wi-Fi security Windows Hello for Business supports simplified passwordless deployment models for achieving a deploy-to-run state within a few minutes GPU compute support in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows (EFLOW) deployments for machine learning and other compute intensive workflows Given the continuation of increased PC engagement for remote and hybrid play, learning and work, we will deliver Windows 10, version 21H2 using servicing technology (like that used for the monthly update process). For consumer or commercial users with devices running version 2004 or later, the Windows 10, version 21H2 update will have a fast installation experience. As this Windows 10 release is targeted for the second half of 2021, Home and Pro editions of version 21H2 will receive 18 months of servicing, and Enterprise and Education editions will have 30 months of servicing. In addition, we will also launch the next version of the Windows 10 Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) based on version 21H2 at the same time, and it will have five years of servicing as announced in February. More information can be found in my recent Windows lifecycle and servicing update, and we’ll have more news on future updates at a later date. Next steps Our launch approach for version 21H2 continues to fully leverage the Windows Insider Program to obtain user feedback and data insights on quality. Today we will begin releasing 21H2 builds to Windows Insiders who were moved to the Release Preview channel from the Beta channel because their specific devices did not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11. This enables them to instead experience the latest innovations and enhancements in Windows 10 (note Insiders will not see new features noted in this blog right away, but in future Insider builds as they are ready). Broad availability of Windows 10, version 21H2 will begin later in the second half of this calendar year. We will provide more information on this release and the next Windows 10 LTSC release (including the next IoT Enterprise LTSC release) in the near term. You can always find the latest Windows servicing and update information on the Windows release health hub, now available in 10 languages. We look forward to hearing your feedback. Continue reading...

Today we’re kicking off Microsoft Inspire 2021, a virtual moment for our partner ecosystem to come together, celebrate and reflect on an exceptional year of unparalleled disruption, accelerated innovation and digital transformation. We’ve seen how businesses that bet on the Microsoft cloud can empower customers to build more transformative, agile and resilient organizations. As we embark on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use our platforms and technology to help businesses and organizations transform, our ecosystem of partners remains firmly planted at the center. Microsoft is committed to equipping partners around the world with the most innovative technologies, tools and solutions in the industry. We continually strive to be the best partner for our partners’ growth and profitability, offering unique opportunities to leverage the Microsoft cloud, create differentiated solutions on our platforms and go to market together at scale. Last week we recognized the incredible work partners have done this year with our 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. Today, we are pleased to announce several new product and program updates that represent new opportunities for our partners to build on Microsoft cloud for the new world of work, while leveraging a foundation of trust and security. Microsoft cloud It all starts with Microsoft cloud, the differentiated value it provides to customers and partners to support every organization’s multi-cloud, multi-edge needs. Microsoft cloud empowers everyone to innovate. It provides fast time to value, purposeful integration and an open platform from cloud to edge that helps partners build predictive power with holistic data analytics, an AI platform and security across the entire experience. Industry clouds: progress toward sustainability goals and advancements toward a decarbonized grid Microsoft industry clouds are new extensions of our existing cloud services, pulling together industry-specific capabilities across the Microsoft solution areas. They are designed to be modular and extensible and to create new opportunities for partners to build new revenue streams. Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, a new cloud offering, will help our customers, across all industries, meet their carbon reduction and sustainability goals. Available in preview later this year, it enables organizations to record, report and reduce their emissions on a path to net zero. Building on trusted Microsoft technologies, we will look to our partner ecosystem to build specialized industry-specific applications, data sources and emissions data connectors so customers can more easily invest in and achieve their sustainability goals. Read the announcement to find out more. Microsoft is also announcing its own 100/100/0 commitment — one that acknowledges the limits on our ability to control global grid infrastructure but maximizes our ability to influence it. By 2030 Microsoft will have 100 percent of our electricity consumption, 100 percent of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases. This complements our existing commitments to execute power purchase agreements equivalent to 100 percent of our energy needs by 2025. As of today, Microsoft has signed new purchase agreements for approximately 5.8 gigawatts of renewable energy across 10 countries around the globe and brings our operating and contracted renewable energy projects to 7.8 gigawatts globally. Taking Windows to the cloud across devices Windows 365, a cloud service, introduces a new way to experience Windows 10 or Windows 11 (when it’s available later this calendar year) for businesses of all sizes. Windows 365 takes the operating system to the Microsoft cloud, streaming the full Windows experience — apps, data and settings — to any device. Secure by design and built with the principles of Zero Trust, Windows 365 secures and stores information in the cloud, not on the device, providing a secure, productive experience for workers from interns and contractors to software developers and industrial designers. Windows 365 also creates a new hybrid personal computing category called Cloud PC, which uses both the power of the cloud and the capabilities of the device to provide a full, personalized Windows experience. It allows users to stream their applications, tools, data and settings from the cloud to any device, with the ability to log in and pick up where they left off even when switching devices. For IT, Windows 365 also simplifies deployment, updates and management, and unlike other solutions, doesn’t require any virtualization experience. The new Cloud PC category provides more opportunities for all types of partners who deploy Windows-based solutions: Systems integrators (SIs) and managed service providers (MSPs) can help organizations get the most out of their entire Windows estate. Independent software vendors (ISVs) can continue to build Windows applications and deliver them in the cloud to support their customers’ ongoing digital transformation journeys. Device and silicon partners gain an opportunity to integrate Windows 365 into their broad portfolio of services alongside their devices’ robust features and secure hardware. Check out the press release and Microsoft 365 blog for more information. Securely access Dynamics 365 data within Teams Microsoft Teams has demonstrated how valuable it can be for organizations. After scaling to meet unprecedented demand, Teams has launched a steady stream of new features to bring people together virtually and empower collaboration from anywhere. All Microsoft Teams customers will now receive access to Dynamics 365 data in Teams at no extra cost. This integration will remove barriers to productivity for customers, as well as silos between collaboration and business process. The no-cost data access also provides flexibility for organizations to determine when and how they purchase Dynamics 365. With Microsoft’s emphasis on trust and security, permissions and access rules can be configured to ensure only appropriate users have access to data. Read the announcement for additional details. Increase scale through program and go-to-market updates Commercial marketplace We’ve seen a 70% year-over-year increase in transactable applications in Microsoft’s commercial marketplace. It’s the most comprehensive commercial marketplace in the industry, with over 30,000 applications and services and 4 million shoppers engaging every month. As software needs continue to rise, partners are looking to simplify the deployment process and are increasingly relying on a commercial marketplace to manage their software portfolio. We’ve chosen to reduce fees for transactable offers to 3% — down significantly from an industry standard of 20% — for every transactable application published in the commercial marketplace, including our digital storefronts, Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource. The reduction means higher margins for partners who publish transactable offers in our marketplaces and simplifies the fee structure. Both of these benefits reflect our commitment to do everything we can to make our platform partner-focused. Learn more about the fee changes. Starting this fall, ISVs with transactable commercial marketplace offers will be able to set one price for customers and another price for Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners of their choice. This allows ISVs to provide margin to CSP partners, while CSP partners can also add a price markup when reselling to customers outside of the commercial marketplace. This new flexibility is intended to create stronger connections among partners and incentivize ISVs to share margin with resellers. The overall goal is to make it more profitable for Microsoft partners to engage and sell Microsoft commercial marketplace offers. Learn more about this opportunity. New integrations in Microsoft Viva There is incredible partner integration opportunity with Microsoft Viva, which brings together an integrated employee experience that combines communications, learning, well-being and knowledge directly within the flow of work. We have added new integrations with more than 20 partners — including Workday, Qualtrics and ServiceNow. These integrations will complement the ones we announced in February with SuccessFactors, Cornerstone OnDemand, Headspace and many more. Through these integrations, customers can seamlessly connect to the systems and tools their employees use every day right in the flow of Viva experiences. We will continue to make it easy to integrate with, build on and extend applications into Viva. Our partners are already innovating, and we will be rolling out more open APIs later this calendar year. Read the announcement to learn more. Deliver managed security services and identify growth opportunities Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, now in public preview, and Project “Orland” for Microsoft 365, entering limited preview, will help drive partner growth and profitability by making it easier to deliver managed security services and identify new avenues for growth. Microsoft 365 Lighthouse helps managed service providers secure devices, data and users for small- and medium-sized businesses that are using Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Project “Orland,” meanwhile, is a new experience in Partner Center to help cloud solution provider (CSP) partners grow their cloud businesses by sharing Microsoft-powered insights about their customers to improve account management. CSP partners will get recommendations from their existing customer base such as customers with trial conversion potential, customers who may need follow-up engagements or customers ready for new workloads to deploy. Read more about Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and Project “Orland.” New build-with and go-to-market benefits for Microsoft 365 We’ve introduced new benefits for ISVs who want to build and market Modern Work apps for Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Viva. ISVs will receive access to Microsoft technology, curated training, one-on-one consultations and marketing resources to help them reach the 145 million people collaborating on Microsoft Teams daily. Learn more about these new benefits. Simplifying the ISV Connect program Inspire marks the second anniversary of the Business Applications ISV Connect program, which offers platforms, resources and support to help ISVs develop, publish and market their apps. We’re pleased to announce simplification and enhancements to the program that bring new value to partners building applications. These enhancements aim to help partners reduce app development time, go to market faster, differentiate their solutions and more efficiently grow their business in new markets in ways they could not have scaled otherwise. The ISV Connect program will introduce simplified go-to-market benefits, new technical benefits like ISV App License Management and Discounted Dev/Test/Demo Environments, and substantially reduced revenue sharing. We’re also rolling out additional investments in Microsoft AppSource to improve app discoverability and search results. Learn about ISV Connect. All of these announcements, and the many others we are sharing at Inspire this year, have been engineered with our partners’ experiences, growth and profitability in mind and in the spirit of making Microsoft the best partner to work with for partners. I’m looking forward to seeing our partners virtually this year and look forward to seeing these announcements bear fruit in the year to come. Take a look at our 2021 Inspire Book of News, check out more highlights from our speakers on the virtual event site and enjoy the conference this year. The post Microsoft Inspire 2021: Unveiling more opportunity for partners appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

