News Bot

The latest Sea of Thieves content update, Season Three, is now available and free for all players with Xbox Game Pass and across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam. In addition to that, players can join forces with Captain Jack Sparrow in “Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life” – a new story campaign that brings “Pirates of the Caribbean” sailing into the Sea of Thieves. All players can earn Renown and rewards, with optional Trials to boost progress. They can also buy a Plunder Pass to expand the reward pool. Find out more over at Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Getting on top of your finances is critical to making sure all your hard work isn’t for naught. But where do you begin? The Windows Resource Center has compiled a page of resources and information to help you make sense of your money. It involves setting goals, understanding where your money is going, automatically tracking where your money goes and saving money when shopping online. For each, tools and tips are provided to help you take the next steps to financial stability. Head over to the Windows Resource Center to get started. Continue reading...

In more than a decade working at Reallusion – a 3D and 2D software and content developer that specializes in Windows-based real-time animation and creation tools – Enoc Burgos has seen a lot of changes in the industry, but one thing is consistent in his role as director of partnership marketing: being able to support and empower up-and-coming creators who lack skills and/or resources to develop their vision. Authors use Reallusion software to make trailers for their books, students and professors tap into the technology to create more realistic training sessions and movie studios find the company’s iClone -- an animated storyboard that helps preview scenes that need to be filmed -- to be the right tool for pre-visualization purposes. With Reallusion tools, creators don't have to start from scratch. They’re able to create something based off of already existing assets. They can grab a base character, modify it with a photograph and then stack layers for the skin textures to create something that's very high quality, without having to be an expert in the entire process of 3D modeling. iClone, launched in the early 2000s, is one of Reallusion’s most popular tools, incorporating real-time computer graphics engines to create cinematic production. Anyone can use it with pre-made assets, such as characters and built-in motions. Users can also apply their own voices and use their mouse to animate characters. This gives creators the freedom to come up with their own animations – and own them. “The moment I felt that the industry really started to shift is when we launched iClone 5 (about 10 years ago),” says Burgos, who adds that was the first time the company offered motion capture, something previously reserved for high-end studios equipped with $100,000 computer rigs with dozens of cameras. What made that iteration of iClone stand out was its pairing with Microsoft Kinect, using that product’s infrared sensor to generate basic body animation. This device, which cost $79, opened the doors for an entire ecosystem of future developments with other partners and other tools. [caption id=attachment_175855" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/SkinGen-UI-1024x576.jpg Character Creator's skin layering mechanism allows artists to easily create intricate skin details through multiple material channels like diffuse, roughness, specular, normal maps and more.[/caption] Recently, Reallusion has been working with NVIDIA to build a Connector to the Omniverse platform, which enables virtual collaboration and real-time simulation for 3D workflows. With the Omniverse Character Creator Connector, Reallusion brings the power of a full character generation system, complete with motions and unlimited creative variations, to the Omniverse platform. Artists and designers can now easily design and transfer characters and motions directly into Omniverse and its connected ecosystem. This is done through the Universal Scene Description framework (an open standard originally developed by Pixar). “The idea behind this is that you could have a collaborative effort from artists and studios from around the world, each jumping into this virtual platform, creating and iterating in real time,” he says. “You could have someone in Japan using Unreal Engine to create the layout of your scene with the props and the vehicles. Then you can have someone in France using Character Creator to create a character in real time, dropping the character into the Omniverse, into that Unreal Engine scene. At the same time, someone in India could use a motion capture suit, or a motion capture system, to animate that same character that is being plugged into Omniverse.” In 2020, which Burgos notes was “an extremely challenging year for everyone around the globe, "Reallusion saw a spike in the influx of users who were starting to use more of their tools. People from different communities – Blender and Unreal, for instance – were starting to connect with Reallusion applications, connecting all these different tool sets together. Reallusion received a grant from Epic Games and decided to use it to give back to the community, in the form of the Pitch & Produce Program. Reallusion helps identify projects and provide creators with software, technical assistance, financial and promotional support. “This has given us an insight into how many people in the world have this amazing vision for a project. And with a little bit of help, they're able to achieve that,” Burgos says. “And of course, it's so gratifying to see that we were able to be part of that, to give back to the community and see the community flourish on those efforts.” Lead photo: Reallusion's Director of Partnership Marketing Enoc Burgos, with Character Creator on Razer's Blade Studio laptops with Nvidia RTX cards. All photos courtesy of Reallusion. Continue reading...

It has been one year since we outlined a set of actions and commitments our company would take over the next five years to address racial injustice. These commitments stem from a belief that the work we must do as individuals and as an organization toward justice and equity is urgent and requires intention and sustained engagement. It’s critical that this not be something we only care about at one time of year, or for one year in a lifetime – but instead that we commit to the ongoing exploration needed to help us be as informed, effective and sustainable as possible in how we approach change. Our approach combines financial investments, technology and intellectual capital to make meaningful progress to improve the lived experience at Microsoft, as well as driving systemic change in the United States. These commitments include three efforts: Increasing representation and strengthening inclusion. We are building on our diversity and inclusion momentum, funded by an additional $150 million investment. We will strengthen our culture of inclusion and double the number of Black and African American, and Hispanic and Latinx people managers, senior individual contributors and senior leaders in the U.S. by 2025. Evolving our engagement with our supply chain, banking partners and partner ecosystem because we know a stronger and more productive ecosystem requires better representation of the diversity in our communities. Strengthening communities by using data, technology and partnerships to help address racial injustice and inequities of the Black and African American communities in the U.S. and improve the safety and well-being of our employees and their communities. We know our employees, customers and partners continue to want to understand our journey — where are we making progress, what are we learning — so I want to represent the work of many by sharing where we are across our three efforts. We will continue to report our progress with updates and resources available here. Increasing representation and strengthening inclusion Accountability for progress: Specifically on our commitment to double the number of Black and African American and Hispanic and Latinx people managers, senior individual contributors and senior leaders in the U.S. by 2025, we are well on our way to achieving that number. For Black and African American people managers (below director level), we are 64.0% of the way to our 2025 commitment. For Black and African American directors+ (people managers and individual contributors), we are 35.7% of the way to our 2025 commitment. For Hispanic and Latinx people managers (below director level), we are 20.9% of the way to our 2025 commitment. For Hispanic and Latinx directors+ (people managers and individual contributors), we are 20.4% of the way to our 2025 commitment. Over the last five years, Microsoft has increased representation for all demographics and levels reported in the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Data Disclosure and Report, and we will publish the 2021 D&I Data Disclosure and Report in fall 2021. But we know that such a commitment goes beyond the numbers, to the meaningful and sustainable ways we drive individual, culture and systemic change. Here are some additional updates on our commitments. Culture of inclusion: We are seeing more than 92% completion rate for the required D&I learning courses on allyship, covering and privilege in the workplace we mandated this past year. We have begun pilots of the executive D&I conversations focused on corporate workplace experiences of those who are Black and African American, and we will begin the pilots for conversations on Hispanic and Latinx workplace experiences within the year. These are the beginning of executive discussions on dimensions of identity, community and geography which we will continue to expand in the future. And we hosted Include 2021, our internal and external D&I event on March 17 and 18, with more than 110 sessions and 70,000 registrants from 185 countries. We also shared event content for on demand viewing as part of the launch of a new Microsoft Inclusion Journey site. This site also supports our commitment to share some of our internal D&I learning courses with our larger ecosystem including partners, customers, vendors and developers. We will continue to add new content and conversations in the coming months. Career planning and talent development: We have launched 20 cohorts of our mid-level and senior-level leadership development programs, with further staged cohorts planned for next year and beyond. Differentiated development programs have positive effects on employee experience and career development because they provide psychological safety for learning and growth but are only one offering in the larger suite of learning and development programs for all employees. The programs are opt-in and require managers of all participants to also participate in a parallel track to support and grow how they understand and support their employees. Engaging our ecosystem In regard to updates specifically around meeting our goals to engage our ecosystem, including using our balance sheet and engagement with suppliers and partners to foster societal change: Suppliers: We have realized growth in our Black- and African American-owned supplier base and have received positive feedback on the overall supplier experience. We have implemented a confidential voluntary workforce representation survey and are also introducing a Diversity Equity & Inclusion maturity framework to understand suppliers’ diversity programs. We continue to refine our procurement policies and practices to increase inclusion of diverse suppliers in the buying process. Banking: In the past fiscal year, we have more than doubled the percentage share of transaction volumes with Black- and African American-owned financial institutions. In addition, we have increased our deposits with Black and African American-owned Minority Owned Depository Institutions (MDIs), enabling increased funds into local communities. We’ve also made investments including: Clear Vision Impact Fund investment with Siebert Williams Shank, which will invest in small- and medium-sized minority-owned companies Entrepreneur Backed Asset Fund investment to increase capital to MDIs and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) Investment into Southern Opportunity and Resilience Fund supporting MDIs/CDFIs across the South and Southeastern states Partners: In the past fiscal year, we have seen rapid growth in Black- and African American-owned technology partners in the Microsoft Partner Network. We have also built active partnerships with technology communities such as: Black Women Talk Tech, Black is Tech, Black Men in Tech, AfroTech/Blavity, and Black and Brown Founders. In addition, we’ve launched the Black Channel Partner Alliance community to support partners onboarding to the Microsoft Cloud and unlock partner benefits for co-selling with Microsoft. And finally, we have launched programs to provide financing through extended payment terms to help with cash flow needs and no interest loans backed by Microsoft to provide broader access to capital. Strengthening our communities We’re focused on strengthening communities by using the power of data, technology and partnership to improve the lives of Black and African American people across the U.S. The work we do is grounded in how we empower others to drive forward scalable solutions across efforts such as: Justice Reform: Through a five-year, $50 million sustained effort, we are working alongside communities to advance a more equitable justice system, with a specific focus on policing, alternatives to incarceration and prosecutorial reforms. Through these efforts, we aim to decrease the number of persons entering the justice system unnecessarily or unfairly, reduce disparities within the system, and help create safe, thriving communities. Broadband: To support participation in the digital economy, we are expanding our Microsoft Airband Initiative to eight U.S. cities where Black and African American communities face some of the largest broadband gaps. In addition to working with internet service providers and other partners to deliver affordable broadband, we are collaborating on programs that provide access to affordable devices and champion digital skills initiatives. Skills and education: As part of our global skills initiative, we are providing grants to community-based nonprofit organizations led by and serving Black and African American communities aiming to equip more people with the digital skills needed for the jobs of the 21st century. We will also expand computer science and data science curricula for Black and African American students in high schools and universities, through our Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program and continued partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Nonprofits: By rapidly scaling our Nonprofit Tech Acceleration (NTA) initiative, launched in the fall of 2020, we are expanding technology support for community-based nonprofits providing critical human and social services to the Black and African American community. NTA provides nonprofit grantees with cloud technology, training and concierge support to ensure they can be successful with modern solutions. As we said one year ago, we are committed to addressing racial injustice and inequity by taking a holistic response to a systemic challenge through these three areas of effort. While we have been unwavering in our broader, ongoing focus to advance diversity and strengthen inclusion at Microsoft, we also understand that we have the opportunity to be more precise in where we accelerate progress, and these commitments are holding us accountable to that. We will continue to be unrelenting in our work — informed and led by employees and leaders across our company. At Microsoft we know that we can only achieve our mission when everyone is included. We approach these efforts with a commitment to be candid about our progress and accountable to our ambitions. The post Racial Equity Initiative: A year of progress on our commitments appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

When Sea of Thieves Season Three launches June 22, you’ll also see “Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life” – an original story that brings Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew sailing in from beyond the horizon to spark new adventures spanning five narrative-driven Tall Tales. A special Xbox broadcast catches up with the Rare and Walt Disney Games teams behind this collaboration to offer some insights into its creation. Both talk about the vision, the ambition, the care and attention poured into every aspect of this dream crossover – and just some of the features they’re most excited for fans of both franchises to experience. Read more and check it out over at Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

With 62% of parents planning to purchase more back-to-school items online this summer, they can start saving now on tech and accessories for the upcoming school year. To help parents plan ahead, starting June 21, Microsoft Store’s upcoming sale will have discounts on laptops, PCs, accessories and more. Here are some of the top deals to kick off back-to-school shopping: https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Tournament-287x300.jpg Up to 50% off Razer accessories To get the most out of your gaming session, select Razer accessories, including the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition and the Razer Kraken Ultimate, will be 50% off. Play comfortably for hours with gaming headsets that combine great audio with ergonomic design. In addition to great savings, you’ll receive peace of mind when shopping at Microsoft Store as all purchases come with the Microsoft Store Promise, including, free shipping, free returns and zero membership fees or purchase minimums. 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.* Enjoy these savings before Microsoft Store’s sale ends later this week. Additionally, to help parents find ways to keep kids engaged this summer, Microsoft Store is once again hosting free, virtual camps aimed to keep kids’ minds sharp and build their digital skills. *Cannot be combined with any other offer. Terms and conditions apply; see full agreement. Continue reading...

It’s a wrap on Season 1 of Envision. We finished the online series with a sense of optimism and an eye toward the future. This past year has been a proving ground for so many organizations to test their digital transformation progress, to become more agile and resilient, and to reimagine their business for the future. It’s an exciting time to be in tech! Now, how can leaders use technology for the hybrid future that lies ahead, helping them move faster and driving continuous innovation? We explored this and other timely topics during the Envision Season 1 finale. Envision is our series for business leaders presented by Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft. Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and Judson Althoff, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business, joined GSK Chief Digital and Technology Officer Karenann Terrell for a conversation on the key issues leaders need to be considering, the importance of making the right technology investments, and why now is a time for great optimism. I also had the pleasure to talk with Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes. We talked about the power of a growth mindset and the effect it has had on both her personal leadership journey and the digital transformation of Land O’Lakes. Achieving big goals requires resilience and the ability to pivot and grow. Thank you to Beth. I really enjoyed meeting a great business leader, technology leader and fellow member of the LGBTQI+ community. During a discussion on the hybrid workplace, Florin Rotar, executive for Global Modern Workplace at Avanade, and Alysa Taylor, corporate vice president of Business Applications and Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft, agreed that hybrid work is here to stay and will require leaders to think differently and adopt new operating models. This is a current topic for all of our organizations. What’s clear is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and the needs of each industry, company and team are different. Flexibility and a data-driven approach are essential to be successful in the hybrid workplace. We heard from Julie Brill, Microsoft’s chief privacy officer, about the evolving landscape of data privacy and protection, and how privacy will be crucial for organizations to build customer trust and gain a competitive edge. In addition, Microsoft Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton and Avanade global lead of digital ethics Chris McClean shared their thoughts on the rapid advances in AI technology and how companies can create a responsible AI framework. Finally, Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson gave an inspiring talk with Emma McGuigan, global lead of Accenture Intelligent Platform Services, about the impact his organization is making in underserved communities, and how he has applied the lessons he learned in sports to his business and philanthropic endeavors. Following the main broadcast, Envision attendees had the opportunity to join one of four “industry perspectives” segments focused on how technology is shaping the future of financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and retail, offering valuable insights for all business leaders. If you missed the episode, be sure to watch the on-demand segments, browse related resources and get ready for even more at the all-new Season 2 of Envision beginning in October. Visit the Envision website to register. The post Season 1 finale of Envision: A time for digital optimism appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