The climate is changing and calls to do something about it are intensifying. From the U.N. High-level Political Forum taking place this week in New York City to COP26 – the U.N.’s annual climate change conference in November – leaders are coming together to make decisions that will dictate the speed and scale of the global effort to stabilize our climate system. At Microsoft we are not only tracking these conversations closely but also engaging in them – and we are, in a way, mirroring them. In this blog we outline what will be the most critical infrastructure of a net zero carbon economy, commit to new goals intended to help engineer that infrastructure, highlight a major new product offering intended to assist customers around the world to record, report and reduce their own emissions; and provide an update on progress toward our commitments to become carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030 and protecting ecosystems by building a Planetary Computer. Microsoft’s 100/100/0 vision and commitment for a decarbonized grid Every net zero scenario that scientists and politicians play out shares a common, and essential, element: a massive increase in electrification. Powering vehicles and manufacturing plants with electricity holds the promise of wiping out vast sections of the global emissions portfolio. But this only happens if the electrons supplying the electricity are generated from zero carbon energy sources (wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, or point-source carbon capture and sequestration) and then stored and transported to where they are needed. Unfortunately, this is not the way the world’s grids are set up. Most electrons flowing onto grids today come from carbon intensive sources. Energy storage is extremely immature, and the grid infrastructure of today cannot efficiently respond to the varying production capabilities that zero carbon sources provide, nor the increasing consumption demands of a rapidly electrifying society. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/USE-THIS-014_DecarbonizingGraphic_V08.jpg By 2030 Microsoft will have 100 percent of its electricity consumption, 100 percent of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases. At Microsoft we have a long-term vision that we refer to as 100/100/0 – that on all the world’s grids, 100 percent of electrons, 100 percent of the time, are generated from zero carbon sources. We call this a vision because we alone can’t control the outcome. Like other users, our datacenters and our offices around the world simply plug into the local grid, consuming energy from a vast pool of electrons generated from near and far, from a wide variety of sources. So while we can’t control how our energy is made, we can influence the way that we purchase our energy. That is why today Microsoft is announcing its own 100/100/0 commitment – one that acknowledges the limits on our ability to control global grid infrastructure, but which maximizes our influence on it. By 2030 Microsoft will have 100 percent of our electricity consumption, 100 percent of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases. Our influence is already significant in one dimension. Our existing commitment to execute power purchase agreements equivalent to 100% of our energy needs by 2025 has positioned Microsoft as one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in the world. Over the last 12 months, Microsoft has signed new purchase agreements for approximately 5.8 gigawatts of renewable energy across 10 countries around the globe. This includes over 35 individual deals, including over 15 in Europe spanning Denmark, Sweden, Spain, U.K. and Ireland. This procurement brings our operating and contracted renewable energy projects to 7.8 gigawatts globally. But we know we can do more. How much zero carbon energy we procure is important in helping decarbonize the grid, but so too is where, when and from whom we make our purchases. Moving forward we will be innovating our energy purchasing contracting to help bring more zero carbon energy onto the grid and move more high carbon intensity energy off the grid, helping to rebalance the carbon intensity of any grid on which we operate. We will match our purchasing of zero carbon energy with our consumption on an hourly basis. And we will do so on the same grid systems into which we are already connected. This commitment will build upon the work we already have underway: Temporal matching: A recent white paper authored by RMI, in partnership with Microsoft, highlights the potential for hourly energy monitoring tools to provide transparency into supply and demand for zero carbon energy. The paper illustrates that hourly renewable supply and demand matching strategies can help lay the groundwork for a decarbonized grid. Last November, we announced the availability of the first commercial 24/7 hourly energy-matching solution with our partner Vattenfall, which we will use to monitor energy use and zero carbon energy matching for our Swedish datacenters. Building on this work, we’re announcing a new 24/7 pilot in the Netherlands with energy provider Eneco and FlexiDAO, a technology supplier, which will match one of our Amsterdam datacenter’s hourly energy consumption with Dutch offshore windfarm Borssele. Microsoft will be a flagship customer of FlexiDAO’s 24/7 solution, which will enable Eneco customers including Microsoft to have access to FlexiDAO’s 24/7 renewable energy-matching tools at scale. Spatial matching: We’re enabling more granular measurement with data called Locational Marginal Emissions (LMEs), which considers the condition of the power grid at the time and location that the clean energy was produced. We partnered with REsurety to create an LME tool on Azure that calculates the decarbonization impact of our renewable energy supply with greater accuracy, beginning first with a pilot in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Purchasing partnerships: Working with energy suppliers across the globe, we were able to execute over 35 power purchase agreements: With Volt Energy, a national African American owned solar development company, we have contracted a 250 megawatt portfolio of solar projects, the intent of which is to create new opportunities for under-resourced communities and to help pursue diversity in the renewable energy industry. We progressed our partnership with bp to create renewable energy deal structures that incorporate multiple renewable energy pipelines in multiple global regions that will deliver clean energy that more closely aligns with our datacenter electricity demand. Invenergy, a leading global developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, provided more than 1,000 megawatts of new renewable energy agreements across the U.S. and Europe. AEP Energy, with their expertise in the PJM energy market, will provide renewable energy to Microsoft from a portfolio of up to 560 megawatts of new renewable energy assets. Our clean energy partnership with Shell continues to grow by progressing more than 300 megawatts of renewable energy contracts in the EU. We know that our actions alone won’t decarbonize the grid, but we are committed to doing our part to help drive important market demand signals that influence the speed and scale at which the grid decarbonizes. Enabling our customers and partners The grid is not the only infrastructure that Microsoft can help decarbonize. Through new digital tools we can also assist our customers in decarbonizing their own operations and infrastructure. This was the motivation behind our announcement of a new Microsoft solution – the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability – that will enable our customers around the world to record, report and reduce their emissions on their paths to net zero. Progress on our commitments As part of our commitment to be carbon negative by 2030, water positive by 2030, zero waste by 2030 and to protect ecosystems by developing a Planetary Computer, we have: Built on the learnings* of our first carbon removal request for proposals and are pleased to share that we will evaluate new proposals for carbon removal purchase for our fiscal year ending June 2022. Interested suppliers with qualified projects can find out more and submit proposals here. Worked with community organizations and partners to establish over 20 water projects around the world – including several projects alongside our new sustainable datacenter region in Arizona. Through our partnership with Water.org. helped empower an estimated 160,000 people with access safe water or sanitation, while accounting for 500 million liters of net positive water impact in the first year. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/Woman-in-field-16783194357_572bee9f37_k-1024x684.jpg Rice farmers in Indonesia gained access to climate resilient water and sanitation in their homes through Microsoft’s partnership with Water.org. Photo credit: Water.org Achieved Zero Waste certifications for our San Antonio, Texas and Columbia, Washington datacenters and renewed certifications for our Boydton, Virginia and Dublin locations. Launched our with plans to bring new Circular Centers to Boydton, Dublin, Chicago and Singapore in the coming fiscal year. Introduced a variety of new Xbox Wireless Controllers built using post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. We are also partnering with suppliers to see how plastic waste recovered from our oceans, waterways and beaches can be processed and used in consumer products and will have more to share on this soon. Met our land protection commitment through partnerships with The Nature Conservancy and the National Fish and Wildlife Federation to preserve more than 15,000 acres of important ecosystems. Previewed the Planetary Computer to begin putting global environmental data in the hands of sustainability practitioners. Some examples of applications from our global partners include CarbonPlan’s forest risk mapping tool and Development Seed’s AI-accelerated land mapping platform. Partnered with Impact Observatory and Esri to produce a high-resolution global land cover map, available through both Esri’s Living Atlas of the World and Microsoft’s Planetary Computer. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/Melbourne-Land-Cover-Map-1024x577.png Impact Observatory developed the Global Land Map with technology and funding from Microsoft AI for Earth and Esri. Photo credit: Impact Observatory Investing for the future Through our $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund, we’ve made direct investments in several companies to help them accelerate and scale their solutions, including: NCX, formerly SilviaTerra, to help fund the creation of the largest forest carbon project by acreage in the continental United States and help make carbon market participation more accessible to landowners of all sizes. Twelve, formerly Opus12, to help scale the reduction of emissions from supply chains and essential products across a range of industries. across a range of industries. Rheaply, to fund the development of carbon-related Rheaply feature updates to help companies measure carbon emissions savings from reuse and fuel the circular economy. Shaping a more sustainable supply chain To help aid reporting requirements in our Supplier Code of Conduct, today we are releasing a set of in-depth capacity-building tools and resources, developed in partnership with Engie, WSP and CDP to help companies, and particularly our suppliers, report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, develop clean energy strategies and reduce their energy-related emissions. We’re also partnering with the International Finance Corporation, a sister organization to the World Bank, which will work with designated Microsoft suppliers in emerging markets, starting in Asia, to identify technical solutions reducing GHG emissions, provide implementation assistance and offer financing solutions to help them make investments in more efficient and low-carbon operations. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/LOGO-thumbnail-1024x205.png Microsoft is a Principal Partner of COP26. Using our voice in policy We frequently use our voice on climate-related public policy issues and in supporting new public policy initiatives to accelerate carbon, water, waste and ecosystems opportunities: Recently, we shared comments to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the topic of climate change disclosure centered on the need for common standards of climate measurement across the U.S. government and the world. In Europe today, we welcomed the Commission’s Fit for 55 Package to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. Looking ahead to COP26 this fall, we have a real opportunity to come together to commit to a net zero carbon economy and share learnings on our individual and collective journey to reduce carbon emissions. It’s an important moment in the global climate conversation and we will need to make significant progress in three core areas: the meaning of net zero, the measurement of net zero and the markets that will support net zero. Building sustainably We’re also making progress through innovative work in campus development. Recently, we: Received Zero Carbon certifications for our Puget Sound and Silicon Valley campuses, demonstrating that zero carbon designs are achievable today. We are pursuing Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute. Unveiled our Redmond, Washington campus Thermal Energy Center, a state-of-the-art, all electric central utility system which leverages vast geothermal wells to use the deep earth’s constant temperature to efficiently heat and cool campus via zero carbon electricity. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/07/Thermal-Energy-Center-1024x576.jpg Microsoft’s new Redmond, Washington campus will be all electric, zero carbon certified, and powered with 100% renewable energy, aided by a Thermal Energy Center. Created a white paper on how to reduce embodied carbon through the selection and procurement of low-carbon products and the tracking and reduction of carbon emissions during construction. While much has been done in the first half of this year, it’s clear that there is still much more work to do, and we’ll continue to be transparent about our progress and learnings. After all, it’s not enough for Microsoft to meet its commitments — we need other organizations and governments working together to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2050. We look forward to continuing these important conversations, centered on action — at Inspire this week, as part of the Transform to Net Zero initiative, at COP26 this fall and beyond. *For organizations that are interested in learning more about the state of the carbon removal market today and Microsoft’s experience procuring carbon removal, we will be sponsoring a complementary summit in partnership with GreenBiz VERGE Net Zero on July 28. The post Made to measure: Sustainability commitment progress and updates appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Microsoft and our partners have been investing in technologies across every industry and region to help companies face new and shifting market conditions. The rapid pace of this transformation has the potential to change the world for the better. In February, we announced a selection of industry-specific cloud offerings to bring together capabilities that customers and partners need as a foundation for further innovation. These industry clouds are an aggregation of our solution areas represented as vertical expressions of the Microsoft cloud. At Inspire this week, we are announcing a new cloud offering in preview that will address an issue at the top of every customer’s priority list right now. Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability is designed to help companies measure, understand and take charge of their carbon emissions, set sustainability goals and take measurable action. The world faces an urgent need to dramatically reduce its carbon consumption. The world’s climate experts agree that people, companies, industries and nations must take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions. They are not alone: according to Accenture, 94% of top CEOs cite sustainability as important or very important to the future success of their businesses. Reducing carbon emissions and addressing environmental equity requires collective measures to understand and mitigate environmental impacts. Measuring the overall environmental impact of an organization is particularly challenging. Organizations need to be able to record their environmental footprint, report to stakeholders, reduce their resource usage, remove their footprint through carbon offsets or recycling and replace high-footprint resources with low-footprint ones. But doing this effectively means moving away from manually inputting data into spreadsheets, and toward a more seamless data flow via data connectors that provide automated, accurate, real-time data — and ultimately, turn those data-driven insights into action. We are committed to accelerating the sustainability journey of organizations everywhere. That is where Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability comes in. Drawing on the depth and breadth of the entire Microsoft cloud, this new cloud offering is designed to help companies take control of their environmental initiatives, offering a set of comprehensive, integrated and automated insights for organizations to accelerate each stage of their sustainability journey. With Cloud for Sustainability, we’re creating a whole new category, going beyond capturing data to helping customers aggregate sustainability data in an actionable way. It includes Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings that can discover and connect to real-time data sources, accelerate data integration and reporting, provide accurate carbon accounting, measure performance against goals and enable intelligent insights for organizations to take more effective action. Here are a few examples of scenarios that demonstrate how organizations will be able to leverage Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability to achieve their goals: CIOs will be able to easily report on IT carbon emissions from the cloud, devices and applications as part of their department’s environmental footprint. They will then be able to connect their emissions data sources into one view for reporting. Companies will be able to offer their customers a sustainability scorecard to track progress against their carbon emission reduction goals, inclusive of scope 1-3 emissions (i.e., emissions from a company’s owned sources, emissions from purchased energy and all other emissions). Customers will be able to pinpoint specific emission areas and track if they are meeting their emission reduction goals. For instance, if an HVAC system is not on track to meet its prescribed emissions reduction target, the task can be assigned to operations to make the necessary improvements to reach that target. The bottom line: Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability enables any organization more easily and effectively to record, report, reduce and replace their emissions. Today’s announcement unlocks the ability for partners everywhere to visualize how Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability can enable new innovations for the benefit of our planet. At Inspire, we are looking at how companies are building sustainability into their operations. In doing so, they are contributing new thinking and new solutions to the challenge. From digital supply chains that improve business processes and reduce carbon footprints to IoT sensors streaming real-time telemetry for predictive analytics, there is no shortage of examples of how technology can enable ambitious sustainability outcomes. At some level, every industry is undergoing sustainable digital transformation. We see financial services customers using data and AI to assess their progress on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments and evaluate their exposure to climate risk. Manufacturing customers are moving from smart assets to smart factories to digital twins of their entire operations, enabling real-time optimization and unlocking new data-driven insights to cut carbon across their operations and supply chains. Retail companies are taking their supply chain management and optimization work and applying it to track the carbon footprint of products from farm to fork, field to fiber to consumer, and everything in between to reduce their emissions and deliver purpose-driven products to customers. Personally, today’s announcement fills me with optimism because it is only the beginning. To learn more about what this announcement means across industries, head to microsoft.com/sustainability. The post Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability: Empowering organizations on their path to net zero appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