After a three-year hiatus, the Razer Blade 14 is back, highlighting a new partnership with AMD. The Windows 10 laptop becomes the first Razer Blade ever to have an AMD processor. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-core processor features a base clock of 3.3GHz with a max boost clock of up to 4.6GHz, so it can quickly dispatch dense workloads, reduce latency when gaming and chew through 3D renders at breakneck speeds. Gamers can also add up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, and up to a Quad HD 165Hz display. Built with NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, the RTX 30 Series offer improved ray tracing and advanced AI features to create more visually immersive worlds. Both IPS-grade panels, ranging from Full HD 144Hz up to Quad HD 165Hz, offer excellent color coverage. The high refresh rate of both panels, paired with the integrated AMD FreeSync Premium technology, ensures a crisp and fluid visual experience in-game. Gamers will also see signature Razer features: per-key Razer Chroma RGB backlighting, immersive THX Spatial Audio and an abundance of ports, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports and HDMI 2.1 (for easily hooking into board room media sets). Beyond gaming, there’s a 720p webcam for taking online video calls when you’re working remotely, with an IR sensor for a safe and seamless login via Windows Hello. Speakers flank the keyboard and can be tuned via the built-in THX Spatial Audio app for gaming, movies or music. And whether you’re working or playing, you’ll have up to 12 hours of battery life – the longest of any Razer gaming laptop ever. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Razer-Blade-14-2021-2-1024x576.jpg All this comes in a chassis that has been trimmed down to an ultrathin 0.66 inches, utilizing Razer’s vapor chamber cooling solution to ensure both the CPU and GPU can operate at maximum capacity while remaining cool. It's housed in an anodized black finish made of CNC aluminum, which is lightweight but durable. The Razer Blade 14 starts at $1,799.99 and is available for preorder now at Razer.com and at RazerStore retail locations, with orders shipping in late June. Head over to Razer to find out more. Continue reading...

During the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase June 13, a lot of news came out on new games. We’ll highlight a few here, but be sure to go over to Xbox Wire to get the full download. Forza Horizon 5, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s breakout hit open world driving game Forza Horizon 4, arrives Nov. 9 on Xbox consoles, PC on Windows and Steam and Xbox Game Pass including console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta). In this game, you lead breathtaking expeditions across Mexico in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars. Discover living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, pristine beaches, vast canyons and a towering snow-capped volcano – the highest point ever in a Horizon game. Find out more over at Xbox Wire. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/P2_W10_800x600.jpg Xbox debuted a brand-new trailer, featuring never-before-seen scenes from Psychonauts 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2005 cult comedy classic. In this version, you play as Razputin Aquato, a trained acrobat and powerful young psychic, who has realized his lifelong dream of joining the international psychic espionage organization known as the Psychonauts. But these psychic super spies are in trouble. Raz must use his powers to bring the murderous psychic villain, Maligula, back from the dead. You can preorder it Aug. 25. Find out more about Pyschonauts 2 on Xbox Wire. Continue reading...

Editor’s note: In acknowledgment and celebration of Pride, Microsoft executive co-sponsors of Global LGBTQI+ Employees and Allies at Microsoft Employee Resource Group (GLEAM) Ann Johnson and Liat Ben-Zur got together (virtually) for a personal conversation about leadership, allyship, intersectional identities, bias and the powerful advocacy work of communities across the company. This is an edited version of their chat. Liat: Ann, would you share some insights about your personal and professional path and how that connects both to what we do in GLEAM, and to how you approach your role leading teams at Microsoft? Ann: First, it’s so great to be having this talk. You know, a lot of times earlier in my career, I was the only woman in the room. I also noticed that often, everyone in the room was white. As my career evolved, I started really becoming aware that there was a ceiling that not only I, but other people were hitting. I felt I had a certain amount of advantage because I have a college education and I am a white woman, and I can pass for having a very traditional, as it was called back then, lifestyle. I knew as I was starting to elevate in roles that I had a responsibility to create space for people. I had a responsibility to put the ladder back down behind me, even in my early management roles, to make sure other people can climb that ladder. I figured out that if I could bring diverse perspectives and experiences into the conversation, we would get better outcomes. We had people coming from different backgrounds, people who maybe didn’t have a college education or maybe didn’t have a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Or maybe they were a woman with a wife and children at home. I wanted people to feel comfortable having those conversations with me, so that has really informed my entire career in tech because I I’ve tried to create space. I’ve made mistakes. I grew up Mormon in a very small town in a very conservative place. I was on a huge learning curve, but I feel like that I had a responsibility to be on that learning curve. Let me ask you a similar question about your story and how your various intersectional identities have influenced your path personally? Liat: In many ways it’s very similar to some of your experiences. My journey in tech started over 25 years ago. I was a young female engineer, and especially in the semiconductor and wireless space I learned early what it means to be an outsider. I was almost always the only female in the room, the only female leader. I felt I had to prove myself, always had to do a little bit more to earn the trust and respect of my colleagues. After doing that for so long just trying to fit in, I started to realize just how much I was holding back. For most of my career I was covering. And I didn’t really think that much about it because I just thought, you know, that’s what you had to do. I worked so incredibly hard to earn credibility with my colleagues that anything that would further marginalize me I was of afraid of. It’s only after I came out, late in my career, that I realized how much weight I was carrying on my shoulders all those years. All those years of pretending to be someone else, of watching what I say, watching my pronouns, always on my toes when personal questions were being asked. It had a big mental, emotional and social impact on how I relate, how I don’t relate, even to this day. And I think the power of finally lifting that veil, being able to be my full, true authentic self at work — the release, the freedom, just enabling me to be me — really had a massive impact. It allowed me to be a better engineer, a better boss, a better mom, a better wife. Now that I’m a leader, it’s important for me to help create work environments that are welcoming, safe and supportive for everyone. The cybersecurity industry has long acknowledged that with artificial intelligence and machine learning, the greater diversity of data that we have there, the better the outcome. I’m curious, Ann, how you think about diversity and inclusion, both from the business and the culture perspective? Ann: You go where you’re invited and stay where you are welcome, meaning it’s not enough to bring people in. We have to actually create an environment where they stay and they’ll be successful. Diversity and inclusion are not just about race, and not just about gender identity. They’re about educational background. They’re about socioeconomic background. They’re about our many dimensions of identity. We need as many liberal arts graduates as we need STEM graduates. I compare it to machine learning. If you have millions of signals that are all the same thing, you don’t learn anything. You have to have diversity of data, so I put the diversity of thought of human beings to solve our problems in the same bucket. And as much work as we have done here at Microsoft toward this, we still have a way to go in creating a space where everyone feels safe to bring their authentic self to work. Liat: We do. And I think the onus is on us, and thanks to leaders like you and so many others to model that change day by day. Ann: One thing is we have to make sure that we address unconscious bias whenever we can. We make sure that not only do we have diverse candidates being interviewed, but we have diverse interviewers. And then as we get that interview feedback we look at it and say, was there any unconscious bias? By the way, everyone, including me, has unconscious biases. I know you will appreciate this: I interviewed someone not that long ago who was encouraged by a mentor to change their hairstyle for the interviews, to “look a little more professional.” That’s the kind of coaching people are still getting. Liat: I got that, you know. I’ve received that feedback once or twice, especially when I was an executive in Europe. Ann: It’s still a thing, this cultural bias. You’re this amazing leader by the way, I look up to you, you may not realize that — because you are your authentic self. I know you celebrate that uniqueness. Can you tell me what parts of your journey have most influenced you to be the person you are today? Liat: I haven’t always been my authentic self, and I think because of that, I do try to create that space not just for myself but for others here at Microsoft. I’ve learned that celebrating the different voices at work actually leads to diverse perspectives. I think we can only build products as inclusive as the teams who are building them. So as the leader of our consumer services here at Microsoft, I’m always thinking about how we can make better solutions for individuals, for families around the world and the problems that you and I experienced. The unmet needs vary widely based on our lived experiences. So, one product that works fantastically for one person can actually cause a lot of stress or anxiety for someone who has disabilities. One product with a design aesthetic that I love can be completely hard to see or impossible to read for someone else. Designing solutions that adjust for individual needs requires product makers who look at things differently. I’ll give you an example. Designing a product that can help kids feel safer or be safer when they’re online and when they’re offline, which really was designed perhaps to make parents feel safer with their children in today’s world, could actually prove to be extremely helpful in protecting transgender youth getting home safely at night, in a totally different context with a totally different use case in mind, that might require a slightly different user experience.. It’s only with the diversity of the teams that we build that we can explore our world, our users, our products, our needs with all of these different perspectives. Ann: As an LGBTQI+ person, how do you think about allyship? Liat: There’s a well-known quote by Martin Niemöller that goes like this: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. And then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.” Well, I’m Jewish and they did come after us, they came after my grandmother who watched her entire family get killed as an Auschwitz survivor. And she would always tell me, the Germans saw, they smelled, they heard. And they said nothing. The neighbors, they said nothing. And saying nothing and doing nothing is the same as doing the thing. There is no such thing as allyship without action. Be it for supporting women in tech; be it for supporting the LGBTQI+ community; be it for speaking against hate and violence toward Asian and Asian Pacific Islander communities; be it for speaking against police brutality and injustice toward Black people, or especially right now in this moment, calling out antisemitism, which is on the rise. We have to use our voice because our future depends on us doing something and saying something. And that’s what allyship means to me. Ann: We need to condemn all forms of hate and we need to do it vocally every day. And as you know, trans rights are massively under attack in the U.S. right now. Having a trans daughter, I worry about her safety every single day and I’m going to be vocal about it and I’m going to take action. I’m going to do what I can. Maybe it’s one small thing, but if everyone does one small thing, we have a collective voice. Liat: There’s a lot for us to lock arms and push against, and I’m really proud to be part of a GLEAM community that wants to do that. Our Gleam Employee Resource Group has been so fortunate to have your executive support and leadership, Ann. We have a lot to celebrate. But there’s also a lot of work that needs to be done. What stands out to you from this past year and where would you like to see us go next? Ann: I think it’s important, especially in the workplace context, to continue to educate people on how to be good allies. We talk about how there’s no allyship without action. So how do you do that. I give one example to my team – if we’re on a Teams call and someone’s just not getting their voice heard, speak out: “Liat, did you want to add to the conversation?” And advocate for the people when they’re not in the room: “Hey, I think Liat is super talented. This project would be really good for her.” And I think being a great ally is always holding yourself accountable, making sure that your actions aren’t harming somebody unintentionally. I do think in general people have the best intent. They don’t always know how to act on that best intent. Also, as you know I’m hyper-focused on trans issues. I want us to be an ally for all colors of the rainbow. I want us to make sure that we’re not only focused on one or two groups that have more representation, more power, a bigger voice. I want to make sure that nonbinary folks and trans folks, those along the whole spectrum, are really represented. I want to make sure that GLEAM is really representative in itself. Liat: I think that is a great goal for all of us to work on. Thank you so much for this chat, Ann. Ann: Thank you! The post Covering, community and creating space for one another: A Pride conversation appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Right now is a great time to get set for gaming this summer. Xbox’s Deals Unlocked sale offers savings on everything from epic exclusive games to gaming PCs to accessories through June 17. Of course you’ll find discounts on Xbox Game Studios titles, but you’ll also find great deals for PC gamers, including gaming PCs starting at $699, up to 60% off on select PC digital games and savings of up to 25% on select gaming accessories. Head over to Xbox Wire for all the deals and details. Continue reading...