As some regions begin to make their way out of the challenges and disruption of the past 18 months, a new world of work is emerging. Organizations everywhere have been transformed through virtual processes and remote collaboration. Microsoft’s latest addition to hybrid computing is Windows 365, a cloud service that introduces a new way to experience Windows 10 or Windows 11 (once it’s available later this year) to businesses of all sizes. Windows 365 takes the operating system to the Microsoft Cloud, streaming the full Windows experience – apps, data and settings – to any device. Secure by design and built with the principles of Zero Trust, Windows 365 secures and stores information in the cloud, not on the device, providing a secure, productive experience for workers from interns and contractors to software developers and industrial designers. Windows 365 also creates a new hybrid personal computing category called Cloud PC, which uses both the power of the cloud and the capabilities of the device to provide a full, personalized Windows experience. Head over to the press release to get more details. On the Microsoft 365 Blog, Wangui McKelvey, general manager of Microsoft 365, shares why bringing the cloud revolution to personal computing will be such a milestone for how customers work in the future and the opportunities this will create for Microsoft’s partners. “The Windows experience is consistent, no matter the device. You can pick up right where you left off, because the state of your Cloud PC remains the same, even when you switch devices. You can get the same work done on a laptop in a hotel room, a tablet from their car between appointments, or your desktop while you’re in the office,” McKelvey says. “Seasonal workers also can ramp on and off according to the needs of the business, allowing the organization to scale for busy periods without the complicated logistical and security challenges of issuing new hardware. Further, companies can be more targeted in how they outfit specialized workers in creative, analytics, engineering, or scientific roles who need greater compute power and access to critical applications.” Over at Innovation Stories, you can go behind the scenes to see how Microsoft developed Windows 365 and how it chose the Government of Nunavut – a territory in northeastern Canada that spans three time zones and features fjord-cut isles that stretch into the Arctic Circle off the west coast of Greenland – to pilot Windows 365. McKelvey also appears in that story, revealing how Windows 365 was in the works before COVID-19, but “what really put the firecracker behind it was the pandemic, it accelerated everything,” McKelvey said. She explained that customers were asking, “’How do we create an experience for people that makes them still feel connected to the company without the physical presence of being there?” Continue reading...

As movie goers around the world await the release of “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” Candy Crush Saga is rolling out an in-game adventure in partnership with King and Warner Bros. From July 6-19, Candy Crush Saga players can interact with the stars, and in the process unlock rewards related to the movie. Where will you come on the leaderboard? Check out Candy Crush Saga on Windows 10 today. Continue reading...

The decision to end prolonged litigation charts a new path forward for the DoD in cloud computing Today the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced they will not move forward with the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract and instead will pursue a new procurement to meet its cloud computing needs. We understand the DoD’s rationale, and we support them and every military member who needs the mission-critical 21st century technology JEDI would have provided. The DoD faced a difficult choice: Continue with what could be a years-long litigation battle or find another path forward. The security of the United States is more important than any single contract, and we know that Microsoft will do well when the nation does well. Because the security of the United States through the provision of critical technology upgrades is more important that any single contract, we respect and accept DoD’s decision to move forward on a different path to secure mission-critical technology. The 20 months since DoD selected Microsoft as its JEDI partner highlights issues that warrant the attention of policymakers: when one company can delay, for years, critical technology upgrades for those who defend our nation, the protest process needs reform. Amazon filed its protest in November 2019 and its case was expected to take at least another year to litigate and yield a decision, with potential appeals afterward. It’s clear the DoD trusts Microsoft and our technology, and we’re confident that we’ll continue to be successful as the DoD selects partners for new work. Their decision today doesn’t change the fact that not once, but twice, after careful review by professional procurement staff, the DoD decided that Microsoft and our technology best met their needs. It doesn’t change the DoD Inspector General’s finding that there was no evidence of interference in the procurement process. And it doesn’t change the fact that the DoD and other federal agencies – indeed, large enterprises worldwide – select Microsoft to support their cloud computing and digital transformation needs on a regular basis. Even though we couldn’t work directly with the DoD on JEDI while the protest was in the courts, the investments we’ve continued to make in support of the contract requirements ensure that Microsoft will be an even stronger competitor for future contracts. Microsoft now has the broadest range of cloud innovation across U.S. government data classifications, from the cloud to the tactical edge to outer space. What matters now is the way forward, as the DoD has a critical unmet need to bring the power of cloud and AI to our men and women in uniform, modernizing technology infrastructure and platform services technology. We stand ready to support the DoD as they work through their next steps and its new cloud computing solicitation plans. Our focus on our customer, and not politics or litigation, is the cornerstone of our approach to help governments and businesses achieve their mission outcomes. Microsoft has been a strong partner to the DoD for more than 40 years, and we have publicly pledged to make available our best technology to support their mission. JEDI was just one (albeit highly visible) example of the DoD choosing Microsoft to support mission-critical programs across the department, and we look forward to competing for and being awarded many other cloud projects by the DoD in the future. Today we support a host of critical national security programs, including: Partnering with the U.S. Army to rapidly prototype and field state-of-art mixed reality headsets, augmented by Azure, that provide soldiers access to a vast array of information and planning capabilities anywhere they are, to help improve situational awareness and increase soldier safety; Enabling the DoD’s rapid shift to remote work through the deployment of the Continuous Virtual Remote environment, the “largest rollout ever implemented in this short amount of time,” as noted by the department’s then CIO, Dana Deasy; Advancing digital transformation efforts and cloud-based productivity capabilities through the Defense Enterprise Office Solution, the DoD’s enterprise-wide solution to deploy Microsoft 365 software and services to their 3 million+ workforce; Integrating our mission cloud capabilities through the department’s enterprise-wide Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) efforts; Leading a coalition of industry partners to ensure the security of the U.S. microelectronics supply chain for defense technologies; Collaborating with the U.S. Air Force to scale IT modernization efforts, improve cloud performance, and empower better cross-agency collaboration and communication while complying with strict DoD requirements; and Partnering with the U.S. Navy to successfully deploy an enhanced weather model in a production-like Microsoft Azure environment, showcasing the potential scaling weather and ocean pattern predictions on demand to deliver faster, real-time tropical cyclone forecasts. We continue to focus on the future – and on our customers. One contract has never, and will never, define our relationship with the DoD or any customer. Our decades-long partnership with the DoD will continue – and we stand ready to support our nation’s men and women in uniform as they address our national security needs. The post Microsoft’s commitment to the DoD remains steadfast appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