Ahead of the first-ever Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on June 13, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the importance of gaming to Microsoft and in the world. “As a company, Microsoft’s all-in on gaming. We believe we can play a leading role in democratizing gaming and defining that future of interactive entertainment,” Nadella said. Nadella and Spencer touched on Microsoft’s earliest days of gaming, cloud computing and empowering creators, and shared new updates on how Xbox Game Pass is changing the way people discover, connect and play. Another blog post dives deeper into Xbox Game Pass and shares new updates on its success and what’s next for Xbox. One of many insights it reveals: “Xbox Game Pass members play 30% more genres and play 40% more games. And more than 90% of members said they played a game that they would not have tried without Game Pass.” Head over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

This past year has been difficult for many of us in the Black and African American communities. Technology brought images of violence against our community to the forefront of the public consciousness, and the pandemic revealed its deep economic fault lines. At times, the depth of the systemic racial inequality that has occurred in the United States for five centuries and still exists today can feel overwhelming. We have an opportunity to harness data and technology to accelerate and scale equitable solutions. That change starts with each of us. What motivates me is my African American son and daughter and what they experience in society. To work on racial equity issues every day and, in some small way, help improve things for them and the generations to follow, is what every dad wants. I’m also incredibly inspired and humbled by Microsoft’s employees, community leaders and partners who are channeling their impatience into action to address racial inequity. Today, I’m sharing progress about some of our work with the release of Microsoft’s Racial Equity Initiative: Strengthening Our Communities report, focusing on justice reform, affordable broadband, skills and education, and nonprofit empowerment. During this first year of our five-year initiative, we have deeply engaged with employees, expanded existing programs and piloted new ones, hired new employees to focus on this work, developed new partnerships and deepened existing ones. We are proud of the work we’ve done to set the foundation for the years ahead. We recognize that the company is at the very beginning of a sustained, long-term effort to help improve the lives of Black and African American people in the United States. We don’t have all the answers, but with data, innovation, partnership and a focus on policy, we believe we can help accelerate systemic change. And we are committed to being transparent, holding ourselves accountable and sharing what we learn along the way. ‘Seeing injustice in the world calls us all to take action, as individuals and as a company.’ – Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella This work is part of a series of commitments that our CEO Satya Nadella outlined in 2020 as part of a new Racial Equity Initiative, designed to address the racial injustice and inequity experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in the US, including Black and African American communities. We developed a set of actions that we believe are meaningful to improve the lived experience at Microsoft, as well as help improve the lives of Black and African Americans in the communities in which we live and work. We are centering our work specifically on three multiyear sustained efforts including: Increasing representation and strengthening a culture of inclusion, led by Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft executive vice president, human resources; engaging our ecosystem by using our balance sheet and working with suppliers and partners to extend the vision for societal change, led by Amy Hood, Microsoft executive vice president and chief financial officer; and strengthening our communities, led by Microsoft President Brad Smith and an effort for which I’m the executive sponsor. You can learn more about the Racial Equity Initiative here. Key learnings: Sustainable impact requires working at scale Prior to announcing the Racial Equity Initiative, we sought out significant input and feedback from our employees, the community, our partners and experts. Throughout the development and expansion of our programs, we continued to engage this feedback loop. This “listen first” approach helped us identify what was working and how to adjust our initial assumptions when needed. For instance, we initially set out to address broadband affordability. After listening to the needs of the people in the communities in which we were working, we realized that providing a connection to broadband was not enough. We needed to work with our partners to make available affordable computers and other devices, as well as provide skills training. This holistic approach of going from connection to devices to skills will help more people realize the benefit of a broadband connection and the positive impact it can have on education, economic opportunities and more. As we began working with nonprofits on their digital transformations, we learned that there was a significant demand for technology solutions to modernize and streamline their operations so they can spend more time delivering on their mission. We realized that to better reach the nonprofits we hoped to help, we need to raise greater awareness about the programs. We reached out to foundations and sought to create an understanding of the importance of technology to achieve sustainable racial equity. The result was that foundations educated their grantees about the opportunity and triggered additional investment in this effort. Looking ahead A significant learning from the past year centers on what it will take to accelerate systemic change. Our partnerships with nonprofit organizations, schools, colleges and universities, and small businesses were critical to test our theories of change for each focus area and accelerate direct impact. We came to realize that we could meet the goals we set, helping hundreds of thousands of people in the select communities we were operating in, but it wouldn’t be enough. We also need to take what we learn from those pilots and use it to help drive systemic change by focusing on policies that help people at scale, with an aim to help improve the lives of tens of millions of people. This is a bold ambition that will require hard work over the next year to develop new ways to scale our work and translate it into systemic change. We will go into it clear-eyed about what worked and what our shortcoming are. Across the board, this will require data, even broader and deeper partnerships with nonprofits, community organizations and other organizations. And for change to last, we will need to work with government leaders to translate what works into changes in public policy. ‘Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society.’ – Congressman John Lewis People are at the heart of our racial equity work – our employees, partners and the community are the change-makers. Driving systemic change will be challenging, but I’m confident in our dedicated and passionate employees who have taken roles leading programs and advocacy work, and in the countless volunteers, including those from our employee resource group Blacks at Microsoft (BAM), who give their time. They bring innovative thinking and hard work to these complex problems. They help educate, promote understanding and turn our ambitions into action. And, importantly, they hold us accountable. We could not address racial inequity without this level of deep commitment. It’s truly inspiring. We also recognize that there is a limit to what we alone can do. Our partners are on the front lines facing the impact of inequity on Black and African American people across the country every day. They’re working to help give people an opportunity for a more equitable future. We’re humbled to be a part of their effort. This work is the beginning of a long commitment to helping drive lasting change. We have a lot more to do. Together, we can make a difference. We’re just getting started. # # # The Strengthening Our Communities pillar has four focus areas where we believe Microsoft has the potential to make a difference at a national level. These include: Justice reform, with a five-year, $50 million commitment that has already created 26 partnerships in 17 locations to use open data to partner with nonprofits and local communities and drive change in policing, prosecutorial reforms and alternatives to incarceration. Urban broadband, with work up and running with local companies and nonprofits in 8 cities to expand access to affordable connectivity and devices for racial and ethnic minority communities. Skills and education, with expanded work to help Black and African American individuals develop the skills needed for a digital economy, including new partnerships this past year with 307 high schools and seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Support for nonprofits, where one year into our work we’re already using technology to help more than 1,000 community-based nonprofits provide critical human and social services to Black and African American communities. You can learn more here. The post Our annual report: ‘Racial Equity Initiative: Strengthening Our Communities’ appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