We hope your kids are enjoying their summer. Needless to say, this past school year was a challenge for everybody, and summer fun was long overdue. That said, your kids will inevitably get bored from time to time during the break from school, and the more you can help them flex their learning muscles, the better they’ll do when the next school year begins. A great place to start is the Windows Resource Center, which recently posted links to free virtual summer camps with Microsoft Store, as well as apps to help your kids learn something new and tools for remote learning in a variety of subjects. Head over to the Windows Resource Center to find it all. Continue reading...

While summer break is in full swing, back-to-school shopping is underway with a quarter of shoppers already searching for items that will prepare them for the upcoming school year. Microsoft Store is helping students and families find simple tools to use at home, in the classroom, or on the go. Starting July 6, Microsoft Store is introducing a range of offers on laptops, PCs and accessories. Microsoft Store’s back-to-school deals and savings include: [caption id=attachment_175996" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/Picture1-1024x578.png Surface Go 2[/caption] Save $100 on Surface Go 2 You can get Microsoft’s smallest, lightest 2-in-1 laptop for $100 off. The Surface Go 2 is perfectly portable with tablet-to-laptop versatility, making it a must have for whatever the school year has in store. [caption id=attachment_175997" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/Picture2-1024x578.png Surface Pro X[/caption] Save up to $300 on Surface Pro X The ultra-thin Surface Pro X is available at $300 off. Built for the ways you study and connect; the Surface Pro X has up to 15 hours of battery life and touchscreen capabilities. [caption id=attachment_175998" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/Picture3-1024x578.png ASUS i3 VivoBook[/caption] Save $500 on select PCs, gaming PCs and monitors Besides Surface, families can also find PCs and monitors on Microsoft Store on sale, including $140 in savings on the ASUS i3 VivoBook. The ASUS VivoBook is meant to be taken on the go and is great for transitioning between virtual and in-person classroom settings. You’ll also receive peace of mind shopping at Microsoft Store as all purchases come with the Microsoft Store Promise, which includes free shipping and returns, personal, virtual shopping appointments, flexible payment options with Klarna, and helpful videos from our Microsoft Store associates. Additionally, for a limited time, save 20-30% on Microsoft Complete, Microsoft Store’s hardware warranty plan, when purchasing select Surface devices. If you’re unable to find your favorite item on sale, parents and students can save up to 10% year-round on select products at Microsoft Store.* *Cannot be combined with any other offer. Terms and conditions apply; see full agreement. Continue reading...

Today, I’m excited to share more information about the Windows 11 accessibility journey. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its upped commitments and ambitions for accessibility. And, we recently introduced Windows 11. An early preview of Windows 11 is available to Windows Insiders today and will start to be generally available later this year. I’m excited to share our ambition to empower people with disabilities to achieve more with Windows and more specifically, what’s coming in Windows 11. Note, this is a lengthy post, we’ve got a lot to share. Beyond possible, efficient and yes, delightful Accessible technology is a fundamental building block that can unlock opportunities in every part of society. A more accessible Windows experience has the power to help tackle the “disability divide” -- to contribute to more education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities across the world. Already, more than a billion people enjoy creating, connecting, learning and achieving on Windows. Beyond simply making these things possible, we aspire for each of our users across the disability spectrum to enjoy experiences that are efficient, fun and yes, delightful. Windows has a great opportunity. Our ambition is shaped by you. We have a lot to do, and what’s outlined below is just the start. Information about how to reach us to provide feedback or for assistance with Windows is included at the end of this post. Windows 11 is the most inclusively designed version of Windows Windows 11 was redesigned for productivity, creativity and ease of use. While it will feel familiar, e.g., with a Desktop, Start menu, Search, Taskbar, Settings and many other features that you have come to expect, it is also simpler, with a modern, fresh and clean design. Accessibility was considered from the start, with inclusive design reviews of new and redesigned features. And, beyond designing for accessibility with and for people with disabilities, we employed Trusted Tester conformance tests, usability tests and other processes to help ensure Windows 11 is accessible at availability later this year. Meanwhile, we’re excited to gather additional feedback from Windows Insiders about how we can further improve the experience. If you’re not a Windows Insider yet, now is the time to join! [caption id=attachment_175980" align="alignnone" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/start_searchDCR_default-1024x576.png Windows 11 Start menu. Windows 11 is both familiar and simpler with a modern, fresh and clean design.[/caption] Windows 11 offers familiar assistive technologies like Narrator, Magnifier, Closed Captions and Windows Speech Recognition to support users across the disability spectrum. Windows 11 also supports assistive technologies created by our partners including popular screen readers, magnification programs, CART services, speech commanding and other experiences. Windows 11 also includes many improvements. People who are blind, and everyone, can enjoy new sound schemes. Windows 11 includes delightful Windows start-up and other sounds, including different sounds for more accessible Light and Dark Themes. People with light sensitivity and people working for extended periods of time can enjoy beautiful color themes, including new Dark themes and reimagined High Contrast Themes. The new Contrast Themes include aesthetically pleasing, customizable color combinations that make apps and content easier to see. Deaf and hard of hearing, language learners, and people in noisy or in quiet environments can enjoy redesigned Closed Caption themes that are easier to read and customize. And, multiple sets of users can enjoy Windows Voice Typing, which uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to recognize speech, transcribe and automatically punctuate text. People with severe arthritis, repetitive stress injuries, cerebral palsy and other mobility related disabilities, learning differences including with severe spelling disabilities, language learners and people that prefer to write with their voice can all enjoy Voice Typing. Ultimately, everyone can enjoy Windows’ simplified design and user experience. It is modern, fresh, clean and beautiful. Windows accessibility features are easier to find and use Importantly, more than improving existing accessibility features, introducing new features and making users’ preferred assistive technology compatible with Windows 11, we are making accessibility features easier to find and use. You gave us feedback that the purpose of the “Ease of Access” Settings and icon was unclear. And you said that you expected to find “Accessibility” settings. We listened and we changed Windows. We rebranded Ease of Access Settings to Accessibility and introduced a new accessibility “human” icon. We redesigned the Accessibility Settings to make them easier to use. And of course, Accessibility features are available in the out of box experience and on the Log on and Lock screens so that users can independently setup and use their devices, e.g., with Narrator. [caption id=attachment_175979" align="alignnone" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/07/Accessibility-Settings-Home-1024x576.png Windows 11 Accessibility Settings, formerly known as “Ease of Access” Settings.[/caption] Windows accessibility just works in more scenarios Windows 11 is a significant step towards a future in which accessibility “just works,” without costly plug-ins or time-consuming work by Information Technology administrators. With Windows 10, we made it possible for assistive technologies to work with secure applications, like Word, in Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG). With Windows 11, we made it possible for both Microsoft and partner assistive technologies to work with applications like Outlook hosted in the cloud, in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). For example, with Windows 11, Office is accessible as a Remote Application Integrated Locally (RAIL) using Narrator. While that may sound like a lot of jargon to most people, the impact is significant. People who are blind will have access to applications like Office hosted in Azure when they need it. Windows 11 will also support Linux GUI apps like gedit through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on devices that meet the app system requirements. And, we enabled these experiences to be accessible. For example, people who are blind can use Windows with supported screen readers within WSL. In some cases, the assistive technology experience is seamless. For example, Color Filters, “just work.” Importantly, the WSL team prioritized accessibility from the start and committed to enable accessible experiences at launch. They are excited to share more with Insiders and to get feedback to continue to refine the usability of their experiences. We look forward to sharing more about other new experiences we introduced last week like our partnership with Amazon to bring Android apps to Windows in the coming months. Modern accessibility platform is great for the assistive technology ecosystem Finally, I am happy to share that we have been working closely with assistive technology industry leaders to co-engineer what we call the “modern accessibility platform.” Windows 11 delivers a platform that enables more responsive experiences and more agile development, including access to application data without requiring changes to Windows. We embraced feedback from industry partners that we need to make assistive technology more responsive by design. We embraced the design constraints of making local assistive technology like Narrator “just work” with cloud hosted apps over a network. We invented and co-engineered new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to do both; to improve the communication between assistive technologies like Narrator and applications like Outlook that significantly improve Narrator responsiveness in some scenarios. The result is that Narrator feels more responsive and works over a network with cloud-hosted apps. We also embraced feedback from industry partners that we need to increase assistive technology and application developer agility to increase the pace of innovation and user experience improvements. We made it possible for application developers, like Microsoft Office, to expose data programmatically without requiring Windows updates. With Windows 11, application developers will be able to implement UI Automation custom extensions, including custom properties, patterns and annotations that can be consumed by assistive technologies. For users, this means we can develop usability and other improvements at the speed of apps. Try Windows 11 and give us feedback An early preview build of Windows 11 is now available to Windows Insiders. And, later this year, Windows 11 will start to be generally available. I’m excited for your feedback — both positive and constructive — to create better experiences for each of us. Whether you’re using an Insider build, or a generally available version, Windows 10 and Windows 11 make it easy to share your thoughts and suggestions — just press the Windows logo key + F to launch the Feedback hub and share what’s top of mind. Finally, if you are a customer with a disability and need technical assistance, the Disability Answer Desk is there to assist via phone (800-936-5900) and chat. In addition, we also have an ASL option available for our customers who are deaf or hard of hearing in the U.S. (+1 503-427-1234). Please contact us, we are always happy to help. Continue reading...

Between June 29 – July 12, the Minecraft Marketplace Summer Celebration delivers a sale filled with items up to 33% off and two free maps, the first of which is available now. Rasa Studios created the first map, which includes four headliner games, seven mini-games, six custom skins and lots of gifts. Oreville Studios made the second map, a customized adventure that will launch July 9. It’ll have challenges and mini-games, more than 100 unique models, custom music and animated cutscenes. Head over to Minecraft.net to get more details and install the Minecraft for Windows 10 Starter Collection if you don’t have it already. Continue reading...

HP has unveiled its lightest consumer laptop yet: the HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop PC, starting at less than 2.2 pounds (1 kg). This is also the first Pavilion laptop to feature a full magnesium aluminum chassis, a 4-sided narrow bezel and a 90% screen-to-body-ratio. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/HP-Pavilion-Aero-13_NaturalSilver_CdeckBuild_Hero.jpg Find out more about it over at HP. [1] Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com. [2] Based on HP’s internal analysis as of March 22. 6,417.32 recycled plastic bottles consumed, based on HP’s projected lifecycle volume. Manufactured recycled ocean bound plastic material in product speaker enclosure. Calculation based on grams per product (using 12.7 grams per 16.9 ounce “single serve” bottled water container) multiplied by projected shipment volume/ 12.7 grams. Continue reading...

Gateway is expanding its Ultra-Slim Notebook series to include laptops outfitted with the latest 11th Gen Intel processors. These will be available exclusively in Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. These lightweight Windows devices have the Intel Pentium Quad Core Processor and Intel’s Tiger Lake 11th Gen Processor for lightning-fast connections, computing power and superior visuals for gaming and streaming, as well as for creative projects and learning. Tuned by THX provides a more immersive entertainment experience with enhancements to maximize warmth, loudness and intelligibility from small speakers. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/GW_third-one-1024x614.jpg You’ll find these ergonomically designed PCs in a variety of vibrant colors and screen sizes – over a range of prices, from $199.99 to $699.99. Head over to the press release to get more details on these devices. Continue reading...

As of June 28, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets, via browser, across 22 countries. If you’re a member or want to become one, go to Edge, Chrome or Safari on your PC or mobile device to start playing hundreds of games from the Xbox Game Pass library. Another big part of this milestone: Xbox Cloud Gaming is now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. Microsoft datacenters have been upgraded around the globe to give players faster load times, improved frame rates and an experience of a new generation of gaming. Read more over at Xbox Wire. *Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on mobile requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, sufficient network speed and supported devices (each sold separately). Streaming limits apply. Catalog varies over time and by region. Please see xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/games for what is available in your region. EA Play is now included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Continue reading...