Caves & Cliffs: Part I, an update introducing new mobs (living creatures in the game) and blocks for Minecraft users, is launching on Tuesday for Windows 10 and other gaming platforms. Head over to the post on Minecraft.net to find out more and view the trailer. The characters you’ll see sure are cute, but they range from the axolotl predator to goats that are highly fond of ramming. So watch yourself; you might end up bumped into the glow squid. Continue reading...

Feeling stressed? Take a break, and consider playing a video game, which research has shown can have a positive impact on mental and emotional health. Plus, games help bring people together and make very real social connections, which bring even more positive impacts. Head over to the Windows Resource Center for tips on using video games for a healthy escape. You’ll find out about ways to make new friends playing games, how to access a wide range of games to match your interests and how to set boundaries for yourself and others so gaming doesn’t interfere with your responsibilities. Continue reading...

Did you miss the Warhammer Skulls Showcase on June 3? Not to worry; you can catch up with it now thanks to the recap on Xbox Wire. In addition to videos featuring world premieres, reveals and announcements from leading studios and franchises, you'll find out about discounts and promotions good through June 10, including titles for Windows PC. Don't miss the annual festival of all things Warhammer video games. Head over to Xbox Wire now. Continue reading...

At the height of the pandemic, when the ongoing economic downturn challenged businesses everywhere, two young women in Seattle did the unthinkable: They opened their own store. Was it crazy or brave? Definitely a little bit of both, say Kaitlin Uemura and her business partner, Kaitlin Madriaga. It’s been a whirlwind few months since the pair opened Sairen, a small boutique selling clothing and accessories in the city’s International District. They’ve had to deal with vandalism, slow foot traffic and a fitful economic recovery, but they’re pursuing a dream and growing it a little every day, betting that in the end, the risks will be worth it. Microsoft Store celebrated National Small Business Week in May by partnering with Sairen, providing its business consultation service and a range of software and devices to help Uemura and Madriaga streamline operations and free up time to be creative. [caption id=attachment_175779" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00054-1024x1024.jpeg Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space[/caption] The Sairen co-founders recently met virtually with a Microsoft Store product expert and reviewed the technology they use for work, including the way they store data, their email outreach to customers and the point-of-sale system at the counter. They learned about combining the different systems into one cloud-based platform that protects their data and can be safely accessed on phones and other devices. The product expert recommended a package of devices and software specifically for their needs, which Microsoft Store will donate to Sairen, along with training on the best ways to use the technology. “It sounds really nice to have everything on one platform if everything is connected,” says Madriaga. “In terms of what we currently use there are certain holes in it and that’s why we’re open to other possibilities.” From health care to fashion The road to Sairen was long and winding for Madriaga and Uemura. They met in 2009 at the University of Washington, bonding because both were from Hawaii (Madriaga from Maui, Uemura from the Big Island) and both planned to enter health care careers. [caption id=attachment_175780" align="alignleft" width="294]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/Sidewalk.jpg Kaitlin Uemura (L) and Kaitlin Madriaga (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] They worked in clinics after graduation but gradually began to explore new opportunities beyond health care. Uemura moved to retail, while Madriaga worked in research and technology. Then Madriaga brought home a sewing machine one day, and things started to change. They began designing and sewing clothes as a hobby, wearing them to work and impressing their colleagues. “As we started sewing, just being able to do that on the side in my free time, it was super encouraging to see it grow into this passion project, and then finally being able to jump in and get to where we are now, being able to turn a side hobby into an actual career,” Madriaga says. “It was the smallest side hobby,” Uemura adds. “We were like, ‘Yeah I made this,’ and people said, ‘You should sell it!’ It just seemed like the best fit of creative things to do.” Madriaga and Uemura experimented with different fabrics and styles, hand-painting designs on clothes to make each item one of a kind. They created their own fashion line, called Morning Siren. They began selling their clothes in a few local shops, including Momo, a clothing and gifts boutique in Seattle’s Japantown neighborhood. Uemura even became part of the Momo family, working there part-time and learning from the owners, Tom and Lei Ann. In early 2020, the owners told Uemura they were planning to retire, and joked that she should take over the space. She was surprised by the suggestion, but it took root in her mind. She brought the idea to Madriaga during one of their business meetings for the fashion line, and over the next few months they worked up a full-blown business plan. [caption id=attachment_175785" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00022-1024x683.jpg The Sairen retail space (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] Opening in a pandemic Starting a business in normal times can be stressful enough. Add a global pandemic and economic slowdown to the mix and you can understand why Madriaga and Uemura say they were on an emotional roller-coaster. On one side were their partners and friends encouraging them to go for it. On the other side were their parents and other family members who wanted to make sure they had thought it all out and were prepared for the risks. Both sides were necessary, and both got them to where they needed to be to open Sairen. “We understood that we were in lockdown for a really long time,” Madriaga says. “We knew people would be shopping again, and we really wanted to time it in terms of the space. If we wanted to get something we needed to act now.” Sairen’s space occupies two stories and is in a neighborhood known for its tight knit community of Japanese goods stores and restaurants. Madriaga and Uemura decided to use the upstairs for developing their fashion line. The downstairs would be the retail side, ready for whenever the pandemic subsided and people began shopping again. [caption id=attachment_175787" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00120-1024x683.jpg Kaitlin Uemura and Kaitlin Madriaga in front of Sairen, with their dogs (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] The grand opening was planned for December 2020. A few weeks before then, on election night, Madriaga and Uemura were in the store working to get everything ready when someone on the street picked up something heavy and broke the front windows. It wasn’t a political thing, they say, but it rattled them. They started a GoFundMe account and raised the money needed to repair the glass. “We were really shocked,” Uemura says. “It was something we didn’t expect to have to deal with. That was a low point.” Watching the business grow But there have been so many high points since then. Sales were strong following the December opening as holiday shoppers stopped by, and Sairen expanded into online retail in February. Momo’s customers continue to shop in the new space, bringing in their children and introducing a new generation to Sairen. Madriaga and Uemura are committed to selling products made locally and by people of color, and are expanding those relationships. They work with local artists to feature their wares, including hand-painted teacups, earrings and enamel pins. [caption id=attachment_175789" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00033-1024x683.jpg A display at Sairen (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] They’re also attracting new customers and reconnecting with old ones. There’s Bill, a longtime Momo customer and community member who stops by every few weeks to buy chai tea mix and talk. There’s Phyllis, who is in her 70s and loves Instagram, cheering them on when they post to their account. Madriaga and Uemura are working hard to develop Sairen while waiting for the world to hopefully return to normal. They send a newsletter to customers and sell goods online. They bring their dogs to work, and other dog owners stop by to say hello and sometimes make a purchase. Nala the poodle is a veteran shop dog that began working at Momo when she was a small puppy. She’s showing Kimiko, the 8-month-old terrier mix, how it’s done. “They bring a lot of dog therapy to our customers,” Uemura says. [caption id=attachment_175788" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00152-1024x683.jpg Kimiko (L) and Nala (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] Over the next year, Madriaga and Uemura would like to grow business to the point where they can hire someone to work the floor and free up time to expand their clothing line. The big dream is to open a second shop in Hawaii where they can cultivate more relationships with designers there. “This is something that could last,” Madriaga says. “It could be successful even though it’s a big risk on our end.” [caption id=attachment_175790" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/DSC00047-1024x683.jpg Inside Sairen (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space)[/caption] During the virtual meeting with Doonarine Lall, the Microsoft Store product expert and business consultant, they reviewed the way they use technology at the shop. The battery life on their point-of-sale system is so short they need to keep it plugged in all the time. They’d like to have new devices solely dedicated to the business. Sairen’s main online presence is Instagram, but they want to build out their website with more product photos and descriptions. “One of our goals this year is to have a great functioning website,” Madriaga said. “I’m trying to set up your business for security, productivity and mobility,” Lall said after talking with them about their needs. “That’s the goal.” He recommended they use the portable Surface Duo on the shop floor, which has an all-day battery and can act as a mobile point-of-sale system. He also suggested the Surface Pro 7+ for Business, a 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrid that can safely store data but is light enough to take from home to work. And Microsoft 365 Business Premium will give Sairen’s owners the ability to host online meetings, collaborate in real time and protect their data online. Once they get their devices, Lall will assist with setup and deployment. Microsoft Store also has a wide variety of free training and workshops that Madriaga and Uemura can use to learn more. Lall is excited to see where they go from here. “They are heavily involved in their community and using social media platforms to market their business,” he says. "The sky’s the limit on how far they can go because they are already doing the little things to make a huge business impact.” Lead photo: Kaitlin Uemura (L) and Kaitlin Madriaga with their dogs inside Sairen (Photo by Allen Wong Creative Space) Learn more about how Microsoft Store works with small businesses: Business consultations - Book a free appointment with a consultant to talk through your business needs and determine solutions that will help your business thrive. Whether it’s about special bulk pricing, secure remote work solutions, or set up and deployment, our product experts are here to help. Business Resource Center - Discover tips, tools and technology to lead your business in a changing world. Free training and webinars – Microsoft hosts free one-hour virtual trainings and webinars to help your business thrive. Pick from trainings that teach you to become more efficient and better connected. Hear from business experts on how to drive growth in low-cost ways. Continue reading...

Warhammer Skulls, the annual festival of all things Warhammer video gaming, is coming to Xbox and Windows PC for the first time June 3. To kick off the launch, there will be a special Xbox specific Warhammer Skulls Showcase live streamed to Xbox’s Twitch and YouTube on June 3 at 10 a.m. PST, featuring world premieres, reveals and announcements from leading studios and franchises. Head over to Xbox Wire to find out more. Continue reading...

PC Minecrafters! New downloadable content is now yours with Ben 10, which comes in two different modes: Story and Free Roam. In the former, step up and face an epic challenge in recovering lost alien DNA from the Omnitrix. In the latter, access all the alien DNA right away. You can also claim Ben’s t-shirt, the free Character Creator item that’s also available now. Head over to Minecraft.net to find out more. Continue reading...

Alienware has launched its thinnest 15 and 17-inch gaming laptops, introducing the first-ever Alienware x15 and Alienware x17. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/AW-x15_angled_front_fully-open_left_whitespace-1009x1024.jpgPlay the latest and greatest game titles with confidence, thanks to patent-pending cooling technologies, the latest performance components, framerate-splitting displays and Legend 2.0 design features. You can learn more about X-Series through the Alienware Update livestream event at 3 p.m. EDT June 1. There you’ll see: a deep dive into Alienware’s newest products, fun game play with a few special celebrity guests and a chance to win exclusive prizes. All configurations of the new Alienware x15 and x17 will be available in the U.S. on June 15, starting at $1,999 and $2,099 respectively. Find out all about the new X-Series over at the Alienware Arena blog. Continue reading...

HP has expanded its commercial lineup with new Elite and Pro desktop PCs to meet the demands of multi-task workdays. Everyone from frontline heroes to home office workers need speed, flexible connectivity options and always-on reliability to handle demanding tasks, intense graphics and complex workflows with large files and applications. While laptop use has increased throughout the pandemic, the desktop PC remains critical for business resiliency and continuity – because not all hybrid work is mobile. Powered by Windows 10 Pro [1] and AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 series processors [2], the HP EliteDesk 805 G8 Series and HP ProDesk 405 G8 Series PCs feature rich graphics and multi-display support. Users can easily integrate the compact desktop PCs into their home or office workspaces. These desktops are ENERGY STAR certified, use ocean-bound plastics and arrive in 100% sustainably sourced packaging. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/w3Bs_Mhh-1024x576.jpeg The HP EliteDesk 805 G8 Desktop Mini PC saves valuable desk space when mounted behind a monitor or inside an HP Mini-in-One 24 display. The HP EliteDesk 805 G8 Small Form Factor PC, which you can easily customize, is ready to take on complex workloads. Expandability options are plentiful with two bays, two half-height slots, three M.2 slots and 11 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 405 G8 Desktop Mini PC provides the powerful performance and flexible deployment capabilities needed for smaller workspaces. With the highly secure HP ProDesk 405 G8 Small Form Factor PC you have a variety of input/out port options. These devices are expected to be available in July. [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 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply, and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.windows.com. [2] Multi-core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. AMD’s numbering is not a measurement of clock speed. Continue reading...