At a time when the PC is playing a more central role in our lives, Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love. Windows has always existed to be a stage for the world’s innovation. It’s been the backbone of global businesses and where scrappy startups became household names. The web was born and grew up on Windows. It’s the place where many of us wrote our first email, played our first PC game and wrote our first line of code. Windows is the place people go to create, to connect, to learn and to achieve – a platform over a billion people today rely on. The responsibility of designing for that many people is one we don’t take lightly. The past 18 months brought an incredible shift in how we used our PCs; we went from fitting the PC into our lives to trying to fit our whole lives into the PC. Our devices weren’t just where we went for meetings, classes and to get things done, but where we came to play games with friends, binge watch our favorite shows and, perhaps most meaningfully, connect with one another. In the process we found ourselves recreating the office banter, the hallway chatter, workouts, happy hours and holiday celebrations – digitally. What was so powerful was the shift in the PC we saw and felt – from something practical and functional to something personal and emotional. This is what inspired us as we were building the next generation of Windows. To build you a place that feels familiar, where you can create, learn, play and most importantly, connect in all new ways. Today, I am humbled and excited to introduce you to Windows 11, the Windows that brings you closer to what you love. Redesigned for productivity, creativity and ease https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_Start_GenZ_Light_16x10_en-US-1024x640.png We’ve simplified the design and user experience to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. It’s modern, fresh, clean and beautiful. From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease. We put Start at the center and made 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, even if it was on an Android or iOS device. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_SnapAssist_Light_16x9_en-US-1-1024x576.png 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. New in Windows 11, we’re introducing 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. These are new features designed to help you organize your windows and optimize your screen real estate so you can see what you need just the way you want in a layout that’s visually clean. You can also create separate Desktops for each part of your life and customize them to your liking – imagine having a Desktop for work, gaming or school. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_Snap_Ultimate-Desktop_3x2_en-US-1024x683.png Windows 11 cuts through complexity and brings you simplicity. A faster way to connect to the people you care about https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_Teams_Integration_16x9_en-US-1-1024x576.png Another critical part of bringing you closer to what you love is bringing you closer to the people you love. The last 18 months drove new behavior for how we create meaningful connections with people digitally. Even as we start to return to more in-person interaction, we want to continue to make it easy for people to stay close with each other no matter where they are. And we don’t want the device or platform you’re on to be a barrier. With Windows 11, we’re excited to introduce Chat from Microsoft Teams 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. If the person you’re connecting to on the other end hasn’t downloaded the Teams app, you can still connect with them via two-way SMS. Windows 11 also gives you a more natural way to connect with friends and family through Teams, allowing you to instantly mute and unmute, or start presenting directly from the taskbar. Delivering the best PC gaming experiences yet https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_Xbox_Game_Pass_16x9_en-US-1-1024x576.png If you’re a gamer, Windows 11 is made for you. Gaming has always been fundamental to what Windows is all about. Today, hundreds of millions of people around the world game on Windows and find joy and connection with loved ones and friends through play. Windows 11 unlocks the full potential of your system’s hardware, putting some of the latest gaming technology to work for you. Like: DirectX 12 Ultimate, which can enable breathtaking, immersive graphics at high frame rates; DirectStorage for faster load times and more detailed game worlds; and Auto HDR for a wider, more vivid range of colors for a truly captivating visual experience. Nothing has changed in our commitment to hardware compatibility – Windows 11 supports your favorite PC gaming accessories and peripherals. With Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate, gamers get access to over 100 high-quality PC games with new games added all the time, and it’s still just as easy to find people to play with, no matter if they’re playing on a PC or console. To learn more about what Windows 11 means for gamers, check out Xbox Wire. A faster way to get the information you care about https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/WIN_Widgets_Light-Theme_16x9_en-US-1-1024x576.png Windows 11 brings you closer to the news and information you care about faster with Widgets – a new personalized feed powered by AI and best-in-class browser performance from Microsoft Edge. Even when we’re at our most focused and creative we still need breaks – a moment to check in with the outside world or give ourselves a mental reset. Today, we often pick up our phones to check the news, weather or notifications. Now, you can open a similarly curated view directly from your desktop. When you open your personalized feed it slides across your screen like a sheet of glass so it doesn’t disrupt what you’re doing. For creators and publishers, Widgets also opens new real estate within Windows to deliver personalized content. Our aspiration is to create a vibrant pipeline for global brands and local creators alike, in a way that both consumers and creators can benefit. An all-new Microsoft Store where your favorite apps and entertainment come together https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Store-Home-1024x683.png The new Microsoft Store is your single trusted location for apps and content to watch, create, play, work and learn. It’s been rebuilt for speed and with an all-new design that is beautiful and simple to use. Not only will we bring you more apps than ever before, we’re also making all content – apps, games, shows, movies – easier to search for and discover with curated stories and collections. We’re excited to soon be welcoming leading first and third-party apps like Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio, Disney+, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom and Canva to the Microsoft Store – all offering incredible experiences to entertain, inspire and connect you. When you download an app from the Store you have the peace of mind of knowing it’s been tested for security and family safety. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Android-Collection-1024x683.png We’re also pumped to announce that we are bringing Android apps to Windows for the first time. Starting later this year, people will be able to discover Android apps in the Microsoft Store and download them through the Amazon Appstore – imagine recording and posting a video from TikTok or using Khan Academy Kids for virtual learning right from your PC. We’ll have more to share about this experience in the coming months. We look forward to this partnership with Amazon and Intel using their Intel Bridge technology. Creating a more open ecosystem unlocking new opportunity for developers and creators We are taking steps to further open the Microsoft Store to unlock greater economic opportunity for creators and developers. We’re enabling developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their apps regardless of whether they’re built as a Win32, Progressive Web App (PWA), or Universal Windows App (UWP) or any other app framework, creating an opportunity to reach and engage with more people. We’re also announcing a progressive change to our revenue share policies where app developers can now bring their own commerce into our Store and keep 100% of the revenue – Microsoft takes nothing. App developers can still use our commerce with competitive revenue share of 85/15. We believe creating a more open ecosystem ultimately benefits our customers – giving them secure, frictionless access to the apps, games, movies, shows and web content they want and need. To learn more about the changes to the Microsoft Store, visit this Windows Blog post. If you want to learn more about what Windows 11 means for developers, visit the Windows Developer Blog. Faster, more secure and familiar for IT For IT, Windows 11 is built on the consistent, compatible and familiar Windows 10 foundation you know. You’ll plan for, prepare and deploy Windows 11 just as you do today with Windows 10. Upgrading to Windows 11 will be like taking a Windows 10 update. The familiar management experiences you have in place today – like Microsoft Endpoint Manager, cloud configuration, Windows Update for Business and Autopilot – will support your environment of tomorrow as you integrate Windows 11 into your estate. Just as with Windows 10, we are deeply committed to app compatibility, which is a core design tenet of Windows 11. We stand behind our promise that your applications will work on Windows 11 with App Assure, a service that helps customers with 150 or more users fix any app issues they might run into at no additional cost. Windows 11 is also secure by design, with new built-in security technologies that will add protection from the chip to the cloud, while enabling productivity and new experiences. Windows 11 provides a Zero Trust-ready operating system to protect data and access across devices. We have worked closely with our OEM and silicon partners to raise security baselines to meet the needs of the evolving threat landscape and the new hybrid work world. You can learn more about Windows 11 as the operating system for hybrid work and learning in the Microsoft 365 blog. It’s a great time to buy a PC https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Group_Blue_V5_01591-1024x768.jpg Since day one of developing Windows 11, we have been working closely with our hardware and silicon partners for seamless integration across software and hardware. That co-engineering begins with innovation in the silicon. From AMD and the incredible graphics depth brought by the Ryzen processors to the incredible performance of Intel’s 11th gen and Evo Processors, to Qualcomm’s AI prowess, 5G and Arm support, the innovation of our silicon partners brings together the best of Windows 11 with the largest hardware ecosystem in the world. And with Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Surface and others, we’ve worked to ensure most PCs* you can buy today will be ready for Windows 11 – across a variety of form factors and price points. Together, we’ve tuned Windows 11 to not only be optimized for speed and efficiency, but to take advantage of improved experiences with touch, inking and voice. When you use Windows 11 on a tablet without a keyboard, we’ve improved the experience for touch, creating more space between the icons in the taskbar, adding bigger touch targets and subtle visual cues to make resizing and moving windows easier, as well as adding gestures. We’re also enabling haptics to make using your pen even more engaging and immersive – allowing you to hear and feel the vibrations as you click through and edit or sketch. Lastly, we’ve brought forward enhancements in voice typing. Windows 11 is incredible at recognizing what you say; it can automatically punctuate for you, and comes with voice commands. This is a fantastic feature for when you want to take a break from typing and speak your ideas instead. Windows 11 will be available through a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs beginning this holiday. To check if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11, visit Windows.com to download the PC Health Check app. We’re also working with our retail partners to make sure Windows 10 PCs you buy today are ready for the upgrade to Windows 11. The free upgrade will begin to roll out to eligible Windows 10 PCs this holiday and continuing into 2022. And next week, we’ll begin to share an early build of Windows 11 to the Windows Insider Program – this is a passionate community of Windows fans whose feedback is important to us. This is just the beginning Windows is more than just an operating system; it’s a fabric woven into our lives and in our work. It’s where we connect with people, it’s where we learn, work and play. Over time it’s remained familiar and adapted to us. We hope you’re as pumped as we are for Windows 11. We can’t wait to see what Windows 11 empowers people to do and inspires them to create. *Look for PCs that indicate they are eligible for the free upgrade, or you can check with your retailer for more information. Continue reading...

Today, we introduced Windows 11. What makes Windows, well, Windows is the variety of apps available - from core to casual games, from sophisticated productivity suites to social experiences, from creativity tools to niche hobbyist apps, from developer tools to entire virtualized environments. A few years ago, we launched the Microsoft Store on Windows. The Microsoft Store is now one of the most used apps on PCs, and customers tell us they love the convenience and reassurance it brings, compared to the risks of installing apps from the web. However, app developers have told us that technical and policy constraints built into the original foundations of the Store sometimes made it difficult to get their apps published. We’ve used this feedback to re-think and rebuild the Microsoft Store, so it can meet the needs of customers and developers alike.Introducing a new Microsoft Store Today, we are excited to introduce a new Microsoft Store coming soon to both Windows 11 and Windows 10. It will help you discover and install the best apps, games, movies and even special offers – like unique movie discounts for Xbox Game Pass members. All the content in the Microsoft Store is tested for security, family safety and device compatibility. We gave a few app publishers an early look at our plans, and today, we’re excited to share that several awesome apps, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Disney+, TikTok, Zoom, and some of our own apps like Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio, and even Notepad and Paint will be coming to the Microsoft Store on Windows. We redesigned the Microsoft Store from the ground up, making space for more content, keeping the user experience simple and responsive. Here’s a sneak preview at some of the features coming over the next few months: Get introduced to the best apps and games with curated stories and collections We want the Microsoft Store to be the place to get all your favorite apps – including the ones you haven’t heard about…yet! We are introducing Stories, rich editorial content to keep you informed about the best apps and inspire you to achieve more with your device. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/stories-1024-1.gif Run your favorite Android mobile games and apps on Windows We also announced a partnership with Amazon to bring their catalog of Android apps and games to Windows. Windows customers will be able to discover Android apps in the Microsoft Store, and acquire them through the Amazon Appstore. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Android-revised-1024-1.gif A “pop-up” store that helps install apps from the web With the new pop-up store, we are making it easy to install apps from the browser; when you click a Microsoft Store download badge on a web page, the Microsoft Store will pop up to manage the install – without pulling you away from what you were doing. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/popup-1024-1.gif A more open Microsoft Store for developers We believe app stores should be grounded in choice, fairness and innovation. Inspired by these principles, our new Microsoft Store takes two important steps to address feedback from developers about what an app store can do for them: Support for more types of apps Starting today, Windows developers can publish any kind of app, regardless of app framework and packaging technology – such as Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Java and even Progressive Web Apps. Developers can sign up later today to publish desktop apps, or build and package PWAs using our latest open-source tool PWABuilder 3. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/PWABuilder-1024-1.gif Flexibility and choice of commerce platform Many developers love the Microsoft Commerce platform because of its simplicity, global distribution, platform integration and its competitive revenue share terms at 85/15 for apps and 88/12 for games. Starting July 28, app developers will also have an option to bring their own or a third party commerce platform in their apps, and if they do so they don’t need to pay Microsoft any fee. They can keep 100% of their revenue. Ready for you We are launching an early preview of the new Microsoft Store for you to try in the upcoming Windows Insider build. We’ll continue to build and refine it in the open, and we’d love for you to participate or – for developers – to bring your existing or new apps. See you there! Continue reading...

The latest season of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Elite, is now here, and it covers a lot of ground. Halo fans will see a fresh set of Elite customization options to choose from, two new maps for matchmaking with Edge and Waterfall, the return of the Halo 4 Champions Bundle, Firefight being added to the social matchmaking menu and the Custom Game Browser (CGB) for Halo: Reach. But, there’s much more! Head over to Halo Waypoint to get the full rundown. Continue reading...

Lenovo is refreshing its Windows-based ThinkPad and ThinkVision lines with redesigned and re-engineered devices, including the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4, the ThinkPad L13 Gen 2, L13 Yoga Gen 2, ThinkVision M15 mobile monitor and ThinkVision T24m-20 display. The X1 Extreme Gen 4 is available with the latest NVIDIA RTX mobile graphics, up to 64GB DDR4 memory and dual Solid-State Drive (SSD) support. You can also upgrade it with optional 5G Wireless WAN for high-speed access to cloud data. To make the most of remote work, it has an edge-to-edge 16-inch display (with options up to 4K with Dolby Vision support), a new FHD webcam, dual noise-cancelling microphones and a user-facing Dolby Atmos Speaker System that is 20% larger than previous generation. And all of this weighs less than four pounds. Its fingerprint reader is integrated into the power button for easier sign on through Windows Hello, while a larger touchpad caters to users who prefer this control method. With rapid access keys, you can quickly answer and end audio and video calls. Read more about all these devices at Lenovo. Continue reading...

Microsoft is joining the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) to advance the protection of space-based critical assets vital to government agencies and the global economy. As the first hyperscale cloud service provider to join this member organization, we will share our unique global threat insights to protect critical infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity expertise in the space community. Through Microsoft’s founding membership in the Space ISAC we look forward to supporting the mission to facilitate collaboration across the global space industry, to enhance the community’s ability to prepare for and respond to cyber vulnerabilities, incidents and threats; disseminate timely information; and serve as the primary communications channel for the sector. Supporting the cybersecurity mission needs of the space community Microsoft invests over $1 billion dollars annually on cybersecurity and has a team of more than 3,500 global security experts across 77 countries interpreting and contributing to the insights gained from our advanced engineering and telemetry. Microsoft is at the forefront of cybersecurity threat detection, leveraging our analysis of over 8 trillion diverse threat signals daily across over 200 global consumer and commercial services, yielding unparalleled threat intelligence. Microsoft provides world-class threat detection technologies including those built into Azure, Windows and Microsoft 365, and we will be exploring ways to apply these solutions toward protecting space systems. This level of investment and expertise will help support the mission of the Space ISAC and enhance the space community’s ability to detect threats, bolster protections and develop defense strategies. Space: Expanding frontier in cybersecurity The space community is growing rapidly, and innovation is lowering the barriers of access for both public and private organizations. Space connectivity and compute is becoming progressively more attainable across industries including agriculture, energy, telecommunications and government. Like other increasingly digital infrastructures, satellites and other space-based assets can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. The increase in availability and connectivity of space technology increases the surface area of cybersecurity risk and the urgency for collaboration to address the threat. Microsoft recognizes the importance of navigating these emergent cybersecurity challenges amidst rapid commercial advancements in communications infrastructure, satellite connectivity and broadband. Collaborating with space experts to increase space cybersecurity intelligence Bill Chappell, vice president of mission Systems, will represent Microsoft on the Space ISAC board of directors alongside prominent organizations in the space community including Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE, SES, Lockheed Martin, Parsons Corporation, Purdue University, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Aerospace Corporation, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Northrop Grumman. We are already working with many of the Space ISAC members as part of our robust geospatial partner ecosystem to build solutions for industry, the U.S. government and international organizations. Learn more Microsoft continues to build cloud capabilities to meet the unique needs of space – connectivity solutions, emulating space missions, discovering insights from satellite data and fueling innovation both on the ground and in orbit. We will continue to enable a groundbreaking space community by expanding our support and addressing evolving mission needs. As we partner with Space ISAC we look forward to sharing our progress in ensuring the highest levels of cybersecurity across the universe. Learn more here. The post Microsoft joins Space ISAC as founding member to further space cybersecurity intelligence appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

To celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th birthday June 23, free downloadable content tied to the speedster is now available for Minecraft for Windows 10. You’ll find rings to collect, along with plenty of obstacles to dash past, bosses to defeat and momentum to build towards a high score. Find out more on Minecraft.net. Continue reading...