Pride at Microsoft is a grassroots phenomenon created by employees across all continents. It’s an opportunity to give visibility to LGBTQI+ identities on a global scale by bringing Pride to our products, bringing messages of empathy and inclusion to billions of people, and donating to LGBTQI+ nonprofits working toward equity for all. This year Microsoft is making the largest and most inclusive Pride themed products in our company’s history. Created with and by employees from the LGBTQI+ communities, these Pride products center on the intersectionality of the LGBTQI+ movement across race and ethnicity. Embracing 19 flags representing various gender identities and sexual orientations, they give visibility to groups that are still often overlooked and neglected today. Microsoft is also continuing our longstanding support for LGBTQI+ organizations. In the past year alone, together with our employees, we have donated donated over $2 million to organizations that support the LGBTQI+ community. To honor the launch of our Pride campaign, we are making an additional $150,000 total donation to nonprofits around the world to help in the fight for LGBTQI+ equity. Join us by exploring the campaign at microsoft.com/pride. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/06/Product-Promo-Blog_Promo-1.png Together, we can Microsoft operates in over 120 countries, most of which still don’t provide legal protections for LGBTQI+ individuals. LGBTQI+ communities represent a large group of people whose experiences vary and intersect across different cultures, regions, races, ethnicities, faiths and more. When selecting the focus for this year’s Pride, Global LGBTQI+ Employee and Allies at Microsoft (GLEAM) members reflected on the intersectionality of the LGBTQI+ communities, centered on the stories of Black, Asian, Latinx and Indigenous LGBTQI+ people, and reflected on the spectrum of issues that the communities face today. Many issues are salient for LGBTQI+ people: working to protect transgender lives, working for racial equity, mitigating the impact of COVID-19, expanding environmental equity, increasing Indigenous visibility, and so much more. LGBTQI+ people at Microsoft believe that true power lies in coming together across communities to create change. That’s why this Pride, the LGBTQI+ communities at Microsoft invite everyone to join in our call for justice and equity, as we highlight how societal issues that are often seen as separate and unrelated impact us all. The challenges we face are hard to solve. But as the stories of Microsoft employees and activists show, if we come together, we can make an impact and create change. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/06/People.png Design The richness and intersectionality of the community is at the heart of the inspiration for Microsoft’s Pride design. While traditional Pride designs favor a single Pride flag with a single message of inclusion, this year our work reflects the broader diversity of gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations. We also centered on the Black, Asian, Latinx and Indigenous communities. The 19 different LGBTQI+ flags became the inspiration for many of our designs, including the Progress Pride flag, created by Daniel Quasar. Many of our products combine all these flags in an interwoven, energetic way, creating a sense of unity and evoking both technology and the possibilities of coming together to make change. If you haven’t seen these flags before, look them up and learn which sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions they represent. By putting the spotlight on these identities, we hope to give them visibility, and invite everyone to think how intersections offer new perspectives, and how collectively we can bring about change. We use this Pride aesthetic across the product and campaign touch points, culminating in the stories of Microsoft employees and activists who bring change for and beyond LGBTQI+ communities. Visit microsoft.com/Pride to learn more. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/06/Product-Promo-Blog_Promo-2.png Products This year GLEAM members worked with teams across Microsoft to create the largest and most diverse product release in our history: Xbox – This June and beyond, explore the new Pride profile theme for console and PC, livestreams on Xbox’s Twitch channel, personal stories from Xbox Ambassadors and employees, industry spotlights on Xbox Instagram, games curated by the LGBTQI+ communities and more. Xbox games – Celebrate Pride and LGBTQIA+ players and creators with Xbox. Explore the new livery design in Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Motorsport 7, Halo: MCC Pride nameplate, and the GLAAD award-winning Tell Me Why will be free to play for the month of June on Xbox consoles, the Microsoft Store and Steam. Xbox Gear – Wear your Pride with the new collection of Xbox Gear shirts, hoodies, totes and more. Microsoft Teams – Show where you stand with new virtual backgrounds for Pride. Skype – Celebrate Pride with new virtual backgrounds and Together Mode scenes inspired by different LGBTQI+ flags. Microsoft 365 – Turn on your Pride in select Microsoft 365 apps* and celebrate with the special themes inspired by the flags of the LGBTQI+ communities. Microsoft Edge – Show your colors with 20 Pride themes for Microsoft Edge inspired by the flags of the LGBTQI+ communities. PowerPoint premium templates – Present with Pride, using new PowerPoint templates, images and more. Outlook mobile – See your Pride in Outlook mobile on iOS and Android with the themes inspired by the Pride, trans, lesbian, bisexual and nonbinary flags. Windows – Personalize your device with Pride wallpapers inspired by retro Windows experiences. Surface – Show your Pride on every side with the new Skin for Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Give with Bing – Support LGBTQI+ youth in crisis by donating to the Trevor Project, and Microsoft Rewards will match all donations to make an even bigger impact. Bing – Explore the stories of people who’ve contributed to the ongoing progress for LGBTQI+ equality. Microsoft Store – Explore collections of games and movies curated by the LGBTQI+ communities at Microsoft. Microsoft News – Will highlight special content experiences for Pride across 20 markets and in more than 10 languages. https://blogs.microsoft.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/2021/06/Event.png Virtual Pride We’re also hosting a 3-hour virtual Pride “Together, we can” event on Thursday, June 24 at 10 a.m. PT on Microsoft’s YouTube channel. We’ll have discussions about intersectionality, solidarity, and representation with invited guests, nonprofits, and artists. We hope you can join us. RSVP at aka.ms/PrideLive. Acting on the message To honor the launch of our Pride campaign, we’re donating a total of $150,000 to the following nonprofits selected by the LGBTQI+ communities at Microsoft: ACLU Foundation, together with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), engages in a broad range of work to protect civil liberties, including those of LGBTQI+ people. OutRight Action International works to research, document, defend and advance human rights and equality for LGBTQI+ people everywhere. In addition, OutRight’s COVID-19 Global LGBTQI+ Emergency Fund supports LGBTQI+ communities on the frontlines of the pandemic. Act To Change aims to empower students, families and educators with the knowledge and tools they need to help stop and prevent bullying in Asian American, Pacific Islander, Sikh, Muslim, LGBTQI+ and immigrant youth communities. BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) is a national training, movement-building and grant-making institution that’s dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black and marginalized communities. Mermaids is a U.K.-wide charity working to support transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families. They offer a dedicated helpline, web chat and online forums, as well as face-to-face meetups for peer support. The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. LGBTQI+ inclusion at Microsoft We’ve been consistently advocating for the LGBTQI+ people since 1989, when we became one of the first companies to introduce sexual orientation in our non-discrimination policies. Microsoft has attained a 100 score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for 16 years. Since its founding in 1993, GLEAM has been honoring Pride by lifting up LGBTQI+ voices and using the reach of our products to share the messages of inclusion and support. We invite everyone to join us in dialogue and action toward LGBTQI+ inclusion. There are many issues that many of our communities face, but by coming together, we can bring about change. Share your thoughts with us on social by using #MicrosoftPride. *Show your Pride is available on iOS, Android and Mac in the following apps: – iOS: Outlook, Teams, OneNote, the Office mobile app and stand-alone Word, Excel and PowerPoint – Android: Outlook and Teams – Mac: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote **Pride products are available in select markets. The post Microsoft celebrates Pride by centering on intersectionality, donating to LGBTQI+ non-profits and releasing the largest and most inclusive product lineup appeared first on The Official Microsoft Blog. Continue reading...

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) and AMD have extended their longtime partnership with the unveiling of the ROG Strix G15 and G17 Advantage Edition Windows 10 gaming laptops—the world’s first laptops using AMD Radeon RX 6800M GPUs, paired with Ryzen 9 5900HX CPUs. Ever since the creation of the first ROG product — the original Crosshair motherboard — ASUS has collaborated closely with AMD to empower every gamer. These new gaming laptops double up on AMD components with high-end Ryzen and Radeon processors so players can blitz through competitions, streaming, entertaining and everything in between. Strix G Advantage Edition gaming laptops are the first to use the flagship chip from the Radeon RX 6000 Mobile Series, delivering ample power for silky-smooth graphics in a wide variety of games. These new graphics processors are built on an AMD RDNA 2 architecture that combines ray tracing, computational and traditional effects to enable more lifelike visuals and deeper immersion. https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/06/ASUS_StrixG_15_crop_L-1024x672.jpg The laptops pack serious gaming power into portable chassis with footprints up to 7% smaller than the previous generation. Larger 90Wh batteries enable long life on the road with up to 12 hours of video playback, while fast charging can get you back to 50% in just 33 minutes. Support for Type-C charging adds the flexibility to run everyday activities like web browsing and streaming videos off a smaller USB-C adapter up to 100W. You can also charge from USB power packs to break free from wall sockets. ROG Intelligent Cooling pushes performance to give gamers the sustained power needed to play longer and multitask more. To further amplify airflow, these laptops use a new version of ROG’s signature self-cleaning cooling system. Dust accumulation on heatsinks and fans slowly compromises cooling over time, so these devices channel particles out of the chassis to ensure reliable long-term performance. Advanced cooling technology extends to the keyboard, with a CoolZone design that strategically places vents under the keyboard to reduce surface temperatures. In the Advantage Edition, it’s paired with a new IR sensor that monitors those temperatures in real time, allowing the system to make adjustments to keep the keys below 40 degrees Celsius (104 F). Gamers can choose between a competition-ready 300Hz/3ms Full HD display panel or a higher-resolution WQHD 165Hz/3ms screen, both of which complete the AMD synergy with FreeSync Premium technology that ensures ultrasmooth graphics output. Find out more at ASUS ROG. Continue reading...

Summer is almost here and for many this means planning family camping trips, outdoor barbeques and fun in the sun. This month, we’re excited to announce several new features that highlight why Microsoft Edge is the best browser for shopping. Online shopping with Microsoft Edge saves you both time and money. We’re also sharing new features and tips to make Microsoft Edge more personalized. Along with this, we’re making Microsoft Edge the best performing browser on Windows 10 with additional improvements this month for sleeping tabs! 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 let us know what you think! Here’s what’s new this month: Save money this summer with Microsoft Edge and earn cash back with Microsoft Bing https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/W10_Laptop_Edge_Browser_Rebates-GIF-1.gif Microsoft Edge is the best browser for shopping with built-in features like coupons that automatically look for available deals, and seamless price comparisons that show you prices for the same item across different websites. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re also bringing Bing Rebates to Microsoft Edge, so you get Microsoft Bing and Edge offers together in a single experience. This means you can confidently complete your purchases knowing you’ve gotten all the available savings opportunities. To start saving money, all you need to do is be signed into your Microsoft Rewards account and have Bing Rebates enabled. From there, you can continue to shop on Bing.com to earn cash back from 1200+ retailers. You can now also shop from 300+ retailers directly on Microsoft Edge to get cash back. To view the available Bing Rebates for your purchase, just click on the blue tag in the address bar. Plan your next online purchase by looking at historical trends with price history in Microsoft Edge https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/W10_Laptop_Edge_Shopping-Price-history-price-decrease-1024x655.jpg Before making a purchase, I like to make sure that I’m getting the best deal possible. Because prices on certain items fluctuate over time, knowing when to buy can make all the difference. This is why I’m excited to share that, this month, Microsoft Edge is releasing a new feature called price history.  It shows me historical online prices to help me decide if I should wait a few days before making a purchase. To see an item's price history, all you have to do is click on the blue tag in the address bar. Learn more about which retailers are supported. This is just another way we’re helping you save time and money. Microsoft Edge gets better with sleeping tabs improvements & system resource savings Sleeping tabs gives Microsoft Edge a performance boost when using multiple browser tabs simultaneously. It helps optimize the performance of your Microsoft Edge browser by freeing up system resources for the tabs you are actively using. This month, sleeping tabs is further improved with up to 82% memory savings based upon internal data collected on our preview builds. It does so by immediately putting ads to sleep when you put tabs in the background for instant resource savings. Sleeping tabs also now has additional improvements to save system resources on Windows. Personalize your browser with new color themes https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/EdgeThemes-final3.gif I spend a lot of time in my browser, so I like to make sure it reflects my personality, just like I do for my physical spaces. In January, we launched exclusive first party themes that you could add via the Microsoft Add-ons store to tailor your experience. Today, I’m excited to announce an even easier way to change up your browser frame and New Tab Page with 10 new color themes. To try them out, go to the Appearance page in Settings. What I love about this is that it’s so easy to change the color based on how I’m feeling that day or week. Lately, I’ve been rocking cool breeze but I’m already planning to switch to sunny day as the weather gets warmer. Personalize the news and information you see on the New Tab Page https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/W10_Laptop_Edge_Personalize_16x9_en-US-1024x576.jpg To help me further customize my browser experience, I can now tailor the news and headlines I see in the informational view of the Microsoft Edge New Tab Page with the new Personalize feature. I love that I can stay up-to-date and informed every time I open a new browser tab. However, I am interested in more than just the day’s top news, as I care about a lot of other topics, too. For example, I also follow business, cooking, art and space explorations as topics that I like to see in my feed. Some personalization happens automatically, but I like that I can easily choose what I see. To get started customizing your browsing experience, just click Personalize on the New Tab Page. We hope you have a great summer and that our new features help you save time and money so you can spend time on things that matter most to you. Please continue to send us your feedback as we work to make the web more innovative and open for everyone. Continue reading...

Acer’s most recent lineup of Windows 10 devices includes the first product within the Earthion platform (focused on the company’s sustainability efforts), the newest member of its Swift line of notebooks, new Predator Triton and Helios Series gaming laptops, refreshed ConceptD models and the latest addition to its TravelMate P6 series, engineered for professionals who frequently work on the road. With the Aspire Vero, Acer embraces sustainability throughout the computer manufacturing process. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is used throughout the device’s chassis and keyboard caps, and it ships in a box made from 80-85% recycled paper pulp. All graphics on the shipping box are printed with soy ink, and the notebook itself contains no paint on the chassis, reducing the impact on the environment. [caption id=attachment_175747" align="aligncenter" width="1024]https://blogs.windows.com/wp-content/uploads/prod/sites/2/2021/05/TravelMate-P6-P614P-52_Lifestyle_01-1024x683.jpg TravelMate P6[/caption] New traditional clamshell models have been refreshed with up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors, 20 hours of battery life* and facilitate collaboration by capitalizing on a 180-degree hinge design that allows the devices to lay flat for easier content sharing. All new models have dual speakers for crystal-clear videoconferencing, while a four-mic array picks up vocals from up to 6.5 feet away and enables quick and accurate voice commands. Measuring only 0.6 inches (16.8 mm), the TravelMate Spin P6 (TMP614-52) and TravelMate P6 (TMP614RN-52) are thin, portable and very light—starting from just 2.2 pounds (1.0 kg) and 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg), respectively. The chassis is comprised of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, which is stronger and lighter than standard aluminum alloys of the same thickness. With a long battery life, professionals can work throughout the day without having to plug in or recharge—and when the time comes, fast charging can boost the battery up to 80% within an hour. The Acer TravelMate P6 (TMP614-52) will be available in North America in October, starting at $1,299.99; in EMEA in September, starting at 999 euros; and in China in October, starting at RMB 6,999. The Acer TravelMate Spin P6 (TMP614RN-52) will be available in North America in October, starting at $1,399; in EMEA in October, starting at 1,199 euros; and in China in October, starting at RMB 7,499. For more information, head over to Acer and its Next@Acer 2021 Global Press Conference. *Listed battery life is based on MobileMark 2014 productivity mode testing with wireless on. Details of MobileMark 2014 testing are available at www.bapco.com. Battery life rating is for comparison purposes only. Actual battery life varies by model, configuration, application, power management settings, operating conditions, and features used. A battery's maximum capacity decreases with time and use. Continue reading